VENTILATION OF SEATING SURFACES IN A FLEXIBLE HEAT EXCHANGER SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention comprises a ventilation system in a flexible heat exchanger system of a seating assembly. It relates to a flexible layer having perforations positioned underneath the surface of the seat that enables ventilation to control temperature and humidity. The seating assembly comprises of a plurality of layers wherein the seating assembly has an upper layer upon which the occupant is in direct contact with, a middle layer having a heat exchanger system with perforated cooling pads or ventilation system for ventilation and a lower layer which is a cushioned layer having vents. The ventilation system includes but not limited to an array of holes, pores and cavities for maintaining temperature and humidity thus making the seating assembly breathable.

Claims

1. A seating assembly (8) with a flexible heat exchanger system (1) for thermal control of seat surface comprising: an upper layer in direct contact with a seat occupant; a middle layer; and a lower layer; wherein, the middle layer is the flexible heat exchanger system (1) comprising a top and bottom layer heat sealed to one another to create a matrix of a plurality of heat exchange medium channels/passages (4), a plurality of heat exchange medium connection tubes (7) and a ventilation system having an array of ventilation block (11) having a plurality of ventilation holes (10); said plurality of flexible heat exchange medium channels/passages (4) are connected to a secondary heat exchange system (9) for circulating the heat exchange medium; the lower layer is a cushioning layer (6) having vents for air ventilation; and the plurality of ventilation holes (10) occupy an area 40-60% of the total area of the flexible heat exchanger system (1).

2. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper layer is a seating surface (5) made from a material including but not limited to cloth, leather, vinyl or any commonly available upholstery material or any combination thereof.

3. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchange medium includes but is not limited to water, glycol, brine, air and alike.

4. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein top layer and bottom layer of the flexible heat exchanger system has a thickness in range of 0.1-1.0 mm and is made of a material including but not limited to PVC.

5. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchange medium channels/passages (4) have a cross-sectional area between 1 mm.sup.2 to 75 mm.sup.2.

6. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of ventilation holes (10) on the flexible heat exchanger system (1) is dependent on the total area of the said system (1) and size of each ventilation hole.

7. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilation hole (10) is of any shape including but not limited to circle, oval, square, trapezoidal, triangular and alike.

8. The assembly (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning layer (6) is made of a material including but not limited to polyurethane foam, biodegradable foam, down and alike.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a transparent cut-away perspective view of one example of a thermally controlled seating assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a side cut-away view of one example of a thermally controlled seating assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 3(a)-3(b) illustrates a top view and a perspective view of heat exchanger system with a ventilation system having single hole pattern respectively according to various embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 4(a)-4(b) illustrates a top view and a perspective view of heat exchanger system with a ventilation system having five hole pattern respectively according to various embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 5(a)-5(b) illustrates a top view and a perspective view of heat exchanger system with a ventilation system having nine hole pattern respectively according to various embodiments of the present invention; and

[0026] FIG. 6(a)-6(b) illustrates a top view and a perspective view of heat exchanger system with a ventilation system having four hole pattern respectively according to various embodiments of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0028] The seat heat-exchange devices, ventilation system and methods are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0029] The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

[0030] The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 depicts a side cut-away view of one example of a thermally controlled seating assembly 8, featuring the flexible heat-exchanger system 1 positioned below the seating surface 5 and a ventilation system with ventilation holes 10 positioned on the heat exchanger system 1. The seating surface is made from single pieces of cloth, leather, vinyl, or any commonly available upholstery material, or any combination of the foregoing. The seating surface 5 covers the upper and the lower portion of the seat. Either portion of the seat may be covered continuously or non-continuously with the seating surface 5.

[0031] The flexible heat exchanger system 1 comprised of a matrix of interconnected channels 4. While one pattern of the matrix is depicted in FIG. 3(a)-3(b), other embodiments may be permissible. In a preferred embodiment for the assemblies, the matrix is comprised of interconnected channels 4 in a series of rows and columns. Each row is communicated with each column through a heat exchange medium. Further, each row is communicated with one another through a heat exchange medium, and each column is in communication with one another through a heat exchange medium. The rows extend across the width of the top and bottom layer while the column extends the length of the top and bottom layer of the flexible heat exchanger system. The rows are transverse to the columns. The medium includes but not limited to water, water/glycol, brine, or air any other commonly used heat exchange medium.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment for the ventilation system of the heat exchanger system, the ventilation system comprises of an array of ventilation blocks with each block having a plurality of ventilation holes in a series of rows and columns such that the ventilation holes 10 occupy 40-60% of the total area of the heat exchanger system 1 is ventilated. The size of ventilation system is customizable as per size of seating assembly. Each array of row and column has ventilated pores, holes and cavities which are independent of each other but having same functionality. The purpose of ventilation system is, but not limited to, make the seating assembly breathable, to increase the comfort of an occupant, to dry the moisture between the seating assembly and body of an occupant, to reduce the temperature of the seating assembly.

[0033] FIG. 1 also reveals the cushioning layer 6 that is underneath the heat exchanger system 1 which is in direct contact with the seating surface 5. The cushioning layer is made of a material including but not limited to polyurethane foam, biodegradable foams, down, and other commonly used furniture materials. While certain materials for the cushioning material have been disclosed, the method and apparatus described herein are not limited to these materials.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, a side-cut-away-view of the thermally controlled seating assembly 8. The flexible heat exchanger 1 is in connection with a plurality of heat exchange medium connection tubes 7 which deliver and remove the closed-loop heat exchange medium and flows through the seat heat exchanger system 1, which is placed below the seating surface 5 on the cushion and backrest portions of the seat.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), is a view of the heat exchanger system 1 having a ventilation system comprising of an array of ventilation blocks 11 with each block having a plurality of ventilation holes in a series of rows and columns such that the ventilation holes 10 occupy 40-60% of the total area of the heat exchanger system 1 with ventilation holes 10. The ventilation system is shown by adding an array of holes or pores or cavities in the heat exchanger system. The holes may vary in size, shape and pattern depending on the design and requirement. The ventilation holes add more flexibility to the heat exchanger system, produces a substantially uniform air flow in all the areas of seating assembly, causes air movement laterally, longitudinally and vertically through the seating assembly.

[0036] While FIG. 3(a)-3(b) show a pattern having a single hole in the ventilation block 11, FIG. 4(a)-4(b) show a five hole pattern in each ventilation block 11, FIG. 5(a)-5(b) show nine hole pattern in each ventilation block 11 and FIG. 6(a)-6(b) show four hole pattern in each ventilation block 11. Although, the ventilation holes 10 shown are circular, the shape of holes is any shape including but not limited to circle, oval, square, trapezoidal, triangular and alike. The number of ventilation holes 10 on the system 1 are customizable and dependent on the total area of the heat exchanger system 1 and size of each ventilation hole.

[0037] The preferred embodiment of the invention having heat exchanger system 1 with a top layer and a bottom layer made from PVC material that is between 0.1 and 1.0 mm thick, which are heat-sealed to one another, creating heat exchange medium passages 4 that have a cross-sectional area of between 1 mm.sup.2 to 75 mm.sup.2. The ventilation system is by the way of holes, pores and cavities such that the 40-60% of the total heat exchanger system is ventilated.

[0038] Therefore, the present invention provides a heat exchange mechanism and a uniform ventilation mechanism to have a short thermal pathway, uniform air distribution and good thermal contact with the occupant, so as to minimize warm-up and cool-down times and also maximize the rate of heat exchange with the occupant's body.

[0039] The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.