Automotive vehicle seat insert

• US 8,360,517 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lazanja, Marinko, Bajic, Goran, Marlovits, Ed, Axakov, Dmitri
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US13/432,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20120187728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 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: 297/180.14
• 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.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a) a seat cushion comprising;

i. a cavity and

ii. a duct extending through the seat cushion;

b) an insert comprising;

i. a forward layer for facing a passenger;

ii. a rearward layer for facing the seat cushion; and

iii. a spacer material located between the forward layer and the rearward layer creating an open space within the insert;

iv. an edge sealed substantially around a periphery of the insert;

v. a heater comprising;

a. a polymer film having one or more openings for allowing air flow therethrough,

b. a resistive polymer layer disposed on the polymer film, and

c. two or more buss bars disposed on the polymer film that are spaced apart and electrically in communication with each other through the resistive polymer layer;

vi. one or more air movers located underneath the insert and projecting from the rearward layer, the one or more air movers being in fluid communication with the open space within the insert, and being adapted to fit within the duct in the seat cushion; and

vii. a protective layer that is a fibrous layer attached to the heater;

wherein the cavity in the seat cushion receives the insert;

wherein the heater is integrated with, placed between, and/or attached to one or a combination of the forward layer, the rearward layer, or the spacer material;

wherein the forward layer, the rearward layer, or both include one or more openings in fluid communication with the open space within the insert.

2. The seat assembly as in claim 1, wherein the one or more air movers are in communication with a control unit and the control unit is programmed with instructions for commanding the one or more air movers and the heater to change output levels if a temperature sensor senses a temperature above or below one or more threshold levels,

wherein a forward surface of the insert has once or more openings in alignment with the one or more openings of the polymer film.

3. The seat assembly as in claim 1, wherein the one or more air movers include a housing that is at least partially formed of an elastomeric and/or rubber material.

4. The seat assembly as in claim 1, wherein the spacer material is not affixed to the forward layer, the rearward layer, or both.

5. The seat assembly as in claim 4, wherein the one or more air movers include a flange and the one or more air movers are attached to the insert, at least in part, by the flange being fitted between the spacer material and the rearward layer.

6. The seat assembly as in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more air movers are in communication with a thermoelectric device for providing heating or cooling.

7. The seat assembly as in claim 1, wherein the two or more buss bars are silver, and the resistive layer is a positive temperature coefficient material.

8. The seat assembly as in claim 7, wherein the one or more air movers include a flange and the one or more air movers are attached to the insert, at least in part, by the flange being fitted between the spacer material and the rearward layer.

9. The seat assembly as in claim 1, wherein the polymer film is polyethylene.

10. An insert comprising:

i. a forward layer including;

a. a mesh gauze protective layer or a fleece protective layer and

b. a film that overlies the mesh gauze protective layer or the fleece protective layer;

ii. a rearward layer;

iii. a spacer material located between the forward layer and the rearward layer creating an open space within the insert;

iv. a heater comprising;

a. a polymer film having one or more openings for allowing air flow therethrough,

b. a resistive polymer layer disposed on the polymer film, and

c. two or more buss bars disposed on the polymer film that are spaced apart and electrically in communication with each other through the resistive polymer layer; and

v. one or more air movers projecting from the rearward layer and being in fluid communication with the open space within the insert, the one or more air movers including a flange that attaches the one or more air movers to the insert, at least in part, by the flange being fitted between the spacer material and the rearward layer, and the one or more air movers are located underneath the insert and being adapted to fit within a recess in a cushion;

wherein the film in the forward layer is the polymer film and serves as a substrate for the heater;

wherein the heater is attached to the forward layer and the spacer material;

wherein the forward layer, the rearward layer, or both include one or more openings in fluid communication with the open space within the insert.

11. The insert as in claim 10, wherein the two or more buss bars are silver, and the resistive layer is a positive temperature coefficient material.

12. The insert as in claim 11, wherein the polymer film is polyethylene.

13. The insert as in claim 12, wherein spacer material is not affixed to the forward layer, the rearward layer, or both.

14. The insert as in claim 10, wherein the resistive layer and the two or more buss bars are sandwiched between an adhesive layer and the polymer film.

15. The insert of claim 10, wherein the forward layer, the rearward layer or both are substantially impermeable to fluid flow.

16. A seat assembly comprising

a. a seat cushion comprising:

i. a cavity and

ii. an opening extending through the seat cushion;

b. an insert for placement in the cavity of the seat cushion, the insert comprising;

i. a heater layer;

ii. a generally rectangular forward layer including a mesh gauze protective layer or fleece protective layer, and a film that overlies the protective layer and also serves as a substrate for the heater layer;

iii. a generally rectangular rearward layer including a peripheral sealed edge for overlapping the seat cushion when the insert is disposed in the cavity of the seat cushion;

iv. a spacer layer sealingly enclosed between the forward layer and the rearward layer, the film of the forward layer being adheredly attached directly to each of the protective layer and the spacer layer; and

c. an elastomeric blower housing located within the periphery of the rearward layer and projecting away from the rearward layer and spacer layer, having an annular flange that extends between the spacer layer and the rearward layer for resting on the seat cushion about the opening extending through the seat cushion, and holding a blower suspended within the opening;

wherein the heater layer includes a conductive layer disposed on the film and a resistive layer disposed on the film, the conductive layer and the resistive layer being in electrical communication so that the resistive layer creates heat upon application of power.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the forward layer, the rearward layer or both are substantially impermeable to fluid flow.

18. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the insert is free of a tongue or extension.

19. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the insert includes a tongue or extension that extends through a through hole in the cushion.

20. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the insert includes an integrally formed neck.