Serially Arranged Sets Patents (Class 454/315)
  • Patent number: 11719313
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for actuating air blocking elements of an outlet assembly is provided. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm and a selector member operatively connected to the actuator arm to rotate the actuator arm about an arm axis. The actuator arm is operatively connected to a first air blocking element to rotate the first air blocking element towards its air blocking position without moving a second air blocking element upon rotation of the actuator arm in a first direction from a neutral, non-blocking position of the actuator arm about the arm axis. The actuator arm is operatively connected to the second air blocking element to rotate the second air blocking element towards its air blocking position without moving the first air blocking element upon rotation of the actuator arm in a second direction opposite the first direction from the neutral, non-blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: JVIS-USA, LLC
    Inventors: Dan M. Bui, Darius J. Preisler, Donald Schaefer, Artem Timoshenko
  • Patent number: 11660937
    Abstract: A vehicle register assembly includes a register duct that has an end opening and the register duct directs air. A housing is coupled to the register duct proximate the end opening. A barrel is disposed within the housing and defines an upstream aperture and a downstream aperture. A plurality of vanes includes individual vanes and the individual vanes extend in a first direction between first opposing sides of the barrel. A linking vane is coupled to each of the individual vanes and extends between second opposing sides of the barrel. The linking vane includes a guide body that extends upstream from the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: José Fernando Ovando Sánchez, Jason William Nisbett, Michael Murphy McElroy, Zachary Orion Baker
  • Patent number: 11267319
    Abstract: An adjustable air vent adapted to guide an air stream flowing through the air vent includes an elongate housing extending in a length direction, one or more vertical vanes at least partly located in the housing, one or more horizontal vanes at least partly located in the housing, an air guide at least partly located in the housing and extending in the length direction, and an air adjustment actuator displaceable in relation to the housing to adjust a direction of the air stream. The air vent includes a first connection directly or indirectly connecting the air adjustment actuator to the horizontal vanes for vertical direction of the air stream and a second connection directly or indirectly connecting the air adjustment actuator to the vertical vanes for horizontal direction of the air stream. The air adjustment actuator surrounds the air guide and is displaceable relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Henrik Wilhelmsson
  • Patent number: 11199652
    Abstract: An assembly juxtaposed with a computer display has rows and columns of movable louvers that move as the user's head moves to permit light from the display to reach the user's eyes but to screen light from the display in other directions, to reduce the risk of eavesdropping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Charles McCoy, True Xiong
  • Patent number: 11161393
    Abstract: Air vent includes a housing and an air duct having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, wherein an air flow flowing through the air duct can flow along a main flow direction from the air inlet end to the air outlet end. The air vent includes a front air-guiding element in the air duct that is adjustable about a front axis of rotation. The air vent includes a rear air-guiding element which is arranged in the air duct upstream of the front air-guiding element and is adjustable about a rear axis of rotation. The front air-guiding element can be rotated about the front axis of rotation and the rear air-guiding element can be rotated about the rear axis of rotation by moving a control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • Patent number: 11073875
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which an air dam is incorporated into an air ventilation stream of a datacenter to control the temperature of an interior space of the datacenter. The datacenter may include a raised floor in which the ventilation stream is injected through perforations within the raised floor. An air dam may be positioned at an entry region of the under floor plenum to obstruct the flow of air from a supply air plenum. The air dam is used to create a positive pressure across the raised floor at a substantially constant pressure distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Compass Datacenters, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Alberto Ruiz, Christopher J. Crosby, Jr., Christopher James Curtis
  • Patent number: 11065939
    Abstract: A motor-driven air vent device for a vehicle is provided. The motor-driven air vent device connects a horizontal wing of an air vent to an output shaft of a driving motor through a link structure and rotatably operates the driving motor in the forward direction or the reverse direction by a touch type switch operation. Accordingly, the vertical angular rotation operation for the horizontal wing is automatically performed by the operation of the link structure delivering the torque of the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, NIFCO KOREA Inc., Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ju Lee, Pill Yoon Kim, Byung Gyu Choi, Young Rok Lee, Choong Yeul Kim, Seung Hyeok Chang, Jae Seob Choi, Kwan Woo Lee, Won Sik Kim, Ji Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10981435
