Various embodiments include illustrative vehicle seats, systems, vehicles, and methods for circulating airflow through a vehicle seat. An illustrative vehicle seat includes a cushion. The cushion is adapted to provide airflow therethrough. The cushion defines a primary airflow path directed to a primary outlet formed in a supporting portion of the cushion. The supporting portion of the cushion is adapted to receive direct body contact with a vehicle occupant while the vehicle occupant is seated within the vehicle seat. The cushion also defines a secondary airflow path directed to a secondary outlet formed in a non-supporting portion of the cushion.

A ventilated seat, a vehicle including the ventilated seat, and a method of controlling airflow in a vehicle having a ventilated seat are provided. The ventilated seat includes a seat cushion assembly and an air duct configured to interface with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module of the vehicle and provide conditioned air from the HVAC module to the seat cushion assembly. The HVAC module of the vehicle further provides conditioned air to an interior cabin of the vehicle through at least one air vent.

The present invention relates to a duct module and a vehicle seat including a duct module. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the duct module includes a duct, an air intake module and a sterilization module. The duct may have a duct air passage formed therein and include a first rigid portion, a second rigid portion, and a flexible portion disposed between the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion. The air intake module may be connected to the first rigid portion of the duct and guide external air into the duct air passage. Further, the sterilization module may be disposed in the duct to emit sterilization light into the duct air passage. The duct air passage may be formed as an internal space of the first rigid portion, the second rigid portion and the flexible portion.

A vehicle that includes a cabin air conditioning system, having a driver air distribution circuit provided with a plurality of driver blowing vents arranged to blow air directly into the driver's area. At least 75% of the driver blowing vents are carried by the driver's seat.

The present disclosure describes vehicle seats having integral components for use with ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating systems. Air ducting can be incorporated into the seat base and the seat back. Further, air can be directed through a rear-facing outlet vent in the seat back, providing improved ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating for rear passengers of a vehicle.

A wire harness connected to a sensor is positioned on a back surface of a pad of a vehicle seat supported by a panel. The vehicle seat (1) includes a panel (4); a pad (11, 51) supported by the panel; a skin material (12, 52) covering a front surface of the pad; and a sensor (32) provided between the front surface of the pad and the skin material for acquiring information on a seat occupant, wherein the pad is provided with a through hole (35, 58) passed from the front surface of the pad to a back surface of the pad, and a recess (45, 61) formed in the back surface of the pad and connected to the through hole, the wire harness connected to the sensor extending in the through hole and the recess.

A device for ventilating the occupant of a vehicle seat, comprising an air inlet receiving air from a ventilation member, and comprising a first duct integrated at least in part into the backrest of the seat, a second duct integrated into a headrest mounted on the seat and supplying at least one air outlet integrated into the headrest and expelling air coming from the ventilation member, the second duct and first duct being connected by a leak tight sliding connection.

A distribution system for a vehicle seat. The distribution system includes one or more plenums that each have a cap layer, a support layer, and an open space formed between the cap layer and the support layer. The support layer is a generally rigid material and the cap layer is a generally flexible material that is connected to the support layer. The open space includes one or more baffles that assist in directing fluid between a blower connected to the one or more plenums and one or more ventilation holes.

Systems and methods are provided for determining, by processing circuitry, a vehicle occupant has left a seat of a vehicle (or the seat is unoccupied), and in response to determining the vehicle occupant has left the seat (or the seat is unoccupied), causing a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle to thermally store energy in the seat.

A seat system includes a seat bottom and a seat back at a rear of the seat bottom. A thermally controlled seat belt includes a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The thermally controlled seat belt can include a porous sleeve that is connected to a seat ventilation system or a vehicle ventilation system. The seat belt can alternatively or additionally include a heating fabric or thermoelectric elements.