FR3062021A1 - CARPET FOR ANIMALS - Google Patents

Abstract

the present invention relates to a heating mat for heating animals, including pets, said heating mat having openings for the flow of fluids secreted by the animal. The carpet according to the invention makes it possible to maintain the comfort provided to the animal by the heating mat and to avoid the risk of overheating and short circuiting of the heating element.

Description

Holder (s): limited.

AXL CONCEPT Liability company

O Extension request (s):

® HEATING MAT FOR ANIMALS.

®) the present invention relates to a heating mat for heating animals, especially pets, said heating mat having openings for the flow of fluids secreted by the animal. The mat according to the invention makes it possible to maintain the comfort provided to the animal by the heating mat and to avoid the risk of overheating and short-circuiting of the heating element.

® Agent (s): CABINET PLASSERAUD.

FR 3,062,021 - A1

HEATING MAT FOR ANIMALS

Technical area

The present invention relates to a heating mat for heating animals, said heating mat allowing the flow of fluids.

State of the art

It is known from the state of the art of pet heating mats for keeping these animals warm.

Examples include a heating mat as described in application WO 2008/143822 comprising a cushion with a padded outer part and a flexible but resilient inner part which prevents overheating by maintaining or returning the heating cushion to a flat profile.

In addition to the comfortable appearance for such pets of such heating mats, they can also be advantageous in accompanying the care of sick animals, these animals having to remain at a temperature close to body temperature.

The animal, positioned on the heating mat may, when the heating mat is intended for comfort, but more particularly during the accompaniment of care, secrete fluids on the heating mat.

In addition to the discomfort of this situation for the pet, there is a risk of overheating or short-circuiting the heating element present in the heating mat, resulting in a danger for the animal and its environment.

There is thus a need for a heating mat which makes it possible to eliminate the fluids secreted by the animal in order to ensure the safety and maintain the integrity of the heating mat, while maintaining the comfort provided to the animal by this heating mat.

Object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to meet the above constraints by providing a heating mat for heating animals, said heating mat allowing the flow of fluids.

Brief Description of the Invention

To this end, the invention relates to a heating mat intended for heating an animal comprising:

an upper layer intended to accommodate an animal;

a lower layer intended to rest on the ground;

a heating element, said heating element being embedded in a sealed element;

characterized in that, said upper (11) and lower (13) layers have openings, at least some of the openings making up said upper layer (11) coincide with, or are placed substantially in line with at least certain openings of said layer lower (13) so as to allow the flow of fluids.

The openings in the sense of the present invention are spaced, regularly or not, throughout the length and width of the upper and lower layers. Typically, the openings may be in the form of circles, squares, rectangles, diamonds, of polygonal shape such as hexagonal. Preferably, the openings are of hexagonal shape regularly spaced.

Thus, and according to the present invention, the fluids secreted or not by the animal will be received in the openings of the upper layer and will flow towards the openings of the lower layer by gravity in order to prevent said secretions from stagnating on the layer. upper of the heating mat within the meaning of the present invention.

Said lower and upper layers are honeycomb structures.

At least one of the lower and upper layers is formed from a plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyesters and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacetals or polyoxymethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamides , polymethyl methacrylate, polyurethanes, unsaturated polyesters, phenoplasts, aminoplasts, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, rubbers such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR), polybutadiene (BR), synthetic polyisoprene (IR), co- or terpolymers of ethylene propylene and diene (EPM and EPDM), chlorinated or brominated isobutylene isoprene copolymers (IIR, BIIR, CIIR), acrylonitrile butadiene copolymers (NBR), polychloroprenes ( CR), silicone rubbers (VMQ, FVMQ), fluorinated elastomers (FKM), chlorinated and chlorosulfonated polyethylenes (CM, CSM), polyacrylates s (ACM), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVM), ethylene methyl acrylate (AEM), hydrogenated nitrile rubbers (HNBR), epichlorohydrins (CO, ECO, GECO), kneadable polyurethanes (AU, EU ).

Alternatively, at least one of the upper and lower layers can be made of cotton, linen, hemp.

Preferably, the lower and upper layers are woven walls each having an arrangement of open polygonal cells.

