权利要求：
1. A seating unit comprising:
a seat back having a front side and a back side;
a seat bottom having a top side and an underside;
a first heating element, attached to the back side of the seat back, and configured to deliver first heating through the seat back to a user while seated in the seating unit when electrically powered;
a second heating element, attached to the underside of the seat bottom, and configured to deliver second heating through the seat bottom to the user while seated in the seating unit when electrically powered;
circuitry configured to facilitate delivery of power to the first heating element and the second heating element; and
a removable drainage insert;
wherein the seating unit is configured to be positioned upon a planar surface for seating by the user;
wherein the seat bottom comprises a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of the seat bottom is a first distance from the planar surface when the seating unit rests upon the planar surface, wherein the back end of the seat bottom is a second distance from the planar surface when the seating unit is positioned upon the planar surface, and wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance;
wherein the seat bottom comprises a drainage insert cavity at the back end of the seat bottom, wherein the removable drainage insert configured to be secured within the drainage insert cavity, and wherein the removable drainage insert is further configured to collect precipitation landing upon the seat bottom based on flowing of the precipitation from the front end to the back end based on the second distance being smaller than the first distance.
2. The seating unit of claim 1, wherein the first heating element and the second heating element each comprise a first film of resistive material deposited on a substrate.
3. The seating unit of claim 2, wherein the first film is deposited as a first pattern, and wherein the first heating element and the second heating element each further comprise a second film of conducting material deposited on the substrate, the second film deposited as a second pattern electrically connected to the first pattern.
4. The seating unit of claim 1, further comprising:
input and output terminals for transferring power to the first heating element and the second heating element, the input and output terminals connected to a power transfer unit mounted to the seating unit; and
a power lead configured to interconnect a power source and the power transfer unit.
5. The seating unit of claim 4, further wherein the power transfer unit is an easy release power transfer device having first and second parts held together in a normal state by at least one of: friction or magnetism.
6. The seating unit of claim 4, wherein a second seating unit includes the power source, wherein the power lead interconnects the power source and the power transfer unit based on attaching to a second power lead of the second seating unit, and wherein the second seating unit powers at least one heating element of the second seating unit via the power source.
7. The seating unit of claim 6, further comprising a second power lead supplying power to a third seating unit, wherein the third seating unit powers at least one heating element of the second seating unit via the power supplied by the seating unit via the second power lead.
8. The seating unit of claim 1, wherein the circuitry causes the first heating element and the second heating element to change between a set of at least three heating states, wherein a first heating state of the set of at least three heating states corresponds to delivering heating via a first intensity, wherein a second heating state of the set of at least three heating states corresponds to delivering heating via a second intensity that is lower than the first intensity, and wherein a third heating state of the set of at least three heating states corresponds to delivering no heating.
9. The seating unit of claim 8, further comprising:
a user input button, wherein a switch of the circuitry is actuated based on pressing of the user input button attached to the seating unit,
wherein actuation of the switch causes the first heating element and the second heating element to change between different ones of the set of at least three heating states in accordance with a cyclical ordering of the set of at least three heating states.
10. The seating unit of claim 8, further comprising:
a communications interface, wherein data received via the communications interface is processed via the circuitry to cause the first heating element and the second heating element to change between different ones of the set of at least three heating states.
11. The seating unit of claim 10, wherein the data received via the communications interface includes weather data, and wherein updating to a new one of the set of at least three heating states is based on the weather data.
12. The seating unit of claim 1, wherein the first heating element is implemented as a first heating pad, wherein the second heating element is implemented as a second heating pad, further comprising:
a heating pad cover plate comprising a vertical covering component and a horizontal covering component;
wherein a first side of the first heating pad is secured against the back side of the seat back, and wherein a second side of the first heating pad opposite the first side of the first heating pad is secured against an inner surface of the vertical covering component of the heating pad cover plate;
wherein a first side of the second heating pad is secured against the underside of the seat bottom, and wherein a second side of the second heating pad opposite the first side of the second heating pad is secured against an inner surface of the horizontal covering component of the heating pad cover plate.
