Tempering device for vehicle seats

Abstract

A tempering system ( 3 ) for the tempering of at least one contact surface ( 5 ) of a vehicle seat ( 1 ) coming into contact with a user, having at least one tube ( 7 ), at least partially located near the contact surface ( 5 ), with a cooling medium ( 9 ), which flows through the tube ( 7 ) in a closed circuit. In the region of the contact surface ( 5 ) the tube ( 7 ) is at least partially shielded from the user by a rubber-elastic protective layer ( 11 ).

1 . A tempering system for tempering at least one contact surface of a vehicle seat comprising: 
 at least one tube, a portion of which is located proximate the contact surface;    a cooling medium flowing through the tube in a closed circuit; and    a protective layer shielding the contact surface from the portion of the tube located proximate the contact region.    
   
   
       2 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  wherein the tube is at least partially embedded in the protective layer.  
   
   
       3 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  wherein the protective layer has a thickness of approximately 4-60 mm, and the tube has an outer diameter of approximately 3-10 mm.  
   
   
       4 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  wherein the tube is at least partially formed by the protective layer.  
   
   
       5 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  wherein the protective layer at least partially comprises silicone, rubber, latex, synthetic gel, polyurethane gel, or admixtures of carbon fibers or metal fibers.  
   
   
       6 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  comprising a seat occupancy detector located on the protective layer.  
   
   
       7 . A tempering system according to  claim 6  wherein the seat occupancy detector comprises a capacitive sensor and wherein the protective layer acts as a dielectric and at least one plate of the capacitive sensor is located on a surface of the protective layer.  
   
   
       8 . A tempering system according to  claim 7  wherein plates of the capacitive sensor are located on opposite sides of the protective layer.  
   
   
       9 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  wherein the protective layer includes a seat occupancy detector comprising a cavity formed in the protective layer and filled with a measuring fluid, and a pressure sensor in communication with the measuring fluid for indicating an occupancy status of the seat.  
   
   
       10 . A tempering system according to  claim 1  wherein the protective layer includes a seat occupancy detector comprising a first photoconductor for the introduction of light and a second photoconductor for the absorption of light both located in the protective layer, and wherein the protective layer is at least partially transparent between the first and second photoconductors, and wherein the quantity or quality of light absorbed by the second photoconductor is indicative of a pressure load of the seat.  
   
   
       11 . A vehicle seat comprising: 
 at least one cushion forming a contact surface for a seat occupant; and    a tempering system for tempering the contact surface the tempering system comprising at least one tube, a portion of which is located proximate the contact surface, a cooling medium flowing through the tube in a closed circuit, and a protective layer shielding the contact surface from the portion of the tube located proximate the contact region.    
   
   
       12 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one cushion is formed by the protective layer.  
   
   
       13 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  wherein the tube is at least partially embedded in the protective layer.  
   
   
       14 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  wherein the tube is at least partially formed by the protective layer.  
   
   
       15 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  comprising a heating element arranged within the protective layer.  
   
   
       16 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  comprising a seat occupancy detector located on the protective layer.  
   
   
       17 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 16  wherein the seat occupancy detector comprises a capacitive sensor and wherein the protective layer acts as a dielectric and at least one plate of the capacitive sensor is located on a surface of the protective layer.  
   
   
       18 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  wherein the protective layer includes a seat occupancy detector comprising a cavity formed in the protective layer and filled with a measuring fluid, and a pressure sensor in communication with the measuring fluid for indicating an occupancy status of the seat.  
   
   
       19 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 11  wherein the protective layer includes a seat occupancy detector comprising a first photoconductor for the introduction of light and a second photoconductor for the absorption of light both located in the protective layer, and wherein the protective layer is at least partially transparent between the first and second photoconductors, and wherein the quantity or quality of light absorbed by the second photoconductor is indicative of a pressure load of the seat.  
   
   
       20 . A vehicle seat comprising: 
 at least one cushion forming a contact surface for a seat occupant;    a tempering system for tempering the contact surface the tempering system comprising at least one tube, a portion of which is located proximate the contact surface, a cooling medium flowing through the tube in a closed circuit, and a protective layer shielding the contact surface from the portion of the tube located proximate the contact region, the tube being at least partially embedded within the protective layer; and    a seat occupancy detector located in the protective layer, the seat occupancy detector comprising at least one of a capacitive sensor, pressure sensing system, or light sensing system providing a signal indicative of an occupancy status of the vehicle seat.