Abstract:
A vehicular airflow outlet comprising a plurality of outlet units having an airflow unit, a ball joint, and a connection member; a control knob unit including a control knob coupled to a ball joint; and a connection mechanism configured to couple the ball joint of the each of the outlet units and the ball joint of the control knob unit is provided. The airflow outlet allows for the direction of airflow throughout a vehicle passenger compartment without the use of multiple sets of vanes. The airflow outlet directs airflow through the use of a single control knob. Force applied to the face of the control knob is operable to simultaneously pivot the ball joints of each of the plurality of outlet units and the ball joint of the control knob unit in unison to adjust airflow direction, allowing for the direction of air at a variety of angles.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure generally relates to an airflow outlet, particularly to an airflow outlet for vehicular Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional vehicle interiors include airflow systems for passenger comfort. These systems deliver heated or cooled air produced through an HVAC system. The air is transmitted into the vehicle passenger compartment through a plurality of airflow outlets. 
     The directional flow of air through the outlets is generally manually controllable through the use of multiple sets of directional vanes, including at least a primary set of vanes and a secondary set of vanes. The vanes are generally controlled with thumb wheels or the like, to restrict, meter, or completely block airflow to the passenger compartment. Generally, the primary set of vanes is configured to direct airflow horizontally across the passenger compartment. The secondary set of vanes is configured to direct airflow vertically between the floor and ceiling of the passenger compartment. Alternatively, the primary set of vanes is configured to direct airflow vertically between the floor and the ceiling of the passenger compartment and the secondary set of vanes is configured to direct airflow across the passenger compartment. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicular airflow outlet is provided. The airflow outlet may include a plurality of outlet units, each outlet unit may include an airflow unit, a ball portion, and a connection member. Each airflow unit may define a cavity. The connection member may be disposed within the cavity defined by the airflow unit and the ball portion may be coupled to the connection member. 
     The airflow outlet may further include a control knob unit including a control knob having a first face side and a second connection side, the control knob unit further including a ball portion coupled to the second connection side. The plurality of outlet units and the control knob unit may be coupled and interconnected to form an outlet array. The airflow outlet may further include a connection mechanism configured to couple the ball portions of each of the outlet units and the ball portion of the control knob unit when arranged in an outlet array. 
     The direction of airflow flowing through the plurality of airflow units may be controlled by force applied to the first face side of the control knob. The force applied to the first face side of the control knob may be transitioned to apply force upon the ball portion of the control knob unit and the ball portion of each of the outlet units through the connection mechanism, to rotate all ball portions in unison to adjust airflow direction. Such a configuration allows for direction of air at a variety of angles throughout the vehicle passenger compartment without the requirement of multiple sets of directional vanes. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the invention, as defined in the appended claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of one outlet unit. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view of one outlet unit. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the control knob unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the control knob unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic front-side elevation view of an outlet array including a plurality of outlet units and a control knob unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic back-side perspective view of the outlet array showing each of the respective outlet units and control knob unit coupled by the connection mechanism. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic assembled view of the vehicular airflow outlet. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic exploded view of the vehicular airflow outlet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several views, a vehicular airflow outlet  100  is provided. Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-8 , a plurality of airflow outlets  100 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , may form a vehicular airflow outlet system. The plurality of outlets  100  may be arranged throughout the passenger compartment of a vehicle to promote heating and cooling of the passenger compartment to improve passenger comfort. The vehicular airflow outlet  100  may generally include a plurality of outlet units  101 , a control knob unit  106 , and a connection mechanism  110 . The vehicular airflow outlet  100  may also include a trim plate  122  and a housing  124 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the vehicular airflow outlet  100  may include a plurality of outlet units  101 . Each of the respective of outlet units  101  may include an airflow unit  111 . The airflow unit  111  of each of the respective outlet units  101  may define a cavity  102 , the cavity  102  configured to allow air to flow therethrough and into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. 
     Each of the respective outlet units  101  may also include a ball portion  103  and a connection member  104 . The connection member  104  may be disposed within the cavity  102  defined by the airflow unit  111 . The ball portion  103  may be coupled to and extend from the connection member  104 . Each of the airflow unit  111 , ball joint  103 , and connection member  104  may be formed of a polymeric material. 
     Each of the respective outlet units  101  may also include a first interlocking portion  112  and a second interlocking portion  113 . Each of the first interlocking portion  112  and the second interlocking portion  113  may be formed in the shape of any even-sided polygon having at least four sides, such as a square, hexagon, octagon, decagon etc. Each of the first interlocking portion  112  and second interlocking portion  113  may be formed of a polymeric material. 
     The first interlocking portion  112  may define a cavity  125  therein for receiving the airflow unit  111 . The first interlocking portion  112  may have a first plurality of retention features  114  extending from the first interlocking portion  112 , such as a set of tabs or the like. The first plurality of retention features  114  may vary in number but will likely correspond in number to the number of polygonal sides of the first interlocking portion  112 . 
     The second interlocking portion  113  may define a cavity  126  therein for receiving the airflow unit  111 . The second interlocking portion  113  may have a second plurality of retention features  115  extending from the second interlocking portion  113 , such as a set of tabs or the like. The second plurality of retention features  115  may vary in number but will likely correspond in number to the number of polygonal sides of the second interlocking portion  113 . The second interlocking portion  113  may also define a plurality of slots  140 . 
