Apparatus for providing fluid through a vehicle seat

• US 20060087160A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Marquette, David, Dong, Hanh, Lofy, John
• Application Number:
  US10/973,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.130
• 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: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5692 Refrigerating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments

Abstract

A seat assembly comprises a seat cushion having an outer surface comprising a front side for supporting an occupant in a sitting position and a rear side. A base member is positioned on the rear side of the seat cushion. An adjustable lumbar support device is provided on the rear side of the seat cushion. A first passage extends through the seat cushion. A ventilation system is provided for distributing air from the first passage along the support surface of the seat cushion. A climate control apparatus is provided for providing climate conditioned air to the ventilation system. A flexible conduit connects the climate control apparatus to the ventilation system.

Claims

1. A conduit for placing a climate control device in fluid communication with a fluid passage in a cushion, the conduit comprising:

a flexible body,

a first port at a first end of the body, the first port configured to cooperate with an outlet port of the climate control device; and

a second port at a second end of the body, the second port configured to cooperate with a rear side of the cushion.

2. The conduit as in claim 1, wherein the body is made of an elastomer.

3. The conduit as in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first port and the second port is made of plastic.

4. The conduit as in claim 3, wherein both of the first port and the second port are made of plastic.

5. The conduit as in claim 1, wherein the body has a bellow-type configuration comprising a plurality of folds.

6. The conduit as in claim 1, wherein the second port is configured to be attached to the rear side of the cushion.

7. The conduit of claim 6, wherein the second end of the body includes a flange that surrounds the second port.

8. The conduit as in claim 7, wherein the flange is configured to fit within a recess formed on the rear side of the automotive seat.

9. The conduit as in claim 1, wherein the first end is directly coupled to the climate control device.

10. The conduit as in claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to mate with the outlet port of the climate control device.

11. A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a seat cushion having an outer surface comprising a front side for supporting an occupant in a sitting position and a rear side, the rear side and the front side generally facing in opposite directions;

a base member positioned on the rear side of the seat cushion;

an adjustable support device capable of moving a portion of the seat cushion between at least a first position in which the portion of the seat cushion is located a first distance from the base member and a second position in which the portion of the seat cushion is located a second distance from the base member, the second distance being greater than the first distance;

a passage extending through the seat cushion, the passage communicating with an opening on the rear side of the portion of the seat cushion; and

a conduit extending from the passage and through at least a portion of the adjustable support device.

12. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 11 additionally comprising a ventilation system for distributing air from the passage along the support surface of the seat cushion.

13. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 11 additionally comprising a fluid system to supply or withdraw fluid from the passage, the fluid system being positioned generally on a rear side of the adjustable support device.

14. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end, the first end of the conduit being coupled to the an outlet port of the fluid system.

15. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the fluid system is coupled to the base member.

16. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the adjustable support device includes a support member configured to push against the rear side of the seat cushion, the support device defining an opening through which the conduit extends.

17. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the fluid system comprises a heat transfer device.

18. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 17, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a Peltier Circuit.

19. A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a seat cushion having a front side, a rear side and an outer surface comprising support surface for supporting an occupant in a sitting position, the support surface being located generally on the front side of the seat cushion;

an adjustable support device capable of moving a lumbar portion of the cushion between at least a first position in which the lumbar portion of the support surface protrudes a first distance towards the occupant and a second position in which the lumbar portion protrudes a second distance towards the occupant, the second distance being greater than the first distance;

a fluid system for delivering or drawing air;

an air passage extending through at least part of the lumbar portion of the cushion; and

a flexible conduit in fluid communication with the air passage and having a first end coupled to a component of the fluid system and a second end coupled to the lumbar portion, the component of the fluid system being substantially stationary with respect to the lumbar portion of the cushion.

20. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 19 additionally comprising a distribution system for distributing air along the support surface of the seat cushion, the distribution system communicating with the air passage.

21. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the fluid system comprises a heat transfer device.

22. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 21, wherein the component that is substantially stationary with respect to the lumbar portion of the cushion is the heat transfer device.

23. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the second end of the flexible conduit is coupled to a rear side of the seat cushion.

24. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 23, wherein the second end of the flexible conduit includes a flange configured to be attached to a rear side of the seat cushion.

25. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 24, wherein the rear side of the seat cushion includes a recess configured to receive the flange.

26. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the conduit is formed at least in part from rubber.

27. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the conduit has a bellow-type configuration comprising a plurality of folds.

28. A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a seat cushion having an outer surface comprising a front side for supporting an occupant in a sitting position and a rear side, the rear side and the front side generally facing in opposite directions;

a passage extending through the seat cushion, the passage communicating with an opening on the rear side of the seat cushion;

a fluid system for delivering or drawing air to the passage; and

means for providing a flexible fluid connection between the fluid system and the passage.

29. A climate controlled cushion comprising:

an outer surface having a first side for supporting at least a portion of an occupant and a second side, the second side and the first side generally facing in opposite directions;

a passage extending at least partially through the cushion, the passage communicating with an opening on the second side of the seat cushion;

a fluid system for delivering or expelling air to the passage; and

a conduit coupling the fluid system with the passage, the conduit being expandable in length.

30. The climate controlled cushion of claim 29, wherein the conduit is configured to articulate relative to at least one of the fluid system and the conduit.

31. A method of assembling a climate controlled seat assembly comprising the steps of:

providing a cushion having an opening accessible from at least one side of the cushion, the cushion being attached to a frame;

attaching a flexible conduit to the cushion so as to place the conduit in fluidic communication with the opening;

coupling the conduit to a fluid flow generation device; and

securing the fluid flow generation device to the frame.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and a recess about the opening, and inserting the flange into the opening.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the attaching step further involves securing the flange within the recess by using one or more fastener selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a hook-and-loop fastener, a belt, snaps and a strap.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and securing the flange to the cushion using a hook-and-loop fastener.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and securing the flange to the cushion using an adhesive.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and securing the flange to the cushion using one or more straps.