Patent ID: 7162773
Filing Date: 2007-01-16
Classification: B60H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vent control knob assembly with reduced tactile effort for controlling a position of a vane for an air vent that directs airflow into a vehicle's passenger compartment, said vent control knob assembly comprising: a vane having a front edge and an opposed rear edge, wherein said rear edge includes one notched portion and the front edge of the vane is arcuate in a longitudinal direction; a control knob fixedly attached over said vane in snap-fit engagement, wherein said control knob includes an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a recess for receiving said vane, such that a first portion of said inner surface of said knob is adjacent said rear edge of said vane, and a second portion of said inner surface of said knob is adjacent said front edge of said vane, and a side portion of said knob is open for fixedly receiving said vane within the recess in snap-fit engagement; and a compressively resilient pad disposed in the one notched portion of said rear edge of said vane, wherein said pad extends outwardly beyond said rear edge of said vane to contact said first portion of said inner surface of said knob, and said compressively resilient pad operatively forces said front edge of said vane into constant and continuous contact with said second portion of said inner surface of said knob, so that said control knob and said vane move together and the compressively resilient pad maintains a constant resistive force on the vane with respect to the knob during operation of said control knob to reduce tactile effort.