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AssigneePerfect Fit Industries, Inc.
InventorsSheldon P. Carr, Richard Zimmerer
Estimating the term…
An electrically operated heating device, such as an electric blanket, mattress pad, heating pad or throw having a pliable member, includes heating elements located within an interior defined by the pliable member which are configured to prevent breakage or disconnection of the heating elements in the event the pliable member is subjected to a concentrated load that applies tension to the heating elements. The interior of the pliable member includes a series of passages within which the heating elements are located. The heating elements have a non-linear configuration such that the overall length of the heating element contained within each passage has a length greater than that of the passage, which enables the heating elements to stretch and flex when the blanket portion is subjected to a concentrated load. The ends of adjacent heating elements are connected, such that the heating elements are defined by a single length of heating wire that is placed in a back and forth manner throughout the surface area of the blanket portion. The heating wire defines ends which are engaged with a power input for supplying electrical power to the heating elements.
A heating device, comprising:
In an electrically operated heating device including a pliable member having an interior within which one or more elongated heating elements are located, the improvement comprising one or more passages within the interior of the pliable member, wherein an elongated heating element is located within each passage and is configured such that the heating element has a non-linear configuration and defines an overall length greater than a length defined by the passage, to alleviate stress on the heating element resulting from application of a tensile force to the heating element.
A method of positioning one or more elongated heating elements within an interior defined by a pliable member forming a part of an electrically operated heating device, comprising the step of placing each heating element within a passage associated with the interior of the pliable member such that each heating element has a non-linear configuration and a length greater than that of the passage, to alleviate stress in the heating element resulting from tensile forces applied to the heating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.