Arrangement and method for providing an air flow within an upholstered seat
OwnerRonald G. Witchieinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arrangement and method for producing an air flow within an upholstered seat back or bottom in which a seat insert has a blower mounted in a pouch at the crotch region between the seat back and bottom and has an outlet which directs air flow up through a spacer layer so as to distribute air flow out through a porous seat back cover or beneath a nonporous cover. A solid plastic backing sheet underlies the spacer layer to direct all air flow out from the spacer layer, the plastic sheet also forming the blower pouch. A mesh layer is bonded to the plastic sheet and used to attach the insert to the seat cushion as well as to carry a heating element pattern extending thereover to also enable electrical heating of the seat back or bottom.
Claims9
An arrangement for circulating air within a seat back or seat bottom of an upholstered seat, said arrangement including an insert in combination with said upholstered seat, said insert including:
- a solid plastic backing sheet formed with a pouch at the bottom;
- a blower disposed in said pouch and having an inlet adapted to receive air flow to be directed out through a blower outlet;
- a spacer layer overlaying said plastic sheet above said pouch and being open to be able to distribute air flow from said blower outlet along the thickness thereof;
- said insert disposed beneath a seat cover so that airflow passes out from said spacer layer and out through said seat cover to provide cooling to a person occupying said seat.
An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said seat has a cover attached to a foam structure of said seat using hook and loop fastener strips and a perimeter area of said mesh layer is captured between said strips which penetrate said mesh layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.