| Climate controlled seat -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Climate controlled seatClimate controlled seat description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070200398, Climate controlled seat. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]This invention relates to climate control. More specifically, this invention relates to climate of a seat. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Temperature modified air for environmentally controlled living or working space is typically provided to relatively extensive areas, such as entire buildings, selected offices, or suites of rooms within a building. In the case of vehicles, such as automobiles, the entire vehicle is typically cooled or heated as a unit. There are many situations, however, in which more selective or restrictive air temperature modifications is desirable. For example, it is often desirable to provide an individualized climate control for an occupant's seat so that substantially instantaneous heating or cooling can be achieved. For example, in an automotive vehicle exposed to summer weather, where the vehicle has been parked in an unshaded area for a long period of time, the vehicle seat can become very hot and uncomfortable for the occupant for some time after entering and using the vehicle, even with normal air conditioning. Furthermore, even with normal air conditioning, on a hot day, the seat occupant's back and other pressure points may remain sweaty while seated. In the winter time, it is highly desirable to have the ability to quickly warm the seat of the occupant to facilitate the occupant's comfort, especially where the normal vehicle heater is unlikely warm the vehicle's interior as quickly. For reasons such as these, there have long been various types of individualized climate control systems for vehicle seats. [0005]Such climate control systems typically include a distribution system comprising a combination of channels and passages formed in the cushion of this seat. Climate conditioned air is supplied to these channels and passages by a climate controlled device. Climate conditioned air flows through the channels and passages to cool or heat the space adjacent the surface of the vehicle seat. [0006]There are, however, problems that have been experienced with existing climate control systems for seats. For example, some climate control systems are not easily adapted into existing seat construction methods. For example, in the construction of some seats, ready access between the climate controlled device on the rear of the seat and the distribution channel on the front of the seat is not easily obtainable. As a result, the connection between the climate control device and a distribution system may involve a long or tortuous route consisting of many expensive or intricate components. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention comprises a climate control seat assembly that includes a rigid back structure with a back member and at least one side member extending forwardly from the back member. The rigid back structure has a front side and a rear side. A seat cushion is disposed on the front side of the rigid back structure. A fluid distribution system comprises a plurality of channels that are at least partially disposed in the seat cushion. A duct is also least partially disposed in the seat cushion and in is in fluid communication with the plurality of channels. A climate control device is mounted at least partially on a rear side of the at least one side member and is configured to provide conditioned or unconditioned air to the fluid distribution system. [0008]Another aspect of the present invention comprises a climate controlled seat assembly that includes a rigid back structure that has a front side and a rear side. The rigid back structure also includes a back member and at least one side member extending forwardly from the back member. A seat cushion is disposed on the front side of the rigid back structure. A fluid distribution system is at least partially positioned in the seat cushion. A climate control device is configured to provide climate conditioned air to the fluid distribution system. The climate control device is positioned on a rear side of the rigid back structure. A duct extends at least partially through the at least one side member to place the climate control device structure in fluid communication with the fluid distribution system. [0009]Another aspect of the present invention comprises a climate controlled vehicle seat that includes a rigid back structure. A seat cushion has a front side and a rear side disposed on the front side of the back structure. The seat cushion has at least one vertically extending side portion. A duct extends in a generally vertical direction, adjacent to the at least one vertically extending side portion. The duct is at least partially disposed within the seat cushion. A plurality of channels extends generally horizontally from the duct and are in fluid communication with the duct. [0010]Another aspect of the present invention comprises a fluid distribution system that includes a first duct that is configured to be at least partially disposed in a climate controlled seat assembly and to extend in a generally vertical direction. A plurality of channels are configured to be disposed on a front side of the seat cushion of the climate controlled seat assembly and to extend generally horizontally from the first duct. A climate control device is configured to deliver or withdraw fluid to or from said first duct. [0011]All of these modes, variations, and aspects of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These other variations of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art following the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012]These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will now be described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, in reference the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. The drawings include the following 7 Figures. [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a climate controlled vehicle seat. [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a vehicle seat with the interior revealed and climate control components removed. [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective of the climate controlled seat of FIG. 1 with the interior revealed and components in view. [0016]FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the climate controlled seat of FIG. 1, the seat back and climate control device in view. [0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A. [0018]FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view denoted by detail B-B. [0019]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the components of a climate controlled seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0020]To assist in the description of the disclosed embodiments, words such as upward, upper, downward, lower, vertical, horizontal, upstream, downstream, and the other directional or direction-indicating words are used to describe the accompanying Figures. It will be appreciated, however, that the illustrated embodiments can be located and oriented in a variety of desired positions. Continue reading about Climate controlled seat... Full patent description for Climate controlled seat Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Climate controlled seat patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Climate controlled seat or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Orbital walker with activity table Next Patent Application: Bicycle saddle Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Climate controlled seat patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.21832 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
