Seat air conditioning unit

Abstract

A seat air conditioning device is applied to a seat provided in a vehicle interior, and comprises a cushioning member (6), a cover (7), a ventilation hole (13), and a surface groove (14). The cushioning member (6) supports the back or buttocks of an occupant (3) seated on the seat. The cover (7) covers the cushioning member (6) and has a perforation (10). The ventilation hole (13) is provided in a portion of the cushioning member (6) opposite to the back or buttocks of the occupant (3) seated on the seat, and is capable of taking in or blowing out air. The surface groove (14) is provided in a portion of the cushioning member (6) on the side of the cover (7), is connected to the ventilation hole (13), and extends from the ventilation hole (13) toward the center of the back or buttocks of the occupant (3) seated on the seat in the cushioning member (6).

Description

[0001] Cross-references between related applications

[0002] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-113131 filed on June 30, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a seat air conditioner applied to a seat provided in a vehicle interior. Background Art

[0004] Conventionally, there is known a seat air conditioner that improves the comfort of an occupant sitting on a seat provided in a vehicle interior by sucking in air or blowing out air through a plurality of vents provided in the seat.

[0005] The seat air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 is a structure in which a plurality of elliptical ventilation holes are provided in a back cushion constituting a seat, and air is sucked in through the ventilation holes. In Patent Document 1, the ventilation holes are referred to as air vents.

[0006] Prior art literature

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-38461

[0009] However, the seat air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that when the vents are blocked by the back of an occupant seated on the seat, the amount of air drawn into the vents from near the occupant's back decreases, causing the occupant to feel less cool and less comfortable.

[0010] To solve this problem, if the inner diameter of the vent holes is increased or the number of vent holes is increased, the portion of the back cushion where the vent holes are provided may sag when the occupant sits on the seat, which may deteriorate the seating comfort. Summary of the Invention

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a seat air conditioning device that can improve the comfort of an occupant without affecting the occupant's seating comfort.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a seat air conditioning device for a seat installed in a vehicle interior includes: a cushioning member, a cover, a ventilation hole, and a surface groove. The cushioning member supports the back or buttocks of an occupant seated on the seat. The cover covers the cushioning member and has perforations. The ventilation hole is provided in a portion of the cushioning member opposite the back or buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat, and is capable of taking in or blowing out air. The surface groove is provided in a portion of the cushioning member on the cover side, is connected to the ventilation hole, and extends from the ventilation hole toward the center of the back or buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat.

[0013] Thus, the direction away from the center of the back or the center of the buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat in the cushioning member is the portion of the cushioning member where the seating pressure of the occupant seated on the seat is low. That is, the surface groove is a structure extending from the ventilation hole toward the side of the cushioning member where the seating pressure of the occupant seated on the seat is low. Therefore, even when the perforations located in the axial direction of the ventilation hole are blocked by the occupant's body, wind flows from the perforations located at the position corresponding to the surface groove to the ventilation hole via the surface groove. Therefore, the reduction in the amount of air flowing near the occupant's body is suppressed, the occupant can feel cooler, and the occupant's comfort can be improved.

[0014] Furthermore, the surface groove extends toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant sitting on the seat is smaller, and the depth of the surface groove is also shallower than the ventilation hole, so the seating comfort of the occupant is hardly affected.

[0015] The center of the back or buttocks of the occupant sitting on the seat in the cushion member refers to the center portion of the cushion member in the vehicle left-right direction (ie, vehicle width direction) when the seat is installed in the vehicle cabin.

[0016] In addition, the reference numerals in parentheses attached to each component etc. represent an example of the correspondence relationship between the component etc. and the specific component etc. described in the embodiment described later. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view showing a state where a cover of a seat back to which the seat air conditioner according to the first embodiment is applied is removed.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a front view showing a seat back to which the seat air conditioner according to the first embodiment is applied.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along line III-III.

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Magnified view of part IV.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the first embodiment.

[0023] Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the first embodiment.

[0024] Figure 8 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the first embodiment.

[0025] Figure 9 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the first embodiment.

[0026] Figure 10 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the first embodiment.

[0027] Figure 11 This is a front view showing a state where a cover of a seat back to which the seat air conditioner according to the second embodiment is applied is removed.

[0028] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the epidermis is shown along line XII-XII.

[0029] Figure 13 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment.

[0030] Figure 14 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment.

[0031] Figure 15 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment.

[0032] Figure 16 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment.

[0033] Figure 17 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment.

[0034] Figure 18 It is a perspective view showing an example of a surface tank included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment.

[0035] Figure 19 This is a graph showing the relationship between the duty ratio of the current supplied to the electric motor of the blower and the air volume, regarding the seat air conditioning device of the second embodiment and the seat air conditioning device of the comparative example.

