Having Adjustable Deflector Patents (Class 454/155)
  • Publication number: 20030050001
    Abstract: In a ventilator for adjusting the direction of wind blown out from an air outlet including a case and a plurality of fins, the ventilator has a normal mode which adjusts the direction of the wind blown out from an air outlet by turning the fins in parallel to each other, a specific mode which collects or diffuses the wind blown out from the air outlet by the fins, and a mode selector which continuously selects the normal mode and the specific mode. Thus, selection of the normal mode and the specific mode is easily and continuously performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Kenichi Kamio
  • Publication number: 20030022615
    Abstract: An air vent, in particular for vehicular air conditioning, comprises a first blade pivotally mounted about a first axis in a frame, and a second blade pivotally mounted about a second axis in the frame. An operational control is arranged on the first blade and connected to the second blade via a slider/ball joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Matthias Hanft
  • Patent number: 6497616
    Abstract: In an air conditioner outlet vent device in which a plurality of second blades are arranged behind a plurality of first blades in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first blades are arranged. The second blades are linked to a common link member, supported in a housing in a pivotable manner, and can be pivoted by an operating knob that can slide in the direction in which the second blades are arranged. A cut out recess opening toward the first blades and a pair of covers covering opposite sides of the cut out recess are provided on one of the second blades, and an engaging arm provided on the operating knob is inserted into the cut out recess so that the engaging arm can engage with one of the two covers. It is possible thereby to increase the amount of air blown out, and to enhance the air directing performance by making the gaps between the second blades relatively small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6494780
    Abstract: A louver with a slidable face plate may be used to direct fluid flowing through the louver in a desired direction (e.g. right or left) Vanes of the louver may include pinions that couple to rack gears of a housing and a face plate. Sliding the face plate may rotate louver vanes so that fluid flowing through the louver is directed in the desired direction. The face plate may also be rotatively mounted to the housing so that the face plate has a limited amount of rotational movement. Rotating the face plate may allow control of direction of fluid flow through the louver in directions other than the direction controlled by sliding the face plate (e.g. up and down).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Cary Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond L. Norbury, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020178744
    Abstract: An air conditioner outlet vent device includes a housing having a blow-out hole at its front end; a plurality of fins which are supported in parallel in the blow-out hole and each of which is capable of pivoting about its axis, the axes being parallel to one another; a common link which extends in an arrangement direction of the fins and to which the fins are pivotably connected at their rear ends; a pair of outer fins disposed at opposite ends in the arrangement direction of the fins, the outer fins each integrally including a shield plate which protrudes toward one of a pair of sidewalls of the housing so as to define opposite ends of the blow-out hole. In this device, a distance between a support point of each of the outer fins in the housing and a linkage point of the outer fin to the link is set larger than a distance between a support point of each of the fins other than the outer fins and its linkage point to the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanabe, Tetsuji Fukushima, Hiroshi Maeda, Yutaka Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6464577
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a register for ventilating air includes molding a deflector member having a plurality of shafts and a plurality of first deflector plates. The deflector member is made from a first resin. A connector member, which holds the plurality of shafts rotatably and connects the first deflector plates swingably, is molded from a second resin that possess characteristics that prohibit it from fusing with the first resin. Next, a frame-shaped member, made from a third resin and having a plurality of second deflector plates, is molded by the process. Then, the deflector member, which includes the connector member, is assembled with the frame-shaped member. A knob for operating the first deflector plates can be molded integrally with one of the first deflector plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumichi Shigeno, Shigeru Yabuya, Akira Azumi, Shigenori Shibata
  • Patent number: 6454645
    Abstract: An air conditioner outlet vent device in which one of a blade and a housing is molded as a primary molding having a shaft hole by primary injection using a first synthetic resin, the other is molded, within a secondary mold die where the primary molding has been set, as a secondary molding having a support shaft by secondary injection using a second synthetic resin so that the shaft hole and the support shaft are fitted together at the same time as they are molded, thereby enabling the blade to pivot within the housing. The first and second synthetic resins are of the same synthetic resin system, and an additive for suppressing shrinkage in cooling and solidifying it after injection molding is added to the first synthetic resin so that the percentage mold shrinkage of the shaft hole becomes smaller than that of the support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha, Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Baba, Yutaka Ishida, Takashi Koike, Junichi Higuchi, Akira Tabuchi, Yozaburo Tsujikawa
  • Patent number: 6447388
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit discharge opening includes an inlet and outlet side and a pair of spaced walls. Each of the walls has a mounting pin formed thereon, which extends in a direction toward the other wall such that the mounting pins together define a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. An air discharge nozzle has an inlet side and an outlet side and a pair of spaced substantially planar walls. The nozzle is configured to be received within the air discharge opening with the planar walls of the nozzle in closely adjacent relationship with the planar walls of the discharge opening. Pin receiving conformations are formed on each of the planar walls of the nozzle. Each of the conformations includes an open ended slot extending into the wall from the inlet side and an arcuately shaped pin receiving socket formed at the inner end of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Alessandro Oliveira de Barros, Paulo Augusto Lisboa Ramos, Andrei Tres
  • Patent number: 6443831
    Abstract: A method includes molding a set of deflector plates in a first mold with a first material, removing the deflector plates from the mold, and placing the deflector plates in a second mold, molding a duct to the deflector plates in the second mold using a second material. The molding includes forming an engaging rim in the duct for connecting the duct to another duct, and removing the deflector plates and the duct from the second mold. The deflector plates pivot with respect to the duct when the molding of the duct is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Yabuya, Akiyoshi Nagano, Akira Azumi, Kazumichi Shigeno, Hiromi Nagai, Haruki Nagasaka, Tetsuya Tani
  • Publication number: 20020072321
    Abstract: Air duct outlets having closeable doors are provided. An air duct outlet includes a housing having a front wall with an opening therein that allows air to pass therethrough. A door assembly is movably mounted to the housing and includes a unitary door having an exterior surface. The door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position. The door substantially covers the front wall opening and is substantially flush with the front wall when the door assembly is in the closed position. The door is retracted from the front wall opening when the door assembly is in the open position. In the closed position, the door provides a continuous, uniform, and aesthetically pleasing appearance with the front wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Edward L. Kowalski, Thomas F.J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Sayeh Beheshti
  • Patent number: 6394891
    Abstract: A nozzle for ventilating a vehicle interior, having a housing which has an air outflow opening which can be closed by a panel when not in use, and having an insert which accommodates air-guiding vanes in a pivotable manner and which is held movably in the housing for the purpose of moving the air-guiding vanes out of the air outlet opening during closing of the panel. In order to integrate the nozzle housing in dashboards of differing design, the insert is designed as a frame-like slide which can be displaced longitudinally in the housing and can be moved into the depth of the housing by a defined displacement path to enable the panel to close the air outflow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Klaus Arold
  • Patent number: 6386967
    Abstract: An air ventilator for ventilating cold or heated air into the interior of an automobile from a duct is provided. The air ventilator includes a pair of wing units having a plurality of wings fixed in various angles, a housing for receiving the wing units, and a gear mounted between the wing units and engaged to be driven by a motor to rotate the wing units simultaneously to automatically change the direction of ventilated air. The pair of wing units preferably have their wings twisted to direct air flow in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyo Keun Kim
  • Publication number: 20020045421
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air diffusor, in particular for vehicle air-conditioning, the air diffusor comprising a housing, a plurality of vanes of which each is pivotally mounted, and an adjustment element by means of which an orientation of the vanes can be adjusted. A first coupling element is provided with which each vane is coupled so as to be rotatable about a first swiveling axle. The first coupling element is supported on the housing so as to slide in a sliding guide, and a second swiveling axle is provided on each vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • Publication number: 20020031999
