Vehicle zonal microclimate system
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsScott Richard Wolas, Lorenzo Marvin Crosatti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle occupant air curtain system includes a seat that has a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat back has a region that is configured to be arranged above an occupant shoulder. An air vent is supported on the seat back and is arranged in the region. The air vent is configured to be directed adjacent to a seated occupant's head and neck.
Claims22
A vehicle occupant air curtain system comprising:
- a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat back having a region configured to be arranged above an occupant shoulder;
- an air vent supported on the seat back and arranged in the region, the air vent configured to direct an airflow adjacent to a seated occupant's head and neck.
A vehicle occupant air curtain system comprising:
- a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat cushion includes lateral sides that each include an air vent configured to direct an airflow adjacent to a seated occupant's legs and meet above the occupant's legs so as to continue away from the occupant.
A method of generating an air curtain from a seat and about a vehicle occupant, the method comprising the steps of:
- conditioning air from an inlet from a diffused, ambient environment;
- providing the conditioned air to first and second air vents;
- creating a first boundary layer of air from a first air vent and adjacent to an occupant's head;
- and
- creating a second boundary layer of air from a second air vent and adjacent to an occupant's legs.
An air curtain vent for a seat, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a vent movable relative to the housing, wherein the vent includes a height substantially greater than a width, the height and width providing an exit that provides upper and lower flow paths, and a dead zone arranged between the upper and lower flow paths, the dead zone configured to significantly obstruct flow through the vent.
A front seat comprising:
- a seat cushion and a seat back together providing an occupant support surface, the occupant support surface configured to provide thermal conditioning to a front seat occupant, the seat back having a thermal conditioning module opposite the occupant support surface and configured to provide thermal conditioning to a rear occupant aft of the front seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.