Air vent providing diffusion

An adjustable air vent assembly has a frame and a plurality of louvers pivotally mounted to the frame. The plurality of louvers is movable between a closed position and a diffuse position. In the closed position, each louver has an edge contacting an edge of at least one other louver to substantially prevent air from flowing through the plurality of louvers in the closed position. In the diffuse position a first louver is oriented along a non-parallel plane with respect to a second louver. A single actuator is provided for moving the plurality of louvers between the closed and diffuse positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an air vent. More particularly, the invention relates to an air vent for use in a motor vehicle, having a plurality of pivotally arranged louvers.

2. Description of Related Art

Motor vehicles typically include heating/cooling vents located on an instrument panel to direct conditioned air toward occupants of the vehicle. These vents typically may be controlled by occupants that are seated near them. Conditioned air that is forced out of the vents may be directed by moving levers to shift louvers, or vanes, located at the outlet ends, either sideward, upward or downward. Often, the louvers may be completely closed by the occupant to block air from reaching the occupant. Generally, the louvers are configured to operate in a parallel mode, wherein the louvers are aligned and move together such that they remain parallel to each other even as they pivot.

Another type of air vent that has been used within motor vehicles is a diffuse air vent. This type of air vent has louvers, which may be fixed or pivotal, that are spread outwardly from one another to direct air in multiple directions. These types of air vents are typically located in spaces where their benefits will reach more than one occupant, without directing too much air to a single occupant; for example, diffuse air vents may be located on top of an instrument panel or on the rear side of a center console.

It may be desirable to have both a diffuse air system for conditioning of air in a vehicle as a whole, while also providing typical instrument panel registers so that occupant's can directly control the conditioned air emanating therefrom. However, multiple air vent systems add complications to the design and cost of vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. There is a trade off between providing passengers with a high level of comfort while keeping vehicle components simple to provide transportation in an affordable price range.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an adjustable air vent assembly capable of functioning as both a typical instrument panel/dash air vent, as well as a diffusion air vent. The adjustable air vent assembly has a frame and a plurality of louvers pivotally mounted to the frame. The plurality of louvers is movable between a closed position and a diffuse position. In the closed position, each louver of the plurality of louvers has an edge contacting an edge of at least one other louver of the plurality of louvers to substantially prevent air from flowing through the plurality of louvers. In the diffuse position, a first louver of the plurality of louvers is oriented along a non-parallel plane with respect to a second louver of the plurality of louvers. A single actuator is coupled to the plurality of louvers for moving the plurality of louvers between the closed and diffuse positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides an integrated air vent that is capable of functioning as both a traditional register-type air vent and a diffuse air vent. Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, an adjustable air vent assembly is illustrated and designated generally at10. The adjustable air vent assembly10includes a frame12and a plurality of louvers14, which are pivotally mounted onto the frame12at pivot points16. The louvers14are located on the front of the air vent assembly10and extend horizontally. It should be understood, however, that the louvers14could extend in any suitable direction without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The louvers14are coupled to a single actuator, such as a control wheel18or thumbwheel. The control wheel18operates to move the louvers14between a closed position, an open position, and a diffuse position, which will be described in further detail below. Thus, the angle of the louvers14are adjustable by use of an operational mechanism coupled to the control wheel18. The control wheel18has ribs20provided therein to prevent a user's thumb or finger from sliding when rotating the control wheel, although the ribs20are not required for the present invention.

A rear set of vanes26are pivotally mounted to the frame12at pivot points28. The rear vanes26are located in a separate plane and extend vertically and perpendicularly to the louvers14, however, it should be understood that the rear vanes26could be oriented in any direction without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. A second control knob22is provided for controlling the rear set of vanes26. The control knob22may also be provided with ribs23.

The air vent assembly10is configured to be installed in an instrument panel, in a typical fashion, such that the vent assembly10is approximately at a vehicle occupant's chest level. However, it is also contemplated that the air vent assembly10could be provided in other parts of a motor vehicle, such as in an A, B, or C pillar, in a center console, or in a headliner. Further, it is also contemplated that the adjustable air vent assembly10described herein has utility in other types of vehicles, such as aircraft, watercraft, trains, and other forms of transportation. Further still, it is contemplated that the present air vent assembly10has utility in non-vehicle applications, such as in commercial and residential buildings.