[0036] Figure 20 It is a plan view showing a state where a cover of a seat cushion to which the seat air conditioner according to the third embodiment is applied is removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Several embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or equivalent components between the following embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted. The up and down arrows and front and back arrows in the drawings, as well as the terms "up," "down," "front," and "back" in the following description, are used merely for convenience in describing an example of a seat air conditioning system and do not limit the present invention.

[0038] (First embodiment)

[0039] A first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A seat air conditioner according to this embodiment is applied to a seat provided in a vehicle interior.

[0040] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the seat includes a seat back 1 that supports the back of an occupant, a seat cushion 2 that supports the buttocks of the occupant, and a headrest (not shown) that supports the head of the occupant.

[0041] The seat air conditioning system of this embodiment is applied to a seat back 1 provided in a seat. The seat back 1 includes a central portion 4 disposed at a location facing the back of an occupant 3 seated in the seat, and side support portions 5 disposed on either side of the central portion 4. The central portion 4 of the seat back 1 is also referred to as a backrest surface or a seat surface.

[0042] The seat back 1 of this embodiment includes a cushioning member 6 for supporting the back of an occupant 3 seated on the seat, and a surface 7 covering the cushioning member 6. The cushioning member 6 of this embodiment is composed of a seat pad 8 and a soft polyurethane foam layer 9. Figure 1 The seat back 1 is shown in a state where the outer skin 7 is removed, and the soft polyurethane foam layer 9 is indicated by adding a plurality of dots.

[0043] The seat pad 8 is formed of foamed polyurethane or the like, and constitutes most of the center portion 4 and the side support portions 5. The seat pad 8 is formed by, for example, die molding.

[0044] The soft polyurethane foam layer 9 is formed from a foamed polyurethane material having a lower hardness than the seat pad 8 and is provided on the surface 7 side of the seat pad 8. The soft polyurethane foam layer 9 is formed, for example, by cutting and molding polyurethane foam (i.e., slab molding), and is also referred to as slab polyurethane. The soft polyurethane foam layer 9 has a relatively thin thickness, for example, approximately 1 to 5 mm.

[0045] Furthermore, a three-dimensional net may be used instead of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9. The three-dimensional net is a cushioning material having a three-dimensional knitted structure with excellent cushioning properties, air permeability, and body pressure distribution.

[0046] The skin 7 is formed of, for example, fabric or leather, and covers at least the surface and side surfaces of the cushioning member 6 facing the passenger 3. Figure 4 As shown, the skin 7 of this embodiment has a plurality of fine pores called perforations 10 at least in the central portion 4 .

[0047] The seat is provided with a hanging groove 11 for connecting the cushioning member 6 to the cover 7. Hanging groove 11 is a location where a cord or the like provided on the cover 7 engages with a wire 12 embedded in the seat pad 8. Hanging groove 11 is provided in a recessed portion of the seat back 1. Therefore, a portion of hanging groove 11 is provided at the boundary between the center portion 4 and the side support portion 5.

[0048] The seat air conditioner of the present embodiment includes a plurality of ventilation holes 13 , a plurality of surface grooves 14 , and the like in the cushion member 6 constituting the seat back 1 .

[0049] A plurality of ventilation holes 13 are provided in the seat pad 8 forming the cushioning member 6, in a portion (i.e., the central portion 4) that faces the back of the seated occupant 3. Specifically, three ventilation holes 13 are arranged vertically on the left and right sides of the central portion 4, and three ventilation holes are arranged vertically in the center. Each of the plurality of ventilation holes 13 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the seat (i.e., the thickness direction of the seat back 1).

[0050] A rear groove is provided in the rear portion of the seat cushion 8. The rear groove serves as a ventilation path connecting the multiple ventilation holes 13. Specifically, the rear groove comprises three grooves 15a-15c extending in a generally vertical direction, and a generally rectangular space 15d communicating with these three grooves 15a-15c. The three grooves 15a-15c extending in a generally vertical direction communicate with the multiple ventilation holes 13. Therefore, the generally rectangular space 15d also communicates with the multiple ventilation holes 13 via these three grooves 15a-15c.

[0051] A rear cover 16 is provided on the rear side of the seat pad 8, corresponding to the rear groove. This cover is made of a resin such as hard felt, polypropylene, or POM, and is attached to the rear surface of the seat pad 8 to close the open surface of the rear groove. A blower 17 is provided behind this cover. An opening 18 is provided in this cover at a position corresponding to the air intake of this blower 17.

[0052] A back frame 19 is provided behind the blower 17. The outer edge of the back frame 19 is connected to the seat cushion 8. A space is formed between the rear cover 16 and the back frame 19. This space is referred to as a seat back space 20.

[0053] A blower 17 is provided in the seat back space 20. The blower 17 is a fan that generates airflow by rotating an impeller driven by an electric motor (not shown). A centrifugal fan is used as the impeller. Alternatively, an axial flow fan, a diagonal flow fan, or a turbofan may be used. The blower 17 is configured to blow air drawn through the perforations 10 of the outer skin 7 through the surface grooves 14, the ventilation holes 13, and the rear grooves into the seat back space 20.

