Patents by Inventor Karl Pfahler

Karl Pfahler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110115263
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a roof which can be opened and a vehicle seat which has an associated air supply device with at least one air outflow opening arranged in the upper region of the seat and via which an airstream can be blown onto the head, shoulder and nape areas of the seat occupant when the roof is open. A heater system for the interior of the motor vehicle being provided. In order to use the air supply device in a universal manner, it is used to heat up the interior during a heating phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 7873451
    Abstract: An air supply mechanism for a vehicle seat comprises a control device for driving a fan and a heating element connected downstream of the fan. When the vehicle is unlocked, a vehicle door is opened and/or a folding-top switch is actuated in order to open the folding-top, the control device causes a heating element to be preconditioned. When there is a switching-on signal for the air supply mechanism, the control device ends the preconditioning and switches on the heating element and the fan. The heating element and fan are subsequently regulated by the control device as a function of vehicle speed and external temperature. In this manner, a seat occupant does not experience an initial draft or a delayed switching-on reaction but rather experiences a pleasant warmth even immediately after the air supply mechanism is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 7708626
    Abstract: An air supply device for an automotive seat includes an air duct which is arranged at the delivery side of a fan and has at least one air outlet opening provided in the upper region of the seat for supplying the head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant with a flow of air. A heating element is arranged in the air duct between the fan and the air outlet opening, and the air supply device has at least one sensor for detecting a parameter value as a function of which the flow of air emerging from the air outlet opening is controlled. In order to provide the air supply device with a flow of air which can be controlled in a more universal manner, the sensor is arranged inside the air duct between the air outlet opening and the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090302646
    Abstract: A cushion for a vehicle seat has a cushion layer arrangement that is covered by a cushion cover. The cushion layer arrangement includes an air-conducting cushion layer into which air can enter via at least one air inlet and from which the air, after flowing through it, can exit via at least one air outlet which is assigned at least one air outlet opening. At least one air outlet opening is arranged within the cushion cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Baur, Bernd Bihaule, Frank Faisst, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 7621594
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an air supply mechanism for a vehicle seat (12), and a method for the operation thereof. The air supply mechanism comprises a control device (24), for driving a fan (38) and a heating element (39) connected downstream of the fan (38). When the air supply mechanism is switched on, the control device (24) switches on a heating element (39) and at the same time carries out a starting control of a fan (38) in such a manner that the fan (38) starts and is operated at minimum blower speed for a predetermined period of time before the blower speed is raised to a predetermined working point and subsequently the blower speed is regulated as a function of the driving speed. In this manner, a seat occupant does not experience an initial sensation of draft due to a powerful discharge of relatively cold air but rather experiences a pleasant warmth even directly after the mechanism is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090218854
    Abstract: A planar heating element for a motor vehicle seat includes a plurality of heating conductors connected to at least one electrical contact conductor strip, which is to be joined to a power source. The contact conductor strip itself comprises an electrically conductive, nonwoven textile fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Karl Pfahler, Ina Von Szczepanski
  • Patent number: 7581785
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a backrest with a vertically adjustable headrest, and a device for warming the nape and head area of a seat occupant with warm air. The device comprises an electric heating unit and an air vent which is arranged in an intermediate space between the backrest and head cushion of the headrest. In order to obtain a warm air heating device which i) is of low overall volume, ii) can be integrated satisfactorily into the seat, iii) is efficient and iv) does not disrupt the esthetics of the vehicle seat and/or of the passenger cell, the electric heating unit, and preferably also a blower, are integrated in the air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Heckmann, Karl Pfahler
  • Publication number: 20090134675
    Abstract: The backrest and/or seat cushion part of a motor vehicle seat include/includes padding with a ventilation device including a ventilation layer and a device for heating and/or cooling the air flowing through the ventilation layer. The padding can be heated and/or cooled by the ventilation device in an improved manner by a warm or cold air flow for heating the seat or ventilating the seat. The heating and/or cooling device forms a sandwich with at least one heating and/or cooling layer and at least one air-permeable layer. The air-permeable layer has a structure by which the air flow can be converted into a turbulent and/or diffuse flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Daimier AG
    Inventor: Karl Pfahler
  • Publication number: 20090134677
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle seat for a closed motor vehicle, an air supply device is provided for supplying the head, neck and shoulder region of the seat occupant with warm air that can emerge via an air discharge opening on that side of the backrest which faces the seat occupant. In order to surround the head, neck and shoulder region of the seat occupant with a draft-free and inconspicuous air cushion or air space, an air discharge opening that extends at least over approximately one third of the width of the backrest of the vehicle seat is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Peter Maly, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090127894
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a cushion in which a ventilation layer for ventilating the cushion is integrated. At least one radial fan is integrated at a front end of the ventilation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Karl Pfahler
