Flexible Patents (Class 219/549)
  • Publication number: 20150061345
    Abstract: A flexible laminate (1) includes an electrically non-conductive substrate (2) with a substantially planar configuration, an electrically conductive element (3) on a surface of the electrically non-conductive substrate, and a layer (4) on a surface of the electrically non-conductive substrate (2). The electrically non-conductive substrate (2), the electrically conductive element (3) and the layer (4) are coaxially punctured forming a punctured region (6). They are connected to each other through a mechanical connection element (5) which extends through the electrically non-conductive substrate (2), the electrically conductive element (3) and the layer (4) at the punctured region (6). The cross-sectional area of the electrically conductive element (3) at the location of the punctured region (6) is larger than the cross-sectional area of the electrically conductive element (3) outside the punctured region (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: ATL Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Ingmar Cees Johannes VAN DER LINDEN, Jelmer Douwe SMINIA
  • Patent number: 8952302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic-coated heater in which the outer surface of a heater rod is coated with ceramic to improve the physical properties thereof including durability, corrosion resistance, and the like, thereby enabling the heater to be used in water or air. The outer surface of the heater rod is coated with a ceramic composition to which an acrylic corrosion resistant wax is added, thereby strengthening the bonding force of the coating layer film, and thus improving the physical properties thereof including durability, corrosion resistance, and the like to enable the heater to be used in water. Therefore, the ceramic-coated heater of the present invention enables high thermal conductivity using less current and reduces energy consumption so that it can be utilized in a wide variety of industrial fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Thermolon Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 8937268
    Abstract: Provided is a conductive film suitable for use in a transparent heating element having superior visibility and heat generation properties. A conductor of a first conductive film has a mesh pattern which has a plurality of lattice cross points (intersections) formed by a plurality of first metal nanowires and a plurality of second metal nanowires. The conductor between intersections is formed in a wave-like shape having at least one curve. The array period of an arc of one first metal nanowire from among parallel adjacent first metal nanowires is one period. The array period of an arc of another first metal nanowire constitutes two periods. Similarly, the array period of an arc of one second metal nanowire is one period. The array period of an arc of another second metal nanowire constitutes two periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Kuriki
  • Publication number: 20150014303
    Abstract: A pliable heating device having a flexible electrical heating apparatus, which is operated by a control device and which has at least one flexible heating element that is connected to a flexible support and that has a heating conductor, which is situated in a heating circuit, and a flexible sensor conductor, which is separated from the heating conductor by an intermediate insulation, having a dampable oscillator, which is contained in the control device and is connected to the sensor conductor and whose output signal can be varied as a function of various functional states of the heating apparatus, which functional states are detected by the sensor conductor, and having an evaluation device by which fault states can be detected from the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Ralf Köhler, Ernst Merk, Thomas Wildermuth
  • Publication number: 20140374404
    Abstract: To provide a fabric heater that can be stretchable in all direction and warms up quickly. The aforementioned problem is solved by means of a fabric heater (1) that comprises a piece of fabric (2) that is formed into one piece by twist-braiding the plurality of loop portions (5) with each other, the plurality of loops portions (5) being formed by conductive thread (4), and electrodes (30) that are comprised by electrode thread (31, 35) and by spacing from each other, and the conductive thread (4) has a core (10) formed by a fiber and a conductive layer (11) or a conductive foil (12) that covers the surface of the core (10) or; by means of fabric heater (1) which is formed by the conductive thread (4) comprises a bunch of lines (7) having at least one or more conductive lines (6a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Masahide Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20140346162
    Abstract: A method of three-dimensionally shaping articles, such as articles that are difficult to transport, includes the following successive steps: placing at least one flexible cord (1) on a former (10), the cord (1) incorporating a heating electrical resistance surrounded by at least a first set of yarns of thermoplastic polymer material; connecting the flexible cord (1) to an electrical power supply for a given duration to cause the thermoplastic polymer of at least the first set of yarns surrounding the heating resistance to soften, the cord then taking on the shape imposed by the former (10); cooling the cord; and optionally removing the former (10) in order to obtain the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SOCIETE CHOLETAISE DE FABRICATION
    Inventor: Olivier Verriele
  • Patent number: 8835818
