Patent Publication Number: US-2005136822-A1

Title: Vent assembly for a vehicle refrigerator

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention generally relates to vehicle refrigerators. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vent assembly for a vehicle refrigerator.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Vehicles, including but not limited to recreational vehicles (“RVs” in the United States and “Caravans” in Europe), tractor trailers, airplanes, boats, trains, and the like, often incorporate refrigerators for the comfort and convenience of the occupants. These refrigerators are usually absorption-type refrigerators. An absorption refrigerator includes a heat generator for heating a solution of refrigerant and an absorbent. Heat releases the refrigerant from the absorbent to form a high pressure refrigerant vapor. The refrigerant vapor is condensed in a cooling condenser. Low pressure solution from the heat generator is sprayed on the refrigerant vapor in an absorber to absorb the vapor. The absorption causes the pressure of the vapor to be reduced. Evaporation occurs in an evaporator between the condenser and the absorber. The refrigerant vapor expands in the evaporator which causes a temperature drop in the refrigerant. This temperature drop is used to provide cooling to the refrigerator. The solution of refrigerant and absorbent is then pumped back to the heat generator.  
      Airflow over the condenser and absorber is conventionally used for cooling of these elements. To create this airflow, a first duct is provided through the coach wall for air intake. An exhaust is provided through a second duct.  
      While such conventional vent assemblies have proven to be acceptable for their intended uses, they are all associated with limitations. Most significantly insofar as the present invention is concerned, conventional vent assemblies require multiple discrete fasteners for securement to the body of a vehicle. These fasteners are extremely visible and create an undesirable appearance.  
      Accordingly, it remains a need in the pertinent art to provide a vent assembly for a vehicle refrigerator that overcomes the limitations associated with the prior known arrangements, including but not limited to those disadvantages discussed above.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a vent assembly for a vehicle refrigerator that requires a reduced number of discrete fasteners.  
      It is a related object of the present invention to provide a vent assembly for a vehicle refrigerator having a vent which can be quickly and easily installed/removed and includes no externally visible fasteners.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a vent assembly for a vehicle refrigerator having a removable bug screen.  
      In one particular form, the present invention provides a vent assembly for a refrigerator of a vehicle. The vent assembly includes a vent frame, a vent and a retainer. The vent frame attaches to a sidewall of the vehicle. The vent frame defines an opening and includes a projection. The vent is received within the opening and is removably attached to the vent frame. The retainer selectively secures the vent to the vent frame. The retainer is slidably mounted on the vent and is translatable between an engaged position and a non-engaged position. In the engaged position, the vent is secured to the vent frame through engagement of the retainer with the projection of the vent frame. In the non-engaged position, the vent may be removed from the vent frame.  
      Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
      Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an intake assembly constructed according to the teachings of the present invention shown mounted to a vehicle sidewall.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exhaust vent assembly constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown immediately prior to engagement of the vent with a mounting of vent frame of the vent assembly.  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of a vent according to the teachings of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the detail of circle A of  FIG. 4   
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a mounting frame according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the detail of circle B of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a retainer for securing the vent to the mounting frame.  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the retainer of  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken through a portion of the vent assembly of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the retainer of  FIGS. 8 and 9  translated to a locking position in which the door is secured to the frame.  
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged rear perspective view of a portion of the cold weather cover illustrating one of its integrally molded tabs.  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 12  further illustrating engagement of the tab with one of the louver standoffs of the vent. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and -is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
      Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of vent assemblies constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention are illustrated and generally identified at reference numbers  10  and  12 . The vent assemblies are typically used in pairs. The vent assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  is specifically intended for use as an air intake vent assembly  10 . The vent assembly of  FIG. 2  is specifically intended for use as an exhaust vent assembly  12 . The teachings of the present invention are particularly directed to the structure incorporated for connecting the various elements of the vent assemblies  10  and  12 . Insofar as the present invention is concerned, these interconnecting components are substantially the same between intake vents (such as that shown in  FIG. 1 ) and exhaust vents (such as those shown in  FIG. 2 ). For this reason, a significant portion of the description provided herein will be directed particularly to the vent assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      However, a large portion of these teachings are directly translatable to exhaust vent assemblies. Furthermore, in certain application it may be desirable to utilize a common vent assembly for both intake and exhaust.  
      With continued reference to FIGS.  1  and additional reference to  FIGS. 3 through 12 , the teachings of the present invention will be further addressed. The cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  illustrates the vent assembly  10  to generally include a vent frame or mounting frame  14  and a vent proper or simply vent  16 .  FIG. 3  additionally illustrates the vent assembly  10  with a cold weather or winter cover  18 .  
      The teachings of the present invention are further illustrated in  FIG. 4  which shows a similar vent  16 ′ specifically for an exhaust application and  FIG. 6  which shows a similar vent frame  14 ′ for an exhaust application. Due to the similarity of these components, like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to identify substantially identical elements.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the vent frame  14  is secured to a sidewall  20  of a vehicle. Specifically, the vent frame includes a mounting flange  22  which abuts an exterior surface of the sidewall  20 . Threaded fasteners  26  pass through apertures (not specifically shown) provided in boss portions  28  of the mounting flange  22 .  
      The vent  16  is illustrated to include a plurality of louvers  30 . The louvers  30  are aligned parallel relative to one another. Adjacent louvers  30  are interconnected by louver standoffs  32 . The louvers standoffs  32  extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes defined by the louvers  30 .  
      The vent  16  includes a peripheral flange  34  which extends over the mounting portion  22  of the vent frame  14 . The peripheral flange  34  is shown to include a generally C-shaped lip  36  which engages integrally formed tabs  38  which downwardly extend from the vent frame  14 . The lip  36  and tabs  38  cooperate to retain the vent  16  to the vent frame  14  adjacent the bottom edge of the vent  16 . Explaining further, this connection between the vent frame  14  and vent  16  is used to initially engage the components during installation.  
      For purposes of further securing the vent  16  to the vent frame  14 , the vent assembly  10  of the present invention includes a pair of identical retainers. As such more particularly in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10 , the retainers  40  are slidably retained on the vent  16  for translation between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the retainer engages a hook member  44  extending from the vent frame  14 . In this manner, the retainer  40  secures the vent  16  to the vent frame  14 . The retainer  40  defines first and second grooves  46  and  48  (see  FIG. 8 ) which slidably receive first and secorid flanges  50  and  52  of the vent  16 . Access to the retainer  40  is provided between the louvers  30  of the vent and as a result, the retainers  40  are not clearly visible from the vehicle exterior.  
      The winter cover  18  is illustrated to include a plurality of integrally molded tabs  54  (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). The tabs  54  include a hook shaped end for snappingly engaging a horizontal segment  56  carried by the louver standoffs  32 . The hook portion of the integrally molded tabs  54  is interrupted by a centrally disposed slot  60  which receives one of the louver standoffs  32  so as to laterally locate the cold weather cover  18  relative to the vent  16 .  
      With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , the vent assembly  10  of the present invention is illustrated to include a removable bug screen  70 . The removable bug screen  70  is shown disposed between a rear peripheral flange  72  of the vent frame  14  and a pair of wings  74  carried by the vent frame  14 . The removable bug screen  70  preferably includes a semi-rigid frame and a flexible screen proper. The bug screen  70  is quickly and easily removed and installed when the vent  16  is removed from the vent frame  16 . By removing the bug screen  70 , further ventilation is provided to the refrigerator for more efficient cooling.  
      The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.