13. A seating unit comprising:
a seat back;
a seat bottom;
at least one heating element configured to deliver heating when electrically powered to a user while seated in the seating unit through at least one of: the seat back or the seat bottom;
at least one additional electrically powered element;
circuitry configured to facilitate delivery of power to the at least one heating element and further configured to facilitate delivery of power to the at least one additional electrically powered element; and
a removable drainage insert;
wherein the seating unit is configured to be positioned upon a planar surface for seating by the user;
wherein the seat bottom comprises a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of the seat bottom is a first distance from the planar surface when the seating unit rests upon the planar surface, wherein the back end of the seat bottom is a second distance from the planar surface when the seating unit is positioned upon the planar surface, and wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance;
wherein the seat bottom comprises a drainage insert cavity at the back end of the seat bottom, wherein the removable drainage insert configured to be secured within the drainage insert cavity, and wherein the removable drainage insert is further configured to collect precipitation landing upon the seat bottom based on flowing of the precipitation from the front end to the back end based on the second distance being smaller than the first distance.
14. The seating unit of claim 13, wherein the at least one additional electrically powered element includes at least one of:
a first lighting element integrated within the seating unit behind a translucent logo upon a surface of the seating unit, wherein the first lighting element is configured to backlight the translucent logo;
a second lighting element attached to an underside of one of: the seat bottom or at least one arm of the seating unit, wherein the second lighting element is configured to illuminate a surface below the seating unit upon which the seating unit is positioned; or
a charging coil of a wireless changing station, wherein the charging coil is configured to charge a mobile device when resting upon a corresponding surface of the seating unit.
15. The seating unit of claim 13, wherein the at least one additional electrically powered element includes at least one communication interface that facilitates wireless connection with a mobile device enabling user configuration, of at least one of: the at least one heating element, or at least one further additional electrically powered element, wherein the user configuration is enabled via at least one of: a preset user profile accessed via the mobile device, or user interaction with a graphical user interface displayed via the mobile device.
16. A seating unit comprising:
a seat back;
a seat bottom;
at least one heating element fully encased within at least one of: the seat back or the seat bottom, and configured to deliver heating when electrically powered to a user while seated in the seating unit; and
circuitry configured to facilitate delivery of power to the at least one heating element; and
a removable drainage insert;
wherein the seating unit is configured to be positioned upon a planar surface for seating by the user;
wherein the seat bottom comprises a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of the seat bottom is a first distance from the planar surface when the seating unit rests upon the planar surface, wherein the back end of the seat bottom is a second distance from the planar surface when the seating unit is positioned upon the planar surface, and wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance;
wherein the seat bottom comprises a drainage insert cavity at the back end of the seat bottom, wherein the removable drainage insert configured to be secured within the drainage insert cavity, and wherein the removable drainage insert is further configured to collect precipitation landing upon the seat bottom based on flowing of the precipitation from the front end to the back end based on the second distance being smaller than the first distance.
17. The seating unit of claim 16, wherein the seating unit, wherein the seat back and the seat bottom are constructed as at least one piece of stock construction material.
18. The seating unit of claim 16, wherein the at least one heating element is fully encased within at least one of: the seat back or the seat bottom based on a 3D printing process comprising switching from 3D printing via a flowable base material to 3D printing via a flowable resistive metal component at least once during the 3D printing process, wherein the at least one heating element is implemented via the flowable resistive metal component.
19. The seating unit of claim 16, wherein the seat back and the seat bottom are printed via a 3D printing material that includes at least one of: a heat storage medium or a phase change material, and wherein the at least one of: the heat storage medium or the phase change material facilitates delivery of the heating via the heating element to the user.
具体实施方式：
[0045]FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional front view of an embodiment of heating-capable furnishing unit 110. A heating-capable furnishing unit 110 can include at least one heating element 102 be operable to provide heating 105 to a user in proximity to the heating-capable furnishing unit 110.
[0046]As used herein, a furnishing unit 110 can include a functional and/or decorative unit that is utilized in an indoor and/or outdoor environment, such as at a user's home, a commercial establishment, a park or recreational area, or other location. Furnishing units 110 can be permanently installed in a particular location, can be located in a predetermined location within a predefined physical boundary, and/or can move around within predefined physical boundary.
[0047]As depicted in the example of FIG. 1, a furnishing unit 110 can correspond to an article furniture such as a chair in which a user can sit. In other similar embodiments, furnishing unit 110 can correspond to another article of furniture implemented as a seating unit in which one or more people can sit, such as another type of chair, a couch, a stool, a bench, a banquette, and/or any other article of furniture providing means of sitting by the user. While seated in the furnishing unit 110, the at least one heating element 102 can provide heating 105 to the user.
[0048]Any embodiment of furnishing unit 110 that similarly includes at least one heating element 102 that provides heating 105 to at least one person in the vicinity can be implemented as: any other an article of furniture such as a table, bar-top, and/or other furniture providing a surface for dining, placing plates and/or glassware, and/or gathering; one or more furnishings providing lighting such as a lamp and/or light fixture; one or more furnishings providing heating such as an outdoor heating lamp; one or more furnishings providing music and/or other audio such as speakers; one or more furnishings providing decorative storage such as shelving units; window furnishings such as blinds and/or curtains; outdoor furnishings such as patio furniture, landscaping elements, rock features, floral features, plant features, outdoor sculptures and/or art, and/or water features; pools, hot tubs, and/or elements within a pool and/or hot tub, such as benches, rocks, pool sides, a pool bottom, and/or other elements of a pool that are optionally submerged when the pool and/or hot tub is filled with water and operable to heat occupants within the pool and/or hot tub; configurable elements upon furnishings such as decorative handles, knobs, hooks, and/or faucets; vehicles such as cars, boats, planes, other road vehicles, other water vehicles, and/or other aerial vehicles; structural elements such as walls, floors, ceilings, pillars, beams, bricks, stones; and/or any other articles of furniture, decorative units, functional units, accessories, infrastructure elements, and/or other types of products of a building interior, outdoor patio, and/or any other indoor and/or outdoor space.
[0049]In various embodiments, one or more furnishing units 110 are deployed in an outside environment where people gather and where the air temperature may become uncomfortably cold. The furnishing units 110 can provide heating to users to combat these cold temperatures to provide comfort to users while in this cold environment.
[0050]Alternatively or in addition, one or more furnishing units 110 can be implemented as cooling-capable furniture for outside situations where the air temperature may become uncomfortably warm, and can be operable to cool the user via at least one fan and/or other cooling system.
[0051]FIGS. 2A and 2B present example embodiments of heating element 102. Some or all features and/or functionality of the heating element 102 of FIGS. 2A and/or 2B can be utilized to implement the heating element 102 of FIG. 1 and/or any other embodiment of heating element 102 described herein.
[0052]In some embodiments, at least one heating element 102 of furnishing unit 110 can be implemented as a resistive heating element. For example, this resistive heating element is formed by printing a resistive material 203 onto a substrate 211. The resistive material 203 can be implemented as a heating-capable thick- or thin-film resistive material onto a substrate. In one example, a graphite- or graphene-based paste is printed onto a mica or like substrate. Other suitable thick- or thin-film materials having resistive heating capability are known such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,572 which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0053]In some embodiments, the substrate is comprised of 0.5 mm thick low smoke mica. The substrate can be implemented via any other thickness and/or other material.
[0054]As illustrated in FIG. 2A, such a resistive material 203 can be printed upon substrate 211 in accordance with a printed pattern 209. In one implementation, the film of resistive material is printed as a grid of fine lines. The lines can be printed as parallel lines, as a single meandering maze-like line, as a generally square or generally circular pattern, or the like. The deposited film material can have uniform or variable thickness with line widths and line spacing also being uniform or variable. The resistive material can be of uniform composition throughout or different regions of the deposited film can have different composition; for example, to provide relatively low and high resistivity regions. In one implementation, differences in resistivity of different parts of a thick- or thin-film heating element are used to direct applied current as required to establish a particular heating pattern. For example, an outer zone of a heating area is heated to a higher temperature than an inner central zone. Such an arrangement is adapted for chair backs where the spine marks a position of higher pressure compared to other parts of the sitter's back. Similarly, for a chair seat where the buttocks have higher pressure areas than surrounding areas. In one implementation, local thermostats are used to switch in and switch out parts of the pattern as limit temperatures are reached.
[0055]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, the material of the resistive heating element, whether a film or a discrete wire or filament, has a positive temperature coefficient and so experiences an increase in electrical resistance when its temperature is raised. Depending on desired heating characteristics, in an alternative embodiment, the material has a linear or negative temperature coefficient.
[0056]In some embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, an associated film of conducting material can also be printed as a grid of input and output conducting material lines to connect the resistive lines to input and output terminals, and can thus be included in the printed pattern 209 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. If the heating element is a meandering resistive element, whether embodied as a wire or deposited film, an input terminal is electrically connected to one end of the element and an output terminal is electrically connected to the other end of the element. In an implementation specifically for a pattern of separate resistive lines, a conducting strip is printed to be integral with input ends of resistive element lines and another conducting strip is printed to be integral with output ends of resistive element lines. In one implementation, the conducting layer is overprinted on the resistive layer and connections between respective resistive and conducting lines are made vertically. Input and output conductive strips can be connected to input and output terminals 206 and 208, respectively, of a standard or tailored power receptacle or, via an electrical lead, to a plug.
[0057]In some embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, printing of resistive and conductive leads of printed pattern 209 can be by any of screen printing, ink drop printing, etc., tailored to the film material being used and the substrate to which the print material is being applied. For added integrity deposited conducting and resistive lines can be baked. The input and output terminals are in one implementation riveted to the adjacent rigid substrate.
[0058]FIG. 2B illustrates an example embodiment of heating element 102. Heating element 102 can be implemented via a plurality of layers that include substrate 211; a resistive layer 213 of resistive material 203, for example, printed upon the substrate 211 in the printed pattern 209 as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 2A; and/or a conductor layer 212 of conductive material 202, for example, printed upon the substrate 211 in the printed pattern 209 as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 2A.
[0059]As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the plurality of layers can further include a finish coat layer 214 and/or a heater cover 218. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the heating element 102 can further include one or more washers 215, one or more rivets 216, one or more segments of fiberglass tape 219, and/or other fastenings or materials facilitating attaching of the layers to each other and/or to the furnishing unit. As illustrated in FIG. 2B. the heating element 102 can further include wire harness 217, for example, implementing the input terminal 206 and output terminal 208 of FIG. 2A.
[0060]In some embodiments, the heating element 102 is configured to operate at 120 volts and/or 250 Watts, or under different voltage and/or power specifications.
[0061]In some embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, the heating element is mated to a surface part of an article of heating-capable furniture. In one implementation, the article is a piece of stock construction material such as wood, metal, ceramic, glass, fiberglass, carbon, MDF board, clay, Formica™, Corian™, Solid surface, laminates, Glass fiber reinforced-plastic, gypsum, concrete, or the like for use in the manufacture of an article of heating-capable furniture. In an alternative implementation, the article is a surface part of the finished article itself, such as a piece of furniture, a vehicle, a boat, a floor, a pool or the like, with the resistive heating material and input and output conductors printed, coated or otherwise applied directly to the surface part itself and with a protective layer applied over the heating element.