    Abstract: An air conditioner outlet vent device 1 in which one of a blade and a housing is molded as a primary molding having a shaft hole by primary injection using a first synthetic resin, the other is molded, within a secondary mold die where the primary molding has been set, as a secondary molding having a support shaft by secondary injection using a second synthetic resin so that the shaft hole and the support shaft are fitted together at the same time as they are molded, thereby enabling the blade to pivot within the housing. The first and second synthetic resins are of the same synthetic resin system, and an additive for suppressing shrinkage in cooling and solidifying it after injection molding is added to the first synthetic resin so that the percentage mold shrinkage of the shaft hole becomes smaller than that of the support shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Hideki Baba, Yutaka Ishida, Takashi Koike, Junichi Higuchi, Akira Tabuchi, Yozaburo Tsujikawa
  • Publication number: 20020028651
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a register for ventilating air includes molding a deflector member, having a plurality of shafts and a plurality of first deflector plates. The deflector member is made from a first resin. A connector member, which holds the plurality of shafts rotatably and connects the first deflector plates swingably, is molded from a second resin that possess characteristics that prohibit it from fusing with the first resin. Next, a frame-shaped member, made from a third resin and having a plurality of second deflector plates, is molded by the process. Then, the deflector member, which includes the connector member, is assembled with the frame-shaped member. A knob for operating the first deflector plates can be molded integrally with one of the first deflector plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Kazumichi Shigeno, Shigeru Yabuya, Akira Azumi, Shigenori Shibata
  • Publication number: 20020025774
    Abstract: In an air conditioner outlet vent device in which a plurality of second blades are arranged behind a plurality of first blades in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first blades are arranged. The second blades are linked to a common link member, supported in a housing in a pivotable manner, and can be pivoted by an operating knob that can slide in the direction in which the second blades are arranged. A cut out recess opening toward the first blades and a pair of covers covering opposite sides of the cut out recess are provided on one of the second blades, and an engaging arm provided on the operating knob is inserted into the cut out recess so that the engaging arm can engage with one of the two covers. It is possible thereby to increase the amount of air blown out, and to enhance the air directing performance by making the gaps between the second blades relatively small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: MORIROKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20020019213
    Abstract: A sitting position of a vehicle occupant in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle is detected, an outlet close to the sitting position of the occupant from plural outlets and is selected based on the detected sitting position, and air is blown out from the selected outlet toward the occupant's sitting position. Thus, since an outlet close to the occupant's sitting position is selected, it becomes easier for air to reach the vehicle occupant to sufficiently cool or warm the occupant with a small amount of blown out air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshinori, Shinji Aoki, Yuichi Kajino, Kouji Sakai
  • Patent number: 6342003
    Abstract: The present invention of an automobile air-conditioning outlet deflection device comprising a main body which is in ring shape, a plurality of crossing rods are disposed within said main body, the intersection point of said crossing rods is connected to a set of deflection blades, said set of deflection blades having a plurality of blades disposed within a ring part, a set of spinning blades located at the other side of said main body, said set of spinning blades spins when air-conditioning blow on it, thus move said set of deflection blades to spin also, a set of gears is disposed on an axial rod of said set of spinning blades, said set of gears is connected to an axial rod of said deflection blades, few blades of said set of spinning blades are relatively shorter than the rest, a speed-slowing blade is connected to each of said short spinning blade, said axial rod of said set of spinning blades is connected to a cover body, said cover body having a circumference side and a plurality of crossing rods, accord
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventor: Pomin Wang
  • Patent number: 6340328
    Abstract: An air current regulating nozzle arrangement for ventilating the interior of an automobile includes an air duct with a base wall, a top wall, and two opposed side walls leading to an air discharge opening to the interior of the automobile and an array of slats mounted in the air duct adjacent to the air discharge opening which includes a fixed slat and several slats spaced one above the other which are pivotable around horizontal axes. The pivotable slats are connected to an adjusting element inside the air duct so that they can be shifted between a position in which they are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the air duct and a position in which they are at divergent angles to each other. To provide an air current regulating nozzle which prevents turbulence to a large extent, the base wall is inclined downwardly in the direction toward the air discharge opening in the region of the array of slats, forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schwandt, Silke Hasenauer, Bertram Seydell
  • Publication number: 20010031619
    Abstract: A method includes molding a set of deflector plates in a first mold with a first material, removing the deflector plates from the mold, and placing the deflector plates in a second mold, molding a duct to the deflector plates in the second mold using a second material. The molding includes forming an engaging rim in the duct for connecting the duct to another duct, and removing the deflector plates and the duct from the second mold. The deflector plates pivot with respect to the duct when the molding of the duct is finished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Shigeru Yabuya, Akiyoshi Nagano, Akira Azumi, Kazumichi Shigeno, Hiromi Nagai, Haruki Nagasaka, Tetsuya Tani
  • Patent number: 6293860
    Abstract: An improved air filtration method and device by which to more effectively clean the ambient air (19) being fed into a motor vehicle's passenger compartment, via the existing OEM ventilation and heating/air conditioning system (10, 15, 16). The notion of a special more conveniently accessible air filtration appliance (21) is set forth with generic variants showing adaptability to differently configured OEM air outlets. The new technique contemplates treating the air instantly as it is being discharged into the passenger compartment; yet remains compatible with existing OEM air filtration provision, some of which are provided at the cowl inlet, others are located mid stream within the ducting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Sinil Kim
  • Patent number: 6206777
    Abstract: A board-mounted nozzle for ventilation and climate control installations which is intended primarily for motor vehicle compartments and which comprises a frame (1) supporting parallel interconnected guide vanes (2) which are hingedly mounted in the frame for pivotal movement to direct an air flow passing through the frame. Each guide vane (2) is formed with a recess (4) on at least one of its end faces the nozzle further comprises pivot pins (8) which are secured in the frame (1) in a resiliently flexible manner in order to exert a pushing force on these guide vanes (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Eriksson, Patrik Svensson
  • Patent number: 6179707
    Abstract: A ventilation nozzle for vehicles has a main duct and a secondary duct branching off therefrom. The ducts lead into two mutually separated blow-out openings and have controllable air adjusting devices. These adjusting devices are arranged in the area of the secondary duct branch off. Each adjusting device is assigned to one of the ducts, respectively, for adjusting the air quantities flowing to the blow-out openings. To provide an individually adjustable indirect air flow by way of the blow-out opening of the secondary duct, the adjusting device assigned to the secondary duct is constructed as an air flap which provides an air siphoning function from the main duct. A separate control element is assigned to each adjusting device for its adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Klaus Arold
  • Patent number: 6159092
    Abstract: An air vent assembly for directing airflow includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The air vent assembly further includes a first plurality of vanes, each of said first plurality of vanes rotatably secured to the housing. A first link member is rotatably secured to each of the first plurality of vanes such that rotation of one of the plurality of first vanes rotates each of the first vanes. The air vent assembly further includes a second plurality of vanes, each second vane is rotatably secured to the housing. A second link member is rotatably secured to each of the plurality of second vanes such that rotation of one of the plurality of second vanes rotates each of the plurality of second vanes. Each of the first vanes rotates about one of a first set of parallel axes and each of the second vanes rotates about one of a second set of parallel axes. The first set of axes is coplanar with, and nonparallel to, and the second set of axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Fickenscher America, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jack E. Elder
  • Patent number: 6146265
    Abstract: A vehicle air outlet assembly having a sliding shutoff door for blocking and unblocking air therethrough. The assembly includes a housing having a tubular form including inlet and outlet ends and defining an air passage between the ends. The shutoff door is movable between an open position along one side of the housing and a closed position across the inlet end of the housing to block air flowing through the housing. The door is made from a plurality of panels hingedly connected together. Followers such as pins are disposed along laterally opposite edges of the panels. Guides or tracks are formed on opposite sides of the housing and receive the pins for guiding sliding movement of the door between open and closed positions, respectively, unblocking and blocking the inlet end of the housing. Actuating means are connected with one of the door panels for sliding the door panels between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Pamela Sue Greenwald
  • Patent number: 6129627
    Abstract: An air outlet assembly is used to direct airflow of a climate control system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet assembly is used by the passengers sitting on a back seat in a passenger compartment. The air outlet assembly includes first and second doors which are used to open and close an outlet thereof. The doors also direct the air flowing therethrough. An actuator moves the doors between their respective open and closed positions. The actuator moves the second door from its open position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its closed position as it moves the first door from an intermediate position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its open position. This allows the doors to act in unison, after the first door passes the intermediate position, by moving in parallel form, to affect the direction of airflow. The actuator includes a single gear and rack for the first door and a pair of gears and a single rack for the second door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ireneusz Jankowski, Derrick Wayban Chow, Robert Ronald Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6102660
