Power Source Propels Air For Heat Exchange Patents (Class 297/180.13)
  • Patent number: 6893086
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for placement within a seat of an automotive vehicle. The insert preferably includes multiple layers, one of which includes a heater for providing an occupant of the seat with warmth. The insert also preferably includes a blower or air pump for providing ventilation and/or cooling to the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignees: W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd., Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Goran Bajic, Lindy Brennan, Brennon Lewis White, Anne Patrice Liss, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic, Marinko Lazanja
  • Patent number: 6869139
    Abstract: There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Lindy Brennan, Goran Bajic, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic
  • Patent number: 6869140
    Abstract: A ventilated vehicle seat includes a bag formed from impermeable materials enclosing a spacer material. The latter preferably includes upper and lower netting sheets and fibers extending between the netting sheets, the fibers being sufficiently resilient to prevent total collapse of the spacer material when the seat is occupied. An air mover that forces air into or draws air from the bag may be coupled to the air space between the air impermeable layers of the bag. Groups of holes are provided in the top of the bag, and the total cross-sectional areas of the groups of holes are preferably selected to equalize air flow over the seating surface, rather than having all the air flow through the holes nearest the fan. An optional, porous heating layer may be located above the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brennon L. White, Mary J. Lumbard, Anne P. Liss, William G. Reed
  • Patent number: 6863342
    Abstract: A seating device having an air conditioning unit fluidly connected to a substantially hollow air diffuser. The air diffuser has a plurality of apertures through which cold air generated by the air conditioning unit is exhausted. The air diffuser serves as a back rest for the seating device. The air diffuser sits in a channel defined by the back surface of the seating member of the seating device, the horizontal support member on an L-shaped support bracket, and the front surface of the vertical braces of the L-shaped support bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Reliable Construction Construction Heaters, Incorporated
    Inventor: Franklin B. Floyd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6857697
    Abstract: There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Lindy Brennan, Goran Bajic, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnajakovic
  • Publication number: 20040189061
    Abstract: The invention relates to an upholstered element (1) for a lower seat part (2) and/or a backrest (4) of an air-conditioned motor-vehicle seat (6), comprising an elastic upholstered air-permeable base part (8) and an air-permeable air-conditioning layer (10) which is disposed on the surface of the base part (8). The air-conditioning layer (10) consists of at least two partial layers (14, 16), i.e. a lower layer (14) which is oriented towards the base part (8) and an upper layer (16) which is disposed on top of the lower layer (14). The upper layer (16) is made of a material which absorbs moisture. Preferably, an intermediate layer (22) made of an air-permeable material is disposed between the base part (8) and the lower layer (14). The lower layer (14) is relatively softer and the intermediate layer (22, 22a) is relatively harder, whereby the lower layer (14) and intermediate layer (22) are prevented from being pressed into holes (18) in the base part (8) when the seat is occupied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Dirk Hartwich, Gerhard Schmale
  • Patent number: 6776453
    Abstract: A seating having a heat source fluidly connected to a substantially hollow bench which defines an interior space, a substantially hollow deck extending outwardly from the footwall of the bench, perforations in the frontal wall of the base to exhaust pressurized heated air from the interior space of the bench into the deck, and perforations in the top surface of the deck to exhaust pressurized heated air from the deck and into the atmosphere. The seating device is additionally equipped with a heating rack comprising a heating element, a duct having a plurality of posts, each post having a terminal support with at least one opening therein. Each terminal support is adapted selectively to support and heat helmets or other equipment. The seating device provides heat to the entire body of a person sitting on its bench or standing on its deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Reliable ConstructionsHeaters, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin B. Floyd, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040113468
    Abstract: A ventilator comprising a conduit having an vent connector end and a discharge end, a vent connector disposed at the vent connection end of the conduit and adapted to connect to an air conditioning vent of an automobile, and a discharge nozzle disposed at a discharge end of the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Dixie C. Swanson, Ansel Dekle
  • Publication number: 20040104607
