JPH09108070A - Air blowing device for seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a comfortable feeling of sitting without deteriorating ventilation. SOLUTION: An air blowing device 1 for seat consists of a seat mat 2 which has air channels inside and a hose 3 connected to an air conditioner mounted in a car. The seat mat is made by connecting mat elements 7 and flexible tubes 8 alternately. There is a space formed between the tubes 8 and a seating face. When the user sits on the seat mat 2, the tubes 8 bend and the seat mat 2 deformes along the body of the user and therefore the user can obtain a comfortable feeling of seating. Since the body of the user is brought into contact mainly with the mat elements 7, load on the seat mat 2 is supported by the mat elements 7. Therefore, the tubes 8 are not destroyed and the air flow does not become stagnant. Furthermore, the mat elements 7 have sufficient strength and the air channels are not destroyed and there is no deterioration in ventilation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat air blowing device which is provided, for example, in a seat of an automobile and can apply air-conditioning wind to the waist and back of the user, and particularly when the user sits down. The present invention relates to a seat air blowing device that allows a user to obtain a comfortable sitting feeling without deteriorating ventilation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a cushion-type seat air-blowing device which is provided in a seat of an automobile or the like and blows air-conditioned air to a user's waist or back, it is disclosed in JP-A-61-64525. It is known that it has a structure like that. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-64525, a structure is used in which a breathable material is used on the surface of the cushion so that the inside of the cushion can be ventilated, and air-conditioning air is blown from the surface of the cushion to air-condition the user's waist or back. The wind can be applied.

[0003]

However, if a material having a certain degree of strength is used as the material of the cushion in order to maintain the structure capable of ventilating, there is a problem that the comfort of the user is uncomfortable. If a soft material is used as the material of the cushion to solve such a problem, the portion of the cushion that the user's body is in close contact with is crushed by the weight of the user, which deteriorates ventilation. The problem arises.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a seat air blowing device provided in a seat in which a user can obtain a comfortable sitting feeling without deteriorating ventilation. The purpose is.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the invention of claim 1, when the user sits on the seat (4), the body of the user is touched by the surface of the mat element (7). Contact the seating surface to be formed. Flow path of each mat element (1
1) Since the connecting means (8) for making the two communicate with each other is arranged apart from the seating surface, when the user sits on the seat, the mat element mainly comes into contact with the user's body. That is, the contact area with the user when the user sits on the seat is larger in the mat element than in the connecting means. Therefore, since the load applied to the seating surface is mainly supported by the plurality of mat elements, it is possible to prevent the ventilation of the air passage from being lowered.

Further, since the connecting means is flexible, the connecting means bends when a load is applied to the seating surface, and the entire seating surface changes into a shape conforming to the user's body, so that the user is comfortable. You can give a nice sitting feeling. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the mat elements (7) are arranged in a lattice pattern,
The seating surface can be deformed more finely according to the body of the user.

By the way, since the pressure loss increases toward the downstream side of the air passage, the amount of air blown out from the air outlet (14) of the mat element (7) disposed on the downstream side decreases. Therefore, the amount of air blown out becomes uneven depending on the position of the seating surface. However, according to the invention of claim 3 or 4, the amount of air blown out from the outlet of the mat element arranged on the upstream side of the air passage and the amount of air blown out from the outlet of the mat element arranged on the downstream side. And can be made uniform.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, even if the outlet (14a) is blocked by the body of the user,
Air can be blown out from the blow-out port (14b) formed in each mat element (7) in a different direction from the closed blow-out port (14a), so that sufficient air-conditioning performance is ensured. can do. Further, according to the invention of claim 6, the amount of air taken into the air passage (15) from the air intake means (3, 9) can be adjusted by the flow rate adjusting means (20), which is required by the user. Accordingly, the amount of air flowing through the air passage can be adjusted.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a seat air blowing device provided in a vehicle seat will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a seat air blow-out device 1 is equipped with a seat mat 2 having an air passage 15 therein, and is attached to the seat mat 2 and mounted on a vehicle. A hose 3 which is an air intake means for taking in conditioned air from an air conditioner (not shown) to the air passage 15.
And a suction adapter 9.

