Pivot At Leading Or Trailing Vane Edge Patents (Class 454/320)
  • Patent number: 11779668
    Abstract: A UVC-integrated LED structure adapted to air sterilization-and-disinfection grilles is provided. The UVC-integrated LED structure includes a housing, an opening disposed at top of the housing, multiple wavy grilles engaged with both sides of inner wall of the opening, placement grooves openly disposed at one side of the wavy grilles, and COB light boards disposed inside the placement grooves. The UVC-integrated LED structure installs the COB light boards at the placement grooves. The structure allows the COB light boards to be hidden on the surfaces of the wavy grilles for decreasing height of the COBs. Therefore, air resistance can be reduced when the ultraviolet ray irradiates on the passing air. The impact of dust being adhered to the COB light boards can be reduced. The air passing through the multiple wavy grilles can be sterilized and disinfected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN YITOA INTELLIGENT INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Junhuang Zhuang, Zhihong Zheng
  • Patent number: 11181298
    Abstract: An air conditioning diffuser assembly includes louvers mounted in a housing, each of louvers being pivotally mounted in a sealing channel formed in a sealing member received in a louver holder. The seal has sufficient sealing capability to prevent condensation from entering the louver holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ACP Ltd.
    Inventors: Ron Zauderer, Yehuda Klein
  • Patent number: 11125463
    Abstract: Provided are an air sweeping blade, an air sweeping mechanism and an air conditioner. The air sweeping blade includes a blade body (11). A connecting rod shaft (13) rotationally connected with a connecting rod (20) is provided on the blade body (11), and the connecting rod shaft (13) extends to an edge of the blade body (11) along an axis of the connecting rod shaft and is fixedly connected with the blade body (11). By means of the structure, on one hand, the reliability of connection between the connecting rod shaft (13) and the blade body (11) is improved, and the condition of breakage caused by pulling during assembly is avoided; and on the other hand, the rigidity of the blade body (11) is improved, and the blade body (11) is prevented from distorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Shuaihui Sun, Zhi Meng, Tao Liang
  • Patent number: 10752088
    Abstract: An air vent assembly includes a cover member having an inlet for allowing a flow of air to enter the cover member. The cover member also has a vent extending from the inlet for allowing a flow of air to exit the cover member. The vent includes a first vent portion, and a second vent portion located adjacent to the first vent portion. The first vent portion has a first set of flow guiding vanes disposed therein. The second vent portion has a second set of flow guiding vanes disposed therein. Each of the vanes is spaced apart from one another and pivotally coupled to a pair of opposing walls of the cover member. The first and second sets of flow guiding vanes are independently moveable with respect to each other using an actuating mechanism for providing a variety of flow-guiding positions one of which includes a split flow-guiding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Stoia, Christopher Berthelet
  • Patent number: 10697656
    Abstract: The present invention is related in general to air circulators, and in particular, to an air circulator with a vein control system to direct and adjust airflow patterns. According to an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides adjustable, vertical veins that are attached to the outlet of a tower fan. According to a preferred embodiment, the veins are pivotally mounted in such a way that by turning a knob, the veins can either be directed into a focused air-flow pattern or adjusted to a divergent air-flow pattern, or at any setting in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Vornado Air, LLC
    Inventors: Glen W. Ediger, Gary Israel, Brian M. Cartwright, Gregory Pease, Timothy Holub
  • Patent number: 10286754
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve for an automobile, the valve comprising a frame having a top portion, a bottom portion, a left side portion and a right side portion surrounding a central air passage, the frame having an inlet side for receiving air from a passenger compartment of the automobile and having an outlet side for exhausting the air from the passenger compartment of the automobile. The valve includes a plurality of horizontal members extending between the left side portion and the right side portion, a plurality of delta-shaped spoilers supported by the horizontal members and a plurality of flaps pivotally mounted on the outlet side to pivot between a closed position that inhibits airflow and an open position that permits airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: WEGU MANUFACTURING INC.
    Inventor: Atef Mohany
  • Patent number: 10240387
    Abstract: An adjustable modular frame for a cooking appliance. The modular frame may be a front frame structure having a plurality of members or sections. The front frame may include an upper front frame section and a lower front frame section connected by a pair of front frame sections to define an outer periphery for a cavity opening. The dimensions and/or shape of the front frame structure may be adjusted to be used in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathan Nelson
  • Patent number: 8408981
    Abstract: An exhaust device applied to an electronic device is described. Memory deformable elements of the exhaust device are heated to shrink, and meanwhile, guide vanes located on an air outlet are driven to rotate and swing back and forth between a left outlet position and a right outlet position, such that the exhaust device reciprocatively changes an outlet position without requiring any external power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: MSI Computer (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heng-Yung Su, Yao-Shih Leng
  • Patent number: 7056203
    Abstract: An air-conditioning resistor has a panel member formed with an opening for an operating element and an airflow port, a retainer formed on the panel member so as to communicate with the airflow port and to define interiorly an airflow passage for allowing air-conditioning air to flow therethrough, a lateral fin pivotably supported in the retainer and being capable of adjusting the wind direction of the air-conditioning air in the vertical direction, a vertical fin pivotably supported in the retainer and being capable of adjusting the wind direction of the air-conditioning air in the lateral direction, and a spherical operating element which can operate the vertical fin and the lateral fin simultaneously and has a partial spherical surfaces arranged so as to project from the opening for the operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Shibata, Etsuo Ozawa, Katsuhiro Katagiri
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 6800023
    Abstract: An air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a frame, a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a first axis, and at least one coupling element with which each of the vanes is coupled. The coupling element is capable of being adjusted relative to the first axis between a neutral position in which the vanes are parallel to each other, and a comfort position in which at least some of the vanes are swiveled in directions opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • Patent number: 6796895
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • Publication number: 20020094774
    Abstract: An air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a frame, a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a first axis, and at least one coupling element with which each of the vanes is coupled. The coupling element is capable of being adjusted relative to the first axis between a neutral position in which the vanes are parallel to each other, and a comfort position in which at least some of the vanes are swiveled in directions opposite each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Demerath
  • 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: 6315657
    Abstract: A louver indexing device for air flow directional grilles is disclosed which allows for enhanced reliability of the indexing function, a wider selection of materials and less critical manufacturing tolerances. The end of each louver slides across an indexing plate as the blade rotates. The indexing plate is a resilient separate component from either the louver or the housing frame and is connected to both by simple screw fastener means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: E. H. Price Limited
    Inventor: Donald James Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6241603
    Abstract: A filtering system which is secured to a traditional air register. The filter uses a flange adapted to encircle the outlet of the traditional air register. Connected to the flange is an air filtering material which collects the dust and pollen at the air register, before the air enters the room. In one embodiment of the invention, an electro-static charge is used by the filtering material to assist in the collection of the dust and pollen. To assist the user in determining when the filter system should be replaced, the air flow pushes a flag; hence as the air flow decreases as the filter becomes clogged, the location of the flag notifies the user that the air filter system should be replaced. While a hook-and-loop fastener is sometimes used to secure the filter to the air register, the preferred embodiment uses a releasable adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald Watson
  • 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: 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: 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: 5921861
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a discharge outlet for discharging air, and a plurality of adjustable blades arranged across the outlet for controlling the direction of air discharged through the outlet. The blades are rotatable about parallel axes and are arranged in groups of blades. Each group is connected to a reciprocable connecting rod, whereby the blades rotate when their respective connecting rod is reciprocated. The connecting rods are interconnected in end-to-end relationship by slip joints. A motor connected to one of the connecting rods can reciprocate all of the connecting rods together for simultaneously adjusting all blades. When the motor is off, the blade groups can be manually rotated relative to one another, as permitted by slippage in the slip joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeon-Seob Yoon
