U.S. patent application number 10/964107 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for vehicle seat with cooling/heating device.
Invention is credited to Noh, Ki-Yeong.
Application Number | 20050200166 10/964107 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34921807 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050200166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noh, Ki-Yeong |
September 15, 2005 |
Vehicle seat with cooling/heating device
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a vehicle seat with a cooling/heating
device. The vehicle seat comprises electric fans respectively
equipped in a lower portion of a seat cushion and a rear portion of
a seat back to intake indoor air within the vehicle, cushion
members respectively provided in the seat cushion and the seat back
and formed with air-supply pathways to supply air induced from the
seat cushion and the seat back to an upper portion of the seat
cushion and to a front portion of the seat back, air-spreading
layers respectively layered on an upper portion of the cushion
member provided in the seat cushion and on a front portion of the
cushion member provided in the seat back to spread air induced
through each of the air-supply pathways, heating pads respectively
layered on the air-spreading layers, with a heating line disposed
therein, and with a plurality of ventilation holes punctured
through each of the heating pads between serpentine sections of the
heating line along the heating line, and seat covers respectively
layered on the heating pads and having a plurality of air discharge
openings formed on the surface of the seat cover.
Inventors: |
Noh, Ki-Yeong; (Kyunggi-do,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ST. ONGE STEWARD JOHNSTON & REENS, LLC
986 BEDFORD STREET
STAMFORD
CT
06905-5619
US
|
Family ID: |
34921807 |
Appl. No.: |
10/964107 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/180.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/5678 20130101;
B60N 2/5685 20130101; B60N 2/5642 20130101; B60N 2/5657
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/180.14 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/72 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 9, 2004 |
KR |
2004-6264 |
Aug 26, 2004 |
KR |
2004-24400 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat back with a
cooling/heating device, the vehicle seat comprising: electric fans
respectively equipped in a lower portion of the seat cushion and a
rear portion of the seat back to intake indoor air within a vehicle
into the seat cushion and the seat back; cushion members
respectively provided in the seat cushion and the seat back and
formed with air-supply pathways to supply air induced from the seat
cushion and the seat back to an upper portion of the seat cushion
and to a front portion of the seat back; air-spreading layers
respectively layered on an upper portion of the cushion member
provided in the seat cushion and on a front portion of the cushion
member provided in the seat back to spread air induced through the
air-supply pathways by an area corresponding to at least an area of
the vehicle seat contacting the hip and the back of a person seated
in the vehicle; heating pads respectively layered on the
air-spreading layers, with a heating line disposed therein to
generate heat when electric power is applied to the heating line,
and with a plurality of ventilation holes punctured through each of
the heating pads between serpentine sections of the heating line
along the heating line; and seat covers respectively layered on the
heating pads and having a plurality of air discharge openings
formed on the surface of each of the seat covers, through which air
supplied through the air-spreading layers and the ventilation holes
of the heating pads is discharged.
2. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electric
fans are equipped at the left and right sides of the front side of
the lower portion of the seat cushion and at the left and right
sides of the rear side of the upper portion of the seat back,
respectively, and are controlled to have at least two speeds
according to variable speed control by a control switch.
3. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the
air-spreading layer comprises hexagonal-shaped upper and lower nets
with synthetic resin yarns connected between the upper and lower
nets in a serpentine shape to provide air permeability and
elasticity.
4. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating
line of each of the heating pads is controlled to have at least two
temperature levels according to variable temperature control by a
control switch.
5. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein a sealing pad
is provided between each of the cushion members and each of the
air-spreading layers, and has apertures at positions corresponding
to the air-supply pathways.
6. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein a porous
spongy member is positioned between each of the heating pads and
each of the seat covers.
7. A vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat back with a
cooling/heating device, the vehicle seat comprising: electric fans
respectively equipped in a lower portion of the seat cushion and a
rear portion of the seat back to intake indoor air within a vehicle
into the seat cushion and the seat back; cushion members
respectively provided in the seat cushion and the seat back and
formed with air-supply pathways to supply air induced from the seat
cushion and the seat back to an upper portion of the seat cushion
and to a front portion of the seat back; air-spreading layers
respectively layered on an upper portion of the cushion member
provided in the seat cushion and on a front portion of the cushion
member provided in the seat back to spread air induced through each
of the air-supply pathways by an area corresponding to at least an
area of the vehicle seat contacting the hip and the back of a
person seated in the vehicle; heating pads respectively layered on
the air-spreading layers, with a heating line disposed therein to
generate heat when electric power is applied to the heating line,
and with a plurality of ventilation holes punctured through each of
the heating pads between serpentine sections of the heating line
along the heating line; seat covers respectively layered on the
heating pads and having a plurality of air discharge openings
formed on the surface of each of the seat covers, through which air
supplied through the air-spreading layers and the ventilation holes
of the heating pads is discharged; an air contamination-detecting
sensor to detect a contaminated state of air within the vehicle; an
anion generator to generate anions by applying a high voltage from
a high voltage generating part to an anion generating part
consisting of a brush-shaped conductive bundle of fibers; and a
controller having an anion generator driving circuit to drive the
high voltage generating part when signal data detected by the air
contamination-detecting sensor has a value higher than that of
reference data previously stored in a memory after comparing the
signal data with the reference data.
8. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 7, wherein the anion
generating part is equipped to the air-supply pathway.
9. The vehicle seat as set forth in claim 7, wherein the air
contamination-detecting sensor is equipped in a space between the
seat and a floor of the vehicle.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority of Korean Patent
Application Nos. 2004-6264 filed on Mar. 9, 2004 and 2004-24400
filed on Aug. 26, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat with a
cooling/heating device, and more particularly to a vehicle seat,
which comprises electric fans to blow air into a seat cushion and a
seat back, and a heating pad with a heating line disposed in the
vehicle seat to generate heat when electric power is applied to the
heating line, in order that the vehicle seat can be comfortably and
pleasantly employed regardless of season by allowing the vehicle
seat to perform a ventilation function to cool a driver or a
passenger in the summer and a heating function to warm the driver
or the passenger in the winter, thereby allowing the seated driver
or passenger to selectively cool (ventilate) or heat the seat, as
necessary.
[0004] In addition to the cooling/heating device, the vehicle seat
of the present invention is further equipped with an anion
generator to purify air within the vehicle, so that, when
ventilating or heating the vehicle seat, purification of air can be
performed according to a contaminated state of air within the
vehicle, thereby enabling the driver or the passenger to drive the
vehicle in a more pleasant state.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Generally, various technologies for a seat heater, which can
alleviate coldness of a vehicle seat when seated in the vehicle at
an initial time of starting the vehicle in the winter while
allowing a driver or a passenger to drive the vehicle or sit in the
vehicle in a more comfortable and pleasant state, are well known in
the prior art. Furthermore, other technologies for a ventilation
seat, which can prevent eczema or inflammation occurring when
seated in the vehicle for a long time in the high temperatures and
humidity of the summer, are also well known in the prior art.
[0007] Additionally, a cooling (ventilating)/heating device of the
vehicle seat, which can be employed regardless of season by
combining the seat heater and the ventilation seat, is also
currently employed.
[0008] However, the cooling/heating device of the vehicle seat
according to the prior art, as described above, has problems in
that mechanical malfunctions frequently occur due to its highly
complicated structure, and in that it is not popularized and is
equipped only in luxury vehicles, as an option, due to its high
manufacturing costs.
[0009] As the ion generator, specifically, an anion generator is
provided. Due to their health benefits, anion generators are
equipped not only in homes but also in vehicles. Vehicular anion
generators can be classified into external anion generators, which
are equipped within the vehicle while being electrically connected
to a lighter jack of the vehicle, and internal anion generators,
which are equipped within the vehicle's air conditioner. It is well
known that anion generators effectively remove odor, exhaust,
cigarette smoke, fine dust, and the like, contained in contaminated
air induced into the vehicle, and that, inhalation of air
containing a large number of anions helps to relieve fatigue and
stress.
[0010] Meanwhile, conventional anion generators produce a minute
amount of ozone in the course of producing the anions, and ozone
has a detrimental influence on the body due to its strong oxidizing
power. For instance, inhalation of ozone can destroy pulmonary cell
structure, thus decreasing respiratory function. Additionally, it
can cause DNA mutation, resulting in damage to gene function, and
causing cancer. As a result, the conventional anion generators must
be further provided with complicated devices for preventing ozone,
concomitantly generated by the anion generator, from flowing out
with the purified air, thereby complicating the structure of the
anion generator, and increasing manufacturing costs of the anion
generator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention has been made to solve the above
problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle seat designed to have a smaller number of more simple
components, thereby lowering a possibility of mechanical
malfunctions, compared with a conventional cooling/heating device
of a vehicle, to have a structure allowing easy installation,
thereby allowing easy installation to any kind of vehicle, and to
have a heating function in the winter while having a ventilation or
cooling function in the summer.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle seat, which is equipped with an anion generator to purify
air within the vehicle in addition to the cooling/heating device,
so that, when ventilating or heating the vehicle seat, purification
of air can be performed according to a contaminated state of air
within the vehicle, thereby enabling a person seated in the
vehicle, including a driver and a passenger, to drive the vehicle
in a more pleasant state.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a
vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat back with a
cooling/heating device, the vehicle seat comprising: electric fans
respectively equipped in a lower portion of the seat cushion and a
rear portion of the seat back to intake indoor air within a vehicle
into the seat cushion and the seat back; cushion members
respectively provided in the seat cushion and the seat back and
formed with air-supply pathways to supply air induced from the seat
cushion and the seat back to an upper portion of the seat cushion
and to a front portion of the seat back; air-spreading layers
respectively layered on an upper portion of the cushion member
provided in the seat cushion and on a front portion of the cushion
member provided in the seat back to spread air induced through the
air-supply pathways by an area corresponding to at least an area of
the vehicle seat contacting the hip and the back of a driver or a
passenger seated in the vehicle; heating pads respectively layered
on the air-spreading layers, with a heating line disposed therein
to generate heat when electric power is applied to the heating
line, and with a plurality of ventilation holes punctured through
each of the heating pads between serpentine sections of the heating
line along the heating line; and seat covers respectively layered
on the heating pads and having a plurality of air discharge
openings formed on the surface of each of the seat covers, through
which air supplied through the air-spreading layers and the
ventilation holes of the heating pads is discharged.
[0014] The electric fans may be equipped at the left and right
sides of the front side of the lower portion of the seat cushion
and at the left and right sides of the rear side of the upper
portion of the seat back, respectively, and may be controlled to
have at least two speeds according to variable speed control by a
control switch. The heating line of each of the heating pads may be
controlled to have at least two temperature levels according to
variable temperature control by the control switch.
[0015] The air-spreading layer may comprise hexagonal-shaped upper
and lower nets with synthetic resin yarns connected between the
upper and lower nets in a serpentine shape to provide air
permeability and elasticity.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle seat with a cooling/heating device,
further comprising anion generators equipped in the air-supply
pathways formed in the cushion member of the seat cushion and of
the seat back to produce anions, and an air contamination-detecting
sensor to detect a contaminated state of indoor air within the
vehicle, such that driving of the anion generator can be
automatically controlled by comparing an actual contamination
degree detected by the air contamination-detecting sensor with a
reference value previously determined in a controller. Accordingly,
concurrently with cooling or heating the seat, a large number of
anions are contained in the air discharged to the upper portion of
the seat cushion and to the front portion of the seat back, thereby
purifying indoor air and relieving fatigue of the person seated in
the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The foregoing and other objects and features of the present
invention will be more clearly understood from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
vehicle seat with a cooling/heating device according to the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating
the vehicle seat with the cooling/heating device according to the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vehicle
seat with the cooling/heating device according to the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating an air-spreading
layer;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the cooling/heating device
according to the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating operation of
the cooling/heating device according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Preferred embodiments will now be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a vehicle seat including a seat
cushion C and a seat back B with a cooling/heating device according
to the present invention comprises: electric fans 10 respectively
equipped in a lower portion of the seat cushion C and a rear
portion of the seat back B to intake indoor air within the vehicle
into the seat cushion and the seat back; cushion members 20
respectively provided in the seat cushion C and in the seat back B
and formed with air-supply pathways 22 to supply air induced from
the seat cushion C and the seat back B to an upper portion of the
seat cushion C and to a front portion of the seat back B;
air-spreading layers 30 respectively layered on an upper portion of
the cushion member 20 provided in the seat cushion C and on a front
portion of the cushion member 20 provided in the seat back B to
spread air induced through each of the air-supply pathways 22 by an
area corresponding to at least an area of the vehicle seat
contacting the hip and the back of a person, including a driver and
a passenger, seated in a vehicle; heating pads 40 respectively
layered on the air-spreading layer 30, with a heating line 42
disposed therein to generate heat when electric power is applied to
the heating line 42, and with ventilation holes 44 between
serpentine sections of the heating line 42 along the heating line
42 formed on the heating pads 40; and seat covers 50 respectively
layered on the heating pads 40 and having a plurality of air
discharge openings 52 formed on the surface of the seat cover 50,
through which the air supplied through air-spreading layer 30 and
the ventilation holes 44 of the heating pads 40 is discharged to
the outside.
[0026] Reference numerals 26 and 28 indicate a net-shaped cover and
a sealing pad sequentially provided on the air-supply pathway 22 of
the cushion member 20, respectively. Reference numeral 29 indicates
apertures penetrating the sealing pad 28, and reference numeral 48
indicates a porous spongy member provided on each of the heating
pads 40.