[0054] A plurality of surface grooves 14 are provided in the portion of the cushioning member 6 on the surface 7 side. In this embodiment, the plurality of surface grooves 14 are formed by removing (i.e., cutting) a portion of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9 constituting the cushioning member 6. Therefore, the plurality of surface grooves 14 are relatively shallow grooves.

[0055] Furthermore, in the case where a three-dimensional net is used instead of the flexible polyurethane foam layer 9, the plurality of surface grooves 14 can also be formed by removing (ie, by cutting) a portion of the three-dimensional net.

[0056] The plurality of surface slots 14 are connected to the corresponding ventilation holes 13. Specifically, the plurality of surface slots 14 are provided so as to be connected to the three ventilation holes 13 arranged on the left and right. In addition, the three ventilation holes 13 arranged in the center are not provided with surface slots 14.

[0057] Furthermore, the surface grooves 14 extend from the vent holes 13 in a direction away from the center of the back of the occupant 3 seated in the seat, within the cushioning member 6. Specifically, the surface groove 14 communicating with the uppermost vent hole 13 among the plurality of surface grooves 14 extends from that vent hole 13 toward the side support portion 5. Furthermore, the surface grooves 14 communicating with the vent holes 13 located below the uppermost vent hole 13 among the plurality of surface grooves 14 extend from that vent hole 13 toward the hanging groove 11. In other words, the plurality of surface grooves 14 extend from the vent holes 13 toward the side support portion 5 or the hanging groove 11. Furthermore, the surface grooves 14 communicating with the vent holes 13 located below the uppermost vent hole 13 connect those vent holes 13 with the hanging groove 11.

[0058] The portion of the cushioning member 6 located away from the center of the back of the occupant 3 seated on the seat is a portion where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is lower than the portion supporting the center of the occupant 3's back. Specifically, the side support portions 5 or the hanging grooves 11 are portions where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is lower than that on the central portion 4. Therefore, the plurality of surface grooves 14 extend from the ventilation holes 13 toward the side of the cushioning member 6 where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is lower, rather than toward the side where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is higher.

[0059] The center of the back or buttocks of the occupant 3 sitting on the seat in the cushion member 6 refers to the center portion of the cushion member 6 in the vehicle left-right direction (ie, vehicle width direction) when the seat is installed in the vehicle cabin.

[0060] Next, the flow of wind when the blower 17 is driven in the configuration of the seat air conditioning device described above will be described.

[0061] like Figure 4 As shown, when occupant 3 sits in the seat, through-holes 10 located axially along ventilation hole 13 may be blocked by occupant 3's back. However, even in this case, in this embodiment, the vehicle interior space and ventilation hole 13 are connected via through-holes 10 located at positions corresponding to surface groove 14 and surface groove 14. Furthermore, when surface groove 14 is connected to hanging groove 11, the vehicle interior space and ventilation hole 13 are connected via hanging groove 11, through-holes 10 located at positions corresponding to hanging groove 11 and surface groove 14, and surface groove 14.

[0062] Therefore, when the blower 17 is driven, Figure 4 As shown by arrows AF1, AF2, and AF3, the air in the vehicle cabin flows in the order of: interior space → hanging slots 11 → through-holes 10 → surface slots 14 → vents 13 → rear slots → blower 17 → seat back space 20. Furthermore, some air flows, bypassing the hanging slots 11, in the order of: interior space → through-holes 10 → surface slots 14 → vents 13 → rear slots → blower 17 → seat back space 20. In this way, air passing through the vehicle cabin flows from through-holes 10 near the back of occupant 3 via surface slots 14 to vents 13, ensuring sufficient air flow near the back of occupant 3. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when through-holes 10 located axially along vents 13 are blocked by the back of occupant 3, a reduction in the amount of air flowing near the back of occupant 3 can be suppressed, allowing occupant 3 to feel even cooler.

[0063] In addition, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the surface groove 14 does not extend toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 sitting on the seat is high, but extends toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is low. The depth of the surface groove 14 is also shallower than the ventilation hole 13, so it will hardly affect the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0064] Next, refer to Figures 5 to 10 , a plurality of examples related to the shape of the table groove 14 provided in the seat air conditioning device will be described. Figures 5 to 10 This also shows the state where the cover 7 of the seat back 1 is removed, and multiple dots are added to represent the soft polyurethane foam layer 9. In the description of multiple examples of the shape of the surface groove 14, letters are added to the end of the symbols of the surface groove 14 to distinguish the shapes of the surface grooves 14.

