Abstract:
A vehicle seat is provided with a channel, and includes a seat part provided with a channel formed on the lower surface thereof, wherein the channel is in communication with a seat surface; a back part connected to the seat part; a ventilation flow channel connected to at least the seat part and which is in communication with the channel; and a blower fan arranged in the ventilation flow channel. The vehicle seat is provided with a channel, and is configured such that the channel is formed on the lower surface of the seat part, thus preventing the deformation of the channel, maintaining a ventilation pathway to be intact even when a passenger is sitting on the seat for a long period of time, and enabling the passenger to constantly feel comfortable in the seat part.

Description:
TECHNICAL PROBLEM 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle seat provided with a channel, and more particularly, to a vehicle seat with a channel in which the channel is provided on a lower surface of a seat part to provide comfort of a passenger and not to deform a ventilation pathway even when the passenger is seated for a long time. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many vehicle seats are designed to be able to flow air to the outside of a seat for comfort of a passenger. To this end, ventilation flow channels and blower fans are provided in the vehicle seats, and an H-channel is provided in each seat part to discharge air blown by the blower fan to the outside of the seat. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an aspect in which an H-channel  12  is exposed on a seat surface of a general vehicle seat. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a seat part  10  of the general vehicle seat has a seat surface being in contact with the lower half of the body of a passenger, and the H-channel  12  for discharging air flowing is formed on the seat surface. 
     Further,  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the general vehicle seat. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a vehicle seat includes a seat part  10  and a back part  30 , and a blower fan  20  provided at a ventilation flow channel  40  provided at the rear of the vehicle seat discharges air to the outside of the vehicle seat through an H-channel  12 . Here, positive temperature coefficients (PTCs)  14  and  34  may be provided at connection portions where the ventilation flow channel  40  is connected to the seat part  10  and back part  30 . 
     Since the general vehicle seat has the H-channel  12  on the seat surface being in contact with the body of a passenger, the H-channel  12  can be easily deformed when the passenger sits for a long time or the passenger has a heavy weight. Accordingly, it causes a problem in which a ventilation pathway is deformed and an original function thereof may not be performed. 
     Further, the hardness of a pad of the seat part  10  is weakened by the H-channel  12  itself, and thus, there is also a problem to drop the comfort of the passenger. 
     Therefore, methods to overcome the above problems are required. 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     The objectives of a vehicle seat provided with a channel according to the present invention are below. 
     First, the present invention is directed to providing that a ventilation pathway has to be maintained without any deformation even when a passenger sits for a long time. 
     Second, the present invention is directed to preventing a phenomenon in which seat comfort drops. 
     Third, the present invention is directed to preventing resistance of air flowing from occurring due to blockage of connection flow channels. 
     The objectives of the present invention are not limited to the above, and other objectives will be clearly understood to those skilled in the art from the following description. 
     Technical Solution 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle seat provided with a channel including a channel provided on a lower surface thereof, wherein the vehicle seat includes: a seat part configured to communicate with a seat surface; a back part connected to the seat part; a ventilation flow channel connected to at least the seat part and configured to communicate with the channel; and a blower fan provided at the ventilation flow channel. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     Since the vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the present invention has a channel provided on a lower surface of a seat part, the channel is not deformed and a ventilation pathway can be fully maintained even when the passenger sits for a long time. 
     In addition, the shape of the seat part can be continuously maintained. 
     In addition, support protrusions can prevent reduction of air flow due to the block of connection flow channels, thereby the performance of the air flowing is improved. 
     Further, when the channel is formed in a tetragonal shape, even when a shape of the seat is changed based on a vehicle type, a shape of the channel can be equally maintained and a leakage preventing pad can be shared. 
     Furthermore, even when locations of some connection flow channels formed on the seat are changed, since the support protrusions can reduce the blockage of connection flow channels, the performance of the air flow is improved. 
     The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above, and other effects will be clearly understood to those skilled in the art from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an aspect in which a channel is exposed on a seat surface of a general vehicle seat. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the general vehicle seat. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a seat part included in the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the seat part included in the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view illustrating a part of the vehicle seat shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view illustrating an internal structure of a vehicle seat according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged plan view illustrating a part of support protrusions shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a leakage preventing wall shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the leakage preventing wall shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a vehicle seat provided with a channel according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a seat part  110  and a back part  130 . 
     Each of the seat part  110  being in contact with the lower half of the body of a passenger and the back part  130  being in contact with the upper half of the body of the passenger supports the weight of the passenger. Particularly, as an upper surface of the seat part  110  is a seat surface, the body of the passenger is in direct contact with the seat surface. 
     Further, a channel  112  is provided on a lower surface of the seat part  110 . The channel is connected to a ventilation flow channel  140  to be described below and serves to discharge air to the outside of the seat part  110 . The channel  112  may be formed in a shape similar to a general shape of an H-channel as shown in  FIG. 4 , and also formed to have a cross section in a tetragonal shape as shown in  FIG. 8  to be described below. 
