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US 2004/0070236 A1Published application
Automotive vehicle seating comfort system
AssigneeW.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
InventorsLindy Brennan, Goran Bajic, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims46
A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat cushion component and a seat backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas of the seat;
- an insert that is open at its sides and located beneath the trim surface of the ventilated component, the insert including a spacer layer formed of an air permeable foam material;
- a fluid mover in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the insert and the trim surface;
- and
- a tubular structure for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the fluid mover.
2 more elements
A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:
- a multi-layer laminate insert that is open at its sides and located beneath a trim surface of a ventilated component, the insert including a spacer layer including an air permeable foam material and an adhesive layer for attaching the insert to a seat cushion;
- a blower in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the spacer layer and the trim surface;
- a duct for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the blower, wherein the duct is at least partially provided by the seat cushion and defines a passageway through the cushion;
- a deflector is disposed over the passageway defined by the duct;
- and
- a plurality of sub-passageways that extend away from the passageway.
3 more elements
A ventilated seat for a vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle seat having a ventilated component selected from a seat cushion component and a seat backrest component, at least one of which provides a seat cushion and an air permeable trim surface at occupant contact areas of the seat;
- an insert that is open at its sides and located beneath the trim surface of the ventilated component, the insert including a spacer layer formed of an air permeable foam material and an adhesive layer for attaching the insert to a seat cushion;
- a blower in fluid communication with the insert for moving air through the spacer layer and the trim surface;
- a duct for providing the fluid communication between the insert and the blower, wherein the duct is at least partially provided by the seat cushion and defines a passageway through the cushion;
- a deflector is disposed over the passageway defined by the duct;
- and
- a plurality of sub-passageways that extend away from the passageway,
- wherein the foam seat cushion, the duct, the sub-passageways, and combinations thereof include an air impermeable lining or coating.
5 more elements
A method for operating an automotive vehicle seating comfort system, comprising:
- providing a seat insert that is open at its sides and located between a trim surface and a foam seat cushion of a ventilated component, wherein the insert comprises a spacer layer formed of an air permeable foam material;
- moving a fluid through the insert and the trim surface with the aide of a blower to heat, cool, ventilate, or a combination thereof the ventilated component, wherein the blower and the insert are fluidly connected via a duct;
- controlling the temperature of the ventilated seat with at least one temperature sensor in signal communication with a control unit adapted to adjust the amount of heating, cooling, ventilating or combination thereof of the ventilated component.
A method of providing comfort to a seat occupant, comprising:
- moving a fluid with the aide of a blower through a multi-layer laminate insert comprising a spacer layer comprising an air permeable foam material and an adhesive layer, where the insert is located between an air permeable trim surface and a seat cushion, wherein the seat cushion may part of a backrest component, a seat cushion component, or a combination thereof;
- and
- controlling the temperature of an occupant by issuing instruction from a control unit to provide cooling, ventilation, less heating or combinations thereof when a temperature sensor senses the occupant, the trim surface, the seat cushion, the insert, or combinations thereof have reached or is at a temperature above a first threshold temperature or to provide heating, less cooling, less ventilation or combinations thereof when the temperature sensor senses the occupant, the trim surface, the seat cushion, the insert, or combinations thereof has reached or us at a temperature below a second threshold temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.