  • Patent number: 7506924
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat having an air supply device by means of which an air flow can be established through a ventilation layer of the cushion of the seat in order to ventilate the seat and/or in order to heat the seat. An air outflow opening of the air supply device is arranged in the upper region of the seat and via which the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant can be acted upon by an air flow. The air supply device is assigned a fan. In order to provide a motor vehicle seat with an air supply device which can be used more universally, the fan can be supplied with air from the ventilation layer of the cushion of the seat in order to generate the air flow for the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Vasilios Orizaris, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 7503625
    Abstract: An air supply device for a vehicle seat has an air channel arranged on the pressure side of a blower. The channel comprises at least one air discharge opening provided in the upper region of the seat for supplying the head, shoulder and neck area of an occupant of the seat with an adjustable airflow. A heating element is arranged in the air channel between the blower and the air discharge opening. In order to provide the air supply device with an airflow which feels more comfortable to the occupant of the seat, a grid element is arranged inside the air channel between the air discharge opening and the heating element. As a result, the airflow emerging from the air discharge opening is homogenized and slowed down, and this slowing-down allows more heat to be transferred to the airflow from the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090066122
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular a rear seat, has a backrest with a backrest cushion having a ventilation layer through which air can flood, and with at least one ventilator for ventilating the cushion. The ventilator sucks up air from the rear space of the backrest cushion and blows it into the ventilation layer. The ventilation layer is divided into a lower and upper section by an air barrier running in the transverse direction of the seat. At least one ventilator is assigned to the lower section of the ventilation layer and at least one further ventilator with an air-conveying direction the other way around with respect to the air-conveying direction of the first ventilator is assigned to the upper section of the ventilation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Minuth, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090051197
    Abstract: An air supply device for a vehicle seat, in particular of a convertible, and a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device of this type are provided. In the air supply device and the method with the aid of a Peltier element which is provided in an air duct of the air supply device, the temperature of the airflow can be adjusted as a function of diverse parameters. For this purpose, the flow of air is conducted either over a heating surface or a cooling surface of the Peltier element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Daimlerchrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Karl Pfahler, Lothar R. Renner
  • Publication number: 20090028534
    Abstract: A heating device for heating an air stream in a motor vehicle has at least one heating layer, preferably consisting of electrically heatable material, and at least one air-throughflow layer through which the air stream can pass. The air-throughflow layer has a structure by which the air stream can be converted into a turbulent or diffuse flow. For this purpose, the structure of the air-throughflow layer preferably has a multiplicity of spacer threads, webs and wires, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hartmann, Peter Maly, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner, Ina Von Szczepanski
  • Publication number: 20090015042
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat, in particular of a cabriolet, are provided. At an outside temperature which is greater than a predetermined limit temperature, the heating element of the air supply device may be deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Daimlerchrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090008970
    Abstract: A backrest for a motor vehicle seat is described. The rear side of the seat is covered by a planar lining part within which an air supply device for supplying the head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant with an airflow is integrated. The air supply device comprises a housing. Fitted together from at least two housing parts, with one of these housing parts being directly supported by the lining part of the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Flory, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20090001777
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a fan device embedded in a ventilation layer as a radial fan. Fresh air is taken in from the end side of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Karl Pfahler
  • Publication number: 20080315634
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat, in particular for an open motorcar, having an air supply device for supplying an air flow from an air output opening to the head, neck and shoulder area of a passenger. The air supply device includes a heating or cooling system for heating or cooling the air flow. This air supply device is a more efficient heating or cooling system for a motor vehicle seat. For this purpose, the air supply device comprises a sandwich that includes at least one heating or cooling layer and at least one air penetrable layer and a structure which makes it possible to convert the air flow into turbulent or diffused steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner, Dirk Weisser
  • Publication number: 20080300749
    Abstract: An air supply mechanism for a vehicle seat comprises a control device for driving a fan and a heating element connected downstream of the fan. When the vehicle is unlocked, a vehicle door is opened and/or a folding-top switch is actuated in order to open the folding-top, the control device causes a heating element to be preconditioned. When there is a switching-on signal for the air supply mechanism, the control device ends the preconditioning and switches on the heating element and the fan. The heating element and fan are subsequently regulated by the control device as a function of vehicle speed and external temperature. In this manner, a seat occupant does not experience an initial draft or a delayed switching-on reaction but rather experiences a pleasant warmth even immediately after the air supply mechanism is switched on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner