Abstract:
A thermal heat shield is formed of a plurality of layers that are sandwiched together and which is adapted for a plurality of uses, including use on an automobile seat to shield a driver from heat generated behind the driver or beneath the automobile.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the general art of stock materials, and to the particular field of multi-layer materials that can be used as heat shields. 
   2. Discussion of Related Information 
   NASCAR drivers are subjected to many sources of heat during a race. These heat sources include the engine, the oil tank system that is located behind the driver as well as the road via the floor boards of the car. Since NASCAR vehicles are operated at extremely high levels of performance, these heat sources can be quite significant. Still further, since most NASCAR races require several hours to complete, the driver may be subjected to such high heat sources for prolonged periods of time. Not only can this be uncomfortable, it can be dangerous. The driver may actually be burned by the heat generated by the oil tank system located behind the driver. Also, a prolonged exposure to such high levels of heat may distract the driver, which can be dangerous, especially at the extremely high speeds and extremely close quarters associated with NASCAR racing. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means to protect a driver from heat generated by an automobile during operation of that automobile, especially if the automobile is being operated at extremely high levels of performance for extended periods of time. 
   Since space is at a premium in most race cars, and any surfaces may be oddly shaped to accommodate the requirements of race cars, any means used to protect the driver from heat generated during operation of the vehicle must be very versatile and be amenable to a high degree of adaptation so the means can be placed in the exact location where it will be most effective. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means to protect a driver from heat generated by an automobile during operation of that automobile, especially if the automobile is being operated at extremely high levels of performance for extended periods of time yet which is highly adaptable and versatile. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a heat shield that is versatile. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat shield that can be used in an automobile. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat shield that can be placed on the driver&#39;s seat of an automobile and will shield the driver from heat generated behind the driver. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat shield that can be used in a race car to protect the driver from heat generated behind or beneath the driver. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a multilayer heat shield that includes a glass thermal barrier cloth sheet sandwiched between two sheets of heat resistant ABS plastic each of which has a lattice frame defining a multiplicity of rectangular openings that are arranged in a honeycomb format with respect to each other. The sheets are mounted on a substrate, such as an automobile seat, by a U-shaped frame and heat resistant adhesive. 
   The heat shield embodying the present invention is adaptable to a wide variety of uses and can be easily mounted on the rear surface of an automobile seat or on the floor of the automobile. This is especially useful in a race car which may have elements, such as oil tank systems or the like, that generate a great deal of heat and which may make the driver very uncomfortable. However, many other uses for the heat shield can be envisioned by one skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing the heat shield embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the heat shield embodying the present invention with the plurality of sheets separated. 
       FIG. 3  shows one form of the heat shield that has been shaped in the form of a seat back. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a heat shield  10 . The heat shield  10  can be used in a wide variety of situations, but will be described in conjunction with use on an automobile seat to protect a driver from heat generated behind the driver. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the heat shield embodying the present invention can also be used in conjunction with oven mitts, kneeling pads for ironworkers, shields for torch cutting and welding, aprons for foundry workers, covers for firefighter boots, fire truck tire covers, or covers for vehicles that are used near fires, shoes, and the like. Heat shield  10  comprises a U-shaped frame  12  that is adapted to be mounted on the rear surface of an automobile seat AS, indicated in  FIG. 1  by a dashed line. Frame  12  is formed of ABS plastic or other suitable material and has a width of approximately three-fourths inches. Frame  12  includes heat resistant adhesive  14  which is used to mount the frame  12  on the automobile seat. 
   Frame  12  further includes a bight section  16  having a first end  18 , a second end  20 , and a longitudinal axis  22  which extends between the first end  18  and the second end  20 . The bight section  16  is shown in  FIG. 1  as being arcuate, but could be linear if desired. 
   A first leg section  30  is unitary with the first end  18  of the bight section  16 . The first leg section  30  includes a proximal end  32  that is unitary with the first end  18  of the bight section  16  and a distal end  34  that is spaced apart from the bight section  16 . A second leg section  40  is unitary with the second end  20  of the bight section  16  and is spaced apart from the first leg section  30  along the longitudinal axis  22  of the bight section  16 . The second leg section  40  includes a proximal end  42  that is unitary with the second end  20  of the bight section  16  and a distal end  44  that is spaced apart from the bight section  16 . 
   A first sheet  50  is supported in the U-shaped frame  12  and includes an edge  52  that is located adjacent to the U-shaped frame  12  to be supported thereon and a lattice  54  that defines a multiplicity of rectangular openings, such as opening  56 , defined in honeycomb relationship with each other. The rectangular openings are generally square in form as shown in  FIG. 1 . The first sheet  50  further includes a first face  58  and a second face  59 . The first face  58  is oriented towards the automobile seat. 
   A second sheet  60  is supported in the U-shaped frame  12  and includes an edge  62  that is co-incident with the edge  52  of the first sheet  50 . The second sheet  60  is formed of glass thermal barrier cloth and has a first face  64  that is congruent with the second face  59  of the first sheet  50  and a second face  66  that is oriented away from the automobile seat. 
   A third sheet  70  is supported in the U-shaped frame  12  and includes an edge  72  that is located adjacent to the U-shaped frame  12  and a lattice which is identical to the lattice  54  of the first sheet  50  and which defines a multiplicity of rectangular openings defined in honeycomb relationship with each other. Each of the openings of the third sheet  70  is congruent with an opening in the first sheet  50 . The third sheet  70  further includes a first face  74  and a second face  76 . The second face  76  of the third sheet  70  is congruent with the second face  66  of the second sheet  60  and the first face  74  of the third sheet  70  is oriented towards away from the automobile seat. 
   The sheets are shown spaced apart from the U-shaped frame  12  in  FIG. 1 , but those skilled in the art will understand that the sheets  50 ,  60 ,  70  are all in contact with the frame  12  and supported thereby in use. The second sheet  60  is sandwiched between the first sheet  50  and third sheet  70  and all three sheets  50 ,  60 ,  70  are congruent with each other as can be understood from  FIG. 1 . In the form shown, the lattice framework is approximately one-fourth inch thick, the openings are spaced apart on approximately two-inch centers, and the edge is approximately one and one-half inches wide. 
   As discussed above, the heat shield  10  of the present invention can be used in a variety of different situations. As indicated in  FIG. 3 , the heat shield  10  can be shaped to conform to a user&#39;s back for use on the back of a seat or as a back rest. The thus-shaped heat shield is indicated as heat shield  10 ′ in  FIG. 3 . 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.