Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001]
The present subject matter is related, in general to a seat assembly, and more particularly, but not exclusively to a seat assembly embedded with a thermoelectric assembly to provide heating and cooling effect. This present subject matter is a patent of addition to a subject matter disclosed in the patent application 5 number 202041003445. The present subject matter offers improvement over the subject matter as claimed in the aforementioned patent application
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Typically, drivers and passengers of multiaxle vehicles or vehicles having cabin have access to air conditioning systems within the vehicle and, in many cases, 10 have the luxury of heated and/or cooled seats. Temperature controlled seats provide increased comfort to the user. A seat of saddle type vehicle is subjected to extreme weather conditions comprising extreme heat of the sun, exposure to rain, exposure to cold temperatures during night driving. In existing vehicles, during summer the seat absorbs more heat and thus a user will feel extremely uncomfortable due to 15 accumulation of sweat and moisture on the seat which can cause a lot of skin diseases due to fungal growth and infections. For example, pilonidal cyst is one common disease found in the users.
[0003]
Saddle type vehicles, such as a motorcycle generates a large amount of heat close to the user and specifically under the seat. With an engine so close to the user, 20 air from under the seat is at a relatively high temperature and not suitable for cooling the seat. Further, with higher capacity engines, the engine size increases, and the seat base becomes more close to the engine. Further, as the engine base is closer to the user thighs, it leads to discomfort to the user.
[0004]
Conventional temperature control systems are often too large and bulky to 25 be mounted within, below or around vehicle seats. Further, large and bulky control systems also pose difficulty in packaging and thereby increase assembly time. Conventional systems may have a squirrel cage fan ranging from five or six inches in diameter generating an air flow that passes through a duct to reach a heat
3
exchanger that adjusts the temperature of the air. The heat exchanger is several
inches wide and long, and at least an inch or so thick. From the heat exchanger the air is transported through ducts to the bottom of the seat cushion and to the back of the seat cushion. Such systems are bulky and difficult to fit underneath the seat of the saddle type vehicle. 5
[0005] In some other state of the art systems, temperature-controlled seats circulate a refrigerant through a coil in the seat, where the refrigerant can expand and cool the seat and any occupant. However, there is risk of damage to the coil which may lead to leakage of the refrigerant and damage the seat.
[0006]
With recent advancements, cooling units are provided within the user seat 10 however, the cooling units reduce foam thickness of the user seat, and such reduced thickness of the foam causes discomfort to the user. Thus, when the user sits on such cooling enabled seats the seat foam is compressed and as the foam thickness is less, hence the user can feel the hard surface of the cooling units while sitting on the seat. The hard surface can cause a poky feeling to the user which cause 15 discomfort and distractions while driving and may lead to accidents and injuries to public at large.
[0007]
Thus, one of the major technical problems in the conventionally cooled seats is that positioning of the cooling units is improper which leads to discomfort to the user. Additionally, reduced thickness of the foam causes discomfort to the 20 user by causing a poky feeling in the buttock which continuously irritates the skin of the user. Further, an amount of space available within, below and around the seat for such temperature control systems is severely limited.
[0008]
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of 25 described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.
4
SUMMARY
[0009]
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features 5 described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
[00010]
According to embodiments illustrated herein, there is provided a seat assembly. A seat assembly comprising a seat base, a first member, one or more thermoelectric modules, a seat cover, one or more second members, and a sheet.. 10 The seat base is adapted for mounting on a frame. The first member is disposed on the seat base, herein the first member having one or more holes. The one or more thermoelectric modules is placed inside the one or more holes in the first member. The seat cover is configured for enclosing the first member. The one or more second members are also provided. The sheet is coupled to the one or more thermoelectric 15 modules. The sheet is configured to have one or more dipped portions. Herein the one or more dipped portions configured on the sheet at a predetermined portion. The each of one or more second members are disposed in the each of one or more dipped portions configured upon the sheet.
[00011]
In an embodiment, the first member is configured to have the one or more 20 holes. At least one of the holes is configured to receive a predetermined portion of the sheet. The predetermined portion is positioned on a top portion of the one or more thermoelectric modules.
