Having Adjustable Deflector Patents (Class 454/155)
  • Patent number: 10807442
    Abstract: A wind direction adjustment device includes a plurality of fins supported at top and bottom end sides in a case; a link mechanism associating the fins; a horizontal-fin supported at right and left end sides at second support portions in the case; and a knob supported movably to front and back and to right and left relative to the horizontal fin. The wind direction adjustment device adjustably switches between a parallel air-blowing mode wherein the fins become approximately parallel to one another and a dispersive air-blowing mode wherein two or more of the fins are turned in opposite directions through the knob. The parallel air-blowing mode is switched to the dispersive air-blowing mode by operating the knob forward or backward in an air-blowing direction, wherein by operating the knob to a right or left side, some fins turn in an approximately same direction to switch a dispersive air-blowing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Takehiko Nemoto
  • Patent number: 10807443
    Abstract: An air vent for a vehicle HVAC system includes a duct, a forward fin connected to an air outlet at a first end portion of the duct, and plurality of rear fins connected to an air inlet at a second end portion of the duct. The forward fin rotatable about a transverse direction of the duct is configured to adjust the direction of airflow in a vertical direction of the duct. The plurality of rear fins rotatable about the vertical direction is configured to adjust the direction of airflow in a longitudinal direction of the duct. A shut-off valve is rotatably connected to a central portion of the duct and positioned between the forward fin and the plurality of rear fins. The shut-off valve is directly connected to the forward fin and configured to rotate about the transverse direction via movement of the forward fin in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brendan Christopher Stiver
  • Patent number: 10792981
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an air flow direction in an air vent for a vehicle, may include a single horizontal wing exposed outside through an air duct is disposed and first and second guide wings connected to the single horizontal wing by connection links are vertically and rotatably disposed above and under the single horizontal wing so that the flow of air discharged inside can be easily controlled in upward and downward directions by vertical rotation of both the first guide wing and second guide wing together with the single horizontal wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, NIFCO KOREA INC., Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ju Lee, In Seop Kim, Young Rok Lee, Young Beom Lee, Choong Yeul Kim, Dae Ig Jung, Keun Sig Lim, Ji Won Lee, Jae Seob Choi, Won Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10788043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blower fan, comprising two side walls, an air duct, a handle, a motor, a wind wheel and a motor control assembly; the two side walls are arranged in parallel with each other; the air duct is arranged between the two side walls in a rotatable way; the handle is mounted on the air duct; the motor and the wind wheel are both mounted in the air duct; the motor control assembly is arranged on a side wall close to the motor and is electrically connected with the motor, installation position of the motor control assembly with respect to the side wall being at an inner side of the side wall. According to the present invention, the air blowing angle is adjustable due to the rotation of the air duct, achieving a better drying effect. Additionally, the structure of the present invention is compact, attractive in appearance and durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: JIANGMEN KEYE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xiangming He, Guanglian Lin
  • Patent number: 10780796
    Abstract: A method for recognizing a seat occupancy of seats in a motor vehicle including a) preparing a checking sequence of the seats at least using a probability of occupancy of the seats, and b) sequentially checking the occupancy of the seats using the checking sequence prepared in step a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bastian Reckziegel, Johannes Ludwig Foltin
  • Patent number: 10780765
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nicholas Fidh, Das Surajit, Kumar Amrendra, Vikas Saigal
  • Patent number: 10752093
    Abstract: A register includes: a cylindrical member including a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion provided at a downstream side relative to the first portion, the first portion having a first opening area, the second portion having a second opening area larger than the first area; and a plurality of fins each having a pivotable range and disposed inside the cylindrical member. A projection image is hypothetically formed by projecting, to the downstream side, an opening portion defining the first area in the first portion. A dummy opening is defined to represent a region located inside the second portion and not overlapping with the image. A specific fin is defined to represent at least one of the plurality of fins. The specific fin is provided to be always located in the dummy opening when being pivoted, the specific fin being pivotable together with the fins collectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Inagaki, Toshinao Wada
  • Patent number: 10737555
    Abstract: Air vent for a vehicle includes a frame-shaped housing, in which a plurality of air guide elements are arranged, wherein first air guide elements are each mounted in a manner allowing pivot movement about a first pivot axis, and wherein second air guide elements are each mounted in a manner allowing pivot movement about a second pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axes extend perpendicular to the second pivot axes, further comprising a manually operable operating element for pivoting the air guide elements, wherein first guide rails are provided, along which the operating element for pivoting the first air guide elements about the first pivot axes is displaceable along a first direction of displacement, and wherein second guide rails are provided, along which the operating element for pivoting the second air guide elements about the second pivot axes is displaceable along a second direction of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Laurent Le Tohic
  • Patent number: 10717346
    Abstract: An air-conditioning register includes a tubular retainer including a wall and a downstream opening, fins that are located adjacent to the downstream opening in the retainer and arranged parallel to one another so as to be tiltable relative to the retainer, and an operation knob mounted to a central fin. Each of the fins includes two rotation shafts at opposite ends of the fin. The wall of the retainer includes bearing holes, each supporting one of the rotation shafts of the corresponding fin. The overlap between the rotation shaft of one of the fins that is free of the knob and the inner surface defining the corresponding bearing hole is smaller than the overlap between the rotation shaft of the fin to which the knob is mounted and the inner surface defining the corresponding bearing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ito, Masaki Otake, Yasuyuki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10712043
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air vent including a housing; plural louvers extending horizontally or vertically, pivotably arranged in the housing and aligned relative to an air outlet opening arranged in the housing, wherein the plural louvers are controllable jointly with an identical orientation by a pivot movement from a starting position into a pivot position by an adjustment device for changing an air outflow direction from the air outlet opening, wherein the plural louvers are controllable by at least one actuation element made from a shape memory alloy to adjust a diffuse air flow independently from a control by the adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GRAMMER Interior Components GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Link, Pierre Stehle, Gunter Link, Christian Schreck
  • Patent number: 10703175
    Abstract: An air vent for ventilating a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and in which an air quantity control element is provided in an air divider, which can be moved selectively into one of two air ducts, into which the air divider divides the air vent. A ratio of air quantities that flow through the two air ducts determines an outflow direction out of the air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: fischer automotive systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Falk Schaal
  • Patent number: 10668787
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting direction of air flow of a slim type air vent for an automotive vehicle may include a nozzle type wing that can rotate angularly upwards or downwards and be mounted inside the air vent having slim structure and a gear for rotating the nozzle type wing upwards or downwards is formed on a single transverse wing exposed to the outside such that manipulation force for rotating the single transverse wing angularly upwards or downwards can be transmitted to the nozzle type wing through the gear to rotate the nozzle type wing angularly upwards or downwards and hence the upward or downward direction of air flow being discharged into a cabin can be easily adjusted by upward or downward angular and rotational operation of the nozzle type wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, NIFCO KOREA Inc., Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ju Lee, In Seop Kim, Young Rok Lee, Young Beom Lee, Choong Yeul Kim, Dae Ig Jung, Keun Sig Lim, Ji Won Lee, Jae Seob Choi, Won Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10647180
    Abstract: An operating device for an air vent which includes at least one swiveling vane, the operating device having a first operating lever which has a first lever arm, a second lever arm, and a bearing member which is arranged therebetween, the first operating lever being mounted around the bearing member for swiveling about a swivel pin, and a second operating lever which has a first lever arm, a second lever arm, and a bearing member which is arranged therebetween, the second operating lever being mounted around the bearing member for swiveling about a swivel pin, the first lever arm of the second operating lever being coupled to the second lever arm of the first operating lever and the second lever arm of the second operating lever being adapted to be coupled for swiveling motion to the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Noichl, Frank Mootz
  • Patent number: 10625575
    Abstract: A slim-type air vent device for a vehicle may include: a single horizontal wing mounted at an outlet position of a slim air duct to be vertically rotatable, the single horizontal wing being exposed to the outside; an integrated control knob mounted to the single horizontal wing to be horizontally movable; dampers mounted in a rear space in the slim air duct such that an opening angle of each of the dampers is adjustable; a gear assembly disposed between a back surface of the integrated control knob and rotation shafts of the dampers, the gear assembly having a plurality of gears; and a plurality of vertical wings mounted immediately behind the single horizontal wing in an internal space of the slim air duct, to be rotated in a left or right direction by a single link during a left or right movement of the integrated control knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, NIFCO KOREA Inc., Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ju Lee, In Seop Kim, Young Rok Lee, Young Beom Lee, Choong Yeul Kim, Dae Ig Jung, Keun Sig Lim, Ji Won Lee, Jae Seob Choi, Won Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10603986
