Sheet member with heater wire, electric potential mat, and method for fabricating sheet member with heater wire

• US 6,753,514 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atex Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Atex Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Harashima, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US10/279,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 219/529, 219/211, 219/212, 219/217, 219/528, 219/544, 219/545, 219/549, 219/542, 392/425, 392/432, 392/435
• US Class Current: 219/529
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles

Abstract

A sheet member with a heater wire comprises a sheet-like base cloth and a cylindrical containing portion containing the heater wire therein and attached at one surface of the base cloth in a meandering shape.

Claims

1. A sheet member with a heater wire comprising:

a sheet-like base cloth; and

a cylindrical containing portion containing the heater wire therein and attached at one surface of the base cloth in a meandering shape, said containing portion being formed by folding a belt-shaped member in two along an axial line in its longitudinal direction.

2. A sheet member with a heater wire of claim 1, wherein the folding of the belt-shaped member allows both side edges thereof to face to each other, said belt-shaped member being attached in the vicinities of the side edges facing each other, with the base cloth.

3. A sheet member with a heater wire of claim 1, wherein the base cloth has a marking along the attaching position of the containing portion.

4. An electric potential mat comprising a mat body containing:

an electric potential generator for applying high voltage minus electric potential to a human body insulated from the ground lying thereon; and

a sheet member with a heater wire comprising

a sheet-like base cloth, and

a cylindrical containing portion containing the heater wire therein and attached at one surface of the base cloth in a meandering shape wherein said containing portion is formed by folding a belt-shaped member in two along an axial line in its longitudinal direction.

5. An electric potential mat of claim 4, wherein the mat body is integrally provided with a controller section including an electric potential control circuit for controlling the electric potential generator and a on-off switch for operating the electric potential control circuit so as to switch electric potential emission.

6. An electric potential mat of claim 5, wherein the controller section includes a heater control circuit capable of controlling the heat generation by the heater wire, and a switch for operating the heater control circuit.

7. A method for fabricating a sheet member with a heater wire comprising the steps of:

continuously supplying a containing member containing the heater wire therein; and

sewing the supplied containing member to one surface of a sheet-like base cloth in a meandering shape, wherein the containing member contains a heater wire therein by folding a belt-shaped member in two along an axial line in its longitudinal direction.

8. A method for fabricating a sheet member with a heater wire of claim 7, wherein the containing member is continuously supplied in the supplying step by using a containing jig having a belt-shaped member folding guide for folding the belt-shaped member in two as the belt-shaped member passes and a heater wire guide for guiding the heater wire in such a manner that the heater wire can be contained in the belt-shaped member folded in two.

9. A method for fabricating a sheet member with a heater wire of any of claim 7,

wherein the sewing step is carried out by a sewing machine having a pressing metal fitting for pressing between a sewing section for sewing the containing member to the base cloth and the heater wire contained in the containing member, so as to prevent a movement of the heater wire toward the sewing section.

10. A method for fabricating a sheet member with a heater wire of any of claim 7,

wherein the containing member is sewn in accordance with a marking previously formed at a containing member attaching position of the base cloth in the sewing step.