[00012]
In another embodiment, at least one of the dipped portions is configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more second members. The one or more 25 second members having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is in contact with the seat cover and the lower surface is in contact with the sheet.
[00013]
In an embodiment, the seat assembly includes one of a split seat assembly and a single seat assembly.
5
[00014]
In an embodiment, the seat assembly comprises a control unit and a switch assembly. The control unit is mounted within a rear lower region of the first member. The switch assembly is connected to the control unit and the switch assembly is disposed within a side region of the seat assembly.
[00015]
In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more thermoelectric modules 5 comprises a coin portion, a thermoelectric plate, a heat sink, a fan casing, a fan, a deflector, and a connector. The coin portion is attached to the sheet to conduct heat towards a user sitting area. The fan casing is mounted below the heat sink. The fan is embedded within the fan casing. The deflector is positioned around the thermoelectric plate and the deflector protrudes in a downward direction of the seat 10 base such that no gap exists between the deflector and the seat base. The connector is embedded on a top surface of the first member.
[00016]
In an embodiment, the coin portion of the one or more thermoelectric modules is disposed in a non-seating zone of the seat assembly.
[00017]
In another embodiment, the thermoelectric plate comprises a first surface 15 and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface is configured to absorb or dissipate heat based on a polarity assigned to each of the first surface and the second surface using the switch assembly.
[00018]
In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to change the polarity of the thermoelectric plate such that the first surface either absorbs or dissipates heat 20 based on one or more inputs received by the switch assembly.
[00019]
In an embodiment, the deflector enables creation of a hot zone and a cold zone in the seat base. The hot zone is created on a top of the one or more thermoelectric modules and the cold zone is created on a bottom of the one or more thermoelectric modules while a heating effect being generated from the one or more 25 thermoelectric modules. In another embodiment, the cold zone is created on the top of the one or more thermoelectric modules and the hot zone is created on the bottom of the one or more thermoelectric modules while a cooling effect is generated from the one or more thermoelectric modules.
6
[00020]
In an embodiment, the first surface of the one or more thermoelectric modules absorb heat, a cooling effect is provided to a user by pulling cool air inside via a plurality of inlet holes and hot air being directed away from the seat base in a downward direction via the deflector.
[00021]
In an embodiment, the first surface of the one or more thermoelectric 5 modules dissipates heat, a heating effect is provided to the user by pulling hot air inside via a plurality of inlet holes and cool air is directed away from the seat base in a downward direction via the deflector.
[00022]
In an embodiment, the switch assembly comprises of at least two switches, a first switch and a second switch, The first switch is used to turn ON/OFF the one 10 or more thermoelectric modules and to control a temperature mode of the seat assembly. The second switch is used to control intensity of the heating or the cooling of the seat assembly.
[00023]
In an embodiment, the temperature mode comprises a heating mode and a cooling mode. Herein a long press of the first switch turns on the heating mode of 15 the seat assembly and a subsequent short press of the first switch turns on the cooling mode of the seat assembly.
[00024]
In an embodiment, the one or more thermoelectric modules being connected to a connector using one or more fasteners.
[00025]
In another embodiment, the connector has a flat portion in a center region 20 and a curved portion towards edges to provide support to the one or more thermoelectric modules and is less perceivable to a user.
[00026]
In an embodiment, the one or more thermoelectric modules is positioned in a forward position of the seat assembly. The one or more thermoelectric modules is close to a vehicle center plane and partially away from the user sitting area. 25
[00027]
In an embodiment, the seat assembly includes a passenger vehicle seat, a commercial vehicle seat, a sofa seat and an office chair seat.
7
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00028]
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by 5 way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein,
[00029]
Figure 1 shows a top view of a vehicle illustrating a seat assembly, according to the present invention.
[00030]
Figure 2a shows a perspective view of the seat assembly where few parts 10 are omitted from the figure according to the present invention.
[00031]
Figure 2b shows an exploded view of the seat assembly according to the present invention.
[00032]
Figure 2c illustrates a magnified view of a connector (240), according to the present invention. 15
[00033]
Figure 3 illustrates a seat base of the seat assembly according to the present invention.
