Air vent for a vehicle

An air vent for a vehicle includes a housing and an air guiding element that is pivotable relative to the housing about a pivot axis extending transversely to a direction of flow predetermined by the channel. A light source is arranged outside the air guiding element and a light guide is optically coupled to the light source. A first section of the light guide is guided in the region of the pivot axis from the outside of the air guiding element through a wall thereof to the inside and in this section the light guide extends coaxially to the pivot axis. Outside the air guiding element, a second section of the light guide adjoins the first section of the light guide in the direction of the light source. The first section is angled 90° relative to the second section and a chamfer formed on an outer side of the angled portion has a mirror surface directed towards an inner side of the angled portion.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an air vent for a vehicle.

DE 10 2016 003 974 A1 discloses an air vent for a vehicle, which comprises a housing having a channel through which air can pass, via which the air can be conveyed to an interior space of the vehicle. An air guiding element for guiding the air is also provided, which element is movable relative to the housing and has a luminous element fixed to the housing, by means of which light can be provided for illuminating the air guiding element. One part of the air guiding element which is movable relative to the luminous element is formed as a light guide, into which the light provided can be coupled in.

JP 2010 143 338 A describes an air vent for a vehicle, having a channel and a plurality of air guiding elements each of which can be pivoted relative to a housing and about a pivot axis extending transversely to a direction of flow predetermined by the channel. An air guiding element is coupled to a light guide extending coaxially to the pivot axis inside the air guiding element and which is coupled to a light source arranged outside the air guiding element.

US 2009/0298406 A1 discloses an air vent comprising a base and a louvre coupled to the base, which is designed to influence the direction of a fluid passing through the air vent. The air vent also comprises one or more light sources coupled to the base for illuminating the air vent.

DE 10 2014 018 302 A1 describes a ventilating device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing having an air duct and an air outlet. An air guiding element for adjusting an air flow is movably arranged in the housing, wherein the air guiding element has a visible side with a luminous surface. Furthermore, a luminous element is provided, with the help of which the luminous surface of the air guiding element can be illuminated. The housing comprises a bearing with a bearing surface on which the air guiding element is rotatably and pivotably arranged. The bearing has a light coupling-out region. The air guiding element consists in sections of light-conducting material, which comprises a light coupling-in region connected to the luminous surface in a light-guiding manner, wherein the light coupling-in region of the air guiding element and the light coupling-out region of the bearing are arranged relative to one another in such a way that light from the light coupling-out region of the bearing can be coupled in into the light coupling-in region of the air guiding element. The ventilating device is designed as a ball nozzle, wherein support struts are arranged in the housing to support an axle extending along an axis of symmetry. The bearing on which the air guiding element is rotatably and pivotably mounted is provided at an end of the axle facing the air outlet.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed to an air vent for a vehicle which is improved over the prior art.

An air vent for a vehicle comprises a housing having a channel through which air can pass, via which the air can be conveyed to an interior space of the vehicle. Moreover, the air vent comprises at least one air guiding element, which is pivotable relative to the housing about a pivot axis extending transversely to a direction of flow predetermined by the channel, at least one light source arranged outside the air guiding element, and at least one light guide optically coupled to the light source. A first section of the light guide is guided in the region of the pivot axis from the outside of the air guiding element through a wall thereof to the inside and in this section the light guide extends coaxially to the pivot axis. Outside the air guiding element, a second section of the light guide adjoins the first section of the light guide in the direction of the light source, wherein the first section is angled at an angle of 90° to the second section and a chamfer is formed on an outer side of the angled portion, which chamfer has a mirror surface directed towards an inner side of the angled portion.

Due to the angled design of the light guide, this can be guided in the region of the pivot axis of the air guiding element towards the inside thereof, without a pivot region of the air guiding element being restricted. The arrangement of the mirror surface in the region of the chamfer allows an at least almost loss-free light deflection at the angled portion. The light guide allows the illumination of the air vent or of sections thereof, for example an indirect illumination, without the light source being visible to a vehicle occupant. Here, light can be emitted in a color, for example, which correlates to a change in the desired temperature. In the event, for example, of a desired lowering of the desired temperature, light with a blue color is emitted, and in the event of a desired increase in the desired temperature, light with a red color is emitted. The light color can also be selected to influence the well-being of a vehicle occupant.

