AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SEATING INSERT

• US 20070120399A1
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WET Automotive Systems Limited (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Lazanja, Marinko, Fernandez, Lucas, Liss, Anne Patrice, Drobnjakovic, Valerija, Brennan, Lindy, White, Brennon Lewis
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.110
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5642 with circulation of air through a layer inside the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/48 Upholstered article making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

There is disclosed an insert suitable for placement within a seat of an automotive vehicle. The insert preferably includes multiple layers, one of which includes a heater for providing an occupant of the seat with warmth. The insert also preferably includes a blower or air pump for providing ventilation and/or cooling to the seat occupant.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A comfort system for a seat of a transportation vehicle, comprising:

an insert adapted for use with a vehicle seat, wherein;

i. the insert includes a first layer sealed, with adhesive or a melt seal, to a second layer for providing an open space within the insert;

ii. the insert includes at least one opening extending through the first layer or the second layer and a plurality of through-holes extending through the first layer, both the at least one opening and the plurality of through-holes being in fluid communication with the open space; and

iii. the insert is sealed, with the adhesive or melt seal, about a peripheral edge of the insert.

42. A system as in claim 41 wherein the insert includes an extension formed as a tubular structure for providing fluid communication with the open space.

43. A system as in claim 41 wherein first layer and second layer are at least partially formed of barrier layers and the barrier layer of the first layer is adhered to the barrier layer of the second layer.

44. A system as in claim 41 wherein the resulting area of the plurality of openings in the first layer is within 20 cm² of the resulting area of the at least one opening.

45. A system as in claim 41 wherein the strip has a width between about 1.0 cm and 2.0 cm.

46. A system as in claim 41 wherein each through-hole of the plurality of through-holes is substantially the same size.

47. A system as in claim 41 wherein the first layer is a forward layer that is at least partially formed of a barrier layer and additionally includes a polymeric layer, an adhesive layer or both.

48. A system as in claim 41 wherein the first layer is a forward layer that is at least partially formed of a barrier layer and also includes a buffer layer over the barrier layer.

49. A system as in claim 41 wherein the resulting area of the plurality of openings in the first layer is within 5 cm² of the resulting area of the at least one opening.

50. A system as in claim 41 wherein the second layer is at least partially formed of a barrier layer having a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm.

51. A comfort system for a seat of a transportation vehicle, comprising:

an insert adapted for use with a vehicle seat, wherein;

i. the insert includes a first layer sealed, with adhesive or a melt seal, to a second layer for providing an open space within the insert;

ii. the insert includes at least one opening extending through the first layer or the second layer and a plurality of through-holes extending through the first layer, both the at least one opening and the plurality of through-holes being in fluid communication with the open space;

iii. the insert is sealed, with the adhesive or melt seal, about a peripheral edge of the insert; and

iv. the first layer, the second layer or both are at least partially formed of a barrier layer and the barrier layer is formed of a material selected from a fabric, microfibers or a closed pore foam; and

an air mover in fluid communication with the at least one opening, the plurality of through-holes and the open space for moving air therethrough;

wherein the insert is adhesively secured to a foam cushion of the seat.

52. A system as in claim 51 wherein the first layer is at least partially formed of the barrier layer and the barrier layer is formed of a fabric.

53. A system as in claim 51 wherein the first layer is at least partially formed of the barrier layer, the second layer is at least partially formed of a barrier layer and the barrier layer of the first layer is adhered to the barrier layer of the second layer at the peripheral strip.

54. A system as in claim 51 wherein the first layer includes an air permeable layer over the barrier layer and wherein the air permeable layer is a foam.

55. A system as in claim 51 wherein the resulting area of the plurality of openings in the first layer is within 10 cm² of the resulting area of the at least one opening.

56. A system as in claim 51 further comprising a thermoelectric heater for assisting the system in providing heat.

57. A system as in claim 51 wherein the insert is free of any heater.

58. A system as in claim 51 wherein the barrier layer is formed of closed pore foam.

59. A comfort system for a seat of a transportation vehicle, comprising:

an insert adapted for use with a vehicle seat, wherein;

i. the insert includes a first layer sealed, with adhesive or a melt seal, to a second layer for providing an open space within the insert;

ii. the insert includes at least one opening extending through the first layer or the second layer and a plurality of through-holes extending through the first layer, both the at least one opening and the plurality of through-holes being in fluid communication with the open space;

iii. the insert is sealed, with the adhesive or melt seal, about a peripheral edge of the insert.

iv. the first layer and the second layer are at least partially formed respectively of a first barrier layer and a second barrier layer and both the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer are formed of a material selected from a fabric, microfibers or a closed pore foam and the material of the first barrier layer is different from the material of the second barrier layer;

an air mover in fluid communication with the at least one opening, the plurality of through-holes and the open space for moving air therethrough, wherein;

i. the insert is located between an air permeable trim surface of the seat and a foam cushion of the seat

ii. the transportation vehicle is an automotive vehicle;

wherein the insert is adhesively secured to a foam cushion of the seat.

60. A system as in claim 59 wherein the first barrier layer is formed of a fabric and the second barrier layer is formed of a closed pore foam