Heating system for heating different areas of a vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

A heating system 12 for heating different areas of a vehicle 10 comprises a seating area 14 and a heating component 16 for heating the seating area. The seating area comprises a seat cushion 18 and a seat back 20 connected by a joint 22 that allows the seat back to recline to a horizontal position to form a bed. The heating component comprises a heating element 26 for heating a first heat area 24 that comprises the seat cushion and the front side of the seat back, and a heating element 28 for heating a second heat area 30 that comprises the rear side of the seat back. When the seat back is vertical, heating of the second heat area may be disabled. When the seat back is horizontal, both the first and second areas may be heated. The heating may be provided by a heating current or a heating liquid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a heating system for heating different areas of a vehicle and a corresponding vehicle. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Vehicles like caravans may comprise seating areas that may be used as seats for passengers to sit in the vehicle, when the vehicle is in a transport mode. The seating area may be used as a bed for the passengers to sleep inside the vehicle, when the vehicle is in the stationary mode. Usually, seating areas comprise heating systems for heating the seating area of the passenger. However a heating area heated by the heating system may be too large when the seating area is used as a bed, as it is inefficient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating system as well as a corresponding vehicle, which allow an efficient heating of a seat area.

[0004] This object is solved by a heating system as well as a corresponding vehicle according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention is related to a heating system.

[0006] The heating system is configured for heating different areas of a vehicle. The heating system comprises a seating area for seating at least one occupant and a heating component for heating the seating area.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the seating area comprises at least one seat cushion on which an occupant is able to be seated and a seat back that is attached to an end of the seat cushion, wherein a joint portion attaches the seat back to the seat cushion allowing the seat back to recline to a horizontal position.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating component comprises a heating element to heat the seat cushion and a heating element to heat the seat back.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating system is configured to activate or to deactivated the heating of the seat back depending on the position of the seat back.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating system is configured to activate or to deactivate the heating of the seat back via a provision of a heating current to the heating element of the seat back depending on the position of the seat back. [0011 ] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating system is configured to activate or to deactivate the heating of the seat back via a provision of a heating liquid to the heating element of the seat back depending on the position of the seat back.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention is related to a vehicle comprising a heating system according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0013] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0015] The drawings show in:

[0016] Fig. 1 a seating area comprising a seat back in a vertical position; and

[0017] Fig. 2 a seating area comprising a seat back in a horizontal position.

[0018] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0020] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0021] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0022] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0023] Fig. 1 a seating area comprising a seat back in a vertical position.

[0024] Fig. 2 a seating area comprising a seat back in a horizontal position.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a seating area comprising a seat back in a vertical position.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle 10 comprising a heating system 12. The heating system may 12 be configured for heating different areas of the vehicle 10. The heating system 12 may comprise a seating area 14 for seating at least one occupant. The heating system 12 may comprise a heating component 16 for heating the seating area 14. The heating system 12 under the seating area 14 may comprise at least one seat cushion 18 on which the at least one occupant may be able to be seated. The seating area 14 may also comprise a seat back 20 that may be attached to an end of the seat cushion 18. A joint portion 22 may attach the seat back 20 to the seat cushion 18. The joint portion 22 may be configured to allow the seat back 20 to recline to a horizontal position as will be shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 1 the seat back 20 may be in a vertical position. The vertical position of this seat back 20 may be intended to allow the at least one occupant of the vehicle 10 to sit on the seat cushion 18. The heating compound 16 may be configured to heat the seating area 14.

[0027] The seating area 14 may comprise a first area 24 wherein the first area 24 may cover the seat cushion 18 and a front side of the seat back 20 . The first area 24 may be heated by a heating element 26 of the heating component 16 under the seat cushion 18. The heating element 26 under the seat cushion 18 may be configured to heat the seating area 24 when the seat back 20 is in the vertical position. The heating component 16 may also comprise a heating element 28 of the seat back 20, configured to heat a second heat area 30 of the seating area 14.

[0028] In Fig. 1 the seat back 20 is in a vertical position. Therefore an occupant may sit on the seat cushion 18. The first heat area 24 may be heated to heat the position of the occupant. A back side of the seat back 20 may not touch the occupant. Therefore heating of the second heat area 30 may be inefficient as the heat may not heat the occupant. Therefore the heat compound 16 may be configured to deactivate the heating element 28 of the second heat area 30 when the seat back 20 is in a vertical position.

[0029]

[0030] The heating elements 26, 28 may comprise heating wires or heating pipes that may be heated by providing a heat current to the heat elements 26, 28 by the heat compound 16. The heat compound 16 may be configured to provide the heating current only to the heating element 26 of the first heating area 24 when the seat back 20 is in the vertical position. The heat current is not provided to the heat element 28 of the second heating area 30 at the backside of the seat back 20.

[0031]

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a seating area comprising a seat back in a horizontal position.

[0033]

[0034] Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of seat area of Fig. 1 wherein the seat back 20 is in a horizontal position. When the seat back 20 is in the horizontal position the seat cushion 18 and the seat back 20 may form a horizontal plane comprising the first heating area24 and the second heating area 30. The occupant may sleep on the horizontal plane. As the occupant may sleep on the area provided by the seat cushion 18 and the seat back 20, the heating compound 16 may heat the heating element 26 of the first heating area 24 and the heating element 28 of the second area 30 to allow a heating of the whole horizontal plane for sleeping.

[0035]

[0036] As the second heat area is only heated when the seat back is in a horizontal position, heat dissipation may be reduced. signs vehicle heating system seating area heating component seat cushion seat back joint portion first heating area heating element of first heating area heating element of second heating area second heating area

Claims

1. A heating system (12) for heating different areas of a vehicle (10), the heating system (12) com| a seating area (14) for seating at least one occupant;a heating component (16) for heating the seating area (14).

2. The heating system (12) of claim 1 wherein the seating area (14) further comprises: at least one seat cushion (18) on which an occupant is able to be seated;a seat back (20) that is attached to an end of the seat cushion (18), wherein a joint portion (22) attaches the seat back (20) to the seat cushion (18) allowing the seat back (20) to recline to a horizontal position.

3. The heating system (12) of claim 2, where the heating component (16) further comprises: a heating element to heat the seat cushion (18);a heating element to heat the seat back (20).

4. The heating system (12) of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the heating system (12) is configured to activate or to deactivated the heating of the seat back (20) depending on the position of the seat back (20).

5. The heating system (12) of claim 4, wherein the heating system (12) is configured to activate or to deactivate the heating of the seat back (20) via a provision of a heating current to the heating element of the seat back (20) depending on the position of the seat back (20).

6. The heating system (12) of claim 4, wherein the heating system (12) is configured to activate or to deactivate the heating of the seat back (20) via a provision of a heating liquid to the heating element of the seat back (20) depending on the position of the seat back (20).

7. A vehicle (10) comprising a heating system (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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