    Abstract: A miniature fan for air freshener includes a freely rotatable fan seat, a bearing mounted at the center of the fan seat, a holder at the bottom of the fan seat, a container within the fan seat, a top cap mounted on the top of the container, a fastening nut and a fastening means mounted at the bottom of the holder, characterized in that the fan seat includes central slot, a circular conduit wall, a plurality of inner blades mounted in between the conduit wall and the central slot, and a plurality of rotatable outer blade mounted at the outer surrounding of the circular conduit wall, the bearing is mounted within the central slot and the bottom shaft of the container is pivotally inserted into the shaft hole of the bearing, the protruded top end of the holder is connected to the bottom shaft of the container and is combined together by means of the fastening nut, and a fragrance platelet is mounted within the container having a protruded shaft to adapt to the center hole of the fragrance platelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Pao-Feng Lee
  • Patent number: 6080059
    Abstract: An air filtration method and device which more effectively clean the ambient air being fed into a motor vehicle's passenger compartment, via the existing OEM ventilation and heating/air conditioning system. The notion of more conveniently accessible air filtration appliance is set forth with generic variants showing adaptability to differently configured OEM air outlets. The new technique contemplates treating the air instantly as it is being discharged into the passenger compartment, yet remains compatible with existing OEM air filtration provisions, some of which are provided at the cowl inlet, others are located mid stream within the ducting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Sinil Kim
  • Patent number: 6066040
    Abstract: An air conditioning for a passenger compartment of a vehicle having at least one air flow conduit and a diffuser communicating with the conduit. The conduit is in non-co-linear relation with the diffuser. The diffuser is capable of channelling air toward the passenger compartment. The conduit is formed of a material capable of deformable contact with the diffuser. The diffuser has an element for transversely closing off the conduit. The contours of the diffuser mate with the walls of the conduit by deforming the contours to ensure a tightness of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Auto Interierur
    Inventor: Jean Dauvergne
  • Patent number: 6059652
    Abstract: An improved ventilation register for a vehicle and the like is provided which comprises an elongated housing adapted to be mounted in a vehicle and having an inlet opening adapted to be connected to a source of air and an outlet opening adapted to distribute the air into a vehicle compartment. A grille assembly is mounted in the outlet opening of the elongated housing and comprising a grille housing having an inlet opening in register with the inlet opening of the elongated housing and an outlet opening in register with the outlet opening of the elongated housing. At least one directional vane can be mounted in the grille housing which is adapted to direct the flow of air passing through the outlet opening of the elongated housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Summit Polymers, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren W. Terry, Michael A. Dinsmore
  • Patent number: 6059653
    Abstract: An air outlet assembly includes a housing secured to a structure. A plurality of air directional fins, i.e., louvers or vanes, extend through the housing. The housing includes a plurality of receiving apertures. The receiving apertures receive bosses of the louvers therein. The receiving apertures define a boss surface and a spring surface. The boss surface has a radius of curvature equal to that of the boss being inserted. The spring surface has a radius of curvature greater than that of the boss being inserted. Two extensions are cut away on either side of both the boss surface and the spring surface to define the amount of effort required to rotate the boss when it is inserted into the receiving aperture. An opening is cut away adjacent the receiving aperture to further control the resilience of the spring surface as it abuts the boss inserted into the receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Franz Josef Gehring, Slawomir Smolec
  • Patent number: 6019676
    Abstract: An air filtration method and device by which to more effectively clean the ambient air (19) being fed into a motor vehicle's passenger compartment, via the existing OEM ventilation and heating/air conditioning system (10, 15, 16). The notion of a special more conveniently accessible air filtration appliance (21) is set forth with generic variants showing adaptability to differently configured OEM air outlets. The new technique contemplates treating the air instantly as it is being discharged into the passenger compartment; yet remains compatible with existing OEM air filtration provision, some of which are provided at the cowl inlet, others are located mid stream within the ducting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Sinil Kim
  • Patent number: 6015342
    Abstract: Apparatus for deflecting the flow of supply air discharged from an air conditioning unit that includes a stationary frame mounted in the discharge duct of the unit cabinet. An inner frame is pivotally mounted within the outer frame. The inner frame contains horizontally aligned and vertically aligned louvers mounted therein. A remotely controlled motor is coupled to the inner frame for tilting the inner frame upwardly or downwardly to selectively direct the flow of supply air leaving the unit. The unit can be adapted for manual adjustment of the louvers by removing the motor and locking the inner frame to the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Dennis
  • Patent number: 5947813
    Abstract: An outlet assembly for providing universal directability of air therethrough. The assembly includes a housing with a first barrel pivotally connected in the housing about a first axis A. A second barrel is pivotally connected within the first barrel about a second axis B perpendicular to the first axis A. Fixed position louvers are connected to the second barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Derrick Wayban Chow, Robert Charles Templin
  • Patent number: 5943872
    Abstract: In an air conditioner, a supporting base having a plurality of bearing cylinder portions is attached to an outlet of a housing of the air conditioner. Each shaft of wind horizontally direction plates is located in the outlet of the housing and is disposed in the bearing cylinder portion through first and second bearing bushes. The first bearing bushes hold the wind horizontally direction plates in a cantilever manner. A heat insulation material is adhered onto the supporting base. The wind horizontally direction plates can be easily attached to the air outlet after the heat insulation material is installed, and the moisture condensation is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakurada, Yoshimi Kawai
  • Patent number: 5921860
    Abstract: A vehicle air outlet having an outlet bell, an upstream intruder member, a control shaft secured to the upstream intruder member, and a ball and socket device for mounting the control shaft to the outlet bell. In a preferred embodiment a portion of the control shaft is made to serve as a housing having a fixed hemispherically shaped bearing seat which is integrally formed therein at the closed end of the housing and a slot is formed in the housing to allow the ball supporting struts to extend outwardly from proximate the axial center of the outlet. A spring loaded bearing seat forming a second hemispherical and floating portion of the socket is guided by the housing into engagement with and to capture the is ball in the socket and a closure cap retains the compression spring in position. In a preferred embodiment, a long compression spring is used. This is advantageous over a short spring element where minor changes in compressed length can cause relatively high changes in spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Marsden
  • Patent number: 5890958
    Abstract: A ventilation nozzle for vehicle interiors, having a front screen which is visible in the vehicle interior and having a multiplicity of screen openings. An air-guide block, made of elastic material, is arranged upstream, in the air-flow direction, of the front screen, having a multiplicity of parallel air ducts passing longitudinally through it. An adjusting device changes the flow direction of the air flowing out of the front screen. For the purpose of producing diffused ventilation, the air-guide block is placed nonpositively against the front screen and the adjusting device is additionally designed in such a manner that it is able to raise the air-guide block, counter to a biasing force, from the front screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ferdinand Greiner, Josef Wamhoff
  • Patent number: 5873778
    Abstract: A motor vehicle interior is provided with a central jet located in a dashboard. An air state sensor located in the vehicle interior is subjected to the flow of air blown out of the central jet in the dashboard. The horizontal and vertical air guide systems are connected to one another by mechanical forced guidance to limit their movement possibilities so that they sweep a maximum blowing-out area that avoids the roof area provided with the air state sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Sean Badenhorst
  • Patent number: 5816907
    Abstract: A vehicle air outlet having an outlet bell, an upstream shutoff valve having an open and closed position, a directionality control member which is downstream of the shutoff valve. The upstream shutoff valve includes a flow straightener assembly rendered functional when the shutoff valve is in a fully opened position and non-functional when the shutoff valve is in a closed position. The shutoff valve is mounted on a rotary shaft in the air outlet, and the flow straightener is mounted on the same rotary shaft with the shutoff valve and is operated commonly on an operation of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Crockett
  • Patent number: 5800259
    Abstract: A grill assembly comprising an anchor member adapted to fit in a duct around the periphery of a duct opening. Tie members may be slidably attached to the anchor member so that it projects outwardly from the anchor member for receiving a frame. A damper and cover may be subsequently attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: B & B Molders, L.L.C.
