Ventilation mats and seats

The ventilation mat design addresses airflow loss and flexibility issues by connecting the ventilation guide to the mat body in a way that minimizes airflow loss and adapts to different seat configurations, enhancing comfort and applicability.

JP7828771B2Active Publication Date: 2026-03-12KURABE IND CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-02-02
Publication Date
2026-03-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing ventilation mats in seats suffer from airflow attenuation due to long ventilation guides, and lack design flexibility to accommodate various seat configurations, leading to reduced comfort and applicability.

Method used

A ventilation mat design featuring a ventilation mat body with a breathable three-dimensional structure and a ventilation guide with a breathable cover, where the guide is connected to the mat body in a way that minimizes airflow loss and allows for adjustable positioning, enabling application to diverse seat types.

Benefits of technology

The ventilation mat suppresses airflow attenuation and offers design flexibility, ensuring effective air circulation and compatibility with various seat shapes and configurations.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a ventilation mat having the freedom of design capable of suppressing reduction of an air quantity from a ventilation source and applicable to various seats, and a seat including the same.SOLUTION: A ventilation mat 1 is configured such that a ventilation mat body 10 has a first base material 12 having an air-permeable three-dimensional structure, a first barrier material 11 of no substantial air-permeability which surrounds the first base material 12, and ventilation parts 13 and 15 having no first barrier material 11; a ventilation guide 21 has a second base material 22 having an air-permeable three-dimensional structure and a second barrier material 21 of no substantial air-permeability which surrounds the second base material 22; a part of the second base material 22 fits to a notch formed in the first base material 12; the first base material 12 and the second base material 22 communicate with each other to allow air circulation; and a part not fitted to the notch of the ventilation guide 20 extends in a direction in which it at least partially overlaps the ventilation mat body 10. The seat includes the ventilation mat 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat installed in, for example, an automobile or the like, and a ventilation mat used therewith, and in particular to a configuration suitable for blowing air through the seat. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when sitting in a car seat for a long period of time, especially under conditions of high ambient temperature and humidity, the surface of the seat and the human body can become "stuffy" or "sticky." This "stuffiness" or "stickiness" can impair the comfort of the seated person, and various countermeasures to this problem have been studied.