     Here, in a general case, the H-channel is provided on a seat surface which is an upper surface of a seat part, and thus, the H-channel may be easily deformed when a passenger sits for a long time or has a heavy weight. Accordingly, it causes a problem in which a ventilation pathway is deformed and an original function thereof may not be performed. In addition, the hardness of a pad of the seat part is weakened by the H-channel itself, and thus, there is also a problem to drop comfort of the passenger. 
     However, according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the channel  112  is provided on the lower surface of the seat part  110 , the channel is in indirect contact with the body of a passenger, and thus, the channel is not deformed and an overall ventilation pathway thereof is not deformed, either. Therefore, air blowing is possible to smoothly flow toward the passenger. 
     Further, one or more connection flow channels  116  which communicate the channel  112  with the seat surface may be formed in the seat part  110 . Accordingly, air blown from the channel  112  can be effectively discharged. 
     In the case of the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of connection flow channels  116  is provided, thereby the weight of the passenger can be easily dispersed and smooth air flowing can be achieved. 
     Further, a ventilation flow channel  140  is provided at the rear of the seat part  110  and back part  130  of the vehicle seat, and a blower fan  120  is provided at the ventilation flow channel  140 . The ventilation flow channel  140  may transfer air blown by the blower fan  120  to at least the seat part  110 . That is, the ventilation flow channel  140  is connected to at least the seat part  110 , and selectively connected to the back part  130 . 
     In the case of the embodiment of the present invention, the ventilation flow channel  140  is connected to the seat part  110  and also extends to and is connected to the back part  130 . Accordingly, air blown by the blower fan  120  can be transferred to both of the seat part  110  and back part  130 . 
     Further, although one blower fan  120  is provided in the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of blower fans may be provided. That is, the blower fan  120  may include a first blower fan, which blows air toward the seat part  110 , and a second blower fan which blows air to the back part  130 . In the above case, each blower fan is independently configured, and thus, air flowing can be more smooth. 
     Meanwhile, one or more positive temperature coefficients (PTCs) may be provided at the ventilation flow channel. As the PTC is a semiconductor device for generating heat according to electrical resistance, which is well-known in the art, the detailed description of the PTC will be omitted. 
     According to the embodiment of the present invention, the PTCs are totally provided in two places, and specifically, the PCTs include a seat part PTC  114  and a back part PTC  134 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a seat part  110  included in the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the channel  112  is provided on the lower surface of the seat part  110 , and the plurality of connection flow channels  116  are connected along a shape of the channel  112  toward the seat surface. Thus, even when the weight of the passenger is applied to the seat part  110 , the channel  112  is not deformed and smooth air flowing can be achieved. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the seat part  110  included in the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the structure of the seat part  110  in more detail, and shows that the channel  112  is provided on the lower surface of the seat part  110 . Here, the channel  112  is connected to a ventilation flow channel not shown in the drawing, and the PTC  114  is provided in the connection pathway. 
     Further, the plurality of connection flow channels  116  vertically extends in a shape perpendicular to the channel  112 . 
     As a result, in the vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the present invention, the channel  112  is not deformed even when the passenger sits for a long time, and can fully maintain the ventilation pathway, and in addition, it is more advantageous that the shape of the seat part  110  can be continuously maintained. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7 , which illustrates a plan view illustrating a part of the vehicle seat shown in  FIG. 6 , a leakage preventing pad  183  in which an air inlet  183   a  is formed is further disposed under the channel  112 . 
     The air inlet  183   a  is coupled with a temperature adjusting module  190  having a temperature adjusting unit, such as the above-described PTC  114 , and the blower fan  120 . Accordingly, air passed through the air inlet  183   a  is not leaked from a lower surface of the seat due to the leakage preventing pad  183  and may be discharged through the connection flow channels  116 . 
     Here, it is preferable that a leakage preventing wall  185  in a shape corresponding to a shape of a cross section of the channel  112  be formed on the leakage preventing pad  183  to surround a lower end portion of the channel  112  so as to prevent air passed through the air inlet  183   a  from discharging through sides of the seat. Here, when a lower surface of the channel  112  and sidewalls of the extended channel  112  are formed to be insertable into the leakage preventing wall  185 , it may be determined whether the assembly of the channel  112  and the leakage preventing wall  185  is correctly assembled or not, and thus, it is preferable that the leakage preventing wall  185  be formed to be slightly greater than the sidewalls of the channel  112 . 
     Furthermore, it is preferable that support protrusions  187  supporting the lower surface of the channel  112  be formed on the leakage preventing pad  183  to prevent from deforming the balance of the overall seat and the channel  112  by the weight of a user when the user uses the seat. 
