Controllable thermal warming devices

• US 9,877,526 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2011
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thinheat LLC
• Original Assignee: William J. Haas, William S Haas
• Inventors: Haas, William S., Haas, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US13/338,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20120228279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 219202, 219203, 219211, 219212, 219504, 219505, 219527-529, 219542-549
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/375 Protection arrangements against overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/02 Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0208 actuated by the expansion or evaporation of a gas or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0272 For heating of fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/026 Heaters specially adapted for floor heating
• 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 3/342 heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A controllable thermal warming device for delivering heat to an object by radio frequency signal. The controllable thermal warming device may include a thermal ink heating element comprising a substrate and a conductive ink fixedly disposed on the substrate, a power source operatively coupled to the conductive ink, the power source adapted to deliver a voltage to the conductive ink to cause the conductive ink to radiate heat, a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the conductive ink, the controller adapted to control the voltage delivered to the conductive ink and to detect an operating characteristic of the conductive ink and adjust the voltage in response to the operating characteristic, and means for controlling the controller by radio frequency. The controllable thermal warming device may also include a sensor to provide the operating characteristic to the controller.

Claims

1. A portable heating system comprising a controllable thermal warming device, the controllable warming device comprising;

a thermal heating element comprised of conductive inks printed in the form of a series of interconnected lines having a definite or definitive pattern and fixedly disposed on a single sheet of nonconductive substrate;

a power source operatively coupled to the conductive ink pattern, the power source adapted to deliver a voltage to the conductive ink to cause the conductive ink pattern to radiate heat;

a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the conductive ink, the controller adapted to control the voltage to the conductive ink pattern whereby the heating element, the power source and the controller comprise a portable unit.

2. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the heating element is comprised of a definite pattern containing a specific number, design, and configuration of lines so as to further control the evenness and out-put of heat.

3. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further adapted to detect an operating of the conductive ink pattern and adjusts the voltage in response to the operating characteristic.

4. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 3, wherein the operating characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an electrical resistance, a current, a voltage and a temperature.

5. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, further comprising a thermally sensitive resistor coupled to the conductive ink pattern and the controller, the thermally sensitive resistor adjusting an electrical resistance in response to detecting a temperature change in the heat radiated by the conductive ink pattern.

6. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, further comprising a negative temperature coefficient thermistor, the negative temperature coefficient thermistor decreasing an electrical resistance in response to an increase in the heat radiated by the conductive ink pattern.

7. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 3, wherein the controller means comprises'"'"' a proportional-integral-derivative controller adapted to adjust the voltage delivered from the power supply to maintain a pre-selected temperature range of the heat radiating from the conductive ink pattern.

8. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a potentiometer assembly, manual adjustment of the potentiometer assembly by a user of the controller thermal warming device adjusting the voltage delivered from the power source to cause a temperature change in the heat radiated by the conductive ink pattern.

9. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor.

10. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 3, wherein the controller is fixedly coupled to the power source and the conductive ink pattern via a wire line link.

11. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the delivery and the control of the voltage delivered to the conductive ink pattern is achieved by a radio frequency signal.

12. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises a wireless networking system which includes a transmitter and a receiver electronically connected to the heating element.

13. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 11, further comprising a first transceiver electrically coupled to the conductive ink pattern and the power source;

and a second transceiver electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the first and the second transceivers are adapted to transmit radio frequency signals.

14. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises short range, wireless, networking, communications systems.

15. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heating elements, the radio frequency means and controller configured to remotely control each of the heating elements.

16. The controllable thermal device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a pressure sensitive film allowing for the transferability of the heating element to any number of surfaces or products.

17. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the device delivers controlled heat to a building structure element selected from the group consisting of a glass plate, a floor, a wall, a door, a mirror, a roof, a ceiling fan and a HVAC duct.

18. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the device delivers controlled heat to a consumer product selected from the group consisting of a baby carriage, a baby bottle, a blanket, a sleeping bag, pet related products, beauty care related products, a beverage carrier, and a pool covering.

19. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the device delivers controlled heat to a vehicle portion wherein the vehicle portion is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a window, a seat, and an oil system.

20. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, having a specific size, design and configuration to satisfy the many stringent requirements of the medical, hospital and personal care industries.

21. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 having a disposable covering allowing for the re-use of the controllable thermal warming device.

22. The disposable coverings of claim 21 having specific measurements, configurations to cover and protect said controllable thermal warming devices.

23. The disposable coverings of claim 21 may further comprise securing measures so as to maintain the desired position of said controllable thermal warming devices during use.

24. The disposable coverings of claim 21, wherein the coverings meet the flammability requirements of the National Fire Prevention Standard NFPA 702-1980.

25. The disposable coverings of claim 21, wherein the coverings have liquid repellant characteristics.

26. The disposable coverings of claim 21, wherein the coverings may contain a heat reflective material located so as to direct the heat generated by said controllable thermal warming device in a desired direction.

27. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the device delivers controlled heat to food and food warming related products.

28. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, where the device delivers controlled heat to veterinarian related products.

29. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the device delivers controlled heat to wearing apparel wherein the wearing apparel is selected from the group consisting of outdoor, sports, sports related, military and construction.

30. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the power source is AC, DC, Light powered or Solar powered.