Abstract: A heated food storage and display cabinet (10) comprises an open fronted enclosed chamber (30) within which packs of food can be stored, the cabinet (10) including flow inducing means (52) and heater means (54) arranged in an upper region thereof, the flow inducing means being operable to draw air from an upper portion of the enclosed chamber (30), direct the air over the heater means (54) to heat the air and subsequently urge the heated air down the rear wall (18) of the chamber (30) and across the floor (22) of the chamber (30) towards the open front of the chamber (30), said heated air being subsequently directed upwardly and rearwardly across the open front of the chamber (30) by an airflow direction member (78) of the chamber (30) to provide a heated air curtain (70) across the open front of the chamber, wherein a portion of the heated air (64,68) passes into the chamber (30) as said heated air moves down the rear wall (18) and across the floor (22) so as to pass over and around packs of food stored ther

Abstract: A method and portable hydration system can include a conduit coupled to a bite valve and a reservoir. The conduit and the bite valve facilitate human consumption of fluid in the reservoir. The system may also include an active heating assembly to prevent the fluid from freezing while in the conduit and the bite valve. The active heating assembly may include a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the conduit, a heating element to heat the conduit and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the heating element to control heating of the conduit.

Abstract: An attachment system for attaching an electric cable to a window pane. The system includes a generally elongated plate having a width approximately equal to a thickness of said pane, the plate being provided with a plurality of holes. A socket is fastened to the plate and is shaped and sized to receive a portion of the electric cable within it, the socket being in communication with an opening provided in the plate in order to permit electrical conductors to pass through the plate. The electric cable is fastened to the plate and the plate is fastened to an edge of the pane, in order to resist a 35 lb traction.

Abstract: A nozzle has a tubular metal core which forms a central injection duct, and a cylindrical, outer, lateral surface. A heater/diffuser device includes a metal heat diffuser of tubular cylindrical shape with an open annular cross-section, mounted around the cylindrical surface of the core. The diffuser has: a cylindrical internal surface fitting the cylindrical surface of the nozzle core, two facing longitudinal free edges which are spaced apart circumferentially, are free of one another, and define between them a longitudinal space extending along a generator line of the cylindrical surface of the diffuser, and a recessed, channel-like seat formed in a surface of the diffuser element. A resistor is housed in the channel-like seat.

Abstract: A blanket warmer is disclosed. The blanket warmer is lightweight, portable, and consumes minimal power.

Abstract: Electric heating/warming composite fabric articles have at least a fabric layer having inner and outer surfaces, and an electric heating/warming element, e.g., including a bus, formed, e.g., of die cut metallized textile or plastic sheeting or metal foil, affixed at a surface of the fabric layer and adapted to generate heating/warming when connected to a power source. A air-and-water droplet resistant and water vapor permeable barrier layer may be positioned, for example, adjacent to the fabric layer; e.g., with the electric heating/warming element formed thereupon or at least partially impregnated therein, e.g. in a fabric laminate or in a composite formed by application of heat and pressure to at least one layer of a barrier film disposed adjacent thereto, including to protect the electric circuit, e.g. against abrasion, moisture, and or against physical stress due, e.g., to repeated crushing, bending or flexing.

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.

Abstract: An electrofusion joint assembly includes a meltable member, such as a pipe or fitting, and a heating element secured to the pipe or fitting. The pipe or fitting may be tapered to facilitate receiving another pipe to form an electrofusion weld joint. Fasteners are used to secure the heating element and extend through a meltable zone and into a non-melt zone. Power supplied to the pipe melts the pipe proximal the heating element.

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 metallised fabric such a nickel coated woven polyester. The heater element is located within a mould. Thermo-formable material is then applied to the mould and the final component is shaped according to the shape of the mould. 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 personalisation.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a customized nutritional serving is made up of ingredients stored within a device incorporating the system. The device has a controller in whose memory is stored an inventory of the ingredients available in the device, their compositions and properties and customer profile data. The controller is programmed to formulate a serving which best matches the customized serving selected by the customer within constraints set by the programming taking into account the inventory of ingredients and the health profile of the customer. The customer is then presented with the selected serving and either accepts it or modifies it. The device is then programmed to prepare and dispense the final selection.