[00034]
Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly according to the present invention.
[00035]
Figure 5 shows a sheet and one or more second members of the seat 20 assembly according to the present invention.
[00036]
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the seat assembly without the seat cover, according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25
[00037]
The present disclosure may be best understood with reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. Various embodiments are
8
discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the figures are simply for explanatory purposes as the methods and systems may extend beyond the described embodiments. For example, the teachings presented and the needs of a particular application may yield multiple alternative and suitable 5 approaches to implement the functionality of any detail described herein. Therefore, any approach may extend beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown.
[00038]
References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that 10 the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 15
[00039]
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with different embodiments. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather those embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled 20 in the art.
[00040]
The present invention provides a cooling effect or a heating effect in a seat assembly that increases the rider comfort. The seat assembly is configured with one or more thermoelectric modules such that user should not perceive poky feeling from the one or more thermoelectric modules while sitting. The present invention 25 without compromising on the stiffness and strength of the seat provides improved comfort to the user. The present invention utilizes conduction property of the one or more thermoelectric modules by making contact with the user and provides heating or cooling effect to the user. Thus, the present invention blows cool air or hot air from inside the seat and provides comfort to the user. Further, one or more 30
9
second members of
the seat assembly provides easy assembly of the one or more thermoelectric modules inside the first member. Additionally, the present invention provides a connector to disburse the rider load from the thermoelectric assembly to an overall portion of the seat assembly so that tearing of the foam is avoided due to concentrated force. 5
[00041]
The present invention may be implemented in a motorcycle type vehicle. However, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that the present invention is not limited to a motorcycle type vehicle and certain features, aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention can be used with other types of two wheelers, such as scooter type vehicle, step thru, and the like. In an embodiment, 10 the scooter type vehicle comprises a low floor board type vehicle and the term scooter as used herein should not be inferred to restrict the maximum speed, the displacement amount or the like of the vehicle. The disclosed seat assembly may be installed in any type of vehicle such as a bicycle, a motorcycle type vehicle, a scooter type vehicle, a step thru vehicle or a four-wheeler vehicle. In an 15 embodiment, the disclosed seat assembly may be installed in different types of seats including but not limited to single seat assembly, split seat assembly, sofa seat, vehicle seat, office chair and like.
[00042]
The object of the present subject matter is to provide a seat assembly which is configured to control temperature of seat thereby provides comfort to a user of 20 the vehicle. Further, the design of the seat assembly and placement of the components within the seat assembly aims at overcoming the technical problems mentioned above and the disadvantages in the existing art.
[00043]
Another aspect of the present subject matter provides a control unit and switch assembly configured to control a polarity of a thermoelectric plate of one or 25 more thermoelectric modules based on one or more inputs received from the user. Another aspect of the present subject matter provides a connector placed between the first member and the sheet. Yet another aspect of the present subject matter provides a first member configured to provide accommodation to a coin portion which is further attached to the thermoelectric plate to conduct temperature from 30
10
the coin
portion to a user sitting area. Still another aspect of the present subject matter provides a control unit and switch assembly for controlling the temperature of the seat assembly.
[00044]
Fig. 1 shows a top view of a vehicle (100) illustrating a seat assembly (102) according to the present invention. The vehicle (100) comprises a frame assembly 5 (not shown), a handlebar assembly (104), the seat assembly (102), one or more illuminating units (106), rear view mirrors (108), one or more wheels (not shown), a power unit (not shown) and a fuel tank assembly (110). The frame assembly (not shown) provides support to accommodate other components of the vehicle (100). The handlebar assembly (104) allows steering of the vehicle (100). The one or more 10 wheels comprises a front wheel (not shown) and a rear wheel (not shown). The front wheel (not shown) is in front portion of the vehicle (100) and the rear wheel (not shown) is in rear portion of the vehicle (100). The power unit (not shown) provides necessary power to drive the vehicle (100). The power unit (not shown) comprises an engine (not shown) and a transmission unit (not shown). The engine (not shown) 15 generates the power required by the vehicle (100). The transmission unit (not shown) transmits the generated power to the rear wheel (not shown). The seat assembly (102) provides seating for users of the vehicle (100).
