US 6,211,493 B1Granted

Ice prevention mat system

OwnerGeni F. Boumaninventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An ice prevention mat system that includes multiple resilient electrically heatable mats that are positionable to cover a desired pathway and which includes a control circuit for maintaining each of the electrically heatable mats at a temperature sufficient to melt snow falling on the mat as well as to prevent the formation of ice on the mat top surface. Each of the multiple resilient electrically heatable mats has a top surface partially covered a non skid or slip coating as well as light assemblies along the side borders to clearly identify the side edges of the mats.

Claims1

Dependent claims

An ice prevention mat system comprising:

multiple resilient heatable mats;
multiple rigid plastic light assemblies;
a radio transmitter remote control unit;
and
a control/power circuit housing housing a programmable control circuit, a radio receiver and a remote code set switch and in connection with two two-conductor light assembly sockets and one three-conductor heating element and temperature sensor socket;
each of said multiple resilient heatable mats including a resilient pad member having a resistance heating element and a temperature sensor embedded therein and electrically connectable via a plug socket assembly and a jumper block for electrically linking said last resistance heating element into connection with a heat return conductor, a pair of light assembly receiving slots on opposed sides of said resilient pad member each having an open top and shaped to slidingly receive into an open slot end thereof one of said multiple rigid plastic light assemblies and prevent lateral removal of said rigid plastic light assembly through said open top, a number of drainage grooves formed into a bottom surface of said resilient pad member and a number of non-skid areas on a top surface of said resilient pad member between said pair of light assembly receiving slots;
each of said multiple resilient pad members being rollable into a roll for storage when no rigid plastic light assemblies are positioned within said light assembly receiving slots thereof;
said radio transmitter remote control unit transmitting activation and deactivation codes on a predetermined radio frequency in response to depression of a remote activation switch;
said programmable control circuit being in electrical connection with said temperature sensor and said heating element through said three-conductor heating element and temperature sensor socket, a remote code set switch for allowing a user to select activation and deactivation codes, said radio receiver tuned to said predetermined radio frequency, and two of said light assemblies using said two two-conductor light assembly sockets;
said programmable control circuit being programmed to monitor said radio receiver for activation and deactivation codes and to turn on said light outputs when a light activation signal is received and to turn off said light outputs when a deactivation signal is received;
said programmable control circuit being further programmed to monitor a temperature signal generated by said temperature sensor when said on/off switch is in said on position and to activate said heat output when said temperature signal is below a threshold trigger temperature that is greater than said freezing temperature of water and to deactivate said heat output when said temperature signal is above said threshold trigger temperature.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An ice prevention mat system comprising:

multiple resilient heatable mats;
multiple rigid plastic light assemblies;
a radio transmitter remote control unit;
and
a control/power circuit housing housing a programmable control circuit, a radio receiver and a remote code set switch and in connection with two two-conductor light assembly sockets and one three-conductor heating element and temperature sensor socket;
each of said multiple resilient heatable mats including a resilient pad member having a resistance heating element and a temperature sensor embedded therein and electrically connectable via a plug socket assembly and a jumper block for electrically linking said last resistance heating element into connection with a heat return conductor, a pair of light assembly receiving slots on opposed sides of said resilient pad member each having an open top and shaped to slidingly receive into an open slot end thereof one of said multiple rigid plastic light assemblies and prevent lateral removal of said rigid plastic light assembly through said open top, a number of drainage grooves formed into a bottom surface of said resilient pad member and a number of non-skid areas on a top surface of said resilient pad member between said pair of light assembly receiving slots;
each of said multiple resilient pad members being rollable into a roll for storage when no rigid plastic light assemblies are positioned within said light assembly receiving slots thereof;
said radio transmitter remote control unit transmitting activation and deactivation codes on a predetermined radio frequency in response to depression of a remote activation switch;
said programmable control circuit being in electrical connection with said temperature sensor and said heating element through said three-conductor heating element and temperature sensor socket, a remote code set switch for allowing a user to select activation and deactivation codes, said radio receiver tuned to said predetermined radio frequency, and two of said light assemblies using said two two-conductor light assembly sockets;
said programmable control circuit being programmed to monitor said radio receiver for activation and deactivation codes and to turn on said light outputs when a light activation signal is received and to turn off said light outputs when a deactivation signal is received;
said programmable control circuit being further programmed to monitor a temperature signal generated by said temperature sensor when said on/off switch is in said on position and to activate said heat output when said temperature signal is below a threshold trigger temperature that is greater than said freezing temperature of water and to deactivate said heat output when said temperature signal is above said threshold trigger temperature.

8 more elements