Abstract: Inserts for the air-conditioning of a vehicle and methods for forming same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the insert includes a spacer material part. The spacer material part includes an open region extending from a top side to an opposite underside, the open region forming an air-guiding structure. The spacer material part is covered by at least one cover layer on at least one of the top side and the underside. The open areas of the air-guiding structure include a plurality of ducts connected to one another to form a net-like duct structure. The duct structure forms flow regions or flow zones. A cover layer has at least one perforation in the region of connection or intersection points of the ducts.

Abstract: Heating and cooling device for a vehicle seat with separating material (2) that forms at least a portion of an air-distribution chamber (1), with an upper-side layer (4) covering the separating material (2) on its upper side, with a lower-side layer (5) of separating material (2) on the underside opposite from the upper-side layer (4) that is essentially airtight whereby the upper-side layer (4) and the lower-side layer (5) are connected together about the outer circumference of the separating materials (2). An air-inlet aperture (6) is provided to the air-distribution chamber (1) and air-outlet apertures (10) are provided in the upper-side layer (4) to remove air from the air-distribution chamber (1). The upper-side layer (4) and the lower-side layer (5) are connected at least about their outer circumference by a box-shaped insert (3).

Abstract: Heating element for user-touchable areas in a vehicle with a foamed carrier material in which at least one heating conductor, which comprises an electrical insulation, is embedded, and with connecting conductors which are electrically connected to the ends of the heating conductor via at least one connection part and form an electrical feed line. The at least one connection part is arranged within the foamed carrier material and the connection part is foam-covered in an electrically insulating manner by the carrier material. The connection part is brought into electrically conductive contact at least partially with the respective connection end of the heating conductor due to applied pressure and/or applied heat, at least partially destroying the electrical insulation in the region of the connection part. Furthermore, a method for producing such a heating element using a mold tool is indicated.

Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle seat, comprising at least one air distribution module (1) having at least one air distribution chamber which is open on the top side (4) opposite the carrier layer (6), and wherein the carrier layer (6) has at least one extension section (12) which projects beyond the part of the carrier layer that is not covered by the bottom side of the insert and can be used for mounting a fan, a fan housing or a fan bracket on the air distribution module (1), by at least surface parts of the extension section (12) surrounding at least partially the fan and/or a fan housing and/or the fan bracket. The extension section (12), or a respective tab (13) as part of the extension section (12), is provided with at least one adhesive layer (18) on its top and/or bottom side.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a heating device for heating liquids in a reservoir, such as a tank or a container of a vehicle is disclosed. The heating device may have a housing which is resistant to the liquid to be heated and has a tubular outer casing closed at one end by a base part and at the other end by a cover part. The heating element may also include an insert inserted into the outer casing of the housing and at least one surface heating element arranged between the outer casing and the insert.

Abstract: A steering wheel cover, having a circumferential length and a transverse width, comprises a plurality of layers that cover each other at least partially in projection. The layers include a lower electrically conductive shielding layer and an upper cover layer, between which are arranged, starting from the shielding layer, an insulation layer and at least one electrically conductive sensor layer. The shielding layer and/or the sensor layer has/have a conductor structure with conductors extending in the length and width directions of the steering wheel cover. The shielding layer and/or the sensor layer is/are electrically connected to connecting conductors of a connecting cable. The electrical connection is formed by a metal foil. The steering wheel cover serves to detect whether a driver's hand is on the steering wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat cushion part, having a cushion element, and a backrest part, at least one of which has an air conditioning device with a fan unit and an air conditioning insert. The air conditioning insert has an air distribution space, which is delimited on one side by at least one top layer. The air distribution space supplies air through the fan unit via the bottom layer located opposite the top layer and the air from the air distribution space is dispersed via the top layer. The air distribution space is separated by at least one separating element extending between the top layer and the bottom side, such that one air outlet plate is associated with the fan unit. At least one air outlet opening rests on the plane of the separation element that is associated with the bottom side of the air distribution space such that the at least one air outlet opening supplies air to both the one and the other partial region.