In a motor vehicle application, conditioned air, such as cooled air, heated air, humidified air, or dehumidified air, enters a rear side24of the air vent assembly10. The rear side24is typically in fluid communication with the vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The air travels through the conduit portion30of the air vent assembly10and flows through the plurality of louvers14when the louvers14are not in the closed position.

Referring now toFIG. 4, the individual parts of the air vent assembly10may be seen more clearly. In this view a front portion11of frame12is shown exploded away from a rear portion13of frame12; however, it should be understood that the front and rear portions11,13could be unitarily formed, if desired. Each louver14has pin-shaped end points32, so that each louver14may pivot on the pivot points16. Two links34,36are provided to couple the louvers14to the control wheel18. The links34,36have apertures37that slide over the end points32; the links34,36are secured into place when the louvers14are secured to the pivot points16(seeFIG. 1). It should be understood that any number of links could be used without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, each louver14could have its own link for connection to an actuator, the actuator being the control wheel18in this embodiment.

A first link34couples a first plurality38of louvers14to the control wheel18, and a second link36couples a second plurality40of louvers14to the control wheel18. Because the first plurality38of louvers14are coupled to the control wheel18separately from the second plurality40of louvers14, it is possible to cause the first plurality38of louvers14to pivot relative to the second plurality40of louvers14, which will be described in further detail below. In this embodiment, the rear vanes26have a single link42coupling the rear vanes; in this way, the rear vanes26are configured to pivot together.

With reference toFIGS. 1,4, and9, the control wheel18is provided with four channels44. In the alternative, the control wheel18could have any number of channels44for different designs. In this embodiment, the first link34has a first protrusion46and a second protrusion48; likewise, the second link36has a first protrusion50and a second protrusion52. It should be understood, that each link34,36need not have two protrusions46,48,50,52; each link34,36could have one, three, or more protrusions46,48,50,52, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. The protrusions46,48,50,52may resemble pins, as depicted in the Figures, or they may have any other suitable configuration. Each protrusion46,48,50,52is slidably received within one of the channels44. In this embodiment, three of the four channels44intersect, a configuration which may save space. That is, three channels extend into each other and are in communication with one another. In this embodiment, therefore, one could consider these three intersecting channels as a single, forked, channel. However, it should be understood that the channels could be provided having different patterns than those shown here.

When the control wheel18is rotated around the pivot point54, each protrusion46,48,50,52slides along its respective channel44. Accordingly, the rotation of the control wheel18forces the protrusions46,48,50,52to translate within the channels44; in other words, the channels44operate as cams and the protrusions46,48,50,52operate as cam followers. In turn, the translation of the protrusions46,48,50,52causes movement of the links34,36and hence rotation of the louvers14.

The paths of the channels44may be designed to cause the first link34to pivot separately from the second link36. Because the first link34is coupled to the first plurality38of louvers14, and the second link36is coupled to the second plurality40of louvers14, the first and second plurality of louvers38,40also pivot separately from one another, resulting in a diffuse position of the louvers14, wherein the louvers14of the first plurality38are oriented along a plane that is not parallel to the plane of the louvers14of the second plurality40. The orientation of each louver14within the first plurality38may vary from louver to louver, and likewise the orientation of each louver14within the second plurality40may vary from louver to louver, but generally the first plurality38and second plurality40are oriented in different directions in the diffuse position to provide a diffuse air flow.

Further, the channels44may be designed such that, although the first and second links34,36pivot separately from one another, the movement of the protrusions46,48,50,52within the channels44will still cause the links34,36to move together. In the present embodiment, each channel44has two portions56,58, which are labeled on only one channel44, for clarity. When the protrusions46,48,50,52slide along the first portions56of their respective channels44, each of the links34,36moves together, but when the protrusions46,48,50,52slide along the second portions58of their respective channels44, the first and second links34,36move separately from each other, causing the louvers14that are attached thereto to also move separately. While the channels44have been described as having first and second portions, these portions can be formed as discrete channels. Further, it is also possible to eliminate the links and directly connect the louvers14to the actuator wheel18, wherein the channels44would be structured to provide the open, closed and diffuse positions.

