Air-conditioning unit for vehicle seat

• US 6,736,452 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Shinji, Kamiya, Toshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/303,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.13, 297/188.14, 297/180.13, 297/180.14
• US Class Current: 297/180.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

In an air-conditioning unit mounted in a vehicle seat, a resilient member is provided adjacent to a rear surface of a cover member that makes contact with a user. A cushion member is provided between the cover member and the resilient member. A blower unit is supported by the resilient member on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the resilient member. The blower unit is fixed to the resilient member by interposing the resilient member between a fixing member and a blower case.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning unit for a vehicle seat that includes a cover member having a front surface to be in contact with a user, a rear surface opposite to the front surface and a cushion member provided adjacent to the rear surface of the cover member, the air-conditioning unit comprising:

a seat spring in a form of wire provided on a side opposite to the cover member with respect to the cushion member for resiliently supporting the cushion member; and

a blower unit for blowing air to the user through the cover member, wherein the blower unit includes;

a blower fan for creating a flow of air;

a blower case in which the blower fan is rotatably supported;

a first fixing member integrally formed with the blower case; and

a second fixing member fastened to the first fixing member in a condition that the seat spring is interposed between the first fixing member and the second fixing member so that the blower case is supported by the seat spring to translate with the seat spring on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the seat spring.

2. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member is spaced from the cover member and defines an air channel between the cover member and the cushion member, and the blower unit includes a duct for introducing air blown by the blower fan into the air channel.

3. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 2, wherein the cover member defines holes through which air introduced in the air channel is blown toward the user.

4. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member is spaced from the cover member and defines an air channel between the cushion member and the cover member, and the second fixing member is formed with a duct for introducing air blown by the blower fan into the air channel.

5. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the blower unit includes a flexible member, wherein the flexible member is provided to surround the resilient member between the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

6. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the second fixing member forms a first hook portion in which the seat spring resides in such a manner that restricts displacement and also forms a second hook portion in which the seat spring resides in such a manner that allows displacement.

7. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 6, wherein:

the seat spring is in a form of a square wave with rounded corners,

the seat spring includes a first straight portion and a second straight portion, the second straight portion being perpendicular to the first straight portion,

the first straight portion resides in the first hook portion in such a manner that allows displacement in a longitudinal direction of the first straight portion, and

the second straight portion resides in the second hook portion in such a manner that allows displacement in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the second straight portion.

8. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electric heater provided adjacent to the rear surface of the cover member.

9. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the blower unit is mounted in a seat bottom of the seat.

10. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the blower unit is mounted in a seat back of the seat.

11. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a seat reinforcement member for maintaining a seat shape, wherein the seat spring is connected to the seat reinforcement member.

18. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the seat spring is in a form of a square wave with rounded corners, and

the second fixing member forms hook portions in which straight portions of the seat spring reside in such a manner that allows displacement in a longitudinal direction and in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the straight portions.

19. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 18, wherein the second fixing member is in a form of plate having a U-shape.

20. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 18, wherein the second fixing member is in a form of a plate and is fastened to the first fixing member in parallel to the blower case.

21. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 7, wherein the second fixing member is a plate having a U-shape and is layered on the first fixing member.

12. A seat air-conditioning unit comprising:

a seat defining an air passage, the seat further including,

a cover member having an outside surface to be in contact with a user and an inside surface opposite to the outside surface;

a cushion member provided adjacent to the inside surface of the cover member, the cushion member having a first surface opposing the inside surface of the cover member and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a wire spring provided adjacent to the second surface of the cushion member; and

a blower unit for blowing air into the air passage, the blower unit having a blower case and a fixing bracket, wherein;

the fixing bracket is fastened to the blower case through the wire spring such that the blower case hangs from the wire spring on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the wire spring and the wire spring is allowed to move between an open space defined between the fixing bracket and the blower case when a load is applied on the seat.

13. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 12, wherein the fixing bracket is in a form of a plate and is fastened to the blower case in parallel to the spring wire.

14. The air-conditioning unit according to claim 13, wherein the fixing bracket forms hook portions and the spring wire is held in the hook portions.

15. The seat air-conditioning unit according to claim 12, wherein the blower unit has a flexible member at a contact portion between the blower case and the fixing bracket so that the wire spring is sandwiched between the fixing bracket and the blower case through the flexible member.

16. The seat air-conditioning unit according to claim 12, wherein the seat includes a seat reinforcement member for maintaining a seat shape, wherein the wire spring extends along the second surface of the cushion member and connects to the seat reinforcement member.

17. The seat air-conditioning unit according to claim 12, wherein the cushion member is spaced from the cover member for defining an air channel and the cushion member has a through hole communicating with the air channel, wherein the blower unit is partially connected in the through hole so that air is blown into the air channel and toward the user through the cover member.