[00045]
Fig. 2a illustrates the seat assembly (102) where a seat cover (210) is omitted, as per an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2b illustrates an 20 exploded view of the seat assembly (102) as per an embodiment of the present invention. For sake of brevity, Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b shall be discussed together.
[00046]
The seat assembly (102) comprises a seat base (202), a first member (204), one or more thermoelectric modules (208), the seat cover (210), one or more second members (212), a sheet (215), a switch assembly (230) and a connector (240). The 25 first member (204) is disposed on the seat base (202). The first member (204) having one or more holes (206). The one or more thermoelectric modules (208) is disposed inside the one or more holes (206) in the first member (204). The seat cover (210) is configured for enclosing the first member (204). The sheet (215) is coupled to one or more thermoelectric modules (208). The sheet (215) is configured 30
11
to have one or more dipped portions (220)
at a predetermined portion. As per an embodiment, the predetermined portion includes a frontal portion of the sheet. The one or more second members (212) is disposed in the each of one or more dipped portions (220) configured on the sheet (215). The switch assembly (230) to receive one or more inputs provided by the user and to provide the user flexibility of 5 choosing effects pertaining to varied temperatures.
[00047]
A control unit (not shown) is mounted within a rear lower region of the first member (204). The switch assembly (230) is connected to the control unit (not shown). Herein, the switch assembly (230) is disposed within a side region of the seat assembly (102). The switch assembly (230) comprises of at least two switches 10 (not shown). A first switch is used to turn ON/OFF the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) and to control a temperature mode of the seat assembly (102) whereas a second switch is used to control intensity of the heating or the cooling of the seat assembly (102). The first switch receives the inputs from the user to choose either heating or cooling effect that he/she desires to experience while riding. The 15 second switch provides the user the flexibility to adjust the intensity of heating or cooling effect.
[00048]
The control unit (not shown) comprises suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that is configured to control functioning of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208). The control unit changes polarity of the 20 thermoelectric plate (450) such that the first surface either absorbs heat or dissipates heat based on one or more inputs received from the switch assembly (230).
[00049]
The temperature mode comprises a heating mode and a cooling mode, herein a long press of the first switch turns on the heating mode of the seat assembly (102) and a subsequent short press of the first switch turns on the cooling mode of 25 the seat assembly (102).
[00050]
The predetermined portion of the sheet (215) is to be received by the one or more holes (206) present on the first member (204). The predetermined portion is positioned on a top portion of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208). The
12
close contact of the predetermined portion with the one or more thermoelectric
modules (208) ensures conduction of temperature to the user sitting area.
[00051]
The one or more second members (212) are to be received by at least one of the dipped portions (220) present in the predetermined portion. The one or more second members (212) having an upper surface (212u) and a lower surface (212l). 5 The upper surface (212u) is in contact with the seat cover (210) and the lower surface is in contact with the sheet (215). The disclosed arrangement ensures that top portion of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) is covered by the dipped portions (220) which is further covered by one or more second members (212) which provides additional cushioning and thereby prevents the user from 10 experiencing any poky feeling caused by the one or more thermoelectric modules (208).
[00052]
The one or more dipped portions (220) can be in stepped form or in bend form. The stepped form comprises a riser and a tread perpendicular to each other whereas a bend form comprises an arched or curved path. 15
[00053]
The connector (240) is embedded on a top surface of the first member (204). The connector (240) has one or more openings (222) to accommodate the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) using one or more fasteners or by means of a snap fit. In another embodiment, the connector (240) is embedded on a bottom surface of the first member (204). 20
[00054]
The sheet (215) is made up of thermally conducting material. The thermally conducting material includes but not limiting to Graphene sheet.
[00055]
Fig. 2c illustrates a magnified view of the connector (240). The magnified view illustrates that the connector (240) has a flat portion (240f) in a center region and a curved portion (240c) towards edges to provide support to the one or more 25 thermoelectric modules (208).
