Automotive vehicle seating comfort system

• US 7,083,227 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bajic, Goran, Fernandez, Lucas, Drobnjakovic, Valerija, Brennan, Lindy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US11/077,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.14, 297/180.13, 297/180.12, 297/180.11, 297/452.42
• US Class Current: 297/180.14
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/74 for ventilation, heating or cooling actuated by rocking the chair A47C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.

Claims

1. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat component and a backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas, wherein the seat cushion comprises one or more passageways;

a spacer material located beneath the trim surface;

a heater layer located between the spacer material and the trim surface;

a fluid mover in fluid communication with the spacer material, wherein the fluid mover is a blower configured to push air through the trim surface to an occupant;

at least one duct for providing the fluid communication between the spacer material and the fluid mover; and

a deflector member adjoining the spacer material that diverts the flow of fluid into a plurality of sub-passageways, wherein the sub-passageways are formed in the seat cushion and extend away from the passageway.

2. The ventilated seat of claim 1, wherein the one or more passageways are formed in the material of the seat cushion.

3. The ventilated seat of claim 2, wherein the one or more passageways are formed as channels on the underside of the seat cushion.

4. The ventilated seat of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sub-passageways are formed as through holes in the seat cushion.

5. The ventilated seat of claim 4, wherein the seat cushion, the passageway, the sub-passageways, or combinations thereof include an air impermeable lining or coating.

6. The ventilated seat of claim 5, wherein the heater layer comprises a flexible, substantially flat heating element that allows air to pass thru it.

7. The ventilated seat of claim 6, wherein an adhesive is used in a laminate comprised of the heater layer and the spacer material.

8. The ventilated seat of claim 7, wherein the spacer material comprises a foam material or a polymeric strand material.

9. The ventilated seat of claim 8, further comprising:

a temperature sensor; and

a control unit programmed to;

i) instruct the heater layer to turn on while the blower remains on if a first temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

ii) instruct the blower to turn off while the heater layer remains on if a second temperature below the first temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

iii) instruct the heater layer to remain on until the first temperature or a third temperature above the first temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

or iv) provide a combination of instructions i) to iii).

10. A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat component and a backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas;

a spacer material located beneath the trim surface;

a heater layer located between the spacer material and the trim surface;

a fluid mover in fluid communication with the spacer material, wherein the fluid mover is a blower configured to push air through the trim surface to an occupant;

at least one duct for providing the fluid communication between the spacer material and the fluid mover, wherein the duct is at least partially provided by the seat cushion and defines a passageway through the cushion; and

a deflector member adjoining the spacer material that diverts the flow of fluid into a plurality of sub-passageways, wherein the sub-passageways are formed as channels in an occupant side of the seat cushion and extend away from the passageway.

11. The ventilated seat of claim 10, wherein the seat cushion, the passageway, the sub-passageways, or combinations thereof include an air impermeable coating.

12. The ventilated seat of claim 11, wherein the heater layer comprises a flexible, substantially flat heating element that allows air to pass thru it.

13. The ventilated seat of claim 12, wherein an adhesive is used in a laminate comprised of the heater layer and the spacer material.

14. The ventilated seat of claim 13, wherein the spacer material comprises a foam material.

15. The ventilated seat of claim 13, wherein the spacer material comprises a polymeric strand material.

16. The ventilated seat of claim 15, wherein the laminate is open at its sides.

17. The ventilated seat of claim 15, further comprising:

a temperature sensor; and

a control unit programmed to;

i) instruct the heater layer to turn on while the blower remains on if a first temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

ii) instruct the blower to turn off while the heater layer remains on if a second temperature below the first temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor

iii) instruct the heater layer to remain on until the first temperature or a third temperature above the first temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

or

iv) provide a combination of instructions i) to iii).

18. The ventilated seat of claim 17, wherein the control unit is further programmed to:

i) instruct the blower to turn on while the heater layer remains on if a fourth temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

ii) instruct the heater layer to turn off while the blower remains on if a fifth temperature above the fourth temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

iii) instruct the blower to remain on until the fourth temperature or a sixth temperature below the fourth temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor;

or

iv) provide a combination of instructions i) to iii).

19. The ventilated seat of claim 15, wherein the laminate is an edge sealed bag.

20. The ventilated seat of claim 13 wherein the blower is connected to a mounting surface with a snap fit connection.