[0003] As one example of such a study, the applicant has proposed patent documents 1 and 2. Patent documents 1 and 2 show schematic cross-sectional views of a seat incorporating a ventilation mat as an air blower. The ventilation mat is composed of a ventilation mat body and a ventilation guide. The ventilation mat body comprises a base material with a breathable three-dimensional structure and a side barrier made of a non-breathable material covering the base material. The ventilation guide comprises a base material with a breathable three-dimensional structure and a tube made of a non-breathable material covering the base material. Air blown from an air source such as a fan passes through the ventilation guide and the base material of the ventilation mat body and is blown out from a breathable cover covering one side of the base material of the ventilation mat body, thereby blowing air to the seated person. This air blowing eliminates the "stuffiness" and "stickiness" of the seated person. Related technologies include, for example, patent documents 3 to 8. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication WO2018 / 221422: Kurabe [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2020-32924: Kurabe [Patent Document 3] JP 2007-84039 A: Bridgestone [Patent Document 4] JP 2017-71368 Publication: Bridgestone [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 4107033: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. [Patent Document 6] Patent No. 4125721: WET [Patent Document 7] Patent No. 4999455: Kurabe [Patent Document 8] Patent No. 5430085: Kurabe DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Typically, the air source connected to a ventilation mat is located under the seat, and this air source is connected to the ventilation mat body, which is located on the seat surface side of the seat, by a ventilation guide. Here, since a longer ventilation guide reduces the amount of airflow from the air source, it is desirable to connect the ventilation mat body and the air source as close as possible to ensure as much airflow as possible. Furthermore, seats come in a variety of shapes depending on the vehicle's use, characteristics, and design. Examples include seats with large raised sides, seats with an ottoman-like front that can be lifted and extended to allow the occupant to rest with their legs stretched out, and seats with multiple hanging sections for securing the seat cover to the seat cushion. It is desirable for ventilation mats to have a degree of design flexibility that allows them to be applied to these various seat types.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve these problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a ventilation mat that suppresses attenuation of the air volume from the air source and has design freedom that allows it to be applied to various seating configurations, and a seat incorporating the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the ventilation mat of the present invention comprises a ventilation mat main body and a ventilation guide connected to the ventilation mat main body, wherein the ventilation mat main body comprises: a first base material having a breathable three-dimensional structure; a first barrier material that covers the periphery of the first base material and is substantially not breathable; and a ventilation section where the first barrier material is not present, and the ventilation guide comprises: a second base material having a breathable three-dimensional structure; and a second barrier material that covers the periphery of the second base material and is substantially not breathable, wherein a cutout section is formed in the first base material and a part of the second base material is fitted into the cutout section, the first base material and the second base material are connected to each other so as to allow air to circulate, the ventilation section is formed on one main surface of the ventilation mat main body, and on the other main surface of the ventilation mat main body, a part of the ventilation guide that is not fitted into the cutout section extends in a direction that overlaps at least partially with the ventilation mat main body. Furthermore, when the width is defined as a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the ventilation guide and parallel to the main surface of the first substrate, it is considered that the width of the second substrate is between 1 / 3 and 1 / 2 of the width of the first substrate at the boundary between the part of the ventilation guide that fits into the cutout and the part that does not fit into the cutout. It is also conceivable that the ventilation portion comprises a breathable cover having breathability and an opening formed in the breathable cover. It is also conceivable that a plurality of openings are formed, and the openings become larger as they move farther from the end of the ventilation guide on the ventilation mat main body side. It is also conceivable that the first barrier material is made of a single sheet of non-breathable film. It is also conceivable that the ventilation guide has a portion that is sandwiched between the first barrier material and that is fitted into the notch. It is also conceivable that the first barrier material, the second barrier material, the first base material, and the second base material are fixed by sewing. It is also conceivable that the first barrier material, the second barrier material, the first base material, the second base material, and the breathable cover are fixed by sewing. It is also conceivable that one or both of the first barrier material and the second barrier material are made by laminating a non-breathable film and a fabric body. It is also conceivable that the fabric body is a nonwoven fabric. It is also conceivable that the second substrate has higher breathability than the first substrate. The seat according to the present invention comprises a seat cushion material, a skin cover, and the ventilation mat, wherein the seat cushion material is covered with the skin cover, a through hole is formed in the seat cushion material, the ventilation guide is arranged in the through hole, and the ventilation mat main body is arranged between the seat cushion material and the skin cover. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the ventilation mat of the present invention, the ventilation guide can be connected at any point on the main surface of the ventilation mat body. Therefore, the ventilation mat body and the air source can be connected in the shortest distance, and attenuation of the air volume can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the position where the ventilation guide is connected can be adjusted, it can be easily applied to various types of seats. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a ventilation mat of the present invention. [Figure 2]1 is a diagram illustrating the shape of a substrate of a ventilation mat of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly process of the ventilation mat of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of an automobile seat equipped with a ventilation mat of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an automobile seat equipped with a ventilation mat of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ventilation mat described below is provided on at least one of the seat cushion and backrest of an automobile seat. The ventilation mat according to the present invention is installed so as to be sandwiched between the cushioning material of the automobile seat and the upholstery cover that covers the cushioning material. The ventilation mat is provided with a fan as an air source, and the fan draws air from the ventilation mat or blows air into the ventilation mat.

[0011] In the following description, when the ventilation mat is installed on the automobile seat, the surface facing the cover, i.e., the seat surface, is referred to as the front surface, and the surface facing the cushioning material of the automobile seat is referred to as the back surface.

[0012] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 1(a) shows a top view of the ventilation mat 1, and Fig. 1(b) shows a bottom view of the ventilation mat 1. The top view (Fig. 1(a)) shows the configuration of the front side of the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment, and the bottom view (Fig. 1(b)) shows the configuration of the back side of the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment has a ventilation mat main body 10 and a ventilation guide 20. Such a ventilation mat 1 is formed by providing a fan mounting hole 24 at one end of the ventilation guide 20 and connecting the other end to the ventilation mat main body 10.

[0014] The ventilation mat main body 10 may include, for example, a first substrate 12, a first barrier material 11, and a breathable cover 13. The breathable cover may have openings 15 formed therein. The first substrate 12 in this embodiment functions as a spacer and is a sheet with a breathable three-dimensional structure. The first substrate 12 may be, for example, a 3D mesh sheet made of three-dimensionally woven fibers. When cutting this 3D mesh sheet into a predetermined shape, it is preferable to process it by laser cutting. This can prevent fiber waste from being generated due to fraying at the edge.

