| 主权项 |
1. A snow melting mat, comprising:
an elongate, substantially flat, flexible sheet defining a mat, the sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposed side edges, and opposed ends, the sheet being adapted to be laid on a walkway, the top surface having a plurality of transverse grooves defined therein, the grooves forming a non-slip walking surface, each groove having a depth tapering down towards the side edges of the mat sheet to permit melted snow and ice to run off the top surface; a plurality of longitudinal fluid flow channels disposed inside the mat sheet, the flow channels extending between opposite ends of the sheet, the flow channels forming a conduit adapted for fluid flow of a heated liquid medium through the sheet; a substantially hollow recirculation header detachably mounted to one end of the sheet, the recirculation header having a plurality of attachment nozzles selectively coupled to the one end of the sheet for supplying and collecting the liquid medium to and from the fluid flow channels of the sheet; a substantially hollow circulation header detachably mounted to the opposite end of the sheet opposite the recirculation header, the circulation header having a plurality of attachment nozzles selectively attachable to the opposite end of the sheet, the circulation header directing fluid flow from the fluid flow channels in one side of the sheet to the fluid flow channels in the opposite side of the sheet so that the liquid medium reverses fluid flow direction in the circulation header; and a heater-pump for heating and pumping the liquid medium through the recirculation header, the sheet, and the circulation header, the heater-pump being selectively coupled to the recirculation header; wherein the heater-pump circulates the liquid medium to maintain the mat sheet at temperatures above freezing for melting snow and ice on the top surface of the sheet to thereby provide a safe walking surface and path. |
