Rear louver structure of a vehicle

Abstract

A rear louver structure (200) comprising a duct (102) fitted inside a floor console (104) at a predefined angle to a horizontal plane. The duct (102), at rear end, is formed with a lower flange (402) extending in the horizontal plane. The rear louver structure (200) further includes a vent (106) fitted inside a floor console cover (108) at the predefined angle to the horizontal plane. A lower edge of the vent (106) is formed with a wedge-shaped step (404) that rests on the lower flange (402) of the duct (102) after an assembly of the floor console (104) and the floor console cover (108). Here, a lower surface of the wedge-shaped step (404) rests on a top surface of the lower flange (402) of the duct (102) after the assembly of the floor console (104) and the floor console cover (108).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for air distribution into a cabinof a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a rear louverstructure that facilitates easy assembly and disassembly between a ductfitted inside a floor console and a vent fitted inside a floor console cover.BACKGROUND

[0002] Nowadays, it is desirable to install an automotive louver in avehicle, which is used to direct cold air / hot air coming from heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit into a rear part of a passengercabin via a duct fitted into a floor console. The end of the duct is locked witha rear vent fitted inside a floor console cover to control the direction of theair as desired by a passenger.

[0003] For instance, a conventional louver structure 100 as shown inFIG. 1 includes the duct 102 fitted inside a floor console 104. The floorconsole 104 is generally placed on a floor and in-between front seats of avehicle for increasing the air flow in the rear part of the passenger cabin.The end of the duct 102 is locked with the rear vent 106 fitted inside a floorconsole cover 108 for controlling the direction of the air coming from theHVAC unit towards the rear passengers.

[0004] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to assemble the floorconsole cover 108 with the floor console 104, the floor console cover 108 ismoved horizontally towards the floor console 104. Further, the direction ofassembly of locking claws 108-C of the floor console cover 108 with themating claws 104-C of the floor console 104 is horizontal whereas thedirection of assembly of the rear vent 106 with the duct 102 is at apredefined angle with reference to a horizontal plane.

[0005] Due to such difference in assembly directions of childcomponents of the floor console 104 and floor console cover 108, when thefloor console cover 108 is moved horizontally towards the floor console 104during assembly, it is difficult to assemble mating surfaces 102-F, 106-F ofthe duct 102 and the rear vent 106 respectively as the mating surface 106-F of the rear vent 106 is to be press-fitted inside the mating surface 102-Fof the duct 102.

[0006] Therefore, easy assembly of the floor console 104 and the floorconsole cover 108 is not possible and the forceful assembly between thefloor console 104 and the floor console cover 108 may sometimes result infouling of the mating inner components, the duct 102 and the rear vent 106,shown by a red circle in FIG.3. Further, there is a possibility of breakage ofthe components of the parts.

[0007] Hence, there is a need in the state of the art to provide a solutionwhich facilitates the easy assembly between the floor console 104 and thefloor console cover 108 along a direction parallel to the horizontal plane.OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least oneembodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.

[0009] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure toprovide a rear louver structure that facilitates an easy and secure assemblybetween a duct fitted inside a floor console and a vent fitted inside a floorconsole cover.

[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the rearlouver structure that facilitates easy and secure assembly and disassemblybetween the internal components of the rear louver structure through apress-fit mechanism.

[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide therear louver structure that provides better performance and reliability.

[0012] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide the rearlouver structure that is cost-effective and highly efficient.

[0013] It is yet a further object of the present disclosure to provide therear louver structure that is maintenance-free.

[0014] These and other objects and advantages will become moreapparent when reference is made to the following description andaccompanying drawings.SUMMARY

[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a rearlouver structure that facilitates an easy and secure assembly anddisassembly between a duct fitted at a rear end inside a floor console anda vent fitted inside a floor console cover. The concepts are further describedbelow in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identifykey features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0016] The present disclosure proposes a rear louver structure having aduct fitted inside a floor console at a predefined angle with respect to ahorizontal plane. The duct, at rear end, is formed with a lower flangeextending in the horizontal plane. Further, the louver structure includes avent fitted inside the floor console cover at the predefined angle with respectto the horizontal plane. The lower edge of the vent is formed with a wedgeshaped step that rests on the lower flange of the duct after an assembly ofthe floor console and the floor console cover.

