Automotive vehicle seat having a comfort system

• US 20050093347A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Onica, Madalina, Truant, Scott, Brennan, Lindy
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment

Abstract

There is disclosed a comfort system suitable for use in a seat of an automotive vehicle. The system preferably includes an air mover in fluid communication with an open space below a trim layer of the seat for providing ventilation, heating and/or cooling to the seat occupant.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat cushion component and a backrest cushion component, at least one of which is ventilated, each ventilated component having an air-permeable trim surface at the occupant contact areas of the seat;

an open space located beneath the trim surface of each ventilated component; and

an air mover in fluid communication with the open space of the insert.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the air mover is fastened to one or more members that extend substantially vertically when the seat backrest component is in the upright position.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 2 wherein the one or more members comprise a pair of lumbar rods in the backrest.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 1 further comprising a tubular structure at least partially providing the fluid communication between the air mover and the open space.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the cushion includes an opening extending therethrough for at least assisting in providing fluid communication between the air mover and the open space.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 1 further comprising a tubular structure wherein the cushion includes an opening extending therethrough and the tubular structure extends at least partially into the opening.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 6 wherein the tubular structure includes a proximate portion, a distal portion and an arced portion therebetween.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 6 wherein the tubular structure extends toward a forward edge of the cushion to attach to the air mover.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 1 further comprising a forward layer disposed over the open space.

10. The ventilated seat of claim 9 wherein the forward layer includes a heater sub-layer, a barrier sub-layer or both.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the air mover is a blower that is attached to a frame structure of the seat.

12. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the ventilated seat component is the seat cushion component.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the air mover includes a thermoelectric unit.

14. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat cushion component and a backrest cushion component, at least one of which is ventilated, each ventilated component having an air-permeable trim surface at the occupant contact areas of the seat;

an air mover attached to the extension of the insert in fluid communication with the open space of the insert wherein the air mover is attached to one or more components of the seat behind the cushion component;

an open space located beneath the trim surface of each ventilated component, the open space provided by a spacer layer; and

a tubular structure providing fluid communication between the air mover and the open space.

15. The ventilated seat of claim 14 further comprising a forward layer disposed over the spacer layer.

16. The ventilated seat of claim 15 wherein the forward layer includes a heater sub-layer and a barrier sub-layer.

17. The ventilated seat of claim 14 wherein the tubular structure extends at least partially through the cushion of the ventilated component.

18. The ventilated seat of claim 14 wherein the air mover is attached to a mounting structure.

19. The ventilated seat of claim 18 wherein the air mover is a blower and the mounting structure is a plate.

20. The ventilated seat of claim 18 wherein a plurality of fasteners are attached to the mounting structure.

21. The ventilated seat of claim 14 wherein the one or more components behind the cushion are metal rods and the plurality of fasteners are attached to the metal rods.

22. The ventilated seat of claim 21 wherein the metal rods are part of a lumbar or back support adjustment assembly.

23. The ventilated seat of claim 22 wherein the ventilated seat component is the backrest cushion component.