Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CAR SEAT ~EATING DEVICE WHICH CAN
BE FITTED SUBSEQUENTLY
The invention relates to a car seat heating
device, and in particular to a car seat heating
device which can be fitted subsequently.
As is known, the seats of an increasing n~mber of
cars and commercial vehicles are being e~uipped
with car electric seat heating devices, either as
a production line fitting or as a special
accessory ex works. Subse~uent installation of
such seat heating in the original design is only
possible at great expense, or not at all. For this
reason a series of car seat heating devices
has been developed which can be f itted
subsequently and which act as s~perimposed seat
heaters similar to electric heated cushions,
attached by means of tapes to the surface of the
seat, or as loose seat covers with integrated seat
heating, produced to fit the individual seats of
the various vehicles, and fitted over the seat and
back.
These known forms of car seat heaters fitted
subsequently use relatively thick insulated stranded
heating conductors made of copper, the mechanical
strength of which is relatively low. Since car
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2~72~
seat heaters develop folds if they are not
expertly fitted or if the heating elements used do
not fit perfectly, kinks form in the stranded copper
conductors. Yehicle and seat vibrations give rise
to high flexural stresses, which in the kink area
lead to breakage of the Individual strands of the
conductor after only a short time. This results in
local o~erheating, described as a hot spot, which
can cause fires. In order to c~unteract this
danger, the heating mats have a very thick
structure, in order to prevent the formation of
folds. In addition stretching frames made of
spring steel wires are used. Although in thick
heating mats fold formation no longer occurs, the
heating up times are very lon~. They also alter
and impair the seating comfort and seatin~
climate.
Contrary to the market requirements for very
varied forms, colours and materials, for economic
reasons only a few variants of seat covers with
integrated seat heating are available.
The o~ject on which the invention is based
therefore consists in providing a car seat heating
device, in particular a car seat heating device
which can be fitted subsequently, which can be
manufactured as a mass-produced article and is
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suitable for all known car seats, without any
safety risks or disadvantages concerning com~ort.
According to the invention this object is achieved
by means of a car seat heating device, and in
particular by a car seat heating device which can
be fitted subse~uently, having a thin,
electrically insulated, three-dimensionally
resilient carrier material permeable to air and
humidity, a flat resilient heating element applied
to the carrier material, with a latticed structure
comprising free spaces, having a parallel
conductor arrangement with three-dlmensional
deformability, a resilient adhesive film permeable
to air and humidity, which is applied to the
heating element and bonds the latter by adhesion
to the carrier material through the free spaces in
the latticed structure, and having a protective
foil appliet to, and separable from the adhesive
film, wherein the adhesive strength of the
adhesive film is designed for attachment to the
back of a car seat cover.
The car seat heater according to the invention can
be produced such that it is very thin, since the
formation of folds does not constitute any safety
risk, owing to the ~ka~ heating element used,
which is the subject matter of patent applications
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2~72~-2
P 40 20 580.~ and P 41 01 290.9. Owing to the thin
structure, the effect of heating can be felt very
quickly. The seating comfort and seating climate
are only slightly impaired.
Advantageously the adhesive film is a double-sided
adhesive foil. Permanent adhesives of this type,
having a high level of contact adhesion, are
available commercially.
The carrier material is preferably a thin
upholstery material ~eg foam material) backed by a
textile flat shap~d article.
The car ~eat heater is particularly suitable for
adhesive attachment to the ~ack of a loose seat
cover, which is produced according to the required
form, colour and size, and to which the car seat
heater can be simply and firmly attached, after
the protective foil has been removed.
The car seat heater which can be fitted
subsequently can comprise a carrier material which
is continuous for the seat and back, wherein El~L
heating elements are provided in the seat and back
areas, whereas the area therebetween is an
unheated surface, suitable for accommodation of
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the electrical connections and directinq them later~lly
to the outside.
The invention is explained in greater detail by
means of a drawing, showing a cross-section of an
em~odiment of the car sea~ heater.
The car seat heater s~ in the drawing which ~ be fitt~d
subsequently comprises a thin strip-like carrier
material 4 made of textile-reinforced foam
material. To this carrier material there is
SV~
applied a ~ heating element 2 with a latticed
structuro comprising free spaces 5 and which can
be deformed three-dimensio~ally. A resilient
synthetic resin adhesive film 3 which is Dermeahle
to air and humidity , and is covered on one side
with the protective fcil, is pressed onto the ~h~r
heating element 2. The synthetic resin adhesive
film 3 passes through the free spaces 5 in the
mesh-type structure of the ~ heating element 2
~P,~C~
and bonds the ~Pr heating element 2 to the
carrier material 4. The protective foil 1 applied
to this structure for the pur?ose of storage and
dispatch, a~d which adheres to the adhesive film
3, can easily be removed therefrom.
.
For installation of the car seat heater, the
protective foil 1 is remLved. The car seat heater is
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then ~onded ~y means of the adhesive film 3 to
the inner side of a car seat cover or to the back
of a loose seat cover, wherein the adhesive
strength is sufficient for non-slip attachment.
