Fan Directly Attached To A Chair Or Seat Component Patents (Class 297/180.14)
  • Publication number: 20130300159
    Abstract: A ventilation apparatus (500) serves to cool the seat cushion (120) of a seat (100), in particular of a vehicle seat. This seat cushion (120) has a seating surface (122), a rear face (127) and an underside (121). The underside (121) of the seat cushion (120) and the seat frame (110) form a cavity (190). The ventilation apparatus (500) has a radial fan (515) for arrangement in said cavity (190), which radial fan (515) has an inlet (512) and an outlet (518). An air distribution arrangement (530) connects to the output of a U-shaped air deflection device (520) that extends from the air outlet (518) of the radial fan (515) to an inlet (532) of the air distribution arrangement (530) and includes a plurality of air deflection conduits (525).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: EBM-PAPST ST. GEORGEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hansjoerg Berroth
  • Patent number: 8491057
    Abstract: A seat body for vehicles has a padding made of plastic material foam and provided with through holes; the padding is covered by an upholstery covering having a fabric layer and a hygroscopic layer, which are heat-fixed together; the fabric layer defines a support surface for a user, while the material of the hygroscopic layer is an open-cell polyurethane foam having a cell mean linear density less than or equal to 15 cell/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Salvatore Demontis, Andrea Zussino
  • Publication number: 20130106150
    Abstract: Fan-equipped chair assemblies having a seat and a backrest. A fan assembly may be associated with a bottom of the backrest and oriented substantially upward toward a top of the backrest. An airflow guide may angle toward the top and away from the bottom of the backrest. A fan assembly may be associated with a rear of the seat and oriented substantially forward toward a front of the seat. An airflow guide may angle toward the front and away from the rear of the seat. An airflow guide may be associated with a bottom side of the seat, and a fan assembly may be attached to the airflow guide such that the airflow guide is located between the bottom side of the seat and the fan assembly. The air flow guide may at least generally taper from near the bottom side of the seat toward the fan assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: GREGORY ALAN SQUIRES, Steven Lee Garner
  • Publication number: 20130099529
    Abstract: A cooling pad includes a bottom section, a top section, and a middle section which together form a contoured surface to support a person's back. The contoured surface includes concave and convex sections, providing ventilated pockets which allow air to flow to a person's back. Inside the middle section there are intake holes, located on either side of the cooling pad, and exhaust holes, positioned atop and below the middle section. The intake holes allow air to be brought in from outside, while the exhaust holes direct air to cool a person's back. Fan and power systems are stored inside the middle section. The fan blows air through the exhaust holes. The system as a whole is designed to utilize negative pressure to bring fresh air in from the intakes, replacing the air the fan pushes through the exhaust holes. The resulting airflow prevents back sweat from occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Wei Zheng, Zheng Yan Guo
  • Patent number: 8408641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passively air-conditioned motor vehicle seat comprising a breathable seat cover and comprising a seat body which has ventilation channels extending in the thickness direction, which in each case have at least one element for preventing the return flow of air. For simplifying the production the at least one element for preventing the return flow of air consists of the same material as the seat body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeroen Lem, Karl Michael Siebertz, Carsten Starke
  • Publication number: 20130076083
    Abstract: A drum throne with a cooling system comprises a seat, a stand and a cooling system attachment. The seat has a seat frame a breathable seat surface coupled to the seat frame that allows air to pass therethrough and a mounting bracket coupled to the seat frame underneath the breathable seat surface. The stand has a central support post that detachably couples to the mounting bracket and a plurality of legs that adjustably extend from the central support post. The cooling system attachment detachably couples to either the mounting bracket of the seat or to the central support post of the stand. The cooling system attachment further includes a fan mounting support to releasably hold a fan that directs air to flow through the breathable seat surface of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Sean Everett Davidson, Jeffrey Alan Davidson
  • Patent number: 8388057
    Abstract: An air-conditioned seat includes a seat area and a backrest, the seat area and/or the backrest being cushioned with foam. For climate-control, a ventilator, in particular a radial ventilator, is provided, which is in operative connection with an air distribution device in the foam of the seat area and/or the backrest, the air distribution device including an air distribution structure on the side (e.g., a B side) facing away from the seated person, as well as air-conducting channels toward the side (e.g., an A side) facing the seated person. The ventilator is to be disposed in the foam itself, on the B side. The air is transported to the A side via the air distribution structure in the form of air trenches introduced into the foam on the B side, and via the air-conducting channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Sitech Sitztechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Tomas Barkow, Heinz Etzmuss, Hans-Georg Kaiser, Bernd Wilhelm, Harald Vogel, Adrian Sievers, Reinhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 8360517
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems, Ag.