[0027] The sealing pad 28 is made of a thermally insulating and
airtight synthetic rubber material. Accordingly, the sealing pad 28
can prevent air induced by the electric fans 10 from flowing
towards the cushion member 20 under the sealing pad 28, and can act
as an insulating material for preventing heat generated from the
heating pad 40 above the sealing pad 28 from being consumed.
[0028] The porous spongy member 48 does not prevent the air, having
flown through the air-spreading layer 30 and the heating pad 40,
from being discharged towards the seat cover 50, while preventing
the seat cover 50 and the air-spreading layer 30 from directly
contacting each other, thereby preventing damage to the seat cover
50. Additionally, the porous spongy member 48 provides appropriate
cushioning to the hip and the back when a person is seated in the
vehicle.
[0029] Each of the electric fans 10 employs a DC motor, which is
driven by DC power and does not generate driving noise. The
electric fans 10 are preferably provided in pair in the seat
cushion C and the seat back B, respectively. Each of the electric
fans 10 is provided with a net 12 at a contact portion between the
electric fan 10 and the cushion member 20 or the air-spreading
layer 30 in order to prevent rotation of the fan from being
hindered by the cushion member 20.
[0030] The cushion member 20 is a typical vehicular cushion. The
cushion member 20 is formed with the air-supply pathways 22 at both
sides of the front portion of the seat cushion C in the vertical
direction, and at both sides of the upper portion of the seat back
B in the horizontal direction, such that each of the electric fans
10 corresponds to each of the air-supply pathways 22. Accordingly,
air can be supplied from the lower portion of the seat cushion C to
the upper portion thereof, and from the rear portion of the seat
back B to the front portion thereof.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, each of the air-spreading layers 30
comprises hexagonal-shaped upper and lower nets 32 and 34 with
synthetic resin yarns 36 connecting the upper and lower nets 32 and
34 in a serpentine shape, providing air permeability in every
direction and an appropriate elasticity so as not to be deformed by
the weight of the driver (a weight of a person seated in the
vehicle) in the vertical direction.
[0032] Each of the heating pads 40 is made of non-woven fabrics
having a high thermal resistance, and has the heating line 42 laid
in a serpentine shape on the non-woven fabrics. As many of the
ventilation holes 44 as possible are punctured between serpentine
sections of the heating line 42 along the heating line 42 through
the heating pad 40 such that air broadly spread in each of the
air-spreading layer 30 passes through the heating pad 40 and is
then discharged to the outside through each of the seat covers 50
thereon.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the cooling/heating
device according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5,
when cooling/heating the vehicle seat, electric power is supplied
from a power supplier to the heating pads 40 and the electric fans
10, and at this time, a person seated in the vehicle can
selectively operate the heating pads 40 or the electric fans 10 by
operating a toggle-switch type cooling/heating selection switch 62
provided to a switch box 60. Furthermore, the person seated in the
vehicle can control a cooling (ventilating) or heating degree to a
desired state by operating a temperature/blowing velocity control
switch 64 provided to the switch box 60. A controller 70 is
provided with a heating pad output-control circuit 72 and an
electric fan velocity-control circuit 74 in order to control the
heating pad 40 and the electric fans 10 according to the operation
and operating conditions of the switches 62 and 64.
[0034] Furthermore, the vehicle seat of the present invention
further comprises an anion generator 90, and an air
contamination-detecting sensor 80 to detect a contaminated state of
indoor air within the vehicle. The air contamination-detecting
sensor 80 is equipped at an appropriate location within the
vehicle, for example, at a space between the seat and the floor of
the vehicle as shown in FIG. 3, to detect the contaminated state of
indoor air within the vehicle. Signal data generated from the air
contamination-detecting sensor 80 is sent to an anion generator
driving circuit 76, and is then compared with reference data
previously determined in a memory of the driving circuit 76. When
the signal data detected by the sensor 80 has a value higher than
that of the reference data, that is, when a contamination degree is
higher than a reference concentration, a high voltage generating
part 92 of the anion generator 90 is operated, causing anions to be
emitted from an anion generating part 94. Meanwhile, when the
signal data detected by the sensor 80 has a value lower than that
of the reference data, that is, when the contamination degree is
lower than the reference concentration, the high voltage generating
part 92 of the anion generator 90 is stopped.
[0035] The anion generator driving circuit 76 is primarily
controlled with an anion generator behavior-establishing switch 66
in the switch box 60 so that the anion generator driving circuit 76
can be driven, as necessary, thereby allowing energy
conservation.
