Abstract:
The invention relates to a portable electrical device for melting snow and ice that has accumulated on the surface of a vehicle. During inclement weather, snow, sleet, rain or hail accumulate on all exposed surfaces of the automobile, in particular on the flat surfaces, such as on the roof, the hood, the trunk, or a truck bed of a vehicle. These areas of snow coverage are relatively large and significantly high off the ground, presenting a challenge to clean in terms of time and effort. Frequently, the owners of the vehicles need to use their automobiles early in the morning, when snow or ice that has accumulated over night is at its hardest. Since it is unsafe, and sometimes unlawful, to operate a vehicle that has not been properly snow dusted and deiced, cleaning must be effectuated before a vehicle can be driven on the roads.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 61/270,538 filed on Jul. 9, 2009, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an automotive accessory device for assistance with clearing snow and ice from a vehicle surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a portable electrical device for melting snow and ice that has accumulated on the surface of a vehicle. During inclement weather, snow, sleet, rain or hail accumulate on all exposed surfaces of the automobile, in particular on the flat surfaces, such as on the roof, the hood, the trunk, or a truck bed of a vehicle. These areas of snow coverage are relatively large and significantly high off the ground, presenting a challenge to clean in terms of time and effort. Frequently, the owners of the vehicles need to use their automobiles early in the morning, when snow or ice that has accumulated over night is at its hardest. Since it is unsafe, and sometimes unlawful, to operate a vehicle that has not been properly snow dusted and deiced, cleaning must be effectuated before a vehicle can be driven on the roads. 
         [0004]    Although vehicle deicers are generally known in the art, they suffer from a number of shortcomings that the present invention attempts to correct, such as, but not limited to, high cost, challenges in implementation, bulkiness, and complexity of the embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is not overly large, and yet still able to cover and defrost large segments of an automobile. Due to its portability the present invention affords the ability to be quickly deployed and then to be quickly rolled back up again for storage. A user can leave it on the vehicle in the evening and then power it up in the morning, which can even be done from a distance in an embodiment supporting remote commands. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,033 discloses a heater assembly for heating a surface such as the rear window of an automobile. A plurality of heater elements are adhesively secured onto the surface in generally vertically spaced horizontally extending direction. A pair of busbars are adhesively secured onto said surface in generally vertically extending direction overlying the heater elements adjacent the opposite ends thereof. End portions of the heater elements which extend beyond the busbars are wrapped around the busbars and firmly retained by a pair of covering members which are secured in juxtaposed relation to the busbars for providing good electrical contact between the heater elements and the busbars. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,674 discloses a snow and ice melting system for deicing vehicles having a resistive heating element and a heating layer encasing the resistive heating element. The heating layer is capable of conducting heat and is pliable. A heat dissipation mesh is encased in a heat dissipation layer. The heat dissipation layer is connected to the heating layer. The heat dissipation layer is capable of conducting heat and is pliable. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,963,049 concerns A snow removal system for melting snow from the body of a vehicle is disclosed. The snow removal system includes a control assembly being designed for operationally coupling to a power supply of the vehicle. A plurality of conducting strips are operationally coupled to the control assembly. The conducting strips are designed for being coupled to the body of the vehicle. The control assembly distributes power through the conducting strips whereby the conducting strips generate heat when power is passed through the conducting strips for warming the body of the vehicle to melt snow on the vehicle. 
         [0008]    Various implements are known in the art, but fail to address all the problems solved by the invention described herein. One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention discloses a mat having a top surface and a bottom surface, where either or both surfaces can be water proof or transmit heat. The mat incorporates a heating source, and a power source with a power cord to fuel the heating source. The power source may be embodied as a current converter, inverter or a transformer, or a single comprehensive device performing all three functions together. The power cord may derive electric current from a car battery, car alternator or generator, or an external electrical outlet. 
         [0010]    The preferred role for the present invention is to defrost ice or snow that has accumulated on the top surfaces of a vehicle, such as a roof. The present invention can be installed on top of the vehicle and remain in place throughout the winter, or can be stored within the trunk of a vehicle when not in use. The light weight, portability and efficiency of the present invention make it a long-awaited, significant and non-obvious improvement over the prior art. 
         [0011]    Therefore, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, desirable and useful benefits and objectives. 
         [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a mat for melting and clearing ice and snow particularly on exposed surfaces of a vehicle. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor or indoor heating mat that encloses a heating source. 
         [0014]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is reasonably small and easy to handle. 
         [0015]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mat that is made of a freely available material such as rubber. 
         [0016]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mat for melting ice and snow, where the heating source is made of a ceramic material. 
         [0017]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use mat that is powered with a cord connecting to a cigarette lighter, a wall outlet, or having an internal battery. 
