Seat apparatus with air flow

Abstract

A seat apparatus includes a seat cushion, a seat back associated with the seat cushion, an air vent extending from the bottom side of the cushion towards the sitting side of the cushion, and an air producing device which blows air, preferably temperature controlled air, to the air vent and to a groove facing the sitting side of the cushion. The seat apparatus is thus able to distribute air, preferably temperature controlled air, to the seated individual.

1. A seat apparatus for directing temperature controlled air to an individual seated on the seat apparatus, comprising:
 a sitting portion contacted by a seated individual seated on the sitting portion, the sitting portion including a filling member, the sitting portion possessing a sitting side facing an individual seated in the sitting portion and an oppositely positioned non-sitting side, said filling member including at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member on the sitting side, and a material positioned in the at least one groove that is different from the filling member;  
 a cover member encircling the filling member;  
 an air vent provided in the fitting member and extending from adjacent the non-sitting side of the sitting portion towards the sitting side of the sitting portion, said air vent communicating with the at least one groove;  
 a temperature controlled air producing device for producing temperature controlled air and directing the temperature controlled air into the air vent, with the temperature controlled air being directed through the air vent and into the at least one groove to provide temperature controlled air to a seated individual in contact with the sitting side of the sitting portion.  
 
     
     
       2. A seat apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sitting portion is a seat back. 
     
     
       3. A seat apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sitting portion is a seat cushion. 
     
     
       4. A seat apparatus according to  claim 3 , including a seat back that is comprised of a filling member provided with at least one groove, the filling member of the seat back including an air vent that communicates with the at least one groove-in the filling member of the seat back, the filling member of the seat back being covered by a cover member. 
     
     
       5. A seat apparatus according to  claim 4 , including a temperature controlled air producing device connected to the air vent in the filling member of the seat back for producing temperature controlled air and directing the temperature controlled air into the air vent in the filling member of the seat back, with the temperature controlled air being directed to the at least one groove in the filling member of the seat back to provide temperature controlled air to a seated individual in contact with the seat back. 
     
     
       6. A seat apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said filling member includes a plurality of spaced apart grooves, each connected to the air vent. 
     
     
       7. A seat apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said material in the at least one groove is a first mesh material. 
     
     
       8. A seat apparatus according to  claim 7 , including a second mesh material covering the first mesh material and a portion of the filing member. 
     
     
       9. A seat apparatus for blowing air to an individual seated on the seat apparatus, comprising:
 a sitting portion which is contacted by a seated individual, the sitting portion having a sitting side and a non-sitting side, said sitting portion including a filling member;  
 an air vent extending from adjacent the non-sitting side of the sitting portion towards the sitting side of the sitting portion;  
 a plurality of grooves formed in the filling member and each connected to the air vent, said plurality of grooves being spaced apart from one another and extending in different directions;  
 a material positioned in at least one of said grooves that is different from said filling member; and  
 an air control device operatively connected to the air vent for blowing air into the air vent, with the air being directed from the air vent into the grooves so that air is directed at the seated individual.  
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the sitting portion is a seat cushion. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the sitting portion is a set back. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to  claim 9 , including a power supply for supplying electric power to the air temperature control device. 
     
     
       13. A seat apparatus according to  claim 9 , including a three dimensional mesh covering the sitting portion. 
     
     
       14. A seat apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one groove is filled with a three dimensional mesh. 
     
     
       15. A method of blowing temperature controlled air to an individual seated on a sitting portion of a seat apparatus, comprising:
 producing temperature controlled air;  
 supplying the temperature controlled air to an air vent that is connected to a plurality of mesh filled grooves which extend in different directions; and  
 distributing the temperature controlled air through the plurality of grooves and through the mesh to selected portions of the sitting portion of the seat apparatus based on a pressure distribution of the individual sitting on the sitting portion of the seat apparatus.  
 
     
     
       16. A seat apparatus for directing temperature controlled air to an individual seated on the seat apparatus, comprising:
   a sitting portion contacted by a seated individual seated on the sitting portion, the sitting portion including a filling member, the sitting portion possessing a sitting side adapted to face an individual seated on the sitting portion and an oppositely positioned non-sitting side, said filling member including at least three spaced apart grooves each extending over a limited surface area of the filling member on the sitting side, each of the at least three grooves being positioned to coincide with a portion of the sitting portion contacted by an individual seated on the seat apparatus;        a cover member encircling the filling member;        an air vent provided in the filling member and extending from adjacent the non-sitting side of the sitting portion towards the sitting side of the sitting portion, one end of said air vent opening toward the sitting side and communicating with said at least three grooves; and        a temperature controlled air producing device for producing temperature controlled air and directing the temperature controlled air into an opposite end of the air vent, with the temperature controlled air being directed through the air vent and into said at least three separate grooves to provide temperature controlled air to a seated individual in contact with the sitting side of the sitting portion.     
     
     
       17. The seat apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said at least three grooves are located in areas to which high pressures are applied by an individual seated on the sitting portion. 
     
     
       18. The seat apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said sitting portion is a seat cushion, and including a seat back that includes a filling member and at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       19. The seat apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one groove of the filling member of the seat back communicates with an air vent, and including a peltier element communicated with the air vent that is in communication with said at least one groove of the filling member of the seat back.  
     
     
       20. The seat apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said temperature controlled air producing device includes a peltier element communicated with the air vent that is in communication with said at least three grooves of the filling member of the seat cushion. 
     
