Automotive seatback air vent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479241-B2
Application number	US-201715704948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2017
Priority date	Sep 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A fixed frame supports a movable seat structure. The movable seat structure is configured to move relative to the fixed frame. An air duct supported by the fixed frame supplies an air vent positioned on a rearward side of the fixed frame with air. Movement of the movable seat structure relative to the fixed frame has no effect on the position or orientation of the air vent.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a seat comprising a fixed frame and a movable structure, the fixed frame comprising a bottom frame element and a back frame element and the movable structure comprising a bottom support and a back support, the fixed frame supporting the movable structure for movement relative to the fixed frame; and
an air duct fixedly connected to the fixed frame, the air duct terminating in an air vent positioned on a rearward side of the seat at a height between a bottom of the fixed frame and a top of the fixed frame,
wherein movement of the movable structure relative to the fixed frame has no effect on a position of the air vent relative to the fixed frame;
wherein the back support is movable independently of the bottom support; and
wherein the bottom support is movable in forward and backward directions independently of the back support.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a center console adjacent the seat, and the air duct extends through the center console.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seat is mounted to a riser, and the air duct extends underneath the riser.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises a cover that at least partially surrounds the fixed frame, and the air vent is disposed within the cover.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bottom support comprises a front edge distal from the back support and a rear edge proximate the back support, and further wherein when the bottom support moves forward independently of the back support, a distance between the rear edge and the back support increases.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of air vents is positioned on the seat, and each of the plurality of air vents is in fluid communication with the air duct.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air duct originates at an HVAC module.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of seats, each of the plurality of seats comprising at least one air vent positioned on a rearward side of the seat at a height between a bottom of the fixed frame and a top of the fixed frame.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the air duct is in fluid communication with the at least one air vent positioned on the rearward side of each of the plurality of seats.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of slots on the back frame element of the fixed frame, wherein a pair of pins on the back support of the movable structure engage the pair of slots to allow the back support to move, independently of the bottom support, between a reclined position and an upright position relative to the back frame element.

11. A vehicle seat comprising:
a fixed frame comprising a bottom frame element and a back frame element;
a movable structure comprising a bottom support and a back support and supported by at least one of the bottom frame element and the back frame element, the movable structure configured to move relative to the fixed frame, wherein the back support is movable independently of the bottom support and the bottom support is movable in forward and backward directions independently of the back support;
an outer cover at least partially surrounding the fixed frame;
an air duct extending between the outer cover and the fixed frame, and
at least one air vent positioned in the outer cover at a height between a bottom of the fixed frame and a top of the fixed frame, the at least one air vent in fluid communication with the air duct;
wherein the fixed frame is fixedly secured to a vehicle.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of air vents positioned in the outer cover.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the air duct originates at an HVAC module of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13 , wherein the bottom support comprises a front edge distal from the back support and a rear edge proximate the back support, and further wherein when the bottom support moves forward independently of the back support, a distance between the rear edge and the back support increases.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the air duct is in fluid communication with at least one air vent that is not positioned in the outer cover.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the air duct is secured to the back frame element with at least one of a mechanical fastener, an adhesive, and a tie.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the bottom frame element is fixedly secured to a riser of a vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a pair of slots on the back frame element of the fixed frame, wherein a pair of pins on the back support of the movable structure engage the pair of slots to allow the back support to move, independently of the bottom support, between a reclined position and an upright position relative to the back frame element.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a first seat row comprising at least one seat, the seat comprising a fixed frame, a movable seat structure, and an outer cover, wherein the movable structure comprises a bottom support and a back support, the bottom support configured to move in forward and backward directions relative to the fixed frame and independently of the back support, the back support configured to move independently of the bottom support, and further wherein the fixed frame is fixedly secured to a vehicle frame member, the movable seat structure having a first height and the fixed frame having a second height equal to at least one half of the first height;
a second seat row positioned behind the first seat row;
an air duct extending between the fixed frame and the outer cover; and
an air vent located within the outer cover, the air vent in fluid communication with the air duct and positioned to direct air toward the second seat row.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the bottom support comprises a front edge distal from the back support and a rear edge proximate the back support, and further wherein when the bottom support moves forward independently of the back support, a distance between the rear edge and the back support increases.

Assignees

• Nio Usa Inc

Inventors

• Filipkowski Matthew S
• Stevens Colin J

Classifications

• B60N2/5628 Primary

  coming from the vehicle ventilation system, e.g. air-conditioning system · CPC title

• B60N2/58

  Seat coverings · CPC title

• B60H1/242

  located in the front area · CPC title

• B60N2/2222

  the back-rest having two or more parts · CPC title

• B60N2/01

  Arrangement of seats relative to one another · CPC title