US20070145808A1

US20070145808A1 - Motor vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: US20070145808A1
Application number: US10/577,403
Authority: US
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Minuth; Karl Pfahler
Original assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2003-10-28
Filing date: 2004-10-23
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Also published as: DE10350146B4; WO2005042299A1; DE10350146A1

Abstract

A vehicle seat for a motor vehicle has a cushion core and ventilation ducts which run along and inside a seat surface and/or backrest surface, and each have a constant cross section ventilation channels are essentially arranged transversely to the ventilation ducts, have a constant cross section, penetrate the entire thickness of the cushion core and extend from the ventilation ducts as far as a rear wall facing away from the seat surface and/or backrest surface. A predetermined arrangement of the ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels defines regions in the cushion core which are ventilated to different extents and are adapted to a ventilation requirement of a standard vehicle occupant.

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat according to the precharacterizing clause of claim 1.
A cushion with a cushion core is known from the German patent application with the official application number 102 43 315.16 and the application date of Sep. 18, 2002, which has still not been published by the application date of the present patent application. To improve the climate comfort, longitudinal and transverse grooves are formed in a surface of the cushion core, which grooves are spaced apart from one another, in each case have a constant cross section, are open toward a cover layer and intersect one another. In this case, the longitudinal and transverse grooves described are designed as ventilation ducts. In addition, ventilation channels which penetrate the full core thickness of the cushion core are provided therein, said ventilation channels opening, on the one hand, in the intersecting points of longitudinal and transverse grooves and, on the other hand, freely on the outside of the cushion core. Furthermore, a fan for subjecting a central cushion region to air can be arranged either on that side of the cushion core which faces away from the cover layer and at a distance therefrom, or in a channel completely penetrating the cushion core.
DE 200 02 447 U1 discloses a seat cushion for vehicle seats, in particular for vehicle seats with a core part made from plastic foam. On its upper side facing a seat surface, the core part has duct-like depressions which cause zonal weakening and thereby configure the seat surface in accordance with the required pressure ratios. The basic concept in this case is to provide a support which is suitable for the body and at the same time brings about a soft and pleasant sitting sensation. In this case, the duct-like depressions and those remaining partial surfaces of the core part which are formed thereby are designed in adaptation to the human anatomy in such a manner that an optimum seat pressure distribution is achieved. It is furthermore provided to permit, at least partially, a circulation of air in the duct-like depressions. In this case, either a passive or an active ventilation can be provided with an additional ventilator.
DE 33 06 871 A1 discloses a cushion with an air-permeable cover layer. In the cushion, ventilation ducts or flexible tubes running on or in the core and having air-permeable walls bring about a reinforced exchange of air in the regions on which the person is sitting, leaning or reclining, which prevents too great a rise in temperature of the cushion surface. Furthermore, it is provided to coordinate the duct density and a duct cross section to a cushion size or cushion shape in such a manner that a seat pressure distribution perceived as being comfortable is maintained.
DE 40 01 207 A1 discloses a vehicle seat with a cushion body provided with a cushion cover. On the inside of the seat, a moisture-absorbing material is provided between cushion body and a cushion cover, said material absorbing the moisture on the contact surfaces of the seat, against which the body parts of the vehicle occupant bear, and transporting it to the outside of the seat. Furthermore, recesses in the form of blind-pore-like transverse grooves are provided in the cushion body and the moisture-absorbing material extends through them to the outside of the cushion body. The abovementioned recesses transport away the moisture which arises and therefore ensures a pleasant seat climate. In this case, the abovementioned recesses are distributed essentially regularly and uniformly over the seat surface or backrest surface of the vehicle seat.
The present invention is concerned with the problem of indicating an improved embodiment for a vehicle seat of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which, in particular, a particularly high seat comfort is achieved.
This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous refinements are the subject matter of the dependent claim.
The invention is based on the general concept, in the case of a motor vehicle seat which has a cushion core with essentially surface-parallel ventilation ducts and ventilation channels arranged transversely thereto, of providing a predetermined arrangement of the ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels which defines regions in the cushion core which are ventilated to different extents, and these regions being adapted to a ventilation requirement of a standard vehicle occupant. The ventilation ducts run essentially along and inside a seat surface and/or backrest surface and have an essentially constant cross section. The ventilation channels, which likewise in each case have a constant cross section, penetrate the entire thickness of the cushion core and extend from the ventilation ducts as far as a rear wall facing away from the seat surface and/or backrest surface. In this case, the ventilation channels preferably open in an intersecting point of two intersecting ventilation ducts.