  • Patent number: 5839953
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the flow of air from an air-conditioning unit includes a row of guide vanes which are pivotally held by an outlet nozzle. The guide vanes are located at the lower end of an air course which has been formed within a body of the air-conditioning unit. The guide vanes control the flow of air in both left and right directions. This new design is characterized in that the angle of inclination of each guide vane progressively changes toward the end of the row. The air flow is controlled accurately in both the left and right directions so that the air flow reaches the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5833532
    Abstract: In an apparatus in which a blow-out nozzle is provided at a lower end of an air course formed in the inside of a body of the air-conditioning equipment and blown air passed through the air course is blown out of a blow-outlet while guided in the left/right direction by a plurality of parallel guide vanes pivotally held by the blow-out nozzle, wherein each vane has a C-shaped annular pivotal bearing and a sleeve fitted into the bearing, a shaft extending from an inner wall of the nozzle being inserted into the sleeve, the shaft having claws which project from the upper end portion of the shaft so as to retain the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5797792
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the flow of air from an air-conditioning unit includes a row of guide vanes which are pivotally held by an outlet nozzle. The guide vanes are located at the lower end of an air course which has been formed within a body of the air-conditioning unit. The guide vanes control the flow of air in both left and right directions. This new design is characterized in that the angle of inclination of each guide vane progressively changes toward the end of the row. The air flow is controlled accurately in both the left and right directions so that the air flow reaches the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5788570
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and a heat exchanger. The air outlet has adjustable air direction control blades extending thereacross enabling a direction of discharged air to be set by a user. The blades are adjusted by a motor. When the air conditioner is shut-off, a controller memory stores the position of the blades and then moves the blades to a closed state. Upon re-starting the air conditioner, the controller drives the motor to return the blades to their previous (memorized) position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Seok Cho
  • 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: 5660588
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the flow of air from an air-conditioning unit includes a row of guide vanes which are pivotally held by an outlet nozzle. The guide vanes are located at the lower end of an air course which has been formed within a body of the air-conditioning unit. The guide vanes control the flow of air in both left and right directions. This new design is characterized in that the angle of inclination of each guide vane progressively changes toward the end of the row. The air flow is controlled accurately in both the left and right directions so that the air flow reaches the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5591079
    Abstract: A louver assembly for directing airflow from an air duct. The assembly includes a discharge outlet adapted to attach to an air duct at an opening thereof; a plurality of directional louvers pivotably attached to the discharge outlet; and a lever, connected to the louvers, for selectively directing airflow from the air duct in a plurality of directions. The lever is pivotably connected to at least one of the louvers for concurrently movably adjusting an orientation of the louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Saida
  • Patent number: 5586935
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the flow of air from an air-conditioning unit includes a row of guide vanes which are pivotally held by an outlet nozzle. The guide vanes are located at the lower end of an air course which has been formed within a body of the air-conditioning unit. The guide vanes control the flow of air in both left and right directions. This new design is characterized in that the angle of inclination of each guide vane progressively changes toward the end of the row. The air flow is controlled accurately in both the left and right directions so that the air flow reaches the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5586933
    Abstract: A grille (3) for use adjacent an outlet of a heating, ventilating or air conditioning system comprising a frame (15) and a plurality of blades (25) extending between opposed frame parts. Each blade (25) has a spindle (26) which is rotatably supported within opposed slots (21) formed in the opposed parts of the frame. The slots (21) are open at one end to permit the insertion of the blade spindle and the spindle is supported at the closed ends of the slots. The grille (3) further comprises means for retaining the blade spindles (26) in the slots (21). The retaining means comprise an element (30) mountable upon the frame (15) of the grille such that part of the retaining element (30) engages the blade spindles (26) when mounted upon the frame and prevents the spindles (26) from moving out of the open ends of the slots (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hunter Technical Developments Limited