[0062]In some embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, an intermediate layer of thermal transfer material is located on the heating ‘side’ between the heating element and an overlying substrate. The transfer material can be made flowable during manufacturing to enable adaptation to low level surface formations or roughness in either or both of the heating element and the substrate. The transfer material can have high thermal conductivity to minimize heat lost during transfer from the heating element to the substrate. As an alternatively to a flowable material, the transfer layer can be made pliable both to adapt to surface irregularities of a substrate and heating element and to adapt to the overall curvature of a substrate such as a chair part. In one implementation, the thermal transfer layer is itself deposited, as by vapor deposition or other suitable deposition method, or printed, as by screen printing, or other suitable printing method, directly onto the surface of the thick or thin film heating layer. In some embodiments, the thermal transfer layer is implemented as finish coat layer 214 of FIG. 2B and/or the overlying substrate is implemented as the heater cover 218.
[0063]In some embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, an intermediate thermally insulating layer is located on the non-heating ‘side’ between the heating element and an underlying substrate. The insulating material can act a heat shield to minimize heat loss from the back or non-heating side of piece of furniture such as a chair and can be supplemented by a reflecting layer of material to reflect heat back the heating side. The heat shield can also prevent generated heat from inadvertently and/or undesirably heating another person or item in the locality of furniture that is being deliberately heated.
[0064]In some embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, a robust resistive heating element is formed as a winding resistive heating wire or filament. In an implementation, the wire or filament is contained within a facing or housing material such as silicone rubber. The silicone rubber acts to protect the element from outside conditions; also, to provide flexibility allowing the heating element to be bent around an article to be heated; and particularly in the case of use of facing material, to act to concentrate the projection of generated heat towards the object being heated while acting as a shield to limit heat from being directed away from the object being heated. The housed heating element can, in one embodiment, be secured to an underlying body by anchors such as screw-mounted brackets.
[0065]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, the heating element, as supplemented by any heat transfer layer and/or insulating layer has an acrylic or Solid surface covering to render the structure resistant to deterioration from weather effects, such as a thermoformed acrylic or solid surface covering, a planar acrylic or solid surface covering, or other covering.
[0066]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, dielectric material such as an epoxy is coated on a surface of a base material such as stock building material or an article of furniture. A resistive heating element such as any of a winding resistive wire, a lattice of resistive wires, or a printed lattice of resistive lines is then laid over or applied to the dielectric layer and a second layer of dielectric such as epoxy covers the resistive element. The stock material so produced is used to construct an item such as furniture, vehicles, boats, floors, pools, etc. As an alternative to a flowable epoxy, the heating element is sandwiched between layers of Corian™, Solid surface or like laminar material.
[0067]In another embodiment, the furniture material may be impregnated with Nano Carbon of Nano Graphene particles at appropriate concentrations and distributions so as to generate tortuosity, leading to heating of the entire material when energized. This is particularly applicable to composite materials such as cement, concrete, bio polymers, plastics, sintered stones, glass fiber reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) and the like.
[0068]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, a sheet of substrate material bearing a heating element is embedded inside a cast material such as concrete. In one implementation, the embedded structure is first encased in an inert material to protect it from reaction with damaging chemicals used or produced in the course of the casting process. In another embodiment, heating elements are embedded in an injection molded material such as plastics.
[0069]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, an item such as a chair is 3D printed and/or or additive manufactured. At an intermediate stage in the course of printing, heating element material is put in place on, or applied to, the partially printed item. The printing process is then continued so that the heating elements are embedded in the completed printed item. In one implementation, the heating element is deposited as a thick film resistive layer. In another implementation, wires, filaments, or rods of resistive material are placed on the surface of the partially printed object or are placed within containing housings forming part of the partial print. In a further implementation, both conductive and resistive elements are formed in the partial print so as to provide elements of a heating circuit. In a variation, the heating element itself is printed into the object during the printing process by switching from the flowable base material, such as a plastic, to a flowable resistive metal component, switching back to base material, etc., until the resistive metal heating element is completed. Conducting leads to the heating element can optionally be also printed ‘on the fly’.
