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Portable heated seatingPortable heated seating description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070013213, Portable heated seating. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/670,327, filed Apr. 12, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/785,370, filed Mar. 24, 2006, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to seating, and more particularly, to portable heated seating. BACKGROUND [0003] Cushioned seat pads are commonly used by individuals while attending sporting activities, concerts, or other venues where comfortable seating is not readily available. While known portable, cushioned seat pads are quite versatile, these seats are of limited value when used outdoors in very cold weather conditions. Most seat pads completely lack heating capability. Known seat cushions that do provide integrated heating are not capable of power efficient and environmentally robust portable heating. For example, such seat pads typically require an AC power outlet to supply heating, which undesirably limits the portability of the seat pads to locations in which an AC power outlet is available. [0004] Further, existing heated seats, whether portable or otherwise, often experience one or more failures due to a break in the heating circuit. For example, in many applications, a wire filament or similar resistive heating element is used to provide the heat function to a seat. However, it is not uncommon in these applications for a single break or loss of connection in such a wire or similar element to result in a complete circuit failure (and thus, the elimination of the heating function). Moreover, repairs of such breaks or losses of connection are often not feasible due to the permanent manner of construction of the seats, or are undesirably costly. [0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved portable heated seating apparatus. SUMMARY [0006] In accordance with principles of the invention, portable heated seats and methods and systems for using the same are provided. According to various embodiments, these portable heated seats are easily transportable between different locations (e.g., using a handle or by simply gripping one or more portions thereof), and are provided with cushion material to compensate for harsh (e.g., hard) seating conditions that a user would otherwise face. [0007] One or more heating elements are also provided in each portable heated seat, some or each of which can be made of a flexible graphite material, or a mix of carbon and silver paste (or ink). According to various embodiments, the heater material being used has a large surface area that facilitates electrical contacts. Moreover, according to various embodiments, the heater material is cut into a circuitous serpentine configuration. In this manner, it is possible to use a resistive material having lower resistivity than would otherwise be required, given that, for a desired total resistance level, the required resistivity is inversely proportional to the length of the heating element. [0008] In accordance with principles of the invention, the heating function is enabled using one or more portable power sources, such as batteries. These power sources may be situated internal to the heated seat, or attached to the exterior. According to various embodiments, the heat settings of the one or more heating elements are controlled by one or more on/off switches, open loop temperature regulators, pressure push switches, sensor switches, and/or fuse circuits. A cutoff circuit may also be used to deactivate the heating function when the power level of the power source is determined to be below a certain threshold level. Moreover, a lighting element may also be used to indicate to a user when the heating function is being used. [0009] According to various embodiments, a backrest (similarly heated or not heated) may be connected to the portable heated seat. The portable heated seats (and optional backrests) may be used in a variety of settings, and may be used to compensate for cold temperatures, as well as for therapeutic purposes, and in various other situations and settings. [0010] Accordingly, a portable heated seating apparatus is disclosed, comprising a cushion material for providing seating support, and a heating element comprising silver carbon paste silk-screened upon a flexible substrate, the heating element positioned at or substantially near an outer surface of the cushion material for generating heat when electrical current is applied to the heating element. [0011] A portable heated seating apparatus is also disclosed that comprises a cushion material for providing seating support, and a heating element comprising flexible graphite, the heating element positioned at or substantially near an outer surface of the cushion material for generating heat when electrical current is applied to the heating element. [0012] A portable heated seating apparatus is also disclosed that comprises a heating element for generating heat from electrical current, a temperature controller operatively connected to the heating element to control activation of the heating element based on pulse width modulation, and a user-operated power selector adapted for selection of a power level. The temperature controller adjusts a pulse width duty cycle in correspondence with the selected power level to control a temperature level generated by the heating element. [0013] Additionally, a portable heated seating apparatus is disclosed that comprises a cushion material for providing seating support, a substantially flat heating element positioned at or substantially near an upper surface of the cushion material for generating heat when electrical current is applied, a fabric cover material for covering the cushion material and providing a substantially smooth seating surface on an upper side and a gripping surface on an lower side; and at least one pocket comprised within the fabric cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: [0015] FIG. 1 depicts a portable heated seating apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 depicts a portable heated seating apparatus according to at least a second embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 3A depicts an arrangement of a flexible graphite heating element according to at least one embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 3B depicts a tracing of a heating element comprised of silver and carbon paste, according to at least a second embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 3C depicts a cross-section of a heater assembly comprised of silver and carbon paste, according to at least a second embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading about Portable heated seating... Full patent description for Portable heated seating Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable heated seating patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Portable heated seating or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Bench seat for a vehicle Next Patent Application: Beverage arm rest Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Portable heated seating patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11493 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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