The solution according to the invention affords the great advantage that the ventilation ducts are only arranged within the cushion core at the points at which a ventilation is actually required. For example, there is an increased ventilation requirement in the lower back region or in the region of a human ischial protuberance whereas, in the shoulder region, i.e. in the upper back region, there is a rather low ventilation requirement. By adapting the ventilation system comprising ventilation ducts and ventilation channels to the ventilation requirement of a standardized vehicle occupant, a significant increase in comfort is achieved which makes itself noticeable in particular by the fact that the sweat moisture which is output by the vehicle occupant and is output to different extents at different points of the vehicle seat can be removed as required. A pleasant and fresh seat feel is thereby imparted to the vehicle occupant, which has a positive effect on the vehicle occupant's feeling of well-being and consequently also on the driving safety.
In regions with a greater ventilation requirement, the ventilation ducts and/or the ventilation channels can be arranged more densely and/or can have a larger cross section and can thereby bring about an increased dehumidifying capacity. In regions in which only a moderate or low sweat moisture occurrence is to be expected, the ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels can be at a larger distance from one another and/or can be formed with a smaller cross-section. Overall, the solution according to the invention therefore affords the great advantage that the ventilation capacity of the vehicle seat is adapted to the actual ventilation requirement of different seat points.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ventilation requirement is adapted to a body pressure distribution. At points with increased body pressure, for example in the region of the human ischial protuberance, an increased sweat moisture occurrence is to be expected whereas, in regions with a low body contact pressure, of course, significantly less sweat moisture occurs. As a result, it is expedient to adapt the ventilation requirement to a body pressure distribution by, for example, the arrangement of the ventilation ducts and/or the ventilation channels being coordinated with regard to their shape and arrangement density to the body pressure distribution. As a result, the ventilation or the removal of moisture is coordinated as required to the actual requirement, triggered by the human anatomy.
According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ventilation requirement is adapted to body contact points. In this embodiment too, a dehumidification of individual seat regions which meets requirements and, above all, is adapted to the human anatomy is ensured. At points at which the standard vehicle occupant's body has contact with the seat surface or backrest surface, a significantly higher sweat moisture occurrence is normally to be expected than at points at which no or only sporadic contact between the vehicle occupant and the seat surface or backrest surface occurs. At regions at which the vehicle occupant does not have any contact with the seat surface or back rest surface, between the latter and the vehicle occupant there is an insulating, dehumidifying and simultaneously freshening air layer which, even when there is a low flow rate, guarantees sufficient ventilation. By contrast, however, at regions with direct body contact the thickness of this air layer is greatly reduced, and a flow rate or circulation of the air layer is virtually impossible. It therefore appears extremely expedient to adapt the ventilation requirement, i.e. the arrangement of the ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels, to possible body contact points of the standard vehicle occupant with the vehicle seat.
It can expediently be provided to design the ventilation ducts as a duct grid and to intersect them in a manner connected in terms of flow. A duct grid of this type provides uniform and sufficient ventilation of all of the connected ducts, and thereby ensures a circulation, which is for the ventilation, in the duct system.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels can only be arranged in regions with ventilation provided. Regions of this type can be defined, for example, via the seat pressure distribution or via the body contact points and can thereby ensure that the ventilation of the cushion core and therefore of the vehicle seat is essentially restricted to the regions in which there is an actual ventilation requirement.
According to a preferred development of the invention, the ventilation ducts and/or the ventilation channels can be closed in regions in which no ventilation is provided. This affords the great advantage that, in the first instance, a standardized cushion core is used, in which the corresponding ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels are closed, for example, by means of an adhesive bond or by means of a stopper during production subsequently. By this means, for example, a reduction in components and therefore an advantage in terms of costs can be achieved.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the vehicle seat is designed as a passively ventilated vehicle seat. In the case of passively ventilated vehicle seats, the pumping action caused by the movement of the vehicle occupant during the journey is essentially sufficient in order to bring about a sufficient circulation of the air in the ventilation ducts and/or ventilation channels. In contrast to an actively ventilated vehicle seat, an additional ventilator can therefore be saved and, as a result, the significant lowering of costs can be achieved.
