Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-26
2001-04-03
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C219S528000, C219S549000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211493
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to safety equipment and more particularly to an ice prevention mat system for preventing the accumulation of ice and snow on footpaths, driveways, basketball courts, etc. that includes multiple resilient heatable mats, multiple rigid plastic light assemblies, a radio transmitter remote control unit and a control/power circuit housing for 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 the 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 the last resistance heating element into connection with a heat return conductor, a pair of light assembly receiving slots on opposed sides of the resilient pad member each having an open top and shaped to slidingly receive into an open slot end thereof one of the multiple rigid plastic light assemblies and prevent lateral removal of the rigid plastic light assembly through the open top, a number of drainage grooves formed into the bottom surface of the resilient pad member and a number of non-skid areas on the top surface of the resilient pad member between the pair of light assembly receiving slots; each of the multiple resilient pad members being rollable into a roll for storage when no rigid plastic light assemblies are positioned within the light assembly receiving slots thereof; the radio transmitter remote control unit transmitting activation and deactivation codes on a predetermined radio frequency in response to depression of a remote activation switch; the programmable control circuit being in electrical connection with the temperature sensor and the heating element through the three-conductor heating element and temperature sensor socket, a remote code set switch for allowing a user to select activation and deactivation codes, the radio receiver tuned to the predetermined radio frequency, and two of the light assemblies using the two two-conductor light assembly sockets; the programmable control circuit being programmed to monitor the radio receiver for activation and deactivation codes and to turn on the light outputs when a light activation signal is received and to turn off the light outputs when a deactivation signal is received; the programmable control circuit being further programmed to monitor a temperature signal generated by the temperature sensor when the on/off switch is in the on position and to activate the heat output when the temperature signal is below a threshold trigger temperature that is greater than the freezing temperature of water and to deactivate the heat output when the temperature signal is above the threshold trigger temperature.
BACKGROUND ART
Many individuals are injured each year from slipping on snow covered or icy pathways. Although shoveling can remove the snow from the pathway, it requires a large amount of work which many infirm individuals are unable to perform. It would be benefit to these individuals to have an ice prevention mat system that included multiple resilient electrically heatable mats that could be positioned to cover the desired pathway and which included 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. Because water, snow and sleet can be slippery, it would be further benefit to have an ice prevention mat system that included multiple resilient electrically heatable mats wherein the top surface of each matt included a non skid or slip coating on portions thereof as well as light assemblies along the borders to clearly identify the side edges of the mats.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide an ice prevention mat system that includes multiple resilient heatable mats, multiple rigid plastic light assemblies, a radio transmitter remote control unit and a control/power circuit housing for 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 the 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 the last resistance heating element into connection with a heat return conductor, a pair of light assembly receiving slots on opposed sides of the resilient pad member each having an open top and shaped to slidingly receive into an open slot end thereof one of the multiple rigid plastic light assemblies and prevent lateral removal of the rigid plastic light assembly through the open top, a number of drainage grooves formed into the bottom surface of the resilient pad member and a number of non-skid areas on the top surface of the resilient pad member between the pair of light assembly receiving slots; each of the multiple resilient pad members being reliable into a roll for storage when no rigid plastic light assemblies are positioned within the light assembly receiving slots thereof; the radio transmitter remote control unit transmitting activation and deactivation codes on a predetermined radio frequency in response to depression of a remote activation switch; the programmable control circuit being in electrical connection with the temperature sensor and the heating element through the three-conductor heating element and temperature sensor socket, a remote code set switch for allowing a user to select activation and deactivation codes, the radio receiver tuned to the predetermined radio frequency, and two of the light assemblies using the two two-conductor light assembly sockets; the programmable control circuit being programmed to monitor the radio receiver for activation and deactivation codes and to turn on the light outputs when a light activation signal is received and to turn off the light outputs when a deactivation signal is received; the programmable control circuit being further programmed to monitor a temperature signal generated by the temperature sensor when the on/off switch is in the on position and to activate the heat output when the temperature signal is below a threshold trigger temperature that is greater than the freezing temperature of water and to deactivate the heat output when the temperature signal is above the threshold trigger temperature.
Accordingly, an ice prevention mat system is provided. The ice prevention mat system includes multiple resilient heatable mats, multiple rigid plastic light assemblies, a radio transmitter remote control unit and a control/power circuit housing for 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 the 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 the last resistance heating element into connection with a heat return conductor, a pair of light assembly receiving slots on opposed sides of the resilient pad member each having an open top and shaped to slidingly receive into an open slot end thereof one of the multiple rigid plastic light assemblies and prevent lateral removal of the rigid plastic light assembly through the open top, a number of drainage grooves formed into the bottom surface of the resilient pad member and a number of non-skid areas on the top surface of the resilient pad
Breaux Joseph N.
Dahbour Fadi H.
Walberg Teresa
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