1. A heating element for heating at least one surface contacted at times by a user comprising:
a plurality of heating conductors or heating conductor sections that are at least in part directly or indirectly connected electrically to one another, at least in part by mutual contact, with at least one heating conductor or heating conductor section which, upon exceeding a permissible maximum temperature, at least temporarily loses its electrical conductivity at least in part, characterized in that the electrical resistance of at least two heating conductors or heating conductor sections is dependent at least in part on its mechanical strain, in that these heating conductors or heating conductor sections 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.
2. The heating element according to claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises at least two electrodes for supplying heating element with power and with a plurality of heating conductors andor heating conductor sections, which are disposed over at least a part of a base surface to be heated and further disposed between at least one electrode and electrically connected thereto.
3. The heating element according to claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises at least two bundles of heating conductors andor heating conductor sections, and further wherein the two bundles andor heating conductor sections are disposed apart from one another in order to prevent electrical contact between the two bundles.
4. The heating element according to claim 3 wherein the bundle comprises at least two heating conductors, which are fixed on the base surface.
5. The heating element according to claim 3 wherein in that at least one bundle is formed at least of a certain proportion or combinations thereof selected from the group consisting of copper, carbon particles, carbon fibers, carbonized plastic filaments, silver, gold, or polyamide, and that the heating conductor further comprises one or more monofilament heating conductor strands, one or more multifilament heating conductor strands, andor one or more mechanical reinforcement devices, further wherein these strands are disposed parallel, concentrically, or in a zigzag, meandering andor spiral shape relative to the running direction of heating conductor.
6. The heating element according to claim 3 wherein in that at least one bundle of heating conductors comprises a ribbon-like strip, inside of which heating conductors are optionally arranged one alongside the other.
7. The heating element according to claim 3 wherein in at least two heating conductors within the bundle are significantly disposed apart from one another in that at least one heating conductor comprises a plurality of bends andor inflection points in order to form a plurality of connection points together with at least the one other heating conductor, at which the heating conductors involved are electrically connected to one another, and which are optionally distributed over substantially the entire length of the bundle andor heating conductor.
8. The heating element according to claim 1 wherein at least two heating conductors are different from one another in their structure or material composition, andor at least two are of the same type.
9. The heating element according to claim 1 wherein at least one heating conductor further comprises at least one conductor strand, in particular, an individual strand, which comprises at least one inner strand and at least one cladding layer that is electrically conductive sheathing this inner strand, andor which comprises nickel-plated carbon fibers or consists substantially of a nickel alloy or pure nickel, in particular, as a multifilament strand.
10. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein at least one inner strand comprises a material that is heat-resistant at least to 1000\xb0 C.
11. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein the inner strand is metallizable, further wherein the cladding layer is applied electrolytically to inner strand, andor that cladding layer is integrally connected to inner strand.
12. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein the inner strand has a diameter of less than 100 \u03bcm and further wherein the thickness of cladding layer is between 0.2 and 2 \u03bcm and further wherein the individual strand andor heating conductor has a thickness of less than 1 mm.
13. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein the inner strand further comprises, at least in part, a synthetic material that is elastic and tear-resistant, further comprises, at least in part, a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic, polyamide, carbon fiber, polypropylene, polyester, polyimide, glass silk or steel, further the material of inner strand has a higher resistance to reverse bending andor a markedly higher material price andor a lower tensile or compressive strength than the material of cladding layer.
14. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein the cladding layer has a surface that is chemically inactive under ordinary environmental conditions at least on its surface facing outward relative to the inner strand.
15. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein the cladding layer comprises an alloy of: nickel with or without phosphorus components, silver, copper, gold and further wherein the cladding layer comprises a metal surface which can be passivated or is oxidized or is chromated.
16. The heating element according to claim 9 wherein the surface of cladding layer is coated with a plastic or a lacquer and at least in part with material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy or polyester.
17. The heating element according to claim 1 wherein at least one conductor strand comprises a plurality of individual strands.
18. The heating element according to claim 17 wherein a plurality of individual strands or conductor strands at least in sections are electrically insulated from one another; and optionally, in that at least one individual strand is at least partially insulated by means of an insulation layer on its cladding layer, or in that the conductor strand andor the individual strand is sheathed at least in sections with a plastic.
