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US 12,441,219 B2Granted
Air distribution device for a vehicle seat
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsScott Wolas, Ken Turner, Amey Pise
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air distribution device that includes an air inlet (44), a first air outlet (46), a second air outlet (48), and a door (52). The door (52) is configured to move relative to the first air outlet (46) and the second air outlet (48) to adjust an airflow provided through the air inlet (44), the first air outlet (46) and the second air outlet (48). The air distribution device may be used in a vehicle seat, a vehicle, or both.
Claims15
An air distribution device for use with distributing an airflow to a plurality of effectors on a vehicle seat, the air distribution device comprising:
- an air inlet;
- a first air outlet;
- a second air outlet;
- and
- a single barrel door having only a single airflow blocking wall comprising a curved wall;
- wherein the air distribution device comprises a single uninterrupted inlet passageway that extends between the air inlet and at least a region of the air distribution device in which the single barrel door is located to provide a substantially linear path for the airflow between the air inlet and at least the single barrel door;
- wherein an air mover is configured to generate and provide the airflow into the air distribution device through the air inlet, and the single barrel door is configured to be moved by an actuator into a plurality of door positions relative to the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- wherein the curved wall of the single airflow blocking wall is connected to a second wall that is located in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a tangential plane of the curved wall, the second wall comprises an arm that extends laterally outward from the second wall, the arm is connected to the actuator for moving the single barrel door into the plurality of door positions;
- wherein the plurality of door positions comprise:
- i) a first door position where both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet are unobstructed by the single airflow blocking wall so that the airflow passes into or through both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- ii) a second door position where the second air outlet is blocked or obstructed by the single airflow blocking wall;
- iii) a third door position where both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet are blocked by the single airflow blocking wall so that the airflow is prevented from passing into or through both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- and iv) a fourth door position where only the first air outlet is blocked or obstructed by the single airflow blocking wall;
- and
- wherein the air inlet is generally aligned with the first air outlet and the second air outlet so that the airflow is not substantially redirected between the air inlet and the first air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and the second door position, and between the air inlet and the second air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and the fourth door position.
12 more elements
An air distribution device for use with distributing an airflow to a plurality of effectors on a vehicle seat, the air distribution device comprising:
- an air inlet;
- a first air outlet;
- a second air outlet;
- and
- a single barrel door having only a single airflow blocking wall comprising a curved wall;
- wherein an air mover is configured to generate and provide the airflow into the air distribution device through the air inlet, and the single barrel door is configured to be moved by an actuator into a plurality of door positions relative to the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- wherein the curved wall of the single airflow blocking wall is connected to a second wall that is located in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a tangential plane of the curved wall, the second wall comprises an arm that extends laterally outward from the second wall, the arm is connected to the actuator for moving the single barrel door into the plurality of door positions;
- wherein the air distribution device comprises a single uninterrupted inlet passageway that extends between the air inlet and at least a region of the air distribution device in which the single barrel door is located to provide a substantially linear path for the airflow between the air inlet and at least the single barrel door;
- wherein the air inlet is generally aligned with the first air outlet and the second air outlet so that the airflow is not substantially redirected between the air inlet and the first air outlet when the single barrel door is in a first door position and a second door position, and between the air inlet and the second air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and another door position:
- wherein the air distribution device comprises a housing having a top part and a bottom part that are joined together to form the single uninterrupted inlet passageway;
- the first air outlet is defined in only the top part of the housing, and after airflow flows through the first air outlet, the airflow flows through a first outlet channel defined in only the top part of the housing.
8 more elements
An air distribution device for use with distributing an airflow to a plurality of effectors on a vehicle seat, the air distribution device comprising:
- an air inlet;
- a first air outlet;
- a second air outlet;
- and
- a single barrel door having only a single airflow blocking wall comprising a curved wall;
- wherein the air distribution device comprises a single uninterrupted inlet passageway that extends between the air inlet and at least a region of the air distribution device in which the single barrel door is located to provide a substantially linear path for the airflow between the air inlet and at least the single barrel door;
- wherein an air mover is configured to generate and provide the airflow into the air distribution device through the air inlet, and the single barrel door is configured to be moved by an actuator into a plurality of door positions relative to the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- wherein the plurality of door positions comprise:
- i) a first door position where both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet are unobstructed by the single airflow blocking wall so that the airflow passes into or through both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- ii) a second door position where the second air outlet is blocked or obstructed by the single airflow blocking wall;
- iii) a third door position where both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet are blocked by the single airflow blocking wall so that the airflow is prevented from passing into or through both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
- and iv) a fourth door position where only the first air outlet is blocked or obstructed by the single airflow blocking wall;
- wherein the air inlet is generally aligned with the first air outlet and the second air outlet so that the airflow is not substantially redirected between the air inlet and the first air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and the second door position, and between the air inlet and the second air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and the fourth door position:
- wherein the air distribution device comprises a housing having a top part and a bottom part that are joined together to form the single uninterrupted inlet passageway;
- the first air outlet is defined in only the top part of the housing;
- and after the airflow flows through the first air outlet, the airflow flows through a first outlet channel defined in only the top part of the housing;
- and
- wherein the second air outlet is defined in only the bottom part of the housing;
- and after the airflow flows through the second air outlet, the airflow flows through a second outlet channel defined in only the top part of the housing.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.