Flexible circuit heater

• US 5,565,124 A
• Filed: 12/19/1994
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfiero Balzano
• Original Assignee: Alfiero Balzano
• Inventors: Balzano, Alfiero
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US08/331,982
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 219/528, 219/529, 219/543, 219/547-549
• US Class Current: 219/543
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/355 heated by an electric current from an external source, e.g. car batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

A flexible heater is disclosed herein having a base substrate or sheet carrying a plurality of spaced apart electrically resistive strips overlapping layers or grids of conductive strips arranged in spaced apart relationship next to each other to form a plurality of intersections with the resistive strips which, when connected, define and form an electrical resistive component of a given value. Each grid is composed of an electrical conductive material such as silver, aluminum or the like while the resistive component may be composed of carbon. The heater is employed as a hand-held unit, an insert or a portion of an article of clothing such as a boot, shoe, glove, jacket or the like. A power source is detachably provided for energizing the electrical components.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit heater for use as a warmer comprising:

an elongated, flat, flexible substrate of an electrically insulating material;

a first pattern of electrically conductive power carrying strips deposited and carried on said substrate;

a second pattern of electrically conductive power carrying strips deposited and carried on said substrate adjacent to and in spaced-apart relationship with respect to said first pattern of electrically conductive power carrying strips;

a plurality of electrically resistive conductive strips arranged in a third pattern defining an integral interconnecting grid across and in electrical and mechanical contact with the strips of said first and said second patterns to establish a plurality of contact intersections;

said resistive conductive strips arranged in horizontal and vertical relationship to define said grid and wherein selective lengths of said resistive conductive strips extend between spaced ones of said contact intersections constituting a fixed resistor of specific ohmic value;

said specific ohmic value of said fixed resistor being determined by a specific length, thickness and width of said resistive conductive strip;

said first and said second patterns include electrically conductive power carrying strips defined as bus lines with a plurality of transverse power lines laterally carried on said substrate;

said transverse power lines of each of said first and said second patterns being in alternate spaced-apart relationship separating said resistive conductive strips from said substrate;

said electrically conductive power carrying strips are composed of a low current carrying silver material incorporating a curable bonding agent adhering to said substrate;

said resistive conductive strips are composed of a carbon material having a curable bonding agent adhering to said first and said second patterns and to said substrate; and

a flexible cover layer of insulative material bonded over said first, said second and said third patterns and joined with said substrate.