Automotive vehicle seat having a comfort system

• US 7,425,034 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Onica, Madalina, Truant, Scott, Brennan, Lindy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/966,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.14, 297/180.13, 297/180.12, 297/180.1, 297/452.42, 297/452.46, 297/452.47, 297/284.4
• US Class Current: 297/180.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment

Abstract

There is disclosed a comfort system suitable for use in a seat of an automotive vehicle. The system preferably includes an air mover in fluid communication with an open space below a trim layer of the seat for providing ventilation, heating and/or cooling to the seat occupant.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

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

an open space located beneath the trim surface of at least one of each ventilated component; and

an air mover assembly in fluid communication with the open space, wherein the air mover assembly is fastened to a back support adjustment assembly with one or more members that extend substantially vertically when the backrest cushion component is in an upright position and wherein the one or more members comprise a pair of lumbar rods.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the ventilated component includes an opening extending therethrough for at least assisting in providing fluid communication between the air mover assembly and the open space.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 1 wherein the air mover assembly comprises a thermoelectric unit.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 1, further comprising a heater layer.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 1 further comprising a tubular structure at least partially providing fluid communication between the air mover assembly and the open space.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 5, wherein the tubular structure extends entirely through the seat cushion.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 6, further comprising a snap-fit configuration for attachment of the tubular structure with the air mover assembly and wherein the tubular structure is flexible.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 5, further comprising a snap-fit configuration for attachment of the tubular structure with the air mover assembly and wherein the tubular structure is flexible.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the tubular structure extends entirely through the seat cushion.

10. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

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

an air mover assembly including a mounting structure and a plurality of fasteners attached to the mounting structure wherein at least a portion of the air mover assembly is attached to one or more components behind the seat cushion or the backrest cushion;

a tubular structure providing fluid communication between the air mover assembly and an open space, the open space being located beneath the trim surface of each ventilated component, and provided by a spacer layer;

wherein the air mover assembly is in fluid communication with the open space and,

wherein the one or more components behind the seat cushion or backrest cushion are metal rods that are part of a lumbar or back support adjustment assembly and the plurality of fasteners are attached to the metal rods.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 10 wherein the ventilated component comprises the backrest cushion component.

12. The ventilated seat of claim 10 wherein the lumbar or back support adjustment assembly comprises at least a portion of a frame of the seat.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 10 wherein the one or more metal rods are substantially stationary relative to the backrest cushion.

14. The ventilated seat of claim 10 wherein the air mover assembly comprises a blower that is fastened to a pair of the metal rods.

15. The ventilated seat of claim 10 wherein the lumbar or back support adjustment assembly comprises a lumbar adjustment assembly.

16. The ventilated seat of claim 10, wherein the seat cushion or backrest cushion includes an opening extending therethrough, and the tubular structure extends at least partially into the opening.

17. The ventilated seat of claim 10, further comprising a snap-fit configuration for attachment of the tubular structure with the air mover assembly and wherein the tubular structure is flexible.

18. The ventilated seat of claim 10, further comprising a heater layer.

19. The ventilated seat of claim 10, further comprising a thermoelectric device.

20. A ventilated seat for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein the air mover assembly is attached to the metal rods via at least one fastener;

wherein the at least one fastener includes a body portion with projections extending back from a first end of the fastener, a conical projection extending forward towards the first end, the projections and conical projections adapted to secure to the air mover assembly and a second end adapted to removably join with the metal rods.

21. The ventilated seat of claim 10 wherein the lumbar or back support adjustment assembly further comprises one or more of plates, flexible members, fasteners, motors or combinations thereof.

22. The ventilated seat of claim 21 wherein the air mover assembly comprises a blower that is fastened to the one or more plates, flexible members, fasteners, motors or combinations thereof.

23. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a) a polymeric foam cushion;

b) at least one through-hole passage that extends through the cushion;

c) an air-permeable trim surface disposed over the cushion at occupant contact areas of the seat;

d) a peripheral edge-sealed insert for providing an open space beneath the air-permeable trim surface;

e) a plurality of sub-passageways for facilitating air communication between the open space and an air mover, the air mover in fluid communication with the open space of the insert through the through-hole passage and the sub-passageways;

f) a flexible electrical heater layer;

g) a thermoelectric unit coupled with the air mover;

h) a programmable control unit for operating the air mover;

i) at least one temperature sensor in signaling communication with the programmable control unit;

j) a tubular structure that extends through the through-hole passage and attaches to the air mover; and

k) a lumbar or back support adjustment assembly.

24. The ventilated seat of claim 23, further comprising a heater layer.

25. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a) a polymeric foam cushion;

b) at least one through-hole passage that extends through the cushion;

c) an air-permeable trim surface disposed over the cushion at an occupant contact area of the seat;

d) a peripheral edge-sealed insert for providing an open space beneath the air-impermeable trim surface, an air permeable polymeric layer disposed between the cushion and the air-permeable trim surface;

e) a plurality of sub-passageways for facilitating air communication between the open space and an air mover, the air mover in fluid communication with the open space of the insert through the through-hole passage;

f) an upper layer of the insert that includes a film or a textile and has a plurality of openings therein;

g) a thermoelectric unit coupled with the air mover;

h) a programmable control unit for operating the air mover;

i) at least one temperature sensor in signaling communication with the programmable control unit;

j) a tubular structure that extends through the through-hole passage and attaches to the air mover; and

k) a lumbar or back support adjustment assembly to which the air mover is attached.

26. The ventilated seat of claim 25, further comprising a heater layer.

27. The ventilated seat of claim 25, wherein the upper layer of the insert includes an adhesive layer thereon.