Ventilation system

• US 8,777,320 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zhang, Johnathan, Fries, Thomas, Tong, Yu, Philipp, Denise, Stoll, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORMAN, ERIC DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/642,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20100327636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 297/452.42
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5628 coming from the vehicle ventilation system, e.g. air-conditioning system
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/565 sucked from the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20256 Steering and controls assemblies

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to a ventilation system for a “climate object”, in particular all components with which the user of a vehicle may come in contact in a passenger compartment such as, for example, a steering mechanism for a vehicle, a dashboard, an armrest, a door paneling, a seat cover, a heating blanket, a padding, a cover or a seat, all which include at least one air flow device to guide air through the climate object.

Claims

1. A ventilation system for a climatizable seat comprising:

a flat air flow device including;

two opposing walls comprising a spacing device including;

i) a spacer carrier,

ii) a plurality of support bars for keeping an air passage of the ventilation system open,

wherein the plurality of support bars are;

A) at least partly made of the same material as the spacer carrier, and

B) integrally connected to the spacer carrier;

wherein the flat air flow device is located on a B-side below padding of the seat,

wherein a first wall of the two opposing walls has a plurality of air passage openings;

at least one encasing device, wherein the encasing device seals the at least one flat air flow device, and wherein the spacer carrier simultaneously serves as a lower casing segment of the at least one encasing device;

a plurality of channel branches with branch hollow spaces,

wherein two or more adjacent channel branches are at least partially connected with each other,

wherein the channel branches connect the two opposing walls,

wherein the plurality of air passage openings are in fluid communication with the channel branches; and

at least one opening accommodating an air movement mechanism, wherein at least one of the branch hollow spaces of the plurality of channel branches are exposed to an air flow directed at an air movement mechanism.

2. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the spacing device is made of at least one of the following materials:

a) a cross-linked fiber,

b) an extrusion material, and

c) a plate with at least one nub-shaped projection.

3. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the spacing device and an encasing device are made, at least partially, from one piece.

4. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the channel branches are arranged in one plane next to each other.

5. The ventilation system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of air passage openings are connected to at least one air passage channel to allow air to blow out on an A-side of the climatizable seat.

6. The ventilation system of claim 1, further comprising at least one connecting device, wherein the connecting device connects the ventilation system to the air movement mechanism.

7. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the connecting device is a chain of channel segments forming a passage permitting air movement from the air movement mechanism to the ventilation system,

wherein the chain of channel segments is made of a multitude of hollow channel segments, each including at least one pivot point, and

wherein two adjoining pivot points are connected together to engage with each other so the chain of channel segments is rigid yet flexible.

8. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the channel segments have support bars to create cube-shaped channel branches.

9. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the connecting device is a single, hollow frame.

10. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the connecting device is located entirely on the B-side of the climatizable seat.

11. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the flat air flow device further comprises at least one zone free of support bars, wherein the plurality of channel branches are in fluid communication with each other.

12. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the channel branches are parallel to each other.

13. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the at least one connecting device is made of a multitude of hollow channel segments.

14. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the flat air flow device is located below the cushion of the climatizable seat.

15. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the flat air flow device has one or more areas of free space, forming two or more distinct moveable pieces.

16. A ventilation system for a climatizable seat comprising:

a flat air flow device including;

an air exchange device,

two opposing walls comprising a spacing device including;

i) a spacer carrier, and

ii) a plurality of support bars for keeping an air passage of the ventilation system open,

wherein the plurality of support bars are;

A) at least partly made of the same material as the spacer carrier, and

B) integrally connected to the spacer carrier;

wherein the flat air flow device is located on a B-side below padding of the seat,

wherein the first wall has a plurality of air passage openings;

a plurality of channel branches with branch hollow spaces,

wherein two or more adjacent channel branches are at least partially connected with each other,

wherein the channel branches are connecting the two opposing walls,

at least one zone free of support bars creating at least one free space;

wherein the at least one free space puts the plurality of channel branches in fluid communication with each other;

at least one encasing device, wherein the encasing device seals the at least one flat air flow device,

wherein the spacer carrier simultaneously serves as a lower casing segment, and

wherein the at least one encasing device has at least one opening accommodating an air movement mechanism, and

wherein the air movement mechanism is connected to a plurality of air passage channels.

17. The ventilation system of claim 16, wherein a connecting device comprising of a chain of channel segments connects the ventilation system to the air movement mechanism.

18. The ventilation system of claim 17, wherein the chain of channel segments forms a passage permitting air movement from the air movement mechanism to the ventilation system, and

wherein the chain of channel segments runs from the 6-side of the climatizable seat to an A-side of the climatizable seat.

19. The ventilation system of claim 18, wherein the chain of channel segments is made of a multitude of hollow channel segments, each including at least one pivot point, and

wherein two adjoining pivot points are connected together to engage with each other so the chain of channel segments is rigid yet flexible.

20. The ventilation system of claim 19, wherein the channel segments have support bars to create cube-shaped channel branches.