Multilayer Soft-Touch Cushion With Gas-Permeable Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing upholstery structures for vehicles lack a simple and cost-effective solution for temperature control and ventilation, as they are either complex and expensive to manufacture or only provide limited heating or cooling capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer soft-touch upholstery structure with a gas-impermeable upper material layer and a voluminous, pressure-elastic lower material layer, where a gaseous cooling or heating medium is passed through a gas-permeable sub-material layer, controlled by conventional air-conditioning devices, and sealed by a gas-impermeable wall film to form a channel for efficient temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional upholstery structures with impermeable base material layers are used, then mechanical properties and soft-touch feel are maintained, but temperature control and ventilation capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The base material layer is designed with gas-permeable properties, transforming the traditionally impermeable foam or fleece into a porous structure that allows air flow through the upholstery layers, enabling passive ventilation and temperature control without complex active systems
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-permeable base material layer simultaneously provides mechanical support, maintains soft-touch properties, and enables temperature control functions, allowing a single component to fulfill multiple roles and eliminate the need for separate complex ventilation systems
2Temperature
If hose systems with heating or cooling media are installed in foam channels, then temperature control is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-permeable base material layer itself serves as the temperature control medium by allowing ambient air to flow through its porous structure, eliminating the need for separate hose systems, pumps, and fluid circulation infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The complex hose system and fluid circulation infrastructure are extracted and removed from the design, retaining only the essential gas-permeable material property that enables passive temperature control through natural air flow
3Temperature
If air-permeable layers are added for ventilation, then temperature control improves, but the structure becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation function is merged into the base material layer itself by making it gas-permeable, combining the structural support function with the ventilation function in a single integrated layer rather than adding separate ventilation components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation of the upholstery structure and its surroundings with a simple design, maintaining mechanical properties and integrating easily into existing seat designs, thus enhancing seating comfort and meeting all cooling, heating, and ventilation requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a gaseous cooling medium or heating medium which is capable of flowing in the plane of the sub-material layer is passed through the gas-permeable sub-material layer
Implementation Method 2
the underside of the base material layer is closed with a gas-impermeable wall film
Implementation Method 3
By means of the gaseous medium that is cooled or heated to the respectively desired temperature, the outer material layer can be temperature-controlled directly in the desired manner
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Method for tempering a multi-layer soft-touch upholstery structure (2) or the like, which has an essentially gas-impermeable upper material layer (4) and at least one voluminous, pressure-elastic lower material layer (6) arranged underneath it. In terms of the method, it is provided that a gaseous cooling medium or heating medium capable of flowing in the layer plane of the base material layer (6) is passed through the base material layer (6). With regard to the aforementioned cushion structure (2), it is provided that the base material layer (6) consists of a gas-permeable material, that the underside of the base material layer (6) is closed with a gas-impermeable wall film (10), and that the inflow-side end face region (11) and access and exit openings for a gaseous cooling medium or heating medium to be conducted through the base material layer (6) are provided in the outflow-side end face area (13) of the base material layer (6).