Fluid delivery systems for climate controlled seats

Abstract

A seat portion or a backrest portion of seating assembly comprises a recessed area or wide groove along its exterior surface. The recessed area can be configured to receive a spacer (e.g., spacer fabric, member, module, etc.) that helps maintains the spatial and structural integrity of the recessed area. The spacer can be generally air and fluid permeable. In addition, a scrim layer can be positioned over the spacer fabric to help direct and / or distribute air or other fluid to an exterior surface of the seating assembly. The recessed area can also be configured to receive one or more films, occupant sensory devices, comfort layers, scrims, temperature sensors, heating devices and / or the like. Thus, air or other fluid can be delivered into the recessed area of a seat or backrest portion of a seating assembly, and subsequently delivered through the spacer fabric and scrim layer towards or away from an occupant. In some embodiments, the air or fluid is conditioned (e.g., heated or cooled) prior to entering the recessed area.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 947,605, filed Jul. 2, 2007, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Inventions[0003]This application relates generally to climate control, and more specifically, to climate control of a seat assembly.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Temperature modified air for environmental control of living or working space is typically provided to relatively extensive areas, such as entire buildings, selected offices, suites of offices or other rooms and / or the like. In the case of vehicles, such as automobiles, the entire vehicle is typically cooled or heated as a unit. There are many situations, however, in which more selective or restrictive air temperature modification is desirable. For example, it is often desirable to provide an individualized climate control for a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In some embodiments, the recessed area is configured to further receive a scrim which includes at least one opening through which fluids may pass. In one arrangement, the scrim comprises a plurality of openings. In other embodiments, the scrim comprises a single opening having an area generally greater than one-half of the total area of the scrim. In one embodiment, the scrim comprises one or more padding layers configured to generally enhance the comfort to a seated occupant. In yet other arrangements, the recessed area includes a bottom surface and at least one side surface. In one embodiment, the recessed area includes at least one film layer to cover at least of the bottom surface and the side surfaces. In another embodiment, the film layer comprises an air permeability that is lower than an air permeability of the spacer.

Problems solved by technology

For example, a vehicle exposed to the summer weather (e.g., where the vehicle has been parked in an unshaded area for a long period of time) can cause one or more of the vehicle seats to become hot and generally uncomfortable for the occupant for some time after first entering and beginning to use the vehicle.

Furthermore, even with normal air-conditioning, the seat occupant's back and other pressure points may remain uncomfortably hot and / or sweaty.

There are, however, problems that have been experienced with existing climate control systems for seat assemblies.

For example, the distribution system can be difficult to install and / or require a large number of components that results in increased steps during assembly.

In addition, many of the existing control systems for seat assemblies include relatively thick profiles that tend to interfere with the manufacture of the assembly and / or decrease an occupant's comfort level.

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