Patent ID: 7780508
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
1. An air outlet device for a vehicle cabin, comprising: a tubular body which forms an air guide passage; a plurality of front-side parallel wind-direction adjustment plates rotatably supported inside the tubular body at a front end thereof; a plurality of rear-side parallel wind-direction adjustment plates which are perpendicular to the front-side wind-direction adjustment plates and rotatably supported inside the tubular body at a position shifted rearward from the front end by a predetermined distance, wherein a selected rear-side wind-direction adjustment plate is comprised of a pair of adjustment plate portions that are formed so as to longitudinally divide the selected rear-side wind-direction adjustment plate; a pair of support plate portions formed integrally with end portions of the adjustment plate portions and facing each other; a pair of connection plate portions both formed integrally to a predetermined size and relative perpendicular position with the support plate portions and extending between mutually facing side edge portions of the support plate portions so as to connect the support plate portions together and which, in combination, function to direct air flow through the support plate portion; a connection pillar portion, having a smooth circular cross section, located at a position which is frontward and center of the connection plate portions and an forward central portions of the support plate portions, and is formed integrally with the support plate portions to additionally connect the support plate portions together, wherein the connection pillar portion is substantially parallel to the connection plate portions; and an operation knob which is assembled to a selected one of the front-side wind-direction adjustment plates to be slidable along a longitudinal direction thereof, said operation knob also being operatively connected to said selected rear-side wind-direction adjustment plate via a connection mechanism, and the rear-side wind-direction adjustment plates are swung in a mutually interlocked manner when the operation knob is slid on the selected front-side wind-direction adjustment plate along the longitudinal direction, wherein the connection mechanism includes a first connection mechanism portion associated with the selected rear-side wind-direction adjustment plate and a second connection mechanism portion associated with the operation knob, the first connection mechanism portion including the support plate portions, the connection plate portions, and the connection pillar portion, the second connection mechanism portion including the connection arm portions extending rearward from the rear end of the operation knob, and wherein the operation knob is connected to the selected rear-side wind-direction adjustment plate in a state where the connection pillar portion of the first connection mechanism portion is rotatably inserted into the engagement groove between the connection arm portions of the second connection mechanism portion.