Patent Publication Number: US-2007111653-A1

Title: Air vent register

Description:
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-328831 of Endou, filed on Nov. 14, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an air vent register used for ventilation of vehicle compartment or for an air outlet of air conditioner, and more particularly to an air vent register in which a knob is slidably mounted on one of fins in a front movable louver structure for adjusting the outlet direction of air.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      An air vent register of this kind is known for example in JP4-082645U. This air vent register includes a horizontal movable louver structure and a vertical movable louver structure arranged one behind another in its bezel defining an airflow channel, and an operation knob movably mounted on a central fin of the horizontal louver structure located forward.  
      In this conventional air vent register, the operation knob mounted on the central fin of the horizontal louver structure is slidable along the fin in the axial direction or lateral direction, and is pivotable about the axis of the fin vertically together with the fin. The knob is provided at the leading end with an engaging portion adapted to engage with a vertical axis of a fin of the vertical louver structure located at the rear which axis is deviated from that of the above fin. To adjust the outlet direction of air in the lateral direction, the operation knob is slid along the fin of the horizontal louver structure laterally to swing the vertical louver structure located at the rear. To adjust the outlet direction of air in the vertical direction, the knob is pivoted vertically together with the fin of the horizontal louver structure to adjust the air outlet direction.  
      In order to prevent a jolt and to exhibit an adequate operating load when being slid along the fin, the operation knob of this conventional air vent register includes a pair of arms projected from opposite sides of a rear region of its body and a spring member for pressing the arms onto the horizontal louver in a rear region of the body. However, this arrangement complicates the structure of the operation knob and also increases the number of parts. In addition, since the arms and spring member are exposed at the rear side of the knob body, they become visible from the front side of the register when the knob is manipulated downward, thereby adversely affecting the appearance of the register.  
      An improvement was proposed by the applicant of this application as in JP2003-276428, where an air vent register includes an operation knob having a rubber-like elastic element disposed inside its body. The elastic element of the knob is pressed onto the front side of a horizontal fin so that the operation knob slides with an adequate operating load and no jolt.  
      However, although this operation knob of the above register exhibits a favorable operating load due to its arrangement of sliding the elastic element along the front side of the horizontal fin, in the event that a dimensional variation occurs from product to product, for example in an internal dimension of the operation knob or a width of the horizontal fin, a jolt is still liable to occur in some products in the sliding of the knob, whereby the operating load is not stable.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The object of the present invention is to provide an air vent register whose operation knob is manipulated with a stable operating load and no jolt, while being capable of adjusting the outlet direction or air favorably.  
      The object of the present invention is achieved by an air vent register having the following structure:  
      The air vent register includes an operation knob slidably mounted around a fin of a front movable louver structure for adjusting an outlet direction of air. A rubber-like elastic element is disposed between the operation knob and the fin in such a manner as to abut against the fin and the knob. The elastic element is provided with a projection abutting against at least one of the fin or the operation knob, and the projection has a through hole for increasing a deformable amount thereof.  
      The rubber-like elastic element can be disposed in an interior of the operation knob to abut against the fin of the front movable louver structure.  
      It will also be appreciated that the operation knob includes a knob body covering a front side of the fin of the front movable louver structure, a knob cover fitted on an outer side of the knob body, and a geared section having a gear fitted to back sides of the knob body and the knob cover, and that the rubber-like elastic element is fitted to the knob body such that the projection of the elastic element contacts the fin or the operation knob.  
      The rubber-like elastic element may be provided with the projections at two positions in its back side and each of which projections may have a through hole running generally orthogonally to the pressing direction of the projections.  
      Alternatively, the rubber-like elastic element may include two projections in its back side to contact the fin and two projections in its front side to contact the operation knob whereas each of the projections formed in the front side has a through hole running generally orthogonally to the pressing direction of the projections.  
      With the air vent register arranged as above, if the operation knob is manipulated on the fin in a swinging manner, the fins of the front movable louver structure jointly pivot and swing to adjust the airflow direction inside the airflow channel in accordance with the manipulation angle of the knob. If the knob is slid along the fin of the front louver structure, a link mechanism such as a gear attached to the knob and linked to the rear louver structure rotates and swings the fins of the rear louver structure located behind the front structure jointly, thereby adjusting the airflow direction inside the airflow channel in accordance with the sliding range of the knob.  
      When swung or slid along the fin, the projection of the rubber-like elastic element disposed inside the knob body slides while pressing the fin. This arrangement will cause an adequate sliding resistance between the fin and elastic element, so that the knob will be manipulated with a favorable operating load.  
