DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A VENTILATED VEHICLE SEAT

Applicant:
Tata Motors Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[0001] The present application claims priority from Indian patent application no. 201821012271, filed on 31st March, 2018 the complete disclosure of which, in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the vehicle seat for providing air circulation between the seat and the driver during continuous or long drives, especially in commercial or passengers vehicles.

BACKGROUND

[0003] For many years, the transportation industry has been concerned with designing seats for automotive vehicles that provide added comfort to occupants in the seats. This includes providing seats typically using polyurethane and other foamed materials as cushioning materials that provides comforts to the driver. Typical cushioning materials also act as thermal insulators, causing heat to be retained if the seat is occupied for a longer duration. Thus, on a hot day, the seat feels warm for an extended period of time, even with air conditioning. As a result, the driver feels uncomfortable after continuous drive due to sweating in his body parts like back, thighs etc. as they are in continuous contact with seat surface. Due to continuous sweating from the body and friction between the body parts and the seat surface heat get generated. This can create a fatigue inside driver’s body, thereby reducing his long driving capacity. In certain cases, the driver may suffer from skin or muscle disease due to continuous driving.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need of a vehicle seat for providing proper air circulation between the driver and the seat surface, and to overcome the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] One or more shortcomings of the conventional device are overcome by the device as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the provision of device as claimed in the present disclosure.

[0006] Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

[0007] In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure a vehicle seat is disclosed that comprises a back rest, a bottom portion that comprises a through hole, and a lifting mechanism accommodated in the through hole. The lifting mechanism comprises a seat platform connected at a top end of the lifting mechanism, the seat platform being detachably rested on the bottom portion. The lifting mechanism also comprises a means forming a bottom end of the lifting mechanism, the means being configured to operate the lifting mechanism in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the bottom portion.

[0008] In another embodiment of the disclosure, the bottom portion includes knitting and a braided surface for resting a body part of an occupant.

[0009] In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, the means for operating the lifting mechanism is one of a mechanical means, an electric means, a hydraulic means, and a pneumatic means.

[0010] In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, the seat platform is detached from the bottom portion to create a gap upon operating the lifting mechanism in an upward direction.

[0011] In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, the seat platform is rested on the bottom portion upon operating the lifting mechanism in a downward direction.

[0012] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] 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 described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

[0014] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 discloses a top view of a vehicle seat arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0016] FIG. 2 discloses an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the ventilated vehicle seat arrangement.

[0017] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure.

[0019] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent processes do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a vehicle seat. Vehicle driver seat reform for improving comfort level during long drive. It may be noted that during the long drive, muscles of a driver may get stressed due to continuous contact with seat surface. The new mechanism creates an adjustable seating platform against or and already available seat platform. For reducing the stress in the muscles, a new retrofitted arrangement may be provided. The new mechanism comprises a Manual Control Knob or button to start working of pneumatically or mechanically operated new retrofitted seat surface movement. Whenever the driver starts or presses the button, new seat surface come into picture and lift the new surface from original seat surface and thereby create the gap between (25 to 20 mm) the original seat surface and new seating surface. The gap created may then facilitate the air to circulate through the gap to provide more comfort during long driving.

[0021] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the specification, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or method. In other words, one or more elements in an assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.

[0022] Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of one or more figures of exemplary embodiments. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitation of the present disclosure. In the figures, neither the vehicle nor the complete internal combustion engine is depicted for the purpose of simplicity. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the seat may be employed in any vehicle including but not limiting to passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and the like.

[0023] The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to FIGS.1-2. In the figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a top view of a vehicle seat 100, in accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter. The vehicle seat 100 that comprises of a back rest 106 and a bottom portion 102 etc. The bottom portion 102 can be made of a cushion material. The bottom portion 102 includes knitting or braided surface 104 for resting body part of the driver. The bottom portion 102 also includes a seat platform 112 that is detachably connected to the bottom portion 102 and can be lifted or elevated from the bottom portion 102 by a manual control knob or button to operate the seat platform 112 pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanically or electrically.

[0025] Once the driver starts or presses the control knob, the lifting mechanism 110 lifts the seat platform 112 or new seat surface from the bottom portion 102 or original seat surface to create the gap (25 to 20 mm approximately) between the bottom portion 102 and seat platform 112 as shown in Fig 2.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows side view of the vehicle seat. It includes the lifting mechanism 110. The lifting mechanism 110 may lift the seat platform 112 pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanically or electrically. The seat platform 112 is completely knitted or braided and can easily sustain the driver’s weight. The driver may activate or deactivate the retrofitted lifting mechanism at any point of time during the journey. The driver can vary the gap between the seat platform 112 and the bottom portion 102 as desired by using lifting mechanism 110.

[0027] In an alternate embodiment, the lifting mechanism 110 and the seat platform 112 can also be installed on other parts of the vehicle seats, for example, at the back rest of the seat for providing air circulation at the back side of the driver, etc.

Advantages:
[0028] The vehicle seat of the present invention provides following advantages:
1. Customer or driver can drive for longer hours without stress.
2. Taxi / cab / transport vehicle owners can earn more by running the vehicle for longer duration.
3. This ensures wellbeing and safety of the drivers.

Equivalents

[0029] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0030] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding the description may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

[0031] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various 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 in the description.

Referral Numerals:
Description Reference Number
Vehicle seat 100
Bottom portion 102
Knitting or braided surface 104
Back rest 106
Button or Knob 108
Lifting mechanism 110
Seat platform 112

,CLAIMS:1. A vehicle seat (100) comprising:
a back rest (106);
a bottom portion (102) comprising a through hole; and
a lifting mechanism (110) accommodated in the through hole, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises:
a seat platform (112) connected at a top end of the lifting mechanism(110), the seat platform being detachably rested on the bottom portion (102); and
a means forming a bottom end of the lifting mechanism (110), the means being configured to operate the lifting mechanism (110) in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the bottom portion.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (102) includes knitting and a braided surface (104) for resting a body part of an occupant.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for operating the lifting mechanism (110) is one of a mechanical means, an electric means, a hydraulic means, and a pneumatic means.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat platform is detached from the bottom portion (102) to create a gap upon operating the lifting mechanism (110) in an upward direction.

5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat platform (112) is rested on the bottom portion upon operating the lifting mechanism (110) in a downward direction.