[0065] exist Figure 5In the example shown, the surface groove 14a extends linearly from the ventilation hole 13 to the hanging groove 11. The width W1 of the surface groove 14a in the seat face direction is preferably set to be less than half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13. The surface direction of the seat refers to the direction along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the seat. Furthermore, in the seat back 1, the thickness direction of the seat refers to the direction that is generally aligned with the vehicle's front-to-back direction when the seat back 1 is in the upright position. By reducing the width W1 of the surface groove 14a in the seat face direction, the impact on the seating comfort of the occupant 3 can be reduced.

[0066] In addition, the surface groove 14a is formed by removing a portion of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9. Therefore, the surface groove 14a is a groove with a shallow depth H1 in the thickness direction of the seat. By making the depth H1 in the thickness direction of the seat in the surface groove 14 shallow, the influence on the seating comfort of the occupant 3 can also be reduced. In addition, this has an impact on the following Figures 6 to 10 The same is true for the example shown.

[0067] exist Figure 6 In the example shown, the surface groove 14b also extends linearly from the ventilation hole 13 to the hanging groove 11. Furthermore, the cross-section of the surface groove 14b, perpendicular to the direction in which it extends, is formed into a U-shape. Furthermore, the width W1 of the surface groove 14b in the direction of the seat surface is preferably set to be less than or equal to half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13.

[0068] exist Figure 7 In the example shown, the surface groove 14c also extends linearly from the ventilation hole 13 to the hanging groove 11. Furthermore, the cross-section of the surface groove 14c perpendicular to the direction in which it extends is V-shaped. Furthermore, the width W1 of the surface groove 14c in the direction of the seat surface is preferably set to be less than or equal to half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13.

[0069] exist Figure 8 In the example shown, the surface groove 14d is shaped so that its width in the seat's plane gradually increases from the vent hole 13 toward the hanging groove 11. Consequently, the flow area of the surface groove 14d gradually increases from the side with higher seating pressure toward the side with lower seating pressure. This allows the air volume flowing from the surface groove 14d to the vent hole 13 to be further increased without significantly affecting the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0070] exist Figure 9 In the illustrated example, the surface groove 14e has a portion where its depth in the seat thickness direction gradually increases from the hanging groove 11 toward the vent 13. This reduces the pressure loss of air flowing from the surface groove 14e to the vent 13. Consequently, even when the width W1 of the seat face in the surface groove 14e is kept small, the air volume flowing from the surface groove 14 to the vent 13 can be further increased without significantly affecting the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0071] exist Figure 10 In the example shown, three surface grooves 14f, 14g, and 14h are provided for one ventilation hole 13. The three surface grooves 14f, 14g, and 14h extend linearly from the ventilation hole 13 to the hanging groove 11. The widths W1, W2, and W3 of each surface groove 14f, 14g, and 14h in the direction of the seat surface are preferably set to be less than half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13. This allows the combined flow area of the multiple surface grooves 14f, 14g, and 14h to be increased while keeping the widths W1, W2, and W3 of each surface groove 14f, 14g, and 14h in the direction of the seat surface small. Consequently, the total air volume flowing from the multiple surface grooves 14f, 14g, and 14h to the ventilation hole 13 can be further increased without significantly affecting the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0072] As mentioned above Figures 5 to 10 As described above, various shapes can be adopted as the surface groove 14 included in the seat air conditioning device of the present embodiment.

[0073] The seat air conditioning device according to the present embodiment described above achieves the following operational effects.

[0074] (1) In this embodiment, the seat air conditioning device includes a cushion member 6, a cover 7, a vent 13, and a surface groove 14. The surface groove 14 is provided in a portion of the cushion member 6 on the cover 7 side, communicates with the vent 13, and extends from the vent 13 toward the center of the back of the occupant 3 seated in the seat.

[0075] Thus, the portion of the cushioning member 6 that constitutes the seat back 1, away from the center of the back of the occupant 3 seated on the seat, is located at a location within the cushioning member 6 where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 seated on the seat is low. Specifically, the surface groove 14 extends from the vent 13 toward the side of the cushioning member 6 where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 seated on the seat is low. Therefore, even if the perforations 10 located axially of the vent 13 are blocked by the occupant 3's back, air flows from the perforations 10 located at positions corresponding to the surface grooves 14 toward the vent 13 via the surface grooves 14. This prevents a decrease in the amount of air flowing near the occupant 3's back, allowing the occupant 3 to feel cooler and improve their comfort.

[0076] Furthermore, the surface groove 14 extends toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is smaller, and the depth of the surface groove 14 is also shallower than the vent hole 13 , so the seating comfort of the occupant 3 is hardly affected.

[0077] (2) In the present embodiment, the surface groove 14 extends from the ventilation hole 13 toward the side support portion 5 or the hanging groove 11 .

[0078] Thus, in the seat back 1, the side support portions 5 or the hanging grooves 11 are areas where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is low. Therefore, since the surface grooves 14 extend toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is low and are shallower than the vents 13, the seating comfort of the occupant 3 is hardly affected.

[0079] Furthermore, even when the through-holes 10 located in the axial direction of the ventilation holes 13 are blocked by the back of the occupant 3, air flows from the through-holes 10 located at positions corresponding to the surface grooves 14 provided in the area where the seating pressure is low, through the surface grooves 14, to the ventilation holes 13. Therefore, a reduction in the amount of air flowing near the back of the occupant 3 can be suppressed.

[0080] (3) In this embodiment, the surface groove 14 connects the hanging groove 11 and the ventilation hole 13 .

[0081] Thus, even when the through-holes 10 located in the axial direction of the ventilation holes 13 are blocked by the back of the occupant 3, air flows through the hanging grooves 11 from the through-holes 10 located at positions corresponding to the surface grooves 14 connected to the hanging grooves 11 to the surface grooves 14 and the ventilation holes 13. Therefore, a reduction in the amount of air flowing near the back of the occupant 3 can be suppressed.

[0082] (4) In the present embodiment, the surface groove 14 may have a shape that gradually expands in the seat surface direction from the ventilation hole 13 toward the side support portion 5 or the hanging groove 11 .

[0083] Thus, by increasing the flow path area on the side of the surface tank 14 where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is smaller, the air volume flowing from the surface tank 14 to the vent 13 can be further increased without substantially affecting the seating comfort of the occupant 3 .

[0084] (5) In the present embodiment, the surface groove 14 may have a shape having a portion that gradually widens in the thickness direction of the seat from the side support portion 5 or the hanging groove 11 toward the ventilation hole 13 .

[0085] This can substantially reduce the pressure loss of air flowing from the surface slots 14 to the vent holes 13 without affecting the seating comfort of the occupant 3 , thereby further increasing the volume of air flowing from the surface slots 14 to the vent holes 13 .

[0086] (6) In this embodiment, one surface groove 14 may be provided for one ventilation hole 13 , or a plurality of surface grooves 14 may be provided for one ventilation hole 13 .

[0087] Thus, by providing one surface groove 14 for one ventilation hole 13 , the structure can be simplified and the influence on the seating comfort of the occupant 3 can be further reduced.

[0088] Furthermore, by providing a plurality of surface slots 14 within a single vent 13, the combined flow area of the plurality of surface slots 14 can be increased while minimizing the widths W1, W2, and W3 of each surface slot 14 in the direction of the seat surface. Consequently, the total air volume flowing from the plurality of surface slots 14 to the vent 13 can be further increased without significantly affecting the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0089] (7) In the present embodiment, the surface groove 14 is formed by removing a portion of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9 or the three-dimensional net.

[0090] Thus, the surface groove 14 can be easily formed by processing the soft polyurethane foam layer 9 or the three-dimensional net.

[0091] (8) In this embodiment, the surface groove 14 extends from the vent hole 13 to the side of the cushion member 6 where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is low, not to the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is high.

[0092] Thus, even when the through-holes 10 located in the axial direction of the ventilation holes 13 are blocked by the back of the occupant 3, air flows from the through-holes 10 located at positions corresponding to the surface grooves 14 to the ventilation holes 13 via the surface grooves 14. Therefore, a decrease in the amount of air flowing near the back of the occupant 3 is suppressed, so that the occupant 3 can feel cooler and the comfort of the occupant 3 can be improved.

[0093] Furthermore, since the surface groove 14 does not extend toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is high and the depth of the surface groove 14 is shallower than the vent hole 13 , the seating comfort of the occupant 3 is hardly affected.

[0094] (Second embodiment)

[0095] The second embodiment is described. The second embodiment changes a part of the structure of the cushioning member 6 of the seat back 1 with respect to the first embodiment. The other parts are the same as the first embodiment, so only the parts that are different from the first embodiment will be described. In addition, in the drawings referenced in the second embodiment, Figure 11 、 Figures 13 to 18 The seat back 1 is shown in a state where the cover 7 is removed.

[0096] like Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, in the second embodiment, the cushioning member 6 of the seat back 1 is formed from a seat pad 8 and lacks the soft polyurethane foam layer 9 and the three-dimensional net. Furthermore, the seat pad 8 is formed from, for example, polyurethane foam, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the surface groove 14 is formed by concavely shaping a portion of the seat pad 8 on the surface 7 side. Furthermore, the ventilation holes 13 and the surface groove 14 can be formed simultaneously during the molding of the seat pad 8.

[0097] In the second embodiment, the plurality of surface grooves 14 also extend from the ventilation hole 13 not toward the side of the cushioning member 6 where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is high, but toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant 3 is low. Specifically, the plurality of surface grooves 14 extend from the ventilation hole 13 toward the side support portion 5 or the hanging groove 11.

[0098] Figures 13 to 18 An example of the shape of the surface groove 14 included in the seat air conditioning device according to the second embodiment is shown.

[0099] Figures 13 to 18 The examples shown are all the same as those in the first embodiment. Figures 5 to 10 The examples shown have the same shape, so the description thereof is omitted. The surface tank 14 included in the seat air conditioner of the second embodiment can also adopt various shapes, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0100] However, the surface groove 14 of the first embodiment is formed by removing a portion of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9, such as by cutting away a portion of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9. In contrast, the surface groove 14 of the second embodiment is formed by forming a portion of the seat pad 8 on the surface skin 7 side into a concave shape.

[0101] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the depth H1 of the surface well 14 in the seat thickness direction is set shallow enough to substantially not affect the seating comfort of the occupant 3. Furthermore, the width W1 of the surface well 14 in the seat surface direction is preferably less than or equal to half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13.

[0102] Next, the results of experiments conducted on changes in air volume with respect to the seat air conditioning device of the second embodiment and the seat air conditioning device of a comparative example will be described.

[0103] Although not shown in the figure, the comparative example seat air conditioning system used in the experiment is applied to a seat back 1 and includes a cushioning member 6, a cover 7, and ventilation holes 13. Furthermore, the cushioning member 6 is formed from a seat pad 8. As a difference between the comparative example and the second embodiment, the comparative example seat air conditioning system does not include a cover groove 14.

[0104] On the other hand, the seat air conditioning device of the second embodiment used for the experiment has Figure 18 That is, three surface grooves 14f, 14g, 14h are provided for one ventilation hole 13. In addition, in this experiment, the dummy was seated in the seat.

[0105] The duty ratio of the current supplied to the motor of the blower 17 was changed for each of the seat air conditioner of the second embodiment and the seat air conditioner of the comparative example, and the volume of air blown by the blower 17 was measured and plotted.

[0106] exist Figure 19 In FIG. 5 , the solid line A shows the experimental results related to the seat air conditioner of the second embodiment, and the solid line B shows the experimental results related to the seat air conditioner of the comparative example.

[0107] according to Figure 19 The graph shows that the seat air conditioning system of the second embodiment increases the air volume by approximately 20% compared to the seat air conditioning system of the comparative example at each duty cycle of the current supplied to the electric motor of the blower 17. This indicates that, when the axially located through-holes 10 of the ventilation holes 13 are blocked by the back of the occupant 3, the seat air conditioning system of the second embodiment can increase the air volume flowing near the back of the occupant 3 compared to the seat air conditioning system of the comparative example.

[0108] The seat air conditioning system of the second embodiment described above also achieves the same functional effects as the seat air conditioning system of the first embodiment. Specifically, by providing the surface groove 14 in the cushioning member 6, the occupant 3 feels even cooler, thereby enhancing the comfort of the occupant 3. Furthermore, the surface groove 14 has little effect on the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0109] (Third embodiment)

[0110] The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except that the seat air conditioner is installed at a different location on the seat than in the first embodiment. Therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0111] like Figure 20 As shown, the seat air conditioner of the third embodiment is provided on the seat cushion 2. The seat cushion 2 includes a central portion 41 provided at a position facing the buttocks of an occupant 3 seated on the seat, and side support portions 51 provided on both sides of the central portion 41.

[0112] The seat cushion 2 of the third embodiment includes a cushion member 6 for supporting the buttocks of the occupant 3 seated on the seat, and a cover (not shown) for covering the cushion member 6. Figure 20 The seat cushion 2 is shown in a state where the outer cover is removed.

[0113] The cushioning member 6 is composed of a seat pad 8 and a soft polyurethane foam layer 9. Alternatively, a three-dimensional net may be used instead of the soft polyurethane foam layer 9. Alternatively, the cushioning member 6 may be composed of the seat pad 8 alone.

[0114] Although not shown in the figure, the surface has a perforation at least in the central portion 41. In addition, a part of the hanging groove 11 is provided at the boundary between the central portion 41 and the side support portion 51.

[0115] The seat air conditioner of the third embodiment includes a plurality of ventilation holes 13 , a plurality of surface grooves 14 , and the like in the cushion member 6 constituting the seat cushion 2 .

[0116] A plurality of ventilation holes 13 are provided in the central portion 41 of the cushioning member 6. The plurality of ventilation holes 13 extend in the up-down direction (ie, the thickness direction of the seat cushion 2).

[0117] The plurality of surface grooves 14 are provided in the surface side portion of the cushioning material 6. The plurality of surface grooves 14 are relatively shallow grooves to such an extent that the seating comfort of the occupant 3 is not affected.

[0118] The surface grooves 14 extend from the vent holes 13 in a direction away from the center of the buttocks of the seated occupant 3 in the cushioning member 6. Specifically, the plurality of surface grooves 14 extend from the vent holes 13 toward the side support portions 51 or the hanging grooves 11. Furthermore, the surface grooves 14 connect the vent holes 13 with the hanging grooves 11.

[0119] The portion of the cushioning member 6 located away from the center of the buttocks of the occupant 3 seated on the seat is a portion where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is lower than the portion contacted by the occupant 3's buttocks. Specifically, the side support portions 51 or the hanging grooves 11 are portions where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is lower than that on the central portion 41. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the plurality of surface grooves 14 also extend from the ventilation holes 13 toward the side of the cushioning member 6 where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is lower, rather than toward the side where the seating pressure on the occupant 3 is higher.

[0120] The seat air conditioning system of the third embodiment described above also achieves the same functional effects as the seat air conditioning system of the first embodiment and other embodiments. Specifically, by providing the surface groove 14 in the cushioning member 6 constituting the seat cushion 2, the occupant 3 feels even cooler, thereby enhancing the comfort of the occupant 3. Furthermore, the surface groove 14 has little effect on the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0121] (Other embodiments)

[0122] (1) In the above embodiments, the seat air conditioner draws air from the through-holes 10 in the cover 7 via the surface grooves 14 and the vents 13 when the blower 17 is driven. However, the seat air conditioner is not limited to this embodiment. The seat air conditioner may also blow air from the through-holes 10 in the cover 7 via the vents 13 and the surface grooves 14 when the blower 17 is driven.

[0123] (2) In the above embodiments, the seat air conditioner is described as having a configuration in which the blower 17 is provided in the seat back space 20 between the rear cover 16 and the back frame 19. However, the seat air conditioner is not limited thereto. The seat air conditioner may also be configured such that the blower 17 is provided in a location other than the seat back space 20, such as the lower portion of the seat cushion 2.

[0124] (3) In each of the above embodiments, as for the shape of the surface groove 14 provided in the seat air conditioning device, refer to Figures 5 to 10 、 Figures 13 to 18 Although described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various shapes can be adopted for the shape of the surface groove 14. In addition, the number of the surface grooves 14 can also be arbitrarily set.

[0125] Furthermore, various shapes and numbers can be adopted for the shapes and numbers of the ventilation holes 13 and the rear grooves.

[0126] (4) In the above embodiments, the width W1 of the surface groove 14 in the direction of the seat surface is preferably less than or equal to half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the width W1 of the surface groove 14 in the direction of the seat surface may be set to be greater than or equal to half the diameter D1 of the ventilation hole 13, within a range that does not substantially affect the seating comfort of the occupant 3.

[0127] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be appropriately modified. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments are not unrelated to each other and can be appropriately combined except for cases where they are obviously not combinable. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the elements constituting the embodiments are of course not necessary, except for cases where it is specifically stated that they are necessary and cases where it is obviously considered necessary in principle. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, when the number, value, amount, range and other numerical values of the constituent elements of the embodiments are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers, except for cases where it is specifically stated that they are necessary and cases where it is obviously limited to a specific number in principle. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, when the shapes, positional relationships, etc. of the constituent elements are mentioned, they are not limited to the shapes, positional relationships, etc., except for cases where it is specifically stated and cases where it is obviously limited to a specific shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0128] (Summarize)

[0129] According to the first viewpoint shown in part or all of the above-mentioned embodiments, a seat air conditioning device applied to a seat provided in a vehicle interior comprises: a cushioning member, a cover, a ventilation hole, and a surface groove. The cushioning member supports the back or buttocks of an occupant seated on the seat. The cover covers the cushioning member and has perforations. The ventilation hole is provided at a portion of the cushioning member opposite to the back or buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat, and is capable of taking in or blowing out air. The surface groove is provided at a portion of the cushioning member on the cover side, is connected to the ventilation hole, and extends from the ventilation hole toward the center of the back or buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat in a direction away from the center of the back or buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat.

[0130] According to a second aspect, the seat comprises a central portion and side support portions. The central portion is positioned opposite the back or buttocks of a seated occupant, and the side support portions are positioned on either side of the central portion. Hanging grooves are provided at the boundary between the central portion and the side support portions, connecting the cushioning member to the seat cover. Ventilation holes and surface grooves are provided in the central portion. Furthermore, the surface grooves extend from the ventilation holes toward the side support portions or the hanging grooves.

[0131] Therefore, the side support portion or the hanging groove of the seat back is the part where the passenger's seating pressure is low. Therefore, the surface groove extends toward the side where the passenger's seating pressure is low, and the depth of the surface groove is also shallower than the ventilation hole, so it hardly affects the passenger's seating comfort.

[0132] Furthermore, even if the axial perforations of the vent holes are blocked by the passenger's body, air flows from the perforations corresponding to the surface grooves to the vent holes via the surface grooves, thereby suppressing a reduction in the amount of air flowing near the passenger's body.

[0133] According to the third aspect, the surface groove connects the hanging groove with the ventilation hole.

