GB1583672A

GB1583672A - Seat covering

Info

Publication number: GB1583672A
Application number: GB25583/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Lucas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1977-06-18
Filing date: 1977-06-18
Publication date: 1981-01-28
Also published as: FR2394274A1; FR2394274B1; IT1105207B; IT7849897A0; ES244775Y; DE2825597A1; ES244775U

Description

(54) SEAT COVERING (71) We, LUCAS INDUSTRIES LI MITED, a British Company of Great King Street, Birmingham B19 2XF do hereby declare that the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a seat covering particularly but not exclusively for use in a road vehicle, the term "seat covering" being used herein to include both a detachable covering applicable to a complete seat and a covering intended to be attached to a seat frame to form a complete seat.

A seat covering according to the invention is pervious to air and is formed with first and second identical apertures, electrical wiring carried by the covering and extending adjacent said first and second apertures, an electrical fan unit, and an electrical switch unit, said fan unit and said switch unit being engageable in said first and second apertures respectively and being interchangeable therebetween, said wiring, in use, providing electrical connection to said switch unit and said fan unit.

Preferably said covering includes a seat back portion and a seat squab portion and is formed with a third aperture identical to said first and second apertures, one of said first, second and third apertures being in one of said portions of the covering and the other two apertures being in the other portion, said wiring extending adjacent said third aperture and said fan unit and said switch unit being interchangeable between the first and second and third apertures.

Desirably there is provided a blanking plug for closing that one of the three apertures which is not occupied by said switch and fan units.

Alternatively there is provided a second fan unit engageable in the third aperture.

More preferably the covering is formed with a fourth aperture, a pair of said apertures being in opposite side walls of the squab portion respectively and the other pair of apertures being in opposite side walls being of the seat back portion respectively, said fourth aperture being identical with said first, second and third apertures so that said fan unit and said switch unit are interchangeable between the four apertures, said wiring extending also adjacent said fourth aperture.

Desirably the covering having four apertures includes a switch unit a pair of fan units and a blanking plug.

Preferably the wiring adjacent each aperture includes one part of a plug and socket connector a mating part of which is covered by each fan unit and switch unit.

Conveniently each of said apertures is defined by a collar having a bayonet type fitting engageable by any of the switch and fan units.

Preferably the covering includes a heating element.

Desirably said heating element is so associated with said wiring as to be controllable by said switch unit.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a seat covering; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the electrical arrangement of the seat covering shown in Figure 1 and; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of an alternative electrical arrangement for the covering of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings the seat covering is formed from a woven fabric and is thus pervious to air. The covering which is shown in Figure 1 is a detachable cover for a completed seat and is fitted over the seat by the user and held in position by clips or tapes. It is however to be understood that the covering could be the permanent covering of a seat frame which together with the seat frame and the normal upholstery materials, defines a seat for a road vehicle.

The detachable covering 11 comprises an outer layer of material 12 which is pervious to air. Conveniently the material 12 is a woven material although it is to be understood that it could be sheet material which is perforated to render it pervious. There is an inner base 13 which is not pervious to air and which carries a plurality of spaced projections spacing the layer 12 from the base 13, and thus defining airways therebetween. Disposed between the layer 12 and the base 13, in both the seat back and the seat squab portions of the cover are a plurality of electrical heating elements 14.

Energisation of the electrical heating elements from the electrical system of the vehicle in use provides heating of the vehicle seat.

The covering can be considered as two portions, as a seat back portion 11a, and a seat squab portion 11b. It is to be understood however that the two portions are inter connected so that the covering can be handled as a single unit.

Each of the portions of the covering has a side surface which overlies the side of the seat or seat frame in use. Each side surface of each portion is provided with an aperture the two apertures in the squab portion 11h being aligned with one another transversely of the covering and the apertures of the seat back portion 1 lea similarly being aligned with one another transversely of the covering.

The four apertures are defined by respective moulded synthetic resin collars 15 secured to the covering, and communicating with the airways defined between the layer 12 and the base 13. The four moulded synthetic collars 15, (two of which are shown in the drawings) are identical with one another and each can detachably receive any one of three components. The three components are respectively, an electrical switch unit 16, an electrical fan unit 17, and a blanking plug 18. Each of the three components includes a substantially identical outer body moulding adapted to be detachably received within a collar 15. In the example shown in the drawing there are a pair of fan units 17 and the apertures in the seat back portion receive respectively a switch unit 16 and a fan unit 17 while the apertures in the seat squab portion receive respectively a second fan unit 17 and a blanking plug 18.It is to be understood however that as a result of the use of identical collars 15. and substantially identical outer bodies for the three components, the components, that is to say the fans, switches and blanking plugs are interchangeable and any combination of switches, fans and blanking plugs can be utilised.

