VALVE LAYER FOR A SEAT

• US 20090284052A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gerasimov, Valdimir, Proseanik, Valdimir, Bajic, Goran, Panic, Zoran, Ulan, Peter, Lazanja, Marinko, Zlotin, Boris
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.100
• 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: A47C 7/744 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5664 with unforced air circulation, i.e. not using a fan or the like

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a ventilated seat with a valve sheet having one or more valve assemblies. The valve sheet maybe on a frame of the seat. The valve assemblies open in response to a force such as a force applied by an individual occupying the seat. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of thermally regulating a seat by occupying a seat with a valve sheet. By occupying the seat one or more valves assemblies open air moving though the open valve assemblies thermally regulates the seat.

Claims

1-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A ventilated seat, comprising:

a valve sheet including at least two layers and a thickness and being located about a frame of a seat, the valve sheet defining one or more discontinuities extending through the thickness of the valve sheet to form one or more valves, wherein upon application of suitable force the one or more discontinuities are configured to change shape to form an opening extending through the valve sheet for allowing fluid flow therethrough and upon removal of said force the one or more discontinuities return to an original shape to close the opening, wherein the valve sheet is in fluid communications with a fluid conditioning unit, and wherein the discontinuities formed by the valve sheet extend through the thickness of the cross section of the valve sheet.

47. The ventilated seat of claim 46, wherein the force is provided by an occupant of the ventilated seat.

48. The ventilated seat of claim 46, wherein the valve sheet further comprises:

a first layer comprising a plurality of valve member; and

a second layer comprising a plurality of valve seats,

wherein the valve members and valve seats cooperate to form a plurality of valve assemblies.

49. The ventilated seat of claim 46, wherein the valve sheet further comprises:

a first layer comprising a first plurality of through holes; and

a second layer comprising a second plurality of through holes,

wherein the first and second layers slide relative to one another upon the application of force so that the through holes of the respective layers at least partially align.