    Abstract: There is disclosed a self-regulating electric heater assembly arranged to heat an electrically conductive substrate such as a flexible substrate of shape memory alloy for use as an actuator. The heater assembly comprises a plurality of substantially rigid PTC elements arranged in spaced-apart relation to one another in a flexible array, said PTC elements each having a contact surface arranged in contact with the substrate and being urged against said substrate so as to remain in contact with the substrate upon flexure of the substrate. The substrate serves as one of a pair of electrical conductors electrically connected to the PTC elements for the supply of electric current to the PTC elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: John E. Anthony, Alexis Lambourne
  • Patent number: 8816255
    Abstract: Provided is a surface heater using a strip type surface heating element and a fabricating method thereof, in which the surface heater can be embodied into a thin film form using a metallic surface heating element which has a specific resistance value appropriate as a heat wire and is formed of a strip style, where the strip type surface heating element can be sequentially produced at an inexpensive cost. The surface heater includes: the strip type surface heating element in which a number of strips which are obtained by slitting a metallic thin film are arranged with an interval in parallel with each other and both ends of each adjacent strip are connected with each other; and an insulation layer which is coated on the outer circumference of the strip type surface heating element in a plate form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Amogreentech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Yeong Lee, Hyun Chul Lim, Sung Chul Yang, Sang Dong Jeong, Soung Ho Jang
  • Patent number: 8816251
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heating or cooling mat (1) with a carrying sheet (2) having a top side (9) and a bottom side (11), and at least one heating and cooling unit (5) located on the carrying sheet (2), an adhesive being located on the bottom side (11) of the carrying sheet (2). It is endeavored to improve the handling properties of the heating or cooling mat. For this purpose, the adhesive is located on a double-sided adhesive tape (12), which is fixed on the bottom side (11) of the carrying sheet (2), the adhesive on the bottom side of the adhesive tape (12) being covered by the top side of the carrying sheet (2) and the adhesive tape (12) bonding with the top side of the carrying sheet (2) in the rolled up state of the heating or cooling mat (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Leif Olsen, Thomas Melballe, Taj Bernth, Verner Utoft
  • Publication number: 20140166638
    Abstract: A flexible homogeneous carbon polymeric heating element is provided. The flexible homogeneous carbon polymeric heating element includes a pair of layers of a first insulating material, a pair of layers of a second insulating material positioned between the pair of first insulating material layers, and an elongate web positioned between the pair of second insulating material layers, wherein one of the insulating materials is a chemical-resistant material, and the other of the insulating materials is a water-resistant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: TECH DESIGN LLC
    Inventors: O. Stephan Irgens, Monica Irgens
  • Patent number: 8712227
    Abstract: Fluid conduit segments are provided that include, but are not limited to integrated heating systems for protection against freezing. To this effect PTC-fabric heating elements are provided that are integrated in the fluid conduit segments and that in the negative temperature range include, but are not limited to a PTC-temperature-dependent resistance. The heating system thus provides a higher output in the negative temperature range and a lower output in the positive temperature range, i.e., the heating limits itself until temperature equalization has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Meisiek, Torsten Maulitz
  • Patent number: 8704140
    Abstract: A heating element includes a support made of flexible material and a flexible grid structure with an electrically conductive paste disposed on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kapp, Helmut Zischka, Juergen Guenther, Benno Schmied, Michael Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8692168
    Abstract: Infrared heating panels are provided with an electrically insulative substrate that carries one or more infrared heating elements. Each heating element includes an elongated first segment attached to a first surface of the substrate and an elongated second segment electrically connected in series with the first segment. At least the first segment is a strip of an electrically resistive material adapted to emit infrared radiation in response to a current. The second segment is attached to the second surface of the substrate opposite from and in a parallel arrangement with the first segment such that a first current flowing through the heating element flows through the first segment in a first direction relative to the substrate and flows through the second segment in a second direction opposite the first direction. Saunas, heating systems, and methods for reducing electromagnetic emissions in an infrared sauna are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: TyloHelo Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Tracy Felder
  • Publication number: 20140091074
