Valve layer for a seat

• US 7,918,498 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Panic, Zoran, Ulan, Peter, Lazanja, Marinko, Gerasimov, Vladimir, Zlotin, Boris, Proseanik, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US12/266,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20090284052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.1, 29718011-18016, 29745242-45247, 542/3
• US Class Current: 297/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/74 for ventilation, heating or cooling actuated by rocking the chair A47C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/744 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5664 with unforced air circulation, i.e. not using a fan or the like

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a ventilated seat with a valve sheet having one or more valve assemblies. The valve sheet maybe on a frame of the seat. The valve assemblies open in response to a force such as a force applied by an individual occupying the seat. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of thermally regulating a seat by occupying a seat with a valve sheet. By occupying the seat one or more valves assemblies open air moving though the open valve assemblies thermally regulates the seat.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat, comprising:

a valve sheet including at least a valve layer located between a cushion and an air permeable seat cover, wherein the valve layer includes a plurality of protrusions with one or more discontinuities disposed in a side wall of the protrusions wherein upon application of suitable force the one or more discontinuities are configured to change shape to form an opening extending through the valve layer for allowing fluid flow therethrough and upon removal of said force the one or more discontinuities return to an original shape to close the opening, wherein the valve sheet is in fluid communications with a fluid conditioning unit.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the force is provided by an occupant of the ventilated seat.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the protrusions have a frustoconical shape.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the ventilated seat also includes an air permeable spacer layer that is disposed opposite the protrusions.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 4, wherein the air permeable space layer is formed of a polymeric strand material that is interwoven to provide opposing honeycomb structures, which are interconnected by several additional polymeric strand materials to provide open space between the structures while still providing cushion and support.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the valve sheet further includes a heater layer.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 6, wherein the heater layer is comprised of a plurality of wires adapted for heating upon application of a current.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 6, wherein the heater layer is comprised of a positive temperature coefficient device adapted to heat upon application of a current.