Ventilated seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10744915-B2
Application number	US-201816168278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Oct 23, 2018
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes an air mover within a seatback. An inlet channel extends from an occupant seatback surface to the air mover and includes first and second outlet channels. The air mover selectively and alternatively moves air from the inlet channel to one of the first and second outlet channels. The first outlet channel includes a vent located proximate a headrest.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat comprising:
an air mover within a seatback; and
an inlet channel extending from an occupant seatback surface to the air mover and having first and second outlet channels, wherein the air mover selectively and alternatively moves air from the inlet channel to one of the first and second outlet channels, wherein the first outlet channel includes a vent located proximate a headrest, wherein the vent is centrally disposed on the top of the seatback and between the top of the seatback and the headrest, wherein the first outlet channel extends from the air mover to the vent, wherein the first outlet channel is selectively operable to exhaust air to the vent, and wherein the second outlet channel is selectively operable to exhaust air into a seatback interior, and further comprising:
a first outlet airflow adjuster for selectively blocking airflow from the air mover to the first outlet channel; and
a second outlet airflow adjuster for selectively blocking airflow from the air mover to the second outlet channel.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet channel is centrally disposed in the seatback.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2 , further comprising:
a bezel disposed in the top of the seatback, wherein the bezel houses the vent.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3 , wherein the bezel comprises one or more apertures for receiving the headrest.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4 , wherein the one or more apertures comprise first and second apertures disposed on respective first and second sides of the vent.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 3 , wherein the vent is selectively positionable in an open position, a closed position, and a plurality of positions between the open position and the closed position.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein the inlet channel comprises a plurality of tubes extending from the occupant seatback surface to the air mover.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary inlet channel, wherein the auxiliary inlet channel extends from a seatback bottom portion to the air mover, and wherein the inlet channel and the auxiliary inlet channel are selectively and alternatively operable to deliver air to the air mover.

9. A ventilation system for a vehicle seat, comprising:
a vent retained in a bezel;
an inlet channel for delivering air from a seating surface to an air mover;
a first outlet channel for delivering air from the air mover to the vent;
a second outlet channel for delivering air from the air mover to a seatback interior, wherein the bezel is centrally disposed at a top of a seatback; and
a headrest, wherein the headrest is attached to the seatback, wherein the bezel is disposed between an upper portion of the seatback and the headrest, and wherein the headrest comprises an extension member that extends through the bezel and into the upper portion of the seatback.

10. The ventilation system for a vehicle seat claim 9 , wherein the extension member comprises a first rod and a second rod.

11. The ventilation system for a vehicle seat of claim 10 , wherein the vent is selectively positionable to direct air towards at least one of an occupant facing portion of the seatback and an occupant facing portion of the headrest.

12. The ventilation system for a vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the extension member comprises a first rod and a second rod and wherein the vent is disposed between the first rod and the second rod.

13. A ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback comprising:
an occupant supporting surface;
an upward facing surface;
a bezel disposed on the upward facing surface; and
an air mover;

an inlet channel for moving air from the occupant supporting surface to the air mover;
a first outlet channel for moving air from the air mover to a vent coupled with a bezel;
a second outlet channel for releasing air from the air mover into the seatback; and
a controller configured to selectively activate the inlet channel, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively and alternatively activate the first and second outlet channels.

14. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the inlet channel, the air mover, and the first outlet channel.

15. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
an auxiliary inlet channel for moving air from a seatback bottom surface to the air mover, wherein the controller is configured to selectively and alternatively activate the inlet channel and the auxiliary inlet channel.

16. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the bezel is coupled to the first outlet channel with an interference fit.

17. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the bezel is elongated to fit along the upward facing surface of the seatback.

18. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the bezel includes a dome portion.

19. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the bezel includes a duct portion coupled to the first outlet channel.

20. The ventilation system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 19 , further comprising:
a seal disposed between the duct portion and the first outlet channel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mcelroy Michael Murphy
• Attala Jeffrey Michael
• Miqdadi Ahmad
• Kurrle Ryan

Classifications

• B60N2/5657 Primary

  blown towards the seat surface · CPC title

• B60N2/565 Primary

  sucked from the seat surface · CPC title

• B60N2/5642

  with circulation of air through a layer inside the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/5671

  forming a windbreak, e.g. warm air blown on the neck of the passenger of an open vehicle · CPC title