[0017] In an aspect, a lower surface of the wedge-shaped step rests ona top surface of the lower flange of the duct after the assembly of the floorconsole and the floor console cover.

[0018] In an aspect, the wedge-shaped step formed on the vent placedinside the floor console cover rests on the lower flange formed on the ductplaced inside the floor console in an air-tight manner.

[0019] In an aspect, during the assembly between the duct and the vent,an assembly direction of the duct and the vent is the same as that of anassembly direction of the floor console and the floor console cover.

[0020] In an aspect, the assembly direction between the floor consoleand the floor console cover is parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0021] In an aspect, during the assembly, an assembly direction of theduct and the vent is the same as that of an assembly direction of floorconsole claws and floor console cover claws.

[0022] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of theinventive subject matter will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments, along with theaccompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent likecomponents.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be bestunderstood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designatedby like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only byway of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of rearlouver structure in a vehicle that are consistent with the subject matter asclaimed herein, wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional rear louver structure with itscomponent;

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an assembly of a duct and a vent of theconventional rear louver structure;

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a fouling occurring during the assembly of theduct and vent of the conventional rear louver structure;

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a rear louver structure along with its componentsin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates the bonding between the inner components ofthe rear louver structure of the vehicle during assembly in the horizontaldirection in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates the easy fitment between the inner componentsof the rear louver structure of the vehicle during assembly of thecomponents in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter forthe purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easilyrecognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of thestructures and methods illustrated herein may be employed withoutdeparting from the principles of the disclosure described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] A few aspects of the present disclosure are explained in detailbelow with reference to the various figures. Example implementations aredescribed to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope,which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizea number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in thedescription that follows.

[0032] While the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms,there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, someexemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the inventionand is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsillustrated. Not all of the depicted components described in this disclosuremay be required, however, and some implementations may includeadditional, different, or fewer components from those expressly describedin this disclosure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the componentsmay be made without departing from the scope of the claims as set forthherein.

[0033] As mentioned above, there are issues related to the assemblybetween a floor console and a floor console cover in a conventional louverstructure.

[0034] To overcome the issues related to the existing rear louverstructure, the present disclosure herein provides a rear louver structure thatfacilitates easy insertion, retention, and removal of a floor console coverwith the floor console.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a rear louver structure 200 in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In the proposed rearlouver structure 200, a duct 102 fitted inside a floor console 104 and a vent106 fitted inside a floor console cover 108 are positioned at a predefinedangle with respect to a horizontal plane. In an exemplary aspect and withoutany limitation, the predefined angle may range from 30° to 35°.

[0036] In an aspect, the duct 102, at rear end, is formed with a lowerflange 402 extending in the horizontal plane. The lower flange 402 isextended to provide a supporting platform on which the vent 106 can besupported.

[0037] In an aspect, a lower edge, facing the duct 102 during assembly,of the vent 106 is formed with a wedge-shaped step 404. The wedgeshaped step 404 rests on the lower flange 402 of the duct 102 after theassembly of the floor console 104 and the floor console cover 108.

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled condition of the wedge-shapedstep 404 on the lower flange 402 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In particular, a lower surface of the wedge-shaped step404 rests on a top surface of the lower flange 402 of the duct 102 after theassembly of the floor console 104 and the floor console cover 108. Also, thewedge-shaped step 404 rests on the lower flange 402 in an air-tight manner.

[0039] By having wedge-shaped step 404 on the lower edge of the vent106 and the lower flange 402 of the duct 102 extending in the horizontaldirection, an assembly direction of the duct 102 and the vent 106 is thesame as that of an assembly direction of the floor console 104 and the floorconsole cover 108. That is, even when the duct 102 and the vent 104 arepositioned in a predefined angle with respect to horizontal plane, the duct102 and the vent 104 can be assembled by moving the floor console cover108 towards the floor console 104 in horizontal direction. By such movementof the floor console cover 108, which is parallel to the horizontal plane, anassembly direction of the duct 102 and the vent 106 is kept same as that ofan assembly direction of floor console claws 104-C and floor console coverclaws 108-C.

[0040] Thus, with the implementation of the rear louver structure 200proposed herein, a set of claws provided on an outer circumference of thefloor console 104 can easily be fitted with a set of claws provided on anouter circumference of the floor console cover 108 in the horizontaldirection. In addition, during this assembly, the lower flange 402 provided atthe end of the duct 102 can easily provide a platform supporting the wedgeshaped step 404 provided at the end of the vent 106.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a view of easy fitment between the innercomponents of the rear louver structure 200 of the vehicle during assemblybetween the components in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. While assembling the components of the rear louver structure200, the outer components can easily be assembled as the set of matingclaws formed on the floor console 104 can easily be fitted with the set oflocking claws formed on the floor console cover 108. In addition, a lowersurface of the wedge-shaped step 404 rests on a top surface of the lowerflange 402 of the duct 102 after the assembly of the floor console 104 andthe floor console cover 108. Since, the assembly between the lower flange402 and the wedge-shaped step 404 is in horizontal direction, it reduces thechances of fouling of the inner components.

[0042] Thus, with the rear louver structure 200 described in the presentdisclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are resolved.Also, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the proposed rear louverstructure 200 may help in safe and easy retention of floor console cover 108over the floor console 104, without deviating from the scope of the subjectmatter of the present disclosure.TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES

[0043] A rear louver structure proposed herein results in the followingtechnical advantages:

[0044] The present disclosure provides the rear louver structure thatfacilitates an easy and secure assembly between a duct fitted inside a floorconsole and a vent fitted inside a floor console cover.

[0045] The present disclosure provides the rear louver structure thatfacilitates easy and secure assembly and disassembly between the twocomponents through a press-fit mechanism.

[0046] The present disclosure provides the rear louver structure thatdelivers better performance and reliability.

[0047] The present disclosure provides the rear louver structure that iscost-effective and highly efficient.

[0048] The present disclosure provides the rear louver structure that ismaintenance-free.Equivalents

[0049] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will beable to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly describedor shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are includedwithin its scope.

[0050] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intendedexpressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader inunderstanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributedby the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as beingwithout limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also,the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutuallyexclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more otherembodiments to form new embodiments.

[0051] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of theinvention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devisedwithout departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the inventionis determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to thedescribed embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included toenable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventionwhen combined with information and knowledge available to the personhaving ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A rear louver structure (200), comprising: a duct (102) fitted inside a floor console (104) at a predefined angle with respect to a horizontal plane, wherein the duct (102), at rear end, is formed with a lower flange (402) extending in the horizontal plane; and a vent (106) fitted inside a floor console cover (108) at the predefined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, wherein a lower edge of the vent (106) is formed with a wedge-shaped step (404) that rests on the lower flange (402) of the duct (102) after an assembly of the floor console (104) and the floor console cover (108).

2. The rear louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the wedge-shaped step (404) rests on a top surface of the lower flange (402) of the duct (102) after the assembly of the floor console (104) and the floor console cover (108).

3. The rear louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped step (404) rests on the lower flange (402) in an air-tight manner.

4. The rear louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the assembly, an assembly direction of the duct (102) and the vent (106) is the same as that of an assembly direction of the floor console (104) and the floor console cover (108).

5. The rear louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the assembly direction is parallel to the horizontal plane.

6. The rear louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the assembly, an assembly direction of the duct (102) and the vent (106) is same as that of an assembly direction of floor console claws (104-C) and floor console cover claws (108-C).