Automotive vehicle seating comfort system

• US 6,857,697 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drobnajakovic, Valerija, Bajic, Goran, Fernandez, Lucas, Brennan, Lindy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, STEPHANIE N
• Application Number:
  US10/463,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.1, 297/180.11, 297/180.12, 297/180.13, 297/180.14
• US Class Current: 297/180.13
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/74 for ventilation, heating or cooling actuated by rocking the chair A47C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat component and a backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas;

an insert including a foam material and located beneath the trim surface;

a fluid mover in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the foam material of the insert and the trim surface;

a duct for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the fluid mover, wherein the duct is at least partially provided by the seat cushion and defines a passageway through the cushion; and

a deflector disposed over the passageway defined by the duct that diverts the flow of fluid into a plurality of sub-passageways, wherein the sub-passageways are formed in the seat cushion and extends away from the passageway.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion, the passageway, the sub-passageways, or combinations thereof include an air impermeable lining or coating.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 2 wherein the fluid mover is a blower configured to push air through the trim surface.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 3, further comprising a heater layer.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 4, wherein the insert is a multi-layer laminate.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 2, wherein the ventilated component further comprises at least one temperature sensor.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 6, further comprising a control unit in signaling communication with the temperature sensor, the fluid mover, the heater layer or combinations thereof.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 1, further comprising a spacer material located between the trim surface and the insert, the spacer material defining an open space.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the fluid mover is in fluid communication with the spacer material for moving air through the open space and the trim surface.

10. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the spacer material includes a polymeric strand material.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the duct is a flexible duct.

12. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat component and a backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas;

an insert including a foam material and located beneath the trim surface;

a blower in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the insert and the trim surface;

a duct for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the blower, wherein the duct is at least partially provided by the seat cushion and defines a passageway through the cushion; and

a deflector disposed over the passageway defined by the duct that diverts the flow of fluid into a plurality of sub-passageways that extends away from the passageway,

wherein the seat cushion, the duct, the sub-passageways, or combinations thereof include an air impermeable lining or coating.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 12, further comprising a spacer material located between the trim surface and the insert, the spacer material defining an open space.

14. The ventilated seat of claim 13, wherein the fluid mover is in fluid communication with the spacer material for moving air through the open space and the trim surface.

15. The ventilated seat of claim 13, wherein the spacer material includes a polymeric strand material.

16. The ventilated seat of claim 12, further comprising at least one temperature sensor.

17. The ventilated seat of claim 12, further comprising a control unit in signaling communication with the temperature sensor, the fluid mover, the heater layer or combinations thereof.

18. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat component and a backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas;

an insert including a foam material and located beneath the trim surface;

a spacer material located between the trim surface and the insert, the spacer material defining an open space;

a blower in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the insert, the open space and the trim surface;

a duct for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the blower, wherein the duct is at least partially provided by the seat cushion and defines a passageway through the cushion; and

a deflector disposed over the passageway defined by the duct that diverts the flow of fluid into a plurality of sub-passageways that extends away from the passageway,

wherein the seat cushion, the duct, the sub-passageways, or combinations thereof include an air impermeable lining or coating.