Air outlet fixture

The present disclosure provides an air outlet fixture. The air outlet fixture includes: a clamping assembly including a first clamping arm a second clamping arm, and a hinge articulating the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm, the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm, the first clamping arm including a first arm body, and the second clamping arm comprising a second arm body; an adjusting means coupled to the clamping assembly and configured for adjusting a clamping force of the clamping assembly; and a connecting member mounted to the clamping assembly and configured for connecting an external device; wherein, the clamping assembly further comprises a reinforcing member mounted to one of the first arm body and the second arm body, in at least one state the reinforcing member is driven by the adjusting means.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of Chinese Application No. 202021935795.2 filed on Sep. 5, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle accessories, in particular to an air outlet fixture.

BACKGROUND

Air outlets on vehicles for discharging cold or warm air are arranged on both sides of the center console and external side of the driver's seat and the front passenger seat. There are also air outlets at the rear passenger seat. The air outlets at the rear passenger seat help to quickly balance the temperature in the vehicle. In order to facilitate use and expand functions, most vehicle owners will add a clamping structure to the air outlet, which can be used to assist in adjusting wind direction of the air outlet, or be used to install a mobile phone holder or perfume holder at the air outlet.

In order to increase a range of applicable vehicle types, a clamping force applied to air outlet blade of vehicle can be adjusted by rotating an adjusting means of the air outlet fixture. However, in actual use, users often rotate the adjusting means all the time because they are not sure whether the clamping force has become enough, and in this way, clamping arms on both sides of the air outlet blade are susceptible to deformation or even broken.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide an optimized air outlet fixture to prevent the clamping arms from deformation or broken due to over-adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. In particular, when describing “a certain element”, the present disclosure does not limit the number of the element to one, and it may include more than one element.

The present disclosure provides an air outlet fixture, used to be hold at an air outlet of a vehicle, and is used to assist in adjusting wind direction of the air outlet, or is used in connection with a mobile phone holder, a perfume holder, or other devices. Please referring toFIG. 1throughFIG. 14, the air outlet fixture of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure includes a clamping assembly10, an adjusting means20and a connecting member30. The clamping assembly10is configured to clamp at both sides of an air outlet blade of the vehicle to be fixed, and the connecting member30is coupled to the clamping assembly10and configured to be connected to an external device. The adjusting means20is arranged between the clamping assembly10and the connecting member30, to adjust a clamping force of the clamping assembly10.

The clamping assembly10comprises a first clamping arm11, a second clamping arm12and a hinge13. The hinge13interconnects the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12together to form a clamping body to clamp the air outlet blade from upper and lower directions.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the adjusting means20comprises a knob21and a washer22positioned in front of the knob21. The connecting member30comprises a universal ball31and a connecting screw32in front of the universal ball31. The knob21and the washer22are coiled around the connecting screw32, and the knob21and the connecting screw32are threadedly matched. The universal ball31can be connected to a connection structure of an external device (such as a mobile phone holder, or a perfume holder). One end of the connecting screw32is connected to the universal ball31, and the other end extends through the knob21and the washer22in turn to be connected to the hinge13(as shown inFIG. 10). Wherein, the washer22makes force generated by rotating the knob21to be uniformly applied to rear ends (ends near the knob21) of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12. In one embodiment, the washer22is made of a metal material.

The first clamping arm11comprises a first arm body111, a first reinforcing member112, and a first anti-slip pad113. The first reinforcing member112is assembled and fixed to the first arm body111to strengthen the structure of the first arm body111. The first reinforcing member112is rotatably attached to the hinge13. The first anti-slip pad113is attached to an inner side surface of the first arm body111for contact with the air outlet blade. The first anti-slip pad113is preferably made from soft rubber material, which may provide anti-slip and cushion characteristics.

Similarly, the second clamping arm12comprises a second arm body121, a second reinforcing member122, and a second anti-slip pad123. The second reinforcing member122is assembled and fixed to the second arm body121to strengthen the structure of the second arm body121. The second reinforcing member122is rotatably attached to the hinge13. The second anti-slip pad123is attached to an inner side surface of the second arm body121for contact with the air outlet blade. The second anti-slip pad123is preferably made from soft rubber material, which may provide anti-slip and cushion characteristics.