The path provided for each channel44depends on the size and shape of the control wheel18, the location and desired path of the protrusions46,48,50,52, and the location of the pivot point54of the control wheel18. Further, the path that each channel44takes will dictate the timing of the diffusion. In the configuration illustrated, the protrusions46,48,50,52reach the diffusion portions58of the channels44after about a ¾ turn of the control wheel18.

Thus, the louvers14are configured to move between three positions: a closed position (seeFIGS. 5a-5b), an open position (seeFIGS. 6a-7b), and a diffuse position (seeFIGS. 8a-8b). With reference toFIGS. 5a-5b, in the closed position, the edges60of the louvers contact each other to prevent air from passing through the plurality of louvers14.

With reference toFIGS. 6a-6b, the plurality of louvers14is shown in a straight open position. In this position, each protrusion46,48,50,52is near the mid-point between the two portions56,58of each of their respective channels. With reference toFIGS. 7a-7b, the plurality of louvers14is shown in the open position, but it is a downward open position that occurs as the protrusions46,48,50,52move further along the channels44to the junction between the first and second portions56,58of each channel44. The louvers14ofFIGS. 7a-7bare in a downward-facing position to direct air to pass therethrough at an angle in a downward direction. Of course, any angle of air flow can be obtained through adjustment of the louvers14via the control wheel18. Thus, it can be seen that the air vent assembly10has utility as an ordinary register vent that may be adjusted to change the direction of the air flow.

Now with reference toFIGS. 8a-8b, the plurality of louvers14is shown in the diffuse position. As shown inFIGS. 8a-8b, the protrusions46,48,50,52are at the end of their rotational range in the channels44, along the diffusion portion58of the channel44. When the protrusions46,48,50,52are located in the diffuse position58, the first plurality38of louvers14is oriented in an upward position and a second plurality40of louvers14is oriented in a downward position. In other words, after the louvers14point in a downward direction, the first plurality38of louvers14then moves into an upward-facing direction in the diffuse position. Thus, the first plurality38of louvers14is oriented on a plane not parallel with the plane of the second plurality40of louvers14. In this embodiment the louvers14of the first plurality38are, however, generally parallel to each other. Likewise, the louvers14of the second plurality40are generally parallel to each other. It should be understood that this need not be the case, as each louver14could be coupled to its own separate link34,36or otherwise arranged to have some variation, as noted above.

In the diffuse position, the air flow through the louvers14experiences an increased oscillatory flow, or more turbulence in the air flow, due to increasing the exit angle of the air, and providing multiple exit angles in different directions. Such additional turbulence may cause the surrounding air to mix more readily with the conditioned air being forced from the vent assembly10. As one would contemplate, such mixture would likely provide more comfort, as hot and cold spots are reduced. Diffuse air flow may also provide conditioned air in a more gentle air stream that does not directly blow on an occupant.

Although the rear vanes26are shown in the figures as being coupled to a single link42, and thus, operative to rotate together, it should be understood that the rear vanes26could be coupled to at least two separate links, similarly to the louvers14, to provide a diffuse position for the rear vanes26. Furthermore, although the rear vanes are shown as being controllable via the separate wheel22, it should be understood, that the rear vanes could be controlled by the control wheel18, by coupling the link42that moves the rear vanes26to the control wheel18. For example, the link42could have its own channel44in the control wheel18, or the link42could have a channel in another wheel or cam that is coupled to the control wheel18. It should also be understood that although wheels18,22are shown as controlling the movement of the louvers14and vanes26, any other suitable actuator could be used without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. The actuator is a single actuator that is operable to move multiple louvers14simultaneously, rather than an actuator that moves each louver14individually.