Abstract: A device for air-conditioning the backrest or the seat area of a motor vehicle seat has an insert that rests in a recess of a cushion component of the vehicle seat. The insert has an air distribution layer that is covered by (a) an upper cover layer at the top side area that points away from the base area of the recess and (b) a lower cover layer arranged at the side of the air distribution layer that points toward the base area of the recess. The lower cover layer has at least one strap section that protrudes beyond the outer circumference of the air distribution layer. This cover layer has a width that corresponds approximately to the thickness of the air distribution layer and rests on a circumferential area of the air distribution layer that is associated with the strap section and at least partly covers this circumferential area.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with a ventilating device comprises (a) a ventilating insert (5) that is placed into a recess on the side of an upholstery core facing a seated person, (b) an air-permeable upholstery layer covering the side of the ventilating insert facing the seated person, and (c) a ventilator (12), at least partially inserted into an indentation in the side of the upholstery core facing the seated person, that sucks in the air from partial areas of the seating surface and provides it to those partial areas. At least a portion of the air flow between the ventilator and the upholstery covering occurs via an air-distribution layer (10) of the ventilating insert (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for heating surfaces in the internal space of a motor vehicle comprises at least one heating element, having at least one heating conductor that forms an electrical heating circuit, and at least one carrier material, wherein the heating conductor has at least two HC terminal ends and the temperature acquisition element has at least two TA terminal ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for capacitive seat-occupancy recognition for vehicle seats. The apparatus which is based on the method comprises a reference capacitor that possesses a capacitance with respect to a first reference potential of a vehicle, an electrode integrated into a seat sensor that possess a capacitance with respect to a first reference potential, an at least parasitically-present capacitance of the sensor electrode with respect to a second reference potential or the vehicle ground, a first switch that connects the reference capacitor and a reference-voltage source of known voltage connected with the reference potential, a second switch that connects the sensor electrode with reference capacitor, and a third switch that connects the sensor electrode with the reference potential and the at least parasitically-present capacitance with the vehicle ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for capacitive seat-occupancy recognition for vehicle seats. The apparatus which is based on the method comprises a reference capacitor that possesses a capacitance with respect to a first reference potential of a vehicle, an electrode integrated into a seat sensor that possess a capacitance with respect to a first reference potential, an at least parasitically-present capacitance of the sensor electrode with respect to a second reference potential or the vehicle ground, a first switch that connects the reference capacitor and a reference-voltage source of known voltage connected with the reference potential, a second switch that connects the sensor electrode with reference capacitor, and a third switch that connects the sensor electrode with the reference potential and the at least parasitically-present capacitance with the vehicle ground.

Abstract: A deformable heating element for a steering wheel comprises at least one heating conductor, one side of which is laid on, and fastened to, a front-side layer of a flat base material. The base material, in area of the front-side layer on which the heating conductor is laid and fastened, has a lower compression hardness and/or a volume density than does this base material in the area of its opposite, rear-side layer.

Abstract: A seat frame for a vehicle seat comprises an upholstered seat cushion, a seat frame, an upholstery support structure attached thereto and a fan housing with a radial fan. The fan housing has an axial inlet and a radial outlet for the passage of air. The fan housing is supported in the seat frame by means of a holder which includes at least one frame-shaped receptacle adapted to receive the radial outlet of the fan housing and at least one locking element for connecting itself to the fan housing.

Abstract: A seat frame for a vehicle seat comprises an upholstered seat, cushion, a seat frame, an upholstery support structure attached thereto and a fan housing with a radial fan. The fan housing has an axial inlet and a radial outlet for the passage of air. The fan housing is supported in the seat frame by means of a holder- which includes at: least one frame-shaped receptacle adapted to receive the radial, outlet of the fan housing and at least one locking element for connecting itself to the tan housing.

Abstract: A deformable heating element, adapted to be mounted on a support body, comprises at least one heating conductor, one side of which is laid on, and fastened to, a front-side layer of flat base material. The base material, in area of the front-side layer on which the heating conductor is laid and fastened, has a lower compression hardness and/or a volume density than the base material in the area of the opposite rear-side layer thereof.

Abstract: A flexible surface heating element, particularly for seat heaters, having a heating field of conductive fibers electrically connected to at least one contact strip. The contact strip contains a portion of conductors in the form of steel filaments and a portion of conductors in the form of filaments of a higher conductivity than that of the steel filaments. The two types of conductors are electrically interconnected and affixed by means of a yarn on a textile band, the conductors of higher conductivity extending above and/or under the steel filament conductors and being electrically connected to the steel filament conductors. A method for producing the flexible heating element is also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional heating element particularly intended for use in a steering-wheel. The three-dimensional heating element includes a heating composite having a heating element bonded between two films, one or both of which includes a heat shrinkable material. A covering material is placed over the heating composite. The film closest to the covering material includes a plastic material which forms a barrier preventing gaseous, liquid and/or solid chemicals from attacking the heating conductor when the heating element is applied to the steering-wheel. A foam material may be introduced in the space between the composite and covering material.

Abstract: The invention concerns a controlling and monitoring device for avoiding damage through overheating in the case of flexible, textile surface heating elements which include at least two opposed contact conductors (3.1, 3.2) made of electrically conducting, non-insulated fibers or wires between which there extends a plurality of heating conductors (8) which are electrically connected to the contact conductors (3.1, 3.2) and to a current-voltage source. At least one additional conductor (1) is guided along at least one contact conductor over the heating conductors (8), wherein the additional conductor (1) is electrically insulated by a covering material and is connected to an electric or electronic evaluation switch (11).

Abstract: An electrical heating element for heating units of seats and steering wheels is provided. The heating element comprises at least one conductor having at least one core-coated wire that serves as a heat conductor and/or as a contact conductor and/or as a lead for temperature probes. The coating comprises steel and the core comprises copper or a copper alloy, or the coating comprises copper or a copper alloy and the core comprises steel.