Armrest with integrated effect delivery system

Abstract

An armrest for a seating assembly includes a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow pathway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet. A fan unit is contained within the housing and positioned in the airflow pathway, the fan unit operable to draw air in through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet. A louver assembly is positioned at the air outlet, the louver assembly arranged to direct the expelled air as a substantially laminar flow of air towards a user seated in the user seat. The armrest is mountable to the seating assembly and the air outlet is arranged facing at least partially in a rearward direction when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly.

1 . An armrest for a seating assembly, the seating assembly comprising at least one user seat, wherein each user seat has a seat base and a seat back, wherein each seat base extends between a seat front end and a seat rear end in a forward-rearward direction, and each seat base extends between a seat first side and a seat second side in a lateral direction perpendicular to the forward-rearward direction, the armrest comprising:
 a housing comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow pathway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet;   a fan unit contained within the housing and positioned in the airflow pathway, wherein the fan unit is operable to draw air in through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet;   a louver assembly positioned at the air outlet, wherein the louver assembly is arranged to direct the expelled air as a substantially laminar flow of air towards a user seated in the user seat;   wherein   the armrest is mountable to the seating assembly at the seat first side or the seat second side; and   the air outlet is arranged facing at least partially in the rearward direction when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein the fan unit comprises an axial fan. 
     
     
         3 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the armrest extends between a proximal end and a distal end;   the air inlet, fan unit and louver assembly are all positioned at the distal end of the arm rest; and,   when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly, the proximal end is located at or near to the seat rear end, and the distal end is spaced away from the seat rear end in the forward direction.   
     
     
         4 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly the air outlet is arranged facing in an upward and rearward direction. 
     
     
         5 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly the air outlet is proximate the seat front end. 
     
     
         6 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly the air outlet is positioned forward of the seat front end in the forward-rearward direction. 
     
     
         7 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein when the armrest is mounted to the seating assembly the air inlet is positioned forward of the air outlet in the forward-rearward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet, the air outlet, and the fan unit are linearly aligned. 
     
     
         9 . The armrest of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the armrest is positionable between a first user seat and a second user seat;   the armrest further comprises a second air outlet positioned in the airflow path and a second louver assembly positioned at the second air outlet;   the louver assembly is arranged to direct air from the airflow path through the air outlet towards the first user seat; and   the second louver assembly is arranged to direct air from the airflow path through the second air outlet towards the second user seat.   
     
     
         10 . The armrest of  claim 9 , further comprising a divider positioned in the airflow path, wherein the airflow path has a combined upstream portion that extends between the air inlet and the divider, a first downstream portion that extends between the divider and the air outlet, and a second downstream portion that extends between the divider and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The armrest of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid delivery nozzle adjacent to the air outlet, wherein the liquid delivery nozzle is operable to output liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The armrest of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid delivery nozzle is arranged to direct the liquid towards a region forward of an expected user position of the user seated in the user seat whereby when the fan unit is operating to expel air through the air outlet, the expelled air generates a region of low pressure that draws the liquid towards the user. 
     
     
         13 . The armrest of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first liquid delivery nozzle adjacent to the air outlet, wherein the first liquid delivery nozzle is operable to output liquid towards a first region of the first user seat; and   a second liquid delivery nozzle adjacent to the second air outlet, wherein the second liquid delivery nozzle is operable to output liquid towards a second region of the second user seat.   
     
     
         14 . A seat assembly comprising:
 a seat back;   a seat base that extends between a seat front end and a seat rear end in a forward-rearward direction and between a seat first side and a seat second side in a lateral direction perpendicular to the forward-rearward direction;   an armrest mounted to at least one of the seat first side or the seat second side, wherein each armrest comprises:   a housing comprising an air inlet, and air outlet and an airflow pathway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet;   a fan unit contained within the housing and positioned in the airflow pathway, wherein the fan unit is operable to draw air in through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet; and   a louver assembly positioned at the air outlet, wherein the louver assembly is arranged to direct the expelled air as a substantially laminar flow of air towards a user seated in the user seat.   
     
     
         15 . A seating assembly comprising:
 at least one user seat, wherein each user seat has a seat base and a seat back, wherein each seat base extends between a seat front end and a seat rear end in a forward-rearward direction, and each seat base extends between a seat first side and a seat second side in a lateral direction perpendicular to the forward-rearward direction;   for each user seat, an armrest mounted to the seating assembly at at least one of the seat first side or the seat second side, wherein each armrest comprises:
 a housing comprising an air inlet, and air outlet and an airflow pathway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet; 
 a fan unit contained within the housing and positioned in the airflow pathway, wherein the fan unit is operable to draw air in through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet; 
 a louver assembly positioned at the air outlet, wherein the louver assembly is arranged to direct the expelled air as a substantially laminar flow of air towards a user seated in the user seat. 
   
     
     
         16 . The seating assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the at least one user seat comprises a first user seat and a second user seat;   a particular armrest is mounted to the seating assembly between the first user seat and the second user seat, the particular armrest comprising:
 a second air outlet positioned in the airflow path; and 
 a second louver assembly positioned at the second air outlet; 
 wherein 
 the louver assembly is arranged to direct air from the airflow path through the air outlet towards the first user seat; and 
 the second louver assembly is arranged to direct air from the airflow path through the second air outlet towards the second user seat.