    Abstract: An air vent has at least one first control lamella that is pivotably mounted in a housing, and a second lamellae extending orthogonally to the first control lamella. For controlling the amount and direction of outflowing air, an operating element is pivotable mounted about an axis that extends parallel to the pivot axis of the second lamellae, and which is coupled to a first adjustment element and to the first control lamella. The first adjustment element has a toothed segment, which is in engagement with a first gearwheel that is rotatably mounted on the housing. The first gearwheel is in engagement with a second adjustment element that is arranged on a second control lamella of the second lamellae, wherein the second control lamella is coupled with the other second lamellae by way of at least one connection rod, and the second gearwheel is of spring-mounted design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Jenny Gareis, Dominic Horner, Juergen Seemann
  • Patent number: 10792974
    Abstract: An air register knob assembly comprises a vane having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a knob having a main body. The main body is slidably connected to only the first side of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Lin, Evan Tian, Gerald Yao, Michael Neumann
  • Patent number: 10792976
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin air register includes a tube shaped retainer disposed in a register opening, a bezel connected to the retainer, and a first fin axially supported by a pivot axis at an inner side of the retainer. A restricting mechanism restricts a pivot range of the first fin. The vehicle cabin air register also includes a second fin including a pair of second fin main bodies, an operation knob attached to a center portion of the first fin, a first flow path, and a second flow path. A minimum gap of the first flow path is narrower than a minimum gap of the second flow path. When the register is in a restricted state, the downstream end of the operation knob and the downstream end of the other second fin main body of the pair of second fin main bodies are positioned downstream of the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshinao Wada
  • Patent number: 10557416
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a bypass duct downstream of the fan and outward of the compressor, and a cooling system. The cooling system includes an inlet for receiving air from the bypass duct, an outlet for returning air to the bypass duct, a cooling duct, and a heat exchanger and a modulator positioned in the cooling duct. The modulator includes dividers that extend parallel to each other and are arranged across the duct, and each divider includes two flaps that are rotatable about an axis in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Steven H. Zysman
  • Patent number: 10406891
    Abstract: A device for controlling an air stream includes a control slat swivelly mounted in a housing and second slats extending orthogonally with respect to the control slat and swivelly mounted in the housing. The direction of the air stream exiting from the housing and the quantity of air streaming out can be set by the slats. An operating element is arranged orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the control slat to swivel and is coupled to a first bevel gear rotatably mounted on the bearing web and to the control slat. The first bevel gear is in engagement with a second bevel gear which is coupled to a lever arrangement which has at least one rotatably mounted first coupling member which is coupled to at least one first coupling rod and the at least one first coupling rod is coupled to the second slats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: DR. SCHNEIDER KUNSTSTOFFWERKE GMBH
    Inventors: Jenny Gareis, Jürgen Seemann, Gerhard Endres
  • Patent number: 10383422
    Abstract: An air outlet grill for use on a hair care device comprises a plurality of concentric and tilted flow guide surfaces (2), a cross section of the flow guide surfaces (2) having a curved shape that diverges in an air flow direction. Preferably, tilt angles between the flow guide surfaces (2) are designed such that an air inlet area of the air outlet grill is larger than an air outlet area of the air outlet grill, so as to increase air speed. Preferably, a middle flow guide surface has a smaller height compared to at least one other flow guide surface, so as to increase an area for air to pass through at a middle part of the air outlet grill. Preferably, a leading edge of at least one of the flow guide surfaces (2) is tangent to the air flow direction while a trailing edge of the flow guide surfaces diverges from the air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Chak Yuen Law, Cho Woo
  • Patent number: 10239384
    Abstract: An air outlet device for feeding air to a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle in a controlled manner includes an air flow duct and an air outlet opening element with an air outlet opening. The air flow duct is connected to the air outlet opening element and is adapted to conduct air from an interior ventilation device into the vehicle interior via the air outlet opening. The air flow duct has a first duct segment and a second duct segment, which is arranged between the first duct segment and the air outlet opening element. The first duct segment can be displaced in direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first duct segment. The first duct segment is designed to control a direction of the air flowing out of the air outlet opening in accordance with the displacement of the first duct segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Raphael Eltrop
  • Patent number: 9758018
