Vehicle interior panel with spiral diffuser
AssigneeFaurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
InventorBenjamin Louis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle interior panel includes a diffuser spanning an air discharge opening. The diffuser has a spiral slot formed therethrough such that changing an axial distance between opposite ends of the slot changes an air flow capacity of the diffuser. The diffuser has an elegant and simplified design and can be made as one piece from a sheet material. Air is discharged from the diffuser radially and substantially equally in all radial directions. The diffuser can also function to provide ambient light from a light source and/or to deliver an air freshening agent to the passenger cabin.
Claims19
A vehicle interior panel comprising an air discharge opening and a diffuser spanning the opening, the diffuser having a spiral slot formed therethrough such that changing an axial distance between opposite ends of the slot changes an air flow capacity of the diffuser, wherein the diffuser has a closed condition in which said opposite ends are coplanar with a base of the diffuser.
A vehicle interior panel comprising an air discharge opening and a diffuser spanning the opening, the diffuser having a spiral slot formed therethrough such that changing an axial distance between opposite ends of the slot changes an air flow capacity of the diffuser, wherein the diffuser is passively regulated such that increased pressure upstream of the diffuser causes said axial distance to increase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.