    Abstract: A carrier, in particular a plastic film, comprising an electrical heating layer is described. The heating layer is applied to at least a portion of a carrier surface. The heating layer is electrically divided by one or more first separating zones, each of which is designed such that a current path changes the direction of flow thereof at the free zone ends, and one or more second separating zones, which are designed such that the current path changing the direction of flow thereof at the free zone ends is divided in at least some sections into a plurality of electrically parallel current sub-paths. One or more second separating zones are associated with at least one free zone end of a first separating zone, with the second separating zones arranged in an aligned extension to the first separating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Dang Cuong Phan, Guenther Schall, Marcel Klein, Sabine Velden
  • Patent number: 8674271
    Abstract: A breathable electrical heater element for a topical application device such as a wound dressing or a therapeutic heating pad is disclosed. The heater element is formed by photochemically etching a track pattern onto a porous metallised fabric (e.g. nickel coated woven polyester). The heater element has a skin or wound contact layer laminated to the front face of the heater element. An adhesive layer is laminated to the back face of the heater element. The adhesive layer forms an overhang to provide an adhesive border around the wound contact layer to adhere the device to the skin of a patient. Therapeutically active drugs (optionally microencapsulated) may be incorporated into the skin or wound contact layer. Operation of the heater element causes the skin or wound contact layer to release the active drugs to the skin or wound of the patient. Appropriate control of the temperature of the heater element allows control of the release of the active drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20140064717
    Abstract: A cable for direct electrical heating of a subsea pipeline includes an axially soft inner core; and electrically conducting wires surrounding said core. A system includes such a cable, use of such a cable, and a method for direct electrical heating of a subsea oil/gas pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Atle Harald Børnes, Anna Timoshenko, Even Tjåland, Geir Endal
  • Patent number: 8664572
    Abstract: A limited use or disposable nonwoven blanket including at least one spunlace layer having an inner surface and outer surface and at least one continuous filament layer having an inner surface and outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the continuous filament layer is metallized. The limited use or disposable nonwoven blanket further includes at least one heating element proximate to the metallized surface of the continuous filament layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: PGI Polymer, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff Bridges
  • Patent number: 8664571
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a clothing piece, such as a glove, with a heating device, in particular for the warming and/or temperature control of a skin surface with deep-acting effect upon areas of a human body, comprising at least one heat transfer element, at least one connection for an energy supply device, at least one control field with an encapsulation and with at least one circuit board with an electrical control circuit for controlling the temperature of the heat transfer element and at least two switches for the manual adjustment of the temperature. The encapsulation comprises a chamber that holds the circuit board and a protruding edge that surrounds the chamber, wherein the edge is made of a flexible material. In addition, the switches are made up of at least two contact elements located on the inside of the encapsulation and at least two contact elements formed on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sidas Central GmbH
    Inventors: David Macher, Gerhard Kremer, Urs Maron
  • Patent number: 8637795
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes example techniques for a flexible heater system to automatically configure itself to operate over different input supply voltages. The flexible heater system may include a flexible heater that includes a first heater element and a second heater element. The flexible heater system may also include a switch circuit that may automatically couple the first heater element and the second heater element in a first configuration when an input supply voltage is at a first voltage level. The switch circuit may also automatically couple the first heater element and the second heater element in a second configuration when the input supply voltage is at a second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhik Giri, Girish Krishnaiah
  • Publication number: 20140020672
    Abstract: Thermal cloth for football fields, comprising: a polyvinyl chloride sheet; an electrical heating resistor cable glued on top of said polyvinyl chloride sheet according to predetermined pattern and distances; an aluminium sheet glued on top of said polyvinyl chloride sheet and of said heating resistor cable; a control system for supplying said heating resistor cable; said thermal cloth is positioned on said football field with said aluminium sheet placed upwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Enrico VERO
  • Patent number: 8624164
    Abstract: A blanket for warming patients during surgery and other medical procedures. The blanket includes one or more temperature sensors and a shut-off timer to prevent prolonged exposure of excessive heat to a patient. Embodiments of the present invention provide a safety feature that cuts power to a heating blanket after a certain period of time has elapsed, irrespective of the feedback provided by a temperature sensor concerning the blanket temperature. That period of time is longer than it takes for the blanket to reach its threshold temperature but shorter than it takes to cause thermal burn injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Augustine Temperature Management LLC
    Inventors: Rudolf A. Deibel, Scott A. Entenman, Keith J. Leland
  • Patent number: 8618451