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Patent number: 8297695
    Abstract: A cooling system which having a body section which includes a flexible material; at least two mist dispensing fans connected to the body section; and control circuitry having at least a first switch controlling fan speed and a second switch controlling mist dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Breezzangel, LLC
    Inventors: Tonia Dandry Aiken, Charles W. Lanusse, Tina Dandry Mayes, Shirley Jumonville Dandry, Alexes Elizabeth Aiken, Brett Johnanthony Aiken
  • Publication number: 20120256450
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back that is connected to the seat cushion in a manner so as to be reclined and raised with respect to the seat cushion, a lower band member that covers a connecting portion of the seat cushion and the seat back, and a supply portion provided in the lower band member. The seat back includes a cushion that forms a contour of a seat, a cover, and a blower arranged inside the seat back. Air blown from the blower is blown toward a sitting side of the seat back via a flow path portion of the cushion, while outside air is supplied to the blower. The supply portion communicates an inside of the seat back with an outside of the seat back, and outside air taken in from the supply portion is supplied to the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideo SAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120256451
    Abstract: A seat component has a center portion that contacts the body or legs of a seated occupant, and side portions that contacts neither the body nor legs of the seated occupant. A flow passage has a center vent formed in the center portion, a side vent formed in the side portions, and communication portions that provide communication between the center vent and the side vent within the seat component. The air blown out of a blower is supplied to a seating-face of the seat component from at least one of the center vent and the side vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideo SAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8272685
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle seat back adapted for movement between an upright position and a lowered position has an air duct with an intake located adjacent an upper portion of the seat back and an outlet located adjacent a lower portion of the seat back. The air duct takes in ambient cabin air at its upper end and that air is directed to an electronics compartment located behind the seat in order to cool the electronics regardless of whether the seat back is in the raised or the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Jonathon Lucas, Louis Paspal, Neil Robert Burrows
  • Patent number: 8235461
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a shock absorbing ventilated seat is provided that includes a seat portion; and a back portion adjustably hinged to the seat portion. At least one of the seat and the back portions include a planer sheet of shock absorbing material located therein. The shock absorbing material has a top layer, a bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of ribs that couple the top layer to the bottom layer so as to create a plurality of channels in the material. The top layer has a plurality of perforations therein that communicate with the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having an opening on an end of the material coupled to an air source that cause air to pass through the openings of the channels and exit through the perforations in the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Eli Cohen
  • Patent number: 8220869
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled head-restraint system is provided. A head restraint includes various layers of material, such as a core, cushion, and trim cover. Moreover, the head restraint includes a temperature-controlling layer that provides heat, coolness, ventilation, or a combination thereof to a front portion of the head restraint. The temperature-controlling layer might include one or more of a heater mat or reticulate material that disperses treated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Kolich
  • Patent number: 8201203
    Abstract: An entertainment system includes a video system mounted within an automobile headrest, the headrest including a headrest body in which the video system is mounted. A cooling system is integrated with the headrest for maintaining the video system at a desirable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Vitito
  • Patent number: 8167368
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fastening mechanism (50) to secure an air delivery device (21) to a carrier device (40). It is specified that this is provided with at least one swivel mechanism (17), which enables a swiveling of the air delivery device (21) relative to the carrier device (40), and at least one fastening mechanism (50), which holds the swivel mechanism (17) on the carrier device (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive System AG
    Inventor: Peter Eckel
  • Patent number: 8162391
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Patent number: 8123290
    Abstract: A cooling system which having a body section which includes a flexible material; at least two mist dispensing fans connected to the body section; and control circuitry having at least a first switch controlling fan speed and a second switch controlling mist dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: BreezzAngel, LLC
    Inventors: Tonia Dandry Aiken, Charles W. Lanusse, Tina Dandry Mayes, Shirley Jumonville Dandry, Alexes Elizabeth Aiken, Brett Johnanthony Aiken
  • Patent number: 8083575