         [0018]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mat that is capable of linking with other mats to form an array of mats for melting and clearing ice or snow from a variety of surfaces and a range of surface areas. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a close-up perspective view of the preferred embodiment of present invention, demonstrating the preferred use of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective cross sectional diagram of the present invention, where an outside covering has been peeled away to reveal a section of an internal heating source. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention split into several sections. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
         [0026]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
         [0027]    The preferred embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 , which discloses a mat  10 , a top surface  20 , a power source  80 , a vehicle  100 , a roof  110 , edges  115 , a hood  120 , a trunk  130 , a windshield  140 , rails  150 , fixating holes  160 , and fasteners  170 , and a power cord  180 . The mat  10  will vary with the size of the top surface of a vehicle, but is preferably between 44 and 46 inches in length  50 ; between 34 and 36 inches in width  60 ; and between 0.25 and 1/16 inches in thickness  65 , with the preferred thickness being 0.056 inches. The thickness  65  may be variable in some embodiments. For example, while the top surface and  20  and bottom surface  30  may be smooth, they may also be textured or patterned. Moreover, the mat  10  may have a geometric pattern on the top surface  20  that helps disperse ice or snow, such as ridged, pyramidal, spiked or other configurations. The mat  10  is designed to substantially cover the roof area of an average passenger vehicle. In a common automobile, the hardest to reach area for snow and ice removal is the vehicle&#39;s roof  110 . For this reason, the present invention is shown draped over the roof  110 , covering most of the roof  110 , except for the edges  115  that usually do not tend to get as much accumulation of snow and ice, and are more easily cleared. However, the open area of the edges  115  may happen by circumstance, but is not necessary to enable the present invention, and the mat  10  may even project beyond the roof  110  in especially small vehicles. 
         [0028]    The top surface  20  and the bottom surface  30  of the mat  10  are preferably waterproof and made from insulating, fire resistant material, such as rubber or Teflon, or a polymer, such as plastic. The material used in the construction of the mat  10  must be highly heat resistant, to prevent the mat  10  from overheating and damaging the surface of the vehicle  100 . As an aesthetic enhancement, or for promotional purposes, the top surface  20  may contain a logo, a decal, a design, or other promotional material. Both the top surface  20  and the bottom surface  30  ( FIG. 5 ) are preferably good conductors of thermal energy. 
         [0029]    Still referring the  FIG. 1 , shown are rails  150 , which may be embodied in a common or specifically customized roof rack that is optional or standard with most vehicles. In an embodiment where rails  150  are in the form of a roof rack, the fasteners  170  would likely be (not shown) in the form of metal strips commonly used with a standard roof rack design having screws and wing nuts or hooks on both ends, or a strip of material with a hook and a loop combination on either end. Such a fastener would hook with one end onto the rails  150 , which may make up a roof rack, and with the other end snag one of the fixating holes  160 . Alternatively, one of the hooks can be a permanently attached as a loop (not shown) that is either threaded over the rails  150  or within a fixating hole  160 . The fixating holes  160  may also be used for screw like fasteners that would be inserted through the fixating holes  160  and then either directly into openings in the roof  110  or in the rails  160 . The spacing between the fixating holes should preferably be between 2½ and 2¾ inches. 
         [0030]    The primary purpose of the fixating holes  160  and fasteners  170  is to prevent the mat  10  from slipping off the roof  110 , either during the flow of the melting process, or under the influence of gravity, if the surface of the vehicle  100  takes on a significantly curved appearance. The fasteners  170  are especially preferred when the present invention is attached to the vehicle  100  and when the vehicle  100  is moving. Since the mat  10  may continue to melt ice and snow while the vehicle is moving, it is important that the mat  10  is securely fastened to the roof  110  with fasteners  170 . The fastened mat  10  can also function to prevent large segments of melting snow and ice from flying off the surface of the vehicle  100  in the direction of neighboring vehicles. 
         [0031]    The power cord  180  has an adapter to connect to an onboard power outlet or a cigarette lighter, which are powered by the car battery when the engine is turned off. Or by the alternator or an on board direct current generator, when the vehicle  100  is running. The power source  80 , shown disposed on the mat  10  with emanating power cord  180 , is able to convert the direct current from the battery into alternative current utilized in the present invention or to pass through the alternating current generated by a vehicle&#39;s alternator. The power source  80  may have a voltage of 120 volts and a wattage of 1000 watts, and may also function as a transformer, to step up or step down the current necessary to operate the heating source  90 . The preferred current range for the present invention is between 9 and 15 amperes, but will vary with the size of the roof heater. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2-5  present different angle views of the present invention, including a cross sectional cutout in  FIG. 4 . Shown in these FIGS are a mat  10 , a top surface  20 , a bottom surface  30 , a side surface  40 , length  50 , width  60 , thickness  65 , a power source  80 , a heating source  90 , fixating holes  160 , and a power cord  180 . The heating source  90  is preferably a coil molded into the mat in a design of a sine curve. The heating source  90  may also be a series of parallel, diagonal or perpendicular rods emanating from a side stem or from a central stem (not shown), or a combination of heating rods and heating coils. More or fewer coils will cause the roof heater to heat slower or faster, respectively. 