    Abstract: A heater member for a chair, of which the dimension as measured in the width direction is not constant, includes a fabric of a weft knitting structure having a plurality of conductive threads woven into the fabric as a part of constituent yarn. Each of the conductive threads has substantially the same length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kunisada
  • Patent number: 8598499
    Abstract: A flexible roll-out thermal system, including: a layer of insulating material forming a first outer surface; a layer of conductive material forming a second outer surface; at least one electric heating cable disposed between the first and second outer surfaces; and, an electrical connection element for connecting the at least one electric heating cable to a power source. A method of forming a flexible roll-out thermal system, including: disposing at least one electric heating cable between a layer of insulating material forming a first outer surface and a layer of conductive material forming a second outer surface; and connecting an electrical connection element to one end of the at least one electric heating cable, the electrical connection element for connecting the at least one electric heating cable to a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: David B. Wuchert
  • Patent number: 8592732
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques relating to a resistive heating device are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventor: Kwangyeol Lee
  • Patent number: 8581157
    Abstract: A band heater assembly for heating an object includes a band heater that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the object. The band heater includes a cable and a band. The cable includes a resistive element, a first cable end and a second cable end. The resistive element generates thermal energy based on a current received from a power source. The first cable end and the second cable end are connected to respective ends of the band heater assembly. The band is connected to the cable and transfers a first portion of the thermal energy to an exterior surface of the object. At least a portion of the cable is exposed from the band heater to contact the exterior surface when the band heater assembly is connected to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Backer EHP Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy Springer, Ronald R. Barnes, Robert Cockrell, Lucas L. Fowler, Alvin L. Slayton
  • Patent number: 8574738
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly for providing electric power to a load includes a battery pack, preferably made up of a plurality of lithium ion cells. A heating device formed of a flexible material flexes and covers at least part of the battery pack. The heating device includes a meandering heating strip. A thermal sensor is surrounded by the heating strip to sense the temperature of the battery pack. Electric current is applied to the heating strip to heat the battery pack when its temperature falls too low, thus improving performance of the battery pack. The heating device also includes a plurality of tabs extending beyond the peripheral sides of the heating device for direct connection to the cells. Thus, electric current for the heating strip is provided directly from the cells of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: EnerDel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert N. Fattig
  • Patent number: 8575523
    Abstract: A heating element includes two flexible plastics layers connected in overlying relationship with first and second conductors each running along the element between the layers the side edges with a row of printed conductive strips at right angles to the conductors. A grounding layer comprising a sheet of foil laminated to a carrier is laminated to the heating element. A reinforcing layer in the form of a bitumen anti-fracture membrane is applied on one surface and a reinforcing layer of a fiber reinforced material is applied on the opposite surface for engagement into a tile adhesive layer. First and second strips of an electrically insulating material are applied over the first and second conductors to define slots allowing insertion into the slots of respective clamp type terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Heating Technologies Inc
    Inventors: Edward Chivers, Normal L. Loewen, Jonathan Willner, Robert P. Amborsky
  • Patent number: 8546733
    Abstract: A heater element for formed components is disclosed, along with the final formed component itself. The heater element is produced by photochemically etching a suitable heater track pattern from porous metallized fabric such a nickel coated woven polyester. The heater element is located within a mold. Thermo-formable material is then applied to the mold and the final component is shaped according to the shape of the mold. The final component has a heater element located within it. The component may have microencapsulated agents for initiation by operation of the heater element. Furthermore, the final component may have one or more digital images printed onto the surface for the purposes of decoration or personalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8476558
    Abstract: An ice buildup inhibitor is disclosed useful for preventing ice damming, in particular in conjunction with the use of a closed gutter. Heat escape through a roof made warm snow pack, causing it to melt and flow down toward the gutter. After moving away from the heated roof, the water may re-freeze and form an ice dam. In the ice buildup inhibitor may be configured to warm in the closed gutter, thereby preventing the formation of an ice dam. They ice buildup inhibitor may be configured to be easily installed onto an existing closed gutter, enabling responsive installation on only those homes experiencing ice damming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Yamen Leonard Aussi, Pamela Long, Micheal Nicolas, Daniel Vargas