    Abstract: A breathable seat comprises a seat body formed of urethane foam, a three-dimensional network cushion body incorporated in that region of the seat body which bears a user's body, a seat cover having breathability, and a pan frame. The cushion body is formed of a large number of continuous linear elements of thermoplastic resin. The linear elements are looped windingly so that their respective contact portions are fused together. The seat body is formed having venting holes that penetrate the urethane foam in its thickness direction. The venting holes communicate with the cushion body and apertures of the pan frame. The seat cover envelops the seat body and the cushion body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Minegishi, Kazuo Kikuchi, Takashi Ebihara
  • Patent number: 6736452
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning unit mounted in a vehicle seat, a resilient member is provided adjacent to a rear surface of a cover member that makes contact with a user. A cushion member is provided between the cover member and the resilient member. A blower unit is supported by the resilient member on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the resilient member. The blower unit is fixed to the resilient member by interposing the resilient member between a fixing member and a blower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Toshifumi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6733072
    Abstract: A padded element for a vehicle, the element comprising padding of flexible synthetic foam which supports a flexible member and which presents a support face for coming to bear against a user, said support face being covered by: a film suitable for providing a barrier against the synthetic foam before it polymerized; a first compressible flexible layer covering the film on its side opposite side to the padding and presenting permeability to air of less than 200 l.m−2.s−1 under a pressure difference of 100 Pa, and presenting a load-bearing capacity of 5 kPa; a second flexible layer presenting a load-bearing capacity of 12 kPa; and a flexible outer decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Laurent Jaillet, Hervé Rancon, Jérôme Senechal, Nordine Edouibi
  • Patent number: 6722148
    Abstract: Electric heaters and blower units are disposed inside an occupant seat having exterior cover members, each of which has a plurality of outlet openings. Each electric heater heats the corresponding exterior cover member, and each blower unit blows air through the outlet openings of the corresponding cover member. Manipulation dials are provided to manipulate the corresponding electric heaters and blower units. A variable heating power command signal, which commands increasing or decreasing of a heating power of each corresponding electric heater, and a variable flow rate command signal, which commands increasing or decreasing of an air flow rate of each corresponding blower unit, are generated through adjustment manipulation of the manipulation dial in synchronism with movement of the manipulation dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Toshifumi Kamiya, Yuji Honda
  • Publication number: 20040070236
    Abstract: There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: W.E.T. Automotive Systems, AG
    Inventors: Lindy Brennan, Goran Bajic, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic
  • Patent number: 6644735
    Abstract: An automobile seat for a convertible motor vehicle has a seat back with an appropriate headrest. At least one air outflow opening of an air supply system is arranged in an upper area of the seat back in order to reduce undesirable drafts. At least one additional air outflow opening of the air supply system is provided in the seat surface facing the seat occupant for seat ventilation and/or seat heating purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Peter Nordberg, Vasilios Orizaris, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20030197404
    Abstract: A ventilated vehicle seat includes a first portion and a tongue portion. The first portion includes a porous upper surface layer, a non-porous first inner layer that is adjacent to the upper surface layer and that includes ventilation holes, a non-porous lower surface layer, and an expanded spacer layer between the non-porous layers that provides an air space. The tongue portion includes a tongue that is integrally-formed with the first portion. The tongue extends from the edge of the first portion and includes an opening in one of the non-porous layers. The opening provides access to the air space within the expanded spacer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: David F. Ekern, Ronald G. Bedro
  • Patent number: 6619736
    Abstract: A vehicle seat ventilating system comprising at least one fan (4) arranged in the seat (7) and controlled by a central control unit (1) and an electric control unit (3) associated with each fan (4) for actuating the respective fan in response to control signals from the central control unit (1), wherein each electronic control (3) is arranged at the respective fan (4) Thus, each of the fans (4) arranged in the vehicle seat (7) has its own electronic control unit (3) that is located at the fan (4) and is connected to the central seat control unit (1) by a data line (2) that transmits control signals. The power supply currents required to drive the fan (4) are regulated directly in the electronic control unit (3) located at the respective fan (4). Thus, each of the fans (4) arranged in the vehicle seat (7) has its own electronic control unit (3) located at the fan (4) and is connected to the central seat control unit (1) by a data line (2) that transmits control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Stefan Stöwe, Matthias Pietsch, Matthias Michniacki
  • Patent number: 6604785
