Patent Publication Number: US-2023137960-A1

Title: Register device for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-179326 filed on Nov. 2, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present technology relates to a register device for a vehicle for blowing out an air from an air conditioning device or outside of a vehicle body to an interior of the vehicle. 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. S61-128058 discloses a register device mounted in an instrument panel of a vehicle. The register device includes a housing having an air passage, a plurality of movable current plates disposed on an upstream side of the air passage, a louver disposed on a downstream side of the air passage and an operation knob that operates the movable current plates. 
     The air passage of the housing has a configuration in which dimensions in a left-right direction is greater than dimensions in a vertical direction. The louver is formed in a shape of a box. The louver is supported by the housing so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. The louver has five fixed current plates inside thereof. The fixed current plates extending in the left-right direction are arranged in the vertical direction, parallel to each other. 
     Each of the plurality of movable current plates is supported by upper and lower walls of the louver so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. The plurality of movable current plates are disposed side by side in the left-right direction. The operation knob is supported by the fixed current plates of the louver. The operation knob is slidably operated to be moved in the left-right direction, thereby rotatably operating the movable current plates. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the present technology provides a register device for a vehicle. The register device for the vehicle includes a register body, a plurality of first fins, a single second fin and an operation knob. 
     The register body includes an air passage having a configuration in which a dimension in a first direction is smaller than a dimension in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the plurality of first fins is supported by the register body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis extending in the first direction. The first fins are arranged in the second direction. 
     The second fin is disposed in the air passage at a location on a blow outlet side with respect to the first fins. The second fin is supported by the register body so as to be rotatable about a second rotation axis extending in the second direction. The second fin extends in the second direction. The operation knob is supported by the second fin so as to be slidable in the second direction. The operation knob, as it is slid, rotatably operates the first fins. 
     The second fin includes a pair of flat plate portions extending in the second direction parallel to each other. The operation knob is disposed between the pair of flat plate portions so as to be fit in a space between the pair of flat plate portions in the first direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the technology and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate example embodiments and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the technology. 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of a register device according to one embodiment of the present technology in a state in which an operation knob is in a base position. 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of the register device in a state in which the operation knob is in a closing position. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5 A  is a perspective view, showing a second fin and the operation knob of the register device. 
         FIG.  5 B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view, showing the second fin and the operation knob. 
         FIG.  7    is a front view of the second fin. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the register device disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. S61-128058, the operation knob is disposed over a fixed current plate of the louver located in a middle in the vertical direction, between fixed current plates immediately above and below the fixed current plate in the middle. Because of this arrangement, a dimension of the operation knob in the vertical direction is increased, compromising aesthetic quality, and posing an obstacle to formation of the air passage of the housing in a more horizontally-elongated flattened configuration. Therefore, it is desired to provide a register device for a vehicle that solves the problem mentioned above. 
     In the following, some example embodiments of the technology are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following description is directed to illustrative examples of the technology and not to be construed as limiting to the technology. Factors including, without limitation, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, positions of the components, and how the components are coupled to each other are illustrative only and not to be construed as limiting to the technology. Further, elements in the following example embodiments that are not recited in a most-generic independent claim of the technology are optional and may be provided on an as-needed basis. The drawings are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Throughout the present specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted with the same reference numerals to avoid any redundant description. 
     One embodiment of the present technology is described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  7   .  FIGS.  1  and  2    show a register device disposed in an instrument panel (interior panel) of a vehicle. The register device blows temperature-conditioned air from an air conditioning device and air from outside of a vehicle body to an interior of the vehicle. In the following description of the register device, front-rear and left-right directions of the register device are determined in accordance with front-rear and left-right directions of the vehicle. 
     The register device  1  includes a register body  10 , a plurality of upstream fins (first fins)  20 , a single downstream fin (second fin)  30  and an operation knob  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  4   , the register body  10  includes a main portion  11  having a cylindrical configuration extending in the front-rear direction, a bracket  12  supporting the upstream fins  20  and two brackets  13 ,  13  supporting the downstream fin  30 . 
     The register body  10  includes an air passage  14  inside thereof. The air passage  14  has a flattened configuration with its dimension in a vertical direction (second direction) greater than its dimension in a left-right direction (first direction). The register body  10  has a laterally-facing trapezoidal configuration when viewed from front. An upstream end of the air passage  14  serving as an air inlet  15  is connected to a duct  2  from the air conditioning device or the outside of the vehicle. A downstream end of the air passage  14  serving as a blow outlet  16  is connected to an opening  3   a  formed in the instrument panel  3 . 
