Heating Device

Abstract

A heating device for a vehicle seat, the heating device includes a carrier element, and an electrically conductive thread arrangement that is fixed on the carrier element. The electrically conductive thread arrangement includes a plurality of thread sections, each of which has a plurality of thread loops. The plurality of thread sections are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner such that the plurality of thread sections cross each other several times.

Claims

1. A heating device for a vehicle seat, the heating device comprising: a carrier element; and an electrically conductive thread arrangement that is fixed on the carrier element; wherein the electrically conductive thread arrangement comprises a plurality of thread sections, each of the plurality of thread sections has a plurality of thread loops; and wherein the plurality of thread sections are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner such that the plurality of thread sections cross each other several times.

2. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of thread sections touch each other in a plurality of crossing areas, the plurality of crossing areas are located between the plurality of thread loops.

3. The heating device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of thread sections touch each other along thread contact paths within the plurality of crossing areas.

4. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thread sections are carbon heating thread sections of a carbon heating thread or of a plurality of carbon heating threads, which form a carbon heating thread field.

5. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thread sections are metallic contact thread sections of a metallic contact thread or of a plurality of metallic contact threads, which form a contact thread field for carbon heating threads.

6. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the metallic contact thread sections touch one or multiple carbon heating threads several times.

7. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein, the contact thread field is sealed at least sectionally with adhesive.

8. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the contact thread fields are arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the one or multiple carbon heating threads that are contacted with the contact thread fields extend between the contact thread fields .

9. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the of contact thread fields are positioned at spaced apart points on the carrier element.

10. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the metallic contact thread sections coming from the contact thread field are collectively crimped.

11. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein one or morefirst contact thread fields are arranged in a first region of the carrier element and one or more second contact thread fields are arranged in a second region of the carrier element, and each of the first contact thread field is connected to the second contact thread field via one or more of the carbon heating thread fields.

12. The heating device according to claim 11, wherein the carbon heating threads that comprise the one or more of the carbon heating thread fields extend around the carrier element by a range of at least 90 degrees.

13. The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of carbon heating thread sections coming from a carbon heating thread field are collectively crimped.

14. The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the carbon heating thread sections and/or the metallic contact thread sections are sewn to the carrier element and/or are sewn to the carrier element by means of a separate fixing thread.

15. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier element is a flat material layer or a textile material layer.

16. A vehicle seat, comprising: at least one cushion, and the heating device according to claim 1 .

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

[0025] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation in a plan view;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a first thread section of the thread arrangement of the heating device shown in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a second thread section of the thread arrangement of the heating device shown in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0029] FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0030] FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0031] FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0032] FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0033] FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0034] FIG. 10 is a cushion of a vehicle seat according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0035] FIG. 11 is another cushion of a vehicle seat according to the invention in a schematic representation; and

[0036] FIG. 12 is another cushion of a vehicle seat according to the invention in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a heating device 10 for a vehicle seat. The heating device 10 can be attached to a cushion of the vehicle seat or can be integrated into a cushion of a vehicle seat.

[0038] The heating device 10 comprises a carrier element 12. The carrier element 12 is a flat textile material layer. By designing the carrier layer 12 as a flat material layer, the carrier element 12 can be attached in the vicinity of a user contact surface of the cushion. The textile design of the carrier element 12 ensures air and moisture permeability, which is perceived by the user of the vehicle seat as comfort-enhancing.

[0039] An electrically conductive thread assembly 14 is fixed on the carrier element 12. The thread arrangement 14 has a plurality, namely two, thread sections 16a, 16b which are sewn to the carrier element 12. The thread sections 16a, 16b each have a plurality of thread loops 18a-18e, 20a-20e. The thread loops 18a-18e, 20a-20e are thread windings extending over 180 degrees.

[0040] The thread sections 18a, 18b of the thread arrangement 14 are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner such that the thread sections 16a, 16b that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner cross each other several times.