Referring now toFIGS. 10-12, another air vent assembly is illustrated and designated generally at110. Like the air vent assembly10ofFIGS. 1-9, the air vent assembly110ofFIGS. 10-12has a frame112to which a plurality of louvers114are pivotally mounted. The louvers114have pin-shaped end points132to facilitate the pivotal mounting thereof. The air vent assembly110has a conduit portion130through which air is directed from a vehicle HVAC system and out through the plurality of louvers114. Instead of a control wheel18, the actuator118of the present air vent assembly110is a protrusion or knob that is directly attached to a louver114.

With reference toFIG. 12, each of the three middle louvers114B,114C,114D has a cam170and a protrusion172. Each of the protrusions172and cams170are rigidly attached to a louver114; however it is contemplated that the cam170and protrusion172could be attached in a manner that is not rigid, without falling beyond the spirit and scope of the present invention. A top end louver114A has a protrusion172, but not a cam170. A bottom end louver114E has a cam170, but not a protrusion172.

With reference toFIGS. 13a-13b, each of the louvers114A-114E is slidably connected together by virtue of the protrusions172and cams170. More specifically, each cam170has a channel144in which a protrusion172is slidably received. In this embodiment, the protrusions172extend from the cams170. The protrusions172alternate the sides of the cams170from which they protrude. In other words, the lower-most protrusion172shown inFIG. 13bis oriented in a direction out-of-the-page, and the next protrusion upward cannot be seen because it is directed into a channel144in a direction into-the-page, then the next protrusion is oriented out-of-the-page; the alternating pattern continues throughout the assembly. In the alternative, the protrusions172could all project in the same direction, or they could alternate with a different pattern.

InFIGS. 13a-13b, the louvers114are shown in a closed position. Each louver114lays edge-to-edge with the louver114next to it, to substantially prevent air from flowing through the plurality of louvers114. The protrusions172are each located at a first end145of each channel in each cam170.

Referring now toFIGS. 14a-14b, the louvers114are shown in a slightly open position. To move the louvers114into this slightly open position, a user pushes inward, as shown inFIGS. 14a-14b, moving the top of each louver114to the left. Although a user is applying a force only to the middle louver114C using the actuator118, all of the louvers114are pivoted because they are each slidably coupled together. The protrusion172of the first louver114A is slidably received into the channel144of the cam170of the second louver114B, the protrusion172of the second louver114B is slidably received into the channel144of the cam170of the middle louver114C, and so on. Each protrusion172slides along a channel114of a cam170to move each louver114. In this embodiment, the slightly open position is a slightly diffuse position, as the louvers114are not completely parallel to each other. The farther the louvers114open, the further they move away from parallel.

As the actuator118is further moved, the louvers114open further and the diffusion angle increases. In other words, the angles between the planes on which the louvers114are located increase. With reference toFIGS. 15a-15b, the louvers114are in the fully diffuse position. The middle louver114C defines a straight axis X, and it can be seen that the louvers114A,114B located above the axis X are oriented upward, while the louvers114D,114E located below the axis X are oriented downward.

In an alternative embodiment, the air vent assembly110could be configured such that the louvers114move between an open position, in which the louvers114are substantially parallel to each other, and a closed position, in which the louvers114contact each other to block air flow.

The louvers114ofFIGS. 10-15bform a link-less air vent assembly110. There is no link necessary to couple each louver114together; rather, each louver114is slidably coupled to the louver114adjacent to it by virtue of a protrusion172, such as a pin, being received within a channel144formed in a rigidly connected cam170. Since the louvers114are merely slidably coupled to each other, the louvers114are able to pivot relative to each other to form a diffuse position. The paths of the channels144can be varied to cause the louvers114to reach a more or less diffuse position. In other words, by changing the paths of the channels144, the angle by which louver114deviates from the angle of each other louver114may be increased or decreased.

Numerous variations of the air vent assemblies10,110are contemplated, including, but not limited to front louvers14,114that open at the bottom, front louvers14,114that do not have a closed position, allowing rear vane26diffusion without allowing front louver14,114diffusion, simultaneous front and rear diffusion, electromechanically operated vanes26and louvers14,114, pushbutton operation of the diffusion operation, slider operation of the diffusion, and non-cam operation of the vanes for diffusion.