Abstract:
An air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a frame, a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a first axis, and at least one coupling element with which each of the vanes is coupled. The coupling element is capable of being adjusted relative to the first axis between a neutral position in which the vanes are parallel to each other, and a comfort position in which at least some of the vanes are swiveled in directions opposite each other.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to an air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning, comprising a frame and a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a first axis.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The vanes, which can be arranged either horizontally or vertically, can be used to adjust the direction of the air flow emerging from the vent. The air flow is normally directed in such a way that it does not strike a vehicle occupant directly since this is felt to be unpleasant. However, at a high air throughput rate and the correspondingly high speeds with which the air flows out of the air vent, the prior art vents cannot reliably prevent the vehicle occupant from being exposed to an air flow that is felt to be unpleasant.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an air vent with which it can be prevented that the vehicle occupant is exposed to an air flow that is felt to be unpleasant, even at a high air throughput rate.  
           [0004]    This is achieved in an air vent which, provided for use in vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a frame, a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a first axis, and at least one coupling element with which each of the vanes is coupled. The coupling element is capable of being adjusted relative to the first axis between a neutral position in which the vanes are parallel to each other, and a comfort position in which at least some of the vanes are swiveled in directions opposite each other. In this manner, when the oppositely swiveled vanes are arranged so as to spread out fan-like, a diverging air flow can be generated in which lower flow rates prevail than with an air flow having a constant cross section. Thus, even at a high air throughput rate, it can be prevented that the emerging air flow strikes the vehicle occupant at high speeds.  
           [0005]    Advantageous embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the subclaims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an air vent according to a first embodiment of the invention, with the coupling element in the neutral position;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 shows the air vent of FIG. 1, with the coupling element in the comfort position;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an air vent according to a second embodiment of the invention, with the coupling element in the neutral position;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 shows the air vent of FIG. 3, with the coupling element in the comfort position;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an air vent according to a third embodiment of the invention, with the coupling element in the neutral position; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 shows the air vent of FIG. 5, with the coupling element in the comfort position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 shows an air vent according to a first embodiment, with a frame  10  in which, in the embodiment shown, five vanes  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  are pivotally arranged. Each of the vanes is pivoted on a first coupling element  24  by means of a pin  22  that is situated approximately in the middle between the front edge of the vane facing the outside of the vent and the back edge of the vane facing the inside of the vent. For this purpose, the first coupling element  24  is provided with a plurality of slotted links  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  that are associated with the pins  22 .  
         [0013]    The first coupling element is provided with a guide pin  36  that is accommodated in a sliding guide  38  on the frame. A return spring  40  is connected to the first coupling element  24  and the other end of said spring is attached to the frame  10 . The return spring  40  pulls the first coupling element  24  to the left, with regard to FIG. 1, into a so-called neutral position in which the pins  22  lie on the right-hand edge of the corresponding slotted link.  
         [0014]    The front edge, that is to say, the right-hand edge with regard to FIG. 1, of the vanes  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  are provided with a pin  42  that is rotatably received in a second coupling element  44 . The second coupling element  44  can be moved in a translational direction by means of two sliding guides  46  on two guide pins  48  that are permanently attached to the vehicle.  
         [0015]    If the first coupling element  24  is in the neutral position as shown in FIG. 1, the vanes  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  can be swiveled in parallel to each other in order to adjust the direction of an air flow emerging from the air vent. In order to adjust is the vanes, there is a gripping projection  50  mounted on the vane  16 .  
         [0016]    An actuation element  52  is mounted on the frame  10 , and it is configured as a two-arm lever here. One end of the actuation element  52  is in contact with the first coupling element  24  and its other end with a push-button  54  that is accessible from the outside of the air vent. A latching mechanism  56 —shown here schematically—interacts with the push-button  54 . By pushing the push-button  54  into the air vent, the first coupling element  24  makes, via the actuation element  52 , a translational motion towards the second coupling element  44 , that is to say, to the right relative to FIG. 1, into the so-called comfort position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the first coupling element  24  is held by the latching mechanism  56  until the actuation element  52  is released by once again actuating the push-button  54 .  