    Abstract: A structure of a wing knob for an air vent in which an insertion hole is formed, and two latching pins are protruded, and either one among a vertical blade and a horizontal blade arranged in a front side and a rear side is inserted into the insertion hole, and another among the vertical blade and the horizontal blade is inserted between the latching pins may include a knob body at which is formed the insertion hole through one side of which either one blade among the vertical blade and the horizontal blade penetrates and is inserted, and at a rear side is formed an opening hole, and a rear cover at a front side of which is combined a left-right stopper and at a rear side of which is formed latching pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyuk-Jae Kwon
  • Patent number: 10525795
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle air-conditioning device in which a lever (7) for turning a damper is rotatably fitted and supported on a unit casing (2), wherein one of a support part (13) on the unit casing (2) side and a fitting part (8) on the lever side is provided with an elastically deformable fitting claw (27), while the other of the support part (13) and the fitting part (8) is provided with a fitting hole (24), into which the fitting claw (27) is fitted and engaged, and a bearing boss part (23) and a fitting shaft part (25), which are rotatably fitted together with a bearing clearance between them, are provided on the outer periphery of the fitting claw (27) and the fitting hole (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Chikagawa
  • Patent number: 10518610
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air outlet assembly for a vehicle ventilation system. The air outlet assembly includes a housing; a plurality of vanes having ends rotatably reside on the housing; and a flexible linkage including a plurality of first rods connecting to the vanes' ends, respectively and a second rod connecting the first rods. The first rods and the second rod of the flexible linkage are integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Evan Tian
  • Patent number: 10518609
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air outlet for a heating and ventilation or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, wherein the air outlet has a body defining an air discharge opening, over which at least one elongate louver extends, which is pivotable about a longitudinal axis. At least one electric or electronic display and/or operating element of the heating and ventilation or air-conditioning system of the motor vehicle is integrated in the at least one louver, wherein each display and/or operating element is carried by the louver and is substantially flush with a substantially flat surface of the louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Krolewski, Sandra Krolewski
  • Patent number: 10500927
    Abstract: A folding vane for an air register includes a vane body having a first section, a second section and a hinge joint connecting the first section and the second section. An air register includes a support and at least one folding vane. A method of distributing air from an air register is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jorge Araujo Nieto, Alfredo Pérez Montiel, Fernando Ovando
  • Patent number: 10500928
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air vent for a vehicle, the air vent enabling adjusting of an air discharge direction of an air vent, which is for supplying the outside air to the inside of a vehicle, to various angles as well as diffusing the air being discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO KOREA INC.
    Inventor: Young Gook Lee
  • Patent number: 10457120
    Abstract: An air outlet has an elongated housing including a flow channel. The air outlet has an outflow element which crosses the flow channel and is rigidly arranged on a longitudinal end of the housing. Furthermore, the air outlet has an insert which is pivotably mounted with an arched outer surface on a correspondingly formed arched section of an inner wall of the housing and is arranged offset to the outflow element in the longitudinal direction of the housing. The air outlet has an actuating element which protrudes into the flow channel, is pivotably mounted on the outflow element and is mechanically coupled to the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thorsten Frenzel, Torsten Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 10421352
    Abstract: An air flap apparatus for a motor vehicle having a driving force source to drive a plurality of air flaps between their operating positions; the apparatus having at least two sub-groups of air flap(s) which are displaceable separately from one another between their operating positions but are drivable by the shared driving force source; there being arranged between the driving force source and the at least two sub-groups a gated control configuration which in order to transfer driving force to different sub-groups has, on a groove carrier rotatable around a rotation axis, at least two control grooves embodied separately and arranged at a distance from one another, into each of which a control pin penetrates, each combination of control pin and control groove being motion-transferringly coupled to a different sub-group, the at least two control grooves are embodied on an enveloping surface of the groove carrier at an axial distance from one another and are coded such that for two sub-groups, they permit at lea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrick Urbach
  • Patent number: 10414246
