Automotive vehicle seat insert

• US 9,440,567 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lazanja, Marinko, Bajic, Goran, Marlovits, Ed, Axakov, Dmitri
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US13/715,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 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: 1/1
• 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

An insert comprising: (i) a forward layer for facing a passenger; (ii) a rearward layer opposite the forward layer; 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) polymer film having one or more openings for allowing air flow therethrough, (b) a resistive layer, (c) two or more buss bars that are spaced apart and electrically in communication with each other through the resistive layer; and (d) a protective layer; (vi) one or more air movers in fluid communication with the open space within the insert; (vii) a housing having a flange that attaches the one or more air movers to the insert, by the flange being fitted between the spacer material and the rearward layer; wherein the heater layer is 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.

Claims

1. An insert comprising:

i. a top facing a passenger;

ii. a bottom opposite the top; and

iii. a spacer material located between the top and bottom creating an open space within the insert;

iv. one or more seals extending along the bottom of the insert and spaced inward from a periphery of the insert without extending about the entire periphery of the insert;

v. a heater;

vi. one or more air movers located locally to the bottom of the insert and underneath the insert so that;

a. the inlet or the outlet of the one or more air movers are adjacent to the insert,

b. the one or more air movers are in fluid communication with the open space within the insert,

c. the one or more air movers are each adapted to be housed in a middle of a cavity that extends through a cushion material of a cushion, and

d. each of the one or more air movers are configured to move air through the cavity in the cushion material;

vii. a conduit that directly attaches each of the one or more air movers to the insert and the conduit facilitates fluid communication between the underside of the insert and each of the one or more air movers;

wherein the conduit does not include the spacer material and fluidly connects the air mover to the insert;

wherein the top and the bottom both include one or more openings in fluid communication with the open space within the insert; and

wherein the one or more seals are adapted to extend into one or more channels in the cushion so that the insert is attached to the cushion.

2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the top is a layer and the heater is a layer and the top layer and the heater layer are a single integrated structure.

3. The insert of claim 1, wherein the one or more air movers are located adjacent to the insert, and wherein an attachment mechanism connects the conduit to the insert and does not transmit or amplify vibration or noise from the one or more air movers to a seat or passenger compartment.

4. The insert of claim 1, wherein the one or more seals are two seams that extend along the bottom of the insert and are configured to be received in channels of the cushion.

5. An insert comprising:

i. a top facing a passenger;

ii. a bottom opposite the top; and

iii. a spacer material located between the top and bottom creating an open space within the insert;

iv. a heater;

v. one or more air movers located locally to the bottom of the insert and underneath the insert so that;

a. the one or more air movers are in fluid communication with the open space within the insert,

b. the inlet or the outlet of the one or more air movers are adjacent to the insert,

c. the one or more air movers are each adapted to be housed in a middle of a cavity that extends through a cushion material of a cushion, and

d. each of the one or more air movers are configured to move air though the cavity in the cushion material;

vi. a conduit that directly attaches each of the one or more air movers to the insert, and the conduit facilitates fluid communication between the underside of the insert and each of the one or more air movers; and

wherein the conduit does not include the spacer material and fluidly connects the air mover to the insert;

wherein the spacer material is attached or connected to at least one other component of the insert;

wherein the top and the bottom both include one or more openings in fluid communication with the open space within the insert;

wherein the insert includes one or more seals that extend along the bottom of the insert, the one or more seals being located entirely on the bottom of the insert and spaced inward from a periphery of the insert; and

wherein the one or more seals are two seams that extend along the bottom of the insert wherein each seam is configured to be received in a respective channel of the cushion.

6. The insert of claim 5, wherein the one or more air movers push air through the open space of the insert.

7. The insert of claim 6, wherein the top includes openings that are arranged to facilitate even air flow through a trim layer of a vehicle seat.

8. The insert of claim 5, wherein the conduit does not transmit or amplify vibration or noise from the air mover and pass the vibration or noise to a seat or passenger compartment when the insert is installed in the seat or the passenger compartment.

9. The insert of claim 5, wherein the one or more seals are the top and bottom of the insert sealed along a segment.

10. The insert of claim 5, wherein the top is a layer and the heater and the top layer are a single integrated structure.

11. The insert of claim 10, wherein the conduit does not transmit or amplify vibration or noise from the air mover and pass the vibration or noise to a seat or a passenger compartment when the insert is located within the seat or the passenger compartment.

12. The insert of claim 5, wherein the spacer is heat staked or welded to one or more barrier layers of the insert.

13. The insert of claim 12, wherein the top is a layer and the heater is a layer and the top layer and the heater layer are a single integrated structure.