Side defroster device

Abstract

This side defroster device is provided with: a blowout port that opens on an outer upper surface in a vehicle width direction of an instrument panel and blows out conditioned air toward a side window of a vehicle; a side defroster duct that extends from an air conditioner to the blowout port in the instrument panel and supplies the conditioned air from the air conditioner to the blowout port; and a fin that is installed at the blowout port and guides the conditioned air in a predetermined direction. The fin has a flat plate shape with a longitudinal direction thereof extending in the vehicle width direction, and also has a flat surface in at least a part of an upper surface or a lower surface thereof. The side defroster duct has an exit section that extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle toward the blowout port and is connected to the blowout port. A bottom wall surface of the exit section has an exit flat surface formed parallel to the flat surface of the fin near the blowout port.

Description

Side defroster device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a side defroster device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a side defroster device that has a frame-shaped bezel member with fins attached to the air outlet of an instrument panel. In this side defroster device, the vertical inner wall surface of the bezel member redirects a portion of the air flow upward, thereby suppressing the Coanda effect, which is the attraction of conditioned air blown out from the air outlet toward the surface of the instrument panel.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-11197

[0004] However, in the side defroster device disclosed in Patent Document 1, some of the conditioned air impinges on the vertical inner wall surface of the bezel member, making it impossible to blow the conditioned air from the air outlet at the desired flow rate toward the target set on the glass surface of the door glass.On the other hand, simply installing fins on the air outlet cannot suppress the Coanda effect, making it impossible to blow the conditioned air from the air outlet toward the target set on the glass surface of the door glass.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a side defroster device that can blow out a desired flow rate of conditioned air from an outlet toward a target set on the glass surface of the door glass.

[0006] (1) A side defroster device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises an air outlet that opens to the upper surface of the instrument panel on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and blows conditioned air toward the side windows of the vehicle, a side defroster duct that extends from an air conditioner to the air outlet within the instrument panel and supplies the conditioned air from the air conditioner to the air outlet, and fins that are installed at the air outlet and guide the conditioned air in a predetermined direction, wherein the fins are flat with their longitudinal direction extending in the vehicle width direction and have a flat surface on at least a portion of their upper or lower surfaces, the side defroster duct has an outlet portion that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle toward the air outlet and is connected to the air outlet, and the bottom wall surface of the outlet portion has an outlet plane formed parallel to the plane of the fin near the air outlet.

[0007] According to the above configuration (1), the conditioned air flowing along the outlet plane is rectified along the plane of the fins provided parallel to the outlet plane and is blown out toward the target set on the glass surface of the door glass, thereby enabling the conditioned air to be blown out from the air outlet at a desired flow rate toward the target set on the glass surface of the door glass.

[0008] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, a raised portion is formed on the bottom wall surface of the outlet portion near the air outlet so as to approach the upper wall surface opposite the bottom wall surface as it approaches the air outlet, and the raised portion has the outlet plane at its top and a first inclined surface that inclines from the downstream end of the outlet plane in the blowing direction of the air conditioning air toward the air outlet and away from the upper wall surface, and a ridge line is formed between the outlet plane and the first inclined surface.

[0009] According to the configuration (2) above, the conditioned air flowing along the outlet plane is separated at the ridge line and supplied to the fins, which makes it difficult for the air flowing along the outlet plane to be attracted to the first inclined surface, and allows the air flowing along the outlet plane to be smoothly supplied to the fins.

[0010] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (2) above, the fin is arranged at a position overlapping the ridge line of the outlet plane at the downstream end in the blowing direction when viewed from the blowing direction.

[0011] According to the above configuration (3), the fins hide the ridge lines when viewed from the blowing direction, so that continuity is created between the fins and the outlet plane, improving the appearance.

[0012] (4) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (2) or (3) above, the raised portion has a second inclined surface that slopes away from the upper wall surface from the upstream end of the outlet plane in the blowing direction toward the upstream side of the outlet portion in the blowing direction.

[0013] According to the above configuration (4), the conditioned air flows along the second inclined surface, so the flow of the conditioned air gradually increases in speed and is supplied to the outlet plane, thereby enabling the air flowing along the second inclined surface to be smoothly supplied to the outlet plane.