[0134] Thus, even if the axially oriented perforations of the ventilation holes are blocked by the passenger's body, air flows through the hanging grooves and from the perforations corresponding to the surface grooves connected to the hanging grooves, into the surface grooves and ventilation holes. This prevents a reduction in the amount of air flowing near the passenger's body.

[0135] According to a fourth aspect, the surface groove has a shape in which the width in the plane direction of the seat gradually increases from the ventilation hole toward the side support portion or the hanging groove.

[0136] Thus, by increasing the flow path area on the side of the surface tank where the occupant's seating pressure is smaller, the amount of air flowing from the surface tank to the vent hole can be further increased without substantially affecting the occupant's seating comfort.

[0137] According to the fifth aspect, the surface groove has a portion where the depth in the thickness direction of the seat gradually increases from the side support portion or the hanging groove toward the ventilation hole.

[0138] Thus, by reducing the pressure loss of the air flowing from the surface groove to the vent hole, the air volume flowing from the surface groove to the vent hole can be further increased without substantially affecting the seating comfort of the occupant.

[0139] According to the sixth aspect, one or more surface slots are provided for one ventilation hole.

[0140] Thus, by providing one surface groove for one ventilation hole, the structure can be simplified and the influence on the seating comfort of the occupant can be further reduced.

[0141] Furthermore, by providing multiple surface slots within a single vent, the combined flow area of the multiple surface slots can be increased while minimizing the width of each surface slot in the direction of the seat surface. This allows the total air volume flowing from the multiple surface slots to the vent to be increased, with minimal impact on passenger comfort.

[0142] According to a seventh aspect, the cushioning member comprises a seat pad and a soft polyurethane foam layer or a three-dimensional net provided on the surface side of the seat pad, and the surface groove is formed by removing a portion of the soft polyurethane foam layer or the three-dimensional net.

[0143] Thus, the surface groove can be easily formed by processing the soft polyurethane foam layer or the three-dimensional net.

[0144] According to an eighth aspect, the cushioning member is formed by a seat pad, and the surface groove is formed by forming a portion of a surface-side portion of the seat pad into a concave shape.

[0145] As a result, surface grooves, ventilation holes, and the like can be formed simultaneously when the seat pad is molded.

[0146] According to the ninth aspect, the surface groove extends from the vent hole not toward the side of the cushioning member where the seating pressure of the occupant sitting on the seat is high, but toward the side where the seating pressure of the occupant sitting on the seat is low.

[0147] Thus, even if the axial perforations of the ventilation holes are blocked by the occupant's body, air flows from the perforations corresponding to the surface slots to the ventilation holes via the surface slots. This prevents a decrease in the amount of air flowing near the occupant's body, allowing the occupant to feel cooler and improve their comfort.

[0148] In addition, the surface groove does not extend to the side where the passenger's seating pressure is high, and the depth of the surface groove is shallower than the ventilation hole, so it hardly affects the passenger's seating comfort.

Claims

1. A seat air conditioning device, applied to a seat arranged in a vehicle interior, characterized in that: have: a cushioning member that supports the back or buttocks of an occupant seated on the seat; a skin covering the buffer member and having perforations; a ventilation hole provided in the cushioning member at a position opposite to the back or buttocks of an occupant seated on the seat, capable of taking in or blowing out air; as well as a surface groove provided in a portion of the cushioning member on the surface side, communicating with a portion of the ventilation hole on the surface side, and extending from the ventilation hole toward the cushioning member in a direction away from the center of the back or the center of the buttocks of the occupant sitting on the seat without a bent portion; The seat includes a central portion and side support portions, wherein the central portion is provided at a position opposite to the back or buttocks of an occupant sitting on the seat, and the side support portions are provided on both sides of the central portion. A hanging groove is provided at the boundary between the central portion and the side support portion, and the hanging groove is used to connect the buffer member to the surface. The ventilation holes and the surface groove are provided in the central portion. The surface groove extends from the ventilation hole toward the side supporting portion or the hanging groove.

2. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface groove connects the hanging groove with the ventilation hole.

3. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface groove has a shape in which the width in the surface direction of the seat gradually increases from the ventilation hole toward the side support portion or the hanging groove.

4. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface groove has a portion where the depth in the thickness direction of the seat gradually increases from the side support portion or the hanging groove toward the ventilation hole.

5. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One or more surface grooves are provided for each ventilation hole.

6. The seat air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The cushioning member is composed of a seat pad and a soft polyurethane foam layer or a three-dimensional net provided on the surface side of the seat pad. The surface groove is formed by removing a portion of the flexible polyurethane foam layer or the three-dimensional net in a state penetrating in the plate thickness direction.

7. The seat air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The cushioning member is formed by a seat pad, The surface groove is formed by forming a portion of the seat pad on the surface skin side into a concave shape.

8. The seat air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The surface groove extends from the vent hole toward a side of the cushioning member where the seating pressure of the occupant seated on the seat is low, not toward a side where the seating pressure of the occupant seated on the seat is high.

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