US 4,546,695 AGranted

Louvered grille unit and method of its manufacture

AssigneesNissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.

InventorsToshiki Ouchi, Yoshiaki Sano

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Abstract

A grille unit has a frame and a vane pivotally connected to the frame via opposing first and second shafts. The frame has first and second holes snugly receiving the first and second shafts respectively. The first shaft has a peripheral surface, the diameter of which continuously varies along the axis thereof. The second shaft has a similar peripheral surface. The varying-diameter surfaces of the first and second shafts face in opposite directions. The frame has a first inner surface which conforms to the varying-diameter surface of the first shaft to engage the latter. The frame has a second inner surface which conforms to the varying-diameter surface of the second shaft to engage the latter. A method of manufacturing the grille unit includes the steps of forming the frame from plastic, and assemblying a mold with the frame positioned within the mold. In this case, the mold has therein a space snugly accommodating the frame, a cavity conforming to the vane for making the vane, first and second passages connecting the first and second holes of the frame with the cavity respectively, and a gate extending from the outside of the mold to the cavity. After assembly of the mold, soft plastic is injected into the cavity via the gate until the injected soft plastic fills the first and second holes of the frame via the first and second passages.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A grille unit for adjustably directing a fluid such as air, comprising:

(a) a vane;
(b) axially aligned first and second shafts of circular cross-section extending from the vane in opposite directions;
and
(c) a frame having axially aligned first and second holes of circular cross-section in which the first and second shafts rotatably fit respectively, whereby the vane can pivot about the shafts;
(d) the diameter of at least part of the first shaft continuously varying along the axis thereof so that the first shaft has a varying-diameter surface;
(e) the frame having a first inner surface which defines at least part of the first hole and which conforms to and mates with the varying-diameter surface of the first shaft, the frame first inner surface slidably but frictionally engaging the varying-diameter surface of the first shaft;
(f) the diameter of at least part of the second shaft continuously varying along the axis thereof so that the second shaft has a varying-diameter surface, the varying-diameter surface of the second shaft facing in the direction opposite that of the varying-diameter surface of the first shaft;
(g) the frame having a second inner surface which defines at least part of the second hole and which conforms to and mates with the varying-diameter surface of the second shaft, the frame second shaft, the frame second inner surface slidably but frictionally engaging the varying-diameter surface of the second shaft;
wherein said frame is made of a first plastic, and said vane and said shaft are made of a second plastic, said first plastic having a melting point higher, and a shrinking rate smaller, than said second plastic.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/420,845Filed 21 Sep 1982
Priority: JP 56-16196913 Oct 1981
Granted: 15 Oct 1985
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B60H 1/3421
With means for adjusting the air stream direction: using only pivoting shutters
B29C 45/14754
Incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles: being in movable or releasable engagement…
F24F 13/075
Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser: having parallel rods or lamellae directing the outflow,…
F24F 13/14
Movable, e.g. dampers: built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre