A Heater You Can Cuddle With

In 1918, Konosuke Matsushita decided to market his duplex lamp sockets under the brand name National. When trying to expand the National brand to the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 1955, Matsushita's company was faced with a dilemma: the National brand was already registered with another company. Subsequently, the North American branch of National was renamed Panasonic after the elements "pan" (meaning "all") in combination with "sonic" (meaning "sound") as the company initially only exported audio equipment.

Since then, National/Panasonic has become one of the largest Japanese manufacturers of home appliances and electronics. According to the Panasonic website, their company "aims to create a living space lifestyle that is delightful and positive," and their newest product launch is no exception. During the recent Tokyo Fiber Senseware Convention, Panasonic announced one of its newest product concepts: a heating device that was similar to a living being.

Dubbed the "No-Constraints Carpet," Panasonic's new heater looks almost like a cat's tail. Constructed of soft faux fur, the No-Constraints Carpet has heating elements integrated within the length of the device, and the control switches are embedded into "paws" that are located at the end of the heater. In addition, the No-Constraints Carpet is even energy efficient - the heater only heats up when you cuddle with it, and it can be used to decorate your couch when not in use. Two lengths (5 feet and 23 feet) and three fur colors (white, brown, or black and white) will determine the heater's cost.

Because the patent on the No-Constraints Carpet is still pending, pricing details are currently unavailable.