         [0033]    To heat quickly while using the least amount of energy, the present invention applies ceramics, preferably screen printed unto a steel wire, but other forms of ceramic disposition may be used. The preferred type of ceramic material is one possessing a positive thermal coefficient such as barium Titania or lead Titania composites. However, the heating source  90  may also be made from any other material having high resistance to electrical current, such as, but not limited to, Kanthal, Nichrome or Cupronickel. The heating source  90  is preferably molded into the mat  10  between the top surface  20  and the bottom surface  30 . In other embodiments of the present invention may feature removable or free-floating heating source  90 . Additional, insulating or thermal layers may be incorporated. However, one of the aims is to prevent the present invention from becoming overly bulky, heavy or expensive. The heating source  90  is able to generate the temperatures between 32 and 50 degrees C./F. on the top surface  20  or bottom surface  30 . 
         [0034]    The thickness of the present invention is disclosed in  FIG. 1  above. The sidewall  40  may incorporate a reinforcing element, such as a rod made out of fabric, plastic, rubber or metallic wire. Such a reinforcing element will provide lateral support for the fixating holes  160 , and prevent the fasteners  170  from tearing through the side of the fixating holes  160 . 
         [0035]    The power source  80  is shown on the right corner  85  of the mat  10 . It may also be disposed anywhere else on the mat  10 , or along the power cord  180  and separate from the mat  10 . The power source  80  may additionally have sockets or connectors to link to other mats  10 , and thus create a larger embodiment of the present invention. Such sockets or connectors may be disposed separately from the power source  80 . In a multi-section embodiment, each mat  10  would preferably contain its own power source  80 , so that each can be used independently in addition to being powered by a common power source  80 , when linked together. An ability to connect multiple mats  10  together to form an array, adds a great deal of flexibility, leading to diverse applications of the present invention, such as melting snow in driveways, parking spots, side walks, etc. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle may contain a specialized socket or outlet to accept an equivalently adapted connector on the mat  10 . Such connectors may be embodied in a set of exposed wire ends or metallic plates on the surface of the vehicle that correspond to an equivalent set of metallic plates, hooks, or ends of a wire on the mat  10 . Such connection would enable a more permanent or prolonged installation of the mat  10  and obviate the need to keep the windows  112  or doors  114  ajar to accommodate the power cable  180 . 
         [0037]    While the invention has been shown and illustrated as an after market product, in another embodiment the mat  10  is installed on new vehicles at the factory. Mat  10 , for example, could be designed and built directly into the vehicle, located within the roof or hood. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  discloses the mat  10  being used on surfaces of the vehicle  100  other than the roof  110 . Shown in this FIG. are two mats  10 , power sources  80 , a vehicle  100 , a roof  110 , windows  112 , doors  114 , a hood  120 , a trunk  130 , a windshield  140 , fixating holes  160 , and power cords  180 . The mat  10  may be adapted to clear any vehicle surface from snow or ice. On these surfaces, the mat  10  may be secured with fasteners  170  that latch onto lips  125  or edges  115  of the roof  110 , or use straps with fasteners on both ends (not shown) to connect to rails  150 , if such are present. The mat  10  may also be used on the glass surfaces of the present invention, such as on the windshield  140 . When multiple mats  10  are used, the power cords  180  may either embody a linking feature, so as to use a common onboard power outlet, or a cigarette lighter. Alternatively, on mat  10  may be connected to an onboard power outlet, while the other mat  10  may be connected to an external electrical outlet, either directly or through an adapter. The preferred voltage range for an external electrical outlet should be 120 V, but may also embody other voltage ranges. 
         [0039]    The mat  10  is preferably a vehicle accessory and may be rolled up or folded and stored in the trunk until needed, or permanently installed on the vehicle  100 , or installed for the duration of the winter season. A storage pouch (not shown) may be adopted for specific vehicles or storage areas within vehicles or structures or as a stand alone object. One method of using the present invention is for a user to install the mat  10  unto the surface of the vehicle  100  in anticipation of inclement weather, or during an ongoing storm. Then retire inside a residence for the night, or for a period of time, or until the weather clears. No matter how used, the mat  10  will keep itself and its supporting surface heated and clear of snow and ice. 
         [0040]    The heating source  90  within the mat  10  may be activated by a timer switch that may be provided with the power source  80 , or the mat  10  may be remotely activated, if the power source  80  is able to respond to commands received by a receiver of infrared, radio wave or other type of electromagnetic radiation issued by a remote control device widely implemented in the remote control industry. However, it may be preferred the mat  10  may be activated automatically as soon as the vehicle  100  is powered on. Once the snow or ice is melted, a user may drive with the mat  10  still on the vehicle  100 , or preferably take off the mat  10 , roll it up or fold it, and store inside the trunk  130 , or in some other location. 
         [0041]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.