Abstract:
A rubberized heating fabric composite, used to melt snow and used to dissipate cold draft. The system is a more targeted, proactive system that prepares the solution before the problem is created. This creates a more efficient and sophisticated solution to the age old problem of snow removal and cold drafts in general.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/194,528, filed Jul. 20, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to heating elements, and more particularly to heating elements to prevent or alleviate the accumulation of snow and ice. 
         [0003]    The present invention solves snow and ice removal and cold draft issues in an unconventional way. Existing methods of snow removal employ manual labor which is subject to time inefficiencies, injury prone, reactive, and other inefficiencies as opposed to proactive efficiencies. 
         [0004]    The present system is a more targeted, proactive system for snow and ice removal that prepares the solution before the problem is created. This creates a more efficient and sophisticated solution to the age old problem of snow removal and cold drafts in general. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plurality of interconnected rubberized heating panels according to aspects of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a rubberized heating panel element with parts broken away. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an interconnected rubberized heating panels taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the interconnecting components of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of a heating panel circuit according to aspects of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an application of the rubberized heating panels with a parking lot and shown in a retracted condition. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the application with a parking lot shown in a partially extended condition. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the invention applied to use with a parking lot. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a first end elevation view of an internal drive roller mechanism. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of an internal drive roller mechanism. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a second end elevation view of an internal drive roller mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a heating panel and a heating panel system which is adapted for preventing or alleviating snow and ice removal from a variety of outdoor structures. 
         [0019]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a heating panel system  10  according to aspects of the present invention includes one or more heating panels  14  operatively connected to a controller  12 . The heating panels  12  receive a current source from the controller  12  via a conductor attached to one or more connectors  16  &amp;  18 . The connectors  16  &amp;  18  may be configured as a cooperating male  16  and female  18  connectors. The connectors  16  &amp;  18  may, by way of non-limiting example, be universal serial bus (USB) connectors. 
         [0020]    The heating panel  14  includes an electrically conductive mesh layer  20 , formed of a metallic conductive yarn. The mesh layer  20  is covered on a front and back surface by a flexible thermally conductive material, such as a rubberized covering layer  22 . The heating panel  14  may be formed in any shape, but is preferably formed as a rectangular sheet. 
         [0021]    A plurality of connectors  16  &amp;  18  are integrally formed in the rubberized layer  22  around a peripheral edge of the panel  14  and are in electrical communication with the conductive mesh  20 . Female connectors  18  may be formed along a first and second adjacent edge in a spaced apart relation. The male connectors  16  may be formed along a third and fourth adjacent edge in a matching spaced apart relation to the female connectors  18 . The connectors are disposed at positions along their respective edge surfaces such that a first panel  14  may be conductively interconnected with a second panel  14  via the cooperating male  16  and female  18  connectors. The first panel  14  may then communicate the electrical current from the power source to the second panel  14  via the mesh layer  22 . 
         [0022]    The controller  12  is connected to a power source via a power cable  25  and a conventional wall outlet plug  24 . As seen in reference to  FIG. 5 , the controller  12  may include circuitry for a timer, a thermostat, one or more sensors, such as an ambient temperature sensor, precipitation sensor, and the like. The controller  12  may also include a short detector in the event the connectors  16  &amp;  18 , or a mesh layer  20  becomes electrically shorted. The controller  12  may be configured to produce and distribute heat to specific areas or panels  14  within an interconnected grouping of panels. The circuitry in the controller  12  provides an electrical current to panels  14  so that the panels  14  develop sufficient heat to melt the snow at the inception of a snow fall condition until the end of the snow fall leaving no frozen precipitation to clear from a protected surface. 
         [0023]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , the panels  14  may be configured to provide protection to a structure, such as a parking lot, a roof, a sidewalk, a driveway, and the like. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the panels  14  may be adapted to a plurality of supports  24 , such as the cantilevered trusses shown overhanging the surface of a parking lot  32 . One or more panels, or interconnected panels may be formed as a sheet  36  that may be selectively deployed on the supports  24 . The sheet  36  may be deployed via a cable that may extend and retract the sheet  36  in an accordion fold. The sheet  36  may also be selectively deployed by a rolling mechanism  40 . The sheet  36  may also be selectively deployed by a combination of rolling and folding. 
         [0024]    The rolling mechanism  40  may include a roller  40  operatively connected to a drive motor to rotate the roller  40  for extension and retraction of the sheet  36 . The drive motor may include a chain drive, a worm screw drive, or a gear driven mechanism, and associated cables and pulleys. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, shown in reference to  FIGS. 9-11 , the rolling mechanism  40  may include a hydraulic motorized pulley having a cylinder  40  driven by a hydraulic motor  44  contained within the roller  40 . The rolling mechanism  40  may be supported on its ends via a pillow block  42 . An example of such a hydraulic motorized pulley, is the Tech-Roll, manufactured by Tech-Roll, Inc. of Blaine, Wash. For larger applications, the Heavy Duty or Standard duty models may be suitable. For smaller applications of the sheet  36 , the Mini model may be suitable. 
         [0026]    When no frozen precipitation events are forecast, the sheet  36  may be retracted to protect the sheet  36  from damage due to impacts from falling debris or deterioration by exposure to sunlight and other environmental hazards. When a precipitation event is forecast, the sheet  36  may be deployed to an extended position to shield the underlying surface  32  from the precipitation, thereby preventing accumulation on the surface  32 . Once deployed the circuitry in the controller  12  will selectively heat the panel  36  to melt any falling frozen precipitation. The water may then be carried via a drainage system, such as gutters, drainpipes, the like. The water may them be conveyed to a rainwater collection system, such as a retention pond or sewer drain system in order to carry the water away from the protected surface  32 . 
         [0027]    In other applications, the present invention can also be utilized to dissipate cold air around doors and windows. This solution will work in multiple applications including but not limited to: panels for driveways, walkways and entryways, roofing Tarps/Fabrics, Drapes and Door/Window skirts. When the invention is installed either in the Driveway or Walkway or Window or at a Door. It is then plugged into a power source, when the snow falls—the product prevents the accumulation of snow and prevents/limits Cold Drafts from entering the Building. 
         [0028]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.