[0070]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, a heat storage medium such as a clay brick, or ceramic or feolite is lodged into stock manufacturing material, or into an article of furniture at a position adjacent a resistive heating element. In use, the heat storage medium is heated up during a heat storage cycle. At other times, even if there is no active heating of the heat storage medium, the previously heated medium releases its stored heat to warm a sitter or like user of the article of furniture In one implementation, the heat storage medium is embedded in a 3D printed and/or or additive manufactured article of furniture during manufacture together with the associated heating element. In another implementation, the heat storage medium is added as part of the 3D material to be printed. Alternatively or in addition, a heat spreader medium, such as a piece or sheet of aluminum or other material, may be used to extend the heating coverage beyond the specific location of the heating element. In another implementation, the heating element comprises a mix of chemicals that exothermically react when electric current is passed through the mix, with the chemical returning to their initial state upon cooling when current flow ceases.
[0071]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, a phase change material (PCM), such as an organic or salt hydrate PCM, is lodged into stock manufacturing material, or into an article of furniture at a position adjacent a resistive heating element. In use, the PCM is heated up during a heating cycle to precipitate a first direction phase change and then is allowed to cool to precipitate a reverse direction phase change. Controlled power is applied to the heating element in a cycle that releases latent heat from the PCM to warm a sitter in a warming period and absorbs latent heat in a cooling period either deliberately to cool a sitter or like user or to cool the article of furniture when no warming effect is required. In one implementation, the PCM is embedded in a 3D printed and/or additive manufactured article of furniture during manufacture together with the associated heating element. In another implementation, the PCM is added as part of the material, such as a 3D material and/or additive manufacturing material, to be printed, additive manufactured, and/or produced via another deposition process.
[0072]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, particularly in the case of 3D printing of a heating-capable article of furniture, in one implementation, optical fibers, optical sources and related control devices are embedded in the 3D printed and/or or additive manufactured object during manufacture. In use optical circuits and effects therefrom are used to indicate, for example, active heating level and/or current temperature. In one example, optical display technology is used in the structure of a heating-capable chair or like item so that it glows in response to the item changing temperature. In a related implementation, the item glows with a shade that depends on the actual temperature of the item or part of it.
[0073]FIG. 3A presents a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of furnishing unit 110. A bus 290 of furnishing unit 110, such as at least one wired and/or wireless connection, can facilitate powering of at least one heating element 102 of the furnishing unit 110 via a power supply 205, optionally based on control data generated by a heating control module 207. Some or all features and/or functionality of the furnishing unit 110 of FIG. 3A can implement the furnishing unit 110 of FIG. 1 and/or any other embodiment of furnishing unit 110 described herein.
[0074]A furnishing unit 110 can include at least one heating element 102, which can be integrated into one or more portions of the furnishing unit as illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, to heat different parts of a person's body and/or otherwise supply heating in corresponding locations.
[0075]The furnishing unit 110 can further include a heating control module 207. The heating control module 207 can generate control data corresponding to configuration of the furnishing unit 110. This control data can cause the furnishing unit 110 to turn on and/or off, to supply heat at one of a set of multiple heating levels, and/or to otherwise change state of and/or configure functionality of the heating 105 delivered via furnishing unit 110.
[0076]In some embodiments, the heating control module 207 can include and/or can communicate with at least one user input device. In such embodiments, the control data can correspond to and/or be based on user input to the user input device, where a user configures the functionality of the heating 105 delivered via furnishing unit 110 via interaction with the user input device. The heating control module 207 can generate the control data via at least one processing module, at least one memory module, corresponding circuitry, at least one communications interface, at least one user input device, and/or other means.
[0077]In some embodiments, a user input device implementing heating control module 207 includes least one switch, knob, button, lever, touchscreen displaying a graphical user interface, and/or other user input device. The user input device can be integrated within and/or in proximity to the furnishing unit, and can be actuated and/or toggled by a user in proximity to the furnishing unit. An example embodiment of a heating control module 207 of furnishing unit 110 implemented to include a button is illustrated in FIGS. 3D-3H.