     In a vehicle seat according to a third embodiment of the present invention, a channel  112  has a cross section in a tetragonal shape as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 . Connection flow channels  116 , which communicate the channel with a seat surface, are formed on a seat part  110 . It is preferable that the connection flow channels  116  be arranged along locations at which the H-channel described with the first embodiment of the present invention is formed. In addition, although not shown, the channel  112  may have a structure arranged at regular intervals, and may have a structure arranged along portions being in contact with the body of a user when the user sits on the seat part  110 . 
     A leakage preventing pad  183  is mounted under the channel  112 . The support protrusions  187  protrude from an upper surface of the leakage preventing pad  183  to support a lower surface of the channel  112 . It is preferable that the support protrusions  187  have a cross section in an elliptical shape. It is preferable that intervals D 2  between the support protrusions  187  be arranged to be smaller than intervals D 1  between the connection flow channels  116 . It is preferable that the support protrusions  187  be arranged at regular intervals, but may be arranged at irregular intervals. Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , it is preferable that the support protrusions  187  be formed in an elliptical shape having a first diameter R 3  greater than a diameter R 1  of the connection flow channel  116  and a second diameter R 2  smaller than the diameter R 1 . When the support protrusions  187  are formed in the elliptical shape, although the connection flow channels  116  overlap the support protrusions  187  in assembly, air flowing may flow into the connection flow channels  116 . Accordingly, to form the support protrusions  187  in an elliptical shape is very important. Further, another configuration, in which the support protrusions  187  may have a cross section in a circular shape, and the connection flow channels  116  may be formed in an elliptical shape, may be formed. 
     A leakage preventing wall  185  having a predetermined height protrudes from an upper portion of the leakage preventing pad  183 . The protruding height corresponds to a depth of the channel  112 . The leakage preventing wall  185  has an adhesive surface  185   a  being in contact with the lower surface of the channel  112 , and an inclined plane  185   b  being in contact with a sidewall of the channel  112 . An adhesive member  185   c  is mounted on the adhesive surface  185   a  and attaches the adhesive surface  185   a  of the leakage preventing pad  183  to the lower surface of the channel  112 . The inclined plane  185   b  is formed to have a greater thickness and to be sloped in a direction toward a sidewall end of the channel  112 . A pressure surface  185   d , which deforms and presses an end portion of the sidewall, extends to and is formed on an end of the inclined plane  185   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , when the leakage preventing pad  183  is mounted, the leakage of air is first prevented by the adhesive member  185   c . In addition, the sidewall of the channel  112  is deformed and maintained in a pressed state by the pressure surface  185   d  disposed on an end of the inclined plane  185   b , and thus, the leakage of air is second prevented. Here, the inclined plane  185   b  is formed to be longer than a length of the sidewall. 
     Similar to the above, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a leakage preventing wall  185  having a predetermined height protrudes from the upper portion of the leakage preventing pad  183 . The protruding height corresponds to a depth of the channel  112 . The leakage preventing wall  185  has an adhesive surface  185   a  being in contact with the lower surface of the channel  112 , and an inclined plane  185   b  being in contact with a sidewall of the channel  112 . A fixing part  185   e,  which presses a middle portion of the sidewall, is formed on an end of the inclined plane  185   b.  An adhesive member  185   c  is mounted on the adhesive surface  185   a  and attaches the adhesive surface  185   a  of the leakage preventing pad  183  to the lower surface of the channel  112 . The inclined plane  185   b  is formed to have a greater thickness and to be sloped in a direction toward a sidewall end of the channel  112 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the leakage preventing pad  183  is mounted, the leakage of air is first prevented by the adhesive member  185   c . In addition, a state, in which the fixing part  185   e  provided on the end of the inclined plane  185   b  presses and is inserted into a sidewall middle portion of the channel  112 , is maintained, and thus, the leakage of air is second prevented. Here, the inclined plane  185   b  is formed to be shorter than a length of the sidewall. 
     In the vehicle seat according to the embodiment of the present invention, the channel  112  and the leakage preventing pad  183  may be formed to be located at the back part  130  as well as at the seat part  110 . When those are formed in the back part  130 , the structure thereof may be formed to be the same as a structure in which those are formed in the seat part  110 . Further, a general lumbar plate to be mounted on the back part  130  can be removed and the leakage preventing pad  183  can be replaced to serve as the lumbar plate. The lumbar plate is one of the components of the back part, and is a structure which supports the waist of a seated passenger. 
     The embodiments described in the present specification and structures described in the accompanying drawings are only preferable examples to explain part of the inventive concept of the present invention. Therefore, as the embodiments of the disclosed present invention are intended not to limit but to explain the inventive concept of the present invention, the scope of the inventive concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. All various modifications and particular embodiments easily conjecturable by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention are understood to be included in the scope of the present invention.