GB2490859A

GB2490859A - Electrically heating coaster or placemat

Info

Publication number: GB2490859A
Application number: GB201105301A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Talal Rahwan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-29
Filing date: 2011-03-29
Publication date: 2012-11-21
Also published as: GB201105301D0

Abstract

A battery-operated coaster or placemat 12 fitted with a heating element 2 to keep food, beverage, or container (such as a plate, a mug, a kettle, a pan, etc.) warm for a certain period of time while placed on the coaster or placemat. The placemat is both cordless, and slim. This also makes it portable, and allows for use anywhere, especially outdoor such as in a garden, or while on a picnic trip. The placemat or coaster comprises a housing 3 which houses the heating element 2, a control means 4 and a battery 7; the control means being used to allow the user to switch the element on and off. A heat reflective material 5 may be placed between the heating element and the housing so as to reflect some of the heat generated towards the heating upper layer 1. The control means also allows for the ability to adjust the temperature of the heating element. A bottom case 9 which holds the housing, battery and control circuit may comprise ventilation slots 10 to vent some of the heat generated from the battery. Rubber feet (11, Fig 4) may be used to allow for air circulation beneath the placemat.

Description

Slim, Cordless, and Heated Coaster or Placemat

Overall Description:

The present invention relates to a slim, battery-operated, coaster or placemat fitted with a thin heating element to keep food, beverage, or container (snch as a plate, a mng, a kettle, a pan, etc.) warm for a certain period of time while placed on the coaster or placemat.

The said invention combines the functionality of an ordinary coaster or a placemat with the functionality of a hcater: When thc hcating clement is switchcd off, the said invention can be used as an ordinary coaster or a placemat. When thc heating element is switched on, the said invention caii he used to keep any food, beverage, or container warm for a certain period of time while placed on the said invention. This combination of functionalities is mainly achieved by two important features: (1) Cordless: To be able to use the said invention in quantities on the same table at the same time, it is vital for the said invention to he cordless (for example when several gnests are invited for dinner as illnstrated in Figure 7). Otherwise, having several cords on the same table at the same time makes it inconvenient and impractical for the nser.

(2) Slim: Since the vast majority of ordinary coasters and placemats in the market have an overall thickness of no more than 12 millimeters each, it is desirable for the said invention to also have an overall thickness of no more than 12 millimeters.

Being cordless and battery operated makes the said invention portable, and allows for nse anywhere, especially outdoor (for example, in a garden, or while on a picnic trip).

The said invention preferably has the following: * Controlling means (for example a w itch or a knob) that allows the user to control the operation of the heating element.

* Indicator(s) to provide the user with an indication of whether the heating element is switched on or oH, and possibly with an indication of the heating-element's temperature.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

* Figure 1 and Figure 2 provide an illustration showing a top angle view of a heated placemat according to the said invention, where Figure 1 shows the heated placemat assembled, and Figure 2 shows the heated placemat disassembled.

* Figure 3 and Figure 4 provide an illustration showing a bottom angle view of a heated placemat according to the said invention, where Figure 3 shows the heated placemat assembled, and Figure 4 shows the heated placemat disassembled.

* Figure 5 and Figure 6 provide an illustration showing a side view of a heated placemat according to the said invention, where Figure 5 shows the heated placemat assembled, while Figure 6 shows the heated placemat disassembled.

* Figure 7 provides an illustration of a heated placemat according to the said invention placed in quantities on a single table.

Description of Preferred Embodiments:

Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6 each provides an illustration of the same embodiment of heated placemat 12 according to the said invention. Heated placemat 12 includes the following components: * Upper layer 1: Upper layer 1 protects heating element 2 and housing 3 against scratches, spillage, damage caused by excessively hot items placed upon heated placemat 12, etc. Upper layer 1 also enhances the cleanability of heated placemat 12. In certain embodiments, upper layer 1 can he removed. The material of upper layer 1 is preferably chosen such that upper layer 1 does not practically hinder the transfer of heat from heating element 2 to any item placed upon heated placemat 12. A suitable material is mica or glass, for

example.

* Heating element 2: Heating element 2 generates heat to keep any food, beverage, or container (such as a plate, a mug, a kettle, a pan, etc.) warm for a certaiu period of time while placed on heated placemat 12. In certain embodiments, heating element 2 can he a silicone rubber heater mat. In other embodiments, heating element 2 can be made from other material, such as a thin metal film.

* Housiug 3: Housing 3 provides housing hardware and space for heating element 2, controlling means 4, battery-charging pius 6, battery 7, and control circuit 8. It is practical to have housing 3 made of heat-insulating material. A suitable material is cork, for example.

* Controlling means 4: Controlling means 4 allows the user to control the operation of heating element 2. Such control may be limited to only switching heating elemcut 2 on and off. In other embod-iments, such control may also include the ability to adjust the temperature of heating element 2.

