Abstract:
A ventilation nozzle is provided for the interior of a motor vehicle comprising first and comprising second adjustable vanes for changing an air flow. The second vents are disposed downstream of the first vents and first and second vents are mounted so that they can be swiveled by means of a common control member in a casing of the nozzle. The control member is mounted swivelably downstream of the second vents.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102010010399.3, filed Mar. 5, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The technical field relates to a ventilation nozzle for the interior of a motor vehicle comprising first and comprising second adjustable vanes for changing an air flow which can be supplied to the motor vehicle interior. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Ventilation devices for motor vehicles are in particular configured to supply fresh air into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. As desired by the vehicle occupants, the temperature and the amount of air to be supplied can be variably adjusted by means of a heating or air conditioning module. The air intake into the passenger compartment is typically accomplished by means of a series of ventilation nozzles, which are let into the instrument panel, approximately at the height of the vehicle external mirrors, above the center console, and at further numerous locations in the motor vehicle interior. 
         [0004]    In addition to an air control flap for throttling the supplied air, known ventilation nozzles also have a series of vanes disposed adjustably inside the ventilation nozzle, by which means the air outflow direction can be varied by the vehicle occupants as desired. Such a ventilation nozzle is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,092. This has two vane packages, which each comprise a number of vertically or horizontally aligned vanes. By means of a type of joystick, the vanes of one package can each be swiveled synchronously about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the vanes. The actuating member provided for swiveling both vane packages comprises a ball joint, by which means the actuating member, when viewed in the flow direction of the air, is mounted between a vertically and a horizontally aligned vane. 
         [0005]    By means of an extension projecting in the direction opposite to the direction of flow, the upstream vane package in the flow direction can be swiveled while the downstream vane package in the flow direction is guided in a shaft of the actuating member, which is slotted in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0006]    Although both vane packages can be swiveled in the desired direction by means of the known actuating mechanism, the structure and the assembly of such a ventilation nozzle is configured to be complex and expensive. In this case, it is therefore necessary that the actuating member is already co-installed in a casing of the ventilation nozzle in the course of assembling the individual vane packages. In so doing, care must be taken to ensure that the actuating member is coupled in the manner provided both to the vertically and to the horizontally aligned vanes. 
         [0007]    Since the interior design of a motor vehicle sometimes crucially influences the customer&#39;s decision to purchase, higher-quality materials such as brushed aluminum or walnut burl applications are being increasingly used in motor vehicle construction for fitting details of the passenger compartment. If the design of a ventilation nozzle is possibly also to be correspondingly variable, it would be advantageous if at least components hereof such as an actuating element or a front panel could be individually adapted to the customer&#39;s wishes in regard to material and/or shaping. 
         [0008]    In this respect, it is at least one object to provide a ventilation nozzle for the interior of a motor vehicle, which is simplified in terms of production and assembly technology and consequently can be produced and assembled more cost-effectively. Furthermore, a ventilation nozzle should be particularly easily and universally adaptable to different interior designs of a motor vehicle. In addition, the ventilation nozzle should be characterized by a particularly attractive and elegant design as well as by functionality. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A ventilation nozzle is provided for the interior of a motor vehicle. It comprises first and second adjustable vanes for changing an air flow. The second vents are disposed downstream of the first vents, first and second vents preferably forming a ventilation grid. 
         [0010]    Typical configurations of first and second vents provide, for example, that the first vents run substantially in the vehicle transverse direction and the second vents run substantially in the vehicle vertical direction. Inverse configurations or alignments of the first and second vents differing from this are, however, equally within the scope of the invention. First and second vents are typically aligned substantially perpendicularly to one another. Depending on the design specification of the ventilation nozzle, however, it is also possible to deviate from this in favor of an approximately diamond-shaped configuration of a ventilation grid. 
         [0011]    First and second vents are preferably adjustable synchronously with respect to one another, each in a type of vent package. That is, the first vents are, for example, connected to one another via a first coupling linkage, while the second vents are synchronized in movement with respect to one another by means of a second coupling linkage or the like means. It is further provided that first and second vents, that is that the first and the second vent packages, are mounted so that they can be swiveled by means of at least one common, preferably a single, control member in a casing of the nozzle. In this case, it proves to be advantageous if the control member is mounted swivelably on or in the ventilation nozzle downstream of the second vents. The mounting of the control member is consequently placed downstream of the vent grid, which enables easier assembly of the ventilation nozzle. 
