Air-conditioning device for the passenger area of a vehicle

• US 7,510,239 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stowe, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/549,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.44, 297/452.42, 297/452.52, 297/180.12, 297/180.13, 297/180.14, 297/180.1, 207/180.15, 207/452.41
• US Class Current: 297/180.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

A device (3) for climate control of a motor vehicle seat (20) with a cushion core (22) for the support of a passenger, having an upper air distribution device (25) at the front side (27) of the cushion core (22) facing the passenger to distribute air along the front side (27) of the cushion core (22), and having a lower air distribution device (32) at its rear side (30) facing away from the passenger to distribute air along the rear side (27) of the cushion core (22), having a connecting device (35) to transfer air between the first and second air distribution devices (25, 32). Each of the three devices (25, 32, 35) has an elongated hollow space (37), and at least one support element (14) in the form of a spiral spring is provided in the air-conducting cross-section of at least one such hollow space (37).

Claims

1. A climate control device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a cushion core for passenger support;

an upper air distribution device at a first side of the cushion core orientated in a passenger facing direction to distribute air along said first side of the cushion core;

a lower air distribution device at a second side orientated in a facing away from the passenger direction to distribute air along the second side of the cushion core; and

a connecting device for transferring air between the upper and lower air distribution devices,

wherein each of the upper air distribution device, lower air distribution device and connecting device include an elongated hollow space, and wherein at least two supporting elements in the form of springs are provided in an air-conducting cross-section of at least one such hollow space; and

wherein a plurality of elongated intermediate spaces are formed by said support elements, and wherein at least one heating conductor is arranged in at least two such intermediate spaces.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting device comprises at least one recess in the cushion core connected to an intermediate layer of the upper air distribution device or the an intermediate layer of the lower air distribution device so as to permit the passage of air.

3. A device according to claim 2 comprising at least one of the heating conductor arranged in at least one of the intermediate space between the at least two support elements in the intermediate layer.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cushion core comprises a plurality of recesses which connect a plurality of individual sections of an intermediate layer arranged on the cushion core or the upper air distribution device to an intermediate layer arranged under the cushion core or the lower air distribution device.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of sections are separated from one another and spaced apart.

6. A device according to claim 1 comprising an essentially liquid-impermeable layer arranged on a side of an intermediate layer facing the cushion core.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the essentially liquid-impermeable layer comprises the same material as the cushion core.

8. A climate control device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a cushion core for passenger support;

an upper air distribution device at a first side of the cushion core orientated in a passenger facing direction to distribute air along said first side of the cushion core;

a lower air distribution device at a second side orientated in a facing away from the passenger direction to distribute air along the second side of the cushion core; and

a connecting device for transferring air between the upper and lower air distribution devices.

wherein each of the upper air distribution device, lower air distribution device and connecting device include an elongated hollow space, and wherein at least two supporting elements in the form of springs are provided in an air-conducting cross- section of at least one such hollow space;

wherein at least one of the upper air distribution device, lower air distribution device and connecting device is provided with a base layer, an intermediate layer and a cover layer, the layers being arranged so as to at least partially overlap one another, and wherein the intermediate layer has at least two support elements for the transmission of mechanical loads between the base layer and cover layer;

wherein a plurality of elongated intermediate spaces are formed by the support elements, and wherein at least one heating conductor is fixed to the base layer or cover layer at a transition from one intermediate space to the other intermediate space.

9. A device according to claim 8 comprising functional elements arranged in a space between the base layer, cover layer and said support element.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein one of said functional elements comprises a sensor for detecting at least one of the group consisting of pressure or temperature, said sensor being arranged beneath said support element.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein the functional element is an electrical conductor.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the electrical conductor comprises at least one heating component.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the at least one heating component comprises a PTC element.

14. A device according to claim 8 wherein the connecting device comprises at least one recess in the cushion core connected to an intermediate layer of the upper air distribution device or the an intermediate layer of the lower air distribution device so as to permit the passage of air.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the intermediate layer is routed around the cushion core at a side thereof, from its front side to its rear side, and wherein a conducting device is accommodated in said portion.

16. A device according to claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the intermediate layer is routed around the cushion core at a side thereof, from its front side to its rear side, and wherein a conducting device is accommodated in said portion.

17. A device according to claim 8 comprising at least one of the heating conductor arranged in at least one of the intermediate space between the at least two support elements in the intermediate layer.

18. A device according to claim 8 wherein the at least one heating element is fixed by an adhesive strip arranged substantially perpendicular to the intermediate spaces.