Electric blanket and system and method for making an electric blanket
First Claim
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1. An electric blanket, said electric blanket comprising:
- a substrate layer;
a first outer layer laminated to said substrate layer;
an elongated heating element disposed between said 5 substrate layer and said first outer layer, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and
a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating 10 element, wherein said regulator circuit is configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change.
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Abstract
Electric blankets and methods and systems for making electric blankets are provided. Certain electric blanket embodiments include a laminated scrim blanket with a heating element embedded therein. Other embodiments provide an electric blanket formed from conductive fibers. Another embodiment includes a central circuit that controls the position of electricity to an electric blanket responsively to temperature rate of change. A further embodiment includes a machine for inserting a heating element within passageways of a blanket shell.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electric blanket, said electric blanket comprising:
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a substrate layer;
a first outer layer laminated to said substrate layer;
an elongated heating element disposed between said 5 substrate layer and said first outer layer, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and
a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating 10 element, wherein said regulator circuit is configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming an electric blanket, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate layer;
disposing a first outer layer on a side of said substrate layer;
laminating said first outer layer to said second outer layer except at a predetermined position, thereby defining a passageway between said substrate layer and said first outer layer formed by respective opposing non-laminated surfaces of said substrate layer and said first outer layer;
disposing an elongated heating element within said passageway, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and
providing a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating element, wherein said regulator circuit is_configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An electric blanket, said electric blanket comprising:
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a first scrim substrate layer;
a second scrim substrate layer attached to said first scrim substrate layer;
a first foam outer layer laminated to a side of said first scrim layer opposite said second scrim substrate layer;
a second foam outer layer laminated to a side of said second scrim layer opposite said first scrim substrate layer;
an elongated heating element disposed between said first scrim substrate layer and said second scrim substrate layer, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and
a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating element, wherein said regulator circuit is configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of making an electric quilt, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a generally rectangular bag;
inserting batting into said bag;
inserting a heating element into said bag, wherein said heating element is configured to generate resistive heat when connected to a power source;
enclosing said bag following said heating element inserting step; and
following said enclosing step, sewing a quilt pattern into said bag. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification