Adjustable air vent for a vehicle
AssigneeBombardier Inc.
InventorsClaude Vaillancourt, Ghyslain Bordeleau, Caroline Charbonneau, Jean-Pierre Boyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a snowmobile or other vehicle, ventilation of ambient air to the engine compartment is necessary. However, from time to time when encountering deep snow or extremely cold temperatures, it may be necessary to restrict the inflow of ambient air into the engine compartment. An adjustable air vent having a sliding ventilation grill adjusts the air flow. The air vent has actuators for adjusting the air flow that are simple and easily manually operable by an operator even when wearing gloves or mittens without the need of any tools.
Claims19
An adjustable air vent for a vehicle, comprising:
- a stationary grill adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, the stationary grill having at least one air aperture and an engaging surface;
- and
- a movable grill adapted to be movably mounted with respect to the stationary grill, the movable grill having at least one air aperture and an engaging surface adapted to engage the engaging surface of the stationary grill, the movable grill movable with respect to the stationary grill from an open position where the at least one aperture of the stationary grill is aligned with the at least one aperture of the movable grill to allow air to flow therethrough to a closed position where the at least one aperture of the stationary grill is not aligned with the at least one aperture of the movable grill to reduce the flow of air through the vent;
- the stationary grill including a projecting closing actuator and a projecting opening actuator;
- the movable grill including a projecting closing actuator positioned proximate the stationary grill projecting closing actuator such that squeezing the two together moves the movable grill to the closed position;
- and
- the movable grill also including a projecting opening actuator positioned proximate the stationary grill projecting opening actuator such that squeezing the two together moves the movable grill to the open position.
A snowmobile comprising:
- a motor for driving the snowmobile;
- an air path from an exterior of the snowmobile to the engine for providing cooling air to the engine;
- and
- an adjustable air vent mounted in the air path, the adjustable air vent comprising:
- a stationary grill mounted to the snowmobile, the stationary grill having at least one air aperture and an engaging surface;
- and
- a movable grill adapted to be movably mounted with respect to the stationary grill, the movable grill having at least one air aperture and an engaging surface adapted to engage the engaging surface of the stationary grill, the movable grill movable with respect to the stationary grill from an open position where the at least one aperture of the stationary grill is aligned with the at least one aperture of the movable grill to allow air to flow therethrough to a closed position where the at least one aperture of the stationary grill is not aligned with the at least one aperture of the movable grill to reduce the flow of air through the vent;
- the stationary grill including a projecting closing actuator and a projecting opening actuator;
- the movable grill including a projecting closing actuator positioned proximate the stationary grill projecting closing actuator such that squeezing the two together moves the movable grill to the closed position;
- and
- the movable grill also including a projecting opening actuator positioned proximate the stationary grill projecting opening actuator such that squeezing the two together moves the movable grill to the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.