US20060038432A1

US20060038432A1 - Vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: US20060038432A1
Application number: US11/186,347
Authority: US
Inventors: Simone Koehler
Original assignee: WET Automotive Systems AG
Current assignee: WET Automotive Systems AG
Priority date: 2004-08-11
Filing date: 2005-07-21
Publication date: 2006-02-23
Also published as: DE102004039058A1; JP2006051351A

Abstract

The vehicle seat has a supporting element in the form of a seat and/or back section with a padded core 2 in at least one piece for supporting a seat user, with a cover 9 that at least partially conceals the padded core 2, and with an anchoring channel on which the surface of the supporting element features an elongated depression 17. Provision is made for an anchoring device 21, 22, 24 which draws in the cover 9 at least indirectly along the anchoring channel in the direction of the seat core 2 into the supporting element. Between the cover 9 and the seat core 2 provision is made for a ventilation layer 55 through which air can flow that is curved to the contour of the depression 17 of the anchoring channel, at least partially following it, such that the ventilation layer 55 in the area of the anchoring channel essentially retains its layer thickness (d) in spite of the depression 17 in the surface.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

1The present application claims priority from German Application No. DE102004039058.4 filed Aug. 11, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a ventilated vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle seats are known with a seat and/or back section that features a supporting element to which a padded core is allocated on the seat and back sections. Usually, a supporting mat featuring a ventilation layer on the side turned towards the padded core is placed on the padded core. Moreover, in the padded core, provision is made for air ducts and one or several fans for feeding and conveying air through the supporting mat. The air fed through the air ducts flows through the ventilation layer of the supporting mat, as a result of which the moisture generated by the seat user is absorbed by the air-permeable surface of the supporting mat and conveyed out. Alternatively, the air can be heated or cooled to a given temperature to guarantee a pleasant temperature for the seat user.
The ventilation layer frequently consists of an air-permeable spacer fabric (EP 1 364 827 A2) covered with an upholstery cover and provided with tackings, along which the upholstery cover is connected with the padded core via fastenings. The ventilation layer extends over the entire surface of the supporting element and, in the area of the tackings, has a roughly unaltered thickness, so that a current of air generated by the fan within the ventilation layer can flow without hindrance in the area of the tackings.
From DE 101 28 415 an air-conditioned seat is known in which provision is made for a ventilated layer (e.g. made of spacer fabric or rubberized hair) for distributing air within a seat pad. In the case of vehicle seats, however, for design reasons parts of the seat pad are segmented by anchoring channels in their surface. Where such anchoring channels are concerned, the seat cover is pulled along the anchoring channel in the direction of the interior of the seat pad. This leads to the ventilated layer either having to be made very thick or the depth of the anchoring channels being severely restricted (as for example in DE 102 07 490).
This is because, otherwise, parts of the seat pad would no longer be accessible to ventilation when the ventilated layer is constricted by an anchoring channel.
From DE 100 37 065 it can be seen how to provide each area separated by anchoring channels with its own fan for supplying a ventilated layer. However, this increases the costs of the seat.
From EP 1 050 429 it can be seen how to position a fan under an anchoring channel in such a way that the air conveyed by the fan is fed evenly into both areas of a ventilated layer separated by an anchoring channel as soon as it enters the ventilated layer. However, this severely restricts the freedom of design and places stress on the fan.
From DE 101 56 658 it is known how to inlay an additional strip of material under a ventilated layer compressed in a tacking area in order to create a bypass for the air in the form of tunneling in the area of the tacking channel. However, this involves substantial work. Moreover, the flow resistance in this area rises very considerably, as the air is not only diverted but has to cross over twice from one material layer to another.
From DE 199 41 715 it is known how to provide right from the outset, in the entire base of the seat pad, a ventilated layer and a non-compressible bypass layer. This certainly simplifies assembly, but the whole structure remains very big, cannot be used on foamed seat cores and from a flow resistance viewpoint is not ideal.
From DE 100 49 458 it is known how to move the ventilated layer distanced from the seat surface further into the pad interior. In this way the ventilated layer is no longer compressed by the anchoring devices on the surface. The flow cross section of the ventilated layer is therefore also preserved in the anchoring area. Abandoning the arrangement where the ventilated layer is near the surface, however, has disadvantages both in terms of flow resistance and in terms of combined assembly with other systems, e.g. fitting seat heaters. Furthermore, this arrangement intrudes substantially into the overall structure and statics of the seat pad.
The task underlying the invention is to create, using simple means of construction, a seat whose air-permeable supporting mat can be installed with little effort and has optimum characteristics in terms of air flow and appearance.
This task is solved by a seat and an air-conditioning device with the features described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The vehicle seat described in the invention features the following elements: a supporting element in the form of seat or back section, a padded core in at least one piece for supporting a seat user, a cover that at least partially conceals the padded core, with an anchoring channel on which the surface of the supporting element features a longitudinal depression, with an anchoring device which pulls the cover in at least indirectly along the anchoring channel in the direction of the seat core into the supporting element, and a ventilation layer which is placed between the cover and the seat core and through which air can flow. The ventilation layer is curved to the contour of the depression of the anchoring channel, at least partially following it and, in the area of the anchoring channel, essentially retains its layer thickness in spite of the depression in the surface. The ventilation layer and the cover are designed in the form of a supporting mat placed on the padded core such that it has an air-permeable carrier on the side turned towards the padded core. On the side turned towards the padded core spacers are placed, with at least two spacers being placed in the depression provided on the padded core opposite each other at a distance and taking up the accompanying remaining part of the supporting mat folded into the depression. Because of this a single supporting mat can be produced for several areas of the supporting element separated from one another by elongated depressions. Consequently, fewer individual parts are required to manufacture the vehicle seat described in the invention, thus achieving a reduction in production costs and simplified assembly. Moreover, folding the remaining part of the supporting mat into the depression of the padded core makes it possible to achieve a visually attractive design of the transition point between two areas of the supporting element separated from one another by the elongated depression.
