Apparatus for providing fluid through a vehicle seat

Abstract

A seat assembly comprises a seat cushion having an outer surface comprising a front side for supporting an occupant in a sitting position and a rear side. A base member is positioned on the rear side of the seat cushion. An adjustable lumbar support device is provided on the rear side of the seat cushion. A first passage extends through the seat cushion. A ventilation system is provided for distributing air from the first passage along the support surface of the seat cushion. A climate control apparatus is provided for providing climate conditioned air to the ventilation system. A flexible conduit connects the climate control apparatus to the ventilation system.

1 . A conduit for placing a climate control device in fluid communication with a fluid passage in a cushion, the conduit comprising: 
 a flexible body,    a first port at a first end of the body, the first port configured to cooperate with an outlet port of the climate control device; and    a second port at a second end of the body, the second port configured to cooperate with a rear side of the cushion.    
   
   
       2 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of an elastomer.  
   
   
       3 . The conduit as in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first port and the second port is made of plastic.  
   
   
       4 . The conduit as in  claim 3 , wherein both of the first port and the second port are made of plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the body has a bellow-type configuration comprising a plurality of folds.  
   
   
       6 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the second port is configured to be attached to the rear side of the cushion.  
   
   
       7 . The conduit of  claim 6 , wherein the second end of the body includes a flange that surrounds the second port.  
   
   
       8 . The conduit as in  claim 7 , wherein the flange is configured to fit within a recess formed on the rear side of the automotive seat.  
   
   
       9 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the first end is directly coupled to the climate control device.  
   
   
       10 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the first port is configured to mate with the outlet port of the climate control device.  
   
   
       11 . A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising: 
 a seat cushion having an outer surface comprising a front side for supporting an occupant in a sitting position and a rear side, the rear side and the front side generally facing in opposite directions;    a base member positioned on the rear side of the seat cushion;    an adjustable support device capable of moving a portion of the seat cushion between at least a first position in which the portion of the seat cushion is located a first distance from the base member and a second position in which the portion of the seat cushion is located a second distance from the base member, the second distance being greater than the first distance;    a passage extending through the seat cushion, the passage communicating with an opening on the rear side of the portion of the seat cushion; and    a conduit extending from the passage and through at least a portion of the adjustable support device.    
   
   
       12 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 11  additionally comprising a ventilation system for distributing air from the passage along the support surface of the seat cushion.  
   
   
       13 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 11  additionally comprising a fluid system to supply or withdraw fluid from the passage, the fluid system being positioned generally on a rear side of the adjustable support device.  
   
   
       14 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end, the first end of the conduit being coupled to the an outlet port of the fluid system.  
   
   
       15 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid system is coupled to the base member.  
   
   
       16 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustable support device includes a support member configured to push against the rear side of the seat cushion, the support device defining an opening through which the conduit extends.  
   
   
       17 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid system comprises a heat transfer device.  
   
   
       18 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises a Peltier Circuit.  
   
   
       19 . A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising: 
 a seat cushion having a front side, a rear side and an outer surface comprising support surface for supporting an occupant in a sitting position, the support surface being located generally on the front side of the seat cushion;    an adjustable support device capable of moving a lumbar portion of the cushion between at least a first position in which the lumbar portion of the support surface protrudes a first distance towards the occupant and a second position in which the lumbar portion protrudes a second distance towards the occupant, the second distance being greater than the first distance;    a fluid system for delivering or drawing air;    an air passage extending through at least part of the lumbar portion of the cushion; and    a flexible conduit in fluid communication with the air passage and having a first end coupled to a component of the fluid system and a second end coupled to the lumbar portion, the component of the fluid system being substantially stationary with respect to the lumbar portion of the cushion.    
   
   
       20 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 19  additionally comprising a distribution system for distributing air along the support surface of the seat cushion, the distribution system communicating with the air passage.  
   
   
       21 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid system comprises a heat transfer device.  
   
   
       22 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the component that is substantially stationary with respect to the lumbar portion of the cushion is the heat transfer device.  
   
   
       23 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second end of the flexible conduit is coupled to a rear side of the seat cushion.  
   
   
       24 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the second end of the flexible conduit includes a flange configured to be attached to a rear side of the seat cushion.  
   
   
       25 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the rear side of the seat cushion includes a recess configured to receive the flange.  
   
   
       26 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the conduit is formed at least in part from rubber.  
   
   
       27 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the conduit has a bellow-type configuration comprising a plurality of folds.  
   
   
       28 . A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising: 
 a seat cushion having an outer surface comprising a front side for supporting an occupant in a sitting position and a rear side, the rear side and the front side generally facing in opposite directions;    a passage extending through the seat cushion, the passage communicating with an opening on the rear side of the seat cushion;    a fluid system for delivering or drawing air to the passage; and    means for providing a flexible fluid connection between the fluid system and the passage.    
   
   
       29 . A climate controlled cushion comprising: 
 an outer surface having a first side for supporting at least a portion of an occupant and a second side, the second side and the first side generally facing in opposite directions;    a passage extending at least partially through the cushion, the passage communicating with an opening on the second side of the seat cushion;    a fluid system for delivering or expelling air to the passage; and    a conduit coupling the fluid system with the passage, the conduit being expandable in length.    
   
   
       30 . The climate controlled cushion of  claim 29 , wherein the conduit is configured to articulate relative to at least one of the fluid system and the conduit.  
   
   
       31 . A method of assembling a climate controlled seat assembly comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cushion having an opening accessible from at least one side of the cushion, the cushion being attached to a frame;    attaching a flexible conduit to the cushion so as to place the conduit in fluidic communication with the opening;    coupling the conduit to a fluid flow generation device; and    securing the fluid flow generation device to the frame.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and a recess about the opening, and inserting the flange into the opening.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the attaching step further involves securing the flange within the recess by using one or more fastener selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a hook-and-loop fastener, a belt, snaps and a strap.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and securing the flange to the cushion using a hook-and-loop fastener.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and securing the flange to the cushion using an adhesive.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the attaching step involves providing a flexible conduit with a flange and securing the flange to the cushion using one or more straps.