Grille shutter assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle grille shutter assembly comprising:
- a first louver mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis;
a second louver mounted for rotation about a second rotational axis, the first and second rotational axes being angled relative to each other such that the first and second rotational axes intersect each other at an angle that is less than 180 degrees; and
a drive link connected to the first and second louvers and transmitting rotational motion of the first louver to the second louver, wherein the drive link is connected to the first louver by a first peg attached to one of the first louver and the drive link and rotatably received in a first aperture included in the other of the first louver and the drive link, wherein the drive link is connected to the second louver by a second peg attached to one of the second louver and the drive link and rotatably received in a second aperture included in the other of the second louver and the drive link, the first and second pegs extending along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, the first and second longitudinal axes being angled relative to each other such that the first and second longitudinal axes intersect each other at an angle that equals the angle between the first and second rotational axes,wherein rotational motion of the first and second louvers between open and closed positions causes linear movement of the first peg within the first aperture along the first longitudinal axis and linear movement of the second peg within the second aperture along the second longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle grille shutter assembly is provided that may include first and second louvers and a drive link. The first louver may be mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis. The second louver may be mounted for rotation about a second rotational axis. The first and second rotational axes may be angled relative to each other. The drive link may be connected to the first and second louvers and may transmit rotational motion of the first louver to the second louver.
51 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle grille shutter assembly comprising:
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a first louver mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis; a second louver mounted for rotation about a second rotational axis, the first and second rotational axes being angled relative to each other such that the first and second rotational axes intersect each other at an angle that is less than 180 degrees; and a drive link connected to the first and second louvers and transmitting rotational motion of the first louver to the second louver, wherein the drive link is connected to the first louver by a first peg attached to one of the first louver and the drive link and rotatably received in a first aperture included in the other of the first louver and the drive link, wherein the drive link is connected to the second louver by a second peg attached to one of the second louver and the drive link and rotatably received in a second aperture included in the other of the second louver and the drive link, the first and second pegs extending along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, the first and second longitudinal axes being angled relative to each other such that the first and second longitudinal axes intersect each other at an angle that equals the angle between the first and second rotational axes, wherein rotational motion of the first and second louvers between open and closed positions causes linear movement of the first peg within the first aperture along the first longitudinal axis and linear movement of the second peg within the second aperture along the second longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a grille including an outer frame, a plurality of first bars and a plurality of second bars, the outer frame defining an opening, the first and second bars attached to the frame and extending across at least a portion of the opening; a plurality of first louvers mounted to the grille and rotatable relative to the grille, each of the first louvers being mounted at a first end to the outer frame and mounted at a second end to a corresponding different one of the first bars, the first end of the first louvers extends past a periphery of the opening to mount to the outer frame, the first louvers being rotatable about first rotational axes; a plurality of second louvers mounted to the grille and rotatable relative to the grille, each of the second louvers being mounted at a first end to the outer frame and mounted at a second end to a corresponding different one of the second bars, the first end of the second louvers extends past a periphery of the opening to mount to the outer frame, the second louvers being rotatable about second rotational axes, the first rotational axes being angled relative to the second rotational axes such that the first rotational axes and second rotational axes intersect at an angle that is less than 180 degrees; and a drive link connected to the plurality of first louvers and the plurality of second louvers and transmitting rotational motion of one of the first louvers to the rest of the first louvers and the second louvers, wherein the drive link has a plurality of arms, each of the arms including one of a plurality of first pegs and one of a plurality of second pegs, wherein each first peg connects a respective one of the first louvers to the drive link, and each second peg connects a respective one of the second louvers to the drive link, wherein rotational motion of the first and second louvers between open and closed positions causes relative linear movement between first pegs and portions of the first louvers and relative linear movement between second pegs and portions of the second louvers, such that the portions of the first and second louvers slide along respective first and second pegs toward distal ends of the first and second pegs as the first and second louvers rotate from the open position to the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification