# US 5,352,862 A · High wattage surface contact resistance heater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,352,862 A - Document ID: US5352862A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/973,752 - Filed: 1992-11-09 - Granted: 1994-10-04 - Earliest claimed: 1992-11-09 - Assignees: Five Star Manufacturing, Inc. - Inventors: George A. Barr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5352862A ## CPC - H05B 1/0236: {for vehicles} - F01M 5/021: {by heating} - H05B 3/34: flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs - H05B 2203/013: Heaters using resistive films or coatings - H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids - H05B 2203/033: Heater including particular mechanical reinforcing means - H05B 2203/037: Heaters with zones of different power density - H05B 2213/07: Heating plates with temperature control means - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING ## Abstract A pliable high wattage electrical resistance contact heater which is operable at two wattage densities and which includes a first heating element which is thermostatically controlled so as to activate at predetermined ambient and/or surface temperatures and a second overlapping heating element which is continuously activated when the heater is connected to a source of electrical power supply. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dual operational electrical resistance heater comprising, a pliable body having an inner contact surface and an outer surface, a first heating element disposed within said body and having a first wattage density per unit area, a second heating element disposed within said body, said first and second heating element being in overlapping relationship to one another, said second heating element having a second wattage density per unit area, said first wattage density being greater than said second wattage density, connector means for connecting said first and second heating elements to a source of electrical power supply, said second heating element being non-thermostatically controlled so as to be continuously energized when said connector means is connected to a source of electrical power supply, a thermostat means mounted between said connector means and said first heating element for regulating the power supply to said first heating element, whereby when said connector means is connected to the source of electrical power supply said second heating element is activated to provide a continuous source of heat and said first heating element is activated in response to said thermostat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical resistance heater of claim 1 in which said first heating element is disposed between said second heating element and said inner contact surface of the heater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical resistance heater of claim 1 including an adhesive layer provided along said inner contact surface of said body for securing said heater to an object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical resistance heater of claim 1 in which said second wattage density is generally not greater than approximately one-third of the total wattage density of said first and second wattage densities. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical resistance heater of claim 1 including a flexible electrically insulated material layer disposed between said first and second heating elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical resistance heater of claim 5 in which each of said first and second heating elements are etched foil circuits, and said body is formed of an electrically insulated material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electrical resistance heater of claim 5 including an extension portion extending outwardly from said body, said thermostat being mounted on said extension portion remote from said body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical resistance heater of claim 1 including an extension portion extending outwardly from said body, said thermostat being mounted on said extension portion remote from said body. ### Claim 9 A dual operational electrical resistance heater for use in heating the oil in an oil pan of a vehicle comprising, a pliable body having an inner contact surface and outer surface, a first heating element disposed within said body and having a first wattage density per unit area, a second heating element disposed within said body in overlapping relationship to said first heating element, said second heating element having a second wattage density per unit area which is less than said first wattage density, connector means for connecting said first and second heating elements to a source of electrical power supply, said second heating element being non-thermostatically controlled so as to be continuously energized when said connector means is connected to a source of power supply, thermostat means mounted between said connector means and said first heating element for regulating power to said first heating element whereby when said connector means is connected to the source of electrical power supply said second heating element is activated to provide a continuous source of heat to the oil pan and said first heating element is activated in response to said thermostat means to increase the heat supply to the oil in the oil pan. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrical resistance heater of claim 9 in which said first heating element is mounted between said second heating element and the inner contact surface of the heater. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrical resistance heater of claim 10 including adhesive means for mounting said body to the oil pan. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical resistance heater of claim 11 including means for securing said thermostat means to the oil pan. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The electrical resistance heater of claim 10 in which said pliable body includes a main body portion and an outwardly extending element mounted thereto, said thermostat means being mounted remotely from said main body portion along said outwardly extending element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The electrical resistance heater of claim 9 in which said first and second heating means have a combined wattage density not exceeding approximately twenty watts per square inch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrical resistance heater of claim 14 in which said second wattage density is not greater than approximately one-third of the combination of said first and said second wattage densities. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The electrical resistance heater of claim 10 in which said second wattage density is not greater than approximately one-third of the combination of said first and said second wattage densities.