[0014] (5) In some embodiments, in any one of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the fins are inclined toward the rear and upward of the vehicle when viewed in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and are inclined from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above so as to be positioned gradually forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0015] According to the configuration (5) above, the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner to the air outlet passes through the fins and is rectified toward the target set on the glass surface of the front side door, thereby allowing the conditioned air at a desired flow rate to be blown out from the air outlet toward the target set on the glass surface of the front side door.

[0016] (6) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (5) above, the air outlet opens into an inclined surface that gradually becomes lower in the vehicle height direction toward the rear of the instrument panel in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and the fins are inclined so that they gradually become higher in the vehicle height direction from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear.

[0017] According to the above configuration (6), the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner to the air outlet passes through the fins and is rectified toward the target set on the glass surface of the front side door, thereby making it possible to blow out the conditioned air at a desired flow rate from the air outlet toward the target set on the glass surface of the front side door.

[0018] (7) In some embodiments, in any one of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the fins have a pair of outer edges in the front and rear in the blowing direction of the air conditioning air, and in a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the distance to the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction, based on a straight line connecting the pair of outer edges in the region from the center of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction to the front outer edge, is less than the distance to the surface facing upward.

[0019] According to the configuration of (7) above, in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, in the region from the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front outer edge, the path length of the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction can be made shorter than the path length of the surface facing upward, thereby making the speed of air flowing along the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction slower than the speed of air flowing along the surface facing upward in the region from the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front outer edge.

[0020] (8) In some embodiments, in any one of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the fins have a pair of outer edges in the front and rear direction in the blowing direction of the air conditioning air, and in a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the distance to the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction, based on a straight line connecting the pair of outer edges in the region from the center of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction to the rear outer edge, is less than the distance to the surface facing upward.

[0021] According to the above configuration (8), the mold parting surface when resin molding the fins can be positioned forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, thereby improving the appearance of the fins.

[0022] (9) In some embodiments, in any one of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the fin is curved so that the lower surface bulges downward in a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0023] According to the configuration (9) above, in a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the path length of the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction is longer than the path length of the surface facing upward, so that the air flows faster along the downward-facing surface, and the air supplied to the fins can be blown upward in the vehicle height direction.

[0024] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, conditioned air at a desired flow rate can be blown out from the air outlet toward a target set on the glass surface of the door glass.

[0025] 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a side defroster device according to an embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an air outlet and at least one fin installed at the air outlet; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a side defroster duct and an air conditioner; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outlet portion of the side defroster duct and at least one fin installed at the air outlet; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V showing an outlet portion of the side defroster duct and at least one fin installed at the air outlet shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII showing an air outlet and at least one fin installed at the air outlet shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of at least one fin shown in FIG. 7; FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of at least one fin shown in FIG. 7;

[0026] Several embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of components described in the embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, expressions expressing relative or absolute arrangements, such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," "concentric," or "coaxial," not only strictly express such arrangements, but also express relative displacements with tolerances or angles or distances to the extent that the same function is achieved. Furthermore, expressions expressing shapes such as a rectangular or cylindrical shape not only express shapes such as a rectangular or cylindrical shape in the strict geometric sense, but also express shapes including concave and convex portions, chamfered portions, etc., to the extent that the same effect is achieved. On the other hand, expressions such as "comprise," "comprise," "include," "include," or "have" of one component are not exclusive expressions that exclude the presence of other components.

[0027]

[0023] [Schematic Configuration of Side Defroster Device] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a side defroster device 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the side defroster device 1 is a device that blows conditioned air onto a door glass 104 of a front side door 102 of a vehicle to remove condensation formed on the inside of the door glass 104 and ensure visibility of a door mirror 106 through the door glass 104.

[0028] The side defroster device 1 of this embodiment includes air outlets 12, 14 that open to the upper surface of the instrument panel 10 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, side defroster ducts 18, 20 that extend from the air conditioner 16 to the air outlets 12, 14 and supply conditioned air (air) from the air conditioner 16 to the air outlets 12, 14, and fins 22, 24 that are installed at the air outlets 12, 14 and guide the conditioned air in a predetermined direction (a target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104).