    Abstract: A ventilation system is provided in an automobile by forming an intake opening in the top of the seats in the automobile. A telescopic pipe is located in the cushion of the seat with its top end mounted to the intake opening and its lower end mounted to an outlet port at the underside of the seat. An ammonia sensor and a air drawing fan is mounted in the telescopic pipe. The air drawing fan is actuated by the ammonia sensor with the control of a seat fan module when the ammonia sensor detects body waste odor air expelled by a passenger sitting in the seat. Exhaust ducts are provided for conducting the odor air out of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Hong Min Kim
  • Publication number: 20110260509
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a structurally improved seat cushion, comprising a main body which includes a padding part, a backrest part and multiple accordion-shaped vent pipes used to connect the padding and backrest parts. There are guide grooves formed between padding components on the padding and backrest parts, multiple wings extending from two side edges of the padding components and capable of being bent to fit in with a seat adequately and a containing space with an opening at front end of the padding part to fix a wind scooper, while a blower fan is connected with the opening. When the blower fan draws external cooling air into the main body, the cooling air goes quickly out of vent holes along diversion grooves formed by multiple separation boards in the wind scooper, guide grooves and vent pipes, making users feel cool, ventilative and more comfortable when sitting on it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: David S.K. Siu
  • Publication number: 20110187165
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat includes a seat main body, and a duct that is provided in the seat main body. The duct includes an inlet port through which air is supplied, a first communication pipe which is branched from the inlet port and communicates with a first outlet port, and a second communication pipe which is branched from the inlet port and communicates with a second outlet port. The duct is provided with a heating device which is configured to supply or absorb heat to or from air flowing through at least one of the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe so as to generate a temperature difference between air discharged from the first outlet port and air discharged from the second outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki OOTA, Atsuki SASAKI, Takeshi NISHIURA, Yasuhiko NIIMI, Jun YAMAOKA
  • Patent number: 7971931
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Patent number: 7963594
    Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes an outer frame and one or more layers of fabric. A panel member attached to the opposite side of the frame defines an inner space located between the panel member and the fabric. One or more channels attached to or formed, in part, by the panel member are in fluid communication with an opening in the panel member and a plurality of orifices located on the channels. Air from a fluid module or other device enters the channels and is discharged through the orifices in the direction of the fabric. The air passes through the fabric and reaches an occupant situated on the seating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Amerigon Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott R. Wolas
  • Patent number: 7963595
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back and a head rest. The seat back has an air blower that is capable of aspirating air, and a blower duct that is capable of introducing the aspirated air toward a blowhole formed in the seat back. The head rest has a head rest main body and a stay attached to the head rest main body. The stay is inserted into the seat back, so that the head rest main body is vertically movably attached to the seat back. The air blower is disposed on the seat back such that a rotation center thereof can be positioned above the level of a terminal end of the stay that is moved to a lowermost position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Ito, Hisaya Mori, Yasuhiko Niimi, Yuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20110133525
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, and a seat back including a blower. The seat back includes an interior pad facing an outer circumference of the seat back other than a part of the seat back at a rear side, and a fabric seat cover covering the interior pad to configure an exterior covering. The seat cover includes a seated occupant's side surface portion and a rear surface portion joined together to form a bag-like configuration. The interior pad is formed with an air guiding path which guides air from the blower to a surface of the seat back at a seated occupant's side. A part of the rear surface portion which does not cover the interior pad is formed as a permeation block portion having permeability lower than that of the seated occupant's side surface portion so as to block the permeation of air from the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki OOTA
  • Patent number: 7950735
    Abstract: A seat temperature control system having a temperature controlled seat for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The temperature controlled seat may comprise a seat bottom, a seat back and an air conditioning system. The seat bottom includes a bottom heat exchanger fluid coil configured to direct a cooling fluid therethrough from a bottom inlet end to a bottom outlet end. The seat back includes a back heat exchanger fluid coil configured to direct the cooling fluid therethrough from a back inlet end to a back outlet end. The air conditioning system includes a coils inlet line in fluid communication with the bottom inlet end and the back inlet end, and a coils outlet line in fluid communication with the bottom outlet end and the back outlet end. The air conditioning system provides cooling fluid to the coils and receives cooling fluid from the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Major, William R. Hill
  • Publication number: 20110101741
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled head-restraint system is provided. A head restraint includes various layers of material, such as a core, cushion, and trim cover. Moreover, the head restraint includes a temperature-controlling layer that provides heat, coolness, ventilation, or a combination thereof to a front portion of the head restraint. The temperature-controlling layer might include one or more of a heater mat or reticulate material that disperses treated air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Kolich
  • Patent number: 7931330
    Abstract: An air conditioning seat includes a seat pad having a seating portion and a side support portion, blowing means for blowing air to an air path formed at the seat pad, a seat cover covering the seat pad, and a net-like cushion member capable of permeating air in a thickness direction and in a plane direction. An air path is formed at the seating portion of the seat pad. A hanging groove in a groove-like shape is recessed and on a boundary line of the seating portion and the side support portion. The an air blow out port of the air path is covered by the net-like cushion member. A communicating path reaching the net-like cushion member of the side support portion from the air path of the seating portion is formed by passing a back side of the hanging member at inside of the hanging groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Itou, Hisaya Mori, Yasuhiko Niimi
  • Patent number: 7905545
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat body that is configured for attachment to a floor surface of a vehicle. The seat body includes a seat back that is connected to a seat bottom. The seat back has a seat back frame and the seat bottom has a seat bottom frame. An electric component is mounted to the seat body. A first mounting member attaches the electric component to one of the seat back frame and the seat bottom frame. In this vehicle seat assembly, the first mounting member is configured to flex such that the electric component can move in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a plane of the one of the seat back frame and the seat bottom frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Christer Andersson, Odd Jaegtnes, Torbjoern Andersson
  • Publication number: 20110031786
    Abstract: A centrifugal multi-blade impeller (10) that has a plurality of blades (11) around a central axis of rotation (10a) and that radially outwardly blows air taken in along the central axis of rotation is housed in a spiral scroll casing (20). The ratio of H/D of height H of the centrifugal multi-blade impeller in a direction of the central axis of rotation to diameter D of the centrifugal multi-blade impeller is 0.2 or less. The scroll casing has a logarithmic spiral spread angle ? of 2.0 degrees or more. It is thereby possible to provide a small and low profile centrifugal air blower that has high air blowing performance and is low noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michihiro Kurokawa, Masao Kojima, Koji Kuyama, Masahito Hidaka, Mineaki Isoda
  • Patent number: 7878585
    Abstract: A foldable chair, which includes a forced air cooling system. The foldable chair includes a frame member. A flexible seat, which includes a meshed back rest suspends from the frame member. A fan bag, which has a pocket, is attached to the meshed back rest of the flexible seat. A fan is located at the bottom of the fan bag and is electrically disconnectable to a re-chargeable power source that is housed in a housing, which has an ON/OFF toggle switch so as to supply power to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Keith B. Salisbury
  • Patent number: 7866017
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ventilation diffuser bag includes providing a perforated, occupant facing side of the diffuser bag and an air mover; molding a non-perforated, support facing side of the diffuser bag having an opening to allow air flow therethrough and including an integral air mover support, the air mover support including an endless sidewall extending from the opening for supporting the air mover, the endless sidewall including a retaining edge spaced from the non-perforated side for suspendably retaining the air mover, and a vibration dampening suspension portion; mounting the air mover in the air mover support such that the air mover engages the retaining edge; disposing an air permeable material adjacent the non-perforated side; and permanently connecting edges of the perforated, occupant facing side to edges of the non-perforated, support facing side such that the air permeable material is disposed between the perforated side and the non-perforated side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: IGB Automotice Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Knoll
  • Patent number: 7866743
    Abstract: A temperature adjustable chair includes a seat portion with a backrest portion vertically extending therefrom. The seat portion is superimposed on a plurality of support legs that suspend the chair above an underlying surface. Adjacent each of two sides of the seat portion is an armrest. Imbedded within both the backrest portion and the seat portion is a thermoelectric cooler for selectively generating or removing heat. The cooler is regulated with a control panel positioned on one of the armrests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventors: Randy P. Russell, Gary V. Triola