      Moreover, if there is a variation from product to product in such dimensions as the width of the fin or the dimension of the inner contour of the knob body, the elastic element is capable of absorbing the dimensional variation by deforming its projection having a through hole. Accordingly, the operation knob is prevented from engaging with the fin too strongly or being jolty, and a stable operating load is given to all products.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation of an air vent register embodying the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a horizontal fin and an operation knob;  
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged section taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the operation knob and horizontal fin of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged plan view of a rubber-like elastic element;  
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged plan view of a rubber-like elastic element of an alternative embodiment; and  
       FIG. 8  is a partial enlarged section of a fin and an operation knob of another alternative embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosedherein. Allmodifications within the appended claims and equivalents relative thereto are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims.  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation of an air vent register embodying the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is its cross section.  FIG. 3  is a plan view of a horizontal fin  31  of a front movable louver structure  3 , and  FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross section of an operation knob  6  of the horizontal fin.  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the knob  6 .  
      In these drawings, reference numeral  1  generally denotes a bezel provided at its front with an outlet opening  11 . Inside or at the backside of bezel  1  is a fitting region in which a later-described retainer  2  is fitted for connection with bezel  1 . Left and right side walls of the inner side of the opening  11  are provided with bearing holes formed at predetermined intervals for receiving the horizontal fins. Bezel  1  is further provided at its left front side with an aperture where a damper knob  53  is set in.  
      Retainer  2  is formed into a generally rectangular duct shape, and an airflow channel  21  is provided inside the retainer  2 . Retainer  2  is provided on its upper wall and lower wall in the front edge region with bearing hole for receiving vertical fins at predetermined intervals. More bearing holes are formed on side walls in a deeper region of the airflow channel  21  into which a rotary shaft  51  of damper  5  is inserted.  
      Front movable louver structure  3  includes a plurality of horizontal fins  31  rotatably arranged at predetermined intervals. Rotary shafts  32  of horizontal fins  31  are joined to one another by a link  36  via cranks  35 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , shafts  32  of horizontal fins  31  are put into bearing holes formed on opposite side walls of bezel  1  and pivotally supported therein. Cranks  35  are coupled to one of opposite ends of shafts  32  of fins  31 , which cranks  35  are mutually joined by the link  36 , and thereby forming a link mechanism for rotating the front louver structure  3 . Cranks  35  and link  36  of the link mechanism are located outside the bezel  1 .  
      As will be described later, operation knob  6  is mounted on one of the horizontal fins  31  of the front movable louver structure  3 . The fin  31  to which the knob  6  is attached is provided, on upper and lower sides in its front region, with linear projections  34  extending in the length direction of the fin  31  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The fin  31  is further provided at its back side with a guide groove  33  extending in the length direction of the fin  31  and having a triangular section. Guide groove  33  is to allow the knob  6  to slide there-along. Since the recess  33  has a recessed shape, it is not likely to come in sight of occupants of vehicle, and therefore, will not affect the appearance of the air vent register.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , a rear movable louver structure  4  includes a plurality of vertical fins  41  rotatably arranged at predetermined intervals within the retainer  2 . Rotary shafts  42  of vertical fins  41  are joined to one another by a link  46  via cranks  45 . Rotary shafts  42  projected from upper and lower ends of vertical fins  41  are respectively fitted in bearing holes formed on the upper and lower walls inside the retainer  2  in a rotatable manner. Cranks  45  are coupled to lower ends of lower shafts  42  of fins  41 , which cranks  45  are mutually joined by the link  46 . This link mechanism is disposed on a lower side of the lower wall of the retainer  2  for swinging vertical fins of the rear louver structure  4 .  
      Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a central vertical fin  41  of the rear louver structure  4  is provided in its front region with a sectorial or fan-like gear  47  projecting forward. The gear  47  is adapted to engage with a geared section  62  of operation knob  6  mounted on horizontal fin  31  located at the front of gear  47 . Operation knob  6  serves to transmit the lateral turning force to vertical fins  41  while being manipulated to lateral directions.  
      A damper  5  is disposed at a deeper region inside retainer  2  for closure of airflow channel  21 . Damper  5  is provided at its opposite sides with rotary shafts  51  fitted in the shaft holes formed on side walls of retainer  2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a crank  54  is secured to an end of rotary shafts  51  of damper  5 , and which crank  54  is connected with a connecting rod  52 .  
      A damper knob  53  is pivotally supported on a side wall of retainer  2  by a shaft  56 . A lever-like link  55  integral with damper knob  53  is coupled to the leading end of connecting rod  52  whose another end is joined with crank  54  fixed to rotary shaft  51  of damper  5 . A front region of damper knob  53  projects forward from an opening for the damper knob formed on bezel  1 . If the damper knob  53  is turned upward or downward around the shaft  56 , damper  5  rotates via link  55 , connecting rod  52  and crank  54  and closes airflow channel  21 .  
      As best shown in  FIG. 2 , operation knob  6  for adjusting orientations of the front louver structure  3  and rear louver structure  4  is mounted around a specific horizontal fin  31  of the front louver structure  3  in a slidable manner. Referring to  FIG. 5 , knob  6  includes a knob body  60  configured to cover the fin  31 , a knob cover  61  attached to the center of outer side of the knob body  60  in such a manner as to cover the body  60  from outside, a geared section  62  mounted on the back side or rear side of knob body  60 , and a rubber-like elastic element  63  arranged inside the body  60 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , knob body  60  has such a generally U-shaped side view as covers the front side, top side and lower side of horizontal fin  30 . Knob body  60  is provided with a pair of plate-like fitting sections  67  projected from top and lower ends of its back side. It also includes at the center of its inner side a rectangular hole  68  running through to the back side for receiving rubber-like elastic element  63 . As will be described later in detail, elastic element  63  is made from silicone rubber or the like, and has projections  63   a  adapted to contact and press the front side of horizontal fin  31  with an adequate sliding resistance. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the vicinity of the elastic element  63 , knob body  60  includes guide regions in upper and lower regions of its inner side. Linear projections  34  formed in the front region of the horizontal fin  31  fit to the guide regions in a slidable manner, whereby operation knob  6  is guided in the lateral direction within a predetermined range.  
      Rubber-like elastic element  63  is molded from oil impregnated silicone rubber or the like having an adequate elasticity and preferable sliding resistance. Its main body is a rectangular flat portion  63   b  having a rectangular plate shape as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In backside of the flat portion  63   b  are two projections  63   a  each having a through hole  63   c . Each of the through holes  63   c  runs through the projection  63   a  orthogonally to the projecting direction of projection  63   a  i.e. Orthogonally to the pressing direction of projection  63   a . These two projections  63   a  are adapted to be inserted into the rectangular hole  68  formed at the center of knob body  60 . Rectangular hole  68  runs through the inner region of knob body  60 , and leading ends of projections  63   a  of elastic element  63  set in the rectangular hole  68  contact and press the front side of horizontal fin  31  inserted into knob body  60 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , knob cover  61  is mounted around the front, top and lower sides of the knob body  60  in a generally center location of knob body  60 . Knob cover  61  is molded from hard synthetic resin into such a shape as a plate bent into a generally U-shape. Knob cover  61  is integrally molded to include following parts: a pair of upper hook portions  61   a  projecting from opposite edges of upper region in back side; a pair of lower hook portions  61   b  projecting from opposite edges in lower region in back side; and two pairs of lugs  61   c  projecting from upper and lower middle regions of back side to be set in later-described grooves  62   d  of geared section  62 .  
      Geared section  62  is assembled to the back side of knob body  60  to cover the back side of horizontal fin  31 . It is provided in back side with gear tooth arranged vertically at predetermined intervals. As shown in  FIG. 5 , geared section  62  includes triangular projections  62   c  in opposite ends of its front side to be retained by guide groove  33  formed in the back side of horizontal fin  31  when geared section  62  is mounted on fin  31 . The triangular shape of each projection  33  as viewed from side helps reduce the risk of leaning or deformation which would otherwise occur in the molding work, thereby conducing to precise molding.  
      Since the triangular projections  62   c  are adapted to engage with guide groove  33  having a triangular section, some dimensional errors in the projections  62   c  or recess  33  will not hinder the smooth engagement of the projections  62   c  and recess  33 . Accordingly, triangular projections  62   c  will engage with guide groove  33  favorably, so that operation knob  6  will slide on horizontal fin  31  smoothly.  
      Geared section  62  further includes recessed retaining regions  62   a  for retaining upper hook portions  61   a  of knob cover  61  in opposite sides of its upper inner region, and rectangular retaining holes  62   b  for retaining lower hook portions  61   b  of knob covert  61  in opposite sides of its lower inner region. In addition, geared section  62  includes in its front side a pair of grooves  62   d  arranged one above and parallel with the other for receiving plate-like lugs  61   c  formed in the back side of knob cover  61  and plate-like fitting sections  67  formed in the back side of knob body  60 .  