[0041] The thread sections 18a, 18b of the thread arrangement 14 that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner touch each other in a plurality of crossing areas 22a-22d. The crossing areas 22a-22d are located between the thread loops 18a-18e, 20a-20e of the thread sections 16a, 16b. In the present case, the thread sections 18a, 18b of the thread arrangement 14 that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner touch each other along a thread contact path within the crossing areas 22a-22d. The thread loops 18a-18e of the thread section 16a and the thread loops 20a-20e of the thread section 16b are arranged opposite each another and have an opposite orientation and a mirrored pathway. Consequently, the thread sections 16a, 16b that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner extend sectionally non-parallel to each other. The seam pattern, which is defined by the thread sections 16a, 16b, can be produced inexpensively and allows an energy-efficient provision of a high heating power. The plurality of crossing points also ensures increased operational and functional reliability, since a thread breakage or a thread damage does not lead to the failure of the entire heating device 10.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a heating device 10 with a metallic contact thread 26 and a carbon heating thread 28. The metallic contact thread 26 is a stranded conductor with a plurality of metallic filaments. The metallic contact thread 26 comprises a plurality of metallic contact thread sections 16a-16d that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner, wherein the contact thread sections 16a-16d define a contact thread field 32. The carbon heating thread 28 is fastened to the carrier element 12 and electrically contacted by means of the contact thread field 32. The contact thread field 32 thus serves as an electrode for the carbon heating thread 28.

[0043] The contact thread sections 16a-16d are sewn on the carrier element 12 so that the carbon heating thread 28 is fixed by a seam on the carrier element 12. Further, the contact thread sections 16a-16d each have a plurality of thread loops and intersect each other several times, so that there are multiple points of contact between the individual contact thread sections 16a-16d. Furthermore, the plurality of contact thread sections 16a-16d of the contact thread field 32 that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner touch the two substantially mutually parallel carbon heating thread sections 30a, 30b of the carbon heating thread 28 several times. The contact resistance between the contact thread 26 and the carbon heating thread 28 is thus reduced. Due to the high thread density in the area of the contact thread field 32, a particularly high area-specific heating output is realized locally in this area.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a heating device 10, wherein the contact thread 26 has a total of six contact thread sections 16a-16f that are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner. The contact thread sections 16a-16f again each have a plurality of thread loops. The thread sections 16a-16f are arranged such that they overlap one another in a way that they intersect each other several times. The contact thread sections 16a-16f define a contact thread field 32, which is sewn to the carrier element 12. A carbon heating thread 28 is fixed on the carrier element 12 by means of the sewn contact thread 26. The carbon heating thread 28 has four carbon heating thread sections 30a-30d which extend basically parallel to one another. The plurality of contact thread sections 16a-16f of the contact thread field 32, which are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner, touch the plurality of carbon heating thread sections 30a-30d several times.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a heating device 10 with two contact thread fields 32a, 32b that are electrically conductively connected to one another. The contact thread fields 32a, 32b are connected to one another via the contact thread sections 16e, 16f. The contact thread field 32a serves to contact the carbon heating thread sections 30f-30h. The contact thread field 32b serves to contact the carbon heating thread sections 30a-30e. The contact thread sections 16a-16d coming from the contact thread field 32b are collectively crimped at the crimping point 34. The crimping point 34 is protected against corrosion and connected by a sealing 40 and connected with an electrical power supply device by means of an electrically conductive connection conductor 36.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a heating device 10 with a contact thread field 32. The contact thread sections 16a-16f coming from the contact thread field 32 are collectively crimped at the crimping point 34.

[0047] The contact thread field 32 serves for electrical contacting of carbon heating thread sections 30a-30j. In this case, the carbon heating thread sections 30a-30j are also arranged side by side in an overlapping manner and define a carbon heating thread field 38. The carbon heating thread sections 30a-30j are configured to generate heat. The carbon heating thread field 38 is located within heating zone of the carrier element 12. The carbon heating thread sections 30a-30j comprise, for example, a plurality of carbon fibers. Due to the high thread density in the area of the carbon heating thread field 38, a particularly high area-specific heating output can be realized here. The carbon heating thread sections 30a-30j may be part of a carbon heating thread 28 or of a plurality of carbon heating threads. The one or multiple carbon heating threads can comprise, for example, 67 tex yarn filaments or 200 tex yarn filaments.

[0048] FIG. 8 shows a heating device 10 with a left heating wing and a right heating wing. The contact thread sections that lead to the contact thread fields 32a, 32b are crimped at the crimping point 34a. The crimping point 34a is sealed by a sealing 40a and connected to a connecting conductor 36a. The carbon heating threads of the left heating wing are contacted via the contact thread fields 32a, 32b. The contact thread sections that lead to the contact thread fields 32c, 32d are crimped at the crimping point 34b. The crimping point 34b is sealed by a sealing 40b and connected to a connecting conductor 36b. The carbon heating threads of the right heating wing are contacted via the contact thread fields 32c, 32d.

