Abstract: A temperature regulating system for interior surfaces of a vehicle includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. An air register assembly is operably coupled to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to direct air to an interior compartment. The air register assembly includes an actuation assembly for adjusting a position of the air register assembly. A target feature having a contact surface is disposed within the interior compartment. A temperature sensor is coupled to the target feature and senses a surface temperature of the contact surface. A controller communicates a notification with temperature information. A remote start device is communicatively coupled with the controller. The controller adjusts the position of the air register assembly to direct air across the contact surface of the target feature in response to a remote start signal from the remote start device.

Abstract: A vehicle air register assembly includes a housing defining a cavity. An upstream portion of the cavity is disposed proximate to an inlet and a downstream portion of the cavity is disposed proximate to an outlet. Vertical vanes are disposed within the upstream portion. The vertical vanes direct air in a horizontal direction. A horizontal vane assembly is disposed within the downstream portion. The horizontal vane assembly directs the air in a vertical direction. The horizontal vane assembly includes at least one horizontal vane including a driver portion rotatably coupled to the housing proximate to the outlet and a follower portion coupled to the housing proximate to the upstream portion. The follower portion is rotatably coupled to the driver portion.

Abstract: A vehicular storage box that includes a compartment for holding articles, the compartment comprising four sides, a bottom and a top lid. The compartment is fabricated from an engineered plastic or a polymer matrix composite. The box further includes a locking assembly situated within the lid. The locking assembly comprises a central locking wheel connected to a linkage, a plurality of pawls for each of at least three of the sides of the compartment, and a solenoid switch. The locking wheel is movably connected to the plurality of pawls. Further, the solenoid switch is connected to the linkage to move the wheel to drive the plurality of pawls into and out of the at least three of the sides of the compartment into a respective locked position of the lid and an unlocked position of the lid.

Abstract: A vehicle air register assembly includes a housing defining a cavity. An upstream portion of the cavity is disposed proximate to an inlet and a downstream portion of the cavity is disposed proximate to an outlet. Vertical vanes are disposed within the upstream portion. The vertical vanes direct air in a horizontal direction. A horizontal vane assembly is disposed within the downstream portion. The horizontal vane assembly directs the air in a vertical direction. The horizontal vane assembly includes at least one horizontal vane including a driver portion rotatably coupled to the housing proximate to the outlet and a follower portion coupled to the housing proximate to the upstream portion. The follower portion is rotatably coupled to the driver portion.

Abstract: An air register having a plurality of pivotable vanes, including at least two horizontal vanes, each horizontal vane having an outer section and an inner section, and a linking member connecting the inner sections together. The outer sections of the horizontal vanes are each pivotably connected to a housing of the air register, and at least one of the inner sections includes an inner pivot pin connected to a annular grommet, which is in turn, connected to the linking member. The annular grommet is disposed within a cavity of the linking member and contributes to generating effort felt by a user when adjusting a pivot position of the horizontal vanes.

Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A temperature regulating system for interior surfaces of a vehicle includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. An air register assembly is operably coupled to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to direct air to an interior compartment. The air register assembly includes an actuation assembly for adjusting a position of the air register assembly. A target feature having a contact surface is disposed within the interior compartment. A temperature sensor is coupled to the target feature and senses a surface temperature of the contact surface. A controller communicates a notification with temperature information. A remote start device is communicatively coupled with the controller. The controller adjusts the position of the air register assembly to direct air across the contact surface of the target feature in response to a remote start signal from the remote start device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vane assembly for an air vent includes comprising molding an intermediate member in a molding die, the intermediate member having a head portion and a stem portion extending distally from the head portion, the stem portion defining a gate for the molding, the intermediate member being an unreinforced polymer material, subsequently molding a vane body over the stem portion of the intermediate member in the molding die, the vane body being a reinforced polymer material, and after molding the vane body over the stem portion of the intermediate member, securing a facia to the head portion of the intermediate member to form the vane assembly.

Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicular storage box that includes a compartment for holding articles, the compartment comprising four sides, a bottom and a top lid. The compartment is fabricated from an engineered plastic or a polymer matrix composite. The box further includes a locking assembly situated within the lid. The locking assembly comprises a central locking wheel connected to a linkage, a plurality of pawls for each of at least three of the sides of the compartment, and a solenoid switch. The locking wheel is movably connected to the plurality of pawls. Further, the solenoid switch is connected to the linkage to move the wheel to drive the plurality of pawls into and out of the at least three of the sides of the compartment into a respective locked position of the lid and an unlocked position of the lid.

Abstract: An air register having a plurality of pivotable vanes, including at least two horizontal vanes, each horizontal vane having an outer section and an inner section, and a linking member connecting the inner sections together. The outer sections of the horizontal vanes are each pivotably connected to a housing of the air register, and at least one of the inner sections includes an inner pivot pin connected to a annular grommet, which is in turn, connected to the linking member. The annular grommet is disposed within a cavity of the linking member and contributes to generating effort felt by a user when adjusting a pivot position of the horizontal vanes.

Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.

Abstract: A vehicle vent assembly includes a first flow channel selectively operating a primary airflow. A second flow channel selectively operates a first secondary airflow that exerts a first pressure on the primary airflow. A third flow channel selectively operates a second secondary airflow that exerts a second pressure on the primary airflow. The first and second secondary airflows control a direction of the primary airflow. The first pressure includes a positive or negative pressure, and the second pressure includes a respective negative or positive pressure.

Abstract: An air register for use in a vehicle includes a vent housing having an outlet. A frame member is operably coupled to the sidewalls of the outlet and contains a perimeter wall framing an open central portion. Disposed within the open central portion is a plurality of chambers operably coupled to the frame member and movable between first and second positions. Each chamber includes a perimeter wall having vertical and horizontal surfaces disposed in a common plane around an open interior portion.

Abstract: A vehicle air register includes an airflow damper disposed within a register housing. A rotationally-operable control is coupled to the airflow damper and the register housing. A ride plate is disposed within the register housing and that slidably receives the control to define open and closed positions of the airflow damper. The control includes a biased pin that engages the ride plate. The ride plate is made of a different material than the housing. A method for forming a vehicle register includes forming a ride plate that is made of a first material, forming a register housing made of a second material, and having a plate receptacle defined therein, disposing the ride plate within the plate receptacle, and disposing a damper and damper control within the housing.

Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.

Abstract: A method for controlling an air plume expelled from an air register includes configuring a plurality of vanes of the air register to provide the air plume with a width W1 when in a first position to direct the air plume in a first direction, such as toward an individual in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and a width W2 when in a second position to direct the air plume in a second direction such as away from the individuals where W1>W2.

Abstract: A vehicle vent assembly includes a first flow channel selectively operating a primary airflow. A second flow channel selectively operates a first secondary airflow that exerts a first pressure on the primary airflow. A third flow channel selectively operates a second secondary airflow that exerts a second pressure on the primary airflow. The first and second secondary airflows control a direction of the primary airflow. The first pressure includes a positive or negative pressure, and the second pressure includes a respective negative or positive pressure.

Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: An air register for use in a vehicle includes a vent housing having an outlet. A frame member is operably coupled to the sidewalls of the outlet and contains a perimeter wall framing an open central portion. Disposed within the open central portion is a plurality of chambers operably coupled to the frame member and movable between first and second positions. Each chamber includes a perimeter wall having vertical and horizontal surfaces disposed in a common plane around an open interior portion.