Referring toFIG. 6, the first arm body111comprises a first clamping end1111, a first driving end1112, two first pivotal portions1113, and a first baffle1114. The first clamping end1111and the first driving end1112are located at two sides of the first pivotal portions1113, respectively. The first clamping end1111is configured to clamp one side of the air outlet blade. The first driving end1112is used to release or close the air outlet fixture, and is controlled by force applied by the adjusting means20to control the clamping force of the first clamping end1111on the air outlet blade. The first baffle1114protrudes from and is substantially perpendicularly the first clamping end1111. The first baffle1114extends away from the second arm body121. The first baffle1114is used to abut against the air outlet from an external side and serves as an auxiliary support.

Correspondingly, the second arm body121comprises a second clamping end1211, a second driving end1212, two second pivotal portions1213, and a second baffle1214. The second clamping end1211and the second driving end1212are located at two sides of the second pivotal portions1213, respectively. The second clamping end1211is configured to clamp the other side of the air outlet blade. The second driving end1212is used to release the air outlet fixture, and is controlled by the force applied by the adjusting member20to control the clamping force of the second clamping end1211on the air outlet blade. The second baffle1214protrudes from and is substantially perpendicularly second clamping end1211. The second baffle1214extends away from the first arm body111. The second baffle1214is used to abut against the air outlet from an external side and serves as an auxiliary support.

The hinge13comprises a shaft131and an elastic member132coiled around the shaft131. The shaft131extends through the first pivotal portions1113of the first arm body111and the second pivotal portions1213of the second arm body121. One end of the elastic member132abuts against the first arm body111, and the other end abuts against the second arm body121, thereby providing the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12with a torsion force around an axial direction of the shaft131, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic member132is a torsion spring.

Please referring toFIG. 8andFIG. 9, the first reinforcing member112comprises a first substrate1121, a first force application end1122, a first force bearing end1123, and two first supporting ends1124. The first force application end1122, the first force bearing end1123, and the first supporting ends1124extends from the first substrate1121. The first force application end1122and the first force bearing end1123are located at the front and rear ends of the first substrate1121, respectively. The two first supporting ends1124are located at two sides of the first substrate1121, respectively. The first substrate1121is mounted to an inner surface11110(seeFIG. 6) of the first clamping end1111facing to the second clamping end1211and is placed in a first substrate mounting portion1115of the first clamping end1111. The first force application end1122is mounted to an exterior surface of the first clamping end1111away from the second clamping end1211and is placed in a first force application end mounting portion1116(seeFIG. 11) of the first clamping end1111. The first force bearing end1123is mounted to end surface11120of the first driving end1112and is located in a first force bearing end mounting portion1117of the first driving end1112. The first supporting ends1124are located at the inner side of the two first pivotal portions1113. That is, the first supporting end1124extends from two sides of the first substrate1121and is mounted to the shaft131of the hinge13, and the first force application end1122and the first force bearing end1123are located at opposite sides of a connecting line (shaft131) of the two first supporting ends1123, respectively. The first force bearing end1123is bent from a rear edge of the first substrate1121away from the first driving end1112and a rear surface11230abuts a front surface220of the washer22of the adjusting means20away from the universal ball31.

To facilitate the positioning of the first reinforcing member112, at least one first limiting post11151is formed in the first substrate mounting portion1115, which cooperates with at least one first positioning hole11211defined in the first substrate1121for positioning. In the illustrated embodiment, two first positioning holes11211are defined side by side in the first substrate1121, corresponding to two first limiting posts11151arranged side by side in the first substrate mounting portion1115.

In order to increase the strength of the first reinforcing member112, the first force application end1122protrudes outward to form a first protrusion11221, and the first force application end mounting portion1116correspondingly defines a first opening11160(best shown inFIG. 6) to facilitate the installation of the first force application end1122. Referring toFIG. 10, The first force application end1122extends through the opening11160from the inner side of the first clawing end1111to be accommodated in the first force application end mounting portion1116, and abuts against the first clamping end1111to apply a torsion force to the first clamping end1111. In other embodiments, the first protrusion11221may also be formed recessed inward in the first force application end1122, which can also achieve a strengthening effect.

In the illustrated embodiment, a Z-shaped bend is formed between the first force application end1122and the first substrate1121, and the first force bearing end1123bends upwardly from and is substantially perpendicular to the first substrate1121.

