US 12,441,219 B2
Air distribution device for a vehicle seat
Scott Wolas, Pasadena, CA (US); Ken Turner, Novi, MI (US); and Amey Pise, Union City, CA (US)
Assigned to GENTHERM INCORPORATED, Novi, MI (US)
Appl. No. 17/778,437
Filed by GENTHERM INCORPORATED, Northville, MI (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 18, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/065809
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 20, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/127314, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,246, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0016878 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B60N 2/56 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60N 2/5671 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00285 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air distribution device for use with distributing an airflow to a plurality of effectors on a vehicle seat, the air distribution device comprising:
an air inlet;
a first air outlet;
a second air outlet; and
a single barrel door having only a single airflow blocking wall comprising a curved wall;
wherein the air distribution device comprises a single uninterrupted inlet passageway that extends between the air inlet and at least a region of the air distribution device in which the single barrel door is located to provide a substantially linear path for the airflow between the air inlet and at least the single barrel door;
wherein an air mover is configured to generate and provide the airflow into the air distribution device through the air inlet, and the single barrel door is configured to be moved by an actuator into a plurality of door positions relative to the first air outlet and the second air outlet;
wherein the curved wall of the single airflow blocking wall is connected to a second wall that is located in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a tangential plane of the curved wall, the second wall comprises an arm that extends laterally outward from the second wall, the arm is connected to the actuator for moving the single barrel door into the plurality of door positions;
wherein the plurality of door positions comprise: i) a first door position where both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet are unobstructed by the single airflow blocking wall so that the airflow passes into or through both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet; ii) a second door position where the second air outlet is blocked or obstructed by the single airflow blocking wall; iii) a third door position where both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet are blocked by the single airflow blocking wall so that the airflow is prevented from passing into or through both of the first air outlet and the second air outlet; and iv) a fourth door position where only the first air outlet is blocked or obstructed by the single airflow blocking wall; and
wherein the air inlet is generally aligned with the first air outlet and the second air outlet so that the airflow is not substantially redirected between the air inlet and the first air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and the second door position, and between the air inlet and the second air outlet when the single barrel door is in the first door position and the fourth door position.