Ventilation device featuring a multi-configuration mounting bracket.

Abstract

The invention relates to a ventilation device (1) designed for a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising a casing (3) forming a duct for conducting an airflow between an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) of the device (1), each intended to be connected to an element of the ventilation system, the device (1) comprising at least one mounting tab (9) projecting from the casing (3) and each designed to allow the device (1) to be attached to the vehicle, at least one mounting tab (9) having at least two distinct configurations (C1), each allowing the device (1) to be attached with an orientation, relative to the vehicle, specific to configuration (C1), the at least one mounting tab (9) being designed to be deformable to transition from one configuration (C1) to another. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Ventilation device having a multi-conformation fixing tab.

[0001] The technical field relates to ventilation devices designed to form a duct connected to a ventilation system, ventilation systems comprising at least one such ventilation device and motor vehicles having such a ventilation system.

[0002] For automobile manufacturers, controlling the production costs of their vehicles is a constant concern. However, the diversity of parts required to produce a vehicle family considerably limits this cost control. Indeed, for a vehicle family, it is common for a part to exist in several part numbers, either, for example, to manage the side of the vehicle for which the part is intended, or, for example, to manage the differences between left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles. This diversity of part numbers has repercussions on many aspects, from procurement and storage to production: several part numbers often require several production tools to produce each one. Furthermore, the different part numbers imply the need to manage several production and supply flows.

[0003] Thus, in general, the diversity of references necessarily leads to an increase in development and production costs as well as a complexity in the logistics of supplying the assembly lines and assembling the different versions of the vehicle.

[0004] There is therefore a need to reduce the diversity of references used in a vehicle family.

[0005] In this context, ventilating a vehicle passenger compartment requires the installation of side-mounted air ducts to allow for their attachment to the vehicle due to the asymmetry of the dashboard. Indeed, the environment of each mounting location differs depending on the vehicle version and / or side. Therefore, a single vehicle family may require up to four different air duct part numbers.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution to reduce the diversity of ventilation duct references.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a ventilation device that reduces the diversity required for the production of vehicles of the same family.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a ventilation device designed for a ventilation system of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an enclosure forming a duct for conducting an airflow between an inlet and an outlet of the device, each intended to be connected to an element of the ventilation system, the device comprising at least one fixing tab protruding from the enclosure and each designed to allow the device to be fixed to the vehicle, at least one fixing tab having at least two distinct conformations, each allowing the device to be fixed with an orientation, relative to the vehicle, specific to the conformation, at least one fixing tab being designed to be deformed to pass from one conformation to another.

[0009] The invention also relates to a ventilation system comprising at least one device according to the invention, each inlet and each outlet of the device being connected to an element of the ventilation system, each device being fixed by each fixing bracket.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one ventilation system according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, the ventilation device according to the invention is designed to be mounted on a ventilation system according to the invention. Thanks to each mounting bracket, the device can be fixed in several orientations due to the different configurations of each of the deformable mounting brackets, simply by controlling the deformation of at least one mounting bracket. Thus, the device can be produced with each mounting bracket in an initial configuration. Such a device forms a single reference capable of replacing several references by changing the configuration of each mounting bracket. Thus, the device according to the invention reduces the number of references required. Furthermore, when two devices are required for a ventilation system, each with a different orientation, at least one mounting bracket allows each device to be adapted to its mounting environment.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the device, at least one fixing tab forms a tab having on the one hand, a first conformation in which the tab is substantially flat and, on the other hand, a second conformation in which the tab forms a bend.

[0013] According to one possibility, at least one fixing tab has at least one folding groove allowing controlled folding of the fixing tab.

[0014] Advantageously, at least one fixing tab extends between two opposite faces and has at least two folding grooves, each face having a folding groove.

[0015] According to one possibility, the envelope has a joint plane, each fixing tab forming an extension of the joint plane.

[0016] Advantageously, the envelope is formed of two half-shells assembled together to form the parting line.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the device, the envelope is formed of compressed felt.

[0018] According to one possibility of the ventilation system, each device having at least one fixing tab in a conformation distinct from those of the other device.

[0019] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a ventilation device according to the invention, a fixing tab being in a first conformation;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a detailed view of the fixing tab of [Fig.1];

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows a detailed view of the fixing tab of [Fig.1] in a second conformation;

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a ventilation system featuring two ventilation devices of the [Fig.1], each fixed with its own orientation;

[0024] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0025] A ventilation device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed for a ventilation system 2 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 4], of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The ventilation system 2 thus comprises at least one, in this case two, ventilation devices 1, each fixed to the vehicle or to the system 2 with an orientation specific to each of the devices 1.

[0026] The device 1 includes an enclosure 3 forming a conduit for conducting an airflow between an inlet 4 and an outlet 5 of the device 1, each intended to be connected to an element 6 of the ventilation system 2, as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0027] In the example illustrated in the figures, the envelope 3 is formed by two half-shells 7 assembled together and forming a parting line 8. Advantageously, each half-shell 7 is formed from compressed felt.

[0028] The ventilation device 1 according to the invention comprises at least one mounting tab 9, illustrated in particular in Figures 2 and 3, projecting from the housing 3 and each designed to allow the device 1 to be attached to the vehicle. Each mounting tab 9 has at least two distinct configurations C1, C2, illustrated respectively in Figures 2 and 3, each allowing the device to be attached 1 with an orientation, relative to the vehicle, specific to the conformation Cl, C2. For this purpose, each fixing tab 9 is designed to be deformed, in a predetermined way, to pass from one conformation Cl to another C2.

[0029] In the example illustrated in figures 2 and 3, each fixing tab 9 forms an extension of the joint plane 8. Thus, each fixing tab 9 comes from the material with a half-shell 7 or is formed by the assembly of the two half-shells 7.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening tab 9 forms a substantially rectangular tongue 10 extending between two opposite faces 11, 12. For example, the tongue 10 has a rounded end 13, distant from the casing 3. To allow the attachment of the ventilation device 1, the tongue 10 has a through hole 14. The tongue 10 has, on the one hand, a first conformation C1 in which the tongue 10 is substantially flat, illustrated in [Fig. 2], and, on the other hand, a second conformation C2 in which the tongue 10 forms a bend 15, illustrated in [Fig. 3]. The bend 15 forms, for example, a right angle.

[0031] In order to allow controlled deformation of the fixing tab 9, in this case of the tongue 10, the latter has at least one folding groove 16 allowing controlled folding of the fixing tab 9. As illustrated in [Fig.2], each of the faces 11,12 has a folding groove 16.

[0032] Alternatively, the folding groove 16 is supplemented by at least one notch, not illustrated, arranged in the extension of the folding groove 16.

[0033] Thus, the ventilation device 1 is designed to be mounted on the ventilation system 2 and, thanks to each mounting tab 9, the device 1 can be fixed in several orientations due to the different configurations Cl, C2 of each of the deformable mounting tabs 9. By producing the device 1 with each mounting tab 9 in an initial configuration Cl, the device 1 forms a single reference capable of replacing several references by changing the configuration of each mounting tab 9. Thus, the device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the diversity of references required.

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the ventilation device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A ventilation device (1) designed for a ventilation system (2) for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising a casing (3) forming a duct for conducting an airflow between an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) of the device (1), each intended to be connected to an element (6) of the ventilation system (2), the device (1) comprising at least one mounting tab (9) projecting from the casing (3) and each designed to allow the device (1) to be attached to the vehicle, at least one mounting tab (9) having at least two distinct conformations (Cl, C2), each allowing the device (1) to be attached with an orientation, relative to the vehicle, specific to the conformation (Cl, C2), the at least one mounting tab (9) being designed to be deformed to pass from one conformation (Cl) to another (C2).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one fixing tab (9) forms a tab (10) having on the one hand, a first conformation (Cl) in which the tab (10) is substantially flat and, on the other hand, a second conformation in which the tab (10) forms a bend (15).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one fixing tab (9) has at least one folding groove (16) allowing controlled folding of the fixing tab (9).

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one fixing tab (9) extends between two opposite faces (11, 12) and has at least two folding grooves (16), each face (11, 12) having a folding groove (16).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the envelope (3) has a joint plane (8), each fixing tab (9) forming an extension of the joint plane (8).

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the envelope (3) is formed of two half-shells (7) assembled together to form the parting line (8).

7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the envelope (3) is formed of compressed felt.

8. Ventilation system (2) comprising at least one device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, each inlet (4) and each

9. outlet (5) of device (1) being connected to an element (6) of the ventilation system (2), each device (1) being fixed by each fixing tab (9). motor vehicle having at least one ventilation system (2) according to claim 8.

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