[0015] The first barrier material 11 has lower breathability than the breathable cover 13 and is substantially non-breathable, and covers the periphery of the first base material 12. The barrier material 11 covers the periphery of the first base material 12 by, for example, being adhered to the first base material 12 with an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive, or by being sewn or welded to the first base material 12. Sewing is particularly preferable because the adhesive strength is not reduced by the effects of heat or the passage of time.

[0016] The breathable cover 13 is made of cloth, is entirely breathable, and covers the surface of the first substrate 12. The area of ​​the first substrate 12 covered by the breathable cover 13 is the region of the first substrate 12 that is not covered by the barrier material 11.

[0017] The breathable cover 13 is preferably made of a fibrous material such as a nonwoven fabric, which has high breathability. On the other hand, a material having lower breathability than the breathable cover 13 is selected for the first barrier material 11. In this embodiment, a polyurethane film reinforced with polyester fiber is used as the first barrier material 11.

[0018] In this embodiment, openings 15a, 15b, and 15c are formed in the breathable cover 13. The openings 15a, 15b, and 15c are formed in the ventilation guide 20 in order from the end farthest from the end on the ventilation mat main body 11 side, and the opening sizes are opening 15a, opening 15b, and opening 15c in order from largest to smallest. The breathable cover 13 and openings 15a, 15b, and 15c form a ventilation section.

[0019] The ventilation guide 20 is composed of a second barrier material 21 made of a non-breathable material and a second base material 22 with a breathable three-dimensional structure, and has a ventilation passage formed therein. The second base material 22 can be made of the same material as the first base material 12, for example, a 3D mesh sheet made of three-dimensionally woven fibers. The second barrier material 21 can be made of the same material as the first barrier material 11. In this embodiment, the second barrier material 21 is made by laminating a polyethylene film and a nonwoven fabric made of flame-retardant polyester fiber. The second barrier material 21 is arranged so that the polyethylene film faces the second base material 22.

[0020] An opening is provided at one end of the ventilation guide 20 so that the second base material 22 is exposed. A mold made of a plastic material is fitted into this opening to form a fan mounting hole 24. The other end of the ventilation guide 20 is inserted into a connection hole 17 provided in the first barrier material 11. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, a notch 16 is formed in the first base material 12, and the ventilation guide 20 (second base material 22) is fitted into this notch 16.

[0021] Here, the method for assembling the ventilation mat 1 will be explained in more detail. Fig. 3 shows a diagram for explaining the method for assembling the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment. For convenience, in Fig. 3, the air blowing direction in the ventilation guide 20 (from the upper right to the lower left in Fig. 3) is sometimes referred to as the length direction, the direction perpendicular to the air blowing direction in the ventilation guide 20 and parallel to the main surface of the ventilation mat main body 10 (from the upper left to the lower right in Fig. 3) is sometimes referred to as the width direction, and the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the ventilation mat main body 10 (the up-down direction in Fig. 3) is sometimes referred to as the thickness direction. In Fig. 3, the upper side is the back surface of the ventilation mat 1, and the lower side is the front surface of the ventilation mat 1.

[0022] First, a sheet of first barrier material 11 having the shape shown in FIG. 3( a) is prepared, and then the breathable cover 13 and the first substrate 12 are layered on top of this first barrier material 11. Next, as shown in FIG. 3( b), one end of the ventilation guide 20 is inserted into the connection hole 17 formed in the first barrier material 11. Note that the portion of the ventilation guide 20 that is inserted into the connection hole 17 has the second barrier material 21 removed, exposing the second substrate 22. The exposed portion of the second substrate 22 is slightly shorter than the length of the notch 16 in the first substrate 12. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3( c), the first barrier material 11 is folded along the outer periphery in the width direction of the first substrate 12, and at the same time, one end of the ventilation guide 20 is fitted into the notch 16 in the first substrate 12. Next, as shown in FIG. 3( d), the first barrier material 11 is folded along the outer periphery in the length direction of the first substrate 12. At the same time, as shown in Figure 3(e), the first barrier material 11 is folded along the outer periphery in the width direction of the first base material 12. At this time, because the width of the tip of the first barrier material 11 is approximately the same dimension as the width of the ventilation guide 20, the tip of this first barrier material 11 is inserted into the connecting hole 17 so as to be between the ventilation guide 20 and the first base material 12. Then, as shown in Figure 3(f), the outer periphery of the first base material 12 is fixed by sewing with sewing thread 30, and the portion slightly further towards the tip than the connecting hole 17 (i.e., the portion near the one end of the ventilation guide 20 that fits into the cutout 16) is also fixed by sewing with sewing thread 30. In this way, the ventilation mat 1 is assembled.

