Seat Ventilation Assembly With Foamless Airflow Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat ventilation systems lack effective integration of a blower with a trim cover and ventilation bag to provide efficient airflow to occupants, often relying on foam cushions that can be bulky and limit ventilation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation assembly comprising a trim cover, a ventilation bag with a channel in fluid communication, and additional layers that support a blower, where the ventilation bag is fixed to the trim cover and includes a spacer to facilitate airflow from the blower through the channel to the trim cover, potentially using foamless mesh materials for reduced bulk and enhanced ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If foam cushions are used in existing ventilation systems, then structural support is provided, but the system becomes bulky and ventilation efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the foam cushion from the ventilation system entirely, extracting the problematic element that caused bulkiness. The foamless mesh material is introduced as a replacement that provides structural support without the bulk of traditional foam cushions, directly resolving the contradiction between volume reduction and maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from foam cushion to foamless mesh material. This parameter change allows the system to maintain structural support functionality while dramatically reducing volume and bulk, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between these two requirements.
2Productivity
If traditional ventilation systems are used, then occupancy comfort is provided, but airflow efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a membrane as an intermediary element between the blower and the trim cover. This membrane with its specific porosity characteristics acts as a mediator that enhances airflow efficiency while maintaining occupancy comfort, allowing efficient air delivery without compromising the comfort function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction with the membrane and foamless mesh material working together. This composite approach enables the system to achieve both high airflow efficiency and occupancy comfort by combining materials with complementary properties.
3Productivity
If integrated blower support is implemented, then system efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the blower support function directly into the carrier structure. By integrating these components rather than using separate support elements, the system achieves improved ventilation efficiency while the integration is accomplished through straightforward assembly processes that do not excessively increase manufacturing complexity.
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 improved ventilation efficiency by ensuring airflow from the blower directly to the occupant through the trim cover, while eliminating the need for bulky foam cushions, resulting in a more effective and lightweight ventilation system.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid flow may travel from the ventilation bag to the trim cover
Data Source
AI summary
Seat assemblies and subassemblies are disclosed. For example, a ventilation subassembly may be disclosed. The subassembly may include a trim cover with a ventilation bag or membrane fixed thereto such as by stitching or welding. The ventilation bag or membrane may be disposed adjacent to the trim cover and extend from the trim cover through one or more additional layer to a carrier such that it is configured to receive a fluid flow from a blower for ventilating an occupant adjacent to the trim cover.