US2712592A

US2712592A - Electrically internally heated automobile seat cushion

Info

Publication number: US2712592A
Application number: US368732A
Authority: US
Inventors: Goldstein Joseph; Dennison Saul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-07-17
Filing date: 1953-07-17
Publication date: 1955-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1972-07-05

Description

y 1955 J. GOLDSTEIN ET AL 2,71

ELECTRICALLY INTERNALLY HEATED AUTOMOBILE SEAT CUSHION Filed July 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Z 963%,? J05 A 21049225 f @flyl/dfd d /i y 1955 .1. GOLDSTEIN ET AL 2,712,592

ELECTRICALLY INTERNALLY HEATED AUTOMOBILE SEAT CUSHION Filed July 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 java-221 it Stt$ l ak ELECTRICALLY INTERNALLY HEATED AUTQMUBELE SEAT CUSHION Joseph Goldstein, Newark, and Saul Dennison, East Orange, N. J.

This invention deals with a wire spring cushion which is internally heated by electrical means. More specifically, it relates to a spirally-wound coil spring cushion heated by means of a concentrically disposed ribbontype heating element.

Spring cushions generally are made of spring coils of various materials, preferably metal, fastened together by suitable means to produce a unitary cushion, usually encased with a textile or other type of cover. This invention is particularly concerned with ventilated cushions having a horizontal spiral coil, such as those described in U. S. Patent 1,911,276 issued to E. P. Harley, especially as depicted in Figure 2 of said patent.

it has been found that such ventilated cushions can be improved considerably by incorporating therein a spiral ribbon-type heating element inside of the coil thereof, which enables an occupant of a car, for example, to be made comfortable in extreme winter weather when no car heater is available or when it is not functioning. The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention by means of a partially cut-away top view of a portion of a cushion made in accordance with the present invention. An enlarged detailed partially cut-away view of the cushion in Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a top view of a heated seat and back combination cushion employing different types of heating ribbon arrangements, while Figure 4 represents a similar view of such a cushion in which the heating elements are connected in series. Figures 5 and 6 show perspective views of a heatable seat cushion in finished form ready for plugging into an electrical outlet, of the car, such as the cigarette lighter outlet, for example, while Figures 7 and 8 show perspective views of other modifications of seat cushions falling within the purview of the present invention. Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Referring again to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, numeral 1 represents the outermost portion of the spiralled metal spring coil which makes up the interior of the cushion 45 and which portion is connected to the next adjacent coil portion 2 by means of fastening wire 3 which is passed through alternate loops of coil portion 1 and portion 2. Hoop 4 is a continuous wire ring serving as the outer support for the entire spiral coil which starts at point 46 and spirals around until it terminates in the center of the cushion at 5. Likewise, fastening wire 3 begins where it is attached at point 49 to hoop i and it spirals through alternate loops of coil portions until it terminates at the center at point 48 and there serves to bind together the inside terminus of the coil.

As can be seen from Figure 1, heating ribbon 11, which is made of resistance wire 13 and return resistance wire 13a joined in insulating relation by means of glass or other insulating fabric 49 (Figure 2), is passed through the center of the wire spiral coil 1, 2, etc.,

atent 2,712,592 Patented July 5, 1955 ice substantially concentrically disposed therein, and the innermost end is fastened at a point 12 near the inside terminus of the wire spiral by means of plastic rivets or the like (so as to prevent shorting of heating wires 13-13(1). The heating ribbon 11 has its exit end fastened at to the seat cushion cover 6 (or otherwise), so as to prevent any possibility of accidental pulling out of the heating ribbon within the wire coil and thus causing wearing out of the insulation with corresponding shorting. Ribbon outlet can terminate at its outer end with a plug 14 as shown in Figure 5, or one adapted to fit into the cigarette lighter fixture of an automobile. Cover 6 preferably is made of fireproof or fire-resistant material. As can be seen from Figure 6, the cushion of the present invention is very flexible and adaptable as a seat for automobiles.

Among the various embodiments of heatable cushions disclosed herein is the one shown in Figure 7, in which the cushion 19 is tufted and one end of the heating ribbon terminates with receptacle 26 into which a plug, carrying electric current, may be inserted. Straps 21 and 22 attached to the sides of the cushion may be used to anchor the cushion so that it does not move excessively and thus dislodge receptacle 2%.