The structure of the second reinforcing member122is similar to that of the first reinforcing member112. The second reinforcing member122comprises a second substrate1221, a second force application end1222, a second force bearing end1223, and two second supporting ends1224. The second force application end1222, the second force bearing end1223, and the second supporting ends1224extend from the second substrate1221. The second force application end1222and the second force bearing end1223are located at the front and rear ends of the second substrate1221, respectively. The two second supporting ends1224are located at two sides of the second substrate1221, respectively. Similarly, the second substrate1221, the second force application end1222, and the second force end1223are located in a second substrate mounting portion1215(seeFIG. 10), a second force application end mounting portion1216, and a second force bearing end mounting portion1217of the second arm body121, respectively. The two second supporting ends1124are located at the inner side of the two second pivotal portions1213.

In order to increase the strength of the second reinforcing member122, the second force application end1222protrudes outward to form a second protrusion12221, and the second force application end mounting portion1216is correspondingly defines a second opening12160(seeFIG. 13) to facilitate the installation of the second force application end1222. Referring toFIG. 10, the second force application end1222extends through the second opening12160from the inner side of the second clamping end1211to be accommodated in the second force application end mounting portion1216, and abuts against the second clamping end1211to apply a torsion force to the second clamping end1211. Similarly, in other embodiments, the second protrusion12221can also be formed recessed inward in the second force application end1222, which can also achieve a strengthening effect.

Similar to the first reinforcing member112, in the illustrated embodiment, a Z-shaped bend is formed between the second force application end1222and the second base plate1221, and the second force bearing end1223bends upwardly from and is substantially perpendicular to the second substrate1221.

The shaft131of the hinge13extends through the first pivotal portion1113of the first arm body111, the second pivotal portion1213of the second arm body121, the first supporting ends1124, and the second supporting ends1224, as such, the first force bearing end1123and the second force bearing end1223bears the pressure exerted by the adjusting component20that should be borne by the first driving end1112and the second driving end1212, to avoid that the pressure applied by the adjusting component20is transmitted to the corresponding pivotal structure by the first driving end1112and the second driving end1212, causing the pivotal structure to break.

A Z-shaped bend is formed between the first force application end1122and the first substrate1121, and a Z-shaped bend is formed between the second force application end1222and the second substrate1221. As such, when pressure is applied to the first force bearing end1123and the second force bearing end1223, the first supporting ends1124and the second supporting ends1224form something like a fulcrum of lever, which transmits the pressure to the first force application end1122and the second force application end1222, and the first force application end1122and the second force application end1222apply a clamping force to the first clamping end1111of the first arm body111and the second clamping end1211of the second arm body121, respectively. By this way, the first reinforcing member112and the second reinforcing member122will bear most of the force. Since the first reinforcing member112and the second reinforcing member122may be made of a metal material with greater strength and greater hardness, the resistance to deformation and/or breaking of the first reinforcing member112and the second reinforcing member122is stronger than that of the first arm body111and the second arm body121both made of plastic material, so the problem of breakage of the clamping arm can be fundamentally solved.

Referring toFIG. 7andFIG. 10, the inner surface11110of the first clamping end1111of the first arm body111and the inner surface12110of the second clamping end1211of the second arm body121are provided with interlaced stiffeners1111a,1211a. The first anti-slip pad113and the second anti-slip pad113are attached to the stiffeners1111a,1211ato further improve the resistance of breaking of the clamping arms.

Two of the pivotal portions of the first arm body111and the second arm body121, which are located at outer side relative to another two pivotal portions (which are the two first pivotal portions1113on the first arm body111in the illustrated embodiment), are provided with an extended shaft sleeve11131protruding outward along the axial direction of the shaft131, respectively, as shown inFIGS. 3, 5, and 7. Each extended shaft sleeve11131and one corresponding first pivotal portion1113are integrally formed to allow the shaft131to extend through and to accommodate two ends of the shaft131, respectively. By this way, the pivotal portions are thickened, which can further prevent the pivotal portions from being deformed/broken.

In at least one embodiment, each of the first substrate mounting portion1115, the second substrate mounting portion1215, the first force application end mounting portion1116, the second force application end mounting portion1216, the first force bearing end mounting portion1117, and the second force bearing end mounting portion1217is a recess formed in surface of the first arm body or in surface of the second arm body.

In at least one embodiment, first substrate mounting portion1115, the first force application end mounting portion1116, and are in air communication with each other; and the second substrate mounting portion1215, the second force application end mounting portion1216, and the second force bearing end mounting portion1217are in air communication with each other.