     The bracket  12  has an annular configuration and includes flange portions  12   a,    12   a  on left and right sides thereof on the blow outlet  16  side. The flange portions  12   a,    12   a  are caught by an end face of the main portion  11  on the blow outlet  16  side. Left and right wall portions  12   b,    12   b  respectively continuing from the flange portions  12   a,    12   a  extend up to a middle portion of the air passage  14  toward the air inlet  15 . 
     The brackets  13 ,  13  are respectively caught by an upper portion and a lower portion of the main portion  11  on the blow outlet  16  side. The bracket  12  and the brackets  13 ,  13  constitute a portion of the blow outlet  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , five upstream fins  20  are provided in this embodiment. The upstream fins  20  are disposed in the air passage  14  at a generally middle portion between the air inlet  15  and the blow outlet  16 . Each of the upstream fin  20  has a plate-like configuration, with respective plate surfaces oriented upward and downward. The upstream fins  20  are disposed spaced from each other in the vertical direction. As shown in  FIG.  4   , each of the upstream fins  20  is supported by the left and right wall portions  12   b,    12   b  of the bracket  12  of the register body  10  at support shafts  21 ,  21  respectively protruded leftward and rightward. The upstream fin  20  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 1  (first rotation axis) extending through the support shafts  21 ,  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , each of the upstream fins  20  includes a connecting pin  22  extending parallel to the rotational axis L 1  at a back side (front in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle) of the left support shaft  21 . The connecting pins  22  are rotatably connected with a connecting link  23  extending in the vertical direction. This arrangement allows all of the other upstream fins  20  to be tilted synchronously when one of the upstream fins  20  is tilted. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , one of the five upstream fins  20  (the upstream fin  20  located at second from a bottom in this embodiment) has a cutout end portion and a transmitting shaft  24  extending in the left-right direction on the blow outlet  16  side. The transmitting shaft  24  coordinates with the operation knob  40  as will be described later. 
     The downstream fin  30  is disposed in the air passage  14  at a location on the blow outlet  16  side with respect to the upstream fins  20 . The downstream fin  30  has a flattened hollow configuration. As shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  6  and  7   , the downstream fin  30  includes a pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32  extending in the vertical direction parallel to each other. Plate surfaces of the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  are oriented in the left-right direction. 
     The pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32  have respective upper portions and respective lower portions connected via connecting plate portions  33 ,  34 . The downstream fin  30  has an air inlet  35  formed in a middle portion thereof in the vertical direction on an upstream side. The air inlet  35  is formed so as to extend in the vertical direction between the flat plate portions  31 ,  32 . Portions of the downstream fin  30  above and below the air inlet  35  are closed. The air inlet  35  is formed corresponding to a slidable region of the operation knob  40  to be described later. A blow outlet  36  is formed by the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  and the connecting plate portions  33 ,  34  on a downstream side of the downstream fin  30 . Accordingly, an air passageway is formed between the pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32  inside the downstream fin  30 . 
     Support shafts  37 ,  37  are respectively protruded upward and downward from the connecting plate portions  33 ,  34 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the downstream fin  30  is supported by the upper and lower brackets  13 ,  13  of the register body  10  at the upper and lower support shafts  37 ,  37 . The downstream fin  30  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 2  (second rotation axis) extending through the support shafts  37 ,  37 . 
     The connecting plate portion  33  on an upper side includes an engagement pin  38  extending parallel to the rotation axis L 2  on a back side of the support shaft  37 . The engagement pin  38  is slidably engaged with a limiting groove  13   a  formed in the bracket  13  on an upper side. The limiting groove  13   a  extends in a circular arc configuration about the rotation axis L 2 . The downstream fin  30  has a range of rotation thereof limited by the limiting grove  13   a.    
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , of the pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32 , the flat plate portion  31  of the downstream fin  30  is provided with a slide-supporting portion  50  at a location corresponding to the air inlet  35 . 
     The slide-supporting portion  50  slidably supports the operation knob  40  to be described later. As shown in  FIG.  5 B , the slide-supporting portion  50  includes a base portion  51 , a slide-supporting piece  52  and a mark piece  53 . The base portion  51  is formed in a flat plate configuration extending from one flat plate portion  31  to the other flat plate portion  32 . The slide-supporting piece  52  extends from a distal end portion of the base portion  51  toward the air inlet  35  in a cantilever manner. The mark piece  53  extends from the distal end portion of the base portion  51  toward the blow outlet  36  in a cantilever manner. 