  • Patent number: 7862113
    Abstract: A ventilation diffuser bag for disposition on a vehicle occupant support includes a perforated, occupant facing side and an opposite non-perforated, support surface facing side. The non-perforated side includes an opening to allow air flow into the diffuser bag. An air mover support integral with the non-perforated side includes an endless sidewall extending from the opening for providing support for an air mover. The endless sidewall includes a retaining edge spaced from the non-perforated side for suspendably retaining the air mover within the air mover support. The non-perforated side of the diffuser bag is supportable on an occupant facing surface of a vehicle occupant support, and the air mover support extends into the occupant support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: IGB Automotive Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Knoll
  • Patent number: 7857395
    Abstract: A backrest of a seat includes: a pad including a slit air guide hole which penetrates the pad from a front surface of the pad to a rear surface of the pad; a base member for blocking the air guide hole on a rear side of the pad, the base member including an inlet hole communicated with the air guide hole; and a cover for blocking the air guide hole on the front surface of the pad, the cover including a plurality of outlet holes communicated with the air guide hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Kikuchi, Masanori Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100295339
    Abstract: An air-conditioned seat cushion includes a flexible seat cushion body bendable to fit a car seat and having a flexible flat fan mount forwardly extended from the front open side thereof and multiple air channels and air holes for ventilation, a fan affixed to the flexible flat fan mount, a hard fan cowl fixedly mounted in the seat cushion body and having shunt passages arranged in air communication between the air channels of the seat cushion body and the air output port of the fan, and a flow guide pivoted to the fan cowl and coupled to the air output port of the fan for biasing with the fan relative to the fan cowl when the flexible flat fan mount is bent relative to the fan cowl to fit a car seat and for guiding currents of air from the air output port of the fan into the shunt passages and the air channels of the seat cushion body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: DAVID S.K. SIU
  • Patent number: 7837270
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for use with a ventilation system is provided. The seat includes an air-conducting layer, which may be provided underneath a seat surface. The air-conducting layer may cooperate with intake spots in a seat portion. The intake spots may be placed on lines substantially corresponding to the position of the legs of a person sitting in the seat and/or on a line extending substantially along the spine of a person sitting in the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Eriksson, Christer Andersson, Bengt Andreasson, Torbjörn Andersson
  • Publication number: 20100289302
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a seat adjusting method and a seat adjusting system capable of actively adjusting a user's sitting posture and comfort according to the body weight of different users. Stress sensors are provided for detecting a stress distribution situation of a seat support surface. Airbags are buried into the support surface for actively changing the level of the support surface in order to increase a contact area between the support surface and the user, and the stress distribution situation can be matched with an expected ratio to provide the best ergonomic support effect to users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Nitring Enterprise Inc.
    Inventor: Chien-Chuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7828050
    Abstract: A vehicle seat air-conditioner includes a seat on which an occupant sits, a seat temperature adjustment device that adjusts the temperature of a conditioned gas, a blower that supplies the conditioned gas to the seat, a seat covering layer provided on a surface of the seat and facing the seated occupant, and a flow channel provided on an underside of the seat covering layer that pass the conditioned gas that is introduced by the blower. The vehicle seat air-conditioner is adapted to convey heat of the conditioned gas to an occupant side of the seat covering layer by directly blowing out a portion of the introduced conditioned gas to the occupant side of the seat covering layer, and to perform heat exchange with the occupant side of the seat covering layer by circulating a portion of a remainder of the conditioned gas through the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidenori Esaki
  • Patent number: 7802843
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly having a lower seat assembly and a seat back assembly, the lower seat and seat back assemblies having an exterior surface and an interior region. The vehicle seat includes a ventilation system configured to move air through body-side openings in the exterior surface, the ventilation system comprising a fan and one or more fan openings, the fan openings providing fluid communication between the fan and an exterior of the seat assembly through the exterior surface. The vehicle seat also includes a flexible noise cover, mounted on the vehicle seat assembly, defining the fan openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Christer Andersson, Torbjörn Andersson, Hans Kesselman
  • Patent number: 7784863
