Devices for air conditioning, detecting, and seating

• US 20070245760A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive AG
• Inventors: Stoewe, Stefan, Riedi, Angelika, Harnisch, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/261
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0034 in, under or on the seat cover
• 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: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning device for conditioning/controlling the temperature of a surface contacted by a user at least occasionally, especially the surface of a vehicle interior component, which can be monitored by means of a corresponding detector device for detecting contact, use, or both. It is provided that the air-conditioning device has at least one air-conditioning layer, which extends at least partially along the surface, at least one companion layer, which extends at least partially along the air-conditioning layer and is connected to the air-conditioning layer at least in some sections in order to form an insertion pocket, and that at least one detector device can be inserted into the insertion pocket.

Claims

1. Air-conditioning device for a surface of a vehicle interior component comprising:

a detector device for detecting the presence of a user;

at least one air-conditioning layer, which extends at least partially along a surface of the vehicle interior component;

at least one companion layer, which extends at least partially along the air-conditioning layer and is connected to the air-conditioning layer in at least some sections in order to form an insertion pocket, wherein the at least one detector device is adapted to be inserted into the insertion pocket.

2. Air-conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a flat detector layer, which is inserted into the insertion pocket between the air-conditioning layer and the companion layer.

3. Air-conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electric heating conductor is provided and a spacing medium is located between the conductor and the detector device.

4. Air-conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one air-conditioning layer and/or at least one companion layer has at least one recess through which the detector device is visible.

5. Air-conditioning device according to claim 3, characterized in the at least one electrical heating conductor and/or is constructed as an electrical heating element and/or is arranged closer to the surface contacted by a user than at least one detector layer and/or at least one air-conditioning layer.

6. Air-conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that

(i) at least one air-conditioning layer has at least one air-guiding layer, in order to guide air at least partially in the direction of an extension of the contacted surface;

(ii) the air-conditioning layer is arranged farther away from the contacted surface than at least one detector layer;

or both (i) and (ii).

7. Air-conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one air-conditioning layer is constructed as a heating element and is arranged closer to the contacted surface than the companion layer.

8. Air-conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air-conditioning layer has at least one jacket layers, which cover at least one air-guiding layer and that the at least one jacket layer has holes in an area assigned to the surface to be conditioned.