US 6,554,696 B2Granted

Air duct outlets with closeable doors and vehicles incorporating same

AssigneeCollins & Aikman Products Co.

InventorsEdward L. Kowalski, Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Sayeh D. Beheshti

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Abstract

Air duct outlets having closeable doors are provided. An air duct outlet includes a housing having a front wall with an opening therein that allows air to pass therethrough. A door assembly is movably mounted to the housing and includes a unitary door having an exterior surface. The door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position. The door substantially covers the front wall opening and is substantially flush with the front wall when the door assembly is in the closed position. The door is retracted from the front wall opening when the door assembly is in the open position. In the closed position, the door provides a continuous, uniform, and aesthetically pleasing appearance with the front wall.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An air duct outlet, comprising:

a housing comprising a front wall having an opening therein that allows air to pass therethrough;
a door assembly movably mounted to the housing, wherein the door assembly comprises a door having an exterior surface, a spring that is configured to urge the door assembly to the open position, wherein the door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the door substantially covers the front wall opening and is substantially flush with the front wall when the door assembly is in the closed position, and wherein the door is retracted from the front wall opening when the door assembly is in the open position such that air can pass through the front wall opening;
a latch assembly connected to the housing that is reciprocatingly operable between a first position and a second position, wherein the door assembly is in the open position when the latch assembly is in the first position, and wherein the door assembly is in the closed position when the latch assembly is in the second position;
and
a sensor attached to the front wall that is configured to sense the presence of a person within a predetermined proximity of the air duct outlet, and to cause the latch assembly to release the door assembly if closed.

2 more elements

An air duct outlet, comprising:

a housing having a passageway extending therethrough;
a set of louvers movably mounted within the housing passageway that are configured to adjust a direction of air flowing through the housing into a vehicle compartment, wherein the louvers are movable between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position extending outwardly from the housing;
and
a door assembly movably mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the door substantially covers the passageway when the door assembly is in the closed position, wherein the door is retracted from the passageway when the door assembly is in the open position, and wherein the door assembly is operably associated with the set of louvers such that when the door assembly is moved to the open position the set of louvers are moved to the extended position, and such that when the door assembly is moved to the closed position the set of louvers are moved to the retracted position, wherein the door assembly comprises:
a door having an exterior surface;
and
a pair of side panels connected to the door in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, wherein each side panel has an arcuate slot formed therein that engages a respective guide pin that is movably associated with the housing, and wherein movement of the guide pins causes movement of the door assembly between the open and closed positions which, in turn, causes movement of the set of louvers between the extended and retracted positions.

4 more elements

An air duct outlet, comprising:

a housing having a passageway extending therethrough;
a set of louvers movably mounted within the housing passageway and movable between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position extending outwardly from the housing, wherein the set of louvers are configured to adjust a direction of air flowing through the housing into a vehicle compartment;
and
a door assembly movably mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the door substantially covers the passageway when the door assembly is in the closed position, and wherein the door is retracted from the passageway when the door assembly is in the open position, wherein the door assembly is operably associated with the set of louvers such that when the door assembly is moved to the open position the set of louvers are moved to the extended position, and such that when the door assembly is moved to the closed position the set of louvers are moved to the retracted position, and wherein the door assembly comprises:
a door having an exterior surface;
a pair of side panels connected to the door in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, wherein each side panel has an arcuate slot formed therein that engages a respective guide pin that is movably associated with the housing, and wherein movement of the guide pins causes movement of the door assembly between the open and closed positions which, in turn, causes movement of the set of louvers between the extended and retracted positions;
and
a spring attached to the housing that is configured to urge the door assembly to the closed position.

5 more elements

A vehicle, comprising:

an interior compartment having a panel, wherein an air duct terminates at an opening in the panel;
and
an air duct outlet apparatus disposed within the panel opening, comprising:
a housing having a passageway extending therethrough;
a set of louvers movably mounted within the housing passageway that are configured to adjust a direction of air flowing through the housing into a vehicle compartment, wherein the louvers are movable along a direction between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position extending outwardly from the housing;
and
a door assembly movably mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the door substantially covers the passageway when the door assembly is in the closed position, wherein the door is retracted from the passageway when the door assembly is in the open position, and wherein the door assembly is operably associated with the set of louvers such that when the door assembly is moved to the open position the set of louvers are moved to the extended position, and such that when the door assembly is moved to the closed position the set of louvers are moved to the retracted position.

4 more elements

A vehicle, comprising:

an interior compartment having a panel, wherein an air duct terminates at an opening in the panel;
and
an air duct outlet apparatus disposed within the panel opening, comprising:
a housing having a passageway extending therethrough;
a set of louvers movably mounted within the housing passageway and movable between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position extending outwardly from the housing, wherein the set of louvers are configured to adjust a direction of air flowing through the housing into a vehicle compartment;
and
a door assembly movably mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the door substantially covers the passageway and is substantially flush with the interior compartment panel when the door assembly is in the closed position, and wherein the door is retracted from the passageway when the door assembly is in the open position, wherein the door assembly is operably associated with the set of louvers such that when the door assembly is moved to the open position the set of louvers are moved to the extended position, and such that when the door assembly is moved to the closed position the set of louvers are moved to the retracted position, and wherein the door assembly comprises:
a door having an exterior surface;
a pair of side panels connected to the door in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, wherein each side panel has an arcuate slot formed therein that engages a respective guide pin that is movably associated with the housing, and wherein movement of the guide pins causes movement of the door assembly between the open and closed positions which, in turn, causes movement of the set of louvers between the extended and retracted positions;
and
a spring attached to the housing that is configured to urge the door assembly to the closed position.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/894,149Filed 28 Jun 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Jun 2000
Published: US 2002/0072321 A113 Jun 2002
Granted: 29 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60H 1/00742
Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g.…
B60H 1/3414
Nozzles; Air-diffusers: with means for adjusting the air stream direction
B60H 2001/3478
Details of actuators: acting on additional damper doors
B60H
Arrangements of heating, cooling, ventilating or other air-treating devices specially adapted for