IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0845613
(2004-05-14)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
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A recirculated heated air mat system melts snow and ice from driveways or roofs, preventing its accumulation. The driveway sized, hollow mat of tough, pliable rubber, plastic is resistant to tearing and abrasion. A recirculating air electric heater provides heated air to the mat. The mat contains ba
A recirculated heated air mat system melts snow and ice from driveways or roofs, preventing its accumulation. The driveway sized, hollow mat of tough, pliable rubber, plastic is resistant to tearing and abrasion. A recirculating air electric heater provides heated air to the mat. The mat contains baffles directing heated air sinuously through the substantial portion of the mat, and an internal wall forms a cooled air return path along the upper end for recirculating the air to the heater. For a two-car garage, two pads are provided. The second pad may be identical to the first pad. Heated air is directed between the first and second mats and returned through the cooled air return path by separate removable ducts between heating air paths and cooled air return paths. The system may be modular, being assembled from identical mats and ducts. A large single mat for a roof is provided.
대표청구항
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I claim: 1. A snow melting mat system for clearing driveways, sidewalks, and roofs from snow and ice comprising: a heated air source; a first generally rectangular snow melting mat of flexible material having an upper wall, a lower wall, an upper end wall, a lower end wall, and spaced first and sec
I claim: 1. A snow melting mat system for clearing driveways, sidewalks, and roofs from snow and ice comprising: a heated air source; a first generally rectangular snow melting mat of flexible material having an upper wall, a lower wall, an upper end wall, a lower end wall, and spaced first and second sidewalls defining an interior space, said mat being positioned lengthwise from said upper wall to said lower wall during use, substantially covering the driveway; said mat defining a heated air inlet port communicating with said interior space; a heated air conduit extending between said heated air source and said heated air inlet port; a plurality of spaced baffles located within said interior space of said mat extending between said upper wall and said lower wall and forming a sinuous path directing heated air received through said heated air inlet port from said heated air source through the substantial portion of said interior space as heat is conducted through said upper wall for melting snow thereon; a cool air outlet port in said mat for exhaust of air from said interior space of said mat, said cool air exit being so located as to exhaust said air at a point past said sinuous path; a cool air return conduit extending between said cool air outlet port and said heated air source; said mat having an upper end portion defined by said upper end wall and the upper portions of said first and second sidewalls, said mat further comprising a cool air return wall within said mat upper end portion extending between said upper and lower walls, said cool air return wall extending between said mat sidewalls and parallel with and spaced from said upper end wall and forming a cool air return path, said cool air return wall separating said heated air inlet port from said cool air outlet port, said heated air inlet port and said cool air outlet port being located in said first sidewall in said upper end portion of said mat proximate said heated air source; whereby heated air is introduced from said source through said conduit and into said mat, gives up heat through said upper wall as it travels said sinuous path, thereby melting snow and ice on said mat, and is exhausted from said mat. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cool air return conduit extending between said cool air outlet port and said heated air source for recirculating cooled air from said mat to said heated air source for reheating, forming a closed circulating system. 3. The system of claim 2, said mat having an upper end portion defined by said upper end wall and the upper portions of said first and second sidewalls, said mat further comprising a cool air return wall within said mat upper end portion extending between said upper and lower walls, said cool air return wall extending between said mat sidewalls and parallel with and spaced from said upper end wall and forming a cool air return path, said cool air return wall separating said heated air inlet port from said cool air outlet port, said heated air inlet port and said cool air outlet port being located in said first sidewall in said upper end portion of said mat proximate said heated air source. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said baffles extend parallel with said sidewalls and alternately extend downward from said cool air return wall and upward from said lower end wall, forming said sinuous path so as to extend alternately downward and upward through said substantial portion of said mat, whereby heated air enters through said heated air inlet port, gives up heat within said sinuous path, enters said cool air return path and exits said mat through said cool air outlet port. 5. The system of claim 4, said cool air return wall defining an inner cool air return port proximate said second sidewall for passing air from said sinuous path formed by said baffles to said cool air path formed between said cool air return wall and said upper end wall. 6. The system of claim 4, said second sidewall defining a heated air exit port and a cooled air return port in said upper end portion of said mat, said cool air return wall separating said heated air exit port and said cooled air return port, said system further comprising an elbow duct connecting said heated air exit port and said cool air return port for directing circulating air from said sinuous path to said cool air return path. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a heated air connecting duct, a cool air return connecting duct and a second mat identical to said first mat, said second mat being fluidly connected with said first mat by said heated air connecting duct fastened between said heated air exit port of said first mat and said heated air inlet port of said second pad, and by said cool air return connecting duct fastened between said cooled air return port of said first pad and said cool air outlet port of said second pad, said elbow duct connecting said heated air exit port and said cooled air return port of said second mat for directing circulating air from said sinuous path of said second mat to said cool air return path of said second mat. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said system is modular, having a plurality of identical said mats in series and an equal plurality of heated air connecting ducts and cool air return connecting ducts connected in like manner as said first and said second mats, whereby recirculated heated air enters said first mat through said heated air conduit, gives up heat while flowing through said sinuous paths of said plurality of identical mats in succession, the cooled air being directed from said sinuous path of the last of said identical mats by said elbow duct to flow through a cool air return path form by said plurality of identical mats to said cool air return duct for recirculating and heating said air by said heated air source. 9. The system of claim 8, said heated air connecting ducts being removably connected with said respective heated air exit ports and heated air inlet ports by mating hook and loop material, said cool air return connecting ducts being removably connected with said respective cooled air return ports and said cool air outlet ports by mating hook and loop material, said elbow duct being removably connected with said last of said plurality of mats for airflow between said heated air exit port and said cooled air return port by mating hook and loop material, said heated air conduit from said heated air source being removably connected with said heated air inlet port of said first mat by mating hook and loop material, said cool air conduit to said heated air source being removably connected with said cool air outlet port of said first mat by mating hook and loop material. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of covers for removably closing said heated air exit ports, said heated air inlet ports, said cooled air return ports and said cool air outlet ports, said covers bearing hook or loop material respectively mating therewith. 11. The system of claim 10, said covers being connected with said respective sidewalls of said plurality of mats by integral hinges proximate said ports for selective opening and closing and closing of said ports. 12. The system of claim 6, said mat having a plurality of wind conducting tubes extending between said upper wall and said lower wall forming corresponding ports in said upper wall and said lower wall for conducting wind therethrough when said mat is lifted from the driveway or other surface due to high wind conditions, thus reducing the force of the wind against the underside of said mat. 13. The system of claim 12, said plurality of wind conducting tubes being mutually spaced and forming a plurality of rows parallel with said mat sidewalls, said upper wall forming raised strips connecting and surrounding corresponding said rows of said wind conducting tube ports. 14. The system of claim 13, said upper wall forming a plurality of water drain channels in its upper surface extending parallel with said mat sidewalls, and spaced between said rows of wind conducting tube ports, said drain channels opening at said lower end wall of said mat for receiving and draining water from melted snow from said mat upper wall. 15. The system of claim 6, said mat upper wall having a pair of traction treads of a surface selected from at least one of the group comprising a rough or ribbed surface formed thereon and a non-skid grit surface and extending the substantial length of said mat and spaced to conform with the tires of a vehicle. 16. The system of claim 6, said mat having a plurality of spaced ties fastened to said sidewalls and a corresponding number of stakes for driving into a lawn, said ties being attached to said stakes for anchoring said mat during high wind conditions. 17. The system of claim 3, wherein said mat is of such size and dimensions as to substantially cover the roof of a building such as a flat roof of a commercial building, said mat being oriented such that said lower end of said mat drains water from melted snow near drain pipes or the lower edge of the roof. 18. A snow melting mat system for clearing driveways from snow and ice comprising: a heated air source; a first generally rectangular snow melting mat of flexible material having an upper wall, a lower wall, an upper end wall, a lower end wall, and spaced first and second sidewalls defining an interior space, said mat being positioned lengthwise from said upper wall to said lower wall during use, substantially covering the driveway; said mat defining a heated air inlet port communicating with said interior space; a heated air conduit extending between said heated air source and said heated air inlet port; a plurality of spaced baffles located within said interior space of said mat extending between said upper wall and said lower wall and forming a sinuous path directing heated air received through said heated air inlet port from said heated air source through the substantial portion of said interior space as heat is conducted through said upper wall for melting snow thereon; a cool air outlet port in said mat for exhaust of air from said interior space of said mat, said cool air outlet port being so located as to exhaust said air at a point past said sinuous path; and a cool air return conduit connected with said cool air outlet port and extending to said heat source, said heat source, said heated air supply conduit, said pad and said cool air return conduit forming a closed, recirculating system; said mat having an upper end portion defined by said upper end wall and the upper portions of said first and second sidewalls, said mat further comprising a cool air return wall within said mat upper end portion extending between said upper and lower walls, said cool air return wall extending between said mat sidewalls and parallel with and spaced from said upper end wall and forming a cool air return path, said cool air return wall separating said heated air inlet port from said cool air outlet port, said heated air inlet port and said cool air outlet port being located in said first sidewall in said upper end portion of said mat proximate said heated air source; said baffles extending parallel with said sidewalls and alternately extending downward from said cool air return wall and upward from said lower end wall, forming said sinuous path so as to extend alternately downward and upward through said substantial portion of said mat; and said second sidewall defining a heated air exit port and a cooled air return port in said upper end portion of said mat, said cool air return wall separating said heated air exit port and said cooled air return port, said system further comprising an elbow duct connecting said heated air exit port and said cool air return port for directing circulating air from said sinuous path to said cool air return path. 19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a heated air connecting duct, a cool air return connecting duct and a second mat identical to said first mat, said second mat being fluidly connected with said first mat by said heated air connecting duct fastened between said heated air exit port of said first mat and said heated air inlet port of said second pad, and by said cool air return connecting duct fastened between said cooled air return port of said first pad and said cool air outlet port of said second pad, said elbow duct connecting said heated air exit port and said cooled air return port of said second mat for directing circulating air from said sinuous path of said second mat to said cool air return path of said second mat. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said mat has a plurality of wind conducting tubes extending between said upper wall and said lower wall forming corresponding ports in said upper wall and said lower wall for conducting wind therethrough when said mat is lifted from the driveway or other surface due to high wind conditions, thus reducing the force of the wind against the underside of said mat; said plurality of wind conducting tubes being mutually spaced and forming a plurality of rows parallel with said mat sidewalls, said upper wall forming raised strips connecting and surrounding corresponding said rows of said wind conducting tube ports; said upper wall forming a plurality of water drain channels in its upper surface extending parallel with said mat sidewalls, and spaced between said rows of wind conducting tube ports said drain channels opening at said lower end wall of said mat for receiving and draining water from melted snow from said mat upper wall; and said mat upper wall having a pair of traction treads of a rough or ribbed surface formed thereon and extending the substantial length of said mat and spaced so as to conform with the tires of a vehicle.
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