Patent ID: 7358460

Claim:
An apparatus using a flexible thermal material for removing and minimizing the collection of ice and snow upon a surface comprising: a. A power source; b. A thermal mat having a flexible conductive body and surface, said thermal mat being connected to said power source and having the capacity to transfer energy to an absorbing surface which is in direct contact with, or close proximity to, said conductive surface of said thermal mat, upon being energized by said power source, to remove and minimize ice and snow collection; c. A rolling system for rolling said thermal mat into itself, therein forming a tubular arrangement having an outer diameter sufficient to avoid damage to the thermal mat conductive body or surfaces; d. A storage system, having sufficient size to enclose within, said tubularly arranged thermal mat, without damage to said thermal mat conductive body or surfaces; e. An unrolling system engaged with said storage system, for unwinding said tubularly arranged thermal mat; f. A deployed mat support system engaged with said mat unrolling system; said deployed mat support system allowing said unrolling system to force said thermal mat, as guided by said deployed mat support system, over said absorbing surface for energy transfer between said conductive surfaces and said absorbing surfaces of said thermal mat; and, g. A mat retraction system engaged with said deployed mat support system, to allow said thermal mat to be directed away from said absorbing surface; wherein said mat retraction system is also engaged with said rolling system for rolling said thermal mat into itself to reform a tubular arrangement for re-insertion within said storage system and wherein said rolling, storage, unrolling, deployment and retraction systems are also connected to said power source.