Electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body

• US 7,064,299 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: DeAngelis, Alfred R, Wolynes, Earle, Green, Karen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Robin O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, VINOD D
• Application Number:
  US10/675,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20050067402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 219/515, 219/528, 219/529, 219/545, 219/549, 219/208, 338/208
• US Class Current: 219/515
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 13/006 With additional leno yarn
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/005 using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
• 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 2203/015 Heater wherein the heating element is interwoven with the textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/035 Electrical circuits used in resistive heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/347 woven fabrics

Abstract

A flexible body has a conductive resistance pathway which includes conductive resistance flexible strands of material connected in series between two supply bus flexible strands of material, and a temperature dependent variable resistance pathway with temperature dependent variable resistance flexible strands of material electrically connected in series by connection bus flexible strands of material.

Claims

1. An electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body wherein the flexible body has a first direction and a second direction and comprises:

a first flexible electrically conductive strand of material being disposed in the first direction;

a plurality of crossing flexible strands of material disposed in the second direction and crossing the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material, wherein at least one of said crossing flexible strands of material comprises a crossing flexible electrically conductive strand of material; and

,

a first pair of flexible locking strands of material disposed longitudinally adjacent to the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material and comprising a first flexible locking strand of material and a second flexible locking strand of material, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material is disposed above the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, wherein the second flexible locking strand of material is disposed below the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, and wherein the second flexible locking strand of material crosses over the first flexible locking strand of material on each side of the crossing flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

2. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 1, wherein the cross sectional areas of the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each less than the cross-sectional area of the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

3. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each electrically conductive.

4. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 3, wherein the first pair of flexible locking strands of material are in electrical contact with the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

5. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each a core and sheath yarn, and wherein the sheath has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of the core.

6. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 1, further includes an opposing pair of flexible locking strands of material disposed longitudinally adjacent to the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material opposite from the first pair of flexible locking strands of material and comprising a third flexible locking strand of material and a fourth flexible locking strand of material, wherein the third flexible locking strand of material is disposed above the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, wherein the fourth flexible locking strand of material is disposed below the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, and wherein the fourth flexible locking strand of material crosses over the third flexible locking strand of material on each side of the crossing flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

7. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 6, wherein the cross sectional areas of the third flexible locking strand of material and the fourth flexible locking strand of material are each less than the cross-sectional area of the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

8. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 6, wherein the third flexible locking strand of material and the fourth flexible locking strand of material are each electrically conductive.

9. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 8, wherein the opposing pair of flexible locking strands of material are in electrical contact with the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

10. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 6, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each a core and sheath yarn, and wherein the sheath has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of the core.

11. An electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body wherein the flexible body has a first direction end a second direction and comprises:

a first flexible electrically conductive stand of material being disposed in the first direction;

a second flexible electrically conductive stand of material being disposed in the first direction;

a plurality of crossing flexible strands of material disposed in the second direction and crossing the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material and the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material, wherein at least one of said crossing flexible strands of material comprises a crossing flexible electrically conductive strand of material;

a first pair of flexible locking strands of material disposed longitudinally adjacent to the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material and comprising a first flexible locking strand of material and a second flexible locking strand of material, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material is disposed above the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, wherein the second flexible locking strand of material is disposed below the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, and wherein the second flexible locking strand of material crosses over the first flexible locking strand of material on each side of the crossing flexible electrically conductive strand of material; and

,

an opposing pair of flexible locking strands of material disposed longitudinally adjacent to the second flexible electrically conductive strand of material opposite from the first flexible electrically conductive strand and comprising a third flexible locking strand of material and a fourth flexible locking strand of material, wherein the third flexible locking strand of material is disposed above the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, wherein the fourth flexible locking strand of material is disposed below the plurality of crossing flexible strands of material, and wherein the fourth flexible locking strand of material crosses over the third flexible locking strand of material on each side of the crossing flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

12. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 11, wherein the cross sectional areas of the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each less than the cross-sectional area of the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

13. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 12, wherein the cross sectional areas of the third flexible locking strand of material and the fourth flexible locking strand of material are each less than the cross-sectional area of the second flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

14. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 11, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each electrically conductive.

15. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 14, wherein the first pair of flexible locking strands of material are in electrical contact with the first flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

16. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 14, wherein the third flexible locking strand of material and the fourth flexible locking strand of material are each electrically conductive.

17. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 16, wherein the opposing pair of flexible locking strands of material are in electrical contact with the second flexible electrically conductive strand of material.

18. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 11, wherein the first flexible locking strand of material and the second flexible locking strand of material are each a core and sheath yarn, and wherein the sheath has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of the core.

19. The electrical connection of flexible conductive strands in a flexible body according to claim 18, wherein the third flexible locking strand of material and the fourth flexible locking strand of material are each a core and sheath yarn, and wherein the sheath has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of the core.