Ventilation apparatus for seat

Abstract

A ventilation apparatus for a seat in which a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater is equipped in the ventilation apparatus which blows air to the seat in order to prevent overheating as well as to reduce heat loss. The ventilation apparatus includes a seat having a back and a seating section each of which has a discharge passage which discharges air toward a user. A blower is disposed in each discharge passage of the seat. A PTC heater is disposed inside each blower, and heats air that is being blown. A control unit simultaneously or individually controls the blowers and the PTC heaters. Accordingly, heating efficiency is improved and safety is increased.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilation apparatus for a seat comprising:
 a seat comprising a back and a seating section, each of the back and the seating section having a discharge passage which discharges air toward a user;   blowers each disposed in a corresponding discharge passage of the seat;   positive temperature coefficient heaters each disposed inside a corresponding one of the blowers, the positive temperature coefficient heaters heating air that is being blown; and   a control unit which simultaneously or individually controls the blowers and the positive temperature coefficient heaters.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the blowers comprises a housing and a temperature sensor disposed inside the housing, the temperature sensor detecting a temperature of air which is taken in and transferring the detected temperature to the control unit. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed between a blower fan disposed inside the blower and a corresponding one of the positive temperature coefficient heaters. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit controls a rate at which the blower fan rotates and power which is supplied to the positive temperature coefficient heater depending on the temperature which is transferred from the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit performs control so that one of the positive temperature coefficient heaters which is disposed in the back  1   a  is set to a higher temperature when the positive temperature coefficient heaters are operated, and so that one of the blower fans which is disposed in the back rotates at a slowed-down rate when no positive temperature coefficient heaters are operated. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the blowers comprises a connecting duct in a predetermined portion thereof, the connecting duct being connected to a corresponding one of the discharge passages such that all of air that has passed through a place in which a corresponding one of the positive temperature coefficient heaters is disposed is supplied to a corresponding one of the discharge passages. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the positive temperature coefficient heaters comprises:
 a positive temperature coefficient device connected to an external power source to receive power therefrom; and   heat exchange fins disposed on both sides of the positive temperature coefficient device.   
     
     
         8 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the positive temperature coefficient heaters further comprises a connector electrically connected to the positive temperature coefficient device, the connector being formed in a place of the housing which forms an outer surface of the blower, and the positive temperature coefficient heater being disposed in the place of the housing.