Abstract:
A vent register for a motor vehicle includes an integral scent-dispensing chamber configured for selectively allowing a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) airflow therethrough. The scent-dispensing chamber includes a rear wall having one or more rear wall apertures and carrying a damper that is selectively translatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration to control a flow of conditioned air through the chamber. A selectively closeable scent-dispensing chamber front panel allows inserting or removing an air freshening substance.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to air vents and air vent registers for dispensing conditioned air from a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an air vent register including a scent dispensing chamber. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is common to utilize air fresheners, scent capsules or cartridges, and the like to mask or remove undesirable odors, or to provide a desired aroma to a portion of a vehicle such as the passenger cabin interior. A variety of such devices are known, including “hang tag” style air fresheners which are hung from a portion of the vehicle such as the rear view mirror. Alternatively, various scents are provided in liquid form for sprinkling at various locations within the passenger cabin. Still more, cartridge-style scent dispensers are known which may be placed in an unobtrusive location within the passenger cabin. Such devices, while allowing dispersion of a desired scent, typically do not evenly distribute the scent in the passenger cabin. Moreover, hang tag style air fresheners risk obscuring a driver&#39;s view through the vehicle windshield. 
         [0003]    It is also known to provide other attachable devices for distributing a scent. Such devices typically include a chamber for holding a solid or liquid scent source and may include a clip for affixing to a portion of the vehicle. For example, certain clip-on devices are configured for attaching to a portion of a vehicle vent register. As conditioned air from the vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system passes through the vent register, it also passes over and/or through the clip-on scent dispenser, advantageously providing a more even dispensing of scent throughout the passenger cabin. 
         [0004]    However, such clip-on scent dispensers also create certain problems. Depending on their design, a portion of the HVAC airflow may be blocked, resulting in reduced distribution of conditioned air from the HVAC system. Moreover, it is common for such clip-on devices to be configured to attach to one or more vanes associated with the vent register. As is known, such vanes are typically configured to pivot to allow re-directing airflow from the HVAC system as desired. However, a clip-on device may interfere with the pivoting movement of such vanes, reducing the user&#39;s ability to control the direction of air movement. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to an improved motor vehicle vent register. Advantageously, the described vent register incorporates an integral scent-dispensing chamber without increasing a footprint defined by the vent register. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, in one aspect of the present disclosure a vent register for a motor vehicle is described. The vent register comprises an integral scent-dispensing chamber configured for selectively allowing a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) airflow therethrough. The scent-dispensing chamber includes a rear wall having one or more rear wall apertures and carrying a damper. The damper is selectively translatable between an open configuration allowing the HVAC airflow through the scent-dispensing chamber and a closed configuration preventing the HVAC airflow through the scent-dispensing chamber. The scent-dispensing chamber may include a selectively closeable front panel allowing adding an air freshener, replacing a spent air freshener, etc. 
         [0007]    In embodiments, the rear wall includes one or more damper supports configured to allow sliding translation of the damper between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The damper may include one or more damper apertures disposed to at least partially align with the one or more rear wall apertures when the damper is translated from the closed configuration to the open configuration. 
         [0008]    In embodiments, the rear wall is configured to define an acute angle relative to a plane defined by a wall of the vent register housing. The damper may include a first portion defining a same angle as the rear wall included angle and a second portion carrying an actuator for selectively translating the damper. The first portion may include the one or more damper apertures. In embodiments, the actuator may be configured to pass through a slot defined in a roof of the scent-dispensing chamber. In such embodiments, the actuator functions both for actuating the damper and as a dog to retain the selectively translatable damper in place against the rear wall. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, a vent register for a motor vehicle is described including a housing in fluid communication with a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) duct system, a plurality of vanes pivotally carried by the housing for directing an HVAC airflow, and an integral scent-dispensing chamber as described above, configured for selectively allowing the HVAC airflow therethrough. The scent-dispensing chamber may define a same width dimension and height dimension as one or more of the plurality of vanes, thus allowing providing an integral air freshener option without increasing a footprint of the vent register. 
         [0010]    In the following description, there are shown and described embodiments of the disclosed motor vehicle vent register. As it should be realized, the vent register is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the devices and methods as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed vent register for a motor vehicle, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a prior art vehicle vent register; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a scent-dispensing chamber according to the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an assembled view of the scent-dispensing chamber of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts operation of a sliding damper for the chamber of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of a vehicle vent register including an integral scent-dispensing chamber according to the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  shows an HVAC airflow through the vent register of  FIG. 5  with the sliding damper of the integral scent-dispensing chamber in an open configuration; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  shows the HVAC airflow through the vent register of  FIG. 5  with the sliding damper of the integral scent-dispensing chamber in a closed configuration. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed vent register for a motor vehicle, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Preliminarily, the basic design of a vehicle vent register is well-known and does not require extensive description herein. However, at a high level and with reference to  FIG. 1 , a vent register  100  includes a housing  102  and one or more vanes  104 . The housing  102  is typically configured for insertion into and attachment to a cooperating aperture (not shown) in a vehicle component such as a dash panel, door trim panel, roof trim panel, etc. The housing  102  is typically positioned at a terminal end of a vehicle HVAC duct (not shown) whereby the duct is in fluid communication with the housing interior such that conditioned air from the HVAC passes through the housing  102  and therefrom into the vehicle passenger cabin (not shown). The vanes  104  are typically pivotally attached to the housing to direct a flow of conditioned air from the vehicle HVAC (not shown) through the vent register  100  and into a vehicle passenger cabin (not shown). A damper actuator  103  may be included for operating a damper (not shown) which regulates the amount of conditioned air exiting the vent register  100 . A vane actuator  105  may also be included for altering the angle at which conditioned air exits the vent register. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of a scent-dispensing chamber  106  for integral incorporation into a vent register  100 . The scent-dispensing chamber includes a chamber housing  108  configured to carry a damper  110  and a closeable pivoting front panel  112 . The front panel  112  includes one or more apertures  113  therethrough to allow airflow even when the front panel is in a closed configuration. One or more fittings  114  may be associated with the chamber housing  106  for attachment to a portion of the vent register housing  102 . In the depicted embodiment, snap-fit fittings  114  are provided for a convenient snap-fit with cooperating apertures in the vent register housing  102  (not shown). Of course, alternative fitting types are known and contemplated for use herein. 
         [0022]    The chamber housing  108  as shown includes a rear wall  116 , opposed side walls  118 , and a top  120 . In the depicted embodiment, a portion  122  of the rear wall  116  defines an acute angle relative to a plane defined by a wall of the vent register housing  102 , the purpose of which will be described below. In the depicted embodiment, the portion  122  defines an acute angle relative to a plane defined by a floor of the vent register housing  102 . However, it will be appreciated that alternative configurations are possible and therefore contemplated. For example, the chamber housing  108  could be disposed at a top of the vent register  100  rather than at a bottom. In this embodiment, the portion  122  would define an acute angle relative to a plane defined by a top of the vent register housing  102 . Likewise, the chamber housing  108  could be disposed at a side portion of the vent register  100 , whereby the chamber housing portion  122  would define an acute angle relative to a plane defined by a side wall of the vent register housing. 
         [0023]    The rear wall angled portion  122  includes one or more apertures  124  therethrough, in the depicted embodiment being elongate slots. In alternative embodiments, the rear wall  116  may not include this optional angled portion  122 . The rear wall portion  122  also includes one or more damper supports  126 . The chamber housing top  120  as depicted also includes a top aperture  128 , for receiving therethrough a feature of the damper  110  as will be described. At least a portion of a front  130  of the chamber housing  108  is open, and configured for pivotally receiving the closeable front panel  112 . In the depicted embodiment, this is accomplished by providing recesses  131  for pivotally receiving cooperating pins  133  disposed on opposed edges of the front panel  112 , although alternative structures are possible. 
         [0024]    The damper  110  is defined by a body  132  having a rear portion  134  configured to provide a mating surface for the scent-dispensing chamber housing rear wall  116 . Thus, in the depicted embodiment the rear portion  134  defines an angle matching the acute angle described above for the scent-dispensing chamber housing rear wall  116 . The damper body rear portion also includes one or more apertures  135  which, as will be described, may selectively be at least partially aligned with the corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  to allow passage of conditioned HVAC air. The damper body rear portion  134  ends in an edge  136  configured to be slidingly received in or supported by the chamber housing damper support  126 . The damper body  132  also includes an associated protrusion  138  configured to be slidingly translated along a length dimension of the scent-dispensing chamber housing top aperture  128 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the edge  136  of the damper body  132  slots into or is supported by the scent-dispensing chamber housing damper support  126 . In turn, the damper body protrusion  138  is inserted into the scent-dispensing chamber housing aperture  128 . As shown, the damper body  132  is dimensioned such that the protrusion  138  serves both as an actuator for sliding lateral translation of the damper body, and as a dog retaining the damper body in operative contact with the scent-dispensing chamber housing  108  as depicted. 
