Vehicle headrest thermal conditioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257532-A1
Application number	US-201615754563-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 26, 2016
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seat headrest assembly (16) includes a core (54) that includes a core bottom (56). A thermal conditioning device (22) includes a housing (26) that provides a fluid passage (28) that extends to a vent (62). A heating module (36) and a blower (38) are arranged in the fluid passage. The thermal conditioning device is arranged beneath the core bottom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A seat headrest assembly comprising:
a core including a core bottom; a thermal conditioning device including a housing providing a fluid passage that extends to a vent, and a heating module and a blower are arranged in the fluid passage, wherein the thermal conditioning device is arranged beneath the core bottom.

2 . The seat headrest assembly, comprising a collapsible member provided between the vent and thermal conditioning device.

3 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the collapsible member is provided by a foam gasket.

4 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a duct providing the fluid passage, the vent and the duct are telescopically received and collapsible with respect to one another to provide the collapsible member.

5 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a cushion member arranged over the core, the cushion member includes a cavity, and the thermal conditioning device is arranged in the cavity.

6 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 5 , comprising a retainer, and an aesthetic cover arranged over the cushion member to provide a headrest bottom and a head support surface, the post extends from the headrest bottom, and the vent is in communication with the passage and provided in the head support surface with the aesthetic cover captured between the retainer and the vent.

7 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a hole is provided in a headrest bottom and in fluid communication with the cavity within the seat headrest assembly, the hole is configured to provide supply air to the thermal conditioning device.

8 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the vent includes a movable portion, and a motor is connected to the movable portion and is configured to position the movable portion between multiple angular positions in response to an electrical input.

9 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the housing includes opposing open sides configured to receive a supply air from the cavity, wherein the blower is arranged between the opposing open sides.

10 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 1 , comprising an aesthetic cover arranged over the core and including a recessed pocket, the vent is arranged within the recessed pocket and is spaced from the core.

11 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the core bottom provides a plane, and the heating module and blower are arranged beneath the plane.

12 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the fluid passage is configured to provide a linear airflow from the blower through the heating module to a fluid outlet provided by the fluid passage.

13 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the heating module is a positive temperature coefficient heating element.

14 . The seat headrest assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the housing includes opposing slots configured to support the positive temperature coefficient heating element within the fluid passage.

15 . A seat air conditioning system comprising:
a headrest including a core that provides a plane, a head support surface provided above the plane; a vent in the headrest provided below the plane; a thermal conditioning device including a housing providing a fluid passage extending to the vent, and a heating module and a blower are arranged in the fluid passage, wherein the thermal conditioning device is arranged beneath the plane; and a collapsible member provided between the vent and thermal conditioning device.

16 . The seat air conditioning system according to claim 15 , wherein the headrest includes an aesthetic cover providing the head support surface and a recessed pocket, the vent is arranged within the recessed pocket and is spaced from the head support surface.

17 . The seat air conditioning system according to claim 15 , comprising a controller and an input in communication with the controller, the controller configured to provide a command to the thermal conditioning device in response to the input, the command configured to preheat the heating module for a predetermined time before actuating the blower.

18 . The seat air conditioning system according to claim 17 , wherein the heating module is a positive temperature coefficient heating element.

19 . The seat air conditioning system according to claim 17 , comprising a controller and an input in communication with the controller, wherein the vent includes a movable portion, and a motor is connected to the movable portion, the controller configured to provide a command to the thermal conditioning device in response to the input, the command configured to position the movable portion between multiple angular positions.

20 . The seat air conditioning system according to claim 15 , wherein the fluid passage is configured to provide a linear airflow from the blower through the heating module to the vent.

Assignees

• Gentherm Inc

Inventors

• Marquette David Brian
• Guerithault Daniel Charles
• Redwood Ryan Michael

Classifications

• B60N2/888

  with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/5657

  blown towards the seat surface · CPC title

• B60N2/5671

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

• B60N2/5692

  Refrigerating means · CPC title

• B60N2/42727 Primary

  involving substantially rigid displacement · CPC title