      In order to assemble operation knob  6 , firstly, rubber-like elastic element  63  is inserted into rectangular hole  68  of knob body  60  from front side in such a manner as to put a pair of its projections  63   a  therein as shown in  FIG. 5 , and then knob cover  61  is mounted around knob body  60  on the center. Subsequently, this assembly of knob body  60 , knob cover  61  and elastic element  63  is assembled with the specific horizontal fin  31  in such a manner as to cover the outer circumference of the fin  31  from the front side as shown in  FIG. 5 , and then geared section  62  is assembled thereto from back side.  
      More specifically, upper hook portions  61   a  formed in opposite edges of upper region of knob cover  61  are retained in the retaining recesses  62   a  formed in opposite sides of upper region of geared section  62 , whereas lower hook portions  61   b  formed in opposite edges of lower region of knob cover  61  are inserted and retained in retaining holes  62   b  formed in opposite sides of lower region of geared section  62 . Operation knob  6  is thus assembled. At this time, as shown in  FIG. 4 , lugs  61   c  of knob cover  61  and plate-like fitting sections  67  of knob body  60  are fitted in grooves  62  of geared section  62 , which serves to positioning of knob body  60  and knob cover  61  against the geared section  62 . Accordingly, knob body  60  and knob cover  61  are assembled with geared section  62  accurately.  
      By this assembling work, as shown in  FIG. 4 , triangular projections  62   c  engage with guide groove  33  of the horizontal fin  31 , guide regions formed inside knob body  60  abut against linear projections  34  of the fin  31 , whereas projections  63   a  of rubber-like elastic element  63  contact and press the front side of the fin  31 . Hence operation knob  6  is mounted on the fin  31  in a slidable manner in the lateral or length direction, with an adequate operating load.  
      The air vent register having above structure is mounted on an instrument panel or dashboard in a vehicle compartment while being connected to a not-shown airflow duct at the end of retainer  2 . An air fed from the duct is discharged through the air flow channel  21  in the retainer  2  and outlet opening  11 .  
      When a vehicle occupant desires to adjust the outlet direction of air in the vertical direction, operation knob  6  of front louver structure  3  is manipulated upward or downward. If operation knob  6  is pivoted upward or downward, the horizontal fin  31  equipped with knob  6  rotates around rotary shaft  32  vertically as shown in  FIG. 2 , and then the rotary force is transmitted via cranks  35  and link  36  to other horizontal fins  31  such that the fins  31  rotate around respective shafts  32 . Thus the vertical direction of the horizontal fins  31  is jointly changed to adjust the air-outlet direction in the vertical direction.  
      When the outlet direction of air is desired to change in the horizontal or lateral direction, operation knob  6  is manipulated to the left or right direction. If knob  6  is moved to left or right, it slides on the horizontal fin  31 . At this time, since an adequate operating load is exhibited due to the frictional resistance between the projections  63   a  of rubber-like elastic element  63  and the front side of fin  31 , operation knob  6  is manipulated with favorable operating load and excellent operational feeling to adjust the air-outlet direction.  
      With respect to the elastic element  63  whose projections  63   a  contact the horizontal fin  31 , the through hole  63   c  formed in each projection  63   a  makes the projection  63   a  more deformable, that is, increases a deformable amount of the projection  63   a . With this arrangement, if the width of horizontal fin  31 , the size of elastic element  63  or the dimension of rectangular hole  68  of knob body  60  varies from product to product, three-dimensional variation of those parts is absorbed by deformation of the projections  63   a . Accordingly, the operating load from product to product is made consistent, that is, the operating load is stabilized.  
      If operation knob  6  is moved in the lateral direction, gear tooth of geared section  62  of operation knob  6  rotates the sectorial gear  47 , so that the central fin  41  of the rear louver structure  4  having the gear  47  rotates around its shaft  42  laterally, and then the rotary force is transmitted via cranks  45  and link  46  to other vertical fins  41  such that the fins  41  rotate around respective shafts  42 . Thus the lateral direction of the vertical fins  41  is jointly changed to adjust the air-outlet direction in the lateral direction.  
