Electric blanket and system and method for making an electric blanket

• US 7,115,842 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E & E Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Inotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Keane, Barry P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US10/910,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 219/212, 219/492, 219/497, 219/505, 219/528, 219/529, 219/545, 219/548, 219/494, 374/102, 374/107, 290/5
• US Class Current: 219/494
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/005 using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• 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 3/342 heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/347 woven fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/56 Heating cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/905 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3024 Including elastic strand or strip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3382 Including a free metal or alloy constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3976 Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

Electric blankets and methods and systems for making electric blankets are provided. Certain electric blanket embodiments include a laminated scrim blanket with a heating element embedded therein. Other embodiments provide an electric blanket formed from conductive fibers. Another embodiment includes a central circuit that controls the position of electricity to an electric blanket responsively to temperature rate of change. A further embodiment includes a machine for inserting a heating element within passageways of a blanket shell.

Claims

1. An electric blanket, said electric blanket comprising:

a substrate layer;

a first outer layer heat laminated to said substrate layer;

an elongated heating element disposed between said substrate layer and said first outer layer, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and

a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating element, wherein said regulator circuit is configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change.

2. The blanket as in claim 1, wherein said substrate layer is a scrim layer.

3. The blanket as in claim 2, wherein said first outer layer is a first foam layer.

4. The blanket as in claim 3, including a second foam layer laminated to an opposite side of said scrim layer from said first foam layer.

5. The blanket as in claim 3, wherein a layer of oriented fibers are attached to said first foam layer opposite said scrim layer.

6. The blanket as in claim 1, wherein said substrate layer and said first outer layer define a passageway therethrough formed by respective opposing non-laminated surfaces of said substrate layer and said first outer layer, and wherein said heating element is disposed within said passageway.

7. The blanket as in claim 6, wherein said passageway is composed of separate, spaced apart parallel sections of said non-laminated surfaces.

8. The blanket as in claim 7, including a second outer layer laminated to an opposite side of said substrate layer from said first outer layer.

9. The blanket as in claim 8, wherein said substrate layer is a scrim layer, wherein each of said first outer layer and said second outer layer are composed of respective foam layers and wherein said blanket includes respective layers of oriented fibers attached to said foam layers opposite said scrim layer.

10. A method of forming an electric blanket, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate layer;

disposing a first outer layer on a side of said substrate layer;

heat laminating said first outer layer to said substrate layer except at a predetermined position, thereby defining a passageway between said substrate layer and said first outer layer formed by respective opposing non-laminated surfaces of said substrate layer and said first outer layer;

disposing an elongated heating element within said passageway, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and

providing a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating element, wherein said regulator circuit is configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein said laminating step includes passing said substrate layer and said first outer layer through a lamination line extending across said substrate layer and said first outer layer, and wherein said lamination line is disabled at spaced apart sections thereof so that spaced apart parallel sections of said substrate layer and said first outer layer are not laminated.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein said first outer layer is a first foam layer and wherein said method includes the steps of

heat laminating a second foam layer on an opposite side of said substrate layer;

and

disposing respective layers of oriented fibers to said first and second foam layers opposite said substrate layer.

13. An electric blanket, said electric blanket comprising:

a first scrim substrate layer;

a second scrim substrate layer attached to said first scrim substrate layer;

a first foam outer layer heat laminated to a side of said first scrim substrate layer opposite said second scrim substrate layer;

a second foam outer layer heat laminated to a side of said second scrim substrate layer opposite said first scrim substrate layer;

an elongated heating element disposed between said first scrim substrate layer and said second scrim substrate layer, said heating element configured to attach to a power source and to generate resistive heat when connected to said power source; and

a regulator circuit in communication with said heating element electrically between said power source and said heating element, wherein said regulator circuit is configured to measure rate of change in said heating element of at least one of said heating element'"'"'s resistance and said heating element'"'"'s current and to control delivery of electricity from said power source to said heating element responsively to said rate of change.

14. The blanket as in claim 13, including respective layers of oriented fibers attached to said first and second foam outer layers opposite said first and second scrim substrate layers.

15. The blanket as in claim 13, wherein said first and second scrim substrate layers are attached by adhesive.

16. The blanket as in claim 13, wherein said first and second scrim substrate layers are attached by heat bonding.

17. A method of making an electric quilt, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a generally rectangular bag;

inserting batting into said bag;

inserting a heating element into said bag, wherein said heating element is configured to generate resistive heat when connected to a power source;

enclosing said bag following said heating element inserting step; and

following said enclosing step, sewing a quilt pattern into said bag.

18. The method as in claim 17, including disposing said heating element on a substrate, and wherein said heating element inserting step includes inserting said substrate into said bag.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein said heating element is inserted into said bag after said batting is inserted into said bag.

20. The method as in claim 18, wherein said substrate is a scrim layer on which is disposed an elongated heating element strand.

21. The method as in claim 18, wherein said heating element is comprised of interwoven conductive weft and warp fibers that at least partially compose said substrate.

22. The method as in claim 17, wherein said heating element includes an electrical connector configured to attach to said power source and deliver electricity from said power source to said heating element and including, following said enclosing step, cutting an opening in said bag to said connector.