Patent ID: 7157663

Claim:
An assembly, comprising: a non-planar surface subject to an accumulation of ice, the non-planar surface at least partially including a heating portion having a non-planar layer of multi-directional electrically-conductive fibers formed between first and second non-electrically conductive layers, the non-planar layer of electrically-conductive fibers being operatively coupled to a power supply member along a non-planar engagement area that spans across the non-planar layer of electrically-conductive fibers, the non-planar layer of electrically-conductive fibers being configured to conduct an electrical current such that the non-planar layer of electrically-conductive fibers and at least one of the first and second non-electrically conductive layers of the heating portion are raised to an elevated temperature to at least partially inhibit the accumulation of ice on the non-planar surface.