Automotive vehicle seating comfort system

• US 20050248187A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Fernandez, Lucas, Drobnjakovic, Valerija, Brennan, Lindy
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.130
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/74 for ventilation, heating or cooling actuated by rocking the chair A47C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat cushion component and a seat backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas of the seat, wherein the seat cushion comprises a passageway;

an insert that is open at its sides and located beneath the trim surface of the ventilated component, the insert including;

i) a first layer comprising a heater;

ii) a second layer comprising a spacer material, the second layer defining an open space;

a fluid mover in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the open space and at least partially past an occupant in the seat; and

a tubular structure for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the fluid mover.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a polymeric strand material.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises a spacer material.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 3, wherein the spacer material of the first layer is the same as the spacer material of the second layer.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 4, wherein the fluid mover is a blower configured to push air through the trim surface to an occupant.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 4, wherein the fluid mover is a blower configured to pull air through the trim surface from an occupant.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 4, wherein the fluid mover is a blower configured to push cooled air through the trim surface to an occupant.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the heater is integrated on the first layer.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of flexible substantially flat heating elements.

10. The ventilated seat of claim 9, wherein the plurality of heating elements comprises wires or carbon fibers adhered to a backing.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 10, wherein the plurality of heating elements comprises wires or carbon fibers sewn to a backing.

12. The ventilated seat of claim 11, wherein the fluid mover is configured to pull air through the open space provided by the second layer.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 11, wherein the fluid mover is configured to push air through the open space of the second layer.

14. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat cushion component and a seat backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas of the seat, wherein the seat cushion comprises a passageway;

an insert that is open at its sides and located beneath the trim surface of the ventilated component, the insert comprising;

i) a first layer comprising a spacer material and a heater having a plurality of flexible substantially flat heating elements;

ii) a second layer comprising a polymeric strand spacer material, the second layer defining an open space;

a fluid mover in fluid communication with the insert configured to push cooled air through the open space and at least partially past an occupant in the seat; and

a tubular structure for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the fluid mover.