     
       21. A seat apparatus for directing temperature controlled air to an individual seated on the seat apparatus, comprising:
   a seat cushion that includes a filling member, said seat cushion possessing a sitting side adapted to face towards an individual seated on the seat cushion and a non-sitting side;        a seat back that includes a filling member, the seat back possessing a sitting side adapted to face towards an individual seated on the seat back and a non-sitting side;        at least two spaced apart grooves each extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back, each of said at least two spaced apart grooves opening in a direction towards the sitting side of said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back, each of the at least two grooves being positioned to coincide with a portion of the seat apparatus contacted by an individual seated on the seat apparatus;        a cover member encircling the filling member of at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back;        an air vent having one end communicated with said at least two spaced apart grooves such that said at least two grooves branch from said one end of the air vent;        a fan communicating with an opposite end of the air vent to direct air towards the air vent such that the air is fed into the air vent and is directed by way of said at least two spaced apart grooves to selected portions of an individual in contact with the sitting side of said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back; and        an air temperature controlling device positioned between the fan and the air vent to control a temperature of the air directed to the air vent and into said at least two spaced apart grooves to provide temperature controlled air to the selected portions of an individual in contact with the sitting side of said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back.     
     
     
       22. The seat apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least two spaced apart grooves includes at least three spaced apart grooves each extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of said seat cushion, said air vent being a single air vent constituting the only air vent in the filling member of the seat cushion so that all air from the fan is fed into the single air vent and is directed into each of said at least three grooves. 
     
     
       23. The seat apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least two grooves are provided in the filling member of the seat cushion, and including at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back.  
     
     
       24. The seat apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back communicates with an air vent, and including a peltier element communicated with the air vent that communicates with said at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       25. The seat apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the cover member encircles the filling member of the seat cushion, and including another cover member that encircles the filling member of the seat back and a mesh member provided between the another cover member and the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       26. A seat apparatus for directing temperature controlled air to an individual seated on the seat apparatus, comprising:
   a seat cushion possessing a sitting side adapted to face towards a seated individual and a non-sitting side;        a seat back possessing a sitting side adapted to face towards a seated individual and a non-sitting side;        at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back including a filling member;        at least two spaced apart grooves each extending over a limited surface area of the filling member and opening in a direction towards the sitting side of the at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back, each of said at least two spaced apart grooves extending to selected portions of the filling member, each of the at least two grooves being positioned to coincide with a portion of the seat apparatus contacted by an individual seated on the seat apparatus;        a cover member encircling the filling member;        an air vent having one end communicated with the at least two spaced apart grooves such said at least two spaced apart grooves branch from said one end of the air vent;        a peltier element communicating with an opposite end of the air vent to control a temperature of air fed to the air vent and directed by way of said at least two grooves to said selected portions of the filling member to provide temperature controlled air to an individual seated on said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back.     
     
     
       27. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the air vent in the filling member is a single air vent constituting the only air vent in the filling member, each of the at least two grooves communicating with the single air vent. 
     
     
       28. The seat apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein each of the grooves has an end located at the one end of the single air vent.  
     
     
       29. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the seat cushion includes the filling member, the seat back including a filling member and at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       30. The seat apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back communicates with an air vent, and including a peltier element communicated with the air vent that communicates with the at least one groove extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       31. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the seat cushion includes the filling member, the seat back including a filling member and a plurality of spaced apart grooves each extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       32. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the seat back includes the filling member. 
     
     
       33. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the seat cushion includes the filling member, the cover member encircling the filling member of the seat cushion, the seat back including a filling member provided with a groove, and another cover member encircling the filling member of the seat back. 
     
     
       34. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein each of the at least two grooves includes side walls and a bottom wall.  
     
     
       35. The seat apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said air vent is a single air vent constituting the only air vent in the filling member so that all temperature controlled air produced by the temperature controlled air producing device is directed through the single air vent. 
     
     
       36. The seat apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least two grooves are located in areas to which high pressures are applied by an individual seated on the sitting portion. 
     
     
       37. The seat apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said at least two grooves are located in areas to which high pressures are applied by an individual seated on the sitting portion.  
     
     
       38. A seat apparatus for directing temperature controlled air to an individual seated on the seat apparatus, comprising:
   a seat cushion that includes a filling member, said seat cushion possessing a sitting side adapted to face towards an individual seated on the seat cushion and a non-sitting side;        a seat back that includes a filling member, the seat back possessing a sitting side adapted to face towards an individual seated on the seat back and a non-sitting side;        at least two spaced apart grooves each extending over a limited surface area of the filling member of at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back, each of said at least two spaced apart grooves opening in a direction towards the sitting side of said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back;        a cover member encircling the filling member of at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back;        an air vent having one end communicated with said at least two spaced apart grooves such that said at least two grooves branch from said one end of the air vent, said air vent being a single air vent constituting the only air vent in the filling member of the seat cushion so that all air from the fan is fed into the single air vent and is directed at least into each of the at least two grooves;        a fan communicating with an opposite end of the air vent to direct air towards the air vent such that the air is fed into the air vent and is directed by way of said at least two grooves to selected portions of an individual in contact with the sitting side of said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back; and        an air temperature controlling device positioned between the fan and the air vent to control a temperature of the air directed to the air vent and into said at least two spaced apart grooves to provide temperature controlled air to the selected portions of an individual in contact with the sitting side of said at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back.