Modular heated platform

Abstract

A platform to be arranged adjacent to another platform to collectively form a heated walkway that minimizes the formation of ice on a surface of the walkway that is exposed to a sub-freezing environment. The platform includes an outermost surface to be exposed to the sub-freezing environment for providing traction for pedestrians walking on the platform, and a heating element for generating thermal energy to be transmitted to the outermost surface for minimizing the formation of ice on the outermost surface. A fastener is also provided for coupling the platform to a compatible feature of an adjacent platform to collectively form a walkway, and an electrical conductor delivers electric energy to the heating element and conducts electric energy from an external energy source to an adjacent platform.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a heating device and use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a platform provided with a heated surface that minimizes ice formation on the platform. A walkway can be assembled from a plurality of interlocking modular platforms. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Typically, external flooring surfaces such as sidewalks and stair treads exposed to cold weather accumulate ice in on the exposed surface upon which people walk. This makes walking dangerous, and often requires the ice to be removed at the expense of the property owner. The cost of ice removal is particularly high for the owners of public facilities having significant amounts of external flooring such as sidewalks, courtyards, external vending spaces, parking lots, and the like. [0003] Of particular relevance to the present invention, sidewalks are commonly encountered by pedestrians walking in icy conditions. Conventional heated sidewalk...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a platform to be arranged adjacent to another platform to collectively form a heated walkway that minimizes the formation of ice on a surface of the walkway that is exposed to a sub-freezing environment. The platform includes a tread with an outermost surface to be exposed to the sub-freezing environment for providing traction for pedestrians walking on the platform, and a heating element for generating thermal energy to be transmitted to the tread for minimizing the formation of ice on the outermost surface. A fastener can be used to couple the platform to a compatible feature of an adjacent platform to collectively form a walkway, and an electrical conductor for delivers electric energy to the heating element and from an external energy source to an adjacent platform.

[0007] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a heated walkway for minimizing the formation of ice on a surface of the walkway to be exposed to a sub-freezing environment and upon which pedestrians can walk. The walkway includes a first platform and second a second platform. The first platform comprises a first heating element for generating thermal energy to be transmitted to the surface of the walkway for minimizing the formation of ice on the surface, and a fastener for coupling the first platform to the second platform to maintain the position of the first platform relative to the second platform. The first platform also includes an electrical conductor for delivering electric energy to the first heating element and conducting electric energy between an external energy source and the second platform. The second platform includes a second heating element for generating thermal energy to be transmitted to the surface of the walkway for minimizing the formation of ice on the surface, and a second fastener that is compatible with the first fastener. Similar to the first platform, the second platform also includes an electrical conductor for delivering electric energy to the second heating element and conducting electric energy between the first platform and a third platform.

Problems solved by technology

This makes walking dangerous, and often requires the ice to be removed at the expense of the property owner.

The cost of ice removal is particularly high for the owners of public facilities having significant amounts of external flooring such as sidewalks, courtyards, external vending spaces, parking lots, and the like.

But since sidewalks are somewhat permanent structures, repairing and / or replacing the steam-heating system when a disruption of steam delivery occurs is time consuming, labor intensive and expensive.

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