Ventilated seat

• US 7,040,710 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Reed, William G., Liss, Anne P., White, Brennon L., Lumbard, Mary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/755,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.42, 297/180.1, 297/180.11, 297/180.12, 297/180.16, 297/452.46, 297/452.47, 297/180.14
• US Class Current: 297/452.46
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/565 sucked from the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

A ventilated vehicle seat includes a bag formed from impermeable materials enclosing a spacer material. The latter preferably includes upper and lower netting sheets and fibers extending between the netting sheets, the fibers being sufficiently resilient to prevent total collapse of the spacer material when the seat is occupied. An air mover forces air into or draws air from the bag is coupled to the air space between the air impermeable layers. Holes are provided in the top of the bag, and the sizes are preferably selected to equalize air flow over the seating surface, rather than having all the air flow through the openings nearest the fan. An optional, porous heating layer may be located above the bag. The ventilation and trim components are preferably sewn into the seat in a single operation.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat cushion component and a seat backrest component, at least one of which is ventialted, each ventilated component having an air-permeable trim surface at the occupant contact areas of the seat;

a bag formed of air-impermeable material located beneath the trim surface of each ventilated component, the bag including a top and a bottom, the top being nearer the trim surface, holes formed in the bag top to permit air flow therethrough;

a spacer located within the bag permitting air to flow in any direction through the spacer, the spacer being sufficiently resilient to prevent blockage of air flow when it is compressed by an occupant sitting in the seat;

a bag opening; and

an air mover coupled to the bag opening;

wherein some bag holes are located nearer the bag opening than other holes and the size of the holes increases as the distance from the bag opening increases.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises an upper netting layer adjacent the bag top, a lower netting layer adjacent the bag bottom and a plurality of plastic fibers extending between the upper netting layer and the lower netting layer.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the bag top includes an inner resin air-impermeable film layer and an outer covering of foam.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the air mover is a fan coupled to a bag opening.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the air mover is the vehicle'"'"'s air conditioning system.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 1 comprising an electrically powered heater layer between the bag top and the trim surface.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the bag holes are arranged in a pattern generally corresponding to the contact area an occupant would have with the seat.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein both the seat cushion component and the seat backrest component are ventilated.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein a single air mover is coupled to the two bags, the air mover being coupled to an extension of each bag.

10. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein both bag tops are made from an inner film resin layer and an outer covering of foam.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the air mover is adapted to force air into the bag and outwardly through the holes and is a variable speed air mover.

12. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the air mover is adapted to suction air from the bag and inwardly through the holes and is a variable speed air mover.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the air mover is reversible and adapted to selectively draw air from or force air into the bag.

14. A ventilated seat assembly comprising:

a seat having a generally horizontal cushion and a backrest, the seat also having an air-permeable decorative exterior trim cover, a bag including an air-impermeable top, an air-impermeable bottom and an opening coupled to an air mover, wherein a pattern of holes is provided in the bag top, and a spacer is located within the bag, the holes being arranged and sized to provide a generally uniform air movement through the holes, wherein some holes are located nearer the bag opening than other holes and the size of the holes increases as the distance from the bag opening increases.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the spacer is adapted to maintain airflow throughout the bag when an occupant sits on the seat.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the spacer comprises an upper netting layer adjacent the bag top, a lower netting layer adjacent the bag bottom and a plurality of plastic fibers extending between the upper netting layer and the lower netting layer.

17. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the bag top includes an inner resin air-impermeable film layer and an outer covering of foam.

18. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the air mover is a fan.

19. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the bag holes are arranged in a pattern generally corresponding to the contact area an occupant would have with the seat.

20. A ventilated seat for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat cushion component and a seat back rest component forming a bite line therebetween, each of which is ventilated, each ventilated component having an air-permeable trim surface at the occupant contact areas of the seat;

a bag formed of air-impermeable material located beneath the trim surface of each ventilated component, the bag including a top and a bottom, the top being nearer the trim surface, holes formed in the bag top to permit air flow therethrough;

a spacer located within the bag permitting air flow in any direction through the spacer, the spacer being sufficiently resilient to prevent blockage of air flow when it is compressed by an occupant sitting in the seat;

a portion of each bag and spacer extending through the bite line between the seat cushion component and the seat backrest component;

a bag opening located in the portion of the bag extending through the bite line; and

an air mover coupled to the bag opening;

wherein some holes are located nearer the bag opening than other holes and the size of the holes increases as the distance from the bag opening increases.

21. A ventilated seat assembly comprising:

a seat having a generally horizontal cushion and a backrest, the seat also having an air-permeable decorative exterior trim cover, a bag including an air-impermeable top, an air-impermeable bottom and an opening coupled to an air mover, wherein a plurality of holes are provided in the bag top, and a spacer is located within the bag, the holes being arranged and sized to provide a generally uniform air movement through the bag, some of the holes being located nearer the bag opening than other holes and each hole having a cross-sectional area, wherein the holes located substantially the same distance from the bag opening comprise a group having a total cross-sectional area of each group of holes increases as the distance of the group of holes from the bag opening increases.

22. The seat assembly of claim 21, wherein the bag holes are arranged in a pattern generally corresponding to the contact area an occupant would have with the seat.

23. The seat assembly of claim 21, wherein the air mover is a fan.

24. The seat assembly of claim 21, wherein the spacer comprises an upper netting layer adjacent the bag top, a lower netting layer adjacent the bag bottom and a plurality of plastic fibers extending between the upper netting layer and the lower netting layer.

25. The seat assembly of claim 21 wherein at least one of the groups of holes includes more than one hole.