     The second plurality of retention features  115  may be configured to engage the first plurality of retention features  114  in order to couple the first interlocking portion  112  and the second interlocking portion  113  about the airflow unit  111 . In one example, the plurality of slots  140  defined by the second interlocking portion  113  may be configured to receive the first plurality of retention features  114  creating an interlocking engagement coupling the first interlocking portion  112  and the second interlocking portion  113 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the vehicular airflow outlet  100  may include a control knob unit  106  including a control knob  105  having a first face side  107  and a second connection side  108 . The control knob unit  106  may also include a ball portion  109  coupled to and extending form the second connection side  108  of the control knob  105 . Each of the control knob  105  and the ball portion  109  may be formed of a polymeric material. 
     The control knob unit  106  may also include a first interlocking portion  127  and a second interlocking portion  128 . Each of the first interlocking portion  127  and the second interlocking portion  128  may be formed in the shape of any even-sided polygon having at least four sides, such as a square, hexagon, octagon, decagon etc. Each of the first interlocking portion  127  and second interlocking portion  128  may be formed of a polymeric material. 
     The first interlocking portion  127  may define a cavity  135  therein for receiving the control knob  105 . The first interlocking portion  127  may have a first plurality of retention features  129  extending from the first interlocking portion  127 , such as a set of tabs or the like. The first plurality of retention features  127  may vary in number but will likely correspond in number to the number of polygonal sides of the first interlocking portion  127 . 
     The second interlocking portion  128  may define a cavity  136  therein for receiving the control knob  105 . The second interlocking portion  128  may have a second plurality of retention features  130  extending from the second interlocking portion  128 , such as a set of tabs or the like. The second plurality of retention features  130  may vary in number but will likely correspond in number to the number of polygonal sides of the second interlocking portion  128 . The second interlocking portion  128  may also define a plurality of slots  141 . 
     The second plurality of retention features  130  may be configured to engage the first plurality of retention features  129  in order to couple the first interlocking portion  127  and the second interlocking portion  128  about the control knob  105 . In one example, the plurality of slots  141  defined by the second interlocking portion  128  may be configured to receive the first plurality of retention features  129  creating an interlocking engagement coupling the first interlocking portion  127  and the second interlocking portion  128 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the plurality of outlet units  101  and the control knob unit  106  may be arranged in an interlocking engagement forming an outlet array  116 . Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-5 , when formed in an outlet array  116  the first plurality of retention features  114 ,  129  and the second plurality of retention features  115 ,  130  of each of the outlet units  101  and the control knob unit  106  engage one another and couple each of the plurality of outlet units  101  and the control knob unit  106  to form the outlet array  116 . 
     In one example, each of the respective outlet units  101  and the control knob unit  106  are engaged in an outlet array  116  by engaging each of the respective first plurality of retention features  114 ,  129  of each of the respective first interlocking portions  112 ,  127  of each of the respective outlet units  101  and control knob unit  106  into the slots  140 ,  141  defined by each of the respective second interlocking portions  113 ,  128 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , when the plurality of outlet units  101  and the control knob unit  106  are arranged in an interlocking engagement forming an outlet array  116 , the ball portion  103  of each of the respective outlet units  101  and the ball portion  109  of the control knob unit  106  may be coupled by a connection mechanism  110 . The connection mechanism  110  may include a plurality of joint sockets  118 . The number of joint sockets  118  of the connection mechanism  110  may be equal to the number of outlet unit  101  ball joints  103  and control knob unit  106  ball joints  109  present in the outlet array  116 . 
     Each of the respective joint sockets  118  may include a first portion  119  and a second portion  121 . The first portion  119  and second portion  121  may be coupled by an intermediate section  123 . Each of the respective joint sockets  118  may be configured to secure one of an outlet unit ball portion  103  and a control knob unit ball portion  109  between the first portion  119  and second portion  121 . 
     The plurality of joint sockets  118  may be interconnected and coupled with a bracket interlocking array  120 . Coupling of the plurality of joint sockets  118  with the bracket interlocking array  120  creates a rigid system, which forces each of the respective outlet unit ball portion  103  to move in unison with the control knob unit ball portion  109 . Such, unitary movement allows for control of the airflow flowing through each outlet  100  in a variety of directions without the need for multiple sets of directional vanes. 
     The rigid system and the airflow through the each outlet unit  101  is controlled by force applied to the first face side  107  of the control knob  105 . The force applied to the first face side  107  is transitioned to the ball portion  109  of the control knob unit  106  and the ball portion  103  of each the plurality of outlet units  101  through the connection mechanism  110 . 
     Each of the respective joint sockets  118  and the bracket interlocking array  120  may be formed of a polymeric material. Additionally, the interconnection between the joint socket  118  coupled to the ball portion  109  of the control knob unit  106  and the bracket interlocking array  120  may be reinforced with an overmold, bracket, or the like  132 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the airflow outlet  100  may also include a trim plate  122  defining an interior void  137 . The trim plate  122  may be configured to encase the outlet array  116 , wherein the outlet array  116  is disposed within the interior void  137 . The trim plate  122  may include a set of trim plate retention features  138  that may engage or interlock with the first plurality of retention features  114  and the second plurality of retention features  115  of the outlet units  101  forming the outer edge of the outlet array  116 , thereby securing the outlet array  116  in the interior void  137 . The at least one outlet  100  may also include a housing  124 , defining a cavity  139  therein. The housing cavity  139  may be configured to receive the outlet array  116  and the trim plate  122 . 
     The configuration of the airflow outlet  100  allows for airflow throughout the passenger compartment at a variety of angles without the need for both a primary horizontal and a secondary vertical set of vanes, while maintaining the overall amount of airflow supplied to the passenger compartment. Further, the configuration of the airflow outlet  100  is conducive to ease in assembly. 
     The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the appended claims.