# US 2014/0196965 A1 · Vehicle grille close-out assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196965 A1 - Document ID: US20140196965A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/740,156 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Gordon M. Platto; David Michael Lechkun; Dong Park; Brad Alan Richards; Jonathan Fontaine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196965A1 ## CPC - B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds} - 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 vehicle grille assembly is provided with a grille and a close-out assembly. The close-out assembly is adapted to at least partially block an airflow opening in the vehicle grille is moveable to translate and rotate with respect to the airflow opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle grille close-out assembly comprising: a close-out element moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position and adapted to at least partially block an airflow opening in a vehicle grille in the deployed position; a carrier arm mounted to slide in a fore-aft direction, wherein the close-out element is pivotally connected to the carrier arm; and a support arm including at least one roller connected to the support arm and supporting the close-out element, wherein the close-out element translates on the roller with respect to the support arm when the carrier arm slides in the fore-aft direction, wherein the close-out element pivots and is unsupported by the support arm in the stowed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle grille of claim 1 further comprising a linear actuator operatively connected to the carrier arm to move the carrier arm in the fore-aft direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle grille of claim 1 wherein the close-out element includes a back-plate and a plurality of fins extending from the back plate, wherein in the deployed position, the plurality of fins cooperate with a plurality of airflow openings in the vehicle grille. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle grille of claim 3 wherein in the deployed position, the fins generally extend in the fore-aft direction, and in the stowed position, the fins generally extend in an upright direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle grille of claim 1 wherein when the support arm is disposed along a distal end portion of the close-out element, and the carrier arm slides beyond the support arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle grille of claim 1 wherein the support arm is mounted to a vehicle frame and the carrier arm is operatively connected to the vehicle frame by a roller. ### Claim 7 A vehicle grille assembly comprising: a grille; and a close-out assembly adapted to at least partially block an airflow opening in the vehicle grille and being moveable to translate and rotate with respect to the airflow opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle grille assembly of claim 7 wherein the close-out assembly is movable to translate and rotate in a fore-aft direction being generally transverse to a front surface of the grille, the close-out assembly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle grille assembly of claim 8 wherein the grille includes a plurality of grille openings spaced apart in an upright direction and being elongated in a transverse direction, wherein the close-out includes a plurality of fins, wherein in the deployed position, the fins extend in the fore-aft direction, one of the plurality of fins disposed in each of the plurality of grille openings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle grille assembly of claim 9 wherein in the stowed position, the plurality of fins extend in the upright direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle grille assembly of claim 9 wherein the close-out assembly further comprises a close-out element including the plurality of fins extending from a back plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle grille assembly of claim 9 wherein in the deployed position, a distal end of the plurality of fins is generally coplanar with the front surface of the grille. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle grille assembly of claim 11 wherein the close-out assembly further comprises: a carrier arm mounted to slide in a fore-aft direction, wherein the close-out element is pivotally connected to the carrier arm; and a support arm including at least one roller connected to the support arm and supporting the close-out element, wherein the close-out element translates on the roller with respect to the support arm when the carrier arm slides in the fore-aft direction, wherein the close-out element pivots and is unsupported by the support arm in the stowed position. ### Claim 14 A vehicle comprising: a front fascia having a grille defining at least one airflow opening; and a grille close-out assembly adapted to at least partially block the airflow opening and being moveable to translate and rotate with respect to the airflow opening between a stowed position and a deployed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the grille close-out assembly is movable to translate and rotate in a fore-aft direction being generally transverse to a front surface of the grille. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the grille includes a plurality of grille openings spaced apart in a vertical direction and being elongated in a transverse direction, wherein the grille close-out includes a plurality of fins, wherein in the deployed position, the fins extend in the fore-aft direction, one of the plurality of fins disposed in each of the plurality of grille openings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16 wherein in a stowed position, the plurality of fins extend in an upright direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the grille close-out assembly further comprises a close-out element including the plurality of fins mounted to a back plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the grille close-out assembly further comprises: a carrier arm mounted to slide in a fore-aft direction, wherein the close-out element is pivotally connected to the carrier arm; and a support arm including at least one roller connected to the support arm and supporting the close-out element, wherein the close-out element translates on the roller with respect to the support arm when the carrier arm slides in the fore-aft direction, wherein the close-out element pivots and is unsupported by the support arm in the stowed position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16 wherein in the deployed position, a distal end of each of the plurality of fins is generally coplanar with the front surface of the grille.