[0049] FIG. 9 shows a heating device 10, wherein the contact thread fields 32a, 32b are sealed with an adhesive sealing 42a, 42b. For sealing a hot-melt adhesive was applied to the contact thread fields 32a, 32b in the flowable state. After the hot-melt adhesive has dried, the sealings 42a, 42b provide protection for the contact thread fields 32a, 32b against corrosion and external stress. The sealings 42, 42b seal the contact thread fields 32a, 32b in a moisture-tight and gas-tight manner.

[0050] FIG. 10 shows a cushion of a backrest of a vehicle seat with a heating device 10. In a lower region, the heating device 10 has four contact thread fields 32a-32d, which are positioned at specific points on a textile carrier element 12.

[0051] The carbon heating threads contacted with the contact thread fields 32a, 32d extend between the contact thread fields 32a, 32d, wherein the contact thread fields 32a, 32d are spaced apart from one another. The carbon heating threads contacted with the contact thread fields 32a, 32d form two carbon heating thread fields 38c, 38d in an upper region of the carrier element 12. The carbon heating threads extending between the contact thread fields 32a, 32d run along the lateral outer regions and an upper outer region of the carrier element 12 and thus not along the direct connection axis between the contact thread fields 32a, 32d.

[0052] The carbon heating threads contacted with the contact thread fields 32b, 32c extend between the contact thread fields 32b, 32c, wherein the contact thread fields 32b, 32c are spaced apart from one another. The carbon heating threads contacted with the contact thread fields 32b, 32c form two carbon heating thread fields 38a, 38b in a central region of the carrier element 12. The carbon heating threads extending between the contact thread fields 32b, 32c run along an inner region of the carrier element and are surrounded by the carbon heating threads contacted with the contact thread fields 32a, 32d. The carbon heating threads extending between the contact thread fields 32b, 32c also do not run along the direct connection axis between the contact thread fields 32b, 32c.

[0053] The carbon heating threads running in the outer region of the carrier element 12 and the carbon heating threads running in the inner region of the carrier element 12 of the heating device 10 shown in FIG. 11 are electrically conductively connected to one another via the contact thread fields 32e, 32f. The heating device 10 thus has a total of six contact thread fields 32a-32f positioned at specific points on the carrier element 12. Due to the additional contacting of the carbon heating thread sections, the heating power of the heating device 10 is increased and, in addition, an increased reliability is realized.

[0054] The heating device 10 shown in FIG. 12 has three contact thread fields 32a-32c arranged on the left side of the carrier element 12 and three contact thread fields 32d-32f arranged on the right side of the carrier element 12. A plurality of carbon heating thread sections 30a-30f, which form a carbon heating thread field 38a, extend between the contact thread fields 32a, 32d, wherein the contact thread fields 32a, 32d are spaced apart from one another. The contact thread field 32a is connected to the crimping point 34a via the four contact thread sections 16a-16d. The contact thread field 32d is connected to the crimping point 34d via the four contact thread sections 16i-16l.

[0055] The contact thread field 32b is connected to the contact thread field 32a via the two contact thread sections 16e, 16f. The contact thread field 32e is connected to the contact thread field 32d via the two contact thread sections 16m, 16n. A plurality of carbon heating thread sections 30g-30l, which form a carbon heating thread field 38b, extend between the contact thread fields 32b, 32e which are spaced apart from one another.

[0056] The contact thread field 32b is connected to the contact thread field 32c via the contact thread sections 16g, 16h. The contact thread field 32e is connected to the contact thread field 32f via the two contact thread sections 16o, 16p. A plurality of carbon heating thread sections 30m-30o, which form a carbon heating thread field 38c, extend between the contact thread fields 32c, 32f, which are spaced apart from one another.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0057] 10 heating device [0058] 12 carrier element [0059] 14 thread arrangement [0060] 16a-16p thread sections [0061] 18a-18e thread loops [0062] 20a-20e thread loops [0063] 22a-22d crossing areas [0064] 24a-24d thread contact paths [0065] 26 contact thread [0066] 28 carbon heating thread [0067] 30a-30o thread sections [0068] 32, 32a-32f contact thread fields [0069] 34, 34a, 34b crimpings [0070] 36, 36a, 36b connecting conductors [0071] 38, 38a-38d carbon heating thread fields [0072] 40, 40a-40c sealings [0073] 42a, 42b sealings