    Abstract: An air-conditioning register includes a downstream fin, upstream fins, a coupling rod, a shut-off damper, an operation knob, a transmission shaft, an upstream universal joint, a downstream universal joint, and a transmission mechanism portion. The operation knob includes a rotation member. The upstream universal joint couples an upstream end of the transmission shaft to the shut-off damper. The downstream universal joint couples a downstream end of the transmission shaft to the rotation member. The transmission mechanism portion transmits swinging motion of the transmission shaft caused by sliding of the operation knob to the central upstream fins, and prevents swinging motion of the transmission shaft caused by operation of the operation knob to tilt the downstream fin from being transmitted to the central upstream fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Shibata, Nobuhiro Terai, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 10414239
    Abstract: A fluid flow controller includes a housing defining a first and a second fluid path. A first door is in the first fluid path to selectably control a first flow through the first fluid path in response to a rotation of a first lever. A second door is in the second fluid path to selectably control a second flow through the second fluid path in response to a rotation of a second lever. A flexible kinematic link is to connect an actuator arm rotatable about an actuator arm axis to the first lever via first pin joints for rotation of the first door about the first pivot axis. A flexible link length is responsive to a compressive and a tensile load. A rigid link is to connect the actuator arm to the second lever via second pin joints for rotation of the second door about the second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Spryshak, Richard Sikorski, Earl Buckman
  • Patent number: 10343494
    Abstract: An air vent for a vehicle is provided. In particular, a diffusion air vent for a vehicle discharges air in a concentrated and diffused manner by controlling a discharge direction of the air. The air vent concentratedly and diffusedly discharges air by an air discharge mode change mechanism based on a dial rotation operation. Further, a damper is configured to be opened or closed based on the dial rotation operation to permit and interrupt air discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, NIFCO KOREA Inc., Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gye Young Ahn, Seung Sik Han, Jae Whoan Park, Kwan Woo Lee, Ji Won Lee
  • Patent number: 10328774
    Abstract: A vane adjustment device in an air register includes a front vane connector pivotably connected to a front vane and a rear vane connector pivotably connected to a rear vane. The front vane connector includes a sliding member substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the front vane and the rear vane connector includes a first joint. The first joint is movably connected to the sliding member to enable a linear movement of the sliding member relative to the first joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bao Jun Tian
  • Patent number: 10266032
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a wing knob for a vehicle air vent includes a plurality of vanes, an upper knob and a lower knob encompassing one of the vanes, a rubber member for reducing friction noise between the upper and lower knobs, and a decoration member coupled between the upper and lower knobs to add decorative esthetic sense. The upper knob has a holding piece at a lower portion of an opening of the upper knob. The rubber member has a stepped shoulder portion. The decoration member has a fitting groove. The lower knob is integrally provided with a hook to be held by the holding piece, a holding projection held by the shoulder portion, and a hook piece fitted into the fitting groove of the decoration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO KOREA INC.
    Inventor: Yang Mook Lim
  • Patent number: 10252688
    Abstract: A computer that includes memory that stores instructions executable by a processor. The computer may be programmed to: receive image data that includes a vehicle seat and an occupant within a vehicle cabin; determine, using the received data, an orientation of the seat and an orientation of the occupant; and perform a vehicle function based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hubert Szawarski, Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 10254004
    Abstract: An airflow-direction adjustment device includes a plurality of fins disposed approximately in parallel relative to a support portion inside a case, and located on right and left side faces wherein one end side in a plate width direction is pivotally supported turnably; a link mechanism associating two or more fins; and a switch linked to the link mechanism to adjustably switch between a parallel air-blowing mode wherein the fins become approximately parallel to each other, and a scattered air-blowing mode wherein two or more fins are turned in directions opposite to each other. The switch is movably assembled to an intermediate fin, and the link mechanism includes a first link turnably connecting one end side corresponding to other end sides in a plate width direction of first fins disposed on both adjacent sides of the intermediate fin respectively, and turnably connecting a corresponding other end side to the switch respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Takehiko Nemoto
  • Patent number: 10195923
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning unit is obtained that is capable of deflecting a blowing direction of an airflow blowing out from a blower outlet formed along a flow path. A movable shaft that supports a length direction other end portion of a guiding member is configured to be movable along the airflow flow direction. As a result, by turning movement of a lever, the movable shaft is slid, through a guide groove, along a vehicle width direction. The distance between the movable shaft and a fixed shaft thereby changes, changing the curvature of a front face of the guiding member, and enabling the airflow blowing out from a main flow blower outlet to be deflected along the vehicle width direction. Namely, the airflow blowing out from the main flow blower outlet is capable of being deflected toward the vehicle front-rear direction rear side, and toward the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideyuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10189334