         [0017]    As can be seen in FIG. 2, due to the movement of the first coupling element  24 , the pins  22  of the vanes are now situated on the left-hand edge of the slotted links  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 . The slotted link  30 , which is associated with the vane  16  located in the middle, the so-called neutral vane, extends in a straight line and parallel to the adjustment direction of the first coupling element  24 , said direction being predefined by the sliding guide  38 . For this reason, the alignment of the neutral vane does not change when the first coupling element is adjusted. The slotted links  26 ,  34  that are associated with the two outer vanes  12 ,  20  extend in a curve and are sharply inclined relative to the adjustment direction of the first coupling element  24 , said direction being predefined by the sliding guide  38 . For this reason, when the first coupling element is adjusted by the pin  22 , the outer vanes  12 ,  20  are swiveled in directions opposite each other, in such a way that their pins  22  move closer to the neutral vane. The slotted links  28 ,  32 , which are associated with the intermediate vanes  14 ,  18  that lie between the neutral vane and the outer vanes, likewise have a curved design, but they are less sharply inclined relative to the direction of movement of the first coupling element  24 , said direction being predefined by the sliding guide  38 . For this reason, the intermediate vanes  14 ,  18  are also swiveled when the first coupling element is adjusted, but to a lesser extent than the outer vanes  12 ,  20 . Due to the spread-out alignment of the vanes  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , the air flow entering the air vent in the direction of the arrows E leaves the air vent as a diverging air flow, as is shown by the arrows A.  
         [0018]    When the push-button  54  is actuated again, the latching mechanism  56  releases the push-button. As a result, the first coupling element  24 , under the effect of the return spring  40 , can return to its neutral position in which the vanes  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  once again lie parallel to each other.  
         [0019]    The comfort position shown in FIG. 2 with spread-out vanes also makes it possible to adjust the vanes by actuating the gripping projection  50 . In so doing, the spread-out alignment of the vanes is largely maintained.  
         [0020]    According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the return spring  40 , which acts between the frame and the first coupling element, can be replaced by one or more return springs that act between the first and the second coupling element. In this manner, restoring forces can be avoided when the vanes are in an inclined position.  
         [0021]    According to alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, an appropriate arrangement of the slotted links  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  can also achieve that the vanes  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  are not spread out fan-like when the first coupling element is adjusted but rather are arranged in a converging fashion. This leads to a converging air stream.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 shows an air vent according to a second embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for the components known from the first embodiment, and reference is made to the explanations given above. So as to achieve a clear depiction, the actuation element, the push-button and the latching mechanism, which serve to adjust the first coupling mechanism, as well as the return spring for the first coupling element, are not shown.  
         [0023]    Unlike the first embodiment, with the second embodiment, no slotted link guides are used for the coupling of the vanes to the first coupling element, but rather, in each case, a coupling rod  60  for each of the outer and intermediate vanes. Each of these coupling rods is attached to its associated vane by the pin  22 . The other end of the coupling rods is pivotally attached to the first coupling element by another pin  62 . Here, the coupling rods  60  of an outer vane  12  or  20  and the adjacent intermediate vane  14  or  18  are mounted together on one single pin  62 ; this pin  62 , as seen from the neutral vane, lies further outside than the respective outer vane.  
         [0024]    Mounting the two coupling rods for an outer and an intermediate vane on one pin results in a simple structure. This structure can readily produce the geometry necessary for the adjustment of the vanes so that, when the first coupling element  24  is moved into the comfort position shown in FIG. 4, the outer vanes  12 ,  20  are swiveled to a greater extent than the intermediate vanes  14 ,  18 , and the spread-out arrangement of the vanes in the nature of a fan is established.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows an air vent according to a third embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for the components known from the first and second embodiments, and reference is made to the explanations given above. So as to achieve a clear depiction, the actuation element, the push-button and the latching mechanism, which serve to adjust the first coupling mechanism, as well as the return spring for the first coupling element, are not shown.  
         [0026]    The principle of the air vent according to the third embodiment is equal to that of the second embodiment; the main difference is that each outer vane  12 ;  20  is connected with the adjacent intermediate vane  12 ;  18  by means of a connection member  70  so that they are adjusted in parallel with each other. Moreover, now two neutral vanes  16  are provided which are likewise connected to each other by a connection member  70 .  
         [0027]    Each connection member  70  of the outer and intermediate vanes is connected to the first coupling element  24  by a coupling rod  60  that is mounted on the first coupling element by the pin  62 . The connection member of the two neutral vanes is mounted on the first coupling element by the pin  22  that engages the slotted link  30  in the first coupling element.  
         [0028]    If the first coupling element  24  is moved out of the neutral position shown in FIG. 5 and into the comfort position shown in FIG. 6, the two neutral vanes  16  remain in their position since the slotted link  30  extends in a straight line and parallel to the adjustment direction of the first coupling element  24 , said direction being predefined by the sliding guide  38 . In contrast, the outer vanes and the intermediate vanes are swiveled in directions opposite each other since the connection members  70  of the coupling rods  60  are adjusted towards each other. All in all, the result is a spread-out air flow.