Patent ID: 7714256

Claim:
A heating element for heating at least one surface contacted at times by a user comprising: a: a carrier layer; b: at least two electrodes arranged along opposing edges of the carrier layer; and c: a plurality of heating conductors, each comprised of at least one filament, connectively disposed between the at least two electrodes and spaced apart by a spacing zone and are electrically connected to one another in parallel, and in that they are separated from one another at least in sections by a spacing zone in order to prevent an electrical connection between them in the spacing zone, and the at least one filament with a initial resistance value; wherein the at least one filament includes a polymeric inner strand and an metal cladding layer, further wherein the at least one filament when subject to a mechanical strain and creating an elongation in the at least one filament, has a second resistance value, and when subject to a heat, returns from the second resistance value to the first resistance value.