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. 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 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 body;    a first port at a first end of the body, the first port comprising an engagement member adapted to couple the first port to 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 a flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The conduit as in  claim 2 , wherein the body is made of an elastomer  
   
   
       4 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first port and the second port is made of plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein both of the first port and the second port are made of plastic.  
   
   
       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 1 , 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 8 , wherein the flange includes a touch fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises a prong configured to be inserted into an opening.  
   
   
       11 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises at least one clip configured to engage a recess.  
   
   
       12 . The conduit as in  claim 1 , wherein the body has a bellows arrangement.  
   
   
       13 . 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 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 portion of the seat cushion;    a fluid system to supply or withdraw fluid from the passage; and    a conduit extending from the passage, the conduit comprising: 
 a first end comprising an engagement member adapted to secure the conduit to an output port of the fluid system in a snap fit; and  
 a second end configured place the conduit in fluid communication with the passage extending through the seat cushion.  
   
   
   
       14 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the seat assembly further comprises a heat transfer device.  
   
   
       15 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises a Peltier Circuit.  
   
   
       16 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises a resistive heating element.  
   
   
       17 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second end of the conduit includes a touch fastener.  
   
   
       18 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the conduit is flexible.  
   
   
       19 . 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 conduit to the cushion so as to place the conduit in fluidic communication with the opening; and    coupling a portion of the conduit to a fluid flow generation device with a snap fit.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein attaching the conduit to the cushion further comprises utilizing a touch fastener having a first portion coupled to the cushion and a second portion coupled to the conduit.