It is also conceivable for the vehicle seat to be designed as an actively ventilated vehicle seat, with at least one fan or a miniature ventilator being provided to ventilate the vehicle seat. In comparison to the passively ventilated vehicle seat, this variant embodiment ensures a significantly increased dehumidifying capacity, so that, in particular in the summer months, an active seat ventilation can achieve an additional increase in comfort. It is also conceivable in this case that, when the fan or the miniature ventilator is switched off, the vehicle seat which up to now was actively ventilated is passively ventilated.
Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated descriptions of the figures with reference to the drawings.
It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those which have yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively stated combination but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the context of the present invention.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the descriptions below, with identical reference numbers referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a vehicle seat according to the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a body pressure distribution of a standard vehicle occupant on a vehicle seat,
FIG. 3 shows an illustration as in FIG. 1, but with differently arranged ventilation ducts.
According to FIG. 1, a part of a vehicle seat 1, namely a seat surface 2 which has a multiplicity of intersecting ventilation ducts 3 is shown. Both in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, only the seat surface 2 of the vehicle seat 1 is illustrated, the details described below of course also being transferable to a backrest surface of the vehicle seat 1.
The ventilation ducts 3 are arranged both in the longitudinal direction of the seat and in the transverse direction of the seat and intersect at intersecting points 9 at which a respective ventilation channel 5 arranged transversely to the ventilation ducts 3 opens. The ventilation ducts 3 run along and on the inside of a seat surface 2 or a backrest surface (not illustrated) within the cushion core 4 and are designed to have in each case an essentially constant cross section. The ventilation channels 5, which penetrate the entire thickness of the cushion core 4 and extend from the ventilation ducts 3 on the one hand, as far as, on the other hand, a rear wall (not illustrated) which faces away from the seat surface 2, are likewise designed to have in each case a constant cross-section.
According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the ventilation ducts 3 and the ventilation channels 5 are arranged regularly, i.e. essentially symmetrically to a central vertical plane of the vehicle seat 1. A solid line here indicates a ventilation duct 3 or a ventilation channel 5 through which the flow passes to ventilate the vehicle seat 1, whereas ventilation ducts 3 or ventilation channels 5 shown by dashed lines, i.e. shown by a broken line, are either not provided or else are closed.
According to the invention, it is provided that a certain arrangement of the ventilation ducts 3 and/or ventilation channels 5, i.e., for example, a layer, a density (number per unit of area) and/or a cross section, defines regions 6 in the cushion core which are ventilated to different extents and are adapted to a ventilation requirement of a standard vehicle occupant (not illustrated). Considered in more detail, this means that a strength of the ventilation of the vehicle seat 1 are adapted to standardized anatomy data of the human body. Such an adaptation of the ventilation requirement can be undertaken, for example, with reference to a body pressure distribution 7 (compare FIG. 2). A body pressure distribution of this type separates seat regions 6′, in which a ventilation is required, and seat regions 6″, in which only a low ventilation if any at all is required. In addition, of course, a further refinement of the regions 6′ into further regions (not illustrated) which are ventilated to different extents is possible. A further subdivision into more refined regions can take place, for example, according to FIG. 2, with reference to a color card or grayscale card generated by the body pressure distribution 7.
According to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the ventilation ducts 3 and the ventilation channels 5 are not arranged or are closed in the regions 6″, in which no ventilation is required.
In regions 6′ in which a significantly greater ventilation is required in order to remove sweat moisture, the ventilation ducts 3 and the ventilation channels 5 can have, for example, a larger cross section and/or a denser arrangement. By contrast, in regions 6′, in which a lower ventilation is required, the ventilation ducts 3 and the ventilation channels 4 can have a smaller cross section or a position further away from one another.
