Heat radiator

• US 6,294,758 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toto Limited
• Original Assignee: Toto Limited
• Inventors: Yumiko, Kataoka, Hiroshi, Tsuboi, Masao, Shiotani, Kazunori, Hiroi, Takenori, Fukushima, Shingo, Tanaka, Shigeru, Ando, Hisato, Haraga
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fastovsky, Leonid M
• Application Number:
  US09/601,105
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 423/7, 571/3, 219/217, 219/543, 219/213, 219/522, 219/553, 219/544, 219/548, 392/432, 392/435
• US Class Current: 219/217
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/305 Seats with heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0088 Radiating heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/066 far infrared

Abstract

A heat radiator for emitting infrared radiation to the human body has a heat source which is energized to emit infrared radiation, whose penetration depth into the human body is to near warmth sensing points of the human body, and an insulator for covering the surface of the heat source to be directed toward the human body. The free surface of the insulator forms a surface for contacting with the human body and the thickness of the insulator is less than the penetration depth of the infrared radiation into the insulator.

Claims

1. A heat radiator for emitting infrared radiation to the human body, comprising:

a heat source energized to emit infrared radiation, whose penetration depth into the human body is to near warmth sensing points of the human body; and

an insulator covering the surface of the heat source directed toward the human body;

wherein the free surface of the insulator forms a surface for contacting with the human body and the thickness of the insulator is less than the penetration depth of the infrared radiation into the insulator.

2. A heat radiator of claim 1, wherein the insulator is made of polyester resin or styrene resin.

3. A heat radiator of claim 1, wherein the insulator adheres closely to the heat source.

4. A heat radiator of claim 3, wherein the heat source is a porous heat generating sheet.

5. A heat radiator of claim 4, wherein the porous heat generating sheet is a mixed paper of carbon fibers and natural pulp fibers, and the carbon fibers are surrounded by void spaces.

6. A heat radiator of claim 5, wherein the void ratio of the mixed paper is equal to or greater than 60 volume %.

7. A heat radiator of claim 1, further comprising an infrared reflector facing the surface of the heat source directed away from the human body.

8. A heating apparatus having a heat radiator of any of claims 1 to 7, comprising:

a front surface resin layer to be directed toward the human body; and

a rear surface resin layer;

wherein the front surface resin layer forms the insulator of the heat radiator covering the surface of the heat source directed toward the human body, and the front surface resin layer and the rear surface resin layer cooperate to sandwich the heat source of the heat radiator.

9. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process comprising the steps of:

inserting projections extending from the front surface resin layer and penetrating through the heat source into penetration holes formed in the rear surface resin layer; and

heat fusing the end portions of the projections to form swellings.

10. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process of inserting projections extending from the front surface resin layer, penetrating through the heat source and being provided with swellings at their ends into penetration holes formed in the rear surface resin layer.

11. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process comprising the steps of:

abutting the front surface resin layer against the rear surface resin layer; and

energizing an electric wire embedded beforehand in the abutting surface of the rear surface resin layer or the front surface resin layer to fuse and bond the abutting surfaces.

12. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process comprising the steps of:

placing the heat source on the premolded front surface resin layer or the premolded rear surface resin layer;

placing the premolded front surface resin layer carrying the heat source or the premolded rear surface resin layer carrying the heat source in a mold for low pressure molding;

pouring resin material of the rear surface resin layer or the front surface resin layer into the mold; and

closing the mold to carry out low pressure molding.

13. A heating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the premolded front surface resin layer or the premolded rear surface resin layer is provided with projections for immobilizing the heat source.

14. A heating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the premolded rear surface resin layer is provided with irregularities or grooves in the surface receiving the heat source.

15. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process comprising the steps of:

molding the front surface resin layer or the rear surface resin layer;

holding the molded front surface resin layer or the molded rear surface resin layer in the mold;

placing the heat source on the front surface resin layer or the rear surface resin layer;

pouring resin material of the rear surface resin layer or the front surface resin layer into the mold; and

closing the mold to carry out low pressure molding.

16. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process comprising the steps of:

vacuum attracting a resin film to a mold for low pressure molding;

placing the heat source on the resin film;

pouring resin material of the rear surface resin layer into the mold; and

closing the mold to carry out low pressure molding.

17. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer, the heat source and the rear surface resin layer are united into an integral body by the process comprising the steps of:

placing the heat source on a first mold for low pressure molding;

pouring resin material of the front surface resin layer or the rear surface resin layer into the mold;

closing the mold to carry out low pressure molding to unite the front surface resin layer or the rear surface resin layer and the heat source into an integral body;

placing the front surface resin layer united with the heat source or the rear surface resin layer united with the heat source in a second mold for low pressure molding;

pouring resin material of the rear surface resin layer or the front surface resin layer into the mold; and

closing the mold to carry out low pressure molding.

18. A heating apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first mold for low pressure molding is provided with projections for immobilizing the heat source.

19. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat source is given the same color as the front surface resin layer.

20. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer and/or the rear surface resin layer are foamed resin layers.

21. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat source is wrapped with a resin film beforehand.

22. A heating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the portion of the resin film opposing the rear surface resin layer is an infrared reflector.

23. A heating apparatus of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein a cushioning layer is sandwiched between the rear surface resin layer and the heat source.

24. A heating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cushioning layer is integrally molded with the rear surface resin layer.

25. A heating apparatus of claim 23 or 24, wherein the cushioning layer is a heat insulator.

26. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rear surface resin layer is honeycombed.

27. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rear surface resin layer is provided with a hollow wherein a heat sensor is received.

28. A heating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the front surface resin layer facing a higher temperature portion of the heat source is made thick and the front surface resin layer facing a lower temperature portion of the heat source is made thin.

29. A room heating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 28, further comprising:

a human body detecting means for detecting presence of a person in a room; and

a heat source control means for energizing the heat source only when the human body detecting means detects presence of a person.

30. A toilet heating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 28, further comprising a heat source control means for energizing the heat source in accordance with a control signal from outside a toilet.

31. A toilet heating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 28, further comprising a heat source control means for energizing the heat source only when an electric lamp in the toilet is switched on.

32. A toilet heating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 28, further comprising:

a human body detecting means for detecting presence of a person in a toilet; and

a heat source control means for energizing the heat source only when the human body detecting means detects presence of a person.

33. A toilet heating apparatus of claim 32, wherein the heat source control means energizes the heat source a predetermined time after the human body detecting means detects presence of a person.

34. A toilet heating apparatus of claim 32, wherein the heat source control means energizes the heat source at time T-t after the human body detecting means detects presence of a person, where T is time between detection of presence of a person by the human body detecting means and seating of the person on a toilet seat, and t is time from energizing of the heat source to completion of temperature rise of the front surface resin layer to a predetermined level.

35. A toilet heating apparatus of claim 32, wherein the human body detecting means can detect distance between the human body detecting means and the person, and the heat source control means energizes the heat source when the distance between the human body detecting means and the person becomes a predetermined value.

36. A toilet heating apparatus of any of claims 30 to 35, wherein temperature coefficient of resistance of the heat source is positive.

37. A toilet heating apparatus of any of claims 30 to 35, wherein the heat source control means variably controls the electric power supply to the heat source.

38. A toilet heating apparatus of claim 37, wherein the heat source control means varies the electric power supply to the heat source stepwise.

39. A toilet heating apparatus of claim 37, wherein the heat source control means determines the electric power supply to the heat source by feedback control.

40. A toilet heating apparatus of claim 37, wherein the heat source control means determines the electric power supply to the heat source by learning control.

41. A toilet heating apparatus of any of claims 30 to 40, further comprising a seating detection means for detecting seating of a person on a toilet seat, wherein the heat source control means decreases the electric power supply to the heat source when the seating detection means detects seating of a person on the toilet seat.