The sheet mat 2 has a substantially lattice shape and a width of 500 m.
It has a size of m and a length of 1050 mm. The seat mat 2 is bent into an L shape and is used by being attached to the seat 4 in a state of covering the surfaces of the seating portion 4a and the backrest portion 4b of the seat 4. The seat mat 2 has a length of 450 mm at a portion arranged on the seating portion 4a and a length of 600 mm at a portion arranged on the backrest portion 4b. Seat mat 2
A fixing band 6 is attached to the end portion of the headrest 5 side, and the seat mat 2 is fixed to the seat 4 by attaching the fixing band 6 to the support column 5a of the headrest 5.

One end of the hose 3 is attached to the end of the seat mat 2. On the other hand, a substantially truncated pyramidal suction adapter 9 is attached to the other end of the hose 3. Two spring-like hooks 10 are attached to the inside of the suction adapter 9. By inserting these hooks 10 into the frame (not shown) of the air outlet of the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle, the hose 3 is attached to the vehicle. It is attached to the air outlet (not shown) of the installed air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion B of FIG. 1, both of which are sectional views parallel to the seating surface of the seat mat 2. The sheet mat 2 has a plurality of mat elements 7 each having a flow passage 11 formed therein, and a tube 8 as a connecting means having a passage 16 formed therein. The mat elements 7 are arranged on the surfaces of the seating portion 4a and the backrest portion 4b of the seat 4 so as to have a substantially lattice shape. The flow passages 11 of each mat element 7 arranged in this way communicate with each other via the passage 16 of the tube 8 to form an air passage 15. Also, the mat element 7
The surface of the seat forms a seating surface that contacts the body of the user.

The mat element 7 is made of resin (polypropylene) and has a substantially cylindrical shape with an outer diameter of 15 mm and a length of 20 mm. An opening 12 is formed on the bottom surface or the cylindrical surface of the mat element 7 and serves as the entrance and exit of the flow path 11 in each mat element 7. The diameter of the opening 12 is set to the mat element 7
Smaller than the outer diameter of A rib 13 having a height of 5 mm is provided upright around the opening 12 toward the outside of the mat element 7. The outer diameter of the rib 13 is 7 mm, which is about half the outer diameter of the mat element 7, and the rib 13 is formed so as to be located closer to the seat 4 than the seating surface.

On the cylindrical surface of the mat element 7, as shown in FIG. 3, there is an air outlet 14 which opens upward with respect to the surface of the seat 4.
The air outlet 14 is formed by a and an air outlet 14b that opens in the horizontal direction. The air outlet 14 communicates with the flow passage 11, and the air flowing through the flow passage 11 is blown out from the air outlet 14. There are four types of mat elements 7, mat elements 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d having different external shapes.
Flow paths 11a, 11b, 11c, 1 having different shapes
1d is formed.

A linear flow path 11a extending in the axial direction is formed inside the mat element 7a, and openings 12a are formed on both bottom surfaces. On the other hand, a substantially L-shaped flow path 11b is formed inside the mat element 7b, and the opening 1
2b is formed on one end of the mat element 7b and on the cylindrical surface. The flow path 1 extending in the axial direction is provided inside the mat element 7c.
1c1 and the flow path 11c1 extending in the axial direction are orthogonal to each other,
A flow channel 11c2 that penetrates the cylindrical surface is formed. However, one end of the flow channel 11c1 is closed, and the flow channel 11c formed inside the mat element 3 is substantially T-shaped. That is, the openings 12 are formed at one end of the mat element 3 and the cylindrical surface, respectively.

The mat element 7d arranged at the position where the hose 3 is attached to the seat mat 2 is the mat element 7d.
It has substantially the same structure as a, 7b, and 7c. However, a tube 7d1 communicating with the flow path 11d is formed on the cylindrical surface. The diameter of the tube 7d1 is smaller than the diameter of the mat element 7d. The tube 8 is made of a flexible resin (for example, natural rubber) and has a length of about 15 mm, although it depends on the shape of the tube 8. On the other hand, the diameter of the tube 8 is about half the diameter of the mat element 7, and the rib 1
Somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of 3. The external shape of the tube 8 depends on the number of mat elements 7 to be connected.
There are three types, 8b and 8c.

The tube 8a has a substantially linear shape, and a substantially linear passage 16a is formed inside.
By fitting the end portion of the tube 8a into the rib 13 of the mat element 7 by pressure insertion, two mat elements 7 (four types of mat elements 7a, 7b,
It is possible to communicate the flow paths 11 of 7c and 7d) with each other. For example,
One end of the tube 8a to the rib 13a of the mat element 7a,
By fitting the other ends into the ribs 13c of the mat element 7c, respectively, the channel 11a of the mat element 7a and the channel 11c of the mat element 7c can be communicated with each other via the passage 16a.