     The operation knob  40  rotationally operates the upstream fins  20  and the downstream fin  30 . The operation knob  40  has a flat configuration and is supported by the slide-supporting portion  50  of the downstream fin  30 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the operation knob  40  includes a knob body  41  and a supported member  42 . 
     A width of the knob body  41  is reduced from one end on the supported member  42  side toward the other end. The width of the knob body  41  is greater than a length of the slide-supporting portion  50  of the downstream fin  30  in the vertical direction. As shown in  FIG.  1   , a thickness of the knob body  41  (length in the left-right direction) is generally same as a distance between the pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32  of the downstream fin  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 B and  6   , the knob body  41  has a generally L-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The knob body  41  includes a bottom wall  41   a  on a downstream side. A long wall  41   b  and a short wall  41   c  respectively extend from left and right end portions of the bottom wall  41   a.  As shown in  FIG.  6   , limiting walls  41   d,    41   d  are provided to close upper ends and lower ends of the long wall  41   b  and the short wall  41   c.  Each of the limiting walls  41   d  extends to a distal end of the long wall  41   b.  A catch hole portion  41   e  for mounting the supported member  42  is formed in a distal end portion of the each of the limiting walls  41   d.    
     An abutment portion  41   f  is disposed in each of the limiting walls  41   d  on the bottom wall  41   a  side with respect to the catch hole portion  41   e.  The base portion  51  of the slide-supporting portion  50  is abutted against the abutment portion  41   f,  thereby limiting the slidable region of the operation knob  40  as will be described later. A cutout  41   g  is formed in a middle portion of a distal end portion of the long wall  41   b  in the vertical direction. 
     The supported member  42  is attached to a one end portion of the knob body  41  on a side opposite to the bottom wall  41   a.  When the operation knob  40  is assembled, the supported member  42  is slidably supported by the slide-supporting portion  50  of the downstream fin  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the supported member  42  has an elongated configuration elongated in the vertical direction. The supported member  42  includes catch protrusions  42   a,    42   a  having a hook configuration in an upper end portion and a lower end portion thereof. The catch protrusions  42   a,    42   a  are caught by the catch hole portions  41   e,    41   e  of the knob body  41 . By this means, the supported member  42  is attached to the knob body  41 . 
     As with the knob body  41 , a thickness of the supported member  42  (length in the left-right direction) is generally same as the distance between the pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32 . Therefore, the operation knob  40  fits in a space between the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  in the left-right direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 B and  6   , the supported member  42  includes a slide-fitting portion  42   b  having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The slide-fitting portion  42   b  is disposed in a middle portion of the supported member  42  in the vertical direction on a downstream side. A protrusion for press fitting  42   c  is disposed on at least one of opposite surfaces of the slide-fitting portion  42   b.    
     Assembly of the knob body  41  and the supported member  42  to the downstream fin  30  will be described hereinafter. 
     To have the operation knob  40  supported by the downstream fin  30 , the supported member  42  is attached to the knob body  41  in the following manner: The knob body  41  is brought closer to the slide-supporting portion  50  from the mark piece  53  side and the supported member  42  is brought closer to the slide-supporting portion  50  from the slide-supporting piece  52  side, with the slide-supporting portion  50  sandwiched between the knob body  41  and the supported member  42 . The cutout  41   g  of the knob body  41  and the slide-fitting portion  42   b  of the supported member  42  are placed in corresponding positions. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5 B , the short wall  41   c  of the knob body  41  is inserted between the flat plate portion  31  and the mark piece  53  and the long wall  41   b  is inserted between the flat plate portion  32  and the mark piece  53 . At this time, the short wall  41   c  and the long wall  41   b  are respectively abutted against the flat plate portions  31 ,  32 . 
     The distal end portion of the long wall  41   b  is located between the slide-supporting piece  52  and the flat plate portion  32 . The distal end portion of the long wall  41   b  and the slide-supporting piece  52  are pressed into the slide-fitting portion  42   b.  The catch protrusions  42   a,    42   a  of the supported member  42  are brought to be caught by the catch hole portions  41   e,    41   e  of the knob body  41 . Thereby, the operation knob  40  is supported by the slide-supporting piece  52 . 