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat for an open-top motor vehicle has a seat cushion part and a backrest which is provided with a pertaining headrest. In an upper area of the backrest, for reducing undesirable draft phenomena for a seat occupant, at least one air outflow device which has an assigned air outflow nozzle of an air supply device is arranged. The air outflow device is vertically adjustable with respect to the backrest and can be secured in an adjusted vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Peter Nordberg, Vasilios Orizaris, Karl Pfahler, Lother Renner
  • Publication number: 20030132650
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle seat for an open motor vehicle, with an air supply device integrated in its backrest and/or head restraint, the device including an air outlet duct having an outlet opening arranged on the front side of the head restraint, for supplying the head, neck and shoulder region of the vehicle occupant with hot air, and an air inlet duct having an inlet opening, with a heating element being assigned to the air supply device. The inlet opening of the air supply device is arranged on the rear side of the backrest or of the head restraint and approximately level with or above a rear end wall edge of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 6578910
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a ventilation system includes a network of ducts within the seat bottom, and a fan for moving air away from the seat surface. The ventilation system is configured such that a single fan may selectively move air through some or all of the ducts. Before a vehicle occupant sits in a seat, air is moved through all of the ducts to reduce the temperature at the seat surface. When the occupant sits in the seat, certain ducts in the network are closed to air flow. The air flow is now limited to the remaining ducts, which allows for efficient removal of moisture from the seat surface. After the temperature and moisture at the seat surface have reached desired levels, the speed of the fan is reduced to ensure that the occupant does not experience an unpleasant draught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Christer Andersson, Bengt Andreasson, Harry Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20030102699
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning unit mounted in a vehicle seat, a resilient member is provided adjacent to a rear surface of a cover member that makes contact with a user. A cushion member is provided between the cover member and the resilient member. A blower unit is supported by the resilient member on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the resilient member. The blower unit is fixed to the resilient member by interposing the resilient member between a fixing member and a blower case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Toshifumi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6511125
    Abstract: A ventilated seat pad for supporting an occupant includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth layers formed into a back portion and a seat portion. Perforations are formed in the first layer to direct ventilating air to an occupant. The second layer provides cushioning and ventilation for the occupant. A hole pattern is formed in the third layer. The hole pattern includes holes in the back portion and the seat portion. An air chamber is formed in the fourth layer in communication with the hole pattern of the third layer. A nozzle and hose direct ventilating air to the air chamber attached to the fifth layer. Ventilating air is directed to holes in the back portion of the third layer when an occupant sitting on the seat portion restricts holes in the seat portion of the third layer. The occupant receives ventilated air in the seat and back area simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy D. Gendron
  • Patent number: 6505886
    Abstract: A climatized seat utilizing a vortex tube is provided. The vortex tube separates compressed air into hot and cold air streams, which are used to heat and cool the seat. In a preferred embodiment, the seat includes a vortex tube, communicative passageways connected to the ends of the vortex tube and the seat, and one or more valves for regulating airflow from the ends of the vortex tube and the environment surrounding the seat. A system for regulating seat temperature is also provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more seats, one or more vortex tubes, various communicative passageways and valves, a source of compressed air, and an accumulator for storing compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Gielda, Yohannes Ambaye, Scot Karath
  • Patent number: 6478369
    Abstract: A seat air duct includes a floor duct fixed to the floor surface of vehicle cabin and flexible ducts. The upper wall of the floor duct is partially formed by flexible slide walls. The flexible slide walls are formed in an accordion and stretch and contract to follow a front-back stroke of a front seat. The flexible ducts stretch and contract to follow a vertical stroke of the front seat. In this way, since the flexible slide walls and the flexible ducts are independently provided, the seat air-conditioning unit effectively follows the front-back and vertical strokes of the passenger seat, thereby improving a seat air-conditioning performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Takeshi Yoshinori, Yuichi Kajino, Kazutoshi Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 6474072
    Abstract: A self contained air conditioned seat to control the temperature climate in an air bubble generated around the seat occupant is described. It includes an air bubble at a controlled temperature for the upper body and seat of the occupant, a separate air bubble for the legs of the occupant and a controller which allows the occupant to have personal control of the temperature in the two zones. Temperature sensors are located in one or more of the tips of the arm rests, the heat rest, beneath the seat bottom and in the return air ducts, to help maintain the air bubble temperature in the two zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Frederick Johnston Needham
  • Publication number: 20020145312
    Abstract: A climatized seat utilizing a vortex tube is provided. The vortex tube separates compressed air into hot and cold air streams, which are used to heat and cool the seat. In a preferred embodiment, the seat includes a vortex tube, communicative passageways connected to the ends of the vortex tube and the seat, and one or more valves for regulating airflow from the ends of the vortex tube and the environment surrounding the seat. A system for regulating seat temperature is also provided. In this embodiment, the invention comprises one or more seats, one or more vortex tubes, various communicative passageways and valves, a source of compressed air, and an accumulator for storing compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Gielda, Yohannes Ambaye, Scot Karath
  • Patent number: 6435608
    Abstract: A seating device having a heat source fluidly connected to a substantially hollow bench which defines an interior space, a substantially hollow deck extending outwardly from the footwall of the bench, perforations in the frontal wall of the base to exhaust pressurized heated air from the interior space of the bench into the deck, and perforations in the top surface of the deck to exhaust pressurized heated air from the deck and into the atmosphere. The pressurized heated air warms the entire outer surface of the bench and the deck. The pressurized heated air exhausting from the perforations in the top surface of the deck warms the entire region in front of the bench. The seating device provides heat to the entire body of a person sitting on its bench or standing on its deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Reliable Construction Heaters, Incorporated
    Inventor: Franklin B. Floyd, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020096915
    Abstract: A ventilated vehicle seat includes an imperforate foam air plenum member located in a foam cushion top. The air plenum member is assembled from a molded box-like foam member and an integrally molded cover. The air plenum has an air port for application of positive or negative pressure. The cover has apertures for air to pass into or out of the air plenum member. One preferred embodiment of the air plenum member includes an integrally molded portion that is assembled into an air conduit for said air port. The cover can have various sizes that are larger than the box-like member and can have inner and outer surface conformations to suit various purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Gregary A. Haupt, Jeff Montgomery, Gary Reynolds, Hilding Holcombe
  • Publication number: 20020057005
    Abstract: A wind protection device for an open motor vehicle includes a passenger cell that has at least one car seat with a backrest. There is on a level with the top area of the backrest at least one air outflow opening of an air supply system. Thereby, the head, shoulder and neck area of the seat occupant is impinged on with an air stream that can be regulated to avoid an undesired air draft. The air supply system has at least one sensor to measure a parameter value, whereby the air stream, issuing from the air outflow opening, is regulated as a function of the parameter value by way of a regulating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Peter Nordberg, Vasilios Orizaris, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Publication number: 20020011071
    Abstract: A self contained air conditioned seat to control the temperature climate in an air bubble generated around the seat occupant is described. It includes an air bubble at a controlled temperature for the upper body and seat of the occupant, a separate air bubble for the legs of the occupant and a controller which allows the occupant to have personal control of the temperature in the two zones. Temperature sensors are located in one or more of the tips of the am rests, the heat rest, beneath the seat bottom and in the return air ducts, to help maintain the air bubble temperature in the two zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventor: Frederick Johnston Needham
  • Publication number: 20010028185
    Abstract: A vehicle seat ventilating system comprising at least one fan (4) arranged in the seat (7) and controlled by a central control unit (1) and an electric control unit (3) associated with each fan (4) for actuating the respective fan in response to control signals from the central control unit (1), wherein each electronic control (3) is arranged at the respective fan (4). Thus, each of the fans (4) arranged in the vehicle seat (7) has its own electronic control unit (3) that is located at the fan (4) and is connected to the central seat control unit (1) by a data line (2) that transmits control signals. The power supply currents required to drive the fan (4) are regulated directly in the electronic control unit (3) located at the respective fan (4). Thus, each of the fans (4) arranged in the vehicle seat (7) has its own electronic control unit (3) located at the fan (4) and is connected to the central seat control unit (1) by a data line (2) that transmits control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Stefan Stowe, Matthias Pietsch, Matthias Michniacki