    Inventor: John R. Olney
  • Patent number: 5788394
    Abstract: A joint comprising a body member defining an annular groove and a pair of tangential notches intersecting the annular groove at diametrically opposed positions. A socket member is comprised of a preferably semispherically shaped frame having an open side and a pair of diametrically opposed knob or pin member. Each knob or pin member is engagable with one of the tangential notches to snap fit the body member within the semispherically shaped frame and within the annular groove. The body member is secured to a mounting bar and the semispherically shaped frame has an elongated slot and the mounting bar passes through the slot. The arrangement is such that the slot defines one path of rotation of the shaped frame member relative to the body member and the annular groove defines a second path of relative rotation between the body member and the shaped frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Hess, Craig E. Finch
  • Patent number: 5766070
    Abstract: The air diffuser device contains front horizontal deflecting fins ?(L1 to L5)! and rear vertical deflecting fins ?(L6 to L10)! capable of swinging relative to a nozzle housing ?(GH)!, said deflecting fins in each case being connected to each other via a coupling rod ?(K1; K2)!. The front and rear deflecting fins are adjustable by an operating/adjusting element ?(B)! guided along a front deflecting fin ?(L3)!. For the mutually independent adjustability of the front deflecting fins, on the one hand, and the rear deflecting fins on the other hand, the operating/adjusting element ?(B)! is connected on the back side via a ball joint ?(B3; V1)! with a connecting/adjusting element ?(V)!, which in turn is articulated on the rear deflecting fins with lengthwise displaceability perpendicular to the axis of swivel of said deflecting fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5752877
    Abstract: An outlet nozzle assembly (10) includes a pivotal cover (20) which lies flush with the mounting structure (12) in the closed position and which pivots at one end (22) to be outwardly angled with respect to the mounting structure (12) in the open position exposing the outlet housing (18). The amount of opening may be manipulated through a ratchet mechanism (54). The cover (20) allows the outlet housing (18) to be invisible within the mounting structure (12) during non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy Kwan-Leung Sun
  • Patent number: 5741179
    Abstract: An outlet assembly (10) is assembled from different shaped end modules (14,16,18) and any number of standard intermediate modules (20). Depending on the desired shape and length of the assembly (10), two of the end modules (14,16,18) are selected with any number of the intermediate modules (20) assembled therewith forming a housing (22). The housing (22) may form the barrel housing pivotable within a support (68). Louvers (76) and vanes may be connected therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Manchester Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Kwan-Leung Sun, Michael Stephen Mikowski
  • Patent number: 5738580
    Abstract: An air blowing direction adjusting apparatus for an air conditioner is provided in which for various discharging directions of the air and a guaranteed transmission of driving force for an accurate phase control is accomplished. There is provided an air blowing direction adjusting apparatus for an air conditioner having a discharge outlet, and a plurality of blades installed in the discharge outlet for changing the discharging direction of the air, the apparatus comprising guide pins installed in a first cam and a second cam, respectively, wherein each cam receives driving force generated from single driving unit to be driven, and first and second groups of blades divided into two groups for changing rotational positions of the blades independently for said each group or simultaneously for said two groups, in response to the actions of the guide pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul-Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 5733189
    Abstract: An air vent for use in a motor vehicle passenger compartment, and in particular to an air vent with an air grill that can be rotated to a closed position. A housing has a first pivot bearing to which is connected a carrier with a second pivot bearing. An air grill with vanes has generally spherical peripheral surfaces and is connected to the second pivot bearing. The air grill may then be rotated about two orthogonal axes within the housing to vary the direction of the air flow entering the passenger compartment. The central vane has a circular periphery, and the air grill may also be rotated to a position in which this vane makes a seal with a compliant sealing section within the housing to close off the flow of air through the air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Eastwood
  • Patent number: 5722883
    Abstract: In order to be able to obtain in spite of individual adjustment possibilities for defined directions of air flow a uniform front design on the interior side that is not disturbed by different positions of deflecting fins or adjusting elements, deflecting fins (L1 to L6) behind a flow direction-neutral front baffle (F) can be driven into a corresponding dwelling position by a brief adjusting pivot motion with subsequent resetting of the front baffle (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5709602
    Abstract: A construction of air conditioner louver having a louver body in which the air inflow side and the air blowout side communicate with one another, and a plurality of rotatable fins for regulating wind direction which are disposed at predetermined intervals via a rotating shaft in the louver body, wherein the fin is bent at a position near the rotating shaft portion and is formed into a bent plate shape such that both end portions are disposed downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Onodera
  • Patent number: 5690550
    Abstract: The outlet assembly (10) includes a barrel housing (16) pivotally supported along a horizontal axis. The barrel housing (16) supports a control housing (28) fixedly therein. The control housing (28) pivotally supports a plurality of louvers (34) therein. A link control plate (38) is operatively connected to the louvers (34) and slidable with respect to the control housing (28). The link plate (38) is moved outwardly to allow operation of the louvers (34) in parallel with one another, and is moved inwardly to spread the louvers (34) to cause diffusion of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Manchester Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Stephen Mikowski
  • Patent number: 5643080
    Abstract: An air conditioner duct being suitable for connection with an air conditioner arranged in a cab. The air conditioner duct is provided with an air outlet member, which includes an air release portion for releasing air into the cab and plural fins for guiding air to the air release portion. The air outlet member comprises a turnable air outlet member shaped to enclose a duct portion, to which the turnable air outlet member is connected, and is turnable relative to the duct portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakyo, Yoshimi Iwase, Sadahisa Tomita, Kazunori Komatsu, Kazuhisa Tamura