Connector arrangement for an electric blanket or the like having a low voltage power supply

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a heated pliable member such as an electric blanket, heating pad, mattress pad, etc., and more particularly to a connection arrangement for supplying power from a power supply to a wire-type heating element in the pliable member.

A heated pliable member, such as an electric blanket, heating pad, mattress pad or throw, includes a power supply that supplies electrical power to a resistive heating arrangement, such as one or more resistive heating wires, that are located throughout the area of the pliable member. A heated pliable member of this type is shown and described in copending application Ser. No. 10/269,189 filed Oct. 11, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The '189 application discloses a heated pliable member in which power is supplied to a heating wire from a low voltage power supply. A cord extends between the power supply and a connector associated with the pliable member, to provide power to the resistive heating wire of the pliable member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection arrangement for engaging the cord of a power supply, and in particular a low voltage power supply, with the resistive heating element, such as a heating wire, provided in the pliable member. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a connection arrangement that reduces strain on the ends of the heating wire at the connection arrangement. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a connection arrangement that incorporates a releasable engagement feature for securing a plug at the end of a power supply cord with the connection arrangement. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a connection arrangement that can be selectively configured for use with power supplies of different voltages while utilizing common components for the connection arrangement. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a connection arrangement which is relatively simple in its components, construction and assembly, so as to provide a relatively low cost of manufacture and assembly, while providing a reliable and secure connection of the power supply to the heating wire of the pliable member.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a connection arrangement for a heated pliable member, which includes a heating element such as a resistive heating wire having a pair of ends, includes a pin member that is engaged with each end of the heating wire. The pin members are engaged within passages defined by a housing, via cooperating engagement structure associated with the housing passages and the pin members for maintaining the axial position of the pin members within the housing. The housing is engaged with a mounting member, which is secured to the pliable member such that an outer portion of the mounting member is exposed and an inner portion of the mounting member is located in the interior of the pliable member. The mounting member includes wings or tabs that arc stitched into the material of the pliable member so as to maintain the mounting member, and thereby the housing, in place relative to the pliable member. In one form, the mounting member is overmolded onto the housing, to maintain the housing and the mounting member together.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the housing includes an outer section that extends outwardly from the mounting member, and which is adapted to be engaged by a plug or connector member that is interconnected with the power supply cord, which in turn is connected at its opposite end to the power supply. The power supply connector member includes power supply receivers that are adapted to receive the pin members when the power supply connector member is engaged with the outer section of the housing, to supply power to the resistive heating wire from the power supply. A releasable engagement arrangement is interposed between the connector member and the outer section of the housing, for preventing inadvertent disengagement of the connector member from the housing. The releasable engagement arrangement may be in the form of a ramp member on an outer surface defined by the outer section of the housing, which is engaged by a movable locking member when the connector member is engaged with the outer section of the housing. The locking member is movable between an engaged position, in which the locking member engages the ramp member to prevent inadvertent removal of the connector member from the outer section of the housing, and a release position in which the locking member is disengaged from the ramp member so as to enable the plug member to be disengaged from the outer section of the housing.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the configuration of the connection arrangement can be altered according to the characteristics of different power supplies, e.g. that are used with different types of pliable members such as heating pads, blankets, throws, mattress pads, etc. The housing includes a greater number of passages than the number of pin members that are engaged with the housing. Representatively, in an arrangement in which a pair of pin members are engaged one with each end of the resistive heating wire, the housing includes three passages, each of which is adapted to receive one of the pin members. The pair of pin members are engaged within the three passages in one of a number of predetermined pin member configurations wherein two of the passages are occupied by pin members and the third passage is empty, to enable engagement with a plug member having a matching configuration according to the characteristics of the power supply, e.g. the power supply voltage, and the heating output, length, etc. of the heating element.

The aspects of the connection arrangement as summarized above may be used in combination to provide a connection arrangement having a number of features that cooperate to enhance construction, assembly and operation of the connection arrangement. Alternatively, the features as summarized above may be used individually or in various subcombinations, to provide a power supply connection arrangement having a desired construction and operation.

Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1

is an isometric view illustrating a pliable heating member incorporating the connection arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a partial top plan view showing a portion of the pliable member and a connector member forming a part of the connection arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 3

is a partial isometric view showing the connector member of

FIG. 2 and a

portion of the pliable member to which the connector member is secured;

FIG. 4

is a partial section view taken along line

4

—

4

of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 5

is a partial section view taken along line

5

—

5

of

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 6

is a partial section view taken along line

6

—

6

of

FIG. 5

;

FIG. 7

is an isometric view showing the connector of

FIGS. 2-4

in combination with a connector member that is interconnected with the power supply in the heating arrangement of

FIG. 1

, for providing electrical power to the heating element contained within the pliable member from the connector member;

FIG. 8

is a side elevation view showing the connectors of

FIG. 7

in engagement with each other, and

FIGS. 9 and 10

are charts showing the wire connection configurations that can be incorporated in the connector of

FIGS. 2 and 3

for use with different power supplies for different applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to

FIG. 1

, a heating arrangement

10

generally includes a pliable member

12

having a wire-type resistive heating element

14

. Pliable member

12

may be in the form of a heating pad, blanket, mattress pad, throw, etc., and preferably includes a pair of layers between which heating element

14

is located. Heating element

14

covers a majority of the area of pliable member

12

, and radiates heat when electrical power is supplied to heating element

14

.

Heating arrangement

10

further includes a power supply

16

that is adapted for engagement with an electrical outlet or other power supply receptacle via a cord

18

having a plug

20

, in combination with a controller

22

that is engageable with power supply

16

via a connector

24

. A power supply cord

26

is engageable with power supply

16

via a connector

28

, and includes a connector

30

at the end opposite connector

28

, which is engageable with a connection arrangement

32

so as to enable the supply of power from power supply

16

through cord

26

to heating element

14

, in a manner to be explained.

Power supply

16

and controller

22

are shown and described in copending application Ser. No. 10/269,189 filed Oct. 11, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Generally, power supply

16

is responsive to operation of controller

22

so as to output low voltage electrical power, which is supplied to heating element

14

as described in the copending '189 application.

Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, connection arrangement

32

generally includes a housing

34

and a mounting member

36

. Housing

34

is preferably formed of a rigid thermoplastic material, and may be that such as is available from Molex, Inc. of Lisle, Ill. under its designation 50-29-0092. Housing

34

includes a series of passages

38

a

,

38

b

and

38

c

, which extend throughout the length of housing

34

.

Mounting member

36

includes a tubular body

40

that surrounds an inner portion of housing

34

, and a pair of wings or tabs

42

that extend outwardly in opposite directions from body

40

. Tabs

42

are coplanar, and extend from a lower wall defined by body

40

, below the area of body

40

within which housing

34

is received. Body

40

and tabs

42

are preferably formed of a pliable material, such as a soft rubber, and may be formed so as to be overmolded onto housing

34

so as to maintain housing

34

and mounting member

36

together. It is understood, however, that housing

34

and mounting member

36

may be interconnected together in any other satisfactory fashion.

Referring to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, pliable member

12

is preferably formed of at least two layers of material, shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

as L

1

and L

2

, so as to define an internal area located between layers L

1

and L

2

within which mounting member

36

is located. Mounting member

36

is maintained in position relative to pliable member

12

via a line of stitches, shown at

44

, that extend through layers L

1

and L

2

and through tabs

42

, so as to sandwich tabs

42

,

44

between layers L

1

and L

2

and to fix mounting member

36

, and thereby housing

34

, in position relative to pliable member

12

.

An opening

46

is formed in layer L

1

of pliable member

12

. Housing

34

includes an outer portion

48

that extends from mounting member

36

, the outer end of which extends through opening

46

so as to be accessible from the exterior of pliable member

12

.

Heating element

14

is in the form of a resistive wire having a pair of ends that are engaged with housing

34

via connector pins, such as shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

at

50

. Each connector pin

50

is adapted for engagement within one of recesses

38

a

,

38

b

,

38

c

, for securing the end of heating element

14

to housing

34

. The construction of connector pins

50

is known in the art, and a representative connector pin construction is available from Molex, Inc. of Lisle, Ill. under its Part No. 39-00-0048 (male) or 39-00-0038 (female). As shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, each connector pin

50

includes an outer engagement section

52

and a collar

54

that is engaged with the conductor of heating element

14

. Engagement structure is located between collar

54

and outer engagement section

52

, including a pair of side walls

56

having outwardly angled engagement wings

58

. Each passage, such as passage

38

b

, includes a narrowed area configured to receive and engage the engagement structure of connector pin

50

between outer engagement section

52

and collar

54

. The passage structure includes a rear shoulder

60

and a forward shoulder

62

, located on opposite sides of a throat

64

. With this construction, connector pin

50

is engaged within passage

38

b

in a push-in manner, in which wings

58

collapse during passage through throat

64

and thereafter expand outwardly to the position as shown in

FIG. 6

, to prevent retraction of connector pin

50

. Rear wings

66

on side walls

56

prevent connector pin

50

from being pushed through throat

64

, while engagement of the rear edges of forward wings

58

prevents connector pin

50

from being withdrawn from passage

38

b

. A connector pin such as

50

is engaged with each end of heating element

14

, for mounting the ends of heating element

14

to housing

34

.

As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 7

, outer portion

48

of housing

34

includes an engagement member

72

, which is formed integrally with one of the walls of housing

34

. Engagement member

72

includes a forward ramped surface

74

and a rear ramped surface

76

, which cooperate to define an obtuse angle.

Referring to

FIG. 7

, connector

30

at the end of power supply cord

36

includes a body

78

and engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

, that are configured to be received within passages

38

a

,

38

b

and

38

c

, respectively, of housing

34

. To ensure proper orientation of connector

30

relative to housing

34

, one of the passages in housing

34

, such as passage

38

c

, is configured differently than the others and the corresponding engagement member of connector

30

, such as engagement member

80

c

, has a matching configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, passage

38

c

has oblique edges and engagement member

80

c

has a cross section that matches that of passage

38

c

. In this manner, connector

30

can only be engaged with housing

34

in one orientation.

Connector

30

includes a frictional engagement member, in the form of a biased engagement arm

82

having a depending tab

84

, which is engageable with engagement member

72

so as to releasably maintain connector

30

in engagement with outer portion

48

of housing

34

. At its end, arm

82

is connected between a pair of mounting brackets

86

via a cross member

88

, which is secured to the end of arm

82

and extends between mounting brackets

86

. Mounting brackets

86

and cross member

88

are configured to bias arm

82

toward an engaged position, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

.

Engagement members

80

,

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

define passages within which receivers are located, which are configured to receive the engagement section

52

of one of connector pins

50

, in a known manner. The placement of the receivers within the passages of engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

corresponds to the placement of connector pins

50

within passages

38

a

,

38

b

and

38

c

, to establish an electrical connection of power supply

16

to heating element

14

through cord

26

, connector

30

and connection arrangement

32

. Connector

30

is shown in engagement with housing

34

of connection arrangement

32

in

FIG. 8

, in which engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

are received within passages

38

a

,

38

b

,

38

c

, respectively, of housing

34

of connection arrangement

32

, and engagement sections

52

of connector pins

50

are received within the receiver members in the appropriate ones of engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c.

During engagement of connector

30

with outer portion

48

of housing

34

, tab

84

of arm

82

engages forward ramp surface

74

of engagement member

72

, and rides along ramp surface

74

over the upper extent of engagement member

72

and then downwardly along rear ramp surface

76

so as to attain the position of FIG.

8

. Such positioning of tab

84

rearwardly of rear ramp surface

76

functions to provide a frictional connection of connector

30

to housing

34

, so as to maintain connector

30

in engagement with housing

34

and to prevent inadvertent disengagement of connector

30

. To disengage connector

30

, the user applies an axial outward force on connector

30

and connection arrangement

32

so as to separate connector

30

from housing

34

, which causes tab

84

to ride along rear ramp surface

76

and then forward ramp surface

74

. Cross member

88

, which applies a downward bias on arm

82

, enables arm

82

to pivot upwardly during such movement of connector

30

, and to thereafter return to its original position.

The same sequence of events occurs when a sudden axial force is applied, either to connector

30

or to cord

26

, that tends to separate connector

30

from housing

34

. In this manner, the ability of connector

30

to be disengaged from housing

34

prevents damage to either pliable member

12

or to heating element

14

, which may otherwise occur if connector

30

and housing

34

were interconnected via a structure locking such components together.

The present invention contemplates an arrangement that ensures that pliable member

12

can only be engaged with a power supply having parameters, e.g. voltage, that are compatible with the pliable member. To accomplish this, connector pins

50

at the ends of heating element

14

are engaged within a selected two of passages

38

a

,

38

b

and

38

c

, while the remaining one of the passages is left empty. The receivers in connector

30

are arranged similarly in the passages of engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

, to ensure that power supply

16

can only be electrically connected to a pliable member

14

that is designed to be powered by the power supply

16

.

FIGS. 9 and 10

illustrate the pin configurations for the different types of pliable members, such as mattress pad and blanket products, that can incorporate a heating element

14

for connection to a power supply

16

. Different power supplies

16

are used for the different products, and provide different voltage levels according to the characteristics and parameters of the pliable member that is being heated. The power supply connectors

28

and

30

have pin and receiver configurations as set forth in

FIGS. 9 and 10

, which match the arrangement of connector pins

50

in the passages of housing

34

and the receivers in the passages of engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

. In this manner, while any power supply connector

30

can be engaged with any housing

34

, an electrical connection between power supply

16

and heating element

14

is only provided when the configuration of connector pins

50

in housing

34

matches the configuration of the receiver members in the passages of engagement members

80

a

,

80

b

and

80

c

, to ensure that an appropriate power supply

16

is being used with an appropriate pliable member

14

.

Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A heating arrangement, comprising:a pliable member; a wire-type heating element in the pliable member, wherein the wire-type heating element defines a pair of ends; a connector secured to each end of the heating element; a housing including a plurality of passages, wherein each connector is engaged within one of the plurality of passages; and a mounting member secured to the pliable member, wherein the mounting member defines an interior and wherein the housing is located in the interior of the mounting member and is engaged with the mounting member; wherein a power supply member is engageable with the housing and includes a pair of power supply connectors that are configured for engagement with the connectors secured to the ends of the heating element.
2. The heating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the power supply member has power supply connectors in different configurations according to the characteristics of the power supply, and wherein the connectors are engaged within the passages of the housing to match the configuration of the power supply connectors of the power supply member.
3. The heating arrangement of claim 2, wherein the housing includes at least three passages and wherein the wire-type heating element comprises a wire member defining the pair of ends, wherein a pair of connectors are secured one to each end of the wire member, and wherein the connectors are engaged within the passages such that a pair of passages are occupied by the connectors and one of the passages is empty, wherein the arrangement of the connectors and the empty passage is selected according to the characteristics of the power supply and the power supply member.
4. A heating arrangement, comprising:a pliable member; a wire-type heating element in the pliable member, wherein the wire-type heating element defines a pair of ends; a connector secured to each end of the heating element; a housing including a plurality of passages, wherein each connector is engaged within one of the plurality of passages; and a mounting member secured to the pliable member, wherein the housing is engaged with the mounting member; wherein a power supply member is engageable with the housing and includes a pair of power supply connectors that are configured for engagement with the connectors secured to the ends of the heating element; and wherein the mounting member defines an interior within which the housing is located, and includes outwardly extending tab structure that is engaged with the pliable member so as to maintain the mounting member in position relative to the pliable member.
5. The heating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the mounting member is overmolded onto the housing.
6. The heating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the pliable member defines an interior and includes an opening providing access to the interior, wherein the housing is located in the opening and defines an inner portion located in the interior of the pliable member and an outer portion that is exposed to the exterior of the pliable member.
7. The heating arrangement of claim 6, wherein the housing includes an outer section that extends outwardly from the mounting member, wherein the power supply member includes a recess within which the outer portion of the housing is received.
8. The heating arrangement of claim 7, wherein the power supply member and the outer section of the housing include a releasable engagement arrangement for selectively maintaining the power supply member in engagement with the outer section of the housing.
9. The heating arrangement of claim 8, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement comprises a ramp member on the outer section of the housing, wherein the ramp member defines an engagement surface, and wherein the power supply member includes a movable locking member that is movable between an engaged position in which the locking member engages the engagement surface of the ramp to maintain the power supply member in engagement with the outer section of the housing, and a release position in which the locking member is disengaged from the engagement surface of the ramp to enable the power supply member to be disengaged from the outer section of the housing.
10. A heating arrangement, comprising;a pliable member; an electrical heating arrangement associated with the pliable member, wherein the electrical heating arrangement includes a wire-type heating member defining a pair of ends; an electrical connection arrangement including a housing within which the ends of the wire-type heating member are located, and a mounting member defining an interior, wherein the housing is located within the interior of the mounting member and is engaged with the mounting member, and wherein the mounting member is secured to the pliable member; a power supply for supplying electrical power to the electrical heating arrangement, including a power supply member, wherein the power supply member is releasably engageable with the electrical connection arrangement; and a releasable engagement arrangement associated with the power supply member and the electrical connection arrangement, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement is configured to selectively maintain the power supply member in engagement with the electrical connection arrangement.
11. The heating arrangement of claim 10, wherein the power supply member is configured for engagement with the housing of the electrical connection arrangement and wherein the releasable engagement arrangement is interposed between the power supply member and the housing.
12. The heating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the pair of ends of the wire-type heating member are interconnected with pin members engaged within passages defined by the housing, wherein the power supply member of the power supply arrangement is configured for engagement with the pin members when the power supply member is engaged with the housing of the electrical connection arrangement for establishing an electrical connection of the power supply arrangement with the wire-type heating member.
13. A heating arrangement, comprising:a pliable member; an electrical heating arrangement associated with the pliable member, wherein the electrical heating arrangement includes an electrical connection arrangement; a power supply for supplying electrical power to the electrical heating arrangement, including a power supply member, wherein the power supply member is releasably engageable with the electrical connection arrangement; and a releasable engagement arrangement associated with the power supply member and the electrical connection arrangement, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement is configured to selectively maintain the power supply member in engagement with the electrical connection arrangement; wherein the electrical heating arrangement comprises a wire-type heating member defining a pair of ends, and wherein the connection arrangement includes a housing within which the ends of the wire-type heating member are located, and a mounting member with which the housing is engaged wherein the mounting member is secured to the pliable member; and wherein the housing includes an outer portion that extends outwardly from the mounting member exteriorly of the pliable member, and wherein the releasable engagement arrangement comprises cooperating engagement structure on the power supply member and the outer portion of the housing for selectively maintaining the power supply member in engagement with the housing.
14. The heating arrangement of claim 13, wherein the cooperating engagement structure comprises a ramp member on the outer portion of the housing, wherein the ramp member defines an engagement surface, and a movable retainer member on the power supply member, wherein the movable retainer member is movable between an engaged position in which the movable retainer member is engaged with the engagement surface of the ramp member to maintain the power supply member in engagement with the outer portion of the housing, and a disengaged position in which the movable retainer member is disengaged from the engagement surface of the ramp member to enable the power supply member to be moved out of engagement with the outer portion of the housing.
15. A heating arrangement, comprising:a pliable member; an electrical heating arrangement associated with the pliable member, wherein the electrical heating arrangement includes a connection arrangement interconnected with the pliable member; and a power supply including a power supply member engageable with the connection arrangement; wherein the power supply member and the electrical heating arrangement include unique engagement structure to prevent connection of the electrical heating arrangement with an incompatible power supply and vice versa, wherein the power supply member and the connection arrangement include cooperating structure for providing engagement of the power supply member and the connection arrangement in a predetermined orientation; wherein one of the power supply member and the connection arrangement includes a number of passages and the other of the power supply member and the connection arrangement includes a number of engagement members, each of which is configured for engagement within one of the passages, and wherein the unique engagement structure comprises a number of first connectors in the connection arrangement interconnected with the electrical heating arrangement and engaged with the connection arrangement in a predetermined configuration, and a number of second connectors interconnected with the power supply and engaged with the power supply member in a predetermined configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the number of first connectors; and wherein the connection arrangement includes a number of first passages within which the first connectors are located, wherein there is a greater number of first passages than first connectors that are engaged with the electrical heating arrangement to define at least one empty first passage, and wherein the power supply member includes a number of second passages within which the second connectors are located, wherein there is a greater number of second passages than second connectors that are interconnected with the power supply to define at least one empty second passage, wherein the location of the empty first passage corresponds to the location of the empty second passage when the power supply and the electrical heating arrangement are compatible; wherein the power supply member has second connectors in different configurations according to the characteristics of the power supply, and wherein the first connectors are located within the passages of the connection arrangement so as to match the configuration of the second connectors of the power supply member.
16. The heating arrangement of claim 15, further comprising releasable engagement structure interconnected with the connection arrangement and the power supply member to releasably maintain the power supply member in engagement with the connection arrangement.
17. A heating arrangement comprising:a pliable member; an electrical heating arrangement associated with the pliable member, wherein the electrical heating arrangement includes a connection arrangement interconnected with the pliable member, wherein the connection arrangement includes a housing member and wherein the electrical heating arrangement includes a heating wire member defining ends that are engaged with the housing member; and a power supply including a power supply member engageable with the housing member of the connection arrangement; wherein the power supply member and the electrical heating arrangement include unique engagement structure to prevent connection of the electrical heating arrangement with an incompatible power supply and vice versa, and wherein the power supply member and the connection arrangement include cooperating structure for providing engagement of the power supply member and the connection arrangement in a predetermined orientation; and a mounting member defining an interior, wherein located within the interior of the mounting member and is engaged with the mounting member, wherein the mounting member is engaged with the pliable member to maintain the housing member in a predetermined position relative to the pliable member.
18. The heating arrangement of claim 17, wherein one of the power supply member and the housing includes a number of passages and the other of the power supply member and the housing includes a number of engagement members, each of which is configured for engagement within one of the passages, and wherein the unique engagement structure comprises a number of first connectors in the housing interconnected with the electrical heating arrangement and engaged with the housing in a predetermined configuration, and a number of second connectors interconnected with the power supply and engaged with the power supply member in a predetermined configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the number of first connectors.
19. A method of interconnecting a power supply to a connection arrangement connected to a heating element in a pliable member, comprising the steps of:providing the connection arrangement with a number of passages; engaging at least two connectors with the heating element and securing the at least two connectors within at least two of the passages in the connection arrangement, wherein at least one of the passages does not have a connector interconnected with the heating element; and engaging a power supply member with the connection arrangement, wherein the power supply member includes connection structure configured for engagement with the connection arrangement, and further includes at least two power supply connectors that are in locations corresponding to the locations of the at least two connectors of the connection arrangement; wherein the power supply member has power supply connectors in different configurations according to the characteristics of the power supply, and wherein the step of securing the at least two connectors within the passages of the connection arrangement is carried out so as to match the configuration of the power supply connectors of the power supply member.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of engaging the power supply member with the connection arrangement is carried out by engaging the power supply member with the connection arrangement in a predetermined orientation via cooperating engagement structure provided on both the connection arrangement and the power supply member.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of engaging at least two connectors within at least two of the passages in the connection arrangement is carried out such that the two connectors are arranged according to a predetermined configuration corresponding to the parameters of a power supply that is compatible with the heating element in the pliable member.

US Referenced Citations (4)

Number	Name	Date	Kind
2317189	Heiser et al.	Apr 1943	A
2696549	Sturtevant	Dec 1954	A
4585922	Berenson	Apr 1986	A
4927366	Tommerson et al.	May 1990	A

Connector arrangement for an electric blanket or the like having a low voltage power supply

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

US Referenced Citations (4)