A composite light weight, flexible and energy efficient, thermal source energy transfer assembly for the transfer of thermal energy in articles of warmth or cold and its method of construction is described. The assembly comprises a thermal energy generating membrane having opposed top and bottom surfaces. A first thermally insulating flexible down material sheet is secured to the top surface. A second thermally insulating flexible down material sheet is secured to the bottom surface and wherein the first thermally insulating flexible down material sheet has a thermal insulating value superior to the second thermally insulating flexible down sheet to thermally insulate the thermal energy generating membrane from an ambient temperature side of the thermal source energy transfer assembly when retained adjacent a surface area of a user person to be heated or cooled by heat or cold released by the thermal energy generating membrane. The second thermally insulating flexible down material sheet absorbs and distributes thermal energy transferred thereto by the thermal energy generating membrane. Several assembly examples and applications are described.

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.

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.

The present invention provides a conductive fabric comprising base cloth and a conductive metallic circuit structure formed on the surface of the base cloth. The conductive metallic circuit structure comprises at least one metallic seed layer and at least one chemical-plating layer. The metallic seed layer is an evaporation-deposition layer or a sputter-deposition layer and has a circuit pattern. The chemical-plating layer is applied over the surface of the metallic seed layer. The conductive fabric has improved conductivity and heat generation efficiency.

A safe electric blanket includes a main control circuit, a constant temperature circuit, a detection circuit, a heating wire, an overheat protection circuit for overheat detection and blowout, a power circuit for connecting mains electricity, and a fuse disposed between the mains electricity and the power circuit. The power circuit is connected to one end of the heating wire, the main control circuit, the detection circuit and the overheat protection circuit for supplying power. The main control circuit is connected to the detection circuit, the overheat protection circuit and the constant temperature circuit. The overheat protection circuit is connected to the fuse F1 for controlling the fuse F1 to blow. The constant temperature circuit is connected to another end of the heating wire for controlling a working state of the heating wire.

An electric heating pad for warming a patient includes a heated underbody support or heated mattress. The heated underbody support or mattress includes a heater assembly having a flexible sheet-like heating element, conductive bus bars attached at or near side edges of the heating element, and fabric side edge extensions attached to heating element side edges. The heated underbody support or mattress also includes a layer of polymeric foam positioned under the heater assembly and a shell, including at least two sheets of flexible material, covering at least a portion of the heater assembly and the layer of polymeric foam. When the heater assembly is wrapped around the top surface of the layer of polymeric foam, side edges of the heating element extend partially down the two side walls of the layer of polymeric foam and the conductive bus bars lie adjacent those two side walls.

A vehicle seat includes a seat portion having a heating element, such as an electrically conductive wire. A sensing structure having a characteristic that is responsive to a temperature of the heating element is provided adjacent to the heating element, such as by being helically wrapped thereabout or extending parallel thereto. For example, the sensing structure may include an optical fiber, and the characteristic of the sensing structure may be an amount of light transmitted through the optical fiber. A controller is responsive to the characteristic of the sensing structure for determining when the temperature of the heating element exceeds a predetermined value.

The wirelessly-controlled electric blanket is a domestic article. The wirelessly-controlled electric blanket is a textile structure known as a blanket. The wirelessly-controlled electric blanket is an electrically powered device known as an electric blanket. The wirelessly-controlled electric blanket comprises a blanket and a personal data device. The personal data device controls the operation of the blanket.

A wireless charging system for heated garments includes a garment body, a heater coupled to the garment body, a receiver coupled to the garment body and configured to wirelessly receive power, an energy storage element coupled to the garment body and configured to store charge provided to the receiver, a controller selectively providing power from the energy storage element to the heater, and a power supply including a transmitter configured to wirelessly provide power to the receiver when the transmitter is near the receiver.