Abstract: A rechargeable tool holder is provided for mounting a wirelessly rechargeable tool into a recessed portion of a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes a seat frame, a seat bottom, and a seat back. The seat includes a power supply connection providing electricity from a vehicle power source. The tool holder includes a recessed portion of the vehicle seat, a tool retention member such as a clip, and a wireless charger located adjacent to the trim piece to provide wireless charging of the tool when the tool is mounted at the retention member. The wireless charger has an input power connection from the vehicle power supply to recharge the tool while mounted. The rechargeable tool or piece of equipment may be a flashlight, a rotary-actuated or linearly-actuated power tool, or any other suitable wirelessly-charged tool or piece of equipment for which the holder is configured.

Abstract: A rechargeable tool holder is provided for mounting a wirelessly rechargeable tool into a recessed portion of a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes a seat frame, a seat bottom, and a seat back. The seat includes a power supply connection providing electricity from a vehicle power source. The tool holder includes a recessed portion of the vehicle seat, a tool retention member such as a clip, and a wireless charger located adjacent to the trim piece to provide wireless charging of the tool when the tool is mounted at the retention member. The wireless charger has an input power connection from the vehicle power supply to recharge the tool while mounted. The rechargeable tool or piece of equipment may be a flashlight, a rotary-actuated or linearly-actuated power tool, or any other suitable wirelessly-charged tool or piece of equipment for which the holder is configured.

Abstract: A ventilated vehicle seat includes a vent panel underlying an air permeable trim cover. The vent panel includes a vent that is closed to block air flow when the seat is unoccupied and open to permit air flow when an occupant is on the seat. Opening and closing of the vent is actuated by the weight of the seat occupant. Multiple openings can be spaced along the vent so that forced air flows primarily through vent openings directly alongside the legs or torso of the seat occupant. An effective passive vent panel can be easily made from a sheet of polymeric material with a series of elongated slits cut through the sheet.

Abstract: A thermoelectric element includes a resistor in series with a thermoelement pair to effectively limit the electric current therethrough. This construction enables placement of individual or small numbers of thermoelements in parallel without exceeding the maximum current threshold of the thermoelements. Such parallel arrangements eliminate the need to serially connect large numbers of thermoelectric elements, offering design freedom and preventing total device failure when a single thermoelectric element fails.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements arranged in parallel between electrically conductive layers, along with a voltage reducer arranged in series with at least one pair of N- and P-thermoelements to facilitate the parallel arrangement. The device can be made in sheet form with flexible conductive layers to form a pliable layer for use beneath the trim cover of a vehicle seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a thermal comfort system including an air duct in a foam cushion, a thermoelectric device, a heat sink extending inside the air duct from the thermoelectric device, and an air mover that causes air to flow from the passenger cabin, through the seating surface, along the air duct and heat sink, and back out of the seat. In a cooling mode, air flowing along air duct absorbs heat from one side of the thermoelectric device via the heat sink while the opposite side of the thermoelectric device absorbs heat from the trim cover via thermal conduction. The air duct can be shaped to position the thermoelectric device near the seating surface for enhanced conductive energy exchange without the need for uncomfortable rigid ductwork.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a thermal comfort module installed in a recess of a foam cushion beneath a trim cover. The thermal comfort module includes an air duct, a thermoelectric device, a heat sink extending inside the air duct from the thermoelectric device, and an air mover that causes air to flow from the passenger cabin, through the seating surface, along the air duct and heat sink, and back out of the seat. In a seat cooling mode, the air flowing along air duct absorbs heat from one side of the thermoelectric device via the heat sink while the opposite side of the thermoelectric device absorbs heat from the trim cover via thermal conduction. The thickness of a foam cushion can be made greatest where most needed, such as at the rear portion of the seat bottom.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a thermal comfort module installed in a recess of a foam cushion beneath a trim cover. The thermal comfort module includes an air duct, a thermoelectric device, a heat sink extending inside the air duct from the thermoelectric device, and an air mover that causes air to flow from the passenger cabin, through the seating surface, along the air duct and heat sink, and back out of the seat. In a seat cooling mode, the air flowing along air duct absorbs heat from one side of the thermoelectric device via the heat sink while the opposite side of the thermoelectric device absorbs heat from the trim cover via thermal conduction. The thickness of a foam cushion can be made greatest where most needed, such as at the rear portion of the seat bottom.

Abstract: A ventilated vehicle seat includes a vent panel underlying an air permeable trim cover. The vent panel includes a vent that is closed to block air flow when the seat is unoccupied and open to permit air flow when an occupant is on the seat. Opening and closing of the vent is actuated by the weight of the seat occupant. Multiple openings can be spaced along the vent so that forced air flows primarily through vent openings directly alongside the legs or torso of the seat occupant. An effective passive vent panel can be easily made from a sheet of polymeric material with a series of elongated slits cut through the sheet.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a thermal comfort system including an air duct in a foam cushion, a thermoelectric device, a heat sink extending inside the air duct from the thermoelectric device, and an air mover that causes air to flow from the passenger cabin, through the seating surface, along the air duct and heat sink, and back out of the seat. In a cooling mode, air flowing along air duct absorbs heat from one side of the thermoelectric device via the heat sink while the opposite side of the thermoelectric device absorbs heat from the trim cover via thermal conduction. The air duct can be shaped to position the thermoelectric device near the seating surface for enhanced conductive energy exchange without the need for uncomfortable rigid ductwork.