According to the invention, the air guiding element is formed as a cylindrical outer air guiding element and the wall of the outer air guiding element surrounds a wall of a cylindrical inner air guiding element. With such an arrangement, the illumination of the inner air guiding element by means of the light guide is possible.

In one possible embodiment of the air vent, the chamfer is arranged at an angle of 45° to sections of the light guide respectively adjoining the chamfer. This allows an effective deflection of the light inside the light guide.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, at least one third section of the light guide adjoins the first section inside the air guiding element, wherein the third section has a light coupling-out surface at least in sections. The third section allows the coupling out of light on the inside of the air guiding element or from the air guiding element.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, the at least one third section extends at least substantially parallel to an inner periphery or an inner peripheral section of the wall of the air guiding element. Thus, a uniform coupling out of the light can take place along the inner periphery or along inner peripheral sections.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, the at least one third section is coupled to the first section by means of a hinge and is pivotable about the pivot axis of the air guiding element. This allows the at least one third section to be pivoted together with the air guiding element and therefore the movement of the air guiding element is not restricted. To this end, the at least one third section is attached to the inner side of the wall of the air guiding element, for example, and is therefore forcibly guided by the latter during the pivoting thereof.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, arranged on a side of the air guiding element that is opposite the light guide is a further light guide, which is designed analogously thereto and is optically coupled to the light source or a further light source, the first section of which is guided in the region of the pivot axis from the outside of the air guiding element through the wall thereof to the inside and extends coaxially to the pivot axis. Such an arrangement of a further light guide allows illuminations of the air vent at a plurality of positions as well as a uniform and extensive illumination.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, the inner air guiding element is pivotable relative to the outer air guiding element and the housing about a pivot axis extending transversely to the direction of flow predetermined by the channel, wherein the pivot axis extends perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the outer air guiding element. The inner air guiding element is, in particular, pivotably mounted on the outer air guiding element. This design allows a wide range of adjustment possibilities for a vehicle occupant in terms of air guidance and outflow directions. For example, the pivot axis of the outer air guiding element extends in the direction of a transverse axis of the vehicle and the pivot axis of the inner air guiding element extends in the direction of a vertical axis of the vehicle.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, the at least one third section of the at least one light guide couples out light in the direction of the outside of the inner air guiding element. This creates an indirect illumination of the inner air guiding element, which allows, among other things, a vehicle occupant to easily locate and operate the air vent in the dark.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, the wall of the outer air guiding element is mirrored on the inner side thereof. This allows special lighting effects to be achieved, in particular a very uniform illumination.

In a further possible embodiment of the air vent, the inner air guiding element is designed to be transparent or is mirrored at least on an outer side of the wall. This can also be used to achieve special lighting effects, such as the appearance of a self-illumination of the inner air guiding element or a very uniform illumination. For example, in this way the inner air guiding element can serve or appear as a luminous body.

Embodiment examples of the invention will be described in more detail in the following on the basis of drawings.

Corresponding parts have been provided with the same reference numbers in all of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a front view of one possible embodiment example of an air vent arrangement1of an air vent2shown inFIG.2for a vehicle.FIG.2shows a sectional view of one possible embodiment example of an air vent2having the air vent arrangement1according toFIG.1, andFIG.3shows an enlarged section of the sectional view according toFIG.2.

The air vent2comprises a housing3having a channel 3.1 through which air can pass, via which the air can be conveyed to an interior space of the vehicle.

Arranged inside the housing3is the air vent arrangement1, which comprises a cylindrical outer air guiding element4and an inner cylindrical air guiding element5.

The outer air guiding element4is pivotable relative to the housing3about a pivot axis S1extending transversely to a direction of flow predetermined by the channel 3.1.

The inner air guiding element5is pivotable relative to the outer air guiding element4and the housing3about a pivot axis S2extending transversely to the direction of flow predetermined by the channel 3.1. This pivot axis S2extends perpendicularly to the pivot axis S1of the outer air guiding element4, wherein the inner air guiding element5is pivotably mounted in the outer air guiding element4. The pivoting of the air guiding elements4,5brings about a change in the outflow direction of the air.

To operate the air control elements4,5, these are coupled to a central control element6, wherein a pivoting movement of the control element6causes a corresponding pivoting movement of the air guiding elements4,5.

In addition, the control element6is coupled to a valve assembly7, wherein a rotational movement of the control element6about its axis A triggers an activation of the valve assembly7and therefore a change in the free cross section of the channel 3.1.

Moreover, the air vent2comprises an illumination device8, which is shown in detail inFIGS.5to8and which is designed to couple out light L from the outer air guiding element4in the direction of the inner air guiding element5and therefore to indirectly illuminate the inner air guiding element5.

For this, the illumination device8comprises two light sources9,10, for example light-emitting diodes, which are arranged outside the outer air guiding element4. The light sources9,10are designed to emit light L in different colors. The color of the light L can be freely selected by a vehicle occupant, for example, or it is set automatically.

In order to couple out the light L of the light sources9,10in the direction of the inner air guiding element5, the illumination device8comprises two light guides11,12each of which are optically coupled to one of the light sources9,10. The light sources9,10couple in the light L into the coupled light guides11,12.

In order to guide the light guides11,12from the outside of the outer air guiding element4through a wall thereof to the inside, the light guides11,12each comprise a first section11.1,12.1, which is guided in the region of the pivot axis S1of the outer air guiding element4from the outside of the outer air guiding element4through the wall thereof to the inside and extends coaxially to the pivot axis S1.

This is shown in detail for the light guide11inFIG.4and applies analogously to the light guide12.

Outside the outer air guiding element4, second sections11.2,12.2of the light guides11,12adjoin the first sections11.1,12.1of the light guides11,12in the direction of the respective light sources9,10and are each optically coupled to one of the light sources9,10. To deflect the light guides11,12, the first sections11.1,12.1are each angled at an angle α of 90° to the corresponding second section11.2,12.2.

A chamfer11.3,12.3is formed on each light guide11,12on an outer side of the angled portion. The chamfers11.3,12.3are each arranged at an angle β of 45° to adjoining sections11.1,11.2,12.1,12.2of the corresponding light guide11,12.

In order to avoid the coupling out of light L in the region of the angled portion, the chamfers11.3,12.3each have a mirror surface F directed towards an inner side of the angled portion.

Inside the outer air guiding element4, two third sections11.4,12.4of the light guides11,12are coupled to the first sections11.1,12.1of the light guides11,12. The coupling takes place by means of a hinge11.5,12.5, such that the third sections11.4,12.4are pivotable about the pivot axis S1of the outer air guiding element4.

The third sections11.4,12.4extend substantially parallel to an inner peripheral section of the wall of the outer air guiding element4, in particular to an inner peripheral section corresponding to approximately ¼ of an inner periphery of the outer air guiding element4. The third sections11.4,12.4are attached to the outer air guiding element4.

The third sections11.4,12.4of the light guides11,12each comprise a light coupling-out surface, such that these couple out light L at least almost completely in the direction of the outside of the inner air guiding element5.

To create special light effects, for example to create the appearance of a self-illumination of the inner air guiding element5, such that this appears as a luminous body, in one possible embodiment the inner air guiding element5is designed to be transparent, for example as a glass body. Alternatively, the inner air guiding element5is mirrored on the illuminated outer side thereof.

The outer air guiding element4is also mirrored on the inner side thereof, for example.

FIG.5shows a perspective view of the outer air guiding element4and the illumination device8of the air vent2according toFIG.2in an unpivoted position.FIG.6shows a perspective view of the illumination device8according toFIG.5in the unpivoted position.

The two light sources9,10are coupled to one another both electrically and via data technology via a first cable connection13and they are coupled to a control unit (not shown) both electrically and via data technology via a second cable connection14.

FIG.7shows a perspective view of the outer air guiding element4and the illumination device8of the air vent2according toFIG.2in a pivoted position.FIG.8shows a perspective view of the illumination device8according toFIG.7in the pivoted position.

The outer air guiding element4and the third sections11.4,12.4of the light guides11,12are pivoted by an angle γ about the pivot axis S1. A pivot by +/−25° is possible, for example.

The joint pivoting of the outer air guiding element4and the third sections11.4,12.4is facilitated by the hinges11.5,12.5, wherein in the event of a pivot of the outer air guiding element4, the third sections11.4,12.4are forcibly guided by the latter on account of their attachment thereto.