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a back rest, a head restraint, which is adjustable in the height and which has a head cushion, and a ventilation device, whose exhaust vent for blowing out a warm airflow is arranged on the upper side of the back rest. The vehicle seat that has a construction that is simplified and aesthetically pleasing and that is characterized in that a diverting mechanism is provided in a lower area of the head restraint and is integrated into the head cushion. The warm airflow issuing from the exhaust vent is diverted into the head and/or neck area of a seat passenger via this diverting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Manfred Fallen
  • Patent number: 7775602
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Publication number: 20100176627
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Patent number: 7753440
    Abstract: A fan module for a vehicle seat, comprising a housing which defines at least one portion of an air-conducting duct and accommodates an air conveyor providing, in a position of use, an airflow inside the duct. To reduce disturbances caused by noise during the operation of the fan module it is proposed that the housing and/or the duct comprises at least one sound outlet opening in the flow direction of the airflow downstream behind the air conveyor and transversely with respect to the flow direction of the airflow, which is covered by a sound-absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Zeyen, Maurice Clauss, Franz Bohlender
  • Publication number: 20100164256
    Abstract: A foldable chair, which includes a forced air cooling system. The foldable chair includes a frame member. A flexible seat, which includes a meshed back rest suspends from the frame member. A fan bag, which has a pocket, is attached to the meshed back rest of the flexible seat. A fan is located at the bottom of the fan bag and is electrically disconnectable to a re-chargeable power source that is housed in a housing, which has an ON/OFF toggle switch so as to supply power to the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Keith B. Salisbury
  • Publication number: 20100146700
    Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes an outer frame and one or more layers of fabric. A panel member attached to the opposite side of the frame defines an inner space located between the panel member and the fabric. One or more channels attached to or formed, in part, by the panel member are in fluid communication with an opening in the panel member and a plurality of orifices located on the channels. Air from a fluid module or other device enters the channels and is discharged through the orifices in the direction of the fabric. The air passes through the fabric and reaches an occupant situated on the seating assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: AMERIGON INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Scott R. Wolas
  • Patent number: 7735932
    Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle. More particularly an insert for a ventilated seat, the insert including a forward layer, a rearward layer, a spacer material intermediate of the forward layer and the rearward layer, and an air moving member that includes a fan and a housing, and is attached to an outer surface of the rearward layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Patent number: 7708338
    Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly comprises a chamber defined by a substantially fluid impermeable layer, the fluid impermeable layer having a first side and second side, the first side comprising a plurality of openings, a support structure positioned within the chamber, the support structure being configured to substantially maintain the shape of the chamber, a fluid transfer device configured to provide a volume of fluid to the chamber, a fluid inlet in fluid communication with both the chamber and the fluid transfer device, a fluid distribution layer positioned adjacent to the first side of the fluid impermeable layer and a seat covering positioned along the fluid distribution layer. In some embodiments, the fluid distribution layer is configured to generally distribute fluid from the openings toward the seat covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Amerigon Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott R. Wolas
  • Publication number: 20100102599
    Abstract: A cushion structure of a vehicle seat is provided. The cushion structure includes a cushion pad formed of expanded resin and configuring a cushion part of the vehicle seat, the cushion pad being provided with a groove part, and a reinforcing sheet material which is harder than the cushion pad and is provided integrally with an upright wall face of the groove part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro ITOU, Yasuhiko NIIMI
  • Patent number: 7688582
    Abstract: In a power supply unit disposed below a floor behind a seat, battery modules are disposed in a lower position, and a DC/DC converter and a motor driving inverter are disposed side by side in a vehicle width direction above the battery modules. Thus, cooling air flowing from the front side to the rear side of a vehicle body is divided into upper and lower portions to cool in parallel the DC/DC converter and the motor driving inverter on the upper side and the battery modules on the lower side. Thus, it is possible to simplify a passage of the cooling air to reduce the size of the entire power supply unit, and improve mountability of the power supply unit on the vehicle body. Also, it is possible to apply low temperature cooling air, before heat exchange, to the battery module, the DC/DC converter, and the motor driving inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukazu, Takeo Nishibori, Kentaro Shibuya, Masao Kawata, Hiroo Yamaguchi, Junya Fujisawa, Atsushi Nakano, Hiroshi Kosaka