# US 2014/0194052 A1 · Grille apparatus for vehicle

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- Number: US 2014/0194052 A1
- Document ID: US20140194052A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/133,846
- Filed: 2013-12-19
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10
- Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Yoshimasa ASANO; Hideki KAWABATA; Yasuaki NISHIO; Shuhei UCHIDA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194052A1

## CPC

- B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds}
- B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor
- Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A grille apparatus for a vehicle includes a first cover arranged at an opening portion of a front grille, a second cover arranged at the opening portion of the front grille, and a drive mechanism changing a relative position of the first cover and the second cover in response to a driving force of a drive source, in which the drive mechanism changes an opening amount of the front grille by performing an opening operation moving the second cover to a rear of the first cover, and by performing a closing operation returning the second cover to a fully-closed position, the fully-closed position before moving the second cover to the rear of the first cover while maintaining the first cover and the second cover within the opening portion of the front grille.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A grille apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a first cover arranged at an opening portion of a front grille;
a second cover arranged at the opening portion of the front grille; and
a drive mechanism changing a relative position of the first cover and the second cover in response to a driving force of a drive source, wherein the drive mechanism changes an opening amount of the front grille by performing an opening operation moving the second cover to a rear of the first cover, and by performing a closing operation returning the second cover to a fully-closed position, the fully-closed position before moving the second cover to the rear of the first cover while maintaining the first cover and the second cover within the opening portion of the front grille.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the opening operation and the closing operation are performed by a sliding movement of the second cover.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the sliding movement includes a movement of the second cover to a rear in a vehicle front-rear direction from the fully-closed position when the opening operation is performed, and a movement of the second cover to a front in the vehicle front-rear direction to return to the fully-closed position when the closing operation is performed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism includes a supporting member supporting the second cover, a guide protrusion provided at the supporting member, a bracket including a guide groove engaging with the guide protrusion, and a driving force transmission mechanism moving the second cover integrally with the supporting member by transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the supporting member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism is arranged at an end portion of the opening portion of the front grille in a direction intersecting a sliding movement direction of the second cover within the opening portion of the front grille.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the driving force transmission mechanism includes a moving body connected to the supporting member and a conversion mechanism converting the driving force of the drive source into a reciprocating movement of the moving body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the bracket includes a storage chamber slidably accommodating the moving body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the moving body includes an engaging recessed portion engaging with the guide protrusion to be connected to the supporting member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first covers and a plurality of the second covers are arranged alternately in line when the second cover is in the fully-closed position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism includes a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism that are arranged at positions to sandwich the drive source.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The grille apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first cover and the second cover are arranged alternately in line in the width direction of the opening portion of the front grille when the second cover is in the fully-closed position.