[0023] In this embodiment, the ventilation guide 20 extends in a direction that overlaps at least a portion of the ventilation mat main body 10. This type of connection structure between the ventilation guide 20 and the ventilation mat main body 10 allows the ventilation guide 20 to be connected to any location on the main surface of the ventilation mat main body 10. This allows the ventilation mat main body 10 to be connected to the air source (fan 40) over the shortest possible distance, thereby minimizing attenuation of airflow. Furthermore, the connection position of the ventilation guide 20 can be adjusted in any way, making it easily applicable to various seat configurations. While the ventilation mat 1 of the present invention can be used with the ventilation guide 20 bent, the phrase "overlapping at least a portion" as used herein refers to the state before bending, i.e., the state in which the ventilation guide 20 is placed flat without being bent, rather than the state after bending.

[0024] Furthermore, the first barrier material 11, the second barrier material 21, the first substrate 12, the second substrate 22, and the breathable cover 13 are mechanically fixed together by sewing. For example, if they are fixed using adhesive or heat fusion, there is a risk that the adhesive or heat fusion may deteriorate and peel off in a high-temperature environment or over a long period of time, but this does not happen if they are fixed by sewing. Note that the first barrier material 11, the second barrier material 21, the first substrate 12, the second substrate 22, and the breathable cover 13 do not all need to be fixed together with a single stitch (sewing thread 30), as long as they are each fixed individually with multiple sewing threads. Of course, it is also possible to fix them together using a combination of adhesives and heat fusion rather than just sewing.

[0025] 3(e), in this embodiment, the tip of the first barrier material 11 is inserted into the connection hole 17 so as to be between the ventilation guide 20 and the first base material 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 3(f), the ventilation guide 20 (the second barrier material 21 and the second base material 22) is fixed by the sewing thread 30 in a state where it is sandwiched between the tip of the first barrier material 11 and other parts of the first barrier material 11. Therefore, leakage of air from the vicinity of the connection hole 17 can be further minimized.

[0026] In this embodiment, the width of the second base material 22 at the boundary between the portion of the ventilation guide 20 that fits into the notch 16 and the portion that does not fit into the notch 16 is half the width of the first base material 12. This allows the air blown from the ventilation guide 20 to pass beside the ventilation guide 20 and spread over the entire first base material 12, and sufficient air blowing is possible even at the end of the first base material 12.

[0027] Next, a description will be given of how the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment is incorporated into an automobile seat. FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic diagrams of an automobile seat equipped with the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment. The automobile seat 60 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a backrest 61 and a seat surface 62, and the ventilation mat according to this embodiment is installed on the seat surface 62. The ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment is actually installed under a cover 65, and is therefore installed on the automobile seat 60 while hidden by the cover 65. Therefore, in the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 4, the portion of the automobile seat 60 where the ventilation mat 1 is installed is indicated by a hatched pattern. The ventilation guide 20 is routed so that the fan mounting hole 24 wraps around to the rear side of the automobile seat 60. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the ventilation guide 20 is disposed in a through-hole formed in the cushion material 64, and the fan 40, which serves as the air blowing source, and the ventilation mat main body 10 are connected to each other. The fan 40 is attached to the seat frame 67 by a blower attachment 46 and is also attached to the fan attachment hole 24 of the ventilation guide 20 .

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the ventilation guide 20 is bent in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the ventilation mat main body 10 in order to connect to the air source, and the bent portion is inserted into a through-hole formed in the cushion material 64, and the further portion is connected to and fixed to the fan 40 which serves as the air source. In the ventilation mat 1 according to the present invention, the periphery of the bent portion of the ventilation guide 20 is surrounded by the first base material 12 and the second base material 22. As a result, the periphery of the through-hole formed in the cushion material 64 is surrounded and supported by the first base material 12 and the second base material 22, so that the seated person is less likely to feel uncomfortable due to the through-hole.

[0029] Furthermore, when the ventilation guide 20 is bent for use, if a material with a strong repulsive force is used as the second base material 22, there is a concern that the repulsive force may cause the vicinity of the bent portion to lift up. Here, in this embodiment, the vicinity of the connection hole 17 is also fixed with the sewing thread 30, and the sewing thread 30 serves as a fulcrum, making it easier for the ventilation guide 20 to bend. As a result, even when the ventilation guide 20 is bent, the vicinity of the bent portion can be prevented from lifting up.

[0030] Furthermore, since the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment is formed by combining parts with simple shapes, the efficiency of material utilization of the components of the ventilation mat 1 is high (for example, the ratio of usable material to waste material in one material is high). In other words, by increasing the efficiency of material utilization, the ventilation mat 1 according to this embodiment can reduce manufacturing costs.

[0031] When incorporating the ventilation mat 1 according to the present invention into an automobile seat 60, it is conceivable to fix the ventilation mat main body 10, etc. onto the cushion material 64 with adhesive tape, etc. In addition to this embodiment, it is also conceivable to previously place the ventilation mat main body 10, etc. in a mold when molding the cushion material 64, pour the cushion material therein, and then allow the cushion material to foam and harden. In this case, the ventilation mat main body 1, etc. and the cushion material 64 are securely fixed together, preventing misalignment. This type of construction method is common in the technical field of car seat heaters, and Patent Document 5, etc., can be referenced, for example.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the ventilation mat of the present invention can be placed on the backrest 61 side instead of the seat surface 62 side, or it can be placed on both the seat surface 62 side and the backrest 61 side.

[0033] In this embodiment, there is only one ventilation mat body, but for example, a first ventilation mat body and a second ventilation mat body may be connected by a connecting mat. This connecting mat may have the same structure as the ventilation mat body. Of course, there may be one connecting mat, or two or more. There may also be two or more ventilation mat bodies.

[0034] The first barrier material 11 and the second barrier material may be, for example, a nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a film, or a rubberized fabric. Possible materials for the nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, and woven fabric include aramid fiber, glass fiber, cellulose fiber, nylon fiber, vinylon fiber, acrylic fiber, polyester fiber, polyethylene fiber, polypropylene, polyolefin fiber, and rayon fiber. Possible materials for the film include polyethylene, polyvinyl, polypropylene, PET, vinyl chloride, polyurethane, and various thermoplastic elastomers. Films reinforced with various fibers may also be used. Rubberized fabric is fabric that has been processed to impart airtightness. Among these, a laminate of a non-breathable film and a fabric body is preferred as the material for the first barrier material 11 and the second barrier material 12. Examples of the fabric body include, for example, a woven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, and a rubberized fabric. Flame-retardant nonwoven fabric is particularly preferred. Because one or both of the first barrier material 11 and the second barrier material 12 are made by laminating a non-breathable film and a fabric, the breaking strength and abrasion resistance are improved, and it is possible to prevent abrasion, breakage, and cracking caused by friction. Furthermore, the presence of the fabric prevents noise from being generated when rubbing against other materials. Of the fabrics, nonwoven fabrics are best able to achieve this effect. Note that, of the first barrier material 11 and the second barrier material 12, the one that is subjected to stronger frictional force may be made by laminating a non-breathable film and a fabric, but of course, both may also be made by laminating a non-breathable film and a fabric.

[0035] Furthermore, when the first barrier material 11 and the second barrier material 21 are made by laminating a non-breathable film and a fabric, it is preferable that the side facing the substrate (first substrate 12, second substrate 22) is made of a non-breathable film. This makes the outer surface a fabric, which increases resistance to friction when the ventilation mat main body or the ventilation guide rubs against other components and also prevents the generation of abnormal noise. On the other hand, it is also possible that the side facing the substrate (first substrate 12, second substrate 22) is made of a fabric. In this case, it increases resistance to friction when rubbed against the substrate (first substrate 12, second substrate 22), and also prevents the generation of abnormal noise. For the first barrier material 11 and the second barrier material 21, it is most preferable that the non-breathable film is sandwiched between two fabric layers and laminated, as this can withstand friction with internal and external components.

[0036] As described above, the fan 40 is attached to the ventilation guide 20. A cushioned connecting member (not shown), such as a rubber or foamed resin material, is typically used at this attachment point to prevent air leakage from the attachment point, and the ventilation guide 20 and fan 40 are attached with the connecting member compressed. Here, if a non-breathable film and a fabric body are laminated together, with the fabric body on the outer side, for the second barrier material 21, this connecting member can be omitted. In other words, the fabric body has sufficient cushioning properties and can block air leakage by compressing it. Therefore, even without a connecting member, the ventilation guide 20 can prevent air leakage from the attachment point of the fan 40.