    Inventors: Colin Sawyer, John Wallis, Peter Bartingale
  • Patent number: 5556334
    Abstract: A ventilation nozzle for the interior of a motor vehicle, having a nozzle housing and a set of pivotable fins which extend parallel to one another over the housing opening. For the purpose of obtaining an aesthetic appearance when the ventilation nozzle is installed in curved wall surfaces, the fins and those housing walls of the nozzle housing which are parallel to the fins each have a front edge extending in a curved manner, matching the curvature of the wall surface, and each fin is divided in the longitudinal direction into a front part, which bears the curved front edge, and into a rear part which continues immediately from the front part. The front parts are fastened rigidly in the nozzle housing, whereas the rear parts are held pivotably on the front parts and are coupled to one another for the purpose of a joint pivoting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Cecotti, Josef Cecotti, Rolf Rohm
  • Patent number: 5520579
    Abstract: A louver assembly for directing airflow from an air duct. The assembly includes a discharge outlet adapted to attach to an air duct at an opening thereof; a plurality of directional louvers pivotably attached to the discharge outlet; and a lever, connected to the louvers, for selectively directing airflow from the air duct in a plurality of directions. The lever is pivotably connected to at least one of the louvers for concurrently movably adjusting an orientation of the louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Saida
  • Patent number: 5468186
    Abstract: An adjustable louver assembly including a box like member having a plurality of longitudinal extending parallel louvers. The outer most of the louvers forming the top and bottom thereof and further including lateral sides interconnecting the top and bottom louvers. The box has an open front and back side and includes a plurality of vertical ribs, having a circular cross section, which interconnect each of the horizonal louvers. A plurality of planar air deflectors having complimentary means formed on a vertical edge thereof are adapted to engage one of the vertically extending ribs to thereby mount the deflectors for pivotal movement about the rib with the deflector extending perpendicular to the horizonal louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore S. Bolton, Stephen Stopyra
  • Patent number: 5397267
    Abstract: A one-piece adjustable air discharge register is of a generally clamshell-type of construction having a number of air-directing vanes formed integrally therein with the discharge register being adapted for pivotal mounting in an air discharge opening for adjustment of the flow of discharge air in a first adjustment direction. The discharge register also has a number of pivotally movable air-directing louvers formed integrally therein for adjustment of discharge airflow in a second adjustment direction transverse to, and independent of, the first adjustment direction. The one-piece discharge register includes an integral frame portion for supporting the movable louvers, with a number of sets of living hinges being integrally formed with the frame portion, the fixed vanes, and the movable louvers, in order to allow the register to be molded as a single, one-piece device and assembled in a simple one-step operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Inventors: Anthony M. Vecellio, Benjamin L. Schwegman
  • Patent number: 5393262
    Abstract: An air-conditioning blow-out port device includes a housing of synthetic resin; a plurality of blades of synthetic resin each having a blade body disposed within the housing pairs of shaft bores provided in a coaxial arrangement in each pair in opposed portions of a peripheral wall of the housing; a pair of support shafts projectingly provided on opposite ends of the blade body and rotatably fitted in the shaft bores. A pivotal mounting portion is provided on each of the blades, and an interlocking link interlockingly connects the pivotal mounting portions of the blades. The pivotal mounting portion is comprised of a pivotal supporting shaft which is projectingly provided in parallel to the support shaft at an end of each blade body to extend through a pivotal supporting bore in the interlocking link, and a slip-off preventing projection provided at a tip end of the pivotal supporting shaft to engage an edge of the pivotal supporting bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignees: Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha, Ise Kanagata Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Katsumi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5364303
    Abstract: An air vent comprising a first row of air vanes for controlling the lateral orientation of air emitted from the air vent and a second row of air vanes for controlling the vertical orientation of air emitted from the air vent. The first and second row of air vanes can be adjusted independently. The first row of air vanes has a control vane to which is mounted a control knob. The control knob is connected to the second row of air vanes by a ball joint mounted pin, whereby the vertical movement of the control knob results in rotation of the second row of air vanes about a horizontal axis. The control knob is connected to the first row of air vanes by links. The lateral movement of the control knob results in a corresponding parallel rotational movement of the first row of air vanes to control the lateral position of a concentrated stream of the air emitted from the air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Summit Polymers, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren W. Terry
  • Patent number: 5338252
    Abstract: An air outlet louver assembly (10) includes a housing (12), primary vanes (14,36), secondary vanes (48,49), and a damper door (86). A control handle (58) independently controls the primary and secondary vanes (14,36,48,49), and a wheel (100) controls the damper door (86). Ridges (74) on a secondary vane (48) engage a control fork (66) on the control handle (58) to provide ratcheting control of the primary vanes (14,36) by the control handle (58). A nub (82) on a secondary vane (48) contacts depressions (80) in the housing (12) to provide ratcheting control of the secondary vanes (48,49). Frictional contact between a nub (106) on the wheel (100) and depressions (108) in the housing (12) provide ratcheting control of the damper door (86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Manchester Plastics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Geoffrey H. Bowler, Bruce H. B. Chow
  • Patent number: 5238448
    Abstract: The air-conditioning grille comprises an inner case having an opening through which the wind blows out located in a wind blowing duct. In the duct, provided are plural wind deflecting plates which are bendable so as to make both the ends thereof extend substantially crossing the blowing direction. In the duct provided is a connecting member which connects the upstream ends of the wind deflecting plates together and restricts rotations of these connecting portions relative to each other. Also provided is an operation member to be operated to bend the wind deflecting plates. One transfer shaft is provided to transfer an operational force of the operation member, at the time of its operation, to the connecting member. In order to prevent the connecting member from rotating itself about the transfer shaft with operation of the operation member, rotation moments of the connecting member about the transfer shaft substantially cancel one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Toyoda gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Komori, Kazuo Fujihara
  • Patent number: 5180333
    Abstract: A ventilation device, which comprises a sensor unit, a fan and control units to control on/off operation and the strength, temperature, humidity and directions of the wind or discharged air. The device can be applied to air conditioners, and ventilators. The sensor unit, monitoring the location and existence of human bodies within the ventilating area, enables the fan and the control units to be on or off while sensing the first person who comes into the area or the last person who leaves the area; and to adjust the strength and directions of the wind based on the location of the human bodies. The sensor unit, furthermore, can follow a specific human body and actuate the control units to provide needed wind based on his/her requirement. When the fan stops operating, all the openings of the ventilation device will shut so that the dust cannot get into the ventilation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Norm Pacific Automation Corp.
    Inventor: Jia-Ming Shyu
  • Patent number: 5176571
    Abstract: Wind deflecting plates of an air conditioning grille include flexible plates are made of a thermoplastic material, so that they may bend to smoothly change the direction of wind when the deflecting plates are swung, and front and rear supports for the flexible plates. The material for the front and rear supports is of the same type as the material for the flexible plate and has a melting point close to that of the flexible plate but a hardness and stiffness different from the material of the flexible plate. The supports support the associated flexible plate at the windward and leeward ends thereof, respectively, and urge the flexible plate when bent to return to the flat state. At the end surface facing a blower rotor, the rear support has an arc portion having a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Fujihara, Hidenori Ueda, Kazuhiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 5129858
    Abstract: An air-conditioning grille comprises an inner case having an opening through which the wind blows out located in a wind blowing duct. In the duct, provided are plural wind deflecting plates which are bendable so as to make both the ends thereof extend substantially crossing the blowing direction. In the duct provided is a connecting member which connects the upstream ends of the wind deflecting plates together and restricts rotations of these connecting portions relative to each other. Also provided is an operation member to be operated to bend the wind deflecting plates. One transfer shaft is provided to transfer an operational force of the operation member, at the time of its operation, to the connecting member. In order to prevent the connecting member from rotating itself about the transfer shaft with operation of the operation member, rotation moments of the connecting member about the transfer shaft substantially cancel one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Komori, Kazuo Fujihara, Hiroshi Iwata, Toshihiko Mori