Flexible heater device
First Claim
1. A flexible seat heater for a vehicle, said heater comprising:
- a substrate having at least one open space extending therethrough;
a polymeric layer of material applied to said substrate, wherein said substrate is adapted to limit elongation of said polymeric layer when said substrate is subjected to a flexing action so as to improve durability of the polymeric layer, said polymeric layer including a conductive layer and a resistive layer, said conductive layer forming a buss structure which includes a first buss member electrically connected to a positive polarity and a second buss member electrically connected to a negative polarity; and
an electrical power source connected to said buss structure such that electrical current flows on a path from one of said first and second buss members, to said resistive layer and then to the other of said first and second buss members as the current travels from one of said positive and negative polarities to the other so as to generate heat, said polymeric layer of material being adapted to regulate and distribute the heat.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The heating device includes a conductive layer which is positioned on an electrically insulative substrate. Preferably, the conductive layer is screen printed onto the substrate. The substrate is designed to limit elongation of the conductive layer, thereby improving the durability of the conductor and enabling the heating device to be used in flexible applications, such as automobile seats. The substrate can include at least one aperture passing therethough to further improve flexibility, fatigue resistance, and breathability of the heater. The conductive layer is configured to include a buss structure with a first buss ground inwardly adjacent from the periphery of the heating device and a first buss with serpentine paths extending from one edge of the heating device to another edge. The buss structure further includes a second buss with L-shaped portions positioned between the serpentine paths and the first buss ground. The second buss ground is located in a central location between the serpentine paths. A resistive or thermistor layer, preferably with a resistance which increases materially in response to increased temperature, is placed over the conductive layer.
98 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A flexible seat heater for a vehicle, said heater comprising:
-
a substrate having at least one open space extending therethrough; a polymeric layer of material applied to said substrate, wherein said substrate is adapted to limit elongation of said polymeric layer when said substrate is subjected to a flexing action so as to improve durability of the polymeric layer, said polymeric layer including a conductive layer and a resistive layer, said conductive layer forming a buss structure which includes a first buss member electrically connected to a positive polarity and a second buss member electrically connected to a negative polarity; and an electrical power source connected to said buss structure such that electrical current flows on a path from one of said first and second buss members, to said resistive layer and then to the other of said first and second buss members as the current travels from one of said positive and negative polarities to the other so as to generate heat, said polymeric layer of material being adapted to regulate and distribute the heat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A flexible seat heater for a vehicle, said heater comprising:
-
a substrate having at least one open space extending therethrough; a polymeric layer of material applied to said substrate in a pattern thereby forming a buss structure, wherein said substrate is adapted to limit elongation of said polymeric layer when said substrate is subjected to a flexing action so as to improve durability of the polymeric layer; and an electrical power source connected to said buss structure so as to generate heat, said buss structure being adapted to regulate the heat; wherein said polymeric layer includes a layer of resistive material and a layer of conductive material forming said buss structure for providing electrical current to said layer of resistive material, and wherein said buss structure includes a first buss ground which extends around a periphery of the heater, a first buss in electrical communication with said first buss ground, including at least two serpentine paths extending through an area bounded by said first buss ground, a second buss ground positioned between said at least two serpentine paths, and a second buss located between said first buss ground and said at least two serpentine paths. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A flexible seat heater for a vehicle, said heater comprising:
-
a flexible substrate capable of being subjected to a flexing action thereby causing at least a portion of said substrate to bend and stretch without adversely affecting how said substrate performs and functions in the heater; a layer of material applied to said substrate, wherein said substrate is adapted to limit elongation of said polymeric layer when said substrate is subjected to a flexing action so as to improve durability of the polymeric layer, said layer of material including a conductive layer that is made from one or more of conductive metal, copper, silver, gold, aluminum, carbon, graphite, or polymer materials, and said layer of material further including a resistive layer being one of a positive temperature coefficient material or a fixed resistance element, said conductive layer forming a buss structure having a first buss member electrically connected to a positive polarity and a second buss member electrically connected to a negative polarity; and an electrical power source connected to said buss structure such that electrical current flows on a path from one of said first and second buss members, to said resistive layer and then to the other of said first and second buss members as the current travels from one of said positive and negative polarities to the other so as to generate heat, said buss structure and said resistive layer being adapted to regulate and distribute the heat.
-
Specification