[0029] The instrument panel 10 is a panel that constitutes part of the vehicle interior and refers to the entire panel that houses various meters, air conditioning switches, audio equipment, and even a passenger airbag in front of the driver's seat. The instrument panel 10 is arranged along a windshield 108 at the front of the vehicle interior and has an inclined surface 26 that gradually decreases in the vehicle height direction toward the rear of the vehicle and an upright surface 28 facing the driver's seat and passenger seat. The air outlets 12, 14 are, for example, provided on the inclined surface 26, but may also be provided on the upright surface 28. The air outlets 12, 14 are, for example, a pair, provided on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side, but this does not exclude an air outlet 12 provided only on the driver's seat side or an air outlet 14 provided only on the passenger seat side. Furthermore, for example, the instrument panel 10 has air outlets 30, 32 that open on the upper surface of the instrument panel 10 at the center in the vehicle width direction. The air outlets 30, 32 are provided as a pair, for example, on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side, but this does not exclude an arrangement in which the air outlet 30 is provided only on the driver's seat side or an arrangement in which the air outlet 32 ​​is provided only on the passenger's seat side.

[0030] The air conditioner 16 is a device that controls the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of the vehicle interior, and is called an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning).

[0031] The side defroster ducts 18, 20 are a pair and are provided on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side, but this does not exclude a configuration in which the side defroster duct 18 is provided only on the driver's seat side or only on the passenger seat side. The side defroster ducts 18, 20 are disposed inside the instrument panel 10 (forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction), which is further outside the passenger compartment than the instrument panel 10. Although the side defroster ducts 18, 20 are provided separately, they may also be provided integrally.

[0032] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the air outlet 14 and at least one fin 24 installed on the air outlet 14. The air outlet 14 and at least one fin 24 shown in Fig. 2 are installed on the passenger seat side, but the air outlet 12 installed on the driver's seat side and at least one fin 22 installed on the air outlet 12 have the same configuration and characteristics, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0033] 2, the at least one fin 24 may be one or more fins, and may have a pair of outer edges in the direction of extension of an outlet portion 42 (described later), and may have a flat surface 34 on at least a portion of a surface facing upward in the vehicle height direction (hereinafter referred to as the "upper surface"). The at least one fin 24 may be, for example, one of two or more fins provided at the air outlet 14, and the other fins are provided based on this fin 24.

[0034] [Configuration of Side Defroster Duct] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing the side defroster ducts 18, 20 and the air conditioner 16. As shown in Figure 3, the side defroster ducts 18, 20 have extension portions 36, 38 extending along the vehicle width direction and outlet portions 40, 42 extending from the extension portions 36, 38 in the vehicle front-rear direction toward the air outlets 12, 14 and connected to the air outlets 12, 14. For example, the side defroster ducts 18, 20 are provided with inlet portions 44, 46 connected to the air conditioner 16, and front defroster ducts 48, 50 extending from the inlet portions 44, 46 to the air outlets 30, 32 are provided integrally with the side defroster ducts 18, 20, respectively. The front defroster ducts 48, 50 are a pair and are provided on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side, but when the air outlet 12 is provided only on the driver's seat side, the front defroster duct 48 is provided only on the driver's seat side, and when the air outlet 14 is provided only on the passenger's seat side, the front defroster duct 50 is provided only on the passenger's seat side.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the outlet portion 42 of the side defroster duct 20 and at least one fin 24 installed at the air outlet 14. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of the outlet portion 42 of the side defroster duct 20 shown in Fig. 4. The outlet portion 42 of the side defroster duct 20 and at least one fin 24 installed at the air outlet 14 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are installed on the passenger seat side, but the outlet portion 40 of the side defroster duct 18 installed on the driver's seat side and at least one fin 22 installed at the air outlet 30 have the same configuration and characteristics, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the outlet portion 42 of the side defroster duct 20 has an outlet plane 52 formed parallel to the plane 34 provided on at least a portion of the upper or lower surface of at least one fin 24 installed at the air outlet 14.

