In one example, a heating and cooling garment system includes a garment, and a plurality of heating and cooling zones positioned within a portion of the garment. Each heating and cooling zone is configured to independently heat or cool based on heating and/or cooling instructions received from a mobile application executed on a wireless device.

An all-inclusive electrical heating liner for use in the fabrication of articles of different sizes requiring to be heated is disclosed. It is comprised of a thermally insulating fabric piece which is shaped to define two or more panels to which are secured patterns of heating wires at specific locations. The spaced relationship between the two or more panels is adjustable whereby the liner can be incorporated in articles of different sizes. The adjustments are made by adjustable band sections provided with delineated line formations permitting specific pleating and securement and wherein a wire interconnecting the patterns of heating wires detachably extends across the delineated line formations. The liner incorporates a power supply, controls, switches, wiring, connectors and other components thereby facilitating the incorporation of the liner into an article of different sizes resulting in a cost reduction to the manufacturer of such heated articles. Various embodiments are described to show that the all-inclusive one-piece heating liner is adaptable to many articles, such as pants sleeping bags and bags which require control heating.

An automatic switching device is described to switch on an electric heater based on a user wearing a down jacket and switch off the electric heater based on the user not wearing a down jacket. The automatic switching is based on an image collection unit collecting an image of the user, and an image processing unit processing the image to determine if down jacket is in the image. The image collection unit may be adjusted to a position so that it may collect the image between a shoulder and a waist of the user. The adjustment of the position is based on a measured distance between the image collection unit and a floor by an ultrasonic transducer. Since the velocity of sound in air varies with the ambient temperature, a temperature unit is utilized to detect the ambient temperature so that an accurate velocity of sound may be retrieved from a table.

Various implementations include a self-heating device. The device includes an electrically insulative layer, an electrically conductive layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The electrically insulative layer has a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface. The electrically conductive layer has a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface. The second surface of the conductive layer is coupled to the first surface of the insulative layer. The conductive layer includes a polymer. Conductive nanoparticles are embedded in the polymer. The first electrode and a second electrode are coupled to the conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart from each other and in electrical communication with each other through the conductive layer. The conductive layer produces heat through Joule heating when electrical current is passed through the conductive layer.

A garment and tether system is presented. The system includes a garment and tether. The garment includes: a garment body, and at least one electrical element connected to the garment body. The tether includes: a first end and a second end, at least one electrical conductor operatively connected between the first and second ends, and an electrical contact at the second end. The tether is connected to the garment at the first end, the second end being removably connectable to a base disposed on a vehicle. The base is adapted to provide power to the at least one electrical conductor of the tether via the electrical contact. The at least one electrical element is provided power from the vehicle via the tether.

A heater assembly or dryer appliance, as provided herein, may include a housing, a heating element, and a thermostat. The housing may have an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may define a chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The housing may further include an embossing mount extending radially outward along the outer surface. The heating element may be disposed within the chamber to selectively heat air in a flow of heated air from the inlet to the outlet. The thermostat may be mounted on the outer surface of the housing. The thermostat may include a probe, a first mounting tab, and a second mounting tab. The probe may be positioned in thermal communication with the chamber. The first mounting tab may be secured to the embossing mount. The second mounting tab may be held against the outer surface.

This invention provides improved printed heaters to heat a variety of articles. The improvement comprises replacing the single large area resistive material layer with columns of a number of small patches of resistive material or of continuous resistive material, i.e., replacing the single large area heater with a number of smaller individual heaters. Printing of the resistive material is facilitated since the area of each resistive material patch is greatly reduced. In addition, some embodiments enable the opportunity to provide a breathable heater for use in wearable garments.

This invention provides gloves and socks containing printed heaters. The glove or sock with a heater comprises a glove or sock, a substrate with the outline of the glove or sock, and a heater printed on the substrate wherein the substrate is laminated to the glove or sock. The heater comprises two printed conductive bus bars with extensions traversing the substrate and an array of printed resistive areas arranged so that each area is between and overlaps and is contiguous to two conductors, one of which is one of the bus bars or its extensions and the second is the other bus bar or its extensions.

Wireless charging systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes: sending, by a receiver, a communication signal to a transmitter, the receiver being embedded in a radio frequency (RF) transparent housing that is adapted to electrically connect the game controller with the receiver, wherein: the receiver is separated from the transmitter by a non-zero distance, the RF transparent housing supports the game controller, and the communication signal includes information that allows the transmitter to determine the receiver's location. After the sending, the method includes: (A) receiving, by the receiver, RF signals from the transmitter, wherein: the transmitter determines parameters of the RF signals based on the communication signal, and at least one RF signal from the RF signals constructively interferences with at least one other RF signal from the RF signals at the receiver's location, and (B) converting, by the receiver, the received RF signals into electricity.

This present disclosure relates to a flexible heating device having a unique layered assembly structure including a flexible heat generating layer. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the flexible heating device and method of use of the flexible heating device in various applications.