AIR CONDITIONED SEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR A VENTILATED SEAT

• US 20070176470A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stoewe, Stefan, Spee, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.130
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

An air conditioned seat with a padded seat surface (4) and a padded backrest (8) and with a fan (16) arranged beneath the seat surface (4). The fan (16) is connected to an air distribution apparatus (20, 22) in the seat, and includes a flow region (31) that is open to the environment. The flow region (31) is located substantially on the side of the fan (16) facing the seat surface (4). The fan inlet (30) is further environmentally protected by a diffuser (36) located in the flow region (31) and forming a slit opening (40) between a top edge (38) of the diffuser (36) and an underside (28) of the seat.

Claims

1. An air conditioned seat, comprising:

a padded seat and a padded backrest, each having an occupant side and an underside;

at least one first air distribution structure located on the underside of the padded seat or the padded backrest;

at least one second air distribution structure located on the occupant side or adjacent to the occupant side of the padded seat or padded backrest, wherein the first and second air distribution structures are in fluid communication through one or more air ducts in the padded seat or padded backrest;

a seat cover comprising a plurality of air outlets or comprising an air permeable fabric;

at least one fan in fluid communication with the at least one first distribution structure through a bellows, wherein the fan is configured to push air through the first air distribution structure to the second air distribution structure via the one or more air ducts.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the at least one second air distribution structure is attached to the seat cover, the padded seat or the padded backrest.

3. The seat of claim 2 wherein a plurality of air ducts fluidly connects each of the first air distribution structures to their respective second air-distribution structures.

4. The seat of claim 1 wherein the at least one second air distribution structure is attached to the one or more air ducts.

5. The seat of claim 1 wherein the fan comprises an air intake opening that is directed toward the underside of the padded seat or the padded backrest.

6. The seat of claim 5 wherein the fan has an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the padded seat or padded backrest.

7. The seat of claim 1 wherein both the padded seat and the padded backrest comprise at least one second air distribution structure on their occupant side.

8. The seat of claim 7 further comprising at least one fan for each of the padded seat and the padded backrest.

9. The seat of claim 8 wherein the fan in the padded seat comprises an air inlet opening that is directed toward the underside of the padded seat and an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the padded seat.

10. An air conditioned seat, comprising:

a padded seat and a padded backrest, each having an occupant side and an underside;

at least one first air distribution structure located on the underside of the padded seat or the padded backrest;

at least one second air distribution structure located on the occupant side or adjacent to the occupant side of the padded seat or padded backrest, wherein the first and second air distribution structures are in fluid communication through one or more air ducts in the padded seat or padded backrest;

a seat cover comprising a plurality of air outlets or comprising an air permeable fabric;

at least one fan in fluid communication with the at least one first distribution structure through a bellows, wherein the fan is configured to pull air through the second air distribution structure to the first air distribution structure via the one or more air ducts.

11. The seat of claim 10 wherein the at least one second air distribution structure is attached to the seat cover, the padded seat or the padded backrest.

12. The seat of claim 11 wherein a plurality of air ducts fluidly connects each of the first air distribution structures to their respective second air distribution structures.

13. The seat of claim 10 wherein the at least one second air distribution structure is attached to the one or more air ducts.

14. The seat of claim 10 wherein the fan comprises an air outlet opening that is directed toward the underside of the padded seat or the padded backrest.

15. The seat of claim 14 wherein the fan has an intake opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the padded seat or padded backrest.

16. The seat of claim 10 wherein both the padded seat and the padded backrest comprise at least one second air distribution structure on their occupant side.

17. The seat of claim 16 further comprising at least one fan for each of the padded seat and the padded backrest.

18. The seat of claim 17 wherein the fan in the padded seat comprises an air outlet opening that is directed toward the underside of the padded seat and an inlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the padded seat.

19. An air conditioned seat, comprising:

a padded seat and a padded backrest, each having an occupant side and an underside;

at least one first air distribution structure located on the underside of the padded seat or the padded backrest;

at least one second air distribution structure located on the occupant side or adjacent to the occupant side of the seat or backrest, wherein the first and second air distribution structures are in fluid communication through one or more air ducts in the seat or backrest;

a seat cover comprising a plurality of air outlets or comprising an air permeable fabric;

at least one fan in fluid communication with the at least one first distribution structure through a bellows, wherein the fan comprises an air intake opening that is directed toward the underside of the padded seat or backrest and an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the padded seat or backrest, and wherein the fan is configured to push air through the first air distribution structure to the second air distribution structure via the one or more air ducts.