[00056]
Fig. 3 illustrates the seat base (202) of the seat assembly (102) according to the present invention. Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly (102)
13
according to the present invention.
For sake of brevity, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shall be discussed together.
[00057]
The seat base (202) provides a base to accommodate the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) which is covered by the sheet (215). The coin portion (302) of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) is covered by the one or 5 more second members (212). The sheet (215) conducts temperature from the coin portion (302) towards a user sitting area. The sheet (215) enables the conduction of temperature as required by the user based on the one or more inputs received. The sheet (215) ensures the user to experience the heating and cooling effect thereby improves overall comfort of the user. 10
[00058]
Fig. 4 specifically illustrates B-B sectional view across B-B’ reference axis (as shown in figure 3) which depicts seat base (202), the sheet (215), the coin portion (302), deflector (420), thermoelectric plate (450), heat sink (440), fan (460), and fan casing (430).
[00059]
The coin portion (302) is in contact with the sheet (215) to ensure 15 conduction of temperature to the user sitting area via the sheet (215). The fan casing (430) is mounted below the heat sink (440). The fan casing (430) provides a casing to the fan (460). The deflector (420) is positioned around the thermoelectric plate (450) and protrudes in a downward direction of the seat base (202) such that no gap exists between the deflector (420) and the seat base (202). The thermoelectric plate 20 (450) comprises a first surface and a second surface. Herein, the first surface is in contact with the sheet (215). The thermoelectric plate absorbs or dissipate heat based on a polarity assigned to each of the first surface and the second surface using the switch assembly (230).
[00060]
If the first surface absorbs heat, a cooling effect is provided to a user by 25 pulling cool air inside via a plurality of inlet holes and hot air being directed away from the seat base (202) in a downward direction via the deflector (420).
14
[00061]
If the first surface dissipates heat, a heating effect being provided to the user by pulling hot air inside via a plurality of inlet holes and cool air being directed away from the seat base (202) in a downward direction via the deflector (420).
[00062]
The deflector (420) enables creation of a hot zone and a cold zone in the seat base (202). The hot zone is created on a top of the one or more thermoelectric 5 modules (208) and the cold zone is created on a bottom of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) while a heating effect being generated from the one or more thermoelectric modules (208).
[00063]
In an embodiment, the cold zone is created on the top of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) and the hot zone is created on the bottom of the one 10 or more thermoelectric modules (208) while a cooling effect being generated from the one or more thermoelectric modules (208).
[00064]
Fig. 5 shows the sheet (215) and one or more second members (212) of the seat assembly (102) incorporating the invention. The sheet (215) having one or more dipped portions (220) to be placed on the top pf the one or more thermoelectric 15 modules (208). The one or more second members (212) is placed on the one or more dipped portions (220) to provide cushioning to the user.
[00065]
The sheet (215) is disposed between the seat cover (210) and the one or more thermoelectric modules (208). Herein the seat assembly (102) is configured such that the one or more second members (212), the sheet (215), the one or more 20 thermoelectric modules (208), and the seat cover (210) being tightly touching each other and being vertically aligned within the seat assembly (102).
[00066]
The seat assembly (102) can be a split seat assembly or a single seat assembly.
[00067]
The switch assembly (230) may be provided on an instrument cluster. The 25 switch assembly (230) is utilized to provide one or more inputs comprising the heat effect, the cooling effect, adjusting the intensity of heating effect, or adjusting the intensity of cooling effect. In an embodiment, the control unit and the switch assembly (230) are powered by one or more batteries of the vehicle (100).
15
5
10 15
20 25
[00068] The one or more thermoelectric modules (208) operate according to the Peltier effect. The effect creates a temperature difference by transferring heat between two electrical junctions. A voltage is applied across joined conductors to create an electric current. When the current flows through the junctions of the two conductors, heat is removed at one junction and cooling occurs. Heat is deposited at the other junction. The Peltier effect can be used for heating, cooling and control of temperature. [00069] The thermoelectric plate (450) has the first surface and the second surface. The first surface and the second surface are configured to absorb heat or dissipate heat based on a polarity assigned to each of the first surface and the second surface using a control unit and switch assembly (230). The internal structure of the thermoelectric plate (450) comprises semiconductor pellets fabricated from N-type and P-type Bismuth Telluride materials. The array of pellets is electrically connected in series, but thermally arranged in parallel to maximize thermal transfer between the hot and cold ceramic surfaces of the module. [00070] In an embodiment, to achieve the heating or cooling effect a voltage is applied across the thermoelectric plate (450). The current flow around the circuit causes the thermoelectric plate (450) to absorb or dissipate heat, resulting in the first surface heating up and the second surface cooling down based on the polarity of the current flow. In an embodiment, reverse direction of current flow can be incorporated to control the heating and cooling effects. Depending on the direction of the DC current flow it's possible to cool and heat with thermoelectric elements without changing the connectors or mechanical setup. Further advantages are that small designs can be realized and there are no moving parts. The current supplied to the thermoelectric element is controlled by the control unit. [00071] In an embodiment, the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) may be utilized to provide heated grips on handlebar of the vehicle (100). In an embodiment, the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) may be utilized to provide a cooling effect withing a utility box of the vehicle (100).
16
[00072]
A person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the system elements, system modules, and sub-modules have been illustrated and explained to serve as examples and should not be considered limiting in any manner. It will be further appreciated that the variants of the above disclosed system elements, modules, and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined 5 to create other different systems or applications.
[00073]
The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention(s)” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms 10 “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
[00074]
The disclosed claimed limitations and the disclosure provided herein provides a seat assembly that provides a heating effect and a cooling effect to a user. 15 The claimed invention provides comfort to the user. Also, without adding any bulky components, a heating and cooling effect is provided to the user to achieve enhanced comfort to the user. Further, the structural integrity of the seat assembly is improved by using the connector. Thus, the claimed invention improves the cooling and heating performance of the seat assembly, improves aesthetics and 20 comfort of the seat assembly by covering poking coin portions which irritates the user. Further, as the seating portion is split into two portions, manufacturability and ease of assembly is eased. Additionally, the structure of the seat assembly provides a more ergonomic seating arrangement for the user of the vehicle while providing the heating and cooling effect, especially for long rides. 25
[00075]
In light of the above-mentioned advantages and the technical advancements provided by the disclosed method and system, the claimed steps as discussed above are not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the claimed steps enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies. Further, the claimed steps clearly bring an improvement 30
17
in the functioning of the device itself as the claimed steps provide a technical
solution to a technical problem.
[00076]
A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with other does not imply that all such components are required, On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the 5 wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention,
[00077]
Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter and is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by 10 any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
[00078]
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various 15 aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
[00079]
The present disclosure may be realized in hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. The present disclosure may be realized in a centralized 20 fashion, in at least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion, where different elements may be spread across several interconnected computer systems, a computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein may be suited. A combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, 25 may control the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The present disclosure may be realized in hardware that comprises a portion of an integrated circuit that also performs other functions.
18
[00080]
A person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the systems, modules, and sub-modules have been illustrated and explained to serve as examples and should not be considered limiting in any manner. It will be further appreciated that the variants of the above disclosed system elements, modules, and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined to create other 5 different systems or applications.
[00081]
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the aforementioned steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced, reordered, or removed, and additional steps and/or system modules may be inserted, depending on the needs of a particular application. In addition, the systems of the aforementioned 10 embodiments may be implemented using a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and are not limited to any particular computer hardware, software, middleware, firmware, microcode, and the like. The claims can encompass embodiments for hardware and software, or a combination thereof.
[00082]
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain 15 embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be 20 limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. , Claims:We claim:
1.
A seat assembly (102) comprising:
a seat base (202), the seat base (202) being adapted for mounting on a frame; 5
a first member (204), the first member (204) being disposed on the seat base (202), wherein the first member (204) having one or more holes (206);
one or more thermoelectric modules (208), the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) being placed in the one or more holes (206) 10 in the first member (204);
a seat cover (210), the seat cover (210) being configured for enclosing the first member (204);
one or more second members (212); and
a sheet (215), the sheet (215) being coupled to the one or more 15 thermoelectric modules (208), the sheet (215) being configured to have one or more dipped portions (220);
wherein the one or more dipped portions (220) being configured on the sheet (215) at a predetermined portion; and
wherein each of the one or more second members (212) 20 being disposed in the each of one or more dipped portions (220) configured on the sheet (215).
2.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member (204) being configured to have the one or more holes (206), at least one of the holes (206) being configured to receive a predetermined portion of the 25 sheet (215), the predetermined portion being positioned on a top portion of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208).
3.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the dipped portions (220) being configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more second members (212), the one or more second members (212) 30
20
having an upper surface
(212u) and a lower surface (212l), wherein, the upper surface (212u) being in contact with the seat cover (210) and the lower surface (212l) being in contact with the sheet (215).
4.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly (102) includes one of a split seat assembly and a single seat assembly. 5
5.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly (102) comprises:
a control unit, the control unit being mounted within a rear lower region of the first member (204); and
a switch assembly (230), the switch assembly (230) being connected 10 to the control unit and the switch assembly (230) being disposed within a side region of the seat assembly (102).
6.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) comprises: 15
a coin portion (302), the coin portion (302) being attached to the sheet (215) to conduct heat towards a user sitting area;
a thermoelectric plate (450);
a heat sink (440);
a fan casing (430), the fan casing (430) being mounted below the 20 heat sink (440);
a fan (460), the fan (460) being embedded within the fan casing (430);
a deflector (420), the deflector (420) being positioned around the thermoelectric plate (450) and the deflector (420) protrudes in a downward 25 direction of the seat base (202) such that no gap exists between the deflector (420) and the seat base (202); and
a connector (240), the connector (240) being embedded on a top surface of the first member (204).
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7.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coin portion (302) of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) being disposed in a non-seating zone of the seat assembly (102).
8.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thermoelectric plate (450) comprises: 5
a first surface; and
a second surface;
wherein, the first surface and the second surface being configured to absorb or dissipate heat based on a polarity assigned to each of the first surface and the second surface using the switch 10 assembly (230).
9.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit being configured to change the polarity of the thermoelectric plate (450) such that the first surface either absorbs or dissipates heat based on one or 15 more inputs received from the switch assembly (230).
10.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the deflector (420) enables creation of a hot zone and a cold zone in the seat base (202);
wherein the hot zone being created on a top of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) and the cold zone being created on a bottom 20 of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) while a heating effect being generated from the one or more thermoelectric modules (208); and
wherein the cold zone being created on the top of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) and the hot zone being created on the bottom of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) while a cooling effect 25 being generated from the one or more thermoelectric modules (208).
11.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first surface of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) absorbs heat, a cooling effect being provided to a user by pulling cool air inside via a plurality of inlet holes and hot air being directed away from the seat base (202) in a 30 downward direction via the deflector (420).
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12.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first surface of the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) dissipates heat, a heating effect being provided to the user by pulling hot air inside via a plurality of inlet holes and cool air being directed away from the seat base (202) in a downward direction via the deflector (420). 5
13.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the switch assembly (230) comprises of at least two switches;
a first switch, the first switch being used to turn ON/OFF the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) and to control a temperature mode of the seat assembly (102); and 10
a second switch, the second switch being used to control intensity of the heating or the cooling of the seat assembly (102).
14.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the temperature mode comprises a heating mode and a cooling mode, wherein a long press of the first switch turns on the heating mode of the seat assembly (102) and 15 a subsequent short press of the first switch turns on the cooling mode of the seat assembly (102).
15.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) being connected to a connector (240) using one or more fasteners. 20
16.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connector (240) has a flat portion in a center region and a curved portion towards edges to provide support to the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) and being less perceivable to a user.
17.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more 25 thermoelectric modules (208) being positioned in a forward position of the seat assembly (102), the one or more thermoelectric modules (208) being close to a vehicle centre plane and partially away from the user sitting area.
18.
The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly (102) includes a passenger vehicle seat, a commercial vehicle seat, a sofa 30 seat and an office chair seat.