Patent ID: 7741582

Claim:
A heated seat comprising: a) a seat including a trim layer over a cushion that includes a trench, and b) a heater disposed between the trim layer and the cushion, the heater including: i) a polymeric film flexible carrier including a lateral side edge that has a cutout geometry that defines an indentation that projects inwardly from the lateral side edge, and the cutout aligns with the trench; ii) a first conductive medium screen printed upon the carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes: 1) a negative section having a plurality of first extensions; 2) a positive section having a plurality of second extensions; and 3) a base portion on the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions; and iii) a second screen printed conductive medium that includes a plurality of strips, each of the strips in overlapping relation with one of the plurality of first extensions and one of the plurality of second extensions, the plurality of strips also extending parallel to the first and second extensions, the second conductive medium exhibiting a positive thermal coefficient; iv) a protective polymeric dielectric coating with a thickness of between 100 microns and 3 millimeters disposed over the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium; v) an insulation layer; and vi) an electric connection attached to the base portion for wiring the heater to a power source; wherein the heater includes one or more through-hole openings in generally parallel alignment with a portion of the cutout for aiding the bending of the heater so that the heater conforms to contours of the seat cushion and resides in the trench, and the cutout geometry is such that stress upon the first conductive medium is relieved when the heater is curved about the seat cushion and is extended at least partially into the trench.