# US 11,299,009 B2 · Vehicle HVAC system with modular door design > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,009 B2 - Document ID: US11299009B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/813,902 - Filed: 2020-03-10 - Published: 2021-09-16 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-10 - Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc. - Applicants: DENSO International America, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Baron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299009B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00671: {Damper doors moved by rotation; Grilles} - B60H 1/00692: {Damper doors moved by translation, e.g. curtain doors} - B60H 1/00685: {the door being a rotating disc or cylinder or part thereof (B60H1/00678 takes precedence)} - B60H 2001/007: {Manufacturing or assembling} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A modular door for a vehicle HVAC system includes a door plate, a first shaft, and a second shaft. The door plate has a front surface extending between an upper edge surface and a lower edge surface. The upper edge surface defines a first array of keyed orifices. The lower edge surface defines a second array of keyed orifices. The first shaft has a first keyed protrusion that is disposed within a first keyed orifice of the first array of keyed orifices. The second shaft has a second keyed protrusion that is disposed within a first keyed orifice of the second array of keyed orifices. The first keyed orifice of the first array of keyed orifices and the first keyed orifice of the second array of keyed orifices form a pair of axially aligned keyed orifices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular door for a vehicle HVAC system comprising: a door plate having a front surface extending between an upper edge surface and a lower edge surface, the upper edge surface defining a first array of keyed orifices and the lower edge surface defining a second array of keyed orifices, wherein the first and second arrays of keyed orifices form pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices, and wherein each of the keyed orifices within each pair axially aligned of keyed orifices has a shape that differs from the keyed orifices that form the other pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices; a first shaft having a first keyed protrusion disposed within a first keyed orifice of the first array of keyed orifices; and a second shaft having a second keyed protrusion disposed within a first keyed orifice of the second array of keyed orifices, wherein the first keyed orifice of the first array of keyed orifices and the first keyed orifice of the second array of keyed orifices form a first pair of the pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 1, wherein each of the keyed orifices within each pair of axially aligned keyed orifices are identical in shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 1 wherein each of the keyed orifices within each pair axially aligned of keyed orifices has a size that differs from the keyed orifices that form the other pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 1, wherein each of the keyed orifices of the first pair of axially aligned keyed orifices are T-shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 1, wherein each of the keyed orifices of the first pair of axially aligned keyed orifices are cross-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 1 further comprising a barrel type door secured to a first lateral end of the door plate. ### Claim 7 A modular door for a vehicle HVAC system comprising: a post having an upper edge surface, a lower edge surface, a lateral side defining a receptacle, the upper edge surface defining a first array of keyed orifices and the lower edge surface defining a second array of keyed orifices, wherein the first and second arrays of keyed orifices form pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices; a door plate having a lateral edge disposed within the receptacle; a first shaft having a first keyed protrusion disposed within a first keyed orifice of the first array of keyed orifices; and a second shaft having a second keyed protrusion disposed within a first keyed orifice of the second array of keyed orifices, wherein the first keyed orifice of the first array of keyed orifices and the first keyed orifice of the second array of keyed orifices form a first pair of the pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 7, wherein each of the keyed orifices within each pair of axially aligned keyed orifices are identical in shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 7, wherein each of the keyed orifices within each pair axially aligned of keyed orifices has a shape that differs from the keyed orifices that form the other pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 9, wherein each of the keyed orifices within each pair axially aligned of keyed orifices has a size that differs from the keyed orifices that form the other pairs of axially aligned keyed orifices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 9, wherein each of the keyed orifices of the first pair of axially aligned keyed orifices are T-shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 9, wherein each of the keyed orifices of the first pair of axially aligned keyed orifices are cross-shaped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 7 further comprising a barrel type door secured to a first lateral end of the door plate. ### Claim 14 A modular door for a vehicle HVAC system comprising: a door plate having a front surface extending between an upper edge surface and a lower edge surface, the door plate defining an array of parallel keyed cavities that extend from the upper edge surface to the lower edge surface; and a shaft having a keyed portion disposed within a first keyed cavity of the array of keyed cavities and having first and second ends that protrude from the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 14, wherein each of the keyed cavities has a shape that differs from the other keyed cavities. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 15, wherein the first of the keyed cavities is D-shaped. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 15, wherein the first of the keyed cavities is T-shaped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 15, wherein the first of the keyed cavities is cross-shaped. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The modular door for a vehicle HVAC system of claim 15, wherein the first of the keyed cavities is oval-shaped.