[0037] Examples of materials that can be used for the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 22 include three-dimensional knitted fabrics made by knitting fibers three-dimensionally, such as double raschel or 3D mesh sheets, structures made of intricately intertwined fibers, open-cell foam materials (sponges), and arrays of rubber tubes. Examples of three-dimensional knitted fabrics include Fusion (registered trademark) manufactured by Asahi Kasei Corporation, Swing Net (registered trademark) manufactured by Suminoe Textile Co., Ltd., 3mesh (registered trademark) manufactured by Muller Textiles, and Cubic Eye (registered trademark) manufactured by Unitika Ltd. Examples of structures made of three-dimensionally intertwined fibers include Breath Air (registered trademark) manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd. Examples of materials that can be used for the open-cell foam materials and rubber tubes include urethane, EPDM, chloroprene, isoprene, silicone, and various thermoplastic elastomers. It is also possible for these first substrates 12 and second substrates 22 to have orientations that allow for easy and difficult ventilation. For example, in the case of a three-dimensional knitted fabric, there are directions in which portions with a higher fiber density (more fibers) per cross section are formed intermittently, and directions in which portions with a lower fiber density (fewer fibers) are formed continuously. In this case, the lower the fiber density (fewer fibers), the easier it is to breathe. When using a first substrate 12 or a second substrate 22 with such directionality, it is preferable that the air flow direction, which is the direction in which ventilation actually occurs, is the same as the direction in which ventilation is easier in the first substrate 12 or the second substrate 22, for example, the direction in which there are portions with a lower fiber density (fewer fibers).

[0038] Furthermore, since the first base material 12 is placed under the seated person as a component of the ventilation mat main body 10, it is preferable that it has durability to withstand the pressure of sitting. On the other hand, the second base material 22 is a component of the ventilation guide 20 and is not subjected to as much pressure, so it is preferable that it has breathability to prevent the airflow from being attenuated. For this reason, it is preferable that the second base material 22 has higher breathability than the first base material 12.

[0039] The shape of the cutout 16 in the first substrate 12 is arbitrary, and may be not only rectangular as in the present embodiment, but also circular, polygonal, or a combination thereof. The shape of the cutout 16 is preferably a shape that matches the shape of one end of the second substrate 22 to be fitted. To properly align the second substrate 22 when fitting it, the cutout 16 and one end of the second substrate 22 may be stepped or otherwise configured to fit each other. The position of the cutout 16 in the first substrate 12 is also arbitrary. It can be appropriately set depending on the mounting position of the fan 40, the shape of the seat, or the position of a through-hole formed in the seat cushion. In the present embodiment, the cutout 16 is formed at a location adjacent to the outer periphery of the first substrate 12. However, it is also possible to punch out a portion near the center of the first substrate 12 and form the cutout 16 there.

[0040] In this embodiment, the width of the second substrate 22 at the boundary between the portion of the ventilation guide 20 that fits into the notch 16 and the portion that does not (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the boundary) is half the width of the first substrate 12. If the width of the second substrate 22 at this boundary is too large relative to the width of the first substrate 12, it becomes difficult for the air blown from the ventilation guide 20 to reach the entire first substrate 12. The air blown from the ventilation guide 20 passes from the notch 16 through the first substrate 12 located between the ventilation guide 20 and the first barrier material 11 and spreads throughout the entire first substrate 12. If the width of the second substrate 22 is too large, the area through which the air passes becomes narrow. Therefore, the width of the second substrate 22 at the boundary is preferably no more than two-thirds, and particularly preferably no more than one-half, of the width of the first substrate 12. On the other hand, if the width of the second substrate 22 at this boundary is too small relative to the width of the first substrate 12, pressure loss increases, and the air blown from the air blowing source becomes insufficient. Therefore, the width of the second base material 22 at the boundary is preferably ¼ or more, and particularly preferably ⅓ or more, of the width of the first base material 12.

