AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SEAT INSERT

• US 20070188007A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.420
• 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 seating system, comprising:

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

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

i. a spacer material creating an open space within the insert; and

ii. a single sealed edge; and

an air mover in fluid communication with the open space within the insert.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein a barrier material is insert molded about the spacer material.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein insert includes an extension that extends behind the cushion of the seat to the air mover.

4. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a control unit in communication with the air mover wherein the control unit is programmed with instructions for commanding the air mover and the heater sub-layer to change output levels if a temperature sensor senses a temperature above or below one or more threshold levels wherein a plurality of through-holes extend through a forward surface of the insert and the through-holes get progressively larger from one side of the insert to another.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein the insert includes a forward layer that includes a barrier material laminated to a heater with an adhesive.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the insert includes a seam located on a bottom surface of the insert and the seat or backrest cushion includes a channel for receiving the seam and assisting in attaching the insert to the cushion.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein the insert is formed of a bag containing the spacer material, the bag being sealed at the single sealed edge.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein the bag is folded over onto itself at the single sealed edge.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein the air mover includes a housing that is at least partially formed of an elastomeric and/or rubber material.

10. A seating system, comprising:

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

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

i. a spacer material creating an open space within the insert; and

ii. at least one sealed edge; and

an air mover attached to the insert in fluid communication with the open space of the spacer sub-layer, wherein at least one of the following;

i. the air mover is attached to an outer surface of the insert by an adhesive, one or more mechanical fasteners or both;

ii. the air mover includes a flange disposed between a layers of the insert for assisting in attaching the air mover to the insert;

iii. the air mover includes the flange disposed between a layer of the insert and the spacer material for assisting in attaching the air mover to the insert;

or

iv. a layer of the insert is sandwiched between a connector member and the air mover for assisting in attaching the air mover to the insert.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein the insert includes a single sealed edge.

12. A system as in claim 10 wherein multiple spaced apart heater pads are disposed upon a surface of the insert.

13. A system as in claim 10 wherein a housing of the air mover includes the flange and the housing is at least partially formed of an elastomeric or rubber material.

14. A system as in claim 10 wherein the insert includes a seam located on a bottom surface of the insert and the seat or backrest cushion includes a channel for receiving the seam and assisting in attaching the insert to the cushion.

15. A system as in claim 10 wherein the air mover is received into an opening formed in the seat cushion or the backrest cushion.

16. A system as in claim 10 further comprising a heater disposed over the insert, the heater including a polymeric resistive material.

17. A seating system, comprising:

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

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

i. a spacer material creating an open space within the insert; and

ii. at least one sealed edge; and

iii. a heater layer that includes a resistive material formed of a polymeric material with a conductive metal dispersed throughout the polymeric material; and

an air mover attached to the insert in fluid communication with the open space of the spacer sub-layer, wherein at least one of the following;

i. the air mover is attached to an outer surface of the insert by an adhesive, one or more mechanical fasteners or both;

ii. the air mover includes a flange disposed between a layers of the insert for assisting in attaching the air mover to the insert;

iv. the air mover includes a flange disposed between a layer of the insert and the spacer material for assisting in attaching the air mover to the insert;

or

v. a layer of the insert is sandwiched between a connector member and the air mover for assisting in attaching the air mover to the insert; and

wherein;

i. the air mover is received in a through-hole extending the seat cushion or the backrest cushion.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein the heater includes an adhesive layer.

19. A system as in claim 17 wherein a housing of the air mover includes the flange and the housing is at least partially formed of an elastomeric or rubber material.

20. A system as in claim 17 wherein the insert includes a seam located on a bottom surface of the insert and the seat or backrest cushion includes a channel for receiving the seam and assisting in attaching the insert to the cushion.