     The distal end portion of the long wall  41   b  and the slide-fitting portion  42   b  are slidable with respect to the slide-supporting piece  52  in the vertical direction with the distal end portion of the long wall  41   b  and the slide-fitting portion  42   b  pressed against slide-supporting piece  52 . Thereby, the operation knob  40  is slidable with respect to the downstream fin  30  in the vertical direction. As shown in  FIG.  3   , the slidable region of the operation knob  40  is limited by end faces of the base portion  51  in the vertical direction being abutted against the abutment portions  41   f  of the upper and lower limiting walls  41   d  of the knob body  41 . 
     The operation knob  40  is provided with a fork portion  60  for interlocking with the upstream fin  20 . 
     The fork portion  60  extends towards upstream from the supported member  42  of the operation knob  40 . A basal end portion of the fork portion  60  is mounted to the supported member  42  on the upstream side of the supported member  42  sandwiched between two mounting portions  42   d,    42   d  disposed spaced from each other in the vertical direction. Each of the mounting portions  42   d  has a bearing configuration. The basal end portion of the fork portion  60  is pivotally supported by the mounting portions  42   d,    42   d.  Thereby, the fork portion  60  is tiltable in the left-right direction. 
     A distal end portion of the fork portion  60  is formed in a forked configuration having a slit  61  extending in the front-rear direction. The transmitting shaft  24  of the upstream fin  20  is disposed in the slit  61  in a rotatable and movable manner. 
     Accordingly, when the operation knob  40  is slid in the vertically direction along the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  of the downstream fin  30 , the transmitting shaft  24  is moved in the vertical direction. Accompanying this movement of the transmitting shaft  24 , the upstream fin  20  that includes the transmitting shaft  24  is rotated about the rotation axis L 1 , and further all of the fins  20  are rotated via the connecting link  23 . Thereby, a blow direction is adjusted in the vertical direction. When the operation knob  40  is moved in the left-right direction, the downstream fin  30  is rotated about the rotation axis L 2 , and the blow direction is adjusted in the left-right direction. 
     Working of the register device  1  will be described hereinafter. 
     In  FIGS.  1  and  3   , the operation knob  40  is in a base position and the upstream fins  20  are generally horizontally oriented. In this position, the operation knob  40  opens an upper end portion of the air inlet  35  of the downstream fin  30 , and an air passageway is formed above the operation knob  40 . 
     When the operation knob  40  is slid upward from the base position, the upstream fins  20  are inclined upward and the upper end portion and a lower end portion of the air inlet  35  are opened. Thereby, an air passageway is formed above and below the operation knob  40 . When the operation knob  40  is slid further upward, the base portion  51  and the abutment portion  41   f  of the lower limiting wall  41   d  are abutted against each other. Thereby, the operation knob  40  is prohibited from sliding upward, the upper end portion of the air inlet  35  is closed and an air passageway is formed below the operation knob  40 . 
     When the operation knob  40  is slid downward from the base position, the upstream fins  20  are inclined downward and the upper end portion of the air inlet  35  is opened wider. When the operation knob  40  is slid further downward, the base portion  51  and the abutment portion  41   f  of the upper limiting wall  41   d  are abutted against each other. Thereby, the operation knob  40  is prohibited from sliding downward. At this time, the upstream fins  20  close the air passage  14  as shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     According to the embodiment described above, the pair of flat plate portions  31 ,  32  of the downstream fin  30  look like two fins. Since the operation knob  40  is disposed between the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  and fits in the space between the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  in the left-right direction, aesthetic quality can be improved. Further, since the operation knob  40  is formed in a flat configuration so as to be fit in the space between the flat plate portions  31 ,  32  in the left-right direction, the air passage  14  can have a flattened configuration in the left-right direction. 
     The technology is not limited to the embodiment described above and various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of the technology. 
     While the left-right direction and the vertical direction are respectively referred to as the first direction and the second direction in the embodiment described above, the vertical direction and the left-right direction may be respectively referred to as the first direction and the second direction. 
     The present technology may be applied to a register device for a vehicle for blowing out an air from an air conditioning device or outside of a vehicle body to an interior of the vehicle. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the present technology, aesthetic quality of the register device can be improved and the air passage of the register body can have a flattened configuration. 
     Although some example embodiments and modification examples of the technology are described hereinabove, the foregoing embodiments and modification examples are mere examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the technology. It should be also appreciated that various omissions, replacements, and modifications may be made in the foregoing embodiments and modification examples described herein, without departing from the scope of the technology. The technology is intended to include such modifications and alterations in so far as they fall within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.