Diffuser device for motor vehicle dashboard.

Abstract

The invention relates to an air diffuser device (1) designed to be fitted to a dashboard (2) of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising an air vent (3) designed to diffuse an airflow propelled by a ventilation system (4) connected to the device (1), the air vent (3) comprising a first (6) and a second (7) distinct zones, the first zone (6) being delimited by a perimeter (8) designed to be at least partially covered by a diffuser face (9), the second zone (7) being delimited by at least one interface edge (12) designed to form, with a dashboard face (13), a visual interface (14) without being covered by the diffuser face (9) and to form an opening (15) extending between the diffuser face (9) and the visual interface (14), when the device (1) is attached to the dashboard (2). (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Diffuser device for motor vehicle dashboard.

[0001] The technical field relates to dashboard diffuser devices, dashboards comprising at least one such diffuser device, and motor vehicles featuring such a dashboard.

[0002] Car manufacturers pay close attention to passenger comfort, a key element in the design of their vehicles. Among the essential criteria for this comfort are the management of air inside the passenger compartment, including the control of temperature, humidity levels, and air quality. To this end, vehicles are generally equipped with ventilation systems designed to regulate and improve the air quality in the passenger compartment. These systems ensure air circulation and treatment by replacing stale air with fresh outside air. They also control airflow diffused through vents, adjusting the quantity and direction of air emitted into the passenger compartment as needed.

[0003] Traditionally, a fan blows air—which may be conditioned—through a network of ducts leading to diffuser nozzles. These nozzles are equipped with vanes that open or close the airflow and direct it in a specific direction. However, these conventional nozzles have a major drawback: they are often perceived as unsightly and detract from the perceived quality of the vehicle's interior by users.

[0004] To address this aesthetic issue, manufacturers have introduced thinner and more discreet aerators. These aerators exploit physical phenomena such as the Coanda effect. However, their implementation presents significant technical challenges and high production costs, without always achieving aerodynamic performance comparable to that of traditional diffuser nozzles.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a solution that reduces the visual impact of conventional diffusers while maintaining optimal aerodynamic performance.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a diffuser device offering aerodynamic performance comparable to that of traditional diffuser nozzles while maintaining a controlled production cost.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to an air diffuser device designed to be fitted to the dashboard of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an air vent designed to diffuse an airflow propelled by a ventilation system connected to the device, the air vent comprising a first and a second distinct zone, the first zone being delimited by a perimeter designed to be covered at least in part by a diffuser front, the second zone being delimited by at least one interface edge designed to form, with a dashboard front, a visual interface without covering by the diffuser front and to form an opening extending between the diffuser front and the visual interface, when the device is attached to the dashboard.

[0008] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a diffuser device according to the invention and a diffuser front attached to the device, the diffuser front covering at least part of the perimeter of the first zone and delimiting the first and second zones, the interface edge being devoid of a cover by the diffuser front.

[0009] The invention further relates to a dashboard comprising at least one assembly according to the invention and a dashboard front panel fixed to the dashboard, the interface edge of each second zone forming a visual interface with the dashboard front panel and delimiting an opening extending between the visual interface and the corresponding diffuser front panel.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a dashboard according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, the diffuser device according to the invention makes it possible to replace a traditional diffuser nozzle. The diffusion of an airflow is achieved through the vent of the device formed by the first and second zones. While the first zone is designed to be covered by a diffuser front panel around its perimeter, allowing a passenger to identify an air outlet, the second zone also allows the diffusion of an airflow while remaining discreet or even invisible to the passenger. Thanks to its interface edge, the second zone forms a discreet visual interface, free from the covering of the diffuser front panel. The opening thus formed can easily be made invisible to a passenger. Thus, together the first and second zones ensure the circulation of an airflow comparable to that of a conventional nozzle, while a portion of the vent, i.e., the second zone, is rendered discreet or even invisible.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the diffuser device, the second zone is devoid of a fin visible to a passenger of the vehicle equipped with the dashboard.

[0013] According to one possibility of the diffuser device, the first zone includes at least one first orientable fin, each allowing the airflow diffused by the first zone to be directed.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the diffuser device comprises a conduit opening into the second zone, the diffuser device comprising at least a second fin designed to open or close the duct, the second fin being designed to be hidden by the diffuser front panel.

[0015] According to one possibility, the diffuser device includes a fixing interface designed to allow the diffuser front to be fixed to the perimeter of the first zone of the device.

[0016] According to one possibility of the dashboard, each second zone forms a visual continuity with the dashboard front panel.

[0017] 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:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a front view of a dashboard according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of an assembly comprising a diffuser device and diffuser front implemented in the dashboard of the [Fig.l];

[0020] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a cross-sectional view of the dashboard of [Fig.1];

[0021] In these figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements.

[0022] An air diffuser device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip a dashboard 2, illustrated in figures 1 and 3, of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0023] The device 1 includes a ventilation outlet 3 designed to diffuse an airflow propelled by a ventilation system 4, partially illustrated in [Fig.3], connected to the device 1. For this purpose, the device 1 has a connection interface 5 designed to connect the device 1 to the ventilation system 4.