19. An automotive vehicle including at least one surface contacted at times by a user comprising:
a planar heating element including a pair of spaced apart electrodes positioned generally along opposing edges of a textile carrier layer and being adapted to connect with a current or voltage source;
a first heating conductor bundle, which includes a plurality of metal-clad strands having electrical resistance characteristics that are dependent upon mechanical strain, and which extends between the electrodes;
a second heating conductor bundle, which includes a plurality of metal-clad strands having electrical resistance characteristics that are dependent upon mechanical strain, and which extends between the electrodes generally in parallel with the first heating conductor bundle,
wherein the first and second heating conductor bundles are arranged in a spaced pattern relative to each other such that electrical connection points are created where the first and second heating conductor bundles make crossing contact;
wherein upon exceeding a permissible maximum temperature, at least one of the bundles at least temporarily loses at least part of its electrical conductivity.
20. An automotive vehicle including at least one surface contacted at times by a user comprising:
a planar heating element including a pair of spaced apart electrodes positioned generally along opposing edges of a textile carrier layer and being adapted to connect with a current or voltage source;
a first heating conductor bundle, which includes a plurality of metal-clad strands having electrical resistance characteristics that are dependent upon mechanical strain, and which extends between the electrodes;
a second heating conductor bundle, which includes a plurality of metal-clad strands having electrical resistance characteristics that are dependent upon mechanical strain, and which extends between the electrodes generally in parallel with the first heating conductor bundle; and
a spacing zone that extends between the electrodes and generally parallel with the first and second heating conductor bundles and separates first and second heating conductor bundles from any other heating conductors on the heating element;
the cladding of the metal-clad strands of the first and second heat conductor bundles comprises at least on metal selected from the group consisting of (a) an alloy of nickel with phosphorus components, silver, copper or gold, (b) a metal surface which can be passivated, oxidized or chromated; or both (a) and (b);
wherein the surface of cladding is coated with a plastic or a lacquer and at least in part with material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy or polyester;
wherein the first and second heating conductor bundles are arranged in a spaced pattern relative to each other such that electrical connection points are created where the first and second heating conductor bundles make crossing contact; and
wherein upon exceeding a permissible maximum temperature, at least one of the bundles at least temporarily loses at least part of its electrical conductivity.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A bicycle clipless pedal, comprising:
a pedal, the pedal having a first clipless end extending therefrom;
a locking sheet pivotally mounted on the pedal, the locking sheet being elastically pivotable relative to the pedal, the locking sheet having a second clipless end extending therefrom opposite to the first clipless end, a clipping space defined between the first clipless end and the second clipless end for adapting to receive a cleat of a cycling shoe;
an elastomer located between the pedal and the locking sheet, the elastomer being a part of a pivot between the pedal and the locking sheet, the elastomer having one end abutting against the pedal and the other end abutting against the locking sheet for proving a resilience force to elastically press the locking sheet toward to the pedal, such that the locking sheet is elastically pivoted relative to the pedal for adapting to clip the cleat of the cycling shoe;
the locking sheet having two ring portions extending therefrom and facing to each other, the pedal having a tenon ring extending therefrom for positioning between the two ring portions of the locking sheet, the elastomer having a through hole laterally defined therein and passing therethrough, a pivot rod passing through the two ring portions of the locking sheet, the tenon ring of the pedal, and the through hole in the elastomer to form the pivot between the pedal and the locking sheet, the tenon ring having a groove defined therein for partially receiving the elastomer, the locking sheet having an abutting blocker extending therefrom and located between the two ring portions for abutting against the elastomer; and
the elastomer being trapezoid-shaped, so that the elastomer has a narrow end and a broad end opposite to the narrow end, the through hole located in the narrow end of the elastomer.
2. The bicycle clipless pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal has a restricting rib extending therefrom and located in the clipping space for abutting against the locking sheet to prevent the locking sheet folding over the pedal.
3. The bicycle clipless pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal has a spindle pivotally passing therethrough for adapting to connect with a bicycle crank.