Coaxial knob control for vehicle vent

A vent assembly of a vehicle comprising:

• a bezel defining a vent opening through which an airflow is directed;
• a primary vane extending across the vent opening, the primary vane selectably movable about a primary vane axis to adjust a direction of the airflow in a first direction;
• a plurality of secondary vanes arrayed across the vent opening, each secondary vane selectably movable about a secondary vane axis nonparallel to the primary vane axis to adjust the direction of the airflow in a second direction;
• a primary adjustment knob disposed on an adjustment shaft and rotatable about an adjustment axis, the primary adjustment knob configured such that movement of the primary adjustment knob about the adjustment axis moves the primary vane about the primary vane axis;
• and
• a secondary adjustment knob coaxial with the primary adjustment knob and independently rotatable about the adjustment axis, the secondary adjustment knob configured such that movement of the secondary adjustment knob about the adjustment axis moves the plurality of secondary vanes about their respective secondary vane axes;
• wherein the primary adjustment knob and the secondary adjustment knob are moveable along the adjustment axis between an extended position for movement of the primary vane and the plurality of secondary vanes, and a locked position preventing movement of the primary vane and the plurality of secondary vanes.

A method of adjusting airflow through a vent assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

• providing a primary adjustment knob at and rotatably about an adjustment axis, the primary adjustment knob operably connected to a primary vane of the vent assembly via an adjustment shaft;
• providing a secondary adjustment knob operably connected to a plurality of secondary vanes of the vent assembly, the secondary adjustment knob coaxial with the primary adjustment knob and independently rotatable about the adjustment axis;
• moving the primary adjustment knob about the adjustment axis to rotate the primary vane about a primary vane axis to adjust a position of the primary vane;
• moving the secondary adjustment knob about the adjustment axis to adjust a position of the plurality of secondary vanes;
• adjusting a direction of the airflow as a result of adjusting the position of the primary vane and the plurality of secondary vanes;
• rotating the primary vane about the primary vane axis by moving a vane pin extending from the primary vane, the vane pin operably connected to the primary adjustment knob via an adjustment barrel disposed on the adjustment shaft, the vane pin disposed in an adjustment groove of the adjustment barrel;
• and
• moving the plurality of secondary vanes about their respective secondary vane axes via rotation of a sleeve conical gear about the adjustment axis, the sleeve conical gear disposed at an adjustment sleeve installed onto the adjustment shaft;
• wherein the adjustment sleeve is disposed radially between the adjustment shaft and an adjustment cylinder extending from the secondary adjustment knob along the adjustment axis, the adjustment sleeve corotational with the adjustment cylinder about the adjustment axis.