* Heat-reflective material 5: Heat-reflective material 5 can be placed between heating element 2 and the housing space of heating element 2 in housing 3. The use of heat-reflective material 5 is prefcrahle as it reflects some of the heat generated by heating element 2 towards the upper sidc of heated placemat 12. A suitable material is Aluminium foil, for example.

* Battery-charging pins 6: Battery-charging pins 6 can be used in certain embodiments where battery 7 is recharge-able.

* Battery 7: Battery 7 is an electrical energy source that provides the necessary power for heating element 2 to operate at the desired temperature (for example, 80 C) and time span (for example. 1 hour). In certain embodimeuts, battery 7 cau be rechargeable. Tn this case, battery 7 can be restored to full charge by an exterual electrical energy source. The conuection betweeii the exterual euergy source and battery 7 can he made via battery-charging pins 6. A suitable technology to he used for battery 7 is lithium ion polymer (Li-ion polymer), for example.

* Coutrol circuit 8: lu case the user adjusts the temperature of heating element 2 via controlling meaus 4, control circuit 8 responds by setting heating element 2 to the set temperature. In some embodiments, where controlling means 4 provides the user with the limited ability to switch heating element 2 on and off, control circuit 8 can be removed.

* Bottom case 9: Bottom case 9 encapsulates housiug 3, battery 7, aud control circuit 8. Suitable material for bottom case 9 is flexible, stretchable, silicon rubber, for example. Bottom case 9 contains au opeuing for coutrolliug means 4, as well as an opening for battery-charging pins 6.

* Veutilation slots 10: Veutilation slots 10 are opeuings in bottom case 9 that ventilate some of the heat that could be generated from battery 7 and control circuit 8. In certain embodiments, venti-latiou slots 10 can he removed.

* Rubber feet 11: Rubber feet 11 provide a gap uuderueath heated placemat 12 to allow for air to circulate underneath heated placemat 12 to improve the ventilation provided by veutilatiou slots 10. In certaiu embodiments, where ventilatiou slots 10 are removed, rubber feet 11 can be removed.

Claims

Claims 1. SUm, battery-operated, coaster or placemat (12) that has two possible functionalities: -Protect from heat any surface upon which hot food, beverage, or container is placed, and that is by placing the said coaster or placemat (12) between the said surface and the hot food, beverage, or container, -Generate heat to keep food, beverage, or container warm for a certain period of time whUe placed on the coaster or placemat, said coaster or placemat (12) comprising: -Thin heating element (2) for generating heat, -Housing (3) to provide housing hardware and space for thin heating element (2), controlling means (4), and battery (7), -Controlling means (4) to allow the user to switch thin heating element (2) on and off, -Battery (7) to provide the necessary electrical power for thin heating element (2) to operate at the desired temperature, -Bottom case (9) that encapsulates housing (3) and battery (7), and contains an opening for controlling means (4).
2. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 1, which has an upper layer (1) to protect thin heating element (2) and housing (3) against scratches, spiflage, damage caused by excessively hot items placed upon heated pacemat (12), etc., and also to enhance the cleanability of the coaster or placemat (12).
3. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 1, wherein heat-reflective material (5) is placed between thin heating element (2) and the housing space of thin heating element (2) in housing (3), with the purpose of heat-reflective material (5) being to reflect some of the heat generated by thin heating element (2) towards the upper side of heated placemat (12).
4. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 1, wherein controlling means (4) further provides the ability to adjust the temperature of thin heating element (2).
5. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 4, which has control circuit (8) that sets thin heating element (2) to the desired temperature according to controlling means (4), where housing (3) further provides housing hardware and space for control circuit (8).
6. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim I wherein bottom case (9) contains ventilation slots (10) which are openings to ventilate some of the heat that could be generated from battery (7).
7. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 6 wherein bottom case has rubber feet (11) that provides a gap underneath heated placemat (12) to allow for air to circulate underneath heated placemat (12) to improve the ventilation provided by ventilation slots (10).
3, Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim (1) wherein battery (7) is rechargeable and can be restored to full charge by an external &ectrical energy source.
9. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 8 which contains battery-charging pins (6) that serve as the connection between battery (7) and an external energy source, where housing (3) further provides housing hardware and space for battery-charging pins (6). Bottom case (9) contains an opening for battery-charging pins (6).
10. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 1 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
11. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 2 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
12. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 3 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
13. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 4 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
14. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim S with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
15. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 6 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
16. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 7 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
17. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 8 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
18. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 9 with an overall thickness of at most 20 millimeter.
19. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 10 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
20. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 11 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.

U
21. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 12 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
22. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 13 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
23. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 14 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
24. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 15 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
25. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 16 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
26. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 1? with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.
27. Coaster or placemat (12) according to claim 18 with an overall thickness of at most 12 millimeter.