    Abstract: A control element (16) for an air vent (10) in a vehicle has a bearing portion which serves for the air-vent-side bearing of the control element (16) and includes a receptacle (22), in particular for a slat (12) of an air vent (10), and a spring element (34) which protrudes into the receptacle (22) of the bearing portion, wherein the spring element (34) is integrally molded to the control element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Schlippe
  • Patent number: 9555685
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air outlet device (1) that includes a first blade (4), extending longitudinally and being rotatable around a longitudinal axis (A), and at least one second blade (6), extending transversely and being rotatable around a transverse axis (B), the device comprising an actuator (8) connected to the first (4) and to the second blade (6) and being rotatably secured to the first blade (4) and being translatably mobile on said first blade (4). The first blade (4) includes at least one projection (38) extending transversely from a longitudinal surface (22) of the first blade (4), the actuator (8) comprising an opposite projection (40) that extends transversely opposite said longitudinal surface (22) such that the projection (38) pushes the opposite projection (40) when the actuator (8) is translatably moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: René-Louis Coutel
  • Patent number: 9073407
    Abstract: The operating element (10) for an air vent includes a narrow passage (14) from a first side (16) to an opposite second side (18) for a blade (12). The passage (14) is limited at least on one side by a frame-shaped lateral portion (10) having a slit (24). At least a part (22) of the lateral portion (20) may be elastically deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Kober, Werner Lottes
  • Patent number: 9021829
    Abstract: An outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, comprising: a case forming shape and having a suction port suctioning outside air and a discharge port discharging the suctioned air; a heat exchanger accommodated inside the case; a fan that is accommodated inside the case and forcibly circulate air; and a louver assembly revolvably mounted in the case so as to selectively open and close the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Mijin Jung, Dongsoo Moon, Samchul Ha
  • Publication number: 20140364045
    Abstract: An operating device (10) for an air vent (12) which includes at least one swiveling vane (14), the operating device (10) having a first operating lever (22) which has a first lever arm (30), a second lever arm (34), and a bearing member (38) which is arranged therebetween, the first operating lever (22) being mounted around the bearing member (38) for swiveling about a swivel pin (24), and a second operating lever (26) which has a first lever arm (32), a second lever arm (36), and a bearing member (40) which is arranged therebetween, the second operating lever (26) being mounted around the bearing member (40) for swiveling about a swivel pin (28), the first lever arm (32) of the second operating lever (26) being coupled to the second lever arm (34) of the first operating lever (22) and the second lever arm (36) of the second operating lever (26) being adapted to be coupled for swiveling motion to the vane (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Noichl, Frank Mootz
  • Publication number: 20140308889
    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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HOWA PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oe, Yoko Ishiguro
  • Publication number: 20140302769
    Abstract: A register has a narrow and long air outlet that is long in the longitudinal direction and short in the short-side direction, includes, but is not limited to a front movable louver that changes the wind direction in the short-side direction arranged inside the air outlet, and includes a rear movable louver that changes the wind direction in the longitudinal direction arranged upstream from the front movable louver. A back movable louver is arranged upstream from the rear movable louver in order to change the wind direction in the short-side direction. The back movable louver changes the wind direction by turning in a direction opposite to a direction in which the front movable louver is turned in the short-side direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: HOWA PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Sawada
  • Patent number: 7980929
    Abstract: An instrument panel is provided for use in a vehicle interior. The instrument panel includes an outer surface, a vent and a step. The vent is arranged along the outer surface to direct forced air toward a specific area of a window in the vehicle. The step is formed along the outer surface of the instrument panel to promote formation of a turbulent buffer that reduces adhesion between air exiting the vent and the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chae H. An, Stefan Young
  • Patent number: 7780508
    Abstract: A register includes an operation knob which is slidably assembled to a selected one of front horizontal blades and which is connected to a selected one of rear vertical blades via a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism includes a connection pillar portion formed integrally with an intermediate portion of the selected vertical blade, the connection pillar portion having a generally circular cross section and being located at a position deviating from a rotation axis of the selected rear vertical blade, and a pair of connection arm portions extending rearward from the rear end of the operation knob with a predetermined space formed therebetween. The operation knob is connected to the selected vertical blade in a state where the connection pillar portion is rotatably inserted into an engagement groove between the connection arm portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Howa Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuaki Okuno
