Electric resistance heating/warming fabric articles
View Patent ↗Electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric articles have a fabric layer having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, and an electric resistance heating/warming element in the form of a conductive yarn mounted upon first surface of the fabric layer, e.g. in embroidery stitching, and adapted to generate heating/warming when connected to a power source. A barrier layer may be positioned, for example, at least adjacent to the first or second surface of the fabric layer. Methods of forming electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric articles are also described.
1. An electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article, comprising:
a fabric layer having a first surface of raised or fleece fibers of electrically-insulating material and an opposite, second surface; and
a flexible electric resistance heating/warming element in the form of an electricity-conducting yarn mounted upon said first surface of said fabric layer by embroidery stitching of said flexible electric resistance heating/warming element among the raised or fleece fibers to electrically isolate adjacent segments of the electricity-conducting yarn disposed in a predetermined pattern of an electric circuit, the flexible electric resistance heating/warming element adapted to generate heating/warming when connected with a power source.
2. An electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article, comprising:
a fabric layer having a first surface of raised or fleece fibers and an opposite, second surface;
a flexible electric resistance heating/warming element comprising:
a first electricity-conducting yarn having a first resistance, and
a second electricity-conducting yarn having a second resistance different than the first resistance and connected with the first electricity-conducting yarn,
the flexible electrical resistance heating/warming element comprising said first electricity-conducting yarn and said second electricity-conducting yarn being mounted upon said first surface of said fabric layer by embroidery stitching of said flexible electric resistance heating/warming element among the raised or fleece fibers to electrically isolate adjacent segments of the electricity-conducting yarn disposed in a predetermined pattern of an electric circuit, the flexible electric resistance heating/warming element configured to generate heating/warming when connected with a power source; and
a barrier layer resistant to passage of air and water droplets and permeable to passage of water vapor at least adjacent to a least one of the first surface of the fabric layer and the opposite, second surface of the fabric layer.
3. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 , wherein said second surface is a smooth surface laminated with a barrier later resistant to passage of air and water droplets but permeable to moisture vapor.
4. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 3 , wherein said barrier layer is non-porous hydrophilic.
5. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 4 , wherein said barrier layer comprises polyurethane.
6. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 , wherein said electric resistance heating/warming element is connected in said electric circuit in parallel.
7. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 , wherein said electric resistance heating/warming element connected in said electric circuit in parallel comprises a first conductive yarn having a first resistance and a second conductive yarn having a second resistance, said first resistance being different from said second resistance.
8. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier layer positioned at least adjacent to at least one of the first surface and the opposite, second surface of said fabric layer.
9. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 8 , wherein said barrier layer is positioned at least adjacent to said opposite, second surface of said fabric layer.
10. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 9 , wherein said barrier layer is attached upon said opposite, second surface of said fabric layer.
11. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 10 , wherein said barrier layer is non-porous hydrophilic.
12. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 11 , wherein said barrier layer comprises polyurethane.
13. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 10 , wherein said barrier layer is resistant to passage of air and water droplets and permeable to water vapor.
14. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 9 , wherein said barrier layer is non-porous hydrophilic.
15. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 14 , wherein said barrier layer comprises polyurethane.
16. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 9 , wherein said barrier layer is resistant to passage of air and water droplets and permeable to water vapor.
17. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 8 , wherein said barrier layer is resistant to passage of air and water droplets and permeable to water vapor.
18. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 8 , wherein said barrier layer is non-porous hydrophilic.
19. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 18 , wherein said barrier layer comprises polyurethane.
20. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 18 , wherein said barrier layer is resistant to passage of air and water droplets and permeable to water vapor.
21. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 2 , wherein said second surface is a smooth surface laminated with the barrier layer.
22. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 2 , wherein said electric resistance heating/warming element is connected in said electric circuit in parallel.
23. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 2 , wherein said barrier layer is positioned at least adjacent to said opposite, second surface of said fabric layer.
24. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 2 , wherein said barrier layer is attached upon said opposite, second surface of said fabric layer.
25. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said opposite, second surface has raised or fleece fibers.
26. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said first surface is an inner surface, relative to a region to be heated/warmed.
27. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said fabric layer is hydrophilic.
28. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said electricity-conducting yarn comprises a core of insulating material, an electrical resistance heating element disposed generally about said core, and a sheath material generally surrounding said electrical resistance heating element and said core.
29. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 28 , wherein said electrical resistance heating element has electrical resistance in the range of about 0.1 ohm/m to about 500 ohm/m.
30. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said electricity-conducting yarn comprises an electrical resistance heating element and a sheath material generally surrounding said electrical resistance heating element.
31. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 30 , wherein said electrical resistance heating element has electrical resistance in the range of about 0.1 ohm/m to about 500 ohm/m.
32. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said conductive yarn comprises a core of insulating material and an electrical resistance heating element disposed generally about said core.
33. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 32 , wherein said electrical resistance heating element has electrical resistance in the range of about 0.1 ohm/m to out 500 ohm/m.
34. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said electrical resistance heating element has electrical resistance in the range of about 0.1 ohm/m to about 500 ohm/m.
35. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said electric resistance heating/warming element is adapted for connection to a power source of direct current.
36. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 35 , wherein said power source of direct current comprises a battery.
37. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 36 , wherein said battery is mounted to said fabric article.
38. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said electric resistance heating/warming element is washable, non-swelling and hydrophobic.
39. The electric resistance heating/warming composite fabric article of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said electric resistance heating/warming element is resistant to stiffening and cold crack.