Chairs and seats – With heat exchanger or means to provide fluid or vapor... – Electric heating element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-04-24
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
With heat exchanger or means to provide fluid or vapor...
Electric heating element
C005S421000, C219S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220659
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to heated seats and more particularly to heated seats for use in an outdoor environment such as a stadium.
Various proposals have been made for heated seat designs for use in an outdoor stadium environment. However, none of these proposals have seen any significant commercial exploitation since each design suffers from one or more disadvantages. Specifically, the design is too expensive to install initially; the design is too expensive to operate; or the design is not rugged and durable enough to withstand prolonged exposure to the temperature and precipitation extremes encountered in an outdoor stadium environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This inventions is directed to the provision of an improved heated seat.
More specifically, this invention is directed to the provision of a heated seat that is especially suitable for use in an outdoor environment such as a stadium.
The heated seat of the invention is of the type including a seat cushion and a seat back. According to one feature of the invention, the seat cushion is hollow and defines a generally horizontally extending seating surface; a substrate member is positioned within the hollow of the cushion in generally horizontal disposition; a thin film heating element is positioned on the substrate member; and means are provided which are operative to transmit electrical energy from a location outside of the cushion to terminals of the thin film heating element. This basic arrangement provides a simple, efficient, waterproof, and durable heating construction for an outdoor seat.
According to further feature of the invention, the seat further includes expanded foam filling the hollow of the cushion in the region beneath the substrate member. The expanded foam serves to locate and fix the substrate member and further serves to discourage migration of heat downwardly from the heating element so as to concentrate the heat in an upward direction against the seating surface.
According to further feature of the invention, the cushion includes an opening proximate a rear edge of the cushion providing access to the hollow interior of the cushion; the substrate member and the thin film heating element comprise an insert; and the insert passes through the access opening in the rear edge of the cushion to position the thin film heating element in the hollow of the cushion beneath the horizontally extending seating surface. This insert arrangement facilitates the construction and assembly of the seat and preserves the waterproof aspect of the seat.
According to further feature of the invention, the insert further includes a handle member including a head trim portion positioned against an outer face of the rear edge of the seat and a neck portion extending forwardly from the head trim portion, passing through the access opening, and fixedly secured to a rear edge of the substrate member. The handle member thus facilitates the installation of the heating unit into the seat cushion without derogating the waterproof aspect of the seat.
According to a further feature of the invention, the seat cushion defines a rearwardly opening crevice within the hollow of the cushion proximate a front end of the cushion, and a forward edge of the substrate member is positioned in the crevice to define and fix the forward position of the substrate member. This coaction between the forward edge of the substrate member and the internally defined crevice further facilitates the installation of the heating assembly into the seat cushion.
According to a further feature of the invention, the seat back is hollow and a heating arrangement generally corresponding to the heating arrangement in the seat cushion is provided in the seat back.
The invention further provides a unique seating arrangement for a stadium. The seating arrangement of the invention comprises a plurality of seats arranged in rows and each including a seat cushion and a seat back; an elongated power lead extending proximate each row and passing proximate each seat in the row; a heating unit positioned in the seat cushion of each seat; a junction box electrically interposed in the power lead proximate each seat; and a detachable electrical connection proximate each seat detachably interconnecting the heating unit in each seat with the respective junction box. This arrangement provides a simple and effective means of selectively providing heating to a large plurality of seats in a stadium environment. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, each detachable electrical connection comprises a lead extending from the respective junction box and terminating in an electrical lead plug and an electrical plug positioned in a rear edge of the respective seat cushion and sized to detachably receive the lead plug.
The invention further provides a method of providing a heated seat. According to the invention method, a seat cushion is formed as a hollow closed structure including an opening providing access to the hollow interior of the seat; a heater unit is formed including an electrical resistance element; the heater unit is inserted through the access opening and into the hollow of the seat cushion; and electrical energy is delivered to the electrical resistance element from a source of electrical energy located exteriorly of the seat cushion. This methodology provides a simple and efficient means of constructing a heatable seat cushion especially suitable for outdoor use.
According to the further feature of the invention methodology, the heating unit includes a substrate member and a thin film heating unit secured to an upper face of the substrate member and defining the electrical resistance element; the access opening is provided in a rear edge of the seat cushion; and the heating unit is inserted forwardly through the access opening to position the substrate member within the hollow of the seat cushion and position the thin film heating unit beneath the seating surface of the seat cushion. This specific methodology further facilitates the ready and efficient construction of a heatable seat especially suitable for outdoor use.
According to further feature of the invention, the seat cushion is formed as a plastic article in a blow molding operation and the method further includes delivering expandable foam material into the hollow of the seat beneath the substrate. The expandable foam serves to fix the substrate member and further serves to discourage emigration of heat downwardly from the heating unit so as to concentrate the delivery of heat from the heating unit upwardly to the seating surface.
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Bernhardt Erich
Herold, III Bernard
McDowell Keith
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