[0024] As illustrated in the figures, the air vent 3 comprises a first 6 and a second 7 distinct zones. The first zone 6 is delimited by a perimeter 8, illustrated in [Fig. 2], designed to be covered at least in part by a diffuser front 9, illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The diffuser front 9 then forms a part visible to a passenger of the motor vehicle according to the invention and allows the latter to identify an air outlet.

[0025] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the first zone 6 has at least one first orientable fin 10, each allowing the airflow diffused by the first zone 6 to be directed.

[0026] Advantageously, the device 1 includes a fixing interface 11, illustrated in [Fig.3], designed to allow the fixing of the diffuser front 9 on the perimeter 8 of the first zone 6 of the diffuser device 1.

[0027] The second zone 7 is delimited, for its part, by at least one interface edge 12 illustrated in [Fig. 3] and designed to form, with a dashboard front panel 13, a Visual interface 14, illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, is not covered by the diffuser front panel 9. To this end, the interface edge 12 is designed, for example, to rest directly against the dashboard front panel 13. The interface edge 12 rests, for example, against a rear face of the dashboard front panel 13. Thus, the visual interface 14 has a sufficiently satisfactory appearance to avoid the need to cover it with a trim piece such as, for example, the diffuser front panel 9. The second zone 7 therefore extends beyond the perimeter delimited by the diffuser front panel 9 fixed to the diffuser device 1.

[0028] The second zone 7 is also designed to form an opening 15 extending between the diffuser front 9 and the visual interface 14, when the device 1 is attached to the dashboard 2.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig.1], the second zone 7 is devoid of a fin visible to a passenger of the vehicle according to the invention equipped with the dashboard 2.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the diffuser device 1 comprises a conduit 16, illustrated in [Fig.3], opening into the second zone 7. The diffuser device 1 advantageously comprises at least one second fin 17, illustrated in [Fig.3], designed to open or close the conduit 16. The second fin 17 is advantageously designed to be concealed by the diffuser front panel 9.

[0031] An assembly 18 according to the invention is formed of the diffuser device 1 and the diffuser front 9 attached to the device 1. In the assembly 18, the diffuser front 9 covers at least part, in this case all, of the perimeter 8 of the first zone 6. The diffuser front 9 also delimits the first 6 and second 7 zones, the interface edge 12 being uncovered by the diffuser front 9.

[0032] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the dashboard 2 comprises the dashboard front panel 13, which covers the dashboard 2, and at least one assembly 18 each fixed so that its interface edge 12 forms a visual interface 14 with the dashboard front panel 13. Each opening 15 is then delimited by a visual interface 14 and a corresponding diffuser front panel 9.

[0033] Advantageously, each second zone 7 forms a visual continuity with the dashboard front panel 13: for this purpose, the duct 16 and the dashboard front panel 13 have a similar appearance, in particular a similar color.

[0034] Thus, the diffuser device 1 makes it possible to replace a traditional diffusion nozzle. The diffusion of an airflow is permitted through the ventilation opening 3 of the device 1 formed by the first 6 and second 7 zones. While the first zone 6 is designed to be covered by the diffuser front panel 9 around its perimeter 8, allowing a passenger to identify an air outlet, the second zone 7 also allows the diffusion of an airflow while remaining discreet or even invisible to the passenger.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the diffuser device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Air diffuser device (1) designed to be fitted to a dashboard (2) of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising an air vent (3) designed to diffuse an airflow propelled by a ventilation system (4) connected to the device (1), the air vent (3) comprising a first (6) and a second (7) distinct zones, the first zone (6) being delimited by a perimeter (8) designed to be covered at least in part by a diffuser front (9), the second zone (7) being delimited by at least one interface edge (12) designed to form, with a dashboard front (13), a visual interface (14) without a cover by the diffuser front (9) and to form an opening (15) extending between the diffuser front (9) and the visual interface (14), when the device (1) is attached to the dashboard (2).

2. Diffuser device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second zone (7) is devoid of a fin visible to a passenger of the vehicle equipped with the dashboard (2).

3. Diffuser device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first zone (6) comprises at least one first orientable fin (10), each enabling the direction of the airflow diffused by the first zone (6).

4. Diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a conduit (16) opening into the second zone (7), the diffuser device (1) comprising at least a second fin (17) designed to open or close the conduit (16), the second fin (17) being designed to be concealed by the diffuser front (9).

5. Diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a fixing interface (11) designed to allow the fixing of the diffuser front (9) on the perimeter (8) of the first zone (6) of the device (1).

6. Assembly (18) comprising a diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a diffuser face (9) attached to the device (1), the diffuser face (9) covering at least part of the perimeter (8) of the first zone (6) and delimiting the first (6) and second (7) zones, the interface edge (12) being devoid of a cover by the diffuser front (9).

7. Dashboard (2) comprising at least one assembly (18) according to claim 6 and a dashboard front panel (13) fixed to the dashboard (2), the interface edge (12) of each second zone (7) forming a visual interface (14) with the dashboard front panel (13) and delimiting an opening (15) extending between the visual interface (14) and the corresponding diffuser front panel (9).

8. Dashboard (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that each second zone (7) forms a visual continuity with the dashboard front panel (13).

9. Motor vehicle having a dashboard (2) according to claim 7 or 8.