Grounded modular heated cover
The grounded modular heated cover is disclosed with a first pliable outer layer and a second pliable outer layer, wherein the outer layers provide durable protection, an electrical heating element between the first and the second outer layers, the electrical heating element configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy, a heat spreading layer, and a thermal insulation layer positioned above the active electrical heating element. Beneficially, such a device provides radiant heat, weather isolation, temperature insulation, and solar heat absorption efficiently and cost effectively. The modular heated cover quickly and efficiently removes ice, snow, and frost from surfaces, and penetrates soil and other material to thaw the material to a suitable depth. A plurality of modular heated covers can be connected on a single 120 Volt circuit protected by a 20 Amp breaker. The modular heated covers are grounded for safety using the conductive heat spreading layer.
1. A grounded modular heated cover comprising:
a pliable outer cover configured to provide durable protection in an outdoor environment, the pliable outer cover comprising:
a first external pliable outer layer having a first side and an exposed second side; and
a second external pliable outer layer having a first side and an exposed second side, such that the exposed second side of the first external pliable outer layer and the exposed second side of the second external pliable outer layer define an outermost shell of the heated cover;
a receiving power coupling configured to couple a power source, the receiving power coupling comprising a hot prong, a neutral prong, and a grounding prong;
one or more resistive elements for converting electrical energy to heat energy, the one or more resistive elements being electrically connected to the hot prong and neutral prong of the receiving power coupling and being disposed within the pliable outer cover and being configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy, the one or more resistive elements being positioned adjacent to the first side of the second external pliable outer layer;
a substantially planar heat-spreading element disposed within the pliable outer cover, the substantially planar heat-spreading element comprising an electrically-conductive material that is configured to spread the heat energy over a substantial surface area of the grounded modular heated cover, the heat-spreading element being situated proximate to the one or more resistive elements, the heat-spreading element being configured to draw the heat energy out of the one or more resistive elements and substantially evenly distribute the heat energy over the substantial surface area of the grounded modular heated cover, the heat-spreading element being electrically connected only to the grounding prong of the receiving power coupling such that the heat-spreading element is configured to act as a grounding layer and a heat-spreading layer;
an electrically insulating element separating the one or more resistive elements from the heat-spreading element such that the one or more resistive elements are not in electric communication with the heat-spreading element, the electrically insulating element having a first side that is in at least partially direct contact with the one or more resistive elements, and the electrically insulating element having an opposing second side that is in at least partially direct contact with the heat-spreading element; and
a thermal insulation layer disposed within the pliable outer cover and in at least partially direct contact with the first side of the first external pliable outer layer, the thermal insulation layer being positioned on a first side of and in at least partially direct contact with the heat spreading element, the heat spreading element being positioned between the thermal insulation layer and the one or more resistive elements, wherein heat from the one or more resistive elements conducts away from the thermal insulation layer, such that the thermal insulation layer directs more heat towards the second external pliable outer layer than towards the first external pliable outer layer.
2. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 1 , further comprising a female electric power coupling configured to couple the grounded modular heated cover to a second grounded modular heated cover by receiving a receiving power coupling of the second grounded modular heated cover, the female electric power coupling comprising a hot prong and a neutral prong connected to the one or more resistive elements of the grounded modular heated cover and a grounding prong electrically connected to only the heat-spreading element of the grounded modular heated cover.
3. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 2 , wherein the hot prong and neutral prong of the first receiving power coupling and the second receiving power coupling are simultaneously electrically connected to the one or more resistive elements and the grounding prongs of the first receiving power coupling and the second receiving power coupling are simultaneously electrically connected to the heat-spreading element.
4. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary grounding layer, the secondary grounding layer being electrically insulated from the one or more resistive elements and situated such that the one or more resistive elements are situated between the secondary grounding layer and the heat-spreading element, the secondary grounding layer being proximate to the one or more resistive elements and electrically connected to the grounding prong of the receiving power coupling.
5. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulating element comprises a grounding sheath, the grounding sheath encompassing the one or more resistive elements and further configured to be electrically connected to the grounding prong of the receiving power coupling.
6. The grounded modular heater cover of claim 1 , wherein the grounding prong comprises a connection blade, the connection blade being electrically connected to the heat-spreading element such that an electric connection is made along the plane of the heat-spreading element.
7. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 1 , wherein the heat spreading element is about three feet wide and between about 1 thousandths of an inch thick and about 40 thousandths of an inch thick.
8. A grounded modular heated cover comprising:
a first external pliable outer layer configured for durable protection in an outdoor environment, the first external pliable outer layer comprising a first surface and an opposing exposed second surface;
a second external pliable outer layer configured for durable protection in an outdoor environment, the second external pliable outer layer comprising a first surface and an opposing exposed second surface;
a receiving power coupling comprising a hot prong, a neutral prong, and a grounding prong, the receiving power coupling being configured to couple to an electrical power source;
one or more resistive elements for converting electrical energy to heat energy, the one or more resistive elements being disposed between the first and second outer layers and positioned adjacent to the first side of the second external pliable outer layer, the one or more resistive elements being electrically connected to the hot prong and neutral prong of the receiving power coupling;
a substantially planar heat-spreading element being disposed between the first external pliable outer layer and the second external pliable outer layer, the substantially planar heat-spreading element comprising an electrically-conductive material, the heat spreading element being configured to distribute the heat energy generated by the one or more resistive elements over a substantial portion of the surface area defined by the second external outer layer, the heat-spreading element being situated proximate to the one or more resistive elements such that the heat-spreading element substantially evenly distributes the heat energy from the one or more resistive elements over the substantial portion of the surface area defined by the second external outer layer, the heat-spreading element being electrically connected only to the grounding prong of the receiving power coupling such that the heat spreading element is configured to act as a grounding layer and a heat spreading layer;
an electrical insulation layer disposed between the one or more resistive elements and the heat-spreading element, the electrical insulation layer having a first side that is in at least partially direct contact with the one or more resistive elements, and the electrical insulation layer having an opposing second side that is positioned towards the heat-spreading element; and
a thermal insulation layer positioned between and at least partially in direct contact with the heat spreading element and the first surface of the first external outer layer such that heat from the one or more resistive elements conducts away from the thermal insulation layer and toward the second external outer layer, such that the thermal insulation layer directs more heat towards the second external outer layer than towards the first external outer layer, the heat-spreading element being positioned between the thermal insulation layer and the one or more resistive elements.
9. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 8 , further comprising a female electric power coupling configured to couple the grounded modular heated cover to a second grounded modular heated cover by receiving the receiving power coupling of the second grounded modular heated cover, the female electric power coupling comprising a hot prong and a neutral prong connected to one or both of the first and second resistive elements of the grounded modular heated cover and a grounding prong electrically connected to only the heat spreading element of the grounded modular heated cover.
10. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 9 , wherein the one or more resistive elements comprise at least first and second resistive elements, and the hot prong and the neutral prong of the second receiving power coupling are connected to both of the first and second resistive elements.
11. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 8 , further comprising a second grounding layer, the second grounding layer being electrically insulated from the first and second resistive elements and situated such that the first and second resistive elements are situated between the second grounding layer and the heat-spreading element, the second grounding layer being proximate to the first and second resistive elements and electrically connected to the grounding prong of the receiving power coupling.
12. The grounded modular heater cover of claim 8 , wherein the grounding prong comprises a connection blade, the connection blade being electrically connected to the heat-spreading element such that an electric connection is made along the plane of the heat-spreading element.
13. A grounded modular heated cover for heating a surface, the grounded modular heated cover comprising:
an external outer layer that provides durable protection for inner layers, the outer layer defining a surface area;
inner layers comprising:
(i) an electrical heating element having one or more resistive elements configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy;
(ii) a planar heat-spreading element comprising an electrically-conductive material in electrically-insulated contact with the electrical heating element for substantially uniformly distributing the heat energy generated by the electrical heating element over a substantial portion of the surface area defined by the external outer layer; and
(iii) a thermal insulation layer that directs more of the heat energy to a first side of the heated cover than to an opposing second side of the heated cover;
a receiving electrical power plug configured to be connected to a power source and comprising a hot prong and a neutral prong electrically connected to the one or more resistive elements such that electrical energy is obtained from the power source, the receiving electrical power plug further comprising a grounding prong electrically connected only to the heat-spreading element such that the heat spreading element is configured to act as a grounding layer and a heat spreading layer.
14. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 13 , wherein the inner layers further comprise a secondary grounding layer that is electrically insulated from the electrical heating element, the secondary grounding layer being electrically connected to the planar heat-spreading element such that both the secondary grounding layer and the planar heat-spreading element act as grounding layers for the grounded modular heated cover.
15. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 14 , wherein the grounding prong is electrically connected the secondary grounding layer.
16. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 13 , further comprising a connecting electrical power plug for conveying electrical energy from the grounded modular heated cover to a second modular heated cover, the connecting electric power plug comprising a hot prong and a neutral prong connected to the electrical heating element and a grounding prong electrically connected to the heat-spreading element.
17. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 13 , wherein at least one side of the external outer layer is colored so as to provide for maximum solar heat absorption.
18. The grounded modular heated cover of claim 13 , wherein a flap extends around an outer perimeter of the external outer layer, and wherein the flap includes a pocket that is configured to be filled with a weighted material.
19. The grounded modular heater cover of claim 13 , wherein the external outer layer comprises one or more heat welds.
20. The grounded modular heater cover of claim 13 , wherein the receiving power coupling comprises a first receiving power coupling, and the heated cover further comprises a second receiving power coupling, wherein:
the first receiving power coupling is configured to couple to a 120 Volt power source; and
the second receiving power coupling is configured to couple to a 240 Volt power source, the second receiving power coupling comprising:
a hot prong and a neutral prong, the hot prong and neutral prong being electrically connected to at least one of the one or more resistive elements; and
a grounding prong, the grounding prong being electrically connected to only the heat-spreading element.