Ventilated headrest

Abstract

A climate controlled seat assembly includes a seat having a seat cushion, a backrest having a backrest cushion, and a headrest having a headrest cushion. The headrest is moveably mounted to the backrest. The headrest cushion includes at least one fluid passageway extending at least partially therethrough. A thermoelectric device is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway. A fluid transfer device that is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway is coupled to the headrest such the thermal module moves with the headrest as it is moved with respect to the backrest.

1 . A climate controlled seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat comprising a seat cushion;    a backrest comprising a backrest cushion;    a headrest comprising a headrest cushion, the headrest moveably mounted to the backrest, the headrest cushion comprising at least one fluid passageway extending at least partially therethrough;    a thermoelectric device in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway; and    a fluid transfer device that is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway and is coupled to the headrest such the thermal module moves with the headrest as it is moved with respect to the backrest.    
   
   
       2 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal module is at least partially positioned within the headrest cushion.  
   
   
       3 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a Peltier circuit.  
   
   
       4 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal module includes a radial fan.  
   
   
       5 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headrest includes at least one opening configured to transmit air from the at least one fluid passageway to a front surface of the headrest.  
   
   
       6 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest fluid distribution system including at least one passage extending at least partially within the backrest cushion.  
   
   
       7 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a thermal element that is disposed at least partially between a covering of the backrest and the backrest cushion and a fluid transfer device in fluid communication with the at least one passage within the backrest cushion.  
   
   
       8 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest fluid distribution system including at least one passage extending at least partially within the seat cushion.  
   
   
       9 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a backrest thermal module that is in fluid communication with the at least one passage in the backrest cushion and comprising a thermoelectric device and a fluid transfer device.  
   
   
       10 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a seat fluid distribution system including at least one passage extending at least partially within the seat cushion.  
   
   
       11 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a seat thermal module that is in fluid communication with the at least one passage in the seat and comprising a thermoelectric device and a fluid transfer device.  
   
   
       12 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoelectric device and fluid transfer device of the headrest, the seat thermal module and the backrest thermal module are operatively connected to a common control unit.  
   
   
       13 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoelectric device and fluid transfer device of the headrest, the seat thermal module and the backrest thermal module are configured such that they can be controlled by a common user input and draw substantially the same current.  
   
   
       14 . A climate controlled seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat comprising a seat cushion    a backrest comprising a backrest cushion with at least one first fluid passageway extending at least partially therethrough;    a headrest comprising a headrest cushion, the headrest being positioned generally above the backrest, the headrest comprising a headrest cushion with at least one fluid passageway extending at least partially therethrough;    a backrest thermal module comprising a thermal electric device and a fluid transfer device, the backrest thermal module in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway in the backrest cushion; and    a headrest thermal module comprising a fluid transfer device, the thermal module in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway in the headrest cushion;    wherein the backrest thermal module and the headrest thermal module supported within the backrest.    
   
   
       15 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the backrest thermal module and headrest thermal module are coupled to a rear side of the backrest.  
   
   
       16 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the headrest thermal module is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway in the headrest cushion through a flexible conduit.  
   
   
       17 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the headrest is coupled to the backrest through adjustable supports such that the position of the headrest can be adjusted with respect to the backrest.  
   
   
       18 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the headrest thermal module is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway in the headrest cushion through a flexible conduit.  
   
   
       19 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible conduit extends at least partially through the adjustable supports.  
   
   
       20 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible conduit extends along the adjustable supports.  
   
   
       21 . The climate control seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the backrest cushion includes a transition passage that places the least one fluid passageway in the headrest in communication with the headrest thermal module.  
   
   
       22 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the headrest includes at least one opening configured to transmit air from the at least one fluid passageway to a front surface of the headrest.  
   
   
       23 . The climate controlled seat assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a thermal element that is disposed at least partially between a covering of the backrest and the backrest cushion.  
   
   
       24 . A climate controlled seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat comprising a seat cushion;    a backrest comprising a backrest cushion;    a headrest comprising a headrest cushion that includes at least one fluid passageway extending at least partially therethrough; and    a thermal module in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway, the thermal module configured to provide at least cooled fluid to the at least one fluid passageway.