    Abstract: In the register 1 of the embodiment, in case that all of the front side fins 41 are rotated to the upward direction, air flowing toward the air outlet 21 (air flow direction X) of the bezel 2 in the air flow path 3A of the retainer 3 is blown out from the air outlet 21 of the bezel 2 and the blowout direction is changed to Y1. At that time, air flow separating from the concave surface existing on the lower surface of the front side fin 41 approaches to air flow along the concave surface existing on the upper surface of the front side fin 41 positioned at a lower position than that of the above front side fin 41, and separates from the fixed fin 22. Thereby, air with superior directivity to the upper direction can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Imaizumi, Kentaro Kaneda, Nobuya Sakimoto
  • Patent number: 10118465
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, includes a ventilation device for supplying air into the interior of the vehicle. The ventilation device includes at least one air outlet nozzle oriented toward an interior of the vehicle and is connected to a channel via which air is conductible to the air outlet nozzle. The air outlet nozzle has a first outlet region receiving the air supplied via the channel, and a second outlet region separate from the first outlet region, the second outlet region being connected with another channel for conducting a gaseous fragrance to the second outlet region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Karsten Belz, Georg Techel, Falko Radeke
  • Patent number: 10106014
    Abstract: An operation knob that includes fin insertion holes formed at both side surfaces of the operation knob, a jig insertion hole formed at a side of the operation knob, and a separation portion formed by separating a part of the jig insertion hole. In the separation portion, a connection portion partially connects an upper facing side and a lower facing side of the connection portion and retains a predetermined clearance therebetween. The first separation surface of the connection portion on the upper facing side and the second separation surface of the connection portion on the lower facing side are contacted with each other, thus even if the connection portion is deformed so that the clearance becomes narrower, a minimum clearance corresponding to a height of the connection portion is retained based on the first separation surface and the second separation surface contacting each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: HOWA PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shota Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 10099534
    Abstract: An interior component has a projecting portion projecting rearward at a position forward and downward from a vehicle occupant when the occupant maintains a sitting posture in a passenger compartment. The interior component has a front inclined surface section and a rear inclined surface section in a lower section of the projecting portion. A retainer and air-direction changing members arranged in the retainer are arranged immediately below the projecting portion at positions forward from the front inclined surface section. A manipulating member is arranged above the rear inclined surface section with at least a part of the manipulating member exposed rearward from the projecting portion. A first transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism, which transmit movement of the manipulating member to the air-direction changing members, are arranged in the interior component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Terai, Masaki Otake, Hiroshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 10076948
    Abstract: A damper opening and closing device includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder that is disposed inside the outer cylinder, is supported movably relative to the outer cylinder and has a fluid passage therein, and a damper group that includes a plurality of dampers disposed in the fluid passage so that the fluid passage is openable and closable. The plurality of dampers are arranged in a circumferential direction of the fluid passage and disposed in the fluid passage in such a way that inner peripheral edges of the dampers are opposed to each other. The damper opening and closing device further includes an angle control unit configured to control the tilt angle of the damper in conjunction with movement of the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Takai, Minoru Shibata, Mitsuo Ogura, Hiroshi Sakai, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 10071615
    Abstract: An air vent assembly, for example, for a motor vehicle, having an air vent, which has at least one air guide louver with a trailing edge and a leading edge, whereby the air guide louver with its leading edge is mounted pivotable about a rotation axis associated with the trailing edge, and having a decorative device. It is provided that the decorative device has at least one stationary decorative louver with a visible edge extending in the extension of the trailing edge, and that the air guide louver is mounted on the decorative louver pivotable about the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johannes Rottmann
  • Patent number: 10054332
    Abstract: First and second upstream fins and first and second downstream fins are arranged in the air passage of air-conditioning air to pivot. The first upstream fin includes an upstream body with a cutout extending upstream from the downstream edge. A transmission shaft, which extends along upstream fin shafts, is arranged in the cutout. The first downstream fin includes a downstream body with a slidable operation knob. The operation knob includes a fork that is rotationally supported with a support shaft. The fork includes a pair of transmission pieces, which extends upstream from the operation knob and sandwiches the transmission shaft. The transmission shaft includes a pair of stoppers, which is located at positions that are spaced from each other in the extending direction of the transmission shaft and that sandwich the transmission pieces. The stoppers are caused to contact the transmission pieces by operation of the operation knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kazushige Suzuki, Yasuyuki Mitsui, Masaki Otake, Masayuki Komatsu, Yuya Inagaki, Yusuke Katsuno
  • Patent number: 9989275
    Abstract: A front movable louver is configured for one central horizontal fin axially supported to be turnable in the horizontal direction substantially at the up-down center inside an air outlet, while an upper auxiliary horizontal fin is axially supported so as to be storable and turnable in the horizontal direction in a storing recess provided on an upper wall surface inside the air outlet, and a lower auxiliary horizontal fin axially supported to be storable and turnable in the horizontal direction in a storing recess provided on a lower wall surface inside the air outlet. The central horizontal fin is axially supported to be turnable by pivots provided to project substantially at the centers of both sides. The upper auxiliary horizontal fin and the lower auxiliary horizontal fin are axially supported to be turnable in a manner of sticking out downstream-side end portions to a passage side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HOWA PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oe, Yoko Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 9963015
    Abstract: A vent outlet assembly for guiding an air flow including an inlet guide extending between first and second ends thereof and positioned inside a housing and an outlet guide extending between leading and trailing ends thereof and positioned inside the housing. The inlet guide and the outlet guide are pivotable about respective axes and positioned to cooperate to direct an outlet part of the air flow through the housing. The vent outlet assembly includes a connecting subassembly to simultaneously position the inlet and outlet guides in corresponding positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ultra Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Jason Noel Fraser, Ionut Jan Caragea
  • Patent number: 9937774
    Abstract: An air vent includes a housing extending between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, such that the housing defines a substantially closed air path between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. A first vane is disposed within the air path and is configured to rotate about a first axis. A second vane is disposed within the air path and is configured to rotate about a second axis, which is substantially orthogonal to the first axis. A controller is configured to rotate the first vane about the first axis and to rotate the second vane about the second axis. The controller is disposed outside of the air path, such that both the first vane and the second vane are adjustable from outside of the air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gerard A. Brinas
  • Patent number: 9919586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air nozzle device (10) for a vehicle (1) comprising a housing (11) defining an interior volume and having an air inlet (12) at one side, an air discharge opening (14) at a second side and an air flow channel (18) through the housing (11) for transporting a flow of air between the air inlet and the air discharge opening, the device (10) further comprising a moveable operating member (30), a shutoff mechanism (40) and an air flow adjustment arrangement (20), said shutoff mechanism (40) being pivotably connected to said housing and configured to regulate the air flow and said air flow adjustment arrangement (20) being pivotably connected to said housing and configured to adjust the direction of the air flow in a longitudinal direction X and in a vertical direction Z, wherein said operating member (30) comprising a user-actuated manual mechanism (32), a first linkage member (34) and a second linkage member (36), wherein said user-actuated manual mechanism (32) is arranged downs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Lionel Belzons
  • Patent number: 9902237
    Abstract: A vehicle wind direction adjuster includes: a case having a cylindrical shape; a housing having a cylindrical shape and turnably coupled to the case through a universal joint; and a louver provided in the housing, wherein: the universal joint includes a shaft member having a first shaft and a second shaft orthogonal to the first shaft, a first turning supporter coupled to the case and configured to turnably support the first shaft, and a second turning supporter coupled to the housing and configured to turnably support the second shaft; an first elastic body is provided around the first shaft such that the first elastic body is interposed between the shaft member and the first turning supporter; and an second elastic body is provided around the second shaft such that the second elastic body is interposed between the shaft member and the second turning supporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Sano, Nobuaki Uehara, Shohei Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 9878596
    Abstract: An air vent of a ventilation and heating module for motor vehicles has at least horizontally extending air guide vanes which can be pivoted about a first axis and which are each coupled with a coupling element. At least one air guide vane is coupled via a coupling rod to the coupling element which is displaceable relative to the first axis in a displacement direction between a neutral position and a diffuse position of the air guide vanes. The coupling rod for each air guide vane is formed as a rocker, which is coupled at one end with an air guide vane and is pivotally coupled at the other end with the ventilation and module. Each rocker is coupled to the coupling element via a sliding block guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Steffen Ross, Reinhold Nadler, Hannes Foidl, Gerhard Endres
  • Patent number: 9849755
    Abstract: An air flow direction adjusting device is provided with a first rear fin and a second rear fin which are adjacent to each other. At a rear fin main body of the first rear fin of these two rear fins that are adjacent to each other, a protrusion portion is provided in a thickness direction. At a rear fin main body of the second rear fin of the above two rear fins that are adjacent to each other, a recessed portion configured to close a gap between the first rear fin and the second rear fin that are adjacent to each other by the recessed portion coming into contact with the protrusion portion is provided in proximity to a rear turning shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sadao Ishikawa, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9764621
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning discharge port structure wherein the airflow direction of air-conditioning drafts can be adjusted by changing the orientation of a plurality of fins provided to a discharge port. The fins include an outermost fin and an adjacent fin adjacent to the outer fins. The outer fin has a first regulating part for regulating the air-conditioning drafts flowing through an inter-fin flow passage between the outer fin and the adjacent fin, and a second regulating part for regulating the air-conditioning drafts flowing through a flow passage between the outer fin and a wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Sakaguchi, Masayuki Miyagawa, Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9764622
    Abstract: In the manufacturing of an operating element (10) for an air vent, a first partial element (12) is manufactured from a hard component in a first injection molding process and a second partial element (14) is manufactured from a soft component in a second injection molding process. The second partial element (14) forms a bearing (20) for a support of the operating element (10) on a vane (22) of the air vent. During its manufacture, the second partial element (14) is connected with the first partial element (12) by adhesion and/or by geometric shaping. The two partial elements (12, 14) that are captively connected with each other constitute a prefabricated unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Noichl, Steve Kober
  • Patent number: 9724981
    Abstract: There is provided an air conditioning register which can prevent or effectively suppress a reduction in an effective opening surface area at an air-conditioned air blow-out portion, and which has good blow-out efficiency of air-conditioned air. A first flow path 42 and a second flow path 44, whose directions toward a blow-out bezel 26 differ, are formed within a retainer 12 of an air conditioning register 10. A first damper 52 and plural second dampers 58, which are interlocked with one another, are provided at the retainer 12. The first damper 52 opens and closes the first flow path 42, and the second dampers 58 open and close the second flow path 44. The first damper 52 and the second dampers 58 are operated such that either one of the first flow path 42 and the second flow path 44 is opened and the other is closed, and the flow path of the air-conditioned air is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimio Sakakibara, Michiyo Nonoyama, Keiko Tanaka, Makoto Inoue
  • Patent number: 9657961
    Abstract: An interior lamp for a vehicle may provide an interior lamp for a vehicle, including an air vent, the interior lamp including an air vent assembly disposed in a mounting aperture of a louver plate through screw-coupling and controlling the size of an air inflow aperture by a screw rotation operation to adjust an air volume flowing from an air duct to the air inflow aperture, and an interior lamp assembly disposed in a lower inner diameter portion of the air vent assembly through ball-joint coupling to be adjustable in irradiation direction of lamp light and including a discharge path that discharges the air volume passing through the air vent assembly into the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Man Park
  • Patent number: 9605866
    Abstract: An air vent having a housing, a first control element and a second control element, wherein the housing forms a flow passage, wherein the first control element is supported on the housing so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation and the second control element is supported on the housing so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation, wherein the second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, wherein the first control element is connected to the second control element by a coupling element and the control elements are movable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Rais, Michael Komowski
  • Patent number: 9604534
    Abstract: A system for powering an active grille shutter assembly comprising a linkage system connected to a shutter, a generator connected to the shutter, an energy storage device connected to the generator, an electric motor connected to and powered by the energy storage device, and connected to the linkage system, and a controller connected to the energy storage device and the electric motor. The position of the shutter is adjusted by the linkage system, the position of the linkage system is adjusted by the electric motor, the operation of the electric motor is controlled by the controller, the electric motor is powered by energy stored in the energy storage device, and the energy storage device receives energy from the operation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Feng Zhou, Ercan Mehmet Dede