Patent ID: 9713975
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: B60N

Claim:
1. A vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle having a lower seating structure and a raised seatback, wherein one of the lower seating structure or the raised seatback includes a flexible multilayer assembly comprising: a permeable foam layer upon which an occupant is supported, the permeable foam layer having a forward and rearward surface and a plurality of spaced apertures extending therethrough between the forward and rearward surfaces within which an airflow may be created; a distribution system having airflow passages therethrough juxtaposed against the permeable foam layer, the airflow passages of the distribution system being in fluid communication with the apertures in the permeable foam layer; a carrier assembly juxtaposed against the distribution system and having an upper portion having a central annular member supported by a plurality of flexible radial arms disposed about a periphery of the central annular member; and a blower attached to the central annular member of the carrier assembly, the blower being in fluid communication with the airflow passages of the distribution system and the apertures in the permeable foam layer, whereby air proximate the forward surface of the permeable foam layer is displaced away from the forward surface of the permeable foam layer and is circulated through the lower seating structure or the raised seatback by operation of the blower; wherein the distribution system is a semi-rigid fabric spacer fabricated as a single piece from a semi-rigid injection molded thermoplastic material comprising an inner air plenum having a plurality of airflow passages to allow airflow passage through the spacer and wherein the spacer is juxtaposed between the permeable foam layer and the carrier assembly, the spacer having an airtight outer skin and an external opening to the inner air plenum aligned with the airflow of the blower, the air plenum being in fluid communication with the airflow passages within the distribution system, and the spacer having perforations in a portion of the outer skin being in fluid communication with the airflow passages within the distribution system and with the apertures in the permeable foam layer.