  • Patent number: 6273810
    Abstract: An air cell support system for vehicle seat and mattress applications includes an air cell constructed from facing sheets of flexible material that are sealed along their marginal edges. One of the sheets is impermeable and the other of the sheets is perforated to direct air from the air cell for ventilating an occupant support surface while providing a source of pressure for inflating the air cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: McCord Winn Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Rhodes, Jr., Scott J. Moran, Stephen Burt
  • Patent number: 6247751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat, particularly a vehicle seat, having a cushion support and a cushion which is supported on the cushion support. The cushion has a seat surface and an edge area surrounding this surface and is composed of a cubical cushion body which encompasses the seat surface and of a foamed-to-shape edge part which rests on the lateral surfaces of the cushion body and fills the edge area. This provides optimal seat pressure distribution and the air-conditioned sitting comfort, while reducing the required proportion of manual work. The cushion support, which accommodates the cushion body as well as the edge part, is constructed in an air-permeable manner and the other hand, the cushion body consists of an air-permeable nonwoven material, while the edge part is manufactured of polyurethane foam or another material having the same characteristics, and is connected with cushion body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Faust, Josef Klink, Karl Pfahler
  • Patent number: 6224150
    Abstract: A cushioning for the seat part and/or the backrest of a vehicle seat has a cushioning layer, a ventilation layer which is arranged above the cushioning layer and through which air can flow a cushioning cover which spans the cushioning surface and in which quilt seams for forming cushioning contours are made which penetrate the ventilation layer, and at least one electric fan for actively ventilating the cushioning which is accommodated in an air duct penetrating the cushioning layer. For the purpose of a constructively simplified design of the cushioning for lowering the manufacturing costs, the at least one air duct with the integrated fan is arranged in an area of a quilt seam such that the air flowing out of the air duct flows on both sides of the quilt seam into the ventilation layer. A low-cost vibration damping is achieved in that the fan is embedded in a rubberized-hair layer which is positioned in the ventilation-layer-side mouth area of the air duct in the cushioning layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Harun Eksin, Hermann Kohfink, Karl Pfahler, Rolf Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6189967
    Abstract: A portable air cooled seat cushion is provided in which a fan produces an air stream which is directed to the interior of a portable cushion. The cushion is to be placed on a preformed seat, such as a vehicle seat. The cushion has an air permeable outer covering on a front face thereof which permits air to flow out of the cushion against the legs and back of an occupant of the cushion. The fan is connected to the cushion by a flexible hose, permitting the fan to be located by the occupant in a desirable selected location. Controls are provided for the occupant to adjust the speed of the fan and to be visually apprised of the power level being supplied to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Edward J. Short
  • Patent number: 6189966
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a cushion integrated in a seat part and/or in a backrest. The cushion has a ventilation layer, through which air can flow, and an air-permeable cushion cover which spans the cushion surface. At least one electrically driven ventilator blows air into the ventilation layer. In order to optimize efficiency and rapidity of seat ventilation when cooling heated seat surfaces and achieve a compact seat construction without any space demands under the cushion of the seat part and behind the cushion of the backrest, the ventilator is constructed such that it takes air in axially and blows air out at least radially and is arranged in the ventilation layer itself. The intake opening of the ventilator is exposed on the side of the cushion facing away from the cushion cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Faust, Karl Pfahler
  • Patent number: 6186592
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a cushion, a seat-heating arrangement integrated in the cushion, a ventilation device for the through-ventilation of the cushion over its surface area, and a control unit for controlling the seat-heating arrangement and ventilation device. For the purpose of shortening the response time of the seat-heating arrangement when the latter is switched on, the control unit activates the ventilation device as the seat-heating arrangement is switched on in each case, the control operation, in the control unit, which causes the seat-heating arrangement to be switched on preferably being such that the seat-heating arrangement and ventilation device are switched on at full power and the power of the ventilation device is reduced asymptotically to a predetermined end value within a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Vasillios Orizaris, Karl Pfahler