Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Corporation

Akira Shiratake

Kazumi Nagayama

Mitsuru Yoneyama

Naohito Asami

Norio Abe

Hiroshi Mitsunaga

Osamu Yoshida

A sheet heater structured so that heating wire is fixed to air-passing base material by sewing. This structure can provide a sheet heater that has improved durability of heating wireagainst the load imposed on the seat during sitting, comfortable feeling of sitting in the seat, and high air-passing capability.

Sheet heater

A heating element includes a base material and a heater disposed on the base material, which can be deformed to accommodate a part of the heater. A steering wheel equipped with the heating element is free from surface protrusions caused by the heater. Employment of a linear heater reduces connections between the heater and power supply lines, and a high connecting reliability is obtained. The steering wheel includes the heating element and the power lines, and connections between the heating element and the power lines are disposed in the boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is further provided with a temperature detector, a temperature detector heater and a temperature controller, and the detector and the detector heater are disposed in the boss portion. Thus, a steering wheel with a good grip and a good appearance can be provided at a low cost.

Heating element for steering wheel

A heating element used for a heated seat assembly of the present invention comprises a base material made of hotmelt material, and a linear heater disposed at a predetermined pattern on the base material. The linear heater is fixed by adhesion or sewing onto the base material. In one example of the present invention, the linear heater is characterized in that a plurality of conductors and threads are braided into the linear heater. In another example, a number of threads comprising the linear heater is at least the same with a number of conductors. According to the heating element of the present invention and the method of manufacturing the heated seat assembly according to the present invention, a heated seat assembly with excellent seating comfort and even seat temperature can be obtained, and the heating element is durable.

Heated seat assembly and method of manufacturing the same

A surface heating device comprises a heating element fabricated by braiding plural conductors on a flexible supporter. The surface heating device employs a heating element member which is reduced in thickness or diameter, and thus can be inhibited from providing an uncomfortable touch when sat upon or appearing as a relief on a surface cover of a seat. Also, because a pad is reduced in thickness, the surface cover of the seat can be heated up rapidly. The heating element is fabricated by braiding the conductors, and thus, when loaded with a weight when sat upon, the heating element allows a resultant stress exerted thereon to be dispersed through the conductors, hence being stronger against bending. Moreover, the conductors are inhibited from separating from each other and need no insulating coat.

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Nara, Japan

Akira Shiratake