[0078]In some embodiments, a user input device separate from furnishing unit 110 communicates with heating control module 207 to facilitate transmission of user input data, where heating control module 207 includes a communication interface. For example, the user input device is implemented as a remote control device for the furnishing unit 110 that transmits an IR signal or other short range wireless communication signal for receipt by the communication interface to facilitate generation of and/or receipt of control data configuring the heating 105 by furnishing unit 110. As another example, the user input device is implemented as a smart phone or other personal device of the user that executes application data corresponding to the furnishing unit that causes the user input device to display a graphical user interface for interaction by the user to enable the user to configure the heating 105 by furnishing unit 110. The smart phone or other personal device can communicate with the furnishing unit 110 via a Bluetooth connection, Wi-Fi connection, local area network connection, or other wired and/or wireless communication medium.
[0079]In some embodiments, the heating control module 207 can automatically generate control data without user intervention, for example, based on sensor input and/or received communications indicating environmental changes to which the heating 105 should adapt. For example, the furnishing unit 110 can further include at least one light sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, audio sensor, occupancy sensor, weather sensor, timer or clock, geolocation sensor, or other sensor utilized to determine changes in state data that causes the heating control module 207 to automatically change and/or otherwise configure the heating 105. For example, presence of a user can be detected via a pressure sensor, occupancy sensor, Wi-Fi connection with a device of the user, Bluetooth connection with a device of the user, radio frequency or other signal received from and/or detected as being transmitted by a device of the user, LIDAR proximity detection, or other means of detecting presence of a user in proximity. When presence is detected the heating elements 102 can turn on automatically based on detection of a person occupying the seat and/or otherwise being in proximity to the furnishing unit. As another example, the temperature sensor and/or other weather sensors can detect weather data that is processed by heating control module 207 to facilitate changing the heating level outputting by heating element 102 based on the outdoor temperature, or other weather elements such as wind or precipitation, changing.
[0080]In some embodiments, some or all of this state data processed by heating control module 207 can be received via a wired and/or wireless connection with the Internet and/or other communication network, for example, via a Wi-Fi connection and/or other network connection. For example, current weather data, reservation data for an establishment that includes the furnishing unit indicating reservation of the chair, and/or other data can be transmitted to the furnishing unit 110 via this network connection to cause the chair to determine to turn on and/or of, or configure the level of heating 105 by heating elements 102 based on determining corresponding temperature or other weather conditions, use by a user and/or particular person with particular preferences, or other information.
[0081]In some embodiments, furnishing units 110 generate and/or transmit data to other furnishing units 110 for processing, where heating control module 207 optionally utilizes data received from other furnishing units 110 to generate control data or otherwise configure heating 105 by heating element 102. Embodiments of a communication network of furnishing units is discussed in further detail in conjunction with FIGS. 4D-4H.
[0082]The heating elements 105 can be operable to supply heating based on being powered via a power supply 205. For example, the power supply 205 facilitates delivery of current that renders resistive heating elements of heating elements 105 to produce heat. In some embodiments, a power receptacle is mounted at a suitable position on the item to be heated, for example, underneath a chair seat. The power supply 205 can optionally further power the heating control module 207 and/or other electrical components of furnishing unit 110. Power supply can be implemented to supply AC or DC power, and can be implemented via a standard outlet connection, a battery, or other power supply. In some embodiments, the power supply is implemented via a step-down transformer and/or other transformer.
[0083]In various embodiments of the furnishing unit 110, as an alternative to a mechanical plug and receptacle arrangement, a power transfer unit includes input and output members that are attached to each other through an easy-release mechanism. In one embodiment, the easy-release mechanism eliminates conventional male to female connectors by using a combination of friction and/or magnetism to hold one member to the other. The level of friction and/or magnetic attraction are set sufficiently high so as to avoid light collisions from disconnecting the power transfer members from one other, while supporting safety by enabling disconnection if tension within the lead exceeds a pre-set safety level. The power system can use standard 120 volts or may, through transformer circuitry mounted on the chair or at another near location, enable use of lower voltage, especially if warranted or mandated for safety and/or certification reasons. Engagement of the power transfer members, whether of standard or dedicated design, can be such that upon deliberate or accidental disengagement of members at the power transfer unit, an associated electrical lead is spring-returned to a storage position. This can reduce the chance of accident or damage occurring in the event that a chair is inadvertently moved past the limit position set by the extension lead tethering.
