Air conditioned seat and air conditioning apparatus for a ventilated seat

• US 20040164594A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Spee, Rainer, Stoewe, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,201,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

An air conditioned seat with a padded seat surface (4) and a padded backrest (8) and with a fan (16) arranged beneath the seat surface (4). The fan (16) is connected to an air distribution apparatus (20, 22) in the seat, and includes a flow region (31) that is open to the environment. The flow region (31) is located substantially on the side of the fan (16) facing the seat surface (4). The fan inlet (30) is further environmentally protected by a diffuser (36) located in the flow region (31) and forming a slit opening (40) between a top edge (38) of the diffuser (36) and an underside (28) of the seat.

Claims

1. An air conditioned seat comprising a padded seat surface, a padded backrest, and a fan arranged beneath the seat surface, the fan being connected to an air distribution apparatus in the seat and including a flow region that is open to the environment, wherein the flow region is located substantially on a side of the fan facing toward the seat surface.

2. An air conditioned seat according to claim 1, wherein the fan is a radial fan.

3. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2, wherein the fan has an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the seat surface.

4. An air conditioned seat according to claim 3 comprising a flexible bellows located between the outlet opening of the fan and at least one air duct in the seat.

5. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2, wherein the radial fan is firmly anchored in a seat frame.

6. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2 comprising a diffuser located in the flow region to guide the air that is drawn into the fan.

7. An air conditioned seat according to claim 6, comprising a slit opening provided between a top edge of the diffuser and the underside of the seat.

8. An air conditioned seat according to claim 7 comprising a dust or particle filter arranged between the slit opening and the fan.

9. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2, wherein a housing of the radial fan is hermetically sealed with respect to the environment.

10. An air conditioned seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat is a vehicle seat or an airplane seat.

11. An air conditioned seat comprising a seating cushion, a backrest and a fan arranged beneath the seating cushion, the fan being connected to an air distribution apparatus in the seating cushion and including a flow region open to the environment, wherein the flow region is located between an underside of the seating cushion and the fan.

12. An air conditioned seat according to claim 11 wherein the air distribution apparatus comprises an air distribution structure along each of the underside and a top side of the seating cushion, the air distribution structures being connected by at least one air duct.

13. An air conditioned seat according to claim 11 wherein the fan has an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the seating cushion.

14. An air conditioned seat according to claim 13 comprising a flexible bellows located between the outlet opening of the fan and an inlet to the air distribution apparatus.

15. An air conditioned seat according to claim 11 comprising a diffuser located in the flow region to guide air that is drawn into the fan.

16. An air conditioned seat according to claim 15 comprising a slit opening provided between a top edge of the diffuser and the underside of the seating cushion.

17. An air conditioned seat according to claim 16 comprising a dust or particle filter arranged between the slit opening and the fan.

18. An air conditioned seat according to claim 11 comprising a second fan arranged in the backrest.

19. An air conditioned seat according to claim 11, wherein the fan is a radial fan.

20. An air conditioned seat according to claim 19 wherein the radial fan is firmly anchored in a seat frame.