A vehicle steering wheel having a rim to be gripped by a driver of the vehicle, a trim casing arranged to cover a body of the rim so as to at least partially form an outer surface of the rim, a flexible heating device inserted between the trim casing and the body of the rim, comprising at least one heating track, wherein the heating track is a surface track deposited on the flexible heating device, and in that the rim body comprises at least one groove arranged to house at least one part of the flexible heating device, said at least one part comprising a portion of the surface track.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a pressure sensitive heating element including a front electrode and a foam including a conductive material attached to one or both surfaces of the front electrode, and a method for manufacturing the same.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a pressure sensitive heating element including a front electrode and a foam including a conductive material attached to one or both surfaces of the front electrode, and a method for manufacturing the same.

An electrically powered warming sleeve comprised of multiple fabric layers enclosing one or more planar heating panels arranged for positioning the panels over major muscle groups. Operation of the warming sleeve is controlled by a switch, preferably with multiple “on” positions to adjust the level of heating. The switch is conveniently accessible on the exterior of the sleeve and may be made integral with LED indicators to signal the active level of heating. In some embodiments, a receptacle positioned at the proximate posterior portion of a sleeve houses a power receiving means which may be electrically connected to a rechargeable battery. Preferably, the heating panels of the sleeve are engineered to eliminate hot spots and incorporate material to emit far infrared radiation that will penetrate soft tissues of a wearer. The warming sleeve may be used to warm extremities while maintaining dexterity of the digits or as a therapeutic device.

Disclosed are an electrothermal film structure, an electrothermal film heating device and a method for manufacturing an electrothermal film. The electrothermal film structure includes a supporting layer, a meshed conductive circuit layer and a transparent optical layer. The meshed conductive circuit layer provided on the supporting layer includes several micron-level conductive circuits distributed in a mesh, and the transparent optical layer is provided on the meshed conductive circuit layer.

An electric heating pad for warming a patient. The electric heating pad may be a heated underbody support, heated mattress or heated mattress overlay. An embodiment of the heating pad includes a flexible sheet-like heating element including an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. The heating pad may also include a shell covering the heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material (e.g., two sheets may be one sheet folded over to form at least two sheets). The two sheets of flexible material may be coupled together about the edges of the heating element by a weld. The material of the two sheets may include urethane. In some embodiments, a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition is coated on or impregnated into an element within the shell, or on the interior surface of the shell.

Disclosed are methods of making low voltage joule heating elements (10, 40, 50) from carbon nanotubes (CNT) (32). In an embodiment, the heating element (10) includes layers (12) of aligned thin film CNTs. In another embodiment, the heating element (40) includes CNTs (32) dispersed in a polymer (34) to form a CNT polymer composite (30). In another embodiment, the heating element (50) includes CNT thread (52) stitched to a fabric (54). Each embodiment further includes a pair of electrodes (20, 22, 42, 44, 56, 58) that are configured to be couple to a source of electricity. Embodiments further include an encapsulating film (24, 46) over at least the heating element. The heating elements (10, 40, 50) produced by the processes disclosed herein are lightweight and highly efficient and suitable for many uses including incorporation into objects such as clothing and footwear.

Disclosed are methods of making low voltage joule heating elements (10, 40, 50) from carbon nanotubes (CNT) (32). In an embodiment, the heating element (10) includes layers (12) of aligned thin film CNTs. In another embodiment, the heating element (40) includes CNTs (32) dispersed in a polymer (34) to form a CNT polymer composite (30). In another embodiment, the heating element (50) includes CNT thread (52) stitched to a fabric (54). Each embodiment further includes a pair of electrodes (20, 22, 42, 44, 56, 58) that are configured to be couple to a source of electricity. Embodiments further include an encapsulating film (24, 46) over at least the heating element. The heating elements (10, 40, 50) produced by the processes disclosed herein are lightweight and highly efficient and suitable for many uses including incorporation into objects such as clothing and footwear.

Configurations are described that provide uniform heat distribution of resistive heaters. These configurations allow successful anti-icing and deicing with relatively low applied power. One aspect involves the use of a thin film heater applied just underneath the topcoat to efficiently direct all heat to the surface, allowing anti-icing and de-icing with minimal power. This can be accomplished by employing a hybrid electrode interface, using a metal foil or metal braid that is attached to the aircraft surface with a structural adhesive that has been smoothed along the edges with metal-filled adhesive. Another aspect uses an array of heater cells created as a single sheet and a heat spreading material, provided underneath or overtop of the heater cells.

Configurations are described that provide uniform heat distribution of resistive heaters. These configurations allow successful anti-icing and deicing with relatively low applied power. One aspect involves the use of a thin film heater applied just underneath the topcoat to efficiently direct all heat to the surface, allowing anti-icing and de-icing with minimal power. This can be accomplished by employing a hybrid electrode interface, using a metal foil or metal braid that is attached to the aircraft surface with a structural adhesive that has been smoothed along the edges with metal-filled adhesive. Another aspect uses an array of heater cells created as a single sheet and a heat spreading material, provided underneath or overtop of the heater cells.