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US 6,184,496 B2Granted
Driveway, walkway and roof snow and ice melting mat
AssigneeClearpath, Inc.
InventorRichard J. Pearce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A relatively lightweight and easy to use flexible heating mat for melting snow and ice that can be cut in the field to custom length or to accommodate direction changes or avoid obstructions. The heating mat includes one or more planar flexible heaters sandwiched between two vulcanized polymer protective sheets. The heating mat may be activated remotely or manually and can be powered from either end of the heating mat. Nonskid patterns ate typically included in heating mats used on driveways and walkways.
Claims62
A heating mat for melting snow and ice comprising:
- at least one planar flexible electric heater;
- the at least one planar flexible electric heater including a first elongated, flexible, electrically insulating substrate having an electrically insulated surface;
- the at least one planar flexible electric heater further including a plurality of resistive heating elements comprising a plurality of resistive material traces deposited on said first insulating substrate in spaced apart relationship, a first and second electrical conductors, each disposed in proximity to each of respective opposing edges of said electric heater and a third electrical conductor disposed at an intermediate location between the first and second electrical conductors, each of said resistive material traces being in electrical communication with the first, second and third electrical conductors and extending therebetween;
- the at least one planar flexible heater further including a second elongated, flexible, electrically insulating substrate having an electrically insulated surface, wherein the first insulating substrate is adhesively attached to the second insulating substrate with the resistive heating elements and electrical conductors disposed therebetween, the first insulating substrate and the second insulating substrate forming the at least one flexible electric heater's two opposite planar surfaces;
- and
- two protective sheets composed of abrasion resistant flexible material, each having an inner surface oriented towards and in face to face adherent engagement with the respective planar surfaces of the at least one flexible electric heater, said two protective sheets and said electric heater disposed therebetween forming the heater mat having two opposing end edges, and two opposing side edges,
- wherein the resistive heating traces and electrical conductors are arranged such that a portion of the heating mat may be removed to accommodate a use by cutting the heating mat to remove said portion, the heating mat being adapted to maintain its electrical operative characteristics after removal of said portion.
4 more elements
A heating mat for melting snow and ice comprising:
- at least one planar flexible electric heater;
- the at least one planar flexible electric heater including a first elongated, flexible, electrically insulating substrate having an electrically insulated surface;
- the at least one planar flexible electric heater further including a uniform layered resistive heating element comprising a generally uniform layer of resistive material traces deposited on said first insulating substrate, a first and second electrical conductors, each disposed in proximity to each of respective opposing edges of said electric heater and a third electrical conductor disposed at an intermediate location between the first and second electrical conductors, the resistive material traces being in electrical communication with the first, second and third electrical conductors and being in an underlying relationship;
- the at least one planar flexible heater further including a second elongated, flexible, electrically insulating substrate having an electrically insulated surface, wherein the first insulating substrate is adhesively attached to the second insulating substrate with the resistive heating element and electrical conductors disposed therebetween, the first insulating substrate and the second insulating substrate forming the at least one flexible electric heater's two opposite planar surfaces;
- and
- two protective sheets composed of abrasion resistant flexible material, each having an inner surface oriented towards and in face to face adherent engagement with the respective planar surfaces of the at least one flexible electric heater, said two protective sheets and said electric heater disposed therebetween forming the heater mat having two opposing end edges, and two opposing side edges,
- wherein the resistive heating traces and electrical conductors are arranged such that a portion of the heating mat may be removed to accommodate a use by cutting the heating mat to remove said portion, the heating mat being adapted to maintain its electrical operative characteristics after removal of said portion.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.