Waterbed heater
First Claim
1. A heating pad for placement under the mattress of a waterbed, said pad comprising:
- an upper layer consisting of an electrically resistive material embedded in a sheet of electrical insulating material, said resistive material defining a continuous path along which electrical current is conducted and converted into heat;
a lower layer consisting of a thermal insulating material, said lower layer being placed below said upper layer and acting as a barrier for reducing heat loss through the bottom of said pad;
a bottom layer placed under said lower layer and consisting of a heat reflective layer for reflecting heat generated in said upper layer upwardly through the waterbed mattress; and
further including an intermediate layer between said upper layer and said lower layer, said intermediate layer consisting of a heat reflective material for reflecting heat generated in said upper layer upwardly through the waterbed mattress.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heater adapted for placement under the mattress of a waterbed consists of a flexible laminated pad having an upper layer of resistive elements embedded in electrical insulating material, and several subjacent layers of heat-reflective and thermal insulating materials. All of the layers are encased in a protective waterproof sheath. The pad may be connected in parallel with one or more similar pads and a heat sensor may be associated with each pad. In one embodiment, a control circuit is provided for supplying power to all of the pads simultaneously when all of the heat sensors detect that the temperature of the mattress has dropped below a predetermined value. In another embodiment, power may be supplied to each pad independently of the other pads.
73 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A heating pad for placement under the mattress of a waterbed, said pad comprising:
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an upper layer consisting of an electrically resistive material embedded in a sheet of electrical insulating material, said resistive material defining a continuous path along which electrical current is conducted and converted into heat; a lower layer consisting of a thermal insulating material, said lower layer being placed below said upper layer and acting as a barrier for reducing heat loss through the bottom of said pad; a bottom layer placed under said lower layer and consisting of a heat reflective layer for reflecting heat generated in said upper layer upwardly through the waterbed mattress; and further including an intermediate layer between said upper layer and said lower layer, said intermediate layer consisting of a heat reflective material for reflecting heat generated in said upper layer upwardly through the waterbed mattress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A heating pad for placement under the mattress of a waterbed, said pad comprising:
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an upper layer consisting of an electrically resistive material embedded in a sheet of electrical insulating material, said resistive material defining a continuous path along which electrical current is conducted and covered into heat; a lower layer consisting of a thermal insulating material, said lower layer being placed below said upper layer and acting as a barrier for reducing heat loss through the bottom of said pad, said lower layer being notched for greater flexibility; and a bottom layer placed under said lower layer and consisting of a heat reflective layer for reflecting heat generated in said upper layer upwardly through the waterbed mattress.
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9. A heating unit for placement under the mattress of a waterbed, said unit comprising:
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a plurality of heating pads electrically interconnected in parallel with one another; a plurality of heat sensors, one heat sensor associated with each heating pad, said sensors being electrically interconnected in series with one another; a switch means connected in parallel to said heating pads, said switch means applying voltage to said heating pads when closed; a thermostat connected in series to said heat sensors, said thermostat controlling energization of said switch means; and a plurality of lead wires connecting said pads and said sensors to said thermostat and a power supply; whereby electrical power is supplied to said heating pads only when all of said sensors detect that the temperature of the waterbed mattress has dropped below a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A heating unit for placement under the mattress of a waterbed, said unit comprising:
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a plurality of heating pads electrically interconnected in parallel with one another; a plurality of heat sensors, one heat sensor associated with each heating pad, said sensors being electrically interconnected in parallel with one another; a plurality of switch means, one switch means connected in series with each heating pad, said switch means applying voltage to said heating pads when closed; a thermostat electrically interconnected in parallel between said heat sensors and said switch means, said thermostat controlling energization of each of said switch means; and a plurality of lead lines connecting said heating pads and said sensors to said thermostat and a power supply; whereby electrical power may be supplied to any one of said heating pads when said sensor associated with said any one heating pad detects that the temperature in a portion of the mattress near said pad has dropped below a predetermined value, said electrical power being supplied to said pad independently of the condition of the other pads. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification