Air conditioned seat and air conditioning apparatus for a ventilated seat

• US 7,201,441 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Spee, Rainer, Stoewe, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US10/738,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.1 X, 297/180.13 X, 297/180.14 R, 297/452.42 X, 297/452.46 X, 297/452.47
• US Class Current: 297/180.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

An air conditioned seat with a padded seat surface (4) and a padded backrest (8) and with a fan (16) arranged beneath the seat surface (4). The fan (16) is connected to an air distribution apparatus (20, 22) in the seat, and includes a flow region (31) that is open to the environment. The flow region (31) is located substantially on the side of the fan (16) facing the seat surface (4). The fan inlet (30) is further environmentally protected by a diffuser (36) located in the flow region (31) and forming a slit opening (40) between a top edge (38) of the diffuser (36) and an underside (28) of the seat.

Claims

1. An air conditioned seat comprising:

a padded seat with one or more air ducts within a seat cushion and with upholstery covering the seat cushion; and

a fan arranged beneath the seat, the fan including an air intake opening, the fan being connected to an air distribution apparatus through the one or more air ducts, where the air distribution apparatus is located beneath the upholstery covering and includes a flow region that is open to the environment, wherein the air intake opening is directed toward an underside of the seat.

2. An air conditioned seat according to claim 1, wherein the fan is a radial fan.

3. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2, wherein the fan has an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the seat.

4. An air conditioned seat according to claim 3 comprising a flexible bellows located between the outlet opening of the fan and at least one air duct in the seat.

5. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2, wherein the radial fan is anchored in a seat frame.

6. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2 comprising a slit opening located in the flow region to guide the air that is drawn into the fan.

7. An air conditioned seat according to claim 6, comprising a diffuser.

8. An air conditioned seat according to claim 7, wherein the slit opening is provided between a top edge of the diffuser and the underside of the seat.

9. An air conditioned seat according to claim 8 comprising a dust or particle filter arranged between the slit opening and the fan.

10. An air conditioned seat according to claim 2, wherein a housing of the radial fan is hermetically sealed with respect to the environment.

11. An air conditioned seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat is a vehicle seat or an airplane seat.

12. An air conditioned seat comprising:

a seating cushion with at least one air duct within the seating cushion and an air distribution apparatus comprising an air distribution structure along each of an underside and a top side of the seating cushion, wherein the at least one air duct connects the air distribution structures, and

a fan arranged beneath the seating cushion, the fan being connected to the air distribution apparatus in the seating cushion, wherein an air intake opening of the fan is directed toward an underside of the seating cushion.

13. An air conditioned seat according to claim 12 wherein the air distribution apparatus comprises a flow region open to the environment.

14. An air conditioned seat according to claim 12 wherein the fan has an outlet opening aimed approximately parallel to the underside of the seating cushion.

15. An air conditioned seat according to claim 14 comprising a flexible bellows located between the outlet opening of the fan and an inlet to the air distribution apparatus.

16. An air conditioned seat according to claim 12 comprising a slit opening located in the flow region to guide air that is drawn into the fan.

17. An air conditioned seat according to claim 16 comprising a diffuser.

18. An air conditioned seat according to claim 17 wherein the slit opening is provided between a top edge of the diffuser and the underside of the seating cushion.

19. An air conditioned seat according to claim 18 comprising a dust or particle filter arranged between the slit opening and the fan.

20. An air conditioned seat according to claim 12 comprising a second fan arranged in a backrest.

21. An air conditioned seat according to claim 12, wherein the fan is a radial fan.

22. An air conditioned seat according to claim 21 wherein the radial fan is anchored in a seat frame.