Expandable chamber having combined occupant support and heating

• US 6,353,207 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Sp. Z O.O. (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ctex Seat Comfort Ltd. (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Burt, Steven John
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/640,445
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 219/211, 219/212, 219/217, 219/385, 219/386, 219/527, 219/528, 219/529, 219/533, 219/535, 219/549, 392/443, 540/0, 565/8, 524/495, 524/496, 137/223, 701/49, 280/727, 297/180.11, 297/180.12, 297/180.15, 297/284.6
• US Class Current: 219/217
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/54 Inflatable chairs connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

An expandable chamber support system for vehicle seat and mattress applications includes an expandable chamber constructed from facing sheets of flexible impermeable material that are sealed along their marginal edges. An upper one of the sheets is formed of electrically conductive elastomeric membrane that is electrically resistance heated while cooperating with a lower one of the sheets to provide pressure support for an occupant supported by the expandable chamber.

Claims

1. A support system for supporting and thermally conditioning an occupant support, the system including:

an expandable chamber comprising multiple distinct layers of flexible material joined to form at least one sealed cavity, one layer of which constitutes an upper layer for supporting an occupant;

an air tube connected to the expandable chamber to provide an opening into the expandable chamber;

a pressure adjusting control system connected to the air tube; and

the upper layer being formed of a homogeneous material that is both self heating and fluid impermeable.

2. The support system of claim 1 wherein the upper layer conforms to the occupant support thereon and the upper layer is comprised of electrically conductive material dispersed in polymeric material.

3. In the support system of claim 1 wherein the multiple layers of the expandable chamber consist of two layers of polymeric material joined to form a sealed cavity and wherein one of the two layers is a non conductive electrically insulating material and the other of the two layers is the upper layer.

4. In the support system of claim 1 the upper layer is formed separately of the expandable chamber.

5. In the support system of claim 4 the upper layer operative to produce resistance heating so as to combine support and heating.

6. In the support system of claim 1 the upper layer forming part of the expandable chamber and the upper layer operative to produce resistance heating so as to combine support and heating.