초록 ▼

A vehicle seat has a seat bottom and seat back. The seat bottom can have a ventilated insert located between the seat upholstery and the seat cushion. The inset can be in fluid communication with the cabin space of the vehicle. In one arrangement, the insert has a cover with holes and a body. The co

A vehicle seat has a seat bottom and seat back. The seat bottom can have a ventilated insert located between the seat upholstery and the seat cushion. The inset can be in fluid communication with the cabin space of the vehicle. In one arrangement, the insert has a cover with holes and a body. The cover and body cooperate to form a plurality of plenums for passing air through the insert. A fluid system can deliver air to the insert so that the air passes through the plenums and directed out of the holes in the cover. The air then flows out of the vehicle seat to control the climate around the person in the seat. The insert can also be used to remove air near the seat by drawing air proximate the seat into the insert. The air can then pass through the insert and is delivered to the fluid system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for producing an air circulation seat, the method comprising: providing a seat support member having a front side generally facing a seated occupant, said seat support member comprising at least one recess area positioned along the front side, said recess area config

What is claimed is: 1. A method for producing an air circulation seat, the method comprising: providing a seat support member having a front side generally facing a seated occupant, said seat support member comprising at least one recess area positioned along the front side, said recess area configured to receive a first insert such that an upper surface of said first insert is substantially flush with said front side of said seat support member, the seat support member comprising a tie-down trench for securing a seat covering material to the seat support member, wherein the first insert comprises a body portion, a cover portion and at least one channel defined between the body portion and the cover portion, the cover portion comprising a plurality of openings; disposing a second insert within the first insert, the second insert configured to fit entirely within at least one channel of the first insert; disposing the first insert within the recess area along the front side of the seat support member; and securing a seat covering material over the seat support member and the first insert; wherein the body portion comprises a flange extending laterally on either side of the channel, the cover portion being configured to mate with the flange of the body portion; wherein at least a portion of the first insert is configured to extend beneath the tie-down trench such that at least one of the openings of the cover portion is positioned on either side of the tie-down trench; and wherein the second insert is configured to diffuse fluid within the channel of the first insert. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recess area of the seat support member is formed by removing material from the seat support member. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the seat support member is molded with the recess area. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flange is configured to be positioned outside of the recess area. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the recess area extends on both sides of the tie-down trench and the tie-down trench being configured to attach the seat covering material to the seat support member. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising forming an upholstery seam along the tie-down trench and above a portion of the channel. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a fluid line for delivering fluid to an inlet of the first insert, the plurality of openings of the cover portion being located below the seat covering material, the channel being in fluid communication with the inlet and the openings. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover portion comprises an air permeable material. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the insert comprises at least three channels, the fluid line being configured to pass fluid through a manifold of the first insert into the at least three channels which are in fluid communication with the manifold. 10. A method for producing a climate controlled seat assembly, the method comprising: providing a seat support member having a front side generally facing a seated occupant, said seat support member comprising at least one recess area along a front side of said seat support member; providing a first insert, the first insert comprising a body portion, a cover portion and at least one interior channel defined between the body portion and the cover portion, wherein the body portion comprises a flange extending laterally on either side of the channel, the cover portion being configured to mate with the flange of the body portion; wherein a substantial portion of the first insert is adapted to fit within the recess area of the seat support member; placing an intermediate insert entirely within at least one interior channel of the first insert, the intermediate insert being configured to provide structural support to the cover portion and to diffuse a volume of fluid delivered into the first insert; positioning the first insert within the recess area of the seat support member such that an upper surface of said first insert is substantially flush with said front side of said seat support member; and providing at least one covering layer over the seat support member and the first insert; wherein the cover portion comprises an air permeable material, the air permeable material being configured to permit fluid from within the interior channel to pass towards the covering layer. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cover portion comprises open cell foam. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the body portion comprises a generally a U-shaped cross section. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the body portion comprises a flange, the flange being configured to mate with the cover portion. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the flange is positioned outside the recess area of the seat support member. 15. A method for producing a climate controlled seat assembly, the method comprising: providing a seat support member having a front side configured to generally receive a seated occupant thereagainst, the seat support member comprising at least one trench and at least one recess area located along the front side of the seat support member, the recess area being positioned on both sides of the trench and the trench being configured to attach a covering layer to the seat support member; and positioning a first insert within the recess area of the seat support member such that an upper surface of said first insert is substantially flush with said front side of said seat support member, the first insert comprising an inlet, a plurality of outlets and at least one interior channel extending across the trench, the interior channel being configured to convey fluid from the inlet to outlets located on both sides of the trench; wherein the first insert comprises a second insert positioned therein, the second insert being configured to diffuse a volume of fluid delivered into the inlet of the first insert; wherein the second insert is configured to be positioned entirely within at least one interior channel of the first insert. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the recess area is molded in the seat support member. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first insert comprises a cover portion and a body portion, the interior channel being generally defined between the cover portion and the body portion. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the body portion comprises a flange, the flange being configured to mate with a surface of the cover portion and being configured to be at least partially positioned outside the recess area. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming an upholstery seam along the trench and above a portion of the interior channel.