[0036] The high voltage generating part 92 of the anion generator
90 is preferably constituted together with the controller 70. The
anion generating part 94 for discharging the anions may be
separately equipped in any of the air-supplying pathways 22 formed
in the cushion member 20 of the seat cushion C or of the seat back
B, and emits the anions to air intaken from the electric fans 10,
so that the air containing a great number of anions can be
discharged above the seat cushion C or to the front of the seat
back B.
[0037] The anion generator 90 according to the present invention
has the anion generating part 94 consisting of a brush-shaped
conductive bundle of fibers, and employs a high voltage supply
system of the high voltage generating part 92, which does not
generate ozone at all, thereby solving the problem of the
conventional anion generator using a spark discharge. The principle
and structure of such a non-ozone cluster anion generator is
disclosed in detail in Korean Utility Model Registration No.
308262, and the description thereof will be omitted here.
[0038] Meanwhile, each of the heating pad 40 is equipped with an
overload protector 46 comprising a thermistor, not only preventing
the heating line from being damaged, but also maintaining the
temperature within an appropriate range.
[0039] With the cooling/heating device according to the present
invention constructed as described above, when heating the seat in
the winter, first, the toggle-switch type cooling/heating selection
switch 62 equipped in the switch box 60 is operated to drive the
heating pad 40. Then, as a desired heating temperature is selected
by operating the temperature/blowing velocity control switch 64,
the heating line 42 of the heating pads 40 generates heat by virtue
of electrical resistance, and heats the seat, thereby preventing
the person seated in the vehicle from feeling a cold not only at
starting but also during driving the vehicle.
[0040] Furthermore, in the case of high temperatures and humidity
in the summer, the cooling/heating selection switch 62 provided to
the switch box 60 is operated to drive the electric fans 10. Then,
as a desired blowing velocity of the electric fans 10 is selected
by operating the temperature/blowing velocity control switch 64,
air is taken from the lower portion of the seat cushion C and from
the rear portion of the seat back B, and passes through the
air-spreading layers 30 while spreading therein. Thereafter, the
air passes through the ventilation holes 44 of the heating pad 40,
and is blown to the hip and to the back of the person seated in the
vehicle, contacting the seat cushion C and the seat back B,
respectively, through the air discharge openings 52 of the seat
cover 50, thereby cooling the person. As a result, the
cooling/heating device allows the person seated in the vehicle to
comfortably travel in a pleasant state, and can avoid a cabdriver
usually driving the vehicle for a long time from suffering from
eczema or inflammation.
[0041] In addition to the ventilation (cooling)/heating function of
the vehicle seat according to the present invention as described
above, when the contamination degree of air within the vehicle
detected by the air contamination-detecting sensor 80 is higher
than the reference degree previously stored in the memory of the
anion generator driving circuit 76 in the controller 70, the anion
generator automatically produces the anions. At this time, the
anions are emitted into the vehicle through the seat cushion C and
the seat back B by virtue of the blowing force of the electric fans
10, thereby removing odor, cigarette smoke, exhaust, and the like
contained in the contaminated air induced into the vehicle, and
helping to relieve fatigue and stress during driving by supplying
fresh air to the person seated in the vehicle.
[0042] As apparent from the description, the vehicle seat with the
cooling/heating device according to the present invention comprises
the electric fans, the air-spreading layers, the heating pads, and
the seat covers having the air discharge openings, so that the
person seated in the vehicle can drive the vehicle in a pleasant
state in the high temperatures and humidity of the summer or in the
low temperatures of the winter by selecting the cooling
(ventilating) or the heating function through the selection switch.
Furthermore, the small number of components and the simple
structure of the vehicle seat with the cooling/heating device
according to the present invention reduce manufacturing costs
thereof, thereby allowing the vehicle seat with the cooling/heating
device to be equipped in any kind of vehicle without economical
burden. Additionally, the vehicle seat with the cooling/heating
device according to the present invention further comprises the
non-ozone cluster anion generator, so that various odors and
contaminates, such as cigarette smoke, exhaust, and the like,
within the vehicle, can be removed while cooling or heating the
seat, and so that fresh air containing a large number of anions can
be supplied to the person seated in the vehicle, relieving fatigue
and stress during driving.
[0043] It should be understood that the embodiments and the
accompanying drawings as described above have been described for
illustrative purposes and the present invention is limited by the
following claims. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that various modifications, additions and substitutions are allowed
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set
forth in the accompanying claims.
* * * * *