Vehicle Seat Ventilating Device Frame Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat heating and cooling devices lack a simple, cost-effective design that integrates seamlessly with upholstery and maintains airtightness while allowing for efficient air distribution and vapor management.
Innovation Solution
A frame-shaped insert surrounds the spacer material, connecting the upper and lower layers airtightly, allowing for air and vapor passage, and is made from materials like closed-cell foam or silicone to ensure airtightness and compatibility with the seat's surface, preventing foam penetration and folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive layers are used to attach barrier layers to spacer material, then the layers can be connected, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame-shaped insert integrates multiple functions: it connects the upper and lower barrier layers, provides structural support, ensures airtightness, and eliminates the need for separate adhesive layers. By merging these functions into a single component, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame-shaped insert serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a structural frame, an airtight seal, and a connection element between layers. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable connections.
2Reliability
If multiple adhesive layers and barrier layers are used, then airtightness can be achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame-shaped insert combines the sealing and structural functions into a single component. The insert itself is designed to be essentially airtight, eliminating the need for multiple separate barrier layers and adhesive layers while maintaining airtightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame-shaped insert can be made from flexible materials that conform to the seat upholstery while maintaining airtightness. This flexible shell approach provides the necessary sealing without requiring multiple rigid layers.
3Ease of manufacture
If the heating and cooling device is integrated directly onto the upholstery core, then integration is simplified, but the device may fold or deform during use
Solution Approach 1:
The frame-shaped insert acts as a rigidifying shell that prevents folding and deformation of the integrated device. It provides structural support while allowing the device to be directly integrated onto the upholstery core, maintaining both ease of manufacture and shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame-shaped insert divides the upholstery core into distinct regions and provides structural definition. This segmentation approach allows the device to be integrated directly while maintaining its shape through the framing structure.
4Area of stationary object
If a narrow frame width is used for the frame-shaped insert, then more surface area is available for air distribution, but the connection strength and airtightness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The frame-shaped insert can be made from composite materials that provide high strength and airtightness in a narrow profile. By using materials with enhanced mechanical properties, the patent achieves sufficient connection strength without requiring a wide frame, thereby maximizing air distribution surface area.
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
The solution provides a compact, airtight, and comfortable heating and cooling system that maintains its shape, integrates well with the seat's upholstery, and ensures efficient air distribution without transitional material perception, enhancing user experience and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The frame-shaped insert should be of such a material, and should possess such properties, that it is essentially airtight so that the insert limits flow from the air-distribution chamber outward
Implementation Method 2
For this, the frame-shaped insert is of a material that is partially permeable for air and/or for water vapor
Implementation Method 3
the material of the frame-shaped insert should be selected such that the foam does not penetrate through the insert material into the air-distribution chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Heating and cooling device for a vehicle seat with separating material (2) that forms at least a portion of an air-distribution chamber (1), with an upper-side layer (4) covering the separating material (2) on its upper side, with a lower-side layer (5) of separating material (2) on the underside opposite from the upper-side layer (4) that is essentially airtight whereby the upper-side layer (4) and the lower-side layer (5) are connected together about the outer circumference of the separating materials (2). An air-inlet aperture (6) is provided to the air-distribution chamber (1) and air-outlet apertures (10) are provided in the upper-side layer (4) to remove air from the air-distribution chamber (1). The upper-side layer (4) and the lower-side layer (5) are connected at least about their outer circumference by a box-shaped insert (3).