The tube 8b has a shape in which two tubes intersect with each other, and a substantially cross-shaped passage 16b is formed therein. The end of the tube 8b is connected to the rib 1 of the mat element 7.
3 by means of pressure insertion into the passage 16
b through the four mat elements 7 (four types of mat elements 7
Any combination of a, 7b, 7c, and 7d may be used), and the flow channels 11 can be communicated with each other. For example, by fitting the ends of the tube 8b into the ribs 13a of the three mat elements 7a and the rib 13c of the mat element 7c, respectively, the flow paths 11a of the three mat elements 7a and the mat element 7c are connected via the passages 16b. Channel 1
1c can be communicated with each other.

The tube 8c is a three-way tube, and has a T inside.
A V-shaped passage 16c is formed. By fitting the end portion of the tube 8c into the rib 13 of the mat element 7 by pressure insertion, the flow path of the three mat elements 7 (combination among the four kinds of mat elements 7 may be any) via the passage 16c. 11 can communicate with each other. For example, by fitting the ends of the tube 8c into the ribs 13a of the two mat elements 7a and the rib 13b of the mat element 7b, respectively, the flow paths 11a of the two mat elements 7a and the mat element 7b are passed through the passage 16c. It is possible to communicate with the flow channel 11b. Three mat elements 7 can be connected.

By arranging the mat elements 7 and tubes 8 having various shapes as described above so that the overall shape becomes a lattice shape, and fitting each tube 8 to the rib 13 of each mat element 7, The sheet mat 2 is formed. At this time, the ribs 13 whose outer diameter is about half the outer diameter of the mat element 7
Is formed so as to be located closer to the seat 4 than the seating surface, so that the tube 8 fitted into the rib 13 is arranged so as to be separated from the seating surface.

Although not shown, the blowout port 1 of each mat element 7 is formed so that the diameter of the blowout port 14 formed in each mat element 7 becomes larger toward the downstream side of the air passage 15.
4 is formed. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The conditioned air blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle passes through the suction adapter 9 and the hose 3,
It is guided to the flow path 11d of the mat element 7d. Tube 8
Since the flow paths 11 of the mat elements 7 constituting the sheet mat 2 are communicated with each other through the passages 16 of
The air guided to the mat element 7d is further guided to the flow path 11 of each mat element 7 arranged on the downstream side, and the air outlet 14
Blown out from. The seat mat 2 is a seating portion 4a of the seat.
Further, since it is provided so as to cover the backrest portion 4b, the conditioned air is blown toward the user's waist or back.

When the user sits on the seat 4 to which the seat mat 2 is attached, the seat mat 2 is loaded by the weight of the user. In this embodiment,
Since the tube 8 is made of natural rubber and has flexibility, the tube 8 bends according to the weight and body type of the user, and the sheet mat 2 deforms according to the body of the user. As a result, a comfortable seat mat 2 can be obtained.

Further, since the tube 8 is arranged so as to be separated from the seating surface, the body of the user mainly contacts the mat element 7. That is, the contact area between the mat element 7 and the user is larger than the contact area between the tube 8 and the user, and the load on the seat mat 2 is mainly supported by the mat element 7. Therefore, the tube 8 is not crushed by the load of the user, and the flow of air passing through the tube 8 is not delayed. In addition, since the deformation of the tube 8 due to the above-described bending is gentle along the human body, the cross-sectional area of the tube 8 does not decrease significantly, and even if the user sits on the seat mat 2 the tube 8
There is no interruption in the flow of air through the.

On the other hand, the mat element 7 is made of resin and has sufficient strength to withstand a load. Therefore, even if the user sits on the seat mat 2, the mat element 7 is not deformed, and the flow of air passing through the flow path 11 of the mat element 7 is not delayed. Further, the length of the mat element 7 in the axial direction is shortened with respect to the size of the user, and the shape of the sheet mat 2 is made into a lattice shape, so that the sheet mat is protected against small irregularities of the human body of the user. 2 can be flexibly deformed. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling when seated and to make the seat mat 2 comfortable. Further, since many mat elements 7 can be brought into contact with the user's body, more mat elements 7 can be loaded.
Can be dispersed in.

