Surface heating, method for its production, and heatable object, and seat occupancy recognition, seat with it, and seat occupancy recognition method

• US 20050103773A1
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braincom AG
• Original Assignee: Braincom AG
• Inventors: Diemer, Stefan, Diemer, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,205,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/528
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

A system for recognizing the occupancy of a seat, containing elements made of electrically conducting synthetic material, especially strips made of electrically conductive polyurethane. A seat equipped with the system. A method for recognizing seat occupancy whereby an alteration in resistance of the electrically conductive material occurring in a change of weight is detected.

Claims

1. Surface heating with a carrier and a heating layer, which contains electrically conductive plastic, characterized in that the heating layer is formed by a flexible film and that the carrier is flexible.

2. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier is a layer, in particular, a fabric or a nonwoven, preferably, a natural or synthetic fibrous nonwoven.

3. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating layer contains polyurethane, single component polyurethane, crosslinked single component polyurethane, a PU foam, UV-resistant and/or hydrolyzable or steam-permeable plastic material, and/or that the electrically conductive plastic of the heating layer contains graphite, preferably in powder form.

4. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that contact ends of current supply wires in the heating layer or between the carrier and the heating layer are in contact with the latter.

5. Surface heating according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact ends of the current supply wires are affixed by means of the heating layer itself to the latter.

6. Surface heating according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact ends of the current supply wires are sewed or cemented with the heating layer and/or the carrier.

7. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating layer is formed directly on the carrier by spraying, rolling, or brushing thereon.

8. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating layer is cemented, sewn, or welded with the carrier.

9. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier is a molded article made of an elastic material.

10. Surface heating according to claim 9, characterized in that the molded article is a seat upholstery of a seat surface part or a backrest or an upholstery of furniture for sitting or lying, in particular, a mattress.

11. Surface heating according to claim 1, characterized in that a current control, which is automatic and/or can be actuated manually and/or electrically/ electronically, is provided, which can be connected with a current source and to which the current supply wires are connected, whose contact ends are in contact with the heating layer.

12. Heatable object, characterized in that a surface heating is contained according to claim 1.

13. Heatable object according to claim 12, characterized in that the object is a seat surface part or a backrest or an upholstery of furniture for sitting or lying, in particular, a mattress, and that preferably, the heating layer is anatomically adapted to the thigh-buttocks part and/or the back part of a user.

14. Heatable object according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating part is shaped anatomically in the plane of the seat surface part or the backrest or the upholstery of furniture for sitting or lying, in particular, a mattress, in that it is present or electrically conductive only according to anatomical specifications.

15. Heatable object according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating layer has a corresponding thickness profile for the anatomically adapted heat release.

16. Heatable object according to claim 12, characterized in that the object is an upholstered lining, in particular, of a vehicle.

17. Heatable object according to claim 16, characterized in that the surface heating of the object is designed for a heat release which varies over its surface.

18. Heatable object according to claim 12, characterized in that the heating layer is profiled for a heat release which varies over its surface, in its surface propagation and/or in its thickness.

19. Method for the production of a surface heating, wherein a heating layer with electrically conductive plastic is bound with a carrier, characterized in that the heating layer is formed by first applying an electrically conductive, in particular, foaming or foam-plastic material on the carrier and the curing the plastic material on the carrier.

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that before applying the electrically conductive, in particular, foaming or foam-plastic material on the carrier, contact ends of current supply wires are first affixed on the side of the carrier, on which the plastic material is then applied.

24. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that electrically conductive polyurethane is used as the plastic material.

25. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that contact ends of current supply wires are affixed on the heating layer and/or the carrier, so that in the composite of carrier and heating layer, they are in contact with the latter.

26. Method according to claim 25, characterized in that the contact ends of current supply wires are sewn or cemented with the heating layer and/or the carrier.

27. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the heating layer is profiled in its surface form and/or thickness during or after its production.

21. Method for the production of a surface heating, wherein a heating layer with electrically conductive foam is bound with a carrier, characterized in that the heating layer is produced from an electrically conductive, in particular, foaming or foam-plastic material and is then affixed on the carrier.

22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the heating layer, after being affixed on the carrier, is bound with the latter in a slippage-secure manner.

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the heating layer is sewn, cemented, or welded with the carrier.

28. Seat occupancy recognition, characterized in that elements made of electrically conductive plastic are contained.

29. Seat occupancy recognition according to claim 28, characterized in that strips mae of electrically conductive polyurethane are contained.

30. Seat occupancy recognition according to claim 28, characterized in that the electrically conductive plastic contains 50-70%, in particular, 55-60%, and preferably approximately 58% graphite, and 30-50%, in particular, 40-45%, and preferably approximately 42% PU.

31. Seat occupancy recognition according to claim 28, characterized in that devices for the recognition and/or processing of a resistance change are contained in the electrically conductive plastic.

32. Seat with a seat occupancy recognition, characterized in that the seat occupancy recognition is developed according to claim 28.

33. Seat occupancy recognition method, characterized in that a resistance change is detected in an electrically conductive plastic material as a result of a weight loading of the material.