[0041] In this embodiment, the ventilation section is exemplified as consisting of a breathable cover 13 having breathable properties and openings 15a, 15b, and 15c formed in the breathable cover 13. However, this is not limiting. For example, a ventilation section without any openings, in which the entire section is covered with the breathable cover 13, or conversely, a ventilation section without the breathable cover 13 and in which the entire section surrounded by the first barrier material 12 is an opening, is also conceivable. The position, shape, and number of openings are also arbitrary and can be designed appropriately according to the required characteristics. In this embodiment, openings 15a, 15b, and 15c are formed in the ventilation guide 20 in order of furthest from the end of the ventilation mat main body 11, and the opening sizes are 15a, 15b, and 15c in order of largest to smallest. When forming multiple openings in this way, it is preferable to design the positions and sizes of the openings so that they increase in size as they are located further from the end of the ventilation guide 20 on the ventilation mat main body 10 side. This allows for uniform airflow from each opening.

[0042] In addition, the back surface of the ventilation mat main body 10 may not be provided with the breathable cover 13, and the portion surrounded by the first barrier material 11 may be an opening surface, and it is also possible that the first base material 12 may be exposed at this opening surface.

[0043] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes air being blown from an air source, the present invention can be applied to both a form in which air is blown out from an air source and a form in which air is sucked in by an air source. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] As described above, the ventilation mat of the present invention minimizes attenuation of the airflow from the air source and has a degree of design flexibility that allows it to be applied to various seating configurations. Its applications include, in addition to automobile seats, vehicle seats such as motorcycles and railroad cars, child seats, seats for heavy civil engineering and construction machinery, seats on ships and aircraft, Ferris wheels at amusement parks, bleacher seats at various stadiums, viewing seats at theaters and movie theaters, benches installed in train stations, theme parks, outdoor parks, etc., sofas and legless chairs used in homes and offices, chairs in barber shops, and medical chairs used in various medical institutions. Furthermore, it can be widely used not only for seats but also for beds, strollers, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 ventilation mat 10 Ventilation mat body 11 First Barrier Material 12 First base material 13 Breathable cover 15a,15b,15c opening 16 Notch 17 Connection hole 20 Ventilation Guide 21 Secondary barrier material 22 Second base material 24 Fan mounting holes 30 sewing thread 40 fans 60 Car seats 61 Backrest 62 seat 64 Cushioning material 65 Skin cover

Claims

1. The ventilation mat itself, A ventilation guide connected to the ventilation mat body, The ventilation mat body is a first substrate having a breathable three-dimensional structure; a first barrier material that surrounds the first substrate and is substantially impermeable to air; a ventilation portion in which the first barrier material is not present, The ventilation guide is A second substrate having a breathable three-dimensional structure; a second barrier material that surrounds the second substrate and is substantially impermeable to air; a notch is formed in the first base material, and a part of the second base material is fitted into the notch, so that the first base material and the second base material are in communication with each other so as to allow air circulation; The ventilation portion is formed on one main surface of the ventilation mat body, and on the other main surface of the ventilation mat body, the ventilation guide extends in a direction that overlaps parallel to the ventilation mat body at least in part.

2. A ventilation mat as described in claim 1, wherein, when the width is defined as a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the ventilation guide and parallel to the main surface of the first substrate, the width of the second substrate is between 1 / 4 and 2 / 3 of the width of the first substrate at the boundary between the part of the ventilation guide that fits into the cutout and the part that does not fit into the cutout.

3. 2. The ventilation mat according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation portion comprises a breathable cover having breathability and an opening formed in the breathable cover.

4. A ventilation mat as described in claim 3, wherein a plurality of openings are formed, and the opening area increases as the openings are positioned further away from the end of the ventilation mat body having the cutout portion of the first substrate.

5. 2. The ventilation mat according to claim 1, wherein the first barrier material comprises a single sheet of non-breathable film.

6. The ventilation mat according to claim 1 , wherein the first barrier material, the second barrier material, the first base material, and the second base material are fixed by sewing.

7. The ventilation mat according to claim 3 , wherein the first barrier material, the second barrier material, the first base material, the second base material, and the breathable cover are fixed by sewing.

8. 2. The ventilation mat according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the first barrier material and the second barrier material are formed by laminating a non-breathable film and a fabric body.

9. 10. The ventilation mat according to claim 9, wherein the fabric body is a nonwoven fabric.

10. The ventilation mat according to claim 1 , wherein the second substrate has higher breathability than the first substrate.

11. A seat cushion material, a skin cover, and the ventilation mat according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The seat cushion material is covered with the skin cover, A through hole is formed in the seat cushion material, The ventilation guide is disposed in the through hole, The seat has the ventilation mat body disposed between the seat cushion material and the upholstery cover.

Citation Information

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