         [0012]    In addition, as a result of the arrangement of the control member downstream of the two vents in the flow direction, an adaptation of the ventilation nozzle or the control member to changing design specifications can be made particularly easily without the internal structure of the ventilation nozzle being affected by this. The mounting of the control member is located, when viewed by the vehicle occupant, ahead of the ventilation grid formed by the vents. From the assembly technology aspect, it is hereby provided that the control member is only mounted in the course of mounting the ventilation nozzle casing so that the mounting of the first and second vents can take place completely independently of the control member to be added subsequently. In this way, by providing different control member designs, the appearance of the ventilation nozzle can be adapted particularly simply and variably to the required installation situations by subsequently inserting or mounting the control member in a ventilation nozzle casing which always remains the same. 
         [0013]    According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the control member is mounted in a receptacle located downstream of the second vents. In this case, the mounting for the control member is preferably configured as a casing component of the ventilation nozzle. The mounting forms a swivel or pivot point for the control member. This is located downstream of the second vents, consequently between the ventilation grid of the ventilation nozzle and the vehicle occupants. 
         [0014]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the control member has a control extension pointing in the direction opposite to the direction of flow, by which means the control member is operatively connected to the second and first vents. As a result of the swivelable or rotatable mounting of the control member at the receptacle, the control extension preferably executes a swiveling movement on actuating the control member, by which means both the first and the second vents can be swiveled in a predefined direction. 
         [0015]    At the same time, it is provided in particular that the second vents have at least one control vent having a through opening for the control extension. The control vent is in direct operative communication with the remaining second vents disposed parallel hereto, preferably by means of a coupling rod, so that an adjusting movement transmitted to the control vent can be synchronously transmitted to the remaining second vents. Since the control extension of the control member passes through a through opening of the second control vent, the control member having the control extension can also be in direct operative communication with the control vent of the first vent package located upstream. 
         [0016]    According to a further embodiment, it is thus provided that the first vanes have at least one control vent having a through opening, which is in operative communication with the control extension or comparably to the second control vent is penetrated by said control extension. It is preferable if the through openings in the first and/or the second control vent of first and/or second vent package are each configured in the manner of an elongate hole extending in the longitudinal direction of the vent. In this way, the control extension can swivel along the elongate-hole-like through opening without the relevant control vent being hereby exposed to a force acting in the longitudinal direction of the vent. 
         [0017]    The through openings of first and/or second control vent can further have a predefined axial extension so that a swivel movement of the control extension of the actuating member directed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vent can be converted into a corresponding swivel movement of the control vent. The control extension is substantially configured as a rectilinear pin, which passes through the two through openings of first and second control vent, which lie substantially in alignment to one another. Perpendicularly to its longitudinal extension, the through opening of the control vent has a clear width, which substantially corresponds to the diameter of the control extension. It can further be provided here that in order to minimize any movement play, the control extension abuts against the longitudinal side of the elongate openings. 
         [0018]    According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that the elongate hole of the first and/or second control vent, when viewed in the direction of flow of the air, is disposed offset to the axis of rotation of the appurtenant control vent. In this way, the mutual contact surface of control extension and elongate hole inner wall can be reduced to a minimum, in order to keep movement-inhibiting frictional influences as low as possible. 
         [0019]    In a further embodiment, it is provided inter alia that the receptacle for the control member is disposed on a frame located downstream of the second vents or is integrated in the frame. In this case, the frame can be configured as a casing component of the ventilation nozzle facing the vehicle interior. Here it is found to be advantageous if the control member is fastened already preassembled on the frame and by mounting the frame on the casing, the through openings of first and second control vent are penetrated by the control extension. 
         [0020]    In this way, frames or control members varying in their surface design as desired by the customer, can be inserted into a prefabricated casing of a ventilation nozzle already fitted with vents. As a result of the mechanical coupling of control member and first and second vents, which only takes place as part of the mounting of the casing of the ventilation nozzle, the ventilation nozzle can be varied particularly simply to satisfy predefined design specifications without the actual mounting of the movably arranged vent packages being affected by this. 
         [0021]    According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the receptacle has a dome-shaped contour and the control member has a spherical body configured to correspond to the receptacle. Receptacle and spherical body thus form a type of ball joint, which is disposed between ventilation grid and vehicle occupants, on a frame which surrounds or spans the ventilation grid at least in certain areas. 