  • Patent number: 8467668
    Abstract: An infrared, room heater system for installation in a wall or on a floor. An electric fan assembly draws room air into a housing, then through three parallel, air transit channels where the air is heated by infrared radiation within and about a heat exchanger assembly, and then back out into the room. One or more ceramic heating elements attached to a first copper plate emit infrared radiation when electrically energized. The first copper plate lies adjacent to, but spaced away from, a second copper plate such that radiation emitted from the heating elements reflects back and forth between the plates. Room air passed between the copper plates is heated by heat radiation concentrated between the plates, thereby achieving both energy and space efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Acepower Logistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Searle, Alexander Anderson
  • Patent number: 8466392
    Abstract: A material comprises: a first component having a first positive temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic; and a second component having a second positive temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic, the second positive temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic being different from the first positive temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic, the proportions of the two components being such that the material has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic which is a combination of the first and second positive temperature coefficient of resistance characteristics of the first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Heat Trace Limited
    Inventor: Jason Daniel Harold O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8456272
    Abstract: An electric line comprising: at least one conducting substrate including at least two heating fields of different width, at least one shared contacting device, wherein the conducting substrate includes a coating material disclosed on the conducting substrate that forms the at least two heating fields, and the same coating material is disposed on the at least two heating fields, and wherein an electrical conductivity of the coating material on one of the at least two heating fields is different than a second one of the at least two heating fields of different width so that upon application of the coating material on the at least two heating fields, each of the at least two heating fields have an identical electrical resistance, and wherein the at least one shared contacting device connects the at least two heating fields to an electrical potential by one or more connection lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive, AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Rauh, Martin Krobok, Michael Weiβ
  • Patent number: 8450667
    Abstract: A flexible, electrically heatable hose having an elongated electrical conductor which extends in the helical shape in the hose direction is illustrated and described. The object of providing a flexible, electrically heatable hose in which uniform heating over the hose length is ensured even in the event of major deformation of the hose, is achieved by a hose which has an elongated electrical conductor which extends in a helical shape in the hose direction, wherein the electrical conductor is embedded in a braid. In this case, the braid has first and second strands, wherein the first strands extend in a helical shape in the hose direction in the same winding direction as the electrical conductor, and the second strands extend in a helical shape in the hose direction in the opposite winding direction to the electrical conductor. The pitch angle of the electrical conductor, which extends in a helical shape in the hose direction, of the first strands and of the second strands is in this case between 50° and 80°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Masterflex SE
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Günzing, Gerd Osterholt
  • Patent number: 8450662
    Abstract: A sheet heater structured so that heating wire is fixed to air-passing base material by sewing. This structure can provide a sheet heater that has improved durability of heating wire 2 against the load imposed on the seat during sitting, comfortable feeling of sitting in the seat, and high air-passing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8445819
    Abstract: A breathable electrical heater element for a topical application device such as a wound dressing or a therapeutic heating pad is disclosed. The heater element is formed by photochemically etching a track pattern onto a porous metallised fabric (e.g. nickel coated woven polyester). The heater element has a skin or wound contact layer laminated to the front face of the heater element. An adhesive layer is laminated to the back face of the heater element. The adhesive layer forms an overhang to provide an adhesive border around the wound contact layer to adhere the device to the skin of a patient. Therapeutically active drugs (optionally microencapsulated) may be incorporated into the skin or wound contact layer. Operation of the heater element causes the skin or wound contact layer to release the active drugs to the skin or wound of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8410407
    Abstract: A heater element for formed components is disclosed, along with the final formed component itself. The heater element is produced by photochemically etching a suitable heater track pattern from porous metallized fabric such a nickel coated woven polyester. The heater element is located within a mold. Thermo-formable material is then applied to the mold and the final component is shaped according to the shape of the mold. The final component has a heater element located within it. The component may have microencapsulated agents for initiation by operation of the heater element. Furthermore, the final component may have one or more digital images printed onto the surface for the purposes of decoration or personalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8399814