Advantageously, each of these cells has a main axis placed at an angle or perpendicular to the plane containing said upper or lower layer to guide the fluids.

Preferably, the cells are hexagonal in shape.

The heating element coated in said in its sealed element is arranged between said upper and lower layers without completely sealing off the or at least some of the openings at the right of which it is placed.

Said heating element is fixed to the internal face of said upper layer and to the internal face of said lower layer via the waterproof element.

Typically, the waterproof element may be chosen from a heat shrinkable sheath or a flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheath, a polyvinyl chloride fabric, a polyurethane (PU) fabric, a glass fabric coated with polyvinyl chloride, silicone coated glass fabric, polyurethane coated glass fabric, rubber coated fabric, polyvinyl chloride film, polyurethane film, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) film, polyethylene film, polypropylene film.

The inner face of the upper layer of the heating mat according to the present invention means the face which is not intended to accommodate the animal, i.e., the outer face of the upper layer).

The internal face of the lower layer of the heating mat according to the present invention means the face which is not intended to rest on the floor, the latter being the external face of the lower layer.

Typically, the waterproof element coating the heating element can be fixed by any fixing means or fixing method such as gluing, sewing.

Advantageously, the fixing of the sealed element to the internal face of the upper layer and to the internal face of the upper layer makes it possible to maintain in position said upper and lower layers so that at least some of the openings making up said upper layer coincide with, or are placed substantially in line with at least certain openings in said lower layer so as to allow the flow of fluids.

Preferably, said waterproof element is fixed by sewing.

Typically, and when a fixing method is used, the adhesive can be chosen from vinyl, acrylic, aliphatic, cyanoacrylate, polyurethane, epoxy, neoprene, hot-melt adhesive, silicone adhesive.

Preferably, a neoprene-based adhesive may be used.

The upper and lower layers of the heating mat according to the invention may be rectangular, oval, square, round, hexagonal, pentagonal.

Preferably, the upper and lower layers will be rectangular or substantially rectangular.

when said upper and lower layers are rectangular or substantially rectangular, the peripheral edges of each of the lower and upper layers are assembled so as to reinforce the positioning of said lower and upper layers.

The peripheral edge of the upper layer may be connected to the peripheral edge of the lower layer by sewing, by staples, by gluing, by heat welding.

Preferably, the edges will be connected by sewing.

Alternatively, said upper and lower layers may be connected by a border making it possible to assemble the peripheral edges of each of the lower and upper layers.

The heating element can be chosen from a resistance, a heating cord

Preferably, the heating element is a flexible resistor such as a heating tape or cord.

The heating mat in the sense of the present invention further comprises a comfort covering having at least one connecting element intended to cooperate with at least one connecting element complementary to the external face of said upper layer to block in position said covering comfort.

For illustrative purposes only, this comfort covering can be a liquid permeable veil while forming a barrier for the entry of foreign debris into the heating mat.

The material of the comfort covering will be chosen from cotton, linen, hemp, silicone, latex.

Preferably, the coating will be made of silicone or latex.

The assembly element may be chosen from a fastening device of the type with loops and claws, straps, or any device comprising a male assembly portion which is intended to cooperate with a female assembly portion, each of the male and female portions being placed interchangeably on the external surface of the upper layer of the heating mat according to the invention and the internal face of the comfort covering, that is to say the face of the comfort covering which is not not intended to accommodate the animal.

The bottom layer of the heating mat in the sense of the invention is vulcanized or receives a plastic wall such as a tray to protect the bottom layer.

The layer thus vulcanized or the plastic wall may have reliefs to strengthen its adhesion to the ground.

The layer thus vulcanized or the plastic wall can also define one or more patterns configured to ensure the flow of liquids having passed through the structure of the carpet towards the outside thereof.

These patterns may include exhaust channels on the sides of the heating mat.

The heating mat according to the present invention is connected to a thermostat to allow the maintenance of a constant temperature.

Advantageously, the thermostat will maintain a temperature between about 35 and 40 degrees. Preferably, the temperature will be around 38 °.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, the heating element includes an integrated thermostat.