Thus for example any one of the four apertures may receive a switch unit while the other three apertures receive respective fan units In place of one or more of the fan units there may be substituted a blanking plug and if desired a pair of fan units and a pair of switch units and no blanking plug could be utilised. In such an arrangement it is probable that one switch unit would control the fan unit in the seat back and the other switch unit would control the fan unit in the seat squab. Either or both switches would also control the heater element either as a whole or as two separate portions. The facility of interchangeability allows the user to cope with this own inherent requirements.

The inner and outer layers of the covering are interconnected at the periphery and when the fan unit or units 17 are operative, air is drawn from the exterior of the seat into the seat and is expelled by way of said airways and the covering.

The electrical interconnections between the fan units and the switch unit or units, is achieved by way of electrical wiring incorporated into the covering.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the electrical wiring incorporated into the covering includes a pair of external connecting leads 21, 22 which extend from the cover for connection to the vehicle battery. Adjacent each of the apertures is a four terminal connector, the four terminals of each of the connectors being identified as positive, negative heater, and fan. The four fan terminals are electrically interconnected, and the four heater terminals are electrical connected to one end of the heater element 23. The four negative terminals are connected to the outer end of the heater element 23, and to the lead 22. The four positive terminals are electrically connected to the lead 21. Each switch unit 16 incorporates a three position switch, the three positions of which are an off position a heater on position, and a fan on position.

Thus each switch unit has three terminals and when a switch unit 16 is positioned in any one of the four apertures, by way of the mounting collar 15, the three terminals of the switch are connected to the positive terminal, the fan terminal, and the heater terminal of the connector at that particular aperture. When a fan unit is introduced into one of the apertures the fan motor is connected between the fan terminal and the negative terminal of the connector at that particular aperture. The blanking plug has no electrical connections.It will be recognised that when the leads 21, 22 are connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery respectively, with a switch unit 16 in one of the four apertures, and one or more fan units in one or more of the remaining apertures, then when the switch of the switch unit is in its off position neither the heater element 23 nor the fan of the fan unit will be energised. Moving the switch of the switch unit 16 to its fan on position causes the switch contacts to bridge the positive terminal to the fan terminal thus providing a positive supply to each of the four fan terminals of the four connectors, and thus energising the or each fan unit.

Similarly, moving the switch from its off position to its heater on position, provides a positive supply at said one end of the heater element, and since the other end of the heater element is connected directly to the lead 22 then the heater element is energised.

The heater terminals of the four connectors are of course provided solely to permit the switch unit to be utilised in any one of the four apertures.

It will be appreciated that using the electrical circuit shown in Figure 2 full interchangeability of switch units, fan units and blanking plugs can be achieved without modification to the wiring of the covering.

All that is necessary is to complete the appropriate electrical connections to which ever of the units is inserted into a particular aperture.

The arrangement shown in Figure 2 although having the advantage of full interchangeability in the simplest manner is nevertheless somewhat disadvantageous in that it requires the use of four, four terminal, connectors and a relatively large length of wiring connecting the terminals. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the wiring has been simplified and reduced, but at the expense of the simplicity of interchangeability. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the two seat back portion apertures 15a, 15b are provided with a three terminal connector while the two seat squab portion apertures 15c, 15d are provided only with two terminal connectors. Again the seat covering has the external leads 21, 22 for connection to the positive and negative poles of the vehicle battery respectively.The three terminals of the apertures 15a, 15b are respectively a heater terminal, a positive terminal and a fan terminal, and the two terminals of the connectors of the apertures 15c, 15d are respectively a fan terminal and a negative terminal. The two negative terminals of the connectors of the apertures 15c, 15d are both electrically connected to the lead 22 which is also connected to one end of the heater element 23. The other end of the heater element 23 is electrically connected to the heater terminals of the connectors of the apertures 15a, 15b and the fan terminals of the four connectors are all electrically interconnected. Lastly the positive terminals of the connectors at the apertures 15a, 15b are both electrically connected to the lead 21.It will be recognised that with the wiring arrangement as shown in Figure 2 switch units can only be employed in the apertures 15a and 15b and fan units can only be employed in the apertures 15c and 15d.

With a fan unit in either of the apertures 15c, 15d and a switch unit in either of the apertures lSa, 15b then movement of the switch of the switch unit to its fan on position completes an electrical circuit between the positive terminal and the fan terminal thus connecting the positive supply to all of the fan terminals and energising the fan unit. Similarly movement of the switch to its heater on position connects the positive supply to the heater element 23 energising the heater element. Although the arrangement shown in Figure 2 does not automatically provide full electrical interchangeability there is of course full mechanical interchangeability since each of the aperture collars 15 is identical and capable of receiving either a fan unit, a switch unit, or a blanking plug.Moreover, the aperture 15a is physically closely adjacent aperture 15c and aperture 15b is physically closely adjacent aperture 15d. Thus should it for example be required to have a switch unit in aperture 15c and a fan unit in aperture 15a, as might well be the case, in order to provide fan driven ventillation in the seat back portion, then the operator can manipulate the wiring, which is loosely received within the cover, so that the three terminal connector originally adjacent aperture 15a, can be moved to be adjacent aperture 15c and the two terminal connector originally adjacent aperture 15c can be moved to be adjacent aperture 15a.It will be recognised therefore that the arrangement shown in Figure 3 can accommodate full mechanical and electrical interchangeability of the fan units and switch units although not with the simplicity of more complex electrical arrangement of Figure 2 since manual relocation of the connectors is called for to achieve full interchangeability.

