Patent Application
20230403764
The present application relates to a rechargeable electrical heating device.
Currently there are multiple types of electric heating devices on the market for lady pants, napkin cases and other personal hygiene products. The electric heating device for lady pants, napkin cases and other personal hygiene products generally comprises laid electric heating wires, which have several common disadvantages. The electric heating wires are usually unevenly distributed, leading to unevenly heating and local overheating. The electric heating wires are usually not waterproof and will be oxidized in moist environment such as inside a washing machine. The electric heating wires are usually sewed in the product, making the product hard to be bent. Furthermore, after being bent for certain times, the bent portion of the electric heating wires will be broken and cause short circuit. The electric heating devices usually have a temperature control and a fuse, making its structure complex.
In view of known solutions in the art, it is desired to provide a rechargeable electrical heating device that can be used continuously with power supply or reused with disposable batteries.
Another object of the disclosure is to provide a rechargeable electrical heating device that can be exposed to air without affecting its heating effect and control difficulty.
Another object of the disclosure is to provide a rechargeable electrical heating device that can self-control its temperature.
The herein mentioned objects are achieved with a rechargeable electrical heating device which comprises: a flexible heat generator, and a power source connected to the flexible heat generator, wherein the flexible heat generator comprises: a first flexible substrate layer, a first conductive line arranged on the first flexible substrate layer, wherein the first conductive line comprises a first positive line and a first negative line, a first heat generating line arranged on the first flexible substrate layer and covering a portion of the first conductive line, a second flexible substrate layer arranged on the first flexible substrate layer and covering the first conductive line and the first heat generating line, wherein the second flexible substrate layer is bonded to the first flexible substrate layer by means of a hot-pressing process, and a first connector arranged between the first flexible substrate layer and the second flexible substrate layer and electrically connected to the first conductive line, wherein the first positive line and the first negative line are not directly connected to each other, and wherein the first positive line is electrically connected to the first negative line by means of the first heat generating line.
According to an embodiment, the flexible heat generator comprises: a second conductive line arranged on an opposite side of the first flexible substrate layer relative to the first conductive line, wherein the second conductive line comprises a second positive line and a second negative line, a second heat generating line arranged on the first flexible substrate layer and covering a portion of the second conductive line, a third flexible substrate layer arranged on the first flexible substrate layer and covering the second conductive line and the second heat generating line, wherein the third flexible substrate layer is bonded to the first flexible substrate layer by means of a hot-pressing process, and a second connector arranged between the first flexible substrate layer and the third flexible substrate layer and electrically connected to the second conductive line, wherein the second positive line and the second negative line are not directly connected to each other, and wherein the second positive line is electrically connected to the second negative line by means of the second heat generating line.
According to an embodiment, the first positive line and the first negative line are arranged in a comb shape each comprising a main portion and a plurality of branch portions, the main portion of the first positive line and the main portion of the first negative line are parallel to each other, the branch portions of the first positive line and the branch portions of the first negative line are arranged alternately with each other, and the first heat generating line comprises a plurality of linear heat generating lines parallel to each other, each linear heat generating line covers at least one of the branch portions of the first positive line and one of the branch portions of the first negative line.
According to an embodiment, the first connector comprises a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal, the main portion of the first positive line is connected to the positive terminal of the first connector, and the main portion of the first negative line is connected to the negative terminal of the first connector.
According to an embodiment, the second positive line and the second negative line each comprises a straight section, the straight sections of the second positive line and the second negative line are parallel to each other, the second heat generating line comprises a plurality of linear heat generating lines parallel to each other, each linear heat generating line covers a portion of the straight section of the second positive line and a portion of the straight section of the second negative line.
According to an embodiment, the second connector comprises a second positive terminal connected to the second positive line and a second negative terminal connected to the second negative line.
According to an embodiment, the first flexible substrate layer, the second flexible substrate layer and the third flexible substrate layer are made from TPU.
According to an embodiment, the first conductive line and the second conductive line comprise a silver foil formed by silver printing.
According to an embodiment, the first heat generating line and the second heat generating line comprise a PTC carbon foil formed by carbon paste printing.
According to an embodiment, the power source comprises a rechargeable battery pack or a disposable battery.
The herein mentioned objects are also achieved with a rechargeable electrical heating device which comprises: a flexible heat generator, and a power source connected to the flexible heat generator, wherein the flexible heat generator comprises: a first flexible substrate layer, a first positive line arranged on the first flexible substrate layer, a first heat generating line arranged on the first positive line and covering a portion of the first positive line, a first negative line arranged on the first flexible substrate layer and covering a portion of the first heat generating line, a second flexible substrate layer covering the first positive line, the first heat generating line and the first negative line, wherein the second flexible substrate layer is bonded to the first flexible substrate layer by means of a hot-pressing process, and a first connector arranged between the first flexible substrate layer and the second flexible substrate layer and electrically connected to the first positive line and the first negative line, wherein the first positive line and the first negative line are not directly connected to each other, and wherein the first positive line is electrically connected to the first negative line by means of the first heat generating line.
The electrical heating device of the present disclosure comprises a DC power source. The electrical heating device of the present disclosure can be used for a longer period of time by replacing the battery pack of the DC power source or recharging it. The electrical heating device of the present disclosure comprises a flexible heat generator which is made with the aid of a hot-pressing process and is made without chemical catalysts that are harmful to humans. The flexible heat generator of the electrical heating device is encapsulated with an insulating material such as TPU material, so that it can be exposed to air without affecting its heat generation effect and control difficulty. The flexible heat generator of the electrical heating device comprises a PTC carbon foil capable of self-control of temperature, and thus does not require complex structure to control its temperature.
For a better understanding of the present disclosure reference is made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described apparatuses, systems, and methods, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may thus recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. But because such elements and operations are known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, for the sake of brevity a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to nevertheless include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Embodiments are provided throughout so that this disclosure is sufficiently thorough and fully conveys the scope of the disclosed embodiments to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. Nevertheless, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain specific disclosed details need not be employed, and that embodiments may be embodied in different forms. As such, the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. As referenced above, in some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies may not be described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their respective performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as a preferred or required order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed, in place of or in conjunction with the disclosed aspects.
The first conductive line 12 comprises a first positive line 121 and a first negative line 122. The first positive line 121 and the first negative line 122 are not directly connected to each other.
In this embodiment, the first positive line 121 and the first negative line 122 are arranged in a comb shape each comprising a main portion and a plurality of branch portions. The main portion of the first positive line 121 and the main portion of the first negative line 122 are parallel to each other. The branch portions of the first positive line 121 and the branch portions of the first negative line 122 are arranged alternately with each other. The first heat generating line 13 comprises a plurality of linear heat generating lines parallel to each other. Each linear heat generating line covers at least one of the branch portions of the first positive line 121 and one of the branch portions of the first negative line 122.
It is to be understood that in other embodiments, the first positive line 121 and the first negative line 122 can be arranged in other shapes, such as an S-shape. In that case, the first heat generating line 13 comprises a plurality of linear heat generating lines arranged in parallel, each linear heat generating line covering at least a portion of the first positive line 121 and a portion of the first negative line 122.
The second flexible substrate layer 14 is bonded to the first flexible substrate layer 11 by means of a hot-pressing process.
In this embodiment, the first connector 15 is connected to the power source 1b which is a DC power source. The first connector 15 comprises a positive terminal which is connected to DC positive of the power source 1b and a negative terminal which is connected to DC negative of the power source 1b. The main portion of the first positive line 121 is connected to the positive terminal of the first connector 15. The main portion of the first negative line 122 is connected to the negative terminal of the first connector 15. By the connection to the power source 1b such as a rechargeable battery pack or a disposable battery, the flexible heat generator 1a can be used for a longer period of time by recharging the battery pack or replacing it.
The method of manufacturing the flexible heat generator of
In this embodiment, the first temperature is between 60° C.-150° C., preferably 120° C. The first time period is between 5 min-120 min, preferably 15 min. The second temperature is between 60° C.-150° C., preferably 120° C. The second time period is between 5 min-120 min, preferably 15 min. The third temperature is between 120° C.-200° C. The third time period is between 30 sec-300 sec.
The second conductive line 19 comprises a second positive line 191 and a second negative line 192. The second positive line 191 and the second negative line 192 are not directly connected to each other.
In this embodiment, the second positive line 191 and the second negative line 192 each comprises a straight section. The straight sections of the second positive line 191 and the second negative line 192 are parallel to each other. The second heat generating line 16 comprises a plurality of linear heat generating lines parallel to each other. Each linear heat generating line covers a portion of the straight section of the second positive line 191 and a portion of the straight section of the second negative line 192. That is to say, the second positive line 191 is electrically connected to the second negative line 192 by means of the second heat generating line 16.
In this embodiment, the second connector 18 comprises a second positive terminal connected to the second positive line 191 and a second negative terminal connected to the second negative line 192.
In this embodiment, the first flexible substrate layer 11, the second flexible substrate layer 14 and the third flexible substrate layer 17 are made from TPU. The first conductive line 12 and the second conductive line 19 both comprise a silver foil formed by silver printing. The silver foil has very good electrical conductivity and therefore its heat generation is very low, making it suitable for being arranged in areas where heat generation is not required. The positive line 121 is electrically connected to the negative line 122 by means of the first heat generating line 13. In other words, the first heat generating line 13 does not need to be directly connected to the first connector 15, which allows the first heat generating line 13 to be arranged away from the first connector 15, greatly increasing the flexibility of the flexible heat generator 1a. The flexible heat generator 1a according to the present disclosure can be configured to have the first heat generating line 13 arranged only at the location where the heat is most needed, without having to arrange the first heat generating line 13 from the first connector 15 all the way to that location.
The first heat generating line 13 and the second heat generating line 16 comprise a PTC carbon foil formed by carbon paste printing with PTC inks. Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) carbon foil changes resistance as it gets heated and cooled. As the temperature of the carbon foil increases, the electrical resistance also increases. In simpler terms, current flows through the carbon foil when it's cold, and the flow is restricted when the temperature gets hotter. The resistivity of the carbon foil increases exponentially with temperature for all temperatures up to the design temperature. Hence, it has strong PTC properties for all temperatures and heats up rapidly. Above this temperature the carbon foil is an electrical isolator and ceases to produce heat. This makes the carbon foil self-limiting. The carbon foil is thin and flexible and can be formed to any shape and size.
The flexible heat generator 1a utilizes the property that the resistance of the PTC carbon foil changes with temperature. The PTC carbon foil is used as a thermistor, so that the change in resistance may be identified by means of a circuit, and then fed back to a controller, making the flexible heat generator 1a able to adjust the temperature precisely.
The method of manufacturing the flexible heat generator of
In this embodiment, the first temperature is between 60° C.-150° C., preferably 120° C. The first time period is between 5 min-120 min, preferably 15 min. The second temperature is between 60° C.-150° C., preferably 120° C. The second time period is between 5 min-120 min, preferably 15 min. The third temperature is between 120° C.-200° C. The third time period is between 30 sec-300 sec.
The method of manufacturing the flexible heat generator of
In this embodiment, the first temperature is between 60° C.-150° C., preferably 120° C. The first time period is between 5 min-120 min, preferably 15 min. The second temperature is between 60° C.-150° C., preferably 120° C. The second time period is between 5 min-120 min, preferably 15 min. The third temperature is between 120° C.-200° C. The third time period is between 30 sec-300 sec.
Further, the descriptions of the disclosure are provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but rather is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2021/079046 | Mar 2021 | US |
| Child | 18457685 | US |