      As described above, therefore, since the rubber-like elastic element  63  arranged inside knob body  60  slides on the front side of horizontal fin  31  while pressing the same, an adequate sliding resistance is generated between the fin  31  and elastic element  63 , so that the operation knob  6  is slid favorably with an adequate operating load. Moreover, since the projections  63   a  of elastic element  63  are capable of absorbing variations in the width of horizontal fin  31  or the dimension of inner contour of knob body  60  from product to product by its deformation, operation knob  60  is prevented from engaging with the fin  31  too strongly or from becoming jolty. Therefore, stable operating load is given to all products.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a rubber-like elastic element  64  in an alternative embodiment. Elastic element  64  is molded from oil impregnated silicone rubber or the like having an adequate elasticity and preferable sliding resistance as the above-described elastic element  63 . Its main body is a cuboid portion  64   b  having a rectangular plate shape. Cuboid portion  64   b  is provided in its front side with two projections  64   d  in addition to two projections  64   a  formed in its back side. Front projections  64   d  each has a through hole  64   c  inside thereof and which hole  64   c  runs through the projection  64   d  orthogonally to the projecting direction or projection  64   d  i.e. Orthogonally to the thickness direction of projection  64   d . Two projections  64   a  in the back side are adapted to be inserted into the rectangular hole  68  formed at the center of knob body  60 .  
      As in the previous embodiment, two projections  64   a  of elastic element  64  are inserted into the rectangular hole  68  formed through knob body  60  so that leading ends of projections  64   a  contact and press the front side of horizontal fin  31  set in knob body  60 . In this elastic element  64 , too, since the hole  64   c  is formed through each of the projections  64   d , its deformable amount when pressed is greater than an instance where the projection  64   d  is solid. Accordingly, elastic element  64  is capable of absorbing dimensional variation in parts of fin  31  or knob  6  by its deformation, so that stable operating load is given to all products.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a horizontal fin  103  and operation knob  106  in another alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, horizontal fin  103  is provided in a generally center of its front edge region with a recess  134 , whereas in the opposite side from the recess  134  or in a rear edge region of fin  103  is a guide groove  133 . Rubber-like elastic element  64  is set in the recess  134  so that two projections  64   d  formed on one side of element  64  abut against the inner surface of the recess  134 .  
      Elastic element  64  is set in the recess  134  so that two projections  64   a  formed on the other side project forward of the horizontal fin  103  from the recess  134 . Operation knob  106  is mounted around the horizontal fin  103  in a slidable manner so that knob  106  covers the elastic element  64  thoroughly. Operation knob  106  is provided in its front internal region with a recessed portion  107  running in the lateral direction i.e. in the length direction of fin  103 . Two projections  64   a  of elastic element  64  contact the inner surface of the recessed portion  107 .  
      With these horizontal fin  103  and operation knob  106 , if the knob  106  is slid along the horizontal fin  103 , knob  106  moves against the stationary elastic element  64 . Thus an adequate sliding resistance is generated between the inner surface of recessed portion  107  of knob  106  and projections  64   a  of elastic element  64 , so that the operation knob  106  slides favorably with an adequate operating load. Furthermore, as the previous embodiments, since the projections  64   a  of elastic element  64  are capable of absorbing variations in the width of fin  103  or the dimension of inner contour of knob  106  from product to product by their deformation, operation knob  106  is prevented from engaging with the fin  103  too strongly or from becoming jolty. Therefore, stable operating load is given to all products.  
      The air vent register of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above. For example, it may also be embodied as follows: 
      1. In the foregoing embodiments, a geared section formed on back side of operation knob engages with a sectorial gear formed on a vertical fin of the rear louver structure such that the engagement serves to rotate the rear louver structure when the operation knob is manipulated. However, the operation knob and vertical fin may be connected by a link so as to rotate the rear louver structure.     2. Although the elastic element is located in a front region of a horizontal fin in the foregoing embodiment, it may be disposed in a rear region of the operation knob so it contacts with the back side of horizontal fin.     3. Although the operation knob in the foregoing embodiments are assembled by attaching a geared section to the back side of knob body, the operation knob may be composed of upper and lower split parts and is so mounted on a fin by fitting the upper and lower parts to each other as to cover the upper side and lower side of the fin.     4. In the foregoing embodiments, the operation knob is composed of a knob body, a knob cover, and a geared section which parts are assembled to cover the horizontal in. However, the operation knob may be constructed as an integrally molded part provided with a recessed portion or through hole for inserting the horizontal fin, such that the fin is rotated or put in in such a manner as to insert the fin in the recessed portion or through hole to mount the knob on the fin.     5. Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiments, the front movable louver structure has horizontal fins whereas the rear movable louver structure has vertical fins. However, the front louver structure may be provided with vertical fins whereas the rear louver structure with horizontal fins so that the operation knob is mounted on a vertical fin of the front louver structure.