In Figure 8 is shown a hexagonally shaped cushion employing an internal spring helical coil such as that illustrated in Figure 1. In this case, hoop 4 is bent into the hexagonal shape. Plug 18 is employed for connection with a current carrying receptacle, while receptacle 17 may be used to connect the heating strip in cushion 16 with another cushion adjaccntly disposed, as in a car.

As shown in Figure 4, cushion 24 carrying heating coil 2) inside wire coil 60 may be sewed on at edge 26 to cushion carrying heating coil 32 within spring coil 61, in which case the combination may be used as a seat and back, both of which could be heated. It is assumed that the heating ribbon coils may be disposed within spring spiralled coils (shown schematically) as in Figure 1. Ribbon 29 can be used in a manner so that both resistance coils 5t) and 51 in end 30 are connected to the same current source, and end 31 may be connected with another heatable coil. In the case of heating coil 32, current is fed into resistance wire 52, for example and led around central loop 33, and finally '7 leaves end 34 through wire 53.

it is possible to employ more heating in the seat cush ion 35 (Figure 4), for example, by making heating coil 38 longer than heating coil 40 in back 36 which is joined to seat 35 at edge 37. Both heating coils are connected by connector 42 and ends 41 and 41 are connected to the current source. Rings 39 and 54- schematically indicate spirally connected spring coils as that shown by numerals 1, 2, etc. in Figure 1.

it has been found that the heating ribbons disposed centrally within the spiralled metal coil offer a number of important advantages over other forms of heating. In the first place, the heating coils are adequately protected from rubbing and consequent breaking or shorting. If shorting did occur, the only result would be the blowing of a fuse which can be inserted in the heater circuit. Secondly, there is a volume of air around the heating coils, so that the persons body does not rest directly on the coils. This results in an even heating of the persons body surface and avoids locally overheated spots. Thirdly, the electrically heated ribbon may be readily replaced, if necessary, by disconnecting centrally disposed end 33 (Fig. 3), such as by removing the staples at 12 (Fig. 1) and then tying a string on to end 33 of the heater ribbon. Thereafter, the outer end 10 (Fig. 1) may be disconnected and slowly pulled out until end 33 and the string tied thereon emerge at point 10. A new heating ribbon may be attached to the end of the string at this point and the other end of the string at point 12 may be pulled back to reinstall the new heating ribbon within the cushion.

It will be observed from Figure 1 that spring coils (or filling) l, 2, etc. in cushion 45 comprise a hollow wire coil unitized in one plane in the form of a tightly fastened spiral in which individual rings of adjacently disposed coil sections (such as 1 and 2) are in partially overlapping relation, thereby forming an overlapping area through which is threaded a continuous length of fastening wire 3 which serves to fasten the spiral and keep it from uncoiling. The heating ribbon 11 may be inserted in only one section or a portion of a section of the wire coil, such as an outer section 1, or one of the inner sections, such as 2, etc. Although a. spiral form is preferred for this spring in the cushion, other forms, such as parallel rows, for example, may be used.

As is apparent from the above, the present invention aflfords a new means for allowing owners of cars Without heaters to obtain a superior heating means which, in the present embodiment, provides heated air under and behind the person sitting in the car, within ten seconds. Most car heaters take 15 to 25 minutes before adequate heating of the person occurs. In the present means, the heating is centralized to a specific area, providing a flow of Warm air with ventilating provisions not obtainable when the heating element is embedded in a packed seat or directly under the body of the person.

Cir

We claim:

1. An electrically heated automobile seat cushion com prising a hollow wire coil unitized in one plane in the form of a tightly held spiral and consisting of a series of rings with individual rings of adjacent.y disposed coil sections in partially overlapping relation, thereby forming an overlapping area, a continuous length of fastening wire inserted in the overlapping area serving as a fastening means for said spiral, and an electrically heatable resist ce type ribbon element disposed substantially conly within said coil.

2. An electrically heated cushion for an automobile seat comprising a hollow wire coil unitized in the plane of the seat in the form of a tightly fastened spiral, an electrically heatable ribbon element disposed substantially concentrically within said coil, and electrical plug connections on the ends of said ribbon element for plugging same into an elec rical outlet in said automobile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,213 Harley June 9, 1925 1,911,276 Harley May 30, 1933 1,957,401 Weidenrnann May 1, 1934 1,989,582 Becker Ian. 29, 1935 2,098,735 Yentis Nov. 9, 1937 2,587,731 Irving Mar. 4. 1952