In one particularly advantageous form of the vehicle seat design, provision is made between the spacers placed in the depression for an anchoring device that connects the remaining part of the supporting mat folded into the depression with the padded core. This connection is advantageously achieved with the aid of a hitching device element that is connected on the one hand with the supporting mat and on the other with the padded core.
It is particularly advantageous if the ventilation layer is at least partially covered, on the one hand towards the user by an air-permeable first surface layer which preferably includes the single or multiple-layer cover, a preferably layer-like carrier and/or a surface heating element placed between the cover and the ventilation layer, and/or on the other towards the padded core by a preferably non air-tight second surface layer.
In this way a ventilation layer can be produced in which one or several, preferably a multitude of spacers are placed which, at least indirectly, distance the cover and the padded core from one another and which are preferably placed - specifically fastened - on the first surface layer, in particular the carrier, the second surface layer and/or the padded core.
In addition, it is possible that the padded core in the area of the anchoring channel has an elongated depression—preferably one corresponding with the anchoring channel—where the depression is covered over by the cover and/or the first surface layer and where, also in the area of the anchoring channel, provision is made for the ventilation layer at least partially between cover/surface layer and the padded core. In this type of construction, the cover/the surface layer is drawn from the anchoring device towards the bottom of the depression where, at the bottom of the recess—in particular at its lowest point—and/or on its lateral areas, preferably those inclined opposite the seat surface—at least one spacer is placed.
In a further vehicle seat design type, between the bottom of the depression, the cover/the surface layer and the anchoring device there remains a hollow space, the overall height of which—preferably specifically at the lowest point of the cover—corresponds at least to the height of the ventilation layer through which air can flow. Due to the low flow resistance this causes, the passage of air is not adversely affected by the depression or the channel.
In one type of design, the spacers forming the ventilation layer of the supporting mat are formed by several projections fitted to the carrier. The projections, spaced apart from one another, form air ducts in the ventilation layer which, in comparison with the textile fabric, exhibit a lower flow resistance for the air. In this way at least one spacer is at least pointed - but preferably elongated - in shape, preferably by means of one or several projections of a layer adjoining the ventilation layer, by means of strips of fabric in sections and distanced from one another in the ventilation layer, by means of tubular elements which preferably have an approximately rectangular cross section and walls with air flow openings, and/or by means of helices/spirals preferably made of flat material, which preferably have helix threads distanced from one another to facilitate the passage of air at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the helix, and which are preferably flattened out in order to arrange the helices with their flattened-out area on the carrier.
It is advantageous to give at least one spacer an elongated shape, so that air can flow through it lengthways and at right angles to its longitudinal axis and/or so that it is placed lengthways to the depression.
It is further possible to design the spacers as tubular elements that have an essentially rectangular cross section and whose walls can have air conduction openings. Tubular elements spaced out next to each other result in extreme stiffness of the seat surface in one direction accompanied by a large degree of freedom of movement in a direction vertical to it.
Spacers shaped as tapes laid in helices, where the threads of the helices are placed at a distance for the passage of air, offer a high level of comfort in the vehicle seat described in the invention. This type of design is especially advantageous in the design of a soft seat surface in which the air conduction properties of the ventilation layer of the supporting mat are not affected. Particular preference is given here to flat helices, the flat side of which is fitted outside the depression on the carrier such that outside the depression the flat helices lie on the surface of the padded core, whereas the helices placed in the depression are turned around their longitudinal axis by approximately 90° in relation to the helices placed outside the depression.
As a result, an especially low air flow resistance can be attained for the air flowing through the depression.
To increase the comfort features of the vehicle seat it is advantageous to lay an air-permeable cover on the carrier.
To increase seat comfort further, it is advantageous for the supporting element to have a central area and at least one side-wall area, where the depression can be placed between the central area and the respective side area of the supporting element. The vehicle seat design described in the invention makes it possible to manufacture the transition area between the central area and the respective side-wall area in a visually attractive way, such that the fastening device remains invisible to the seat user through the remaining folded part of the supporting mat.
A fan can be used as an air-conduction unit.
What is characteristic of the present invention is the extremely low resistance for the air flow through the spacers, since their helical structure allows the air to flow in any direction without hindrance, as a result of which no significant pressure gradients can develop within the ventilation layer formed by the spacers. The spacers shaped as projections fitted onto the carrier give the same result. The spacers can also be formed by fabrics arranged in sections on the carrier if they have a sufficient flow cross section for the passage of air.
The hollow space of the ventilation device through which air can flow—preferably the ventilation layer itself—has an overall height of a maximum of 20 mm, preferably a maximum of 10 mm, vertical to the surface of the supporting element turned towards the seat user.
A further increase in seating comfort can be achieved by the ventilation layer being bendable when stress is exerted on it by a user and preferably retaining its layer thickness unaltered in the process.
The spacer design types described will preferably be manufactured from a synthetic glass fiber composite material.
The characteristics of the vehicle seat outlined above are realized in an air-conditioning device for a vehicle seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the aid of drawings, sample designs of the invention are explained in more detail.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a vehicle seat with a seat section and a back section in partial section,
FIG. 2 shows a schematic, perspective view of a supporting element with a supporting mat removed, and
FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view along the line I-I through the supporting element of FIG. 2, where the border areas of the padded core have been left out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle seat with a seat section 30 and a back section 31. The seat section 30 features a padded core. An equivalent padded core can also be allocated to the back section 31 (not shown). This padded core of the back section has the same characteristics as described below for the padded core of the seat section 30. The part of the seat section 30 shown in FIG. 1 is subdivided by two parallel fold lines 35, 36 into three sub-sections, namely a centrally-placed seat area 40 and a side-wall area 34. In the middle of the seat area 40 a fold line 36 runs parallel to the fold line 35.
The back section 31 is likewise divided into two areas by a parallel fold line 35, namely a central area 41 and a side-wall area 37 placed at the side.
FIG. 2 shows the padded core 2 with a supporting mat 7 lifted against the direction of the arrows with the bent shaft where, for purposes of simplification, the area of the padded core 2 assigned to the fold lines 35 and the side-wall area 34 is not shown. In the example the padded core 2 consists of foam material.
In the padded core 2, provision is made for a rectangular cavity 3 that corresponds to the shape of the air-permeable supporting mat 7. Placed in the central area of the cavity 3 is an elongated depression 17 extending to the entire length of the cavity, the side walls of which essentially run parallel to each other. In addition, on the bottom of the cavity 3, provision is made for an air inlet 8 through which air is supplied from a fan 1 to the supporting mat 7.
The air-permeable supporting mat 7 features on its side turned towards the padded core 2 an air-permeable carrier 5 made of a web-shaped material. The carrier 5 features on its side turned towards the padded core 2 a ventilation layer 55 that is formed of several spacers 4 placed next to one another in the form of tapes laid in flat helices, where the flat sides of the spacers 4 are fitted on the carrier 5. The gap between the threads of the flat helices is calculated in such a way that sufficient space is available between the individual tapes for the passage of air. The longitudinal alignment of the flat helices 4 placed parallel to one another corresponds with the course of the depression 17. When the supporting mat 7 is folded up in the direction of the arrows 14 and inserted with its folded part into the depression 17, two of the flat helices 4, forming an angle of approximately 90° to the remaining flat helices 4, are located opposite each other at a distance in the depression 17 and pick up the accompanying part of the supporting mat 7 folded into the depression 17 between themselves.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the spacers 4 are tubular components that have a rectangular cross section and walls with air conduction openings 23. The supporting mat 7 is located in the cavity 3 of the padded core 2. The hollow spacers 4 in the form of tubular elements placed outside the depression 17 lie with their flat sides on the carrier 5 and on the padded core 2, so that the ventilation layer 55 has a layer thickness d. The spacers 4 are manufactured from a flexible synthetic glass fiber material, as a result of which, when stress is exerted on the ventilation layer 55 by a user, it is bendable and retains its layer thickness d essentially unaltered in the process. Located in the area of an air conduction channel 11 and the fan 1 are the spacers 4 with one side on a grid 10, the meshes of which are smaller than the supporting surface of a spacer 4. The air currents from the fan 1 to the seat side of the supporting mat 7 are shown schematically by arrows 12.
The spacers 4 placed in the depression 17 are turned on their longitudinal axis by approximately 90°, so that their sides lying on the carrier 5 are turned towards each other. In this way the accompanying remaining part of the supporting mat 7 folded into the depression 17 is taken up between the two spacers 4 placed opposite each other at a distance. Such an arrangement of the spacers 4 and the supporting mat 7 in the depression 17 permits an air flow at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the depression 17, as the supporting mat 7 is air-permeable in itself and the tubular elements 4 are spaced apart from each other for the passage of air. To reduce the air flow resistance, provision is made between the bottom of the trench-shaped depression 17 and the remaining part of the supporting mat 7 folded into the trench-shaped depression 17 for an open space 19 for the flow of air.
The supporting mat 7 shown in FIG. 3 has an air-permeable cover 9 that consists of a textile layer. A flexible, air-permeable surface heating element 6 for regulating vehicle seat temperature is placed between the carrier 5 and the cover 9.
Between the spacers 4 in the form of tubular elements placed in the depression 17, provision is made as set out in FIG. 3 for an anchoring device that connects the remaining part of the supporting mat 7 folded into the depression 17 with the padded core 2. The anchoring device has a hitching device element 21, one side of which engages with a fastening component 22 of the padded core 2 and the other side of which engages with a rod-shaped fastening component 24 placed on the cover 9. The length of the fastening components 22, 23 corresponds to the length of the depression 17.
In the supporting mat 7, as shown in FIG. 2, openings 13 are provided, the size of which corresponds to the width of the hitching device element 21. When the supporting mat 7 is fastened in this way in the depression 17, the rod-shaped fastening component 24 remains invisible to the vehicle seat user as it is concealed in the remaining folded section of the supporting mat 7. Instead of the rod-shaped element 24, correspondingly small-sized bracket-like elements could also be used.
The spacers 4 of the ventilation layer 55 can be connected to one another with their side turned towards the padded core 2 by a second surface layer (not shown). The second surface layer can be both air-permeable and air-tight where, in the case of an air-tight second surface layer, the latter has an opening in the area of the grid 10 so that the air currents 12 from the fan 1 can get into the ventilation layer 55 without hindrance.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a supporting element in the form of a seat or back section;

a padded core in at least one piece for supporting a seat user;

a cover that at least partially conceals the padded core;

an anchoring channel in the form of an elongated depression on a surface of the supporting element, with an anchoring device which draws in the cover at least indirectly along the anchoring channel in the direction of the seat core into the supporting element; and

a ventilation layer which is placed between the cover and the seat core and through which air can flow,

wherein the ventilation layer is curved to the contour of the depression of the anchoring channel, at least partially following the anchoring channel, and the ventilation layer in the area of the anchoring channel essentially retains its layer thickness (d) when stress is exerted on the ventilation layer by a seat user.

2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the hollow space of the ventilation device through which air can flow has an overall height of a maximum of 20 mm vertical to the surface of the supporting element turned towards the seat user.

3. The seat according to claim 2, wherein the hollow space has an overall height of a maximum of 10 mm.

4. The seat according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation layer has an overall height of a maximum of 20 mm.

5. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation layer is at least partially concealed towards the user by an air-permeable first surface layer including a single or multi-layered cover, a layer-like carrier or a surface heating element placed between the cover and the ventilation layer.

6. The seat according to claim 5, wherein the ventilation layer is at leat partially concealed towards the the padded core by a non-air-permeable second surface layer.

7. The seat according to claim 6, wherein the ventilation layer includes one or more spacers which separate the cover and the padded core from one another and which are placed on the first surface layer, the carrier, the second surface layer or the padded core.

8. The seat according to claim 5, wherein at least one spacer is at least pointed in shape, by means of one or several projections of a layer adjoining the ventilation layer, by means of strips of fabric in sections and spaced apart from one another in the ventilation layer, by means of tubular elements which have an approximately rectangular cross section and walls with air flow openings, or by means of helices or spirals made of flat material, which have helix threads spaced apart from one another to facilitate the passage of air at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the helix, and which are flattened out in order to arrange the helices with their flattened-out area on the carrier.

9. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the padded core in the area of the anchoring channel has an elongated depression that the depression is covered over by the cover or the first surface layer, that provision is also made in the area of the anchoring channel for the ventilation layer at least partially between cover or surface layer and the padded core, that the cover or the surface layer is drawn from the anchoring device towards the bottom of the depression, and that at the bottom of the recess or on its lateral areas, at least one spacer is placed.

10. The seat according to claim 9, wherein between the bottom of the depression, the cover or the surface layer and the anchoring device a hollow space remains, the overall height of which corresponds at least to the height of the ventilation layer through which air can flow.

11. The seat according to claim, 10 wherein at least one spacer is elongated, that air can flow through it lengthways and at right angles to its longitudinal axis or that it is placed lengthways to the depression.

12. The seat according to claim 1 further comprising an air-conditioning device.