IP Library Granted Patent US 8,106,338
Granted Patent B2
US 8,106,338 · App. 12/752,591 · Granted Jan 31, 2012

Flat heating element

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,106,338
App. No.
12/752,591
Granted
Jan 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a heating element for heating at least one surface contacted at times by a user, with a plurality of heating conductors or heating conductor sections that are directly or indirectly connected electrically to one another, at least in part by mutual contact, with at least one heating conductor or heating conductor section which, upon exceeding a permissible maximum temperature, at least temporarily loses its electrical conductivity at least in part. It is provided that the electrical resistance of at least two heating conductors or heating conductor sections is dependent at least in part on its mechanical strain, that these heating conductors or heating conductor sections are electrically connected to one another in parallel, and that they are separated from one another at least in sections by a spacing zone in order to prevent electrical connection between them in spacing zone.

Claims (18)

1. A heating element for heating at least one surface contacted at times by a user comprising:

a: a carrier layer;

b: at least two electrodes arranged along opposing edges of the carrier layer; and

c: a plurality of heating conductors, each comprised of at least one filament, connectively disposed between the at least two electrodes and the at least one filament with a initial resistance value;

wherein the at least one filament includes a polymeric inner strand and an metal cladding layer, further wherein the at least one filament when subject to a mechanical strain and creating an elongation in the at least one filament, has a second resistance value, and when subject to a heat, returns from the second resistance value to the first resistance value.

2. The heating element according to claim 1 , wherein the heat is at least 75° C.

3. The heating element according to claim 1 , wherein the heat is at least 120° C.

4. The heating element according to claim 1 , wherein elongation is less than 10%.

5. The heating element according to claim 1 , wherein the heating conductors comprise two or more filaments forming a strand bundle.

6. The heating element according to claim 5 , wherein the strand bundle when subject to the mechanical strain and creating the elongation in the strand bundle, has a lower second resistance value than that of the at least one filament alone.

7. A heating element for heating at least one surface contacted at times by a user comprising:

a: a carrier layer;

b: at least two electrodes arranged along opposing edges of the carrier layer; and

c: a plurality of heating conductors, each comprised of at least one filament, connectively disposed between the at least two electrodes and the at least one filament with a initial resistance value;

wherein the at least one filament includes a polymeric inner strand and an metal cladding layer, further wherein the at least one filament when subject to a mechanical strain and creating an elongation of less than 10% in the at least one filament, has a second resistance value, and when subject to a heat of at least 75° C., returns from the second resistance value to the first resistance value.

8. The heating element according to claim 7 , wherein the heat is at least 120° C.

9. The heating element according to claim 7 , wherein the heating conductors comprise two or more filaments forming a strand bundle.

10. The heating element according to claim 9 , wherein the strand bundle when subject to the mechanical strain and creating the elongation in the strand bundle, has a lower second resistance value than that of the at least one filament alone.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2015
From: WEISS, MICHAEL
To: W.E.T. AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AG
Reel/Frame 035706/0803 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 26, 2015
From: W.E.T. AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AG
To: GENTHERM GMBH
Reel/Frame 035807/0600 →