In at least one embodiment, the elastic member132comprises two winding portions1321spaced apart from each other and a connecting arm1323located between and connected to the two winding portions1321, the two winding portions1321are coiled around the shaft131, each of the two winding portions1321has an extending end1325, the freedom end1325abuts against the first clamping arm11, and the connecting arm1323abuts against the second clamping arm12.

In at least one embodiment, the end of the connecting screw32connected to the clamping assembly defines a through hole322, the shaft131extends through the through hole322.

At least one of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12has at least a portion (such as the portions inFIG. 7labeled with161and the portion inFIG. 6labeled with163) longer than a corresponding portion (such as the portions inFIG. 7labeled with162and the portion inFIG. 6labeled with164) of another one of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12. Namely, there is gap H (seeFIG. 1) between a lower end of the portion relative longer and a lower end of the corresponding portion relative shorter a long a direction of a symmetry axis O between the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12. That is, there is gap H (seeFIG. 3) between a lower end of the portion relative longer and a lower end of the corresponding portion relative shorter in at least a state, such as in a closed state, wherein in the closed state the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12has a smallest included angle or even is in contact with each other. Such configuration facilitates clamping thinner air outlet blade, allows the air outlet fixture is adapted to air outlet blades of multiple thickness.

At least one of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12has a projection (such as the portion inFIG. 7labeled with1611and the portion inFIG. 5labeled with1631) protruding forwards another one of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12. The projection extends from the portion of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12having a relative greater length, such as the portions inFIG. 7labeled with161and the portion inFIG. 6labeled with163. When the air outlet fixture clamps on the air outlet blade, the projection can abut against the air outlet blade from a rear side, thereby preventing falling from the air outlet blade.

In at least one embodiment, referring toFIG. 7, the first clamping end1111forms a first clamping portion161and a second clamping portion162at a first lower end11112away from the first driving end1112, and the second clamping end1211forms a third clamping portion163and a fourth clamping portion164at a second lower end12112away from the second driving end1212. Along a direction from the first clamping end1111to the first driving end1112, the first clamping portion161is longer than the second clamping portion162; and along a direction from the second clamping end1211to the second driving end1212, the third clamping portion163is longer than the fourth clamping portion164. The first clamping portion161faces the fourth clamping portion164, and the second clamping portion162faces the third clamping portion163. The first clamping portion161forms a first projection1611protruding forwards the fourth clamping portion164, and the third clamping portion163forms a second projection1631(shown inFIG. 5) protruding forwards the second clamping portion162. A first notch165is formed between the first clamping portion161and the second clamping portion162, and a second notch166is formed between the third clamping portion163and the fourth clamping portion164. The first notch165and the second notch166is configured for adapting vertical contractures on the air outlet blade, thereby expanding an application scope of the air outlet fixture.

In other embodiments, the first clamping arm11or the second clamping arm12has no notch, one of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12is entirely longer than another one of the first clamping arm11and the second clamping arm12, and the projection extends from the one relative longer.

In at least one embodiment, the shaft131has a threaded end used to mate with a nut.

In summary, the present disclosure provides an air outlet fixture. The clamping assembly is provided with reinforcing members on the clamp arm bodies of the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm to strengthen the clamping structure and prevent deformation and breakage. The first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member may be made of a metal material with greater strength and hardness, and the resistance to deformation/breakage the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member is stronger than that of plastic material, thus the problem of breakage of the clamping arms can be fundamentally solved. Each reinforcing member has a structure comprising the substrate, with the force application end, the force bearing end, and the supporting end extending from the substrate, when the force bearing end of the reinforcing member is applied with pressure, the supporting ends of the reinforcing member form something like a fulcrum of lever, and the pressure is transmitted to the force application end. Clamping force is applied to the clamping end of the arm body, as such the reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member will bear most of the force, weakening the effect of the force on the arm body, and preventing the clamping assembly from deforming and breaking. The inner surface of each clamping end of the arm body is provided with interlaced stiffeners, and an anti-slip pad of soft rubber is attached to the stiffeners, which can further improve the structural strength and resistance to breakage of the clamping arm. The two outer side pivotal portions of the two clamping arm bodies are respectively provided with portions protruding outward in the axial direction of the shaft, respectively. The addition of thickened portions can further prevent the pivotal portions from being deformed/broken.