Automotive vehicle seat insert

• US 7,735,932 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Lazanja, Marinko, Axakov, Dmitri, Marlovits, Ed
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US12/354,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.42, 297/452.43, 297/452.46, 297/452.47, 297/180.13, 297/180.14, 297/180.12
• US Class Current: 297/452.47
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle. More particularly an insert for a ventilated seat, the insert including a forward layer, a rearward layer, a spacer material intermediate of the forward layer and the rearward layer, and an air moving member that includes a fan and a housing, and is attached to an outer surface of the rearward layer.

Claims

1. A seating system, comprising:

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

an insert located beneath the trim surface of each ventilated component, the insert including the following;

i. a forward layer including a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the air-permeable trim surface;

ii. a rearward layer including at least one opening;

iii. a spacer material intermediate of the forward layer and the rearward layer, creating an open space within the insert; and

iv. an air moving member including a fan and a housing that at least partially surrounds the fan, the air moving member disposed on an outside of the insert, attached to an outer surface of the rearward layer at the at least one opening, and in fluid communication with the spacer material;

wherein the ventilated component includes a through-hole that receives the air moving member upon assembly of the insert to the ventilated component.

2. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the air moving member further includes a muffler.

3. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the forward layer includes a heater.

4. The seating system as in claim 3 wherein the forward layer and the rearward layer form a bag containing the spacer material, the bag being sealed at a single sealed edge.

5. The seating system as in claim 4 wherein the housing that is at least partially formed of an elastomeric and/or rubber material and wherein the air moving member is attached to the outer surface of the rearward layer by an adhesive, one or more mechanical fasteners or both.

6. The seating system as in claim 3 further including a air moving member attached to the outer surface of the rearward layer at a second opening and in fluid communication with the spacer material wherein the ventilated component includes a second through-hole that receives the second air moving member upon assembly of the insert to the ventilated component.

7. The seating system as in claim 5 further including a air moving member attached to the outer surface of the rearward layer at a second opening and in fluid communication with the spacer material wherein the ventilated component includes a second through-hole that receives the second air moving member upon assembly of the insert to the ventilated component.

8. The seating system as in claim 7 wherein the housing is at least partially formed of an elastomeric and/or rubber material.

9. The seating system as in claim 3 wherein the heater comprises positive temperature coefficient materials.

10. The seating system as in claim 3 wherein the heater comprises a substrate layer comprised of a polymeric film.

11. The seating system as in claim 3 wherein the heater comprises a carbon material.

12. The seating system as in claim 3 wherein the heater is a polymer resistive heater.

13. The seating system as in claim 3 wherein the heater includes one or more openings for allowing air to flow therethrough.

14. The seating system as in claim 3 further comprising a control unit in communication with the air mover wherein the control unit is programmed with instructions for commanding the fan and the heater to change output levels if a temperature sensor senses a temperature above or below one or more threshold levels.

15. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the insert includes a seam located on a bottom surface of the insert and the ventilated component includes a channel for receiving the seam and assisting in attaching the insert to the ventilated component.

16. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the forward layer and the rearward layer form a bag containing the spacer material, the bag being sealed at a single sealed edge.

17. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the housing is at least partially formed of an elastomeric and/or rubber material.

18. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the air moving member is attached to the outer surface of the rearward layer by an adhesive, one or more mechanical fasteners or both.

19. The seating system as in claim 1 wherein the air moving member includes a connector member disposed between an inner surface of the rearward layer and the spacer for assisting in attaching the air moving member to the insert.

20. The seating system as in claim 1 further including a second air moving member attached to the outer surface of the rearward layer at a second opening and in fluid communication with the spacer material wherein the ventilated component includes a second through-hole that receives the second air moving member upon assembly of the insert to the ventilated component.