It will be understood that in the event that two separate circuits are required then the wiring will need to be altered so that each switch can control a particular part of the heater element and a particular fan unit.

It is to be understood that while a four aperture version is the preferred version since it permits the greatest flexibility three and two aperture versions are possible. In a two aperture version a blanking plug will not of course be required, since one aperture will be occupied by a switch unit and the other aperture will be occupied by a fan unit. Furthermore, one or both apertures may be provided in either of the covering portions.

It is to be understood that while electrical wiring arrangements which permit total mechanical and electrical interchangeability of the various components are described above in a more simplified version of the covering the ease of electrical interchangeability may be sacrificed by omitting connectors at the various apertures and arranging the wiring such that first and second leads extend in a loop adjacent the apertures. The leads are cut and terminated in accordance with the components to be engaged in that aperture. Thereafter, should the user wish to alter the arrangement of components it will be necessary for him to make appropriate alterations to the wiring.

The mechanical arrangement whereby each of the three components that is to say switch unit, fan unit and blanking plug are engaged in the respective collars 15 can take any convenient form. For example in the arrangement shown in Figure 1 it is prefered to provide the components and collars with a bayonet type connection there being some form of resilient means for example a wavy spring washer, which is compressed during insertion of the component into the collar, and so holds the pins of the bayonet connection in the re-entrant slots against vibration. As an alternative however the interengagement of the bodies of the components and the collars can be in the form of a releasable snap engagement, or the components may be secured in position by readily accessible but aesthetically unobstrusive screws.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A seat covering pervious to air and formed with first and second identical apertures, electrical wiring carried by the covering and extending adjacent said first and second apertures, an electrical fan unit, and an electrical switch unit, said fan unit and said switch unit being engageable in said first and second apertures respectively and being interchangeable therebetween, said wiring, in use. providing electrical connection to said switch unit and said fan unit.

2. A covering as claimed in claim 1 including a seat back portion and a seat squab portion and formed with a third aperture identical to said first and second apertures, one of said first, second and third apertures being in one of said portions of the covering and the other two apertures being in the other portion, said wiring extending adjacent said third aperture and said fan unit and said switch unit being interchangeable between the first and second and third apertures.

3. A covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided a blanking plug for closing that one of the three apertures which is not occupied by said switch and fan units.

4. A covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided a second fan unit engageable in the third aperture.

5. A covering as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the covering is formed with a fourth aperture, a pair of said apertures being in the opposite side walls of the squab portion respectively and the other pair of apertures being in opposite side walls being of the seat back portion respectively, said fourth aperture being identical with said first, second and third apertures so that said fan unit and said switch unit are interchangeable between the four apertures, said wiring extending also adjacent said fourth aperture.

6. A covering as claimed in claim 5 including a switch unit, a pair of fan units and a blanking plug.

7. A covering as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the wiring adjacent each aperture includes one part of a plug and socket connector, a mating part of which is covered by each fan unit and switch unit.

8. A covering as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein each of said apertures is defined by a collar having a bayonet type fitting engageable by any of the switch and fan units.

9. A covering as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the covering includes a heating element.

10. A covering as claimed in claim 9 wherein said heating element is so associated with said wiring as to be controllable by said switch unit.

11. A seat covering substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. It is to be understood that while electrical wiring arrangements which permit total mechanical and electrical interchangeability of the various components are described above in a more simplified version of the covering the ease of electrical interchangeability may be sacrificed by omitting connectors at the various apertures and arranging the wiring such that first and second leads extend in a loop adjacent the apertures. The leads are cut and terminated in accordance with the components to be engaged in that aperture. Thereafter, should the user wish to alter the arrangement of components it will be necessary for him to make appropriate alterations to the wiring. The mechanical arrangement whereby each of the three components that is to say switch unit, fan unit and blanking plug are engaged in the respective collars 15 can take any convenient form. For example in the arrangement shown in Figure 1 it is prefered to provide the components and collars with a bayonet type connection there being some form of resilient means for example a wavy spring washer, which is compressed during insertion of the component into the collar, and so holds the pins of the bayonet connection in the re-entrant slots against vibration. As an alternative however the interengagement of the bodies of the components and the collars can be in the form of a releasable snap engagement, or the components may be secured in position by readily accessible but aesthetically unobstrusive screws. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A seat covering pervious to air and formed with first and second identical apertures, electrical wiring carried by the covering and extending adjacent said first and second apertures, an electrical fan unit, and an electrical switch unit, said fan unit and said switch unit being engageable in said first and second apertures respectively and being interchangeable therebetween, said wiring, in use. providing electrical connection to said switch unit and said fan unit.