Flexible electric heaters

• US 9,668,303 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Augustine Biomedical and Design LLC
• Original Assignee: Augustine Biomedical and Design LLC
• Inventors: Augustine, Scott D., Entenman, Scott A., Arnold, Randall C., Deibel, Rudolf Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Paschall, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/255,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20140312027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 219481, 219212, 219505, 219494, 219528, 219529, 219544, 219549, 428201
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/048 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0098 ways of manufacturing heating or cooling devices for therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0097 Blankets with active heating or cooling sources warming mats A61F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/08 Warming pads, pans or mats A61F7/02 takes precedence; Hot-water bottles
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/126 with specific supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/90 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2274/00 Thermoplastic elastomer material thermoplastic elastomer fibres B32B2262/0215, thermoplastic elastomer particles B32B2264/0221, thermoplastic elastomer foam B32B2266/0292
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7265 Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles closures therefor B32B2435/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/12 characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/145 : Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 : Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 : heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/347 : woven fabrics

Abstract

Embodiments include a flexible fabric heater. The fabric heater has a conductive base fabric having elastic properties. The base fabric may be coupled to electrical terminals. A elastomeric layer may be applied on the base fabric. The elastomeric layer may have elastic properties and includes a liquid-resistant material. A first thermal layer may be applied proximate edges along the electrical coupling between the fabric heater and the electrical terminals. The first thermal layer can have heat-resistant properties.

Claims

1. A flexible heater, comprising:

a flexible conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion;

a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread;

a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including a stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and

a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a heat resistant elastomer, and

wherein the semi-conductive polymer is polypyrrole.

2. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the first thermal layer that is proximate the first end portion is spaced apart from the first thermal layer that is proximate the second end portion.

3. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the first thermal layer includes a heat-resistant fabric.

4. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the first thermal layer is silicone rubber.

5. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the first thermal layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. The flexible heater of claim 1, the base fabric comprising a first face and second face opposite the first face, wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with a second coating that substantially covers an entire surface of at least one of the first and second faces, the second coating having liquid-resistant properties thereby preventing a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces, on which the second coating is applied.

7. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the base fabric comprises 4-way stretch elastic fabric such that the base fabric may be stretched from a generally planar shape into a 3-dimensional compound curve and return to the generally planar shape.

8. The flexible heater of claim 7, wherein the base fabric includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face, wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with a second coating that substantially covers an entire surface of at least one of the first and second faces, the second coating having elastomeric and liquid-resistant properties to prevent a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces while allowing the heater to maintain 4-way stretch elastic properties of the base fabric such that the heater is stretchable into a 3-dimensional compound curve.

9. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the base fabric melts at a lower temperature than the electrically conductive thread to provide predetermined failure paths in the base fabric along the first and second seams, wherein the predetermined failure path prevents a hotspot from occurring in the central portion of the base fabric in between the first and second electrical terminals, and the first thermal layer thermally insulates the predetermined failure path.

10. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the base fabric comprises a material having a melting point lower than its ignition temperature for burning.

11. The flexible heater of claim 1, further comprising a second coating that is an elastomeric layer applied on a first face and a second face of the first electrical terminal, and the first face and the second face of the second electrical terminal.

12. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the base fabric is a polymeric material.

13. The flexible heater of claim 1, wherein the base fabric is coated with a semi-conductive polymer.

14. The flexible heater of claim 1, further comprising a second coating, wherein the base fabric includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face and wherein at least one of the first and second faces is coated with the second coating, the second coating having elastomeric and liquid-resistant properties to prevent a liquid from contacting at least one of the first and second faces and wherein the second coating is an elastomeric layer extending from a first elastomeric layer end to a second elastomeric layer end,

wherein the first elastomeric layer end is disposed at a distance less than or equal to approximately 1 inch from the first electrical terminal, and

wherein the second elastomeric layer end is disposed at a distance less than or equal to approximately 1 inch from the second electrical terminal.

15. An elastic heater, comprising:

an elastic conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion;

a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread;

a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and

a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a thermally insulative elastomer,

wherein a predetermined failure path is provided in the base fabric along the first and second seams, and wherein the predetermined failure path provides a heater that is configured, in the event of a failure of the base fabric, to fail along a predetermined failure path, and

wherein the first thermal layer is configured to thermally insulate a patient from the predetermined failure path.

16. The elastic heater of claim 15, wherein the first thermal layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

17. The flexible heater of claim 15, wherein the first thermal layer proximate the first end portion is spaced apart from the first thermal layer proximate the second end portion.

18. An elastic heater, comprising:

a elastic conductive base fabric extending from a first edge portion to a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion, the base fabric having a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

a first electrical terminal extending along the first edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a first seam, the first seam including a stitched coupling of the first electrical terminal to the first edge portion with electrically conductive thread;

a second electrical terminal extending along the second edge portion from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second electrical terminal electrically coupled to the base fabric at a second seam, the second seam including stitched coupling of the second electrical terminal to the second edge portion with electrically conductive thread; and

a first thermal layer applied proximate the first and second edge portions, the first thermal layer covering the first and second seams, the first thermal layer including a thermally insulative elastomer,

wherein the base fabric melts at a lower temperature than the electrically conductive thread to provide predetermined failure paths in the base fabric along the first and second seams, and wherein in the event of a failure of the base fabric, the predetermined failure path prevents a hotspot from occurring in the central portion of the base fabric in between the first and second electrical terminals, and wherein the first thermal layer provides a heater configured to thermally insulate a patient from the predetermined failure path.

19. The elastic heater of claim 18, wherein the first thermal layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

20. The flexible heater of claim 18, wherein the first thermal layer proximate the first end portion is spaced apart from the first thermal layer proximate the second end portion.