Heater for an automotive vehicle and method of forming same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a carrier of the article of manufacture, the carrier having a surface;
a heater overlaying the surface, the heater including;
a first heater portion and a second heater portion, each having;
i) a polymeric flexible film;
ii) a first conductive medium disposed upon the carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes;
1) a negative section having;
a. a first base portion andb. a plurality of first extensions extending from the first base portion; and
2) a positive section having;
a. a second base portion andb. a plurality of second extensions extending from the second base portion; and
iii) a second conductive medium that includes a plurality of strips, each of the strips in overlapping relation with at least one of the plurality of first extensions and at least one of the plurality of second extensions,iv) a first electrical connection in communication with the first base portion and a second electrical connection in communication with the second base portion, the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection electrically connecting the heater to a power or energy source; and
v) a protective dielectric coating disposed over the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium; and
wherein the heater includes one or more openings that aid in bending of the heater so that the heater conforms to a shape of the carrier of the article of manufacture; and
wherein the second heater portion is spaced apart and separated from the first heater portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
225 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a carrier of the article of manufacture, the carrier having a surface; a heater overlaying the surface, the heater including;
a first heater portion and a second heater portion, each having;i) a polymeric flexible film; ii) a first conductive medium disposed upon the carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes; 1) a negative section having; a. a first base portion and b. a plurality of first extensions extending from the first base portion; and 2) a positive section having; a. a second base portion and b. a plurality of second extensions extending from the second base portion; and iii) a second conductive medium that includes a plurality of strips, each of the strips in overlapping relation with at least one of the plurality of first extensions and at least one of the plurality of second extensions, iv) a first electrical connection in communication with the first base portion and a second electrical connection in communication with the second base portion, the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection electrically connecting the heater to a power or energy source; and v) a protective dielectric coating disposed over the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium; and wherein the heater includes one or more openings that aid in bending of the heater so that the heater conforms to a shape of the carrier of the article of manufacture; and wherein the second heater portion is spaced apart and separated from the first heater portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 14. The article of manufacture 12, wherein the negative section of the first conductive medium includes a negative connecting base portion that extends between the first portion and the second portion and the positive section of the first conductive medium includes a positive connecting base portion that extends between the first portion and the second portion and the one or more openings are located between the negative connecting base portion and the positive connecting base portion.
Specification