Device for conducting air in order to provide air conditioning for a body support device

• US 7,637,569 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Krobok, Martin, Kopferr, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US11/813,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.1, 297/180.11, 297/180.12, 297/180.14, 297/284.2, 297/284.3, 297/284.4, 297/284.5
• US Class Current: 297/284.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/665 using inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems

Abstract

A device for guiding air for air conditioning a body support device, that may include a carrier layer including a contact surface and a opposing surface; a heating conductor disposed upon the contact surface; an air guiding layer including an air-impermeable wall, wherein the air guiding layer is disposed on the opposing surface of the carrier layer; an air-feeding device connectively disposed to the air guiding layer or the air-impermeable wall; and at least one adjusting device including a bladder with a bladder wall, wherein at least a portion of the bladder wall is formed by the air-impermeable wall of the air guiding layer.

Claims

1. A device for guiding air for air conditioning a body support device, comprising:

a carrier layer including a contact surface and a opposing surface;

an air guiding layer including an air-impermeable wall, wherein the air guiding layer is disposed on the opposing surface of the carrier layer;

an air-feeding device connectively disposed on the air guiding layer or the air-impermeable wall; and

at least one adjusting device including a bladder with a bladder wall, wherein at least a portion of the bladder wall is integrally formed using a portion of the air-impermeable wall of the air guiding layer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjusting device includes at least one essentially fluid-tight volume body whose volume can be adjusted by regulating its fluid content through fluid supply or discharge, wherein the volume body is constructed as an essentially air-tight bladder whose size is pneumatically adjustable.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the air-impermeable wall is formed from a polyurethane film.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is constructed together with the at least one adjusting device as a coherent modular system and functional mat for insertion into a foam body of a cushion part of the body support device or as a support mat for placement on the completed body support device.

5. The device of claim 1, including at least a second adjusting device and at least two fluid lines in fluid communication with the adjusting devices such that each adjusting device is individually adjustable.