IP Library Granted Patent US 11,318,869
Granted Patent B2
US 11,318,869 · App. 17/243,736 · Granted May 3, 2022

Single piece plenum

Inventors: Shane Kyle Greenwood (Northville, MI); Ajay Murgod (Novi, MI); Chad Vincent Pacilli (Windsor, CA); Denis Michel Miron (Windsor, CA); Tim Normand (LaSalle, CA); Vladimir Jovovic (Pasadena, CA)
Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
B60N2/5642B60N2/5657
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,318,869
App. No.
17/243,736
Granted
May 3, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air distribution system that includes a plenum, which has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall connected to the bottom wall and extending around a periphery of the plenum to define one or more open spaces in the plenum, and one or more connection recesses in the bottom wall adapted to connect to a blower. A top surface of the peripheral wall is configured to contact a bottom surface of a cushion of a vehicle seat to enclose the one or more open spaces.

Claims (21)

1. An air distribution system comprising:

a plenum comprising:

i. a bottom wall;

ii. a peripheral wall connected to the bottom wall and extending around a periphery of the plenum to define one or more open spaces in the plenum; and

iii. one or more connection recesses in the bottom wall adapted to connect to a blower;

wherein a top surface of the peripheral wall is configured to contact a bottom surface of a cushion of a vehicle seat to enclose the one or more open spaces,

wherein the plenum includes one or more baffles, and

wherein the one or more baffles include a top surface that contacts the bottom surface of the cushion.

2. The air distribution system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more baffles include a taper that reduces a height of the one or more baffles relative to the bottom wall.

3. The air distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the taper extends in a direction towards the one or more connection recesses.

4. The air distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the taper reduces in height until the at least one of the one or more baffles terminates.

5. The air distribution system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more baffles include a curved or bent portion that curves or bends in a direction of the one or more connection recesses.

6. The air distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the plenum includes a body and one or more extensions.

7. The air distribution system of claim 6 , wherein the body and the one or more extensions are connected together.

8. The air distribution system of claim 6 , wherein the body and the one or more extensions are separate pieces.

9. The air distribution system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more extensions extend into a bolster of the cushion, in a region of the cushion proximate to a leg contact region of an occupant, or both.

10. The air distribution system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more extensions are movable relative to the body.

11. The air distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection recesses and the bottom wall are coplanar.

12. The air distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall includes a concave wall including the one or more connection recesses so that at least a portion of the blower is located in a plane that is closer to the cushion than the bottom wall is located to the cushion when the plenum is connected to the cushion.

13. The air distribution system of claim 12 , wherein the blower includes a blower housing that is connected to the bottom wall of the plenum.

14. The air distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more baffles radiate outwards away from the blower.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2022
From: GREENWOOD, SHANE
To: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 060922/0320 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060332/0048 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2021
From: MURGOD, AJAY; PACILLI, CHAD VINCENT; MIRON, DENIS MICHEL; NORMAND, TIM; JOVOVIC, VLADIMIR
To: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 056084/0424 →