Seating with vertically-lapped padding

Abstract

A seating component includes a seating component frame having an air inlet, an air-permeable upholstery covering, and, an improved air-permeable fibrous cushion disposed between the seating component and the upholstery covering. The improved air-permeable fibrous cushion exhibits excellent air permeability, compression recovery, contour conformability, and thermoformability. The fibrous pad has fibers that are predominantly orientated with a length direction of the fibers aligned with a thickness of the cushion.

1 . A seating component comprising: 
 a seating component frame having an air inlet;    an air-permeable upholstery covering; and    an air-permeable fibrous cushion disposed between the seating component frame and the air-permeable upholstery covering, wherein the fibrous cushion has fibers that are predominantly oriented with a length direction of the fibers aligned with a thickness direction of the fibrous cushion.    
   
   
       2 . The seating component of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet includes or is in fluid communication with a fan or blower that blows or draws air into the seating component through the air inlet, through the cushion, and out of the seating component through the air-permeable upholstery covering.  
   
   
       3 . The seating component of  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines air channels that extend laterally from the air inlet to distribute airflow more uniformly through the cushion than would occur without the laterally extending air channels.  
   
   
       4 . The seating component of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber of the air-permeable fibrous cushion is vertically-lapped.  
   
   
       5 . The seating component of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers of the air-permeable fibrous cushion is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       6 . The seating component of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion has an airflow resistance less than 2,500 Rayls.  
   
   
       7 . The seating component of  claim 2 , wherein the air inlet includes a heater or is in fluid communication with a heater that heats air being blown through or drawn into the air inlet.