The heating mat further includes a battery.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given for explanatory purposes and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a heating mat within the meaning of the present invention, comprising an upper layer intended to accommodate an animal, a lower layer intended to rest on the ground, and a heating element, said heating element being coated in a waterproof element.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a heating mat within the meaning of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a photograph of a heating mat within the meaning of the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiment of the invention

First, note that the figures are not to scale.

Figure 1 schematically shows a heating mat for warming animals comprising an upper layer 11 intended to accommodate an animal (not shown), a lower layer 13 intended to rest on the ground, and a heating element 12, inserted between the upper layers 11 and lower 13, said heating element 12 being coated in a sealed element.

The lower 13 and upper 11 layers are honeycomb polypropylene structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower 13 and upper 11 layers are rectangular, the peripheral edge of the upper layer 11 being connected to the peripheral edge of the lower layer 13 by a seam 16.

The two layers 11 and 13 being thus assembled, the openings of the upper layer 11 advantageously coincide with the openings of the lower layer 13 over the entire surface, and this in order to allow the flow of fluids secreted or not by the animal.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a heating mat within the meaning of the present invention and Figure 3 is a photograph of the heating mat according to the present invention.

The elements shown in Figures 2 and 3 bearing the same references as those in Figure 1 represent the same objects, which are not described again below.

The outer face of the lower layer 13 is intended to rest on the ground.

The heating element 12 is here a flexible heating cord which is coated in a waterproof element 14 ensuring excellent sealing of this heating element 12 to liquids. Purely by way of illustration, this waterproof element 14 is here a heat-shrinkable sheath.

The thermostat in the sense of the present invention is incorporated in the heating cord (not shown) in order to maintain the latter at a constant temperature. This temperature is preferably around 38 ° C.

Advantageously, this heating element 12 makes it possible to heat at least the upper surface 11 of the carpet so that the latter being wet, it becomes dry quickly to ensure the comfort of the animal.

The waterproof element 14 coating the heating element 12 is fixed by bonding with the aid of a neoprene adhesive to the internal face of the lower layer 13 of the heating mat and to the internal face of the upper layer 11.

The assembly formed by the heating element 12 coated by the waterproof element 14, is advantageously arranged so as not to completely block the openings of the upper 11 and lower layers 13 placed at right angles to, or facing, the latter so to allow the flow of fluids.

This heating element 12 defines straight or substantially rectilinear portions 15 and curved portions 16 placed at the peripheral edges 17 of each layer.

The peripheral edges of the upper and lower layers are assembled by sewing with a border 18 making it possible to reinforce the positioning of said lower and upper layers.

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Claims (13)

1. Heating mat intended to heat an animal comprising: an upper layer (11) for accommodating an animal; a lower layer (13) intended to rest on the ground; a heating element (12), said heating element being embedded in a sealed element (14); characterized in that, said upper (11) and lower (13) layers have openings, at least some of the openings making up said upper layer (11) coincide with, or are placed substantially in line with at least certain openings of said layer lower (13) so as to allow the flow of fluids. 2. Heating mat according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower (13) and upper (11) layers are honeycomb structures. 3. Heating mat according to claim 2 characterized in that said lower (13) and upper (11) layers are woven walls each comprising an arrangement of open polygonal cells. 4. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said heating element (12) is arranged between said upper (11) and lower (13) layers without completely sealing the openings to the right of which it is placed . 5. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said waterproof element (14) coating the heating element (12) is fixed to the inner face of said upper layer (11) and to the face internal of said lower layer (13). 6. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said waterproof element (14) coating said heating element is fixed by gluing or by sewing. 7. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when said upper and lower layers are of rectangular or substantially rectangular shape, the peripheral edges of each of the lower (13) and upper (11) layers are assembled by an edge so as to reinforce the positioning of said lower (13) and upper (11) layers. 8. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the heating element (12) is a flexible resistor such as a heating tape or cord. 9. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said heating element comprises an integrated thermostat. 10. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a comfort coating having at least one connecting element intended to cooperate with at least one complementary connecting element of said upper layer to lock in position said comfort covering. 11. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the lower layer (13) is vulcanized to protect said lower layer (13). 12. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said heating element is connected to a thermostat (15) to allow the maintenance of a constant temperature. 13. Heating mat according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said mat further comprises a battery. 1/2