[0084]In some embodiments, as an alternative to Mains power supply, a battery or battery pack may be used to connect to the furniture and provide system power. In an embodiment circuitry can be applied to render an individual piece of furniture adaptable to either this form of power or Mains Alternating current. This can use a custom or standard connector, and/or can include an external adapter in one or both modes of operation.
[0085]FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of furnishing unit 110 that further includes and/or is in proximity to at least one additional electrically-powered output element 326. Some or all features and/or functionality of FIG. 3B can implement the furnishing unit 110 of FIG. 3A, of FIG. 1, and/or any other embodiment of furnishing unit 110 described herein.
[0086]Power supply 205 of a given furnishing unit 110 can be utilized to not only power heating element 102, but to further power at least one ancillary devices at or near the location of the article of furniture implementing furnishing unit 110. In particular, the heating power to an article of furniture such as a chair can offers the opportunity to implement electrically powered ancillary devices at or near the location of the article of furniture. In some embodiments, additional electrically-powered output elements 326 can share the same power supply 205 with heating element 102 through a step-down transformer, or another transformer.
[0087]Some or all additional electrically-powered output elements 326 can be controlled via corresponding additional element control modules 327. For example, a control module 340 is implemented to control heating via heating element 102 as well as configuration of other electrically-powered output elements 326, where these different elements are controlled separately or in tandem. For example the control module 340 can be operable to generate control data that causes: distributing and/or modulating of power delivered to both the heating element 102 as well as various additional electrically-powered output elements 326; turning the heating element 102 and/or additional electrically-powered output elements on and/or off over time; changing the level of output or other configuration of the heating element 102 and/or additional electrically-powered output elements 326 at various times; or other configuration of the heating element 102 and/or additional electrically-powered output elements. For example, the control module 207 can collect and/or generate control data based on status information of the power supply 205, the heating element 102, and/or least one additional electrically-powered output element 326 the furniture, such as on/off, warming up, at temp, fault, and the like.
[0088]The control module 340 can be implemented via at least one processing module, at least one memory module that stores operational instructions executed by the at least one processing module causing the processing module to generate control data and/or configure functionality of the heating element 102 and/or additional electrically-powered output elements. The control module 340 can be implemented via other circuitry that enables control of the power delivered and/or configuration of heating element 102 and/or one or more additional electrically-powered output elements 326.
[0089]In some embodiments, at least one additional electrically-powered output element 326 can be implemented as at least one wireless charging station. The wireless charging station can be implemented via a charging coil mounted on the article of furniture to be heated and shares the same supply, such as via a step-down transformer, as the heating element. The charging coil can be, for example, suitably mounted or located under a chair seat, on or under the arm of a chair, near the lip of a table, etc., to permit charging of cell phones, laptop computers and similar devices.
[0090]Alternatively or in addition, at least one additional electrically-powered output element 326 can be implemented as at least one lighting device, such as at least one light emitting diode (LED), at least one embedded optical fiber, optical sources, a display device displaying graphical image data, and/or related control devices. For example, LED lighting of the ground below the furniture to be heated, can share the same supply (e.g. through a step-down transformer) as the heating element and/or can be controlled by its own control circuitry, can share the use of the heater control circuitry, and/or can be controlled via control module 340. As another example, LED backlighting of a translucent or transparent company Logo on the furniture to be heated, shares the same supply (e.g. through a step-down transformer) as the heating element and/or can be controlled by its own control circuitry, can share the use of the heater control circuitry, and/or can be controlled via control module 340.
[0091]In anothe