Valve layer for a seat

• US 20050173950A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Panic, Zoran, Ulan, Peter, Lazanja, Marinko, Gerasimov, Vladimir, Zlotin, Boris, Proseanic, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.140
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/74 for ventilation, heating or cooling actuated by rocking the chair A47C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/744 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5664 with unforced air circulation, i.e. not using a fan or the like

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a ventilated seat with a valve sheet having one or more valve assemblies. The valve sheet maybe on a frame of the seat. The valve assemblies open in response to a force such as a force applied by an individual occupying the seat. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of thermally regulating a seat by occupying a seat with a valve sheet. By occupying the seat one or more valves assemblies open air moving though the open valve assemblies thermally regulates the seat.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat, comprising:

a valve sheet, comprise one or more valve assemblies, located about a frame of a seat, wherein the valve assemblies open in response to a force.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the force is provided by an occupant of the ventilated seat.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 2, wherein the valve sheet comprises at least two layers.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 3, wherein the valve sheet further comprises:

a first layer comprising a plurality of valve member; and

a second layer comprising a plurality of valve seats,

wherein the valve members and valve seats cooperate to form a plurality of valve assemblies.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 3, wherein the valve sheet further comprises:

a first layer comprising a first plurality of through holes; and

a second layer comprising a second plurality of through holes,

wherein the first and second layers slide relative to one another upon the application of force so that the through holes of the respective layers at least partially align.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 2, wherein the valve sheet comprises a single layer.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 6, wherein the valve sheet comprises a plurality of valve assemblies having at least a pair of lips that abut each other in the absences of the force and separate in the presence of the force.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 7, wherein the valve sheet comprises:

a first side and a second side;

a plurality of first chambers open to the first side of the sheet and defined by one or more sidewalls;

a plurality of second chambers open to the second side of the sheet and defined by the one or more side walls,

wherein the one or more pair of lips are located in the sidewalls.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 7, wherein the valve sheet comprises a plurality of at least partially hollow protrusions, with each protrusion having one or more pair of lips.

10. The ventilated seat of claim 7, wherein three or more lips abut each other in the absences of the force to form the valve assemblies.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 2, further comprising a cushion and a seat covering wherein the valve sheet is located between the seat cover and the cushion.

12. The ventilated seat of claim 11, further comprising a fan for providing air flow through one or more valve assemblies.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 12, wherein the valve sheet is a component of an insert.

14. The ventilated seat of claim 13, further comprising a fluid conditioning unit.

15. The ventilated seat of claim 14, wherein the fluid conditioning unit is a thermoelectric unit or an HVAC&

R system.

16. A method of thermally regulating a seat, comprising:

occupying a seat comprising a valve sheet with one or more valves assemblies to open one or more of the valve assemblies; and

moving air though the open valve assemblies.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the moving step comprises activating a fan to move air through the one or more open valve assemblies.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising temperature condition the air before moving it through the open valve assemblies.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the moving step comprises moving ambient air through the one or more open valve assemblies.