    Abstract: A uniform heating assembly including at least one first insulative substrate, at least one first common terminal, at least one second common terminal and a multiplicity of conductive filaments at least partially embedded in the at one insulative substrate and extending at least mainly along both electrically parallel and geometrically parallel paths between the at least one first common terminal and the at least one second common terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: PCK Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Stella Stepanian
  • Patent number: 8395093
    Abstract: The preferred embodiment utilizes metal coated high strain fabric reinforcement including but not limited to fiberglass, cotton fiber, or other materials that can undergo deformation, and various resin or elastomer compounds to create a conductive polymer whose resistivity and resistance remain essentially constant under a strain of approximately 0-150% or more. Additionally, the preferred embodiment utilizes a method of imprinting, depositing, etching, or embossing a design or pattern of conductive metal on fabric used in composites. The use of designs of conductive metals wrapped around a deformable core and the unique features of elastomeric polymers allows for their use as a flexible circuit board, formable heaters, and other various uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Auffinger, III, Michael Richard Maddux, Kristopher Karl Aber, Brandon Charles Kirby
  • Patent number: 8383995
    Abstract: The invention provides a flexible hot plate and cooking unit, with a temperature differential of at least 40° C. between the two sides of the unit comprising a heating element sandwiched between an upper and a lower layer of flexible material wherein said upper layer provides a temperature along its upper surface of at least 80° C. for heating an object placed thereon, and said lower layer is provided with a plurality of insulating air passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Raphael Gabbay
    Inventor: Raphael Gabbay
  • Patent number: 8367986
    Abstract: A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) superimposed impedance polymeric (SIP) compound including an electrically insulating matrix essentially consisting of a siloxane polymer in addition to first and second electrically conductive particles having different properties with respect to surface energies and electrical conductivities. A multi-layered, ZPZ, foil including a PTC SIP compound of the invention present between two metal foils, thereby forming a conductive composite body. A multi-layered device, including an essentially flat composite body made up from a PTC SIP compound according to the invention, two electrode layers adhering to the surfaces of the composite body, the electrode layers being metal foils prepared to connect to electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Conflux AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Von Wachenfeldt, Per-Göran Mikael Mortenson, Gunnar Nyberg, Lars-Ove Nilsson, Joachim Sjöstrand
  • Patent number: 8367987
    Abstract: The flexible PTC heating element according to the invention has one of the following constitutions. A portion of an electrodes and a PTC resistor is impregnated into a flexible substrate. A flexible substrate is made of resin foam or rubber material having a concave/convex shape formed on the surface. The flexible PTC heating element has an elongation deformation portion disposed to at least one of an electrode and a PTC resistor. A flexible substrate has adhesiveness and either a flexible substrate or a flexible cover material has an elongation control portion. Therefore, the flexible PTC heating element is highly flexible and excellent in vibration durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahito Ishii, Keiko Yasui, Seishi Terakado, Kazuyuki Kohara, Mitsuru Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 8362399
    Abstract: A windshield heater for heating the bottom section of a vehicle windshield includes a heating element located proximate the windshield selectively energized by direct current from the electrical circuit of the vehicle. The heater may be a heating element directly adhered to the windshield. Alternatively, the heater may include a sleeve enveloping the length of the heating element and a corresponding length of compressible material to lodge the heater between the windshield and the adjacent section of a dashboard to place the heating element proximate the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: W. John Seaborn
  • Patent number: 8338759
    Abstract: A heating cable includes a bus wire structure that includes a plurality of bus wires. An insulation layer is provided to insulate the plurality of bus wires. A plurality of node areas exposes portions of the bus wires from the insulation. A heating element is wrapped around the bus wire structure in a helical manner. The heating element includes an insulating core and one or more resistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner. The heating element is electrically coupled to the nodes of the bus wire structure at the plurality of node areas. The insulating core may be made of a folded-over tape made of a cloth material, such as glass cloth. Pluralities of redundant paths in between two nodes are provided to allow for current to flow in a zone if one of the redundant paths is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thermon Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wells Whitney, Umesh Sopory
