Attachment structure for adjustable air diffuser

• US 8,919,864 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Kojima, Naoki, Fukushima, Shinji, Suzuki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US14/026,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20140084624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 296/180.3, 296/180.5, 296/187.03, 296/187.09, 293/113, 180/68.1
• US Class Current: 296/180.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

An adjustable air diffuser is disposed in an airflow channel into which a travelling wind is directed through an opening provided in a bumper face. The diffuser opens and closes the channel by movable louver blades driven by an actuator. An upper part of the diffuser is disposed to face a rear wall of the bumper face and is attached to a bumper beam extending along a vehicle width direction. A lower part of the diffuser is attached to a vehicle body structural member. The attachment structure includes a column that is disposed behind the adjustable air diffuser. A lower end of the column is attached to a lower end of the adjustable air diffuser. Weak portions are provided on the column such that the column breaks when the column interferes with another member behind the column.

Claims

1. An attachment structure for an adjustable air diffuser disposed in an airflow channel into which a travelling wind is directed through an opening provided in a bumper face, the adjustable air diffuser being configured to substantially open and close the airflow channel by a movable louver blade to be driven by an actuator, wherein:

an upper part of the adjustable air diffuser is disposed to face a rear wall of the bumper face and is attached to a bumper beam extending substantially along a vehicle width direction;

a lower part of the adjustable air diffuser is attached to a vehicle body structural member;

the attachment structure includes a column disposed behind the adjustable air diffuser, a lower end of the column being attached to a lower end of the adjustable air diffuser;

the column includes a vertically extending main body disposed behind a frame of the adjustable air diffuser so as not to interfere with rotation of the movable louver blade, a coupling wall that couples a lower end of the main body and the lower end of the adjustable air diffuser, and a louver axle support wall that projects forward from the main body so as to support an axle of the movable louver blade; and

at least one weak portion is provided on the column such that the column breaks when the column interferes with another member behind the column.

2. The attachment structure for the adjustable air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein two weak portions are provided in the column at the vicinity of an intermediate position and a lower end position in a height direction of the column.

3. The attachment structure for the adjustable air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein:

an upper end of the column is attached to an upper end of the adjustable air diffuser such that the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser is detachable from the column when the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser receives a backward load over a predetermined value; and

the column is provided with a diagonal face that is pushed to move upward in response to relative retraction movement of the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser after the adjustable air diffuser has been detached from the column.

4. The attachment structure for the adjustable air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein:

an upper end of the column is attached to an upper end of the adjustable air diffuser such that the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser is detachable from the column when the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser receives a backward load over a predetermined value; and

the column is provided with a diagonal face that is pushed to move upward in response to relative retraction movement of the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser after the adjustable air diffuser has been detached from the column.

5. An attachment structure for an adjustable air diffuser disposed in an airflow channel into which a travelling wind is directed through an opening provided in a bumper face, the adjustable air diffuser being configured to substantially open and close the airflow channel by a movable louver blade to be driven by an actuator, wherein:

an upper part of the adjustable air diffuser is disposed to face a rear wall of the bumper face and is attached to a bumper beam extending substantially along a vehicle width direction;

a lower part of the adjustable air diffuser is attached to a vehicle body structural member;

the attachment structure includes a column that is disposed behind the adjustable air diffuser, a lower end of the column being attached to a lower end of the adjustable air diffuser;

the column includes a vertically extending main body disposed behind a frame of the adjustable air diffuser so as not to interfere with rotation of the movable louver blade, a coupling wall that couples a lower end of the main body and the lower end of the adjustable air diffuser, and a louver axle support wall that projects forward from the main body so as to support an axle of the movable louver blade; and

the column is configured to drop from the adjustable air diffuser by another member behind the column when the column interferes with the another member.

6. The attachment structure for the adjustable air diffuser according to claim 5, wherein:

an upper end of the column is attached to an upper end of the adjustable air diffuser such that the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser is detachable from the column when the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser receives a backward load over a predetermined value; and

the column is provided with a diagonal face that is pushed to move upward in response to relative retraction movement of the upper end of the adjustable air diffuser after the adjustable air diffuser has been detached from the column.