Air vent for ventilation systems

• US 7,044,849 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Dippel, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US10/388,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20040063397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 454/152, 454/69, 454/143, 454/154, 454/286
• US Class Current: 454/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3407 providing an air stream in a fixed direction, e.g. using a grid or porous panel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3414 with means for adjusting the air stream direction B60H1/345 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/345 with means for adjusting divergence, convergence or oscillation of air stream
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/065 formed as cylindrical or spherical bodies which are rotatable

Abstract

An air vent is provided that is capable of delivering a distributed divergent air flow with a predominant direction of flow that can be changed within a wide range of mutually perpendicular directions. In one embodiment, the air vent has an outlet grid that is generally ball shaped and that is rotatably mounted at an end of an air duct for rotation about its center. Each of the multiple outlet openings of the grid points to a direction that is different from pointing directions of all other outlet openings so that a divergent air flow is obtained. By rotating the ball shaped grid about its center, the predominant direction of air flow can nevertheless be changed in a within a wide range.

Claims

1. An air vent for a ventilation system in a vehicle, comprising an outlet grid having multiple outlet openings, wherein said outlet grid is generally ball shaped, and further comprising a hub member which is provided inside said outlet grid for pivotally mounting said outlet grid on a ball member that is mounted at an end of an air duct.

2. The air vent of claim 1, wherein each of said outlet openings points to a direction that is different from pointing directions of all other outlet openings in a manner to provide a divergent air flow.

3. The air vent of claim 1, wherein each of said outlet openings points to substantially the same direction in a manner to provide a directed air flow.

4. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein movable baffle elements are placed upstream of said outlet openings.

5. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein said outlet grid is assembled from a substantially semi-spherical shell member and an annular support member.

6. The air vent according to claim 4, wherein said baffle elements are integrally molded with a support member.