Heater for an automotive vehicle and method of forming same
First Claim
1. A heated seat comprising;
- a. a cushion with one or more trench areas;
b. a heater comprising;
i. a carrier having;
1. a periphery;
2. a first side edge; and
3. a second side edge;
ii. a first electrically functional layer that is made of a conductive material comprising;
1. a first electrode that substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the carrier in a generally continuous manner; and
2. a second electrode;
iii. a second electrically functional layer that made of a resistive material; and
iv. one or more electrical conductors attached to the first electrically functional layer;
c. a trim layer that covers the cushion when the heater is placed over the cushion; and
wherein the first side edge and the second side edge both include a cutout, and the cutouts are symmetrically located forming a neck portion therebetween;
wherein the neck portion has an internal cutout that is located between the cutout on the first side edge and the cutout on the second side edge so that the neck portion is split into two separate portions;
wherein the carrier includes at least one internal slit located above the internal cutout and at least one internal slit located below the internal cutout;
wherein the second electrode substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the internal cutout, at least a portion of the at least one internal slit located above the internal cutout and at least a portion of the at least one internal slit located below the internal cutout;
wherein the neck portion extends into the trench; and
wherein the neck portion is free of the second electrically functional layer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heated seat comprising: a cushion with one or more trench areas; a heater comprising: a carrier with a periphery, the carrier further including: a first electrically functional layer that is made of a conductive material that substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the carrier; and a second electrically functional layer that is made of a resistive material; one or more electrical conductors attached to the first electrically functional layer; a trim layer that covers the cushion when the heater is placed over the cushion; and wherein the periphery includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and each side edge includes a cutout, and the cutouts are located adjacent to each other forming a neck portion; wherein the heater is attached to the cushion by placing an attachment device over the neck portion of the heater and securing one or both ends of the attachment device to the cushion so that the neck portion is pulled into the trench; wherein the neck portion is free of the second electrically functional layer; and wherein the first electrically functional layer and the second electrically functional layer form a checkered pattern.
199 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heated seat comprising;
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a. a cushion with one or more trench areas; b. a heater comprising; i. a carrier having; 1. a periphery; 2. a first side edge; and 3. a second side edge; ii. a first electrically functional layer that is made of a conductive material comprising; 1. a first electrode that substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the carrier in a generally continuous manner; and 2. a second electrode; iii. a second electrically functional layer that made of a resistive material; and iv. one or more electrical conductors attached to the first electrically functional layer; c. a trim layer that covers the cushion when the heater is placed over the cushion; and wherein the first side edge and the second side edge both include a cutout, and the cutouts are symmetrically located forming a neck portion therebetween; wherein the neck portion has an internal cutout that is located between the cutout on the first side edge and the cutout on the second side edge so that the neck portion is split into two separate portions; wherein the carrier includes at least one internal slit located above the internal cutout and at least one internal slit located below the internal cutout; wherein the second electrode substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the internal cutout, at least a portion of the at least one internal slit located above the internal cutout and at least a portion of the at least one internal slit located below the internal cutout; wherein the neck portion extends into the trench; and wherein the neck portion is free of the second electrically functional layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A heated seat comprising:
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a. a cushion with one or more trench areas; b. a heater comprising; i. a carrier having; 1. a periphery; 2. a first side edge; and 3. a second side edge; wherein the first side edge and the second side edge both include a cutout, and the cutouts are symmetrically located forming a neck portion therebetween; wherein the neck portion has an internal cutout that is located between the cutout on the first side edge and the cutout on the second side edge so that the neck portion is split into two separate portions; wherein the carrier includes at least one internal slit; wherein the neck portion extends into the one or more trench areas; ii. a first electrically functional layer that is made of a conductive material comprising; 1. a first electrode that substantially extends around the periphery of at least a portion of the carrier in a generally continuous manner without any discretely defined ends; and 2. a second electrode that substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the internal cutout and at least one internal slit in a generally continuous manner; iii. a second electrically functional layer that is made of a resistive material, wherein the neck portion is free of the second electrically functional layer; and iv. one or more electrical conductors attached to the first electrically functional layer; v. one or more lobed portions on the periphery of the carrier, wherein the one or more lobed portions includes one or both of the first and second electrodes; and c. a trim layer that covers the cushion when the heater is placed over the cushion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification