The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a vehicle seat including a seat bottom and seat back. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a ventilated vehicle seat.
A ventilated vehicle seat in accordance with the present disclosure includes a seat foundation adapted to be coupled to a floor of a vehicle, a seat bottom coupled to the seat foundation and spaced apart from the floor, and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom and extending upwardly from the seat bottom. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back include an outer trim and a cushion covered by the outer trim.
In illustrative embodiments, the cushion includes a suspension system and an air-management system. The suspension system has a first plurality of suspension links which define a first plurality of repeated cells and a second plurality of suspension links which define a second plurality of repeated cells. The first plurality of repeated cells are different than the second plurality of repeated cells. The air management system has a manifold which receives pressurized air, a plurality of conduits coupled to the manifold, and a fluid barrier which is arranged to lie between the first plurality of suspension links and the second plurality of suspension links. The plurality of conduits direct the pressurized air from the manifold toward different areas of the second plurality of suspension links. After the pressurized air is discharged from the plurality of conduits to the second plurality of suspension links, the fluid barrier blocks the flow of air from the second plurality of suspension links to the first plurality of suspension links.
In illustrative embodiments, the cushion is formed by additive manufacturing so that the suspension system and the air-management system are connected to one another in one piece. The first plurality of repeated cells and the second plurality of repeated cells are fluidly connected to one another so that air is free to flow therethrough to the occupant.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A ventilated vehicle seat 10 includes a foundation 12 adapted to be anchored to a vehicle floor 13, a seat bottom 14 mounted on foundation 12, and a seat back 16 arranged to extend upwardly away from seat bottom 14 as suggested in
A cushion 24 of seat bottom 14 is additively manufactured to include a suspension system 30 to support an occupant and an air-management system 32 to direct pressurized air 50 to the occupant. Suspension system 30 includes a first plurality of suspension links 34 which define a first plurality of repeated cells 38 and a second plurality of suspension links 36 above the first plurality of suspension links 34 and which define a second plurality of repeated cells 40. Air-management system 32 includes a plurality of conduits 44 formed at least in the first plurality of suspension links 34 and a flow-directing skeleton 48 formed at least in the second plurality of suspension links 36. Pressurized air 50 flows from a manifold 42 of air-management system 32 through the plurality of conduits 44 and flow-directing skeleton 48 towards an occupant. All components of cushion 24 may be connected endlessly to one another through additive manufacturing of cushion 24.
Seat bottom 14 and seat back 16 cooperate to define an occupant-support region 19 adapted to support an occupant above vehicle floor 13 as shown in
Seat bottom 14 includes an outer trim 22 and a seat-bottom cushion 24 at least partially covered by outer trim 22 as shown diagrammatically in
Suspension system 30 includes a first plurality of suspension links 34 and a second plurality of suspension links 36 as shown in
As shown in
Pressurized air 50 has about the same flow rate through cushion 24 when cushion 24 is in an undeformed state, as shown in
Air-management system 32 includes a plurality of conduits 44, a fluid barrier 46, and a flow-directing skeleton 48. Manifold 42 receives pressurized air 50 from pressurized air source 43. The plurality of conduits 44 are coupled to manifold 42 and direct pressurized air 50 to different areas of the second plurality of suspension links 36 and the occupant seated thereon. Fluid barrier 46 lies between the first plurality of suspension links 34 and the second plurality of suspension links 36. Flow-directing skeleton 48 is integrated into the second plurality of suspension links 36.
Pressurized air source 43 includes manifold 42, an air pump 45, and a controller 47 coupled to air pump 45 and/or manifold 42. Controller 47 is used by a user and/or a control system of a vehicle (not shown) to actuate air pump 45 or any other suitable alternative to generate a flow of pressurized air 50 that is conducted into manifold 42 and to conduits 44. It is within the present disclosure to use any suitable pressurized air source to provide pressurized air 50 to manifold 42 and/or air-management system 32.
Each conduit 44 is air impermeable and includes an outlet 52, a manifold section 54, and a suspension section 56 as shown in
Fluid barrier 46 is air impermeable to block the flow of air 50 from the second plurality of suspension links 36 to the first plurality of suspension links 34 after pressurized air 50 is discharged from the plurality of conduits 44 to the second plurality of suspension links 36. Therefore, pressurized air 50 that exits the plurality of conduits 44 into flow-directing skeleton 48 cannot flow downward through the first plurality of suspension links 34 which are not a part of the plurality of conduits 44.
Flow-directing skeleton 48 disperses pressurized air 50 exiting through an outlet 52 of each conduit 44 toward an occupant seated on the seat bottom 14 above the second plurality of suspension links 36. Flow-directing skeleton 48 includes a perimeter airflow barrier 60, a plurality of primary flow-discharge nozzles 62, and a plurality of flow restrictors 64. Perimeter airflow barrier 60 is coupled to and extends upwardly away from fluid barrier 46. Each of the plurality of primary flow-discharge nozzles 62 are arranged above an outlet 52 of a respective one of the plurality of conduits 44. Each of the plurality of flow restrictors 64 are arranged around a perimeter of a respective one of the plurality of primary flow-discharge nozzles 62.
As illustrated in
In other embodiments, the plurality of flow-discharge nozzles 62 may include less than or more than six flow-discharge nozzles 62 and/or the plurality of flow restrictors 64 may include less than or more than six flow restrictors 64. Alternatively or additionally, each of the plurality of flow-discharge nozzles 62 and/or flow restrictors 64 may be have different sizes and/or shapes. Furthermore, the plurality of flow-discharge nozzles 62 and/or flow restrictors 64 may be arranged in any pattern rather than aligned in a grid pattern as shown in
Each of the plurality of primary flow-discharge nozzles 62 includes an inner flow-directing cone 66 and an outer flow-directing cone 68 as shown in
As illustrated in
Additive manufacturing of cushion 24 allows for cushion 24 to be produced in one single part rather than requiring assembly of several separate parts for a seat cushion. Not only are costs of labor reduced with little or no assembly, but cushion 24 may be manufactured in a single facility rather than stamped, assembled, and shipped to and from separate facilities, therefore reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing cushion 24 and/or ventilated vehicle seat 10. Additive manufacturing of cushion 24 also allows for flow-directing skeleton 48, for example, to have a complex network of flow passageways 70, 72 to direct pressurized air 50 evenly to areas of seat bottom 14. Additive manufacturing of cushion 24 further allows for customized flow-directing skeletons 48 for separate cushion 24 applications in different ventilated vehicle seats 10 in the same or different vehicles.
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