Expandable chamber having combined occupant support and heating

• US 6,559,422 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Sp. Z O.O. (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ctex Seat Comfort Ltd. (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Burt, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US10/000,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 219/217, 219/211, 219/212, 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. One of the sheets is formed of electrically conductive an elastomeric membrane that is electrically resistance heated while providing a source of pressure support for an occupant supported by the expandable chamber.

Claims

1. A fluid support arrangement including:

a support, and;

an expandable chamber on said support that is configured to contain a pressure medium for supporting an occupant and to generate heat for heating an occupant.

2. The fluid support arrangement of claim 1 wherein said expandable chamber includes facing sheets of flexible, air-impermeable cell material sealed along adjoining marginal edges thereon.

3. The fluid support arrangement of claim 2 wherein one of said facing sheets is comprised of polymeric material with conductive material dispersed in said polymeric material.

4. The fluid support arrangement of claim 3 wherein said conductive material is electrically conductive carbon particles.

5. The fluid support arrangement of claim 3 wherein electrical power leads are connected thereon for directing current through said one of said facing sheets.

6. The fluid support arrangement of claim 1 wherein;

said expandable chamber is associated with at least one imperforate support surface comprising polymeric material with electrically conductive carbon black dispersed therein; and

said support surface is configured to conform to an occupant.