Further, the air outlet 1 formed in the mat element 7
Since 4 is formed not only in the upward direction but also in the horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the seat 4, even if the air outlet 14a formed in the upward direction of the tube 7 is blocked by the user's body. Since the air outlet 14b formed in the horizontal direction is not blocked, the conditioned air can be blown out even from the position where the user's body is in close contact.

By the way, since the pressure loss increases toward the downstream side of the air passage 15, the amount of air blown out from the air outlet 14 of the mat element 7 arranged on the downstream side decreases. However, the diameter of the blowout port 14 formed in the mat element 7 is gradually increased as the position where it is arranged becomes the downstream side, and the opening area of the blowout port 14 is increased. It is possible to increase the amount of air blown out from the mat element 7 arranged in each mat element 7, and the mat element 7 can be irrespective of the position where the mat element 7 is arranged.
The amount of air blown from the can be made uniform.

The seat mat 2 has a fixing band 6
By attaching the to the support pillar 5a of the headrest 5,
Since the seat mat 2 is fixed to the seat 4, it can be easily attached to the seat 4. Further, the air conditioner can be made cheaper than an air conditioner installed by embedding it in a seat or the like, and can be removed, so that the air conditioner can be highly convenient.

[Second Embodiment] Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the hose 3 has a flow rate adjusting valve 2 as a flow rate adjusting means.
A structure in which 0 is provided may be used. The mat element 7 is operated by operating the flow rate adjusting knob 21 of the flow rate adjusting valve 20.
It is possible to adjust the amount of air flowing out from the air outlet 14 of the. The rest of the structure and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the opening area of the air outlet formed in the mat element is increased toward the downstream side of the air passage so that the amount of air blown out from each mat element is made uniform. However, the number of outlets formed in the mat element may be increased toward the downstream side. Further, in the above-described embodiments, the shape of the sheet mat is a substantially lattice shape, but the shape of the sheet mat is not particularly limited.

The shape of the mat element and the tube can be changed according to the desired shape of the sheet mat,
The shape is not particularly limited. Further, the number of mat elements or tubes constituting the sheet mat and the number of shapes of mat elements or tubes to be used are not particularly limited. Further, in the above-described embodiments, the material of the mat element is polypropylene, but other types of resins may be used as long as they have no flexibility. Further, as the material of the mat element, bamboo, rattan, wood, etc. may be used instead of resin, and the material is not particularly limited to resin. Further, although the material of the tube is natural rubber in the present embodiment, any material having flexibility can be used, and the material of the tube is not particularly limited.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the seat mat is attached to the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat, but the seatmat may be attached to either the seating portion or the backrest portion. The same effect can be obtained. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mat element is formed with the air outlet opening upward with respect to the surface of the seat and the air outlet opening horizontally, but for example, the air outlet opening obliquely upward. The outlet may be formed, and the opening direction of the outlet is not particularly limited. Similarly, the number of directions and the number of outlets are not particularly limited.

The sizes of the mat element, the tube, the sheet mat, and the like shown above are merely examples, and the sizes are not limited to these.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the mat element.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion B in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 3 Hose which is a part of air intake means 4 Seat 7 Mat element 8 Tube which is a connecting means 9 Intake adapter which is a part of air intake means 11 Flow path 14 Air outlet 15 Air passage 16 Passage 20 Flow rate Flow rate adjustment valve that is an adjustment means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of mat elements, each having a flow passage through which air flows, an air outlet for blowing air from the flow passage, and arranged so as to cover a surface of a seat, and having flexibility. By connecting means arranged to cover the surface of the seat and connecting the flow paths of the mat elements to each other, the passage of these connecting means and the flow path of the mat element communicate with each other. The mat element has a seating surface formed by the surface of the mat element, and each of the connecting means is arranged apart from the seating surface. An air blowing device for a seat, which is characterized in that 2. The air blowing device for a seat according to claim 1, wherein the mat elements are arranged in a lattice pattern on the surface of the seat. 3. The downstream side of the air passage,
3. The air blowing device for a seat according to claim 1, wherein an opening area of each of the air outlets formed in each of the mat elements is increased. 4. The downstream side of the air passage,
The seat air blowing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of the air outlets formed in each of the mat elements is increased. 5. The seat air blowing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of air outlets for blowing air in different directions are formed in each mat element. 6. The seat air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the air intake means is provided with a flow rate adjusting means for adjusting an amount of air taken into the air passage. .