The seat pressure distribution 7 according to FIG. 2 corresponds, for example, to an average seat pressure distribution (e.g. 95% percentile) and, as a result, is anatomically suitable for a great majority of the vehicle occupants. The adaptation of the cross section of the ventilation channels 5 and of the ventilation ducts 3 and the density of the position of the same can take place proportionally to a color scale of the seat pressure distribution 7.
In addition it is conceivable that the vehicle seat 1 is designed as a passively ventilation vehicle seat 1, in which a ventilation of the cushion core 4 is brought about only by convective flow or by a movement of the vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat 1 during the journey. By contrast, however, a design of the vehicle seat 1 as an actively ventilated vehicle seat 1 is also conceivable, with, in this connection, at least one fan (not illustrated) or a miniature ventilator (likewise not illustrated) being provided. A design of an actively ventilated vehicle seat 1 provides the advantage of being able to ensure an increased dehumidifying capacity and, as a result, of also being able to reliably remove increased amounts of sweat moisture which arises. A combination of actively and passively ventilated vehicle seat 1 is also conceivable, in which case, after the fan is switched off, the actively ventilated vehicle seat 1 is automatically transferred into a passively ventilated vehicle seat 1, and vice versa.
According to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the ventilation ducts 3 and the ventilation channels 5 run essentially regularly, with, in addition, or alternatively, a symmetric or irregularly arranged ventilation ducts 3 and ventilation channels 5 also being conceivable.
In summary, the essential features of the solution according to the invention can be characterized as follows:
The invention makes provision, in the case of a vehicle seat 1 with a cushion core 4, in which ventilation ducts 3 and ventilation channels 5 in each case having a constant cross section run, for regions 6 which are ventilated to different extents to be defined by a predetermined arrangement of the ventilation ducts 3 and/or the ventilation channels 5. The regions 6 defined in such a manner are adapted to a ventilation requirement of a standard vehicle occupant, for example with reference to a body pressure distribution 7 or with reference to body contact points.
The ventilation ducts 3 run along and on the inside of the cushion core 4 or a seat surface 2 and/or a backrest surface, with the ventilation channels 5, which in each case have a constant cross section and penetrate the entire thickness of the cushion core 4, running essentially transversely thereto.
By means of the solution according to the invention, a ventilation is required of individual regions 6, 6′, 6″ of the seat surface 2 on the backrest surface of the vehicle seat 1 is achieved and, as a result, a ventilation capacity is adapted to the particular requirements, for example a sweat moisture occurrence. By this means, it is possible to reliably remove the sweat moisture which occurs and, as a result, to impart a comfortable seat sensation to the vehicle occupant.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A series of components for a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, comprising a cushion core, ventilation ducts running along and inside at least one of a seat surface and a backrest surface and having a constant cross section, and ventilation channels arranged essentially transversely to the ventilation ducts, having a constant cross section, penetrating the entire thickness of the cushion core and extending from the ventilation ducts as far as a rear wall facing away from at least one of the seat surface and backrest surface, wherein a predetermined arrangement of at least one of the ventilation ducts and the ventilation channels in the cushion core defines regions ventilated to different extents adapted to a ventilation requirement of a standard vehicle occupant.

11. The series of components as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ventilation requirement is adapted to a body pressure distribution.

12. The series of components as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ventilation requirement is adapted to body contact points.

13. The series of components as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ventilation ducts are configured as a duct grid and intersect in a manner connected in flow terms.

14. The series of components as claimed in one of claim 13, wherein the ventilation requirement is adapted to a body pressure distribution.

15. The series of components as claimed in one of claim 14, wherein the ventilation requirement is also adapted to a body contact points.

16. The series of components as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the ventilation ducts and ventilation channels is essentially arranged regularly.

17. The series of components as claimed in one of claim 13, wherein at least one of the ventilation ducts and the ventilation channels are arranged only in regions with ventilation provided.

18. The series of components as claimed claim 13, wherein at least one of the ventilation ducts and the ventilation channels are closed in regions in which no ventilation is provided.

19. The series of components as claimed claim 18, wherein at least one of the ventilation ducts and the ventilation channels are arranged only in regions with ventilation provided.

20. The series of components as claimed in claim 13, wherein the vehicle seat is a passively ventilated vehicle seat.

21. The series of components as claimed in claim 13, wherein the vehicle seat is an actively ventilated vehicle seat, and at least one fan or a miniature ventilator is operatively associated therewith.