WO2002066303A1

WO2002066303A1 - Device for the heating of surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO2002066303A1
Application number: PCT/NL2002/000023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bob Van Zanten
Original assignee: Huijgen, Johannes, Hendrikus, Antonius
Priority date: 2001-01-15
Filing date: 2002-01-14
Publication date: 2002-08-29
Also published as: NL1017108C2

Abstract

Described is a device suitable for heating a surface and the application thereof for removing or preventing the formation of ice, snow or condensation on cold surfaces such as windows. The device consists of an outer jacket which contains heat-retaining or heat-producing inner material or consists wholly of heat-retaining material. Prior to use the device can be preheated in simple manner, for instance using a microwave oven or hot water.

Description

Device for the heating of surfaces

The present invention relates to a device suitable for heating a surface and to a method for removing or preventing deposition of water in diverse forms on a surface, such as for instance an ice or condensation layer.

The problem of icing on frozen windows as a result of night frost is generally known. Car owners spend a lot of time in the mornings scraping away this ice deposit, and this is moreover not pleasant at a low temperature. Once the deposit has been removed with great difficulty, a new problem then presents itself during driving, namely the forming of condensation on the still very cold car windows. The problem of ice and condensation formation in cold weather conditions also occurs on other windows, such as of houses and other buildings.

In addition, other surfaces, such as for instance locks, can also cause problems due to freezing. Car locks in particular are often difficult to open in cold weather conditions. The term surface as used in this application must therefore be interpreted broadly in the sense that it is understood to mean the whole of an object that is exposed to the outside air.

A device as stated in the preamble is known from the Japanese patent application No. 62191256, which is heated prior to use using electricity so as to be able to cause an icing layer to melt. This device is however bulky and heavy and can only be applied when the device can be electrically charged, which makes both the construction and use thereof expensive.

The present invention provides a device of the type stated in the preamble wherein at least prior to use the device has a higher temperature than the surface for heating, wherein the device cannot be preheated in electrical manner. Said device preferably consists of an outer jacket containing heat-retaining and/or heat-producing inner material or a mixture of such inner materials. The outer jacket preferably conlains one or more at least slightly flexible materials, such as for instance plastic or rubber. The inner material contains a minimum of one heat-retaining material, such as for instance water, glycol, glycerol, a heat-retaining gel, oil or a heat-retaining fat.

However, a device wherein the inner material is formed by a compound in gaseous or solid form which is able to retain and relinquish heat also forms part of^" the invention. A device consisting mainly of only one heat-retaining material also falls within the scope of the invention.

A significant advantage of a device according to the invention is that it is light and easy to employ. The device preferably takes the form of a glove.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for removing or preventing water in diverse forms on a surface, such as for instance ice, snow or condensation, in that one or more devices according to the invention are brought to a higher temperature than the surface by preheating the device using a heating source, such as a microwave oven, hot water or a central heating radiator, and that a minimum of one said preheated device is brought into contact with the surface. The application in the same manner of such a device which is preheated by an exothermic reaction of the heat-retaining material, inner material or mixture of inner materials also forms an aspect of the invention. Once the above stated device has been preheated, for instance by one or more of the above stated methods, to a higher temperature than the surface for treating, it is used to heat the surface for treating in order to remove or prevent water in all its forms, such as for instance ice, snow or condensation. For this purpose the preheated device is brought into contact with the surface from which for instance the ice, snow or condensation has to be removed. The device according to the invention is preferably rubbed over the surface to remove the ice or the condensation. A plurality of devices can of course be applied simultaneously, such as for instance one in each hand, or two preheated devices one directly after the other. A device which has cooled after use can further be reheated quickly, such as for instance in a microwave oven or using hot water, so that it can be used again.

A significant advantage of applying the device according to the present invention rather than the prior art device which is electrically preheated is that preheating can also re realized easily and cheaply. The device according to the invention for preheating can for instance be placed on a radiator one night or one hour before use. Preheating can also take place by heating the device for a short time in a pan of hot water or, depending on the chosen materials, more slowly "au bain-marie". A really rapid and advantageous method of preheating is provided by a microwave oven. The invention will be further described with reference to an example, without being limited in any way to this example.

Example

The most important field of application is formed by the car. When ice and snow on the outside of frozen car windows are removed using a preheated device, condensation on the inside will also be reduced by the car window becoming warmer. This condensation can of course be reduced even further if necessary by also applying a device preheated according to the invention on the inside of the window.

Should the lock of the car also be frozen, this problem can be remedied by defrosting the lock with the heated device of the invention.

Claims

1. Device suitable for heating surfaces, containing at least heat-retaining and/or heat-producing material or a mixture of such materials, wherein at least during use the device has a higher temperature than the surface for heating, and which device cannot be preheated in electrical manner.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1 , consisting of an outer jacket containing heat- retaining and/or heat-producing inner material or a mixture of heat-retaining and/or heat-producing inner materials.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the outer jacket contains one or more flexible materials.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the outer jacket contains plastic or rubber material.

5. Device as claimed in any of the claims 2-4, characterized in that the inner material contains a minimum of one antifreeze agent, such as water, glycol, glycerol or a heat-retaining gel, oil or heat-retaining fat.

6. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the device takes the form of a glove.

7. Method for removing or preventing deposition of water in any form whatsoever on a surface, characterized in that a minimum of one device as claimed in any of the claims 1-6 is brought to a higher temperature than the surface by preheating the device using a heating source, such as a microwave oven, hot water or a central heating radiator, and that a minimum of one said preheated device is brought into contact with the surface.

8. Method for removing or preventing deposition of water in any form whatsoever on a surface, characterized in that a minimum of one device as claimed in any of the claims 1-6 is brought to a higher temperature than the surface by an exothermic chemical reaction of the material or a mixture of materials, and that a minimum of one said preheated device is brought into contact with the surface.

9. Method as claimed in either of the claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the surface is a window or lock.