Vehicle warmer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858308-B2
Application number	US-202117188180-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2021
Priority date	Oct 7, 2020
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle warmer includes: a housing provided within a vehicle; a heat generation film normally accommodated within the housing, and configured to be spread out from the housing when in use, and to generate heat when electricity is supplied; an electricity supply unit supplying electricity to the heat generation film; and a switching unit provided between the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film to enable electricity to flow from the electricity supply unit to the heat generation film when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle warmer for a vehicle, comprising:
a housing;
a heat generation film normally accommodated within the housing, and configured to be spread out from the housing when in use and generate heat when electricity is supplied thereto;
an electricity supply unit configured to supply the electricity to the heat generation film; and
a switching unit provided between the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film and configured to enable the electricity to flow from the electricity supply unit to the heat generation film when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing,
wherein a reflective film is provided on a first side surface of the heat generation film,
wherein the reflective film is accommodated within the housing in a state of being in close contact with the heat generation film when the heat generation film is accommodated within the housing,
wherein when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing, the reflective film is positioned a distance away from the heat generation film and configured to reflect the heat generated from the heat generation film,
wherein a tensioner is provided within the housing, and
wherein when the heat generation film is spread out, the tensioner is configured to separate the reflective film that is in close contact with the heat generation film from the heat generation film.

2. The vehicle warmer of claim 1 , wherein:
a shaft is provided within the housing,
the heat generation film having a first end portion connected to the shaft and configured to be accommodated within the housing in a state of being rolled up on the shaft, and
when the shaft rotates, a second end portion of the heat generation film is slid out of the housing to spread out the heat generation film.

3. The vehicle warmer of claim 2 , wherein:
a return spring is provided at the first end portion of the shaft, and
the shaft is rotated in a first direction when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing, and
the shaft is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction by an elastic force of the return spring such that the heat generation film is accommodated within the housing.

4. The vehicle warmer of claim 2 , wherein the electricity supply unit is connected to the heat generation film through a plurality of wires which is provided in an internal space of the shaft and includes positive and negative poles, and
wires of the plurality of wires through which the electricity is supplied are connected to first and second ends, respectively, of the heat generation film.

5. The vehicle warmer of claim 4 , wherein:
an insulation portion is provided along a longitudinal direction of the shaft in the internal space of the shaft,
the wires of the plurality of wires are arranged inside and outside, respectively, of the insulation portion, and
the insulation portion is configured to inhibit a short circuit from occurring between the wires.

6. The vehicle warmer of claim 1 , wherein the switching unit comprises:
a fixation portion; and
a spring unit connected to the fixation portion, and
wherein:
when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing, the fixation portion is engaged with a predetermined portion within the vehicle, and thus the heat generation film is kept spread out, and
when the fixation portion is engaged with the predetermined portion within the vehicle, the spring unit connects the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film to each other.

7. The vehicle warmer of claim 2 , wherein:
the switching unit is provided on a first end portion of the shaft at a position spaced apart from the electricity supply unit, and
when the shaft rotates and the heat generation film is spread out, the switching unit is moved forward and is brought into contact with the electricity supply unit, thereby connecting the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film to each other.

8. The vehicle warmer of claim 1 , wherein:
a temperature controller is provided at a first end portion of the heat generation film,
when the electricity is supplied to the heat generation film, the temperature controller is configured to measure a temperature value of the heat generation film, and
when the temperature value of the heat generation film is increased to a predetermined reference value or above, the temperature controller is configured to control the switching unit such that the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film are disconnected from each other.

9. The vehicle warmer of claim 1 , wherein:
a link portion is provided adjacent to a first side surface of the heat generation film, and
the heat generation film is spread out from the housing or accommodated within the housing by an operation of the link portion.

10. The vehicle warmer of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing is provided on a floor, a roof, a door, or a seat of the vehicle, and
the heat generation film is spread out toward a predetermined portion of the vehicle and generates heat.

11. The vehicle warmer of claim 10 , wherein:
the electricity supply unit is a battery provided within the housing,
the housing is separated from the floor, the roof, the door, or the seat of the vehicle, and
the heat generation film is supplied with electricity from the battery in a state where the housing is separated from the floor, the roof, the door, or the seat of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle warmer for a vehicle, comprising:
a housing;
a heat generation film normally accommodated within the housing, and configured to be spread out from the housing when in use and generate heat when electricity is supplied thereto;
an electricity supply unit configured to supply the electricity to the heat generation film; and
a switching unit provided between the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film and configured to enable the electricity to flow from the electricity supply unit to the heat generation film when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing,
wherein the switching unit includes a fixation portion and a spring unit connected to the fixation portion,
wherein when the heat generation film is spread out from the housing, the fixation portion is engaged with a predetermined portion within the vehicle, and thus the heat generation film is kept spread out, and
wherein when the fixation portion is engaged with the predetermined portion within the vehicle, the spring unit is configured to connect the electricity supply unit and the heat generation film to each other.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Yang Hyeon Kyu
• Oh Man Ju
• Chung So La

Classifications

• B60H1/00264 Primary

  Transportable devices · CPC title

• H05B1/0202

  Switches · CPC title

• H05B1/0236

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H05B3/34 Primary

  flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs · CPC title

• H05B2203/016

  Heaters using particular connecting means · CPC title