         [0022]    The spherical body of the control member is fixed on an appurtenant receptacle in the axial direction, that is viewed in the direction of flow. Such a fixing can be accomplished in particular by the spherical body and/or the receptacle being formed in two parts. In the case of a two-part receptacle, it can, for example, be provided that a retaining ring integrated in the frame has a clear inside diameter, which is smaller than the spherical radius of the control member. The sphere can be inserted into the retaining ring from behind, that is along the direction of flow. The dome-shaped receptacle adapted to the spherical geometry can then be connected to the retaining ring, possibly by screwing on or clipping on. Retaining ring and associated receptacle then form a swivelable mounting for the spherical body, which can optionally be provided with its section projecting through the retaining ring with an actuating member, for example, with a gripping or actuating surface. 
         [0023]    It is further found that if the receptacle and/or the control member is provided with a sliding coating, possibly with a silicone surface, at least in some areas. Additionally or alternatively hereto, it can further be provided that the control extension or the elongate holes of the control vent in operative communication with said extension are provided with corresponding sliding coatings to reduce an actuating resistance. 
         [0024]    The receptacle for the control member can be disposed approximately centrally in the area of the ventilation grid formed by the vent packages. In this case, the receptacle is preferably integrated in the frame of the casing which surrounds or spans the ventilation grid. The frame itself can, for example, surround the air outlet opening of the ventilation nozzle and have a web which extends transversely, perpendicularly, or obliquely over the ventilation grid, in or on which the receptacle for the spherical body or for the control member is formed. The frame, the web, and/or at least the visible parts of the actuating member can be formed from thermoplastic plastic and preferably as an injection-molded component. However, it is also feasible to form those components in metal, possibly in brushed aluminum, or as wood application in order to be able to individually adapt the design of the ventilation nozzle to the interior design of the vehicle. 
         [0025]    According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the spherical body of the control member in the mounting position in the motor vehicle has an actuating surface facing the user. In this respect, it can be provided that the spherical body provides an actuation of the vent package based on a trackball. Thus, the vehicle occupants can possibly actuate the spherical body in the manner of a trackball and so bring about an adjusting movement for the vents. 
         [0026]    According to a further embodiment it is hereby provided that the spherical body has at least one display and/or actuating means on the side facing away from the vents, consequently facing the vehicle occupants. For example, an elevation or indentation can be formed on that side of the spherical body, which is optionally identified by color or haptically. The position of that display means, which can equally well serve as an actuation aid, additionally indicates the alignment of the air flow to the vehicle occupant in a simple manner. 
         [0027]    According to a further embodiment, a motor vehicle is provided having a ventilation nozzle according to the invention. Furthermore, a method is provided for mounting a ventilation nozzle for the interior of a motor vehicle. Here it is provided that a control member is disposed swivelably on a frame and by insertion or placement of the frame into or onto the casing of the nozzle having a control extension, comes into operative communication with first and second vanes disposed swivelably inside the casing. In particular, when viewed in the direction of flow, the frame is disposed downstream of the first and second vents on the casing of the ventilation nozzle and mounted on the casing of the ventilation nozzle with the control member premounted thereon in the direction opposite to the air flow direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the two vent packages, the frame, and the control member mounted swivelably thereon; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the ventilation nozzle according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows an isolated view of the two control vents in a first configuration; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the control vents and the control member in a second configuration; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows the control vents according to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  in a third swivel position; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment with modified control member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows in perspective view a ventilation nozzle  10 , as viewed by a vehicle occupant from the interior of the vehicle. Here, however the components essential to the present invention are not shown explicitly for reasons of a simple functional representation. 
         [0037]    The ventilation nozzle  10  comprises two vent packages, i.e., first, horizontally disposed vents  18  and second vertical vents  20  disposed downstream hereto. The horizontal vents  18  are swivelably mounted on the casing, not shown explicitly in the figures, by means of lateral extensions  19 . The situation is similar with the second, vertical vents  20 . These also have pin-like extensions  21  at both longitudinal ends, by means of which the vents  20  are swivelably mounted with respect to the casing. The vents pertaining to a vent package, that is the horizontal vents  18  taken alone and also the vertical vents  20  taken alone, are synchronized in movement by means of a coupling linkage likewise not shown explicitly. 
         [0038]    Each of the vent packages shown separately in  FIG. 2  has a centrally disposed control vent  22  or  24 . The control vent  22 ,  24  differs from the remaining vents  18 ,  20  disposed swivelably parallel thereto by means of an elongate hole  26 ,  28  extending in the longitudinal direction of the vents, which, when viewed in the direction of flow, is disposed offset with respect to the laterally protruding swivel pins  19 ,  21 . The elongate holes  26 ,  28  of the two appurtenant control vents  24 ,  22  come to lie in alignment to one another, at least in some areas, as is illustrated in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0039]    The elongate holes  26 ,  28  are provided here to receive a control extension  34 , which passes through both elongate holes  26 ,  28  located one behind the other in the direction of flow. The control extension  34  is rigidly connected to a spherical body  32 ,  36 , which is swivelably mounted in a receptacle  30 . The receptacle  30  is in turn disposed downstream of the second, that is the vertical vent package  20 . The swivel or mounting point of the control member  14  consequently lies downstream of the ventilation grid formed by the vents  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 . 
         [0040]    The receptacle  30  for the control member  14  is in this case preferably integrated in a frame  12 , which borders the ventilation grid at least in certain areas, which in the installation position on the vehicle, comes to lie between the actual ventilation grid and the vehicle occupant. The receptacle  30  for the control member  14  is in this case integrated approximately centrally in a transverse web  16  of the frame extending in the horizontal direction. The control member  14  is accordingly located approximately centrally in front of the ventilation grid formed by the vents  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 . 
         [0041]    The receptacle  30  is preferably spherical-dome-shaped, so that the spherical body  32 , viewed in the direction of flow, is fixed with respect to the frame  12 . The dome-shaped receptacle  30  is advantageously formed in two parts so that the spherical body  32  can be inserted, for example, into a receiving ring let flush into or integrated in the transverse web  16  and can be fastened thereon with a dome-shaped closure on the rear side, that is facing the vents  20 . In this case, the retaining ring let into the web  16  has a clear diameter that is smaller than the radius of the spherical body  32 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , an attachment  40  provided with individual pimples is further fastened on the spherical body  32 . The fastening of this attachment  40  is preferably carried out after mounting the spherical body  32  in the receptacle  30 . The attachment  40  provided with pimples either fulfils predefined interior design requirements and/or provides an increased grip for the control member  14 . The choice of material and surface condition of the attachment  40  should prevent any slippage of the actuating element. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative embodiment without actuating attachment  40 . Here, the sphere  32  mounted in the receptacle  30  can be actuated directly by a user, possibly comparably to a trackball. The sphere  32  has an actuating surface  36  facing the user, in which either a further actuating element, possibly in the form of an elevation or recess  38 , can be formed. At that point, the sphere  32  can additionally be marked in color or in some other way in order to visualize or identify in a haptically discernible manner the alignment of the vents and the associated alignment of the air flow. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5  show different swivel positions of the control member  14 . Starting from a neutral position according to  FIG. 3 , in which the vents  22 ,  24  are aligned substantially perpendicularly to one another, the control member  14  is pivoted downward in  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, the control extension  34  protruding into the vent packages and passing through the two through openings  26 ,  28  undergoes an upward swivel movement. This has the result that the control vent  22  mounted upstream in the flow direction swivels upward. Depending on the relative positioning of the elongate holes  26 ,  28  in relation to the pins or pivot points  19 ,  21  of the respective vents  20 ,  22 , a corresponding air flow is produced, in the present case in  FIG. 4  a downwardly directed air flow. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 5  the control member  14  is additionally swiveled to the left, which causes a corresponding swivel movement of the vertical control vent  24 . Due to the configuration of the elongate hole  28  provided in the horizontal control vent  22 , the swivel position of the first control vent  22  remains largely untouched by this. The configuration shown in  FIG. 5  consequently produces a leftward downwardly directed air flow. 
         [0046]    The mounting of the ventilation nozzle can be simplified by the swivelable or rotatable arrangement of the control member  14  mounted upstream of the ventilation grid or mounted downstream in the direction of flow. For example, the control member  14  provided with the control extension  34  can be mounted preconfigured on the frame  12  before this is connected to the casing of the ventilation nozzle. The control member  14  only comes into the prescribed operative communication with the vents  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , which are already disposed swivelably in the casing, in the course of a final assembly during which the frame  12  is fastened on the casing of the ventilation nozzle. 
         [0047]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.