Air vent for a passenger vehicle

An airflow control system for an air vent comprising:

• a face plate including a first end portion, a second end portion, an upper edge portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a lower edge portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;
• a paddle vane system pivotally mounted to the face plate, the paddle vane system including a first paddle vane extending between the first end portion and the second end portion along the upper edge portion and a second paddle vane extending between the first end portion and the second end portion along the lower edge portion;
• and
• a control system mounted to the face plate and operatively connected to the paddle vane system, the control system being configured to rotate the first paddle vane about a first paddle vane axis extending between the first end portion and the second end portion and the second paddle vane about a second paddle vane axis extending between the first end portion and the second end portion to selectively direct air over the upper edge portion and under the lower edge portion.

A vehicle comprising:

• a body;
• a plurality of wheels supporting the body;
• a passenger compartment defined within the body, and
• an air vent system provided in the passenger compartment, the air vent system comprising:
• a housing including a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion having an upper edge and a lower edge extending between the first end and the second end, the intermediate portion including an inlet;
• a face plate mounted to the housing, the face plate including a first end portion, a second end portion, an upper edge portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a lower edge portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;
• a paddle vane system pivotally mounted to the face plate, the paddle vane system including a first paddle vane extending between the first end portion and the second end portion along the upper edge portion and a second paddle vane extending between the first end portion and the second end portion along the lower edge portion;
• and
• a control system mounted to the face plate and operatively connected to the paddle vane system, the control system being configured to rotate the first paddle vane about a first paddle vane axis extending between the first end portion and the second end portion and the second paddle vane about a second paddle vane axis extending between the first end portion and the second end portion to selectively direct air flowing from the inlet between the upper edge and the upper edge portion and the lower edge and the lower edge portion.