  • Publication number: 20120298804
    Abstract: An electrothermal heater mat (3) is provided for an ice protection system for an aircraft (1) or the like. The heater mat (3) is a laminated heater mat and comprises dielectric layers (50-58), a heater element (501) and a temperature sensor (507). Each dielectric layer (50-58) comprises thermoplastic material, and the temperature sensor (507) comprises a sprayed metal track (5010, 5012) deposited on a substrate (50, 5019) comprising thermoplastic material. The substrate may be one of the dielectric layers (50) or a separate carrier (5019) which is smaller than the dielectric layers (50-58).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Stuart Martin Lewis, Peter English, Nicholas John Winter
  • Patent number: 8288693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating element (20), in particular for heating user contact surfaces of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising a) at least one heating zone in which at least one first electrical conductor strand is disposed for heating a passenger of the automotive vehicle; b) at least one additional second conductor strand for supplying electrical energy into the at least one first conductor strand for heating the heating zone; c) a contact area in which the at least one additional second conductor strand is connected, in an electrically conductive manner, to the at least one first conductor strand for heating the heating zone; and wherein at least one of the first or second conductor strands includes at least one filament-like inner strand core comprising a polyamide, a carbon fiber, a polypropylene, or a polyester and at least one jacket layer that includes silver, copper, gold, nickel, or an alloy thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Michael Weiss, Simone Köhler, Peter Tremmel
  • Patent number: 8283612
    Abstract: The invention provides a planar element which is intrinsically heatable and which is particularly suitable for attachment to multi-dimensionally curved surfaces. For this purpose the planar element features particularly high deformability, achieved in accordance with the invention through a planar element having a layer sequence comprising a heating layer and a contacting layer, each of these two layers being composed of a polymeric material based on elastomers and/or on plastic polymers which have a particular elongation at break and at the same time a particular tensile elasticity modulus. Furthermore, the invention provides an adhesively bonded assembly comprising a bonding substrate and a planar element of the aforesaid kind, a method of producing a planar element of the aforesaid kind, and the use of such a planar element for heating an adhesively bonded assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tesa SE
    Inventors: Klaus Keite-Telgenbuescher, Monika Junghans, Bernd Dietz, Udo Dominikat, Frank Domann, Ute Ellringmann, Veronika Ramm
  • Patent number: 8283602
    Abstract: An electric heating blanket including a flexible sheet-like heating element and a shell. The shell covers the heating blanket an includes two sheets of flexible material welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Augustine Temperature Management LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Augustine, Randall C. Arnold, Ryan S. Augustine, Rudolf A. Deibel, Scott A. Entenman, Gordon D. Lawrence, Keith J. Leland, Thomas F. Neils
  • Patent number: 8258439
    Abstract: A portable heating and cooling apparatus and method of using the same wherein a temperature-set material is secured in a housing with both rigid and expandable sides. The housing is placed within a container which is so configured such that there is little or no disruption of the contact between the rigid surface and an object to be heated or cooled, whether such contact is direct or via some thermal conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Top Creation (Asia) Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Mak, Per Johan Maurits Persson
  • Patent number: 8258443
    Abstract: A heating unit for use in heating buckets or barrels. The heating unit includes a first pliable cover layer and a second pliable cover layer. A pliable electrical heating element is disposed between the first and the second cover layers and configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy and to distribute the heat energy. The pliable electrical heating element includes a heat generating element for converting electrical current to heat energy and a heat spreading element comprising carbon thermally coupled to the heat generating element. The heating unit further includes a thermal insulation layer. The heating unit includes a receiving power connector electrically connected to the heat generating element. The heating unit further includes one or more fasteners allowing the heating unit to be wrapped around a bucket or barrel and secured by the one or more fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: 417 and 7/8, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Caterina, David Naylor
  • Patent number: 8253080
    Abstract: The heating apparatus comprises a stratified and flattened body, said body comprising, from the centre outwards, two first layers of laminar electricity conducting elements coupled together by interposing one centre layer of first laminar insulating means; two second layers of second laminar insulating means covering said two first layers; at least one third layer of laminar means covering said second layers, said second layers comprising sheets of adhesive material that can be removed by pulling them from said first layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: CADIF S. R. L.
    Inventor: Aldo Stabile