Flexible electric heaters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible heater, comprising:
- a flexible conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion, the base fabric comprising a first face and second face opposite the first face, wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with a second coating that substantially covers an entire surface of at least one of the first and second faces, the second coating having liquid-resistant properties thereby preventing a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces, on which the second coating is applied;
a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread;
a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including a stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and
a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a heat resistant elastomer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments include a flexible fabric heater. The fabric heater has a conductive base fabric having elastic properties. The base fabric may be coupled to electrical terminals. A elastomeric layer may be applied on the base fabric. The elastomeric layer may have elastic properties and includes a liquid-resistant material. A first thermal layer may be applied proximate edges along the electrical coupling between the fabric heater and the electrical terminals. The first thermal layer can have heat-resistant properties.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A flexible heater, comprising:
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a flexible conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion, the base fabric comprising a first face and second face opposite the first face, wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with a second coating that substantially covers an entire surface of at least one of the first and second faces, the second coating having liquid-resistant properties thereby preventing a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces, on which the second coating is applied; a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread; a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including a stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a heat resistant elastomer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A flexible heater, comprising:
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a flexible conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion; a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread; a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including a stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a heat resistant elastomer; and a second coating, wherein the base fabric includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face and wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with the second coating, the second coating having elastomeric and liquid-resistant properties to prevent a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces and wherein the second coating is an elastomeric layer extending from a first elastomeric layer end to a second elastomeric layer end, wherein the first elastomeric layer end is disposed at a distance less than or equal to approximately 1 inch from the first electrical terminal, and wherein the second elastomeric layer end is disposed at a distance less than or equal to approximately 1 inch from the second electrical terminal.
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15. An elastic heater, comprising:
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an elastic conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion, the base fabric comprising a first face and second face opposite the first face, wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with a second coating that substantially covers an entire surface of at least one of the first and second faces, the second coating having liquid-resistant properties thereby preventing a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces, on which the second coating is applied; a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread; a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a thermally insulative elastomer, wherein a predetermined failure path is provided in the base fabric along the first and second seams, and wherein the predetermined failure path provides a heater that is configured, in the event of a failure of the base fabric, to fail along a predetermined failure path, and wherein the first thermal layer is configured to thermally insulate a patient from the predetermined failure path. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An elastic heater, comprising:
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an elastic conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion; a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread; a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a thermally insulative elastomer, wherein a predetermined failure path is provided in the base fabric along the first and second seams, and wherein the predetermined failure path provides a heater that is configured, in the event of a failure of the base fabric, to fail along a predetermined failure path, and wherein the first thermal layer is configured to thermally insulate a patient from the predetermined failure path; and a second coating, wherein the base fabric includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face and wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with the second coating, the second coating having elastomeric and liquid-resistant properties to prevent a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces and wherein the second coating is an elastomeric layer extending from a first elastomeric layer end to a second elastomeric layer end, wherein the first elastomeric layer end is disposed at a distance less than or equal to approximately 1 inch from the first electrical terminal, and wherein the second elastomeric layer end is disposed at a distance less than or equal to approximately 1 inch from the second electrical terminal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An elastic heater, comprising:
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an elastic conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion, the base fabric having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, the base fabric comprising a first face and second face opposite the first face, wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with a second coating that substantially covers an entire surface of at least one of the first and second faces, the second coating having liquid-resistant properties thereby preventing a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces, on which the second coating is applied; a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread; a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a thermally insulative elastomer, wherein the base fabric melts at a lower temperature than the electrically conductive thread to provide predetermined failure paths in the base fabric along the first and second seams, and wherein in the event of a failure of the base fabric, the predetermined failure path prevents a hotspot from occurring in the central portion of the base fabric in between the first and second electrical terminals, and wherein the first thermal layer provides a heater configured to thermally insulate a patient from the predetermined failure path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification