Apparatus and method for heating a steering wheel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A preformed heating member, comprising:
- a conductive member for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat; and
a flexible member having resilient qualities, said conductive member being embedded into said flexible member, said flexible member having an opening, said flexible member being configured and dimensioned to allow said flexible member to be placed over a steering wheel of a vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A preformed heating element for use in a steering wheel including a heating element, embedded into a rubber or polyurethane material and preformed with manufacturing methods such as vacuum forming, resin impregnating, injection molding, and pultrusion progressive die.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A preformed heating member, comprising:
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a conductive member for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat; and
a flexible member having resilient qualities, said conductive member being embedded into said flexible member, said flexible member having an opening, said flexible member being configured and dimensioned to allow said flexible member to be placed over a steering wheel of a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
a spoke opening being configured to accommodate a spoke of a steering wheel.
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5. The preformed heating member as in claim 1, wherein said flexible member is manufactured using a vacuum-bagging process.
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6. The preformed heating member as in claim 5, wherein said flexible member is manufactured out of a silicon rubber.
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7. The preformed heating member as in claim 5, wherein said flexible member is manufactured out of a thermally conductive silicon rubber.
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8. The preformed heating member as in claim 5, wherein said conductive member is a flexible wire mesh.
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9. The preformed heating member as in claim 6, further comprising a control device for controlling the heat of said preformed heating member.
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10. The preformed heating member as in claim 5, wherein said flexible member is configured to have a plurality of finger forms corresponding to a plurality of finger forms on said steering wheel.
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11. The preformed heating member as in claim 5, wherein said flexible member is configured to a tab locator portion corresponding to a tab locator portion on said steering wheel.
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12. The preformed heating member as in claim 4, wherein said flexible member is manufactured using a liquid injection molding process.
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13. The preformed heating member as in claim 4, wherein said flexible member is manufactured using a resin transfer molding process.
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14. The preformed heating member as in claim 4, wherein said flexible member is manufactured out of a resin injection molding nylon.
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15. A method for molding a preformed heating element having a smooth exterior surface, comprising:
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adhering a first layer of silicon rubber to a steering wheel mold;
adhering an adhesive tape to said first layer of silicon rubber steering wheel mold, said adhesive tape having a heating element disposed on one side;
adhering a second layer of silicon rubber to said adhesive tape;
vacuum-bagging said adhesive tape and said first and second layers of silicon rubber;
heating said adhesive tape and said first and second layers of silicon rubber until said adhesive tape and said first and second layers of silicon rubber form about said steering wheel mold; and
curing said adhesive tape and said first and second layers of silicon rubber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A preformed heating member, comprising:
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a flexible member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said flexible member having resilient qualities, said outer surface providing a smooth surface for a decorative material to be applied;
an opening along the length of said flexible member;
a spoke opening being configured to accommodate a spoke of a steering wheel; and
a conductive member for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heart, said conductive member being embedded within said flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A preformed heating member, comprising:
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a conductive member for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat, said conductive member being embedded by a flexible member; and
an elongated opening being disposed along an edge of the preformed heating member said elongated opening being configured and dimensioned to allow the preformed heating member to be biased into an open position and placed over a portion of a steering wheel of a vehicle, wherein movement of said flexible member of said preformed heating member from a resting state to a biased state upon the application of a force allows said preformed heating member to be disposed about said steering wheel and said preformed heating member returns to said resting state upon the removal of said force, said shape retention qualities of said flexible member returns said preformed heating member to said resting state. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A preformed heating member, comprising:
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a conductive member for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat;
a flexible member being formed of a material having memory characteristics and being capable of the being manipulated from a closed configuration into an open configuration and returning to said closed configuration due to the memory characteristics of said flexible member, said conductive member being embedded within said flexible member; and
an elongated opening along the length of said preformed heating member wherein said flexible member is configured and dimensioned to allow said flexible member to be placed over a steering wheel of the vehicle when said flexible member is in said open configuration and said flexible member being positioned around said steering wheel when said flexible member returns to said closed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for molding a preformed heating element having a smooth exterior surface and memory retention characteristics, comprising:
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adhering a first layer of a resilient material to a steering wheel mold;
disposing a heating element on said first layer;
adhering a second layer of a resilient material to said heating element;
forming the preformed heating element, whet said heating element is encased within said first and second layers; and
curing said preformed heating element wherein said preformed element provides a smooth continuous surface for application of an aesthetic cover thereon and said preformed heating element returns to its cured configuration after it has been deformed through the application of an opening force.
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Specification