  • Patent number: 7544123
    Abstract: An air vent, in particular for a vehicle, includes an air outflow channel and several operating elements which regulate the outflow direction and the volume flow of an airflow and which are designed as sliding elements, a first sliding element (14) moving horizontal vanes (16), a second sliding element (18) moving vertical vanes (20), and a third sliding element (22) moving a shutoff flap (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Krause, Sabine Steinbeiss
  • Patent number: 6974378
    Abstract: A ventilator includes: a plurality of louvers arranged in parallel from one end to the other end of one direction at a supply opening formed in a case; shaft pins respectively formed on both ends at one ends of the louvers and inserted into a plurality of shaft holes; the operation pins being inserted into a plurality of operation holes formed along a longitudinal direction of a link with predetermined intervals; and a standard louver being opened and closed with the shaft pins serving as a center of opening and closing, wherein, gaps (A) between the operation holes on the link are set so as to be larger than gap (B) between a line connecting the shaft pins of the standard louver and the operation pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Osada, Mitsuaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 6863603
    Abstract: An air vent for ventilation installations in vehicles comprises a housing (10) which defines an air outlet channel (12), and a manual operating element (24) formed by a partial sphere to adjust direction and flow rate of air delivered by the vent. The operating element (24) is mounted in the housing to be rotatable about two axes perpendicular to each other. The air vent further comprises a first set of blades (18) that are pivotally mounted in the air outlet channel (12) and coupled with each other for joint motion, an actuating arm (28) connected with the operating element (24) and adapted to pivot about one of the two axes, and a coupling link (30) connecting the blades with the actuating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • Patent number: 6808451
    Abstract: An air flow control arrangement is constructed with an air feed into an interior of a motor vehicle. Vertical and horizontal air guiding vanes are swivelably arranged in a housing, and controllable by way of an adjusting device. The housing can be fastened in an opening of a column paneling. The housing has a vertically aligned air guiding duct that includes a first lower duct section with an adjusting flap which can be swiveled about a bearing axis into a horizontal closed position, a vertical open position and intermediate positions, and a second adjoining upper duct section with the integrated air guiding vanes. The adjusting flap can be operated by means of the operating element via a reversing bow which is connected with a crank of the flap and can be swiveled at the housing in a bearing. The housing is fastened by detent hooks which can be snapped onto edges of the column paneling. Furthermore, a retaining spring fastens the head side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Luik, Olaf Benkler
  • Publication number: 20040171344
    Abstract: A vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow for vehicle air- conditioning, comprises a first vane (12) which is held in a frame (10) so as to be swiveling about a first axis (A), and a second vane (16) which is held in the frame so as to be swiveling about a second axis (B). An operating element (28) is arranged on the first vane, which element (28) is connected with the second vane (16) by means of a sliding-/cardan joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Krause
  • Patent number: 6780098
    Abstract: A regulator for regulating airflow through an air outlet includes a plurality of louver blades integrated with axis portions supported at bearing holes and interconnected through an interlocking member; a supporting plate with the bearing holes attached to an air outlet; and an elastic portion provided on the supporting plate to be capable of deforming along an axis of the louver blades. Also, the regulator may include a damper; a manual operating member for tilting the louver blades and damper; and two gears engaging each other and disposed at an interconnecting portion between the manual operating member and the damper. One of the gears is formed in two portions separated along an axis and provided coaxially. The two portions have slightly shifted pitch, and are able to displace with each other in a circumferential direction with elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Ryuhei Nishida, Kihwan Choi
  • Publication number: 20040092225
    Abstract: Air duct outlets having joystick controls are provided. A housing has an inlet, an outlet and a frame secured within the housing between the inlet and outlet. A louver assembly is operably coupled to the frame and includes a first set of louvers and a second set of louvers positioned upstream from the first set of louvers. The first set of louvers are operably connected together such that pivotal movement of any one of the louvers in the first set causes pivotal movement of the remaining louvers in the first set. The second set of louvers are operably connected together such that pivotal movement of any one of the louvers in the second set causes pivotal movement of the remaining louvers in the second set. A joystick is configured to pivot the first and second sets of louvers about respective axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas F.J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic
  • Patent number: 6589110
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanabe, Tetsuji Fukushima, Hiroshi Maeda, Yutaka Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6533655
    Abstract: An air escape for ventilation systems in vehicles comprises manual adjusting means for as outflow direction and for an outflow volume. The manual adjusting means have a single operating element that is movable in translation and in rotation about an axis, translational movement of the operating element causing a change the outflow direction and rotational movement causing a change of the volume flow. The operating element is connected by a cardan shaft (24) to an actuating drive that converts rotational movement of the cardan shaft into an adjustment movement of an air flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Demerath, Norbert Klein
  • 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: 20020016149
    Abstract: Inside a blown-out air duct in the air conditioner through which conditioned air reaches a blowing-out port, there is provided a rectifying box having a air passage therein, for rectifying a flow of the conditioned air toward a predetermined flowing direction in order to prevent any dew condensation at the blowing-out port in the air conditioner. In the meantime, in order to suppress noise, rectifying plates for reducing an inflowing angle of air flowing into the fin tips of a heat exchanger are interposed between an axial fan and the heat exchanger for taking in the air from the axial fan for heat exchanging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masakazu Kondou, Jun Kitamura, Takahiro Murayama, Motoo Sano, Shinichi Suzuki, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Akira Takamori, Hiroshi Fukazawa
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6338676
    Abstract: Inside a blown-out air duct in the air conditioner through which conditioned air reaches a blowing-out port, there is provided a rectifying box having a air passage therein, for rectifying a flow of the conditioned air toward a predetermined flowing direction in order to prevent any dew condensation at the blowing-out port in the air conditioner. In the meantime, in order to suppress noise, rectifying plates for reducing an inflowing angle of air flowing into the fin tips of a heat exchanger are interposed between an axial fan and the heat exchanger for taking in the air from the axial fan for heat exchanging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Kondou, Jun Kitamura, Takahiro Murayama, Motoo Sano, Shinichi Suzuki, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Akira Takamori, Hiroshi Fukazawa
  • 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: 6244952
    Abstract: A ventilation assembly for installing in the dashboard of a motor vehicle has having a housing which has an air-inlet opening for fitting on an air-feed duct and also two air-outlet openings which are arranged one above the other in the installation position and lie in two planes at an angle to each other. Two air ducts are formed in the housing, each connecting one of the two air-outlet openings to the air-inlet opening. The quantities of air flowing into the two air ducts is metered. The end side of the lower air duct which leads to the lower air-outlet opening encloses the air-inlet opening, and the upper air duct, which leads to the upper air-outlet opening, encloses a wall opening in the lower air duct. The air-quantity is metered by a pivotable air-discharge flap which is assigned to the wall opening and is arranged in the lower duct in such a manner that its pivot axis lies on that side of the wall opening which is remote from the air-inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Klaus Arold, Dieter Heinle, Erich Kubsch
  • Patent number: 6244954
    Abstract: On opening and closing the louvers, provided at the air suction port in the front panel of the interior-side heat exchange unit, an arm is provided on the side of the rear surface of each of the louvers, and each of those arms is collectively driven by an interlocking plate which is reciprocatively moved linearly through the driving lever by a motor, whereby each louver is accurately interlocked to reliably open and close without the aid of the gear mechanism of pinion-rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihide Hosokawa, Shinji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6196018
    Abstract: A motor 51 is attached on the bottom surface side of a motor base 52 with a pinion gear 54 and an output gear 55 housed in a gear housing portion 521 thereof, and an output shaft 553 of the output gear 55 is inserted through a side plate 25L of an air outlet and is coupled to a flap 30 while the output shaft 553 is supported by a bearing hole 526 formed on the bottom portion of the motor base 52, and by a burring hole 251 formed at the side plate 25L. Therefore, the configuration of a flap driving means is simplified, the size is reduced, and the backlash of driving gears is controlled to smoothly drive the flap without rattling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Osamu Nakamura, Yoshimi Kawai
  • Patent number: 6135879
    Abstract: A vane arrangement for air conditioners, comprising a frame (10), which is attachable to the front panel and which hinges each one of the first and second vanes (20, 30), each assembly of first and second vanes (20, 30) defining at least one group of vanes joined to each other by a first and a second connecting element (40, 50), respectively, so that the vanes of each group may be angularly and jointly displaced around their hinge axes, each said group being independently actuated in order to direct the air flow through the respective vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Multibras S/A Electrodomesticos
    Inventors: Celso Kohlbach, Gerson Helio Fernando Fischer, Giovani Pereira Alves, Luana Stieven Pedrollo, Ettore Santos Consiglio
  • 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: 6059021
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an air inlet, an air outlet, a heat exchanger disposed between the air inlet and air outlet, and an air direction control mechanism at the air outlet for regulating a direction of air discharge. The regulating mechanism includes a support member having slots, and a plurality of vanes each having a projection configured correspondingly to the slots so that once the projections have been inserted through the respective slots and then rotated, the vanes are secured to the support member. Each projection includes a hinge axle about which the vane rotates, and a pair of compression protruders projecting from opposite sides of the hinge axle. The protruders bear elastically against one surface of the support member to pull a flange portion of the vane into engagement with another surface of the support member. One of the protruders of each vane carries a fixation axle which snaps into a respective open-sided hole of a connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eun-Chang Choi
  • Patent number: 6059654
    Abstract: A discharge grill of an air conditioner is capable of preventing the discharge port from being blocked by the rotation of horizontal blades. The discharge grill comprises a frame which is fixed into a discharge port of an air conditioner, a rightward/leftward air direction adjusting means having a plurality of vertical blades which are disposed on the frame in a perpendicular relation with the upper/lower walls of the frame to be rotated rightward/leftward, an upward/downward air direction adjusting means having a plurality of horizontal blades which are disposed on the frame in a horizontal relation with the upper/lower walls of the frame to be rotated upward/downward, and the rotational movement limiting means for limiting a rotational movement of the horizontal blades when the horizontal blades are rotated upward/downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 5971846
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a manual control panel for enabling a user to select from among a number of operating modes, including respective areas of a room to receive discharged air from the air conditioner. In accordance with the selected mode, there occurs an automatic adjustment of the orientation of air-directing vanes and the speed of an air discharge fan. The vanes can be adjusted to stationary positions, or can be oscillated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Seok Cho, Yong-Woong Bang
  • 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: 5888133
    Abstract: In an air conditioner, at least one up-down wind direction board rotates in an up-down direction around almost horizontal rotation axis within an air outlet, and a plurality of lateral wind direction boards rotating laterally are provided around rotation axes as the center which are almost orthogonal to the rotation axis of said up-down wind direction board. Also a diffuser constituting a part of the air outlet is provided rotationally around an almost horizontal rotation axis as the center at the lower portion of the air outlet. A motor for driving the up-down wind direction board is provided at the side of one side wall portion of the air outlet. The up-down wind direction board is set by said motor to any arbitrary angle of tilt between the initial stop position closing said air outlet and maximum open position almost vertically downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Yoshimi Kawai
  • Patent number: 5873780
    Abstract: In an air conditioner provided with at least one longitudinal louver rotating in a vertical direction with an almost horizontal rotation axis as the center and with a number of lateral louvers rotating in a lateral direction with a rotation axis line almost perpendicular to the rotation axis line of the above-described longitudinal louver, a cover plate is provided at an upper wall portion of the above-described air outlet so that a specified space is formed between the cover plate and the upper wall portion, and each of the lateral louvers is attached at the cover plate by the medium of a bush with an arm and a connecting plate for connecting the lateral louvers formed at the bush to prevent the reduction of air blowing efficiency, generation of a noise, and condensation in an air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Yoshimi Kawai
  • Patent number: RE48080
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a frame of the indoor unit; a heat exchanger mounted on the frame and having a refrigerant pipe in which a refrigerant flows; a hanger plate mounted on a rear surface of the frame and configured to fix the frame onto a wall surface; and a holder plate mounted on a lower portion of the frame and connecting the frame and the hanger plate. An end of the refrigerant pipe is placed in a space formed by the frame, the holder plate, and the hanger plate. The holder plate is movably connected on a lower portion of the frame, so the refrigerant pipe is accessible to a user to perform an operation of connecting or separating the refrigerant pipe to or from a connection pipe connected to an outdoor unit without rotating the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung June Cho, Jee Ho Park, Hyun Dal Kim