Knitted structures for heat generation and distribution

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10808339-B2
Application number	US-201715854223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2017
Priority date	Dec 26, 2017
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A knitted structure is configured for heat generation and distribution. In some embodiments, the knitted structure includes a knitted fabric including a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer opposite the first knitted layer. The first knitted layer has a first thermal conductivity. The second knitted layer has a second thermal conductivity. The second thermal conductivity is greater than the first thermal conductivity to facilitate heat transfer toward the first knitted layer. The knitted structure may further include a plurality of electrodes at least partially disposed inside the knitted fabric. Each of the plurality of electrodes is configured to generate heat within the knitted fabric upon receipt of electrical energy in order to distribute heat along the knitted structure and toward the first knitted layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A knitted structure for heat generation and distribution, comprising:
a knitted fabric including a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer opposite the first knitted layer, wherein the first knitted layer has a first thermal conductivity, the second knitted layer has a second thermal conductivity, and the second thermal conductivity is greater than the first thermal conductivity to facilitate heat transfer toward the first knitted layer;
a plurality of electrodes at least partially disposed inside the knitted fabric, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is configured to generate heat within the knitted fabric upon receipt of electrical energy in order to distribute heat along the knitted structure and toward the first knitted layer; and
wherein the first knitted layer includes a plurality of infrared transparent yarns and a plurality of infrared absorbing yarns to define a porosity on the first knitted layer.

2. The knitted structure of claim 1 , wherein the second knitted layer includes a plurality of heat-insulating yarns.

3. The knitted structure of claim 1 , wherein the second knitted layer includes a plurality of infrared reflective yarns.

4. The knitted structure of claim 1 , further comprising a middle knitted layer disposed between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, wherein the middle knitted layer includes a plurality of resistive heating yarns to facilitate heat transfer toward the first knitted layer.

5. The knitted structure of claim 1 , further comprising a middle knitted layer disposed between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, wherein the middle knitted layer includes a plurality of infrared producing yarns to facilitate heat transfer toward the first knitted layer.

6. The knitted structure of claim 1 , wherein the first knitted layer includes the plurality of infrared transparent yarns to provide a heated surface.

7. The knitted structure of claim 1 , wherein the first knitted layer includes the plurality of infrared transparent yarns to provide a purely radiative heating surface.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Alexander Paul W
• Johnson Nancy L
• Chen Kuo-Huey
• Mankame Nilesh D
• Lang Steven C
• Foos Michael S
• Cody-Gump Suzanne M

Classifications

• D04B1/04 Primary

  characterised by thread material · CPC title

• D10B2403/021

  Lofty fabric with equidistantly spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics · CPC title

• D04B1/18

  elastic threads · CPC title

• H05B3/345

  knitted fabrics · CPC title

• D10B2403/0243

  enhancing functional properties · CPC title