Heater for an automotive vehicle and method of forming same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heated seat comprising:
- a seat with a cavity;
a heater overlaying the seat, the heater including;
i) a polymeric film flexible carrier having;
a. a longitudinal axis;
b. a first lengthwise edge;
c. a second lengthwise edge;
d. a width spanning between the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge,e. a cutout in the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge that defines a narrow width region at a location corresponding with the cavity of the seat; and
f. a centralized through-hole opening in the narrow width region;
wherein the cutout in the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge each include indentations that define a concavity in the polymeric film;
iii) a first conductive medium disposed upon the carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes;
iv) a second conductive medium disposed on the carrier in an overlapping relation with the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions;
v) a first heating portion; and
vi) a second heating portion that is longitudinally spaced apart from the first heating portion and separated by the narrower width region;
wherein the narrower width region of the carrier is free of the plurality of first extensions, the plurality of second extensions, and the second conductive medium.
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Abstract
There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
228 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heated seat comprising:
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a seat with a cavity; a heater overlaying the seat, the heater including; i) a polymeric film flexible carrier having; a. a longitudinal axis; b. a first lengthwise edge; c. a second lengthwise edge; d. a width spanning between the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge, e. a cutout in the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge that defines a narrow width region at a location corresponding with the cavity of the seat; and f. a centralized through-hole opening in the narrow width region; wherein the cutout in the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge each include indentations that define a concavity in the polymeric film; iii) a first conductive medium disposed upon the carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes; iv) a second conductive medium disposed on the carrier in an overlapping relation with the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions; v) a first heating portion; and vi) a second heating portion that is longitudinally spaced apart from the first heating portion and separated by the narrower width region; wherein the narrower width region of the carrier is free of the plurality of first extensions, the plurality of second extensions, and the second conductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A heated seat comprising:
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a seat with a cavity; a heater overlaying the seat, the heater including; i) a polymeric film carrier including; a) a longitudinal axis; b) a peripheral edge that includes; i. a first lengthwise edge, and ii. a second lengthwise edge on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis, the second lengthwise edge opposing the first lengthwise edge, wherein each of the first lengthwise edge and the second lengthwise edge have a cutout with an indentation that includes two pairs of opposing convex contours, one pair of opposing concave contours, and one central contour; c) a central through hole opening in the carrier that is located between the cutouts forming a narrow neck region that corresponds with the cavity of the seat; d) one or more openings in the polymeric film flexible carrier; e) a first conductive medium disposed upon the carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes; 1) a negative section having a plurality of first extensions; and 2) a positive section having a plurality of second extensions; and f) a second conductive medium disposed on the carrier in an overlapping relation with the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions; g) a first heating portion; and h) a second heating portion that is longitudinally spaced apart from the first heating portion and separated by the narrower width region; ii) an insulating layer over the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium, the insulating layer being a film, a vinyl sheet, a flexible sheet, or the like;
wherein the narrower width region of the carrier is free of the plurality of first extensions, the plurality of second extensions, and the second conductive medium; and
wherein the second conductive medium is a positive thermal coefficient material. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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- 17. The heated seat of 16, wherein heater includes an insulating layer over the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium, the insulating layer being a film, a vinyl sheet, a flexible sheet, or the like.
Specification