Automotive seat with heating device

• US 4,865,379 A
• Filed: 02/04/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Itoh, Kunihiko, Aoki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US07/153,508
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180, 297/192, 297/452, 297/DIG. 1, 5/421, 5/422
• US Class Current: 297/180.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/01 Foam

Abstract

An automotive seat with a heating device provided therein, in which a trim cover assembly is integrally affixed over a foam cushion member, comprises a recessed portion formed at the rear of the cushion member, a block member removably inserted in the recessed portion, and a heating device secured on the block member. With such structure, the heating device is embedded in the cushion member such that it is interposed between those recessed portion and block member. Both cushion and block members are further supported on a frame and support member provided in the seat.

Claims

1. An automotive seat with a heating device, comprising:

a foam cushion member;

a recessed portion formed in a bottom of said cushion member;

a foam block member inserted in said recessed portion, said foam block member being formed independently of said cushion member;

a heating device provided on an upper surface of said block member such that said heating device is securely disposed between an inner surface of said recessed portion of said cushion member and said upper surface of said block member;

a frame provided in said seat;

a support means extended in said frame for supporting said foam cushion member and said block member, and

a trim cover assembly affixed over an upper surface of said cushion member, such that an end of said trim cover assembly is anchored to said frame;

said heating device includes a cover sheet and a heating element covered with said cover sheet, wherein said sheet has four apertures perforated therein such that said four apertures are respectively disposed at each of four corners of said cover sheet, and wherein said block member is formed at its upper surface with four projected pieces such that said four projected pieces are respectively disposed at each of four corners of said upper surface of said block member, with such arrangement that said four projected pieces are in alignment with the respective said four apertures, whereby said heating device is secured on said upper surface of said block member by inserting said projected pieces through said apertures.

2. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said cushion member has an air permeable property so that a heat generated from said heating device is transmitted to an occupant who sits on said seat.

3. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said heating device is fixed on said upper surface of said block member such that a peripheral portion of said heating device is integrally bonded to a peripheral portion of said upper surface of said block member.

4. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said trim cover assembly is integrally affixed to said cushion member in such a manner that said cushion member is foamed together with said trim cover assembly during a foaming process in which said cushion member is formed by foaming in a mold.

5. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said trim cover assembly is integrally affixed to said cushion member in such a manner that said cushion member is integrally bonded to said trim cover assembly subsequent to a foaming process in which said cushion member is formed by foaming in a mold.

6. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said cushion member has a pair of protrudinng portions formed at its upper surface such that each of said protruding portions is disposed at the respective lateral sides of said cushion member, and a central portion defined between said pair of protruding portions of said cushion member, and wherein said heating device is disposed within said cushion member at a point corresponding to said central portion of said cushion member.