         [0026]    Lateral translation of the damper  110  within the scent-dispensing chamber housing  108  effected by urging protrusion  138  in a desired direction is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As will be appreciated, the lateral range of motion of the damper body  132  will be constrained by the dimensions of the chamber housing top aperture  128 . As will also be appreciated, fully aligning damper body apertures  135  and corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  by biasing the damper  110  in a desired direction will allow a full flow of conditioned HVAC air through the chamber housing  108 . Partially aligning the damper body apertures  135  and corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  will allow a reduced flow of conditioned HVAC air through the chamber housing  108 . A full misalignment of the damper body apertures  135  and corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  will block the flow of conditioned HVAC air through the chamber housing  108 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of a vehicle vent register  100  including a scent-dispensing chamber  106 . As shown, the scent-dispensing chamber housing  108  is attached to a bottom portion of the vent register housing  102 , thereby placing the scent-dispensing chamber in the path of airflow exiting an HVAC duct (not shown) and passing through the vent register  100 . However, as will readily be appreciated, alternative configurations are possible, for example attaching the scent-dispensing chamber housing  108  to a top portion of the vent register housing  102  as described above. In yet another alternative embodiment, the scent-dispensing chamber housing  108  could be attached to a side wall of the vent register housing  102 . In each case, the scent-dispensing chamber would be place din the path of airflow exiting an HVAC duct (not shown) and passing through the vent register  100 . All such alternative embodiments are contemplated herein. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict the vehicle vent register  100  including the scent-dispensing chamber  106  of  FIG. 5  in use to dispense a scent emanating from an air freshener or other scent module  140  disposed in an interior of the scent-dispensing chamber  106 . The module  140  may be of any suitable form including without intending any limitation a cake or pellet, a cartridge containing a solid- or liquid-form scent, and others. The vent register housing  102  is depicted, as it would be when installed in a vehicle, in fluid communication with an HVAC duct  142 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6A  depicts the situation where the damper  110  has been positioned whereby the damper body apertures  135  and corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  are aligned. In this configuration full airflow through the scent-dispensing chamber  106  is allowed (see arrows) and a scent from the module  140  is dispensed out into the vehicle passenger cabin (not shown). Of course, as described above intermediate positions for the damper  110  are possible whereby the damper body apertures  135  and corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  are only partially aligned to provide a reduced conditioned airflow. 
         [0030]    On the other hand,  FIG. 6B  depicts the situation where the damper  110  has been positioned whereby the damper body apertures  135  and corresponding scent-dispensing housing rear wall apertures  124  are not aligned. Here, conditioned air does not pass through the scent-dispensing chamber  106  (see arrows) and scent from the module  140  is not dispensed into the passenger cabin. By the acute angle defined by the scent-dispensing chamber rear wall  122 , a smooth airflow pattern across the scent-dispensing chamber  106  is promoted. This prevents creation of turbulence adjacent the scent-dispensing chamber  106  which could potentially disrupt airflow passing through the vent register vanes  104 . 
         [0031]    By the foregoing description, the skilled artisan will appreciate that a convenient, effective device for dispensing a desired scent into a vehicle interior is provided. Advantageously, as shown in  FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B , the described scent-dispensing chamber  106  does not increase the size of the illustrated vent register  100 . Indeed, as shown in the drawing figures, the scent-dispensing chamber  106  can easily be dimensioned to occupy the same height and width dimension as a conventional vent register vane  104 . Thus, by the simple expedient of positioning the described scent-dispensing chamber  106  in the space that would otherwise be occupied by one or more of the pivoting vanes  104 , a scent dispensing vent register  100  is provided that easily fits into the same-sized vent register housing  102 . There is accordingly no need to modify the dimensions other components of the vehicle such as the apertures provided to accommodate a vent register in the dash panel, door trim panels, etc. A dash panel aperture dimensioned to accommodate a conventional vent register will likewise accommodate the vent register  100  described herein. This significantly reduces manufacturing costs relating to tooling, raw materials, engineering design, etc. 
         [0032]    Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the disclosure depicts and describes a sliding damper  110 . However, alternative sliding damper configurations are known in the art such as rotating disc dampers, and such are contemplated for use herein also. Likewise, a manually actuated damper  110  is described, but motorized or automated dampers are also known in the art and contemplated for use herein. Still more, alternative embodiments for the closeable front panel  112  are contemplated, such as a sliding panel similar in operation to a garage door, a front panel hinged at a side rather than at the bottom, and others. Therefore, the disclosure should not be taken as limiting in this respect. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.