Abstract: The inventions disclosed herein relate to a smoke generating device for use with portable grills. Various embodiments of the smoke generating devices disclosed herein incorporate some combination of a number of features to solve the problem of prior art smoke generating devices.

Abstract: A soldering iron provided with a soldering tip that melts solder at a distal end, having inside said soldering tip a substantially cylindrical insertion fit recess portion extending from a proximal end of the soldering tip to the distal end, opening at the proximal end, and a heater formed into a coil shape and whose surface is covered with an insulating oxide film being fittingly inserted into the insertion fit recess portion.

Abstract: Linear-type sheathed heaters are arranged substantially in parallel with each other in a case body. Regions near the ends of the outer peripheral surface of each of the sheathed heaters are held by elastic holding members so as to move in the axial direction. A cylindrical space is formed between the outer peripheral surface of each of the sheathed heater and the case body. A space is provided that communicates the cylindrical spaces.

Abstract: A joint device for providing hinged movement between a first and second arm member and for providing independent delivery of electrical power to the arm members, wherein said device includes a central portion for receiving at least two sets of electrical conductors and for delivering said at least one set of electrical conductors to each of said arm members, characterised in that upon hinged movement of the arm members about the central portion, the central portion maintains the conductors in a spaced apart relationship in a manner such that the structural integrity of said conductors is maintained for a predetermined minimum number of hinged movement cycles of said arm members.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a printing device includes a heating device configured to be energized or deenergized. A switching device includes a bimetallic element efficiently thermally coupled to the heating device and configured to deenergize the heating device in a defined period of time in the event of an over temperature condition.

Abstract: A flexible surface heating element, particularly for seat heaters, having a heating field of conductive fibers electrically connected to at least one contact strip. The contact strip contains a portion of conductors in the form of steel filaments and a portion of conductors in the form of filaments of a higher conductivity than that of the steel filaments. The two types of conductors are electrically interconnected and affixed by means of a yarn on a textile band, the conductors of higher conductivity extending above and/or under the steel filament conductors and being electrically connected to the steel filament conductors. A method for producing the flexible heating element is also provided.

Abstract: A glass panel assembly according to one embodiment of the invention may include a first glass sheet having an electro-conductive film provided thereon and a conductor positioned at a location on the electro-conductive film. A retainer engages an edge portion of the first glass sheet and the conductor so that the retainer applies a compressive pressure to the conductor. The compressive pressure enhances electrical contact between the conductor and the electro-conductive film.

Abstract: A heating element includes a base substrate, a pair of electrodes, a resistor capable of generating heat, a conductive resin, a terminal member, a hot melt adhesion metal, a hot melt cohesion metal, and a lead wire. The pair of electrodes is provided on the base substrate, and the resistor is formed between the pair of electrodes. The conductive resin is provided on each of the electrodes, and the terminal member is provided on the conductive resin. The adhesion metal is provided on the terminal member, and the cohesion metal forms a molten phase along with the adhesion metal. An end of the lead wire is welded to the cohesion metal. The conductive resin is provided in the vicinity of the adhesion metal so as to be affected by heat of the adhesion metal.

Abstract: An auxiliary heater for motor vehicles includes an open housing accommodating a layered structure which includes at least one radiator element and at least one heat-emitting element having at least one PTC heating element, and further accommodating at least one spring element pretensioning the layered structure, a plurality of contacts being held in said housing in an insulating manner and electrically connected to the at least one PTC heating element. The layered structure is pretensioned by a displacer which is inserted into a lower housing component when the elements of the layered structure have been inserted in the lower housing component in a tension-free manner. The displacer is inserted into the lower housing component in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane of the layered structure and, in the mounted position, it is secured in position relative to said lower housing component.

Abstract: A glazing provided with an electric circuit includes an electrically conducting substrate and a terminal for making electrical connection thereto. The terminal is attached to the glazing by an adhesive, rather than solely by solder, and the electrical connection between the terminal and the substrate is provided by means other than, or additional to, physical contact between the terminal and the substrate. For instance, the adhesive may be electrically conducting, or a soldered joint may additionally be provided if the adhesive is electrically insulating, or of insufficient conductivity for the type of circuit in question. The adhesive may be pre-applied to the terminal, and may be a tack-free adhesive activated or cured by heat. The terminal may be in two parts, with the base part of a standardized design. The glazing is suitable for use in buildings, appliances or vehicles, especially automotive vehicles.