[0037] 5 , for example, a bottom wall surface 54, which is the surface of the inner wall surface of the outlet portion 42 facing upward in the vehicle height direction, has a raised portion 56 formed in the vicinity of the air outlet 14. The raised portion 56 has an outlet plane 52 at its top, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the outlet plane 52 may be provided on the bottom wall surface 54 of the outlet portion 42.

[0038] For example, the outlet section 42 has an inclined surface 60 (first inclined surface 60) that slopes from the downstream end of the outlet plane 52 toward the air outlet 14 in a direction away from the upper wall surface, and a ridge line 62 is formed between the outlet plane 52 and the inclined surface 60. The ridge line 62 is provided parallel to at least the ridge-side outer edge 64 of a pair of outer edges 64, 66 of at least one fin 24. For example, when the pair of outer edges 64, 66 of at least one fin 24 are parallel to each other, the ridge line 62 is provided parallel to the ridge-side outer edge 64 and the outer edge 66 opposite the ridge line 62.

[0039] For example, the raised portion 56 has an inclined surface 68 (second inclined surface 68) that inclines from the upstream end of the outlet plane 52 in the blowing direction toward the upstream side of the outlet portion 42 in the blowing direction, away from the upper wall surface.

[0040] [Configuration of Fins] Figure 6 is a diagram that schematically shows an air outlet 14 and at least one fin 24 installed at the air outlet 14. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII that schematically shows the air outlet 14 and at least one fin 24 installed at the air outlet 14 shown in Figure 6. The air outlet 14 and at least one fin 24 installed at the air outlet 14 shown in Figures 6 and 7 are installed on the passenger seat side, but the air outlet 12 installed on the driver's seat side and the at least one fin 22 installed at the air outlet 12 also have the same configuration and characteristics, so description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] 6, the at least one fin 24 has a longitudinal axis LAX. When there are two or more at least one fins 24, the longitudinal axes LAX of the fins 24 are arranged parallel to one another, but this is not limiting.

[0042] At least one fin 24 is arranged, for example, at a position overlapping with a ridge line 62 at the downstream end of the outlet plane 52 in the blowing direction when viewed from the blowing direction.

[0043] Furthermore, for example, when the air outlet 14 opens on the upper surface of the instrument panel 10, the at least one fin 24 is inclined toward the rear and front of the vehicle in a cross section (longitudinal cross section) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAX, and is inclined so that the longitudinal axis LAX gradually becomes more forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle in a top view from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction, but this is not limited to this. For example, when the air outlet 14 opens on the inclined surface 26 of the instrument panel 10, the at least one fin 24 is inclined so that the longitudinal axis LAX gradually becomes higher in the vehicle height direction from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction in a rear view, but this is not limited to this. Furthermore, when the air outlet 14 opens into the inclined surface 26 of the instrument panel 10, the longitudinal axis LAX of at least one fin 24 gradually inclines forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the longitudinal axis LAX of at least one fin 24 gradually becomes higher in the vehicle height direction from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction, so this is not a contradiction.

[0044] Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of at least one fin 24 shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 8, for example, in a cross section (longitudinal cross section) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAX, at least one fin 24 has a distance DT1 to a surface SF1 facing downward in the vehicle height direction, based on a straight line (chord) CHD connecting a pair of outer edges in an area AR1 from the center in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction to the front outer edge, and the distance DT2 to a surface SF2 facing upward is less than or equal to a distance DT2. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 8, the base wing shape AF1 is set so that the lower and upper sides in the vehicle height direction are line-symmetrical with respect to the chord CHD. In the actual wing shape AF2, in the region AR1 from the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front outer edge, the surface SF1 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is deformed based on the chord CHD of the base wing shape AF1, so that the distance DT1 to the surface SF1 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is less than the distance DT2 to the surface SF2 facing upward based on the chord CHD of the base wing shape AF1.

[0045] In addition, for example, in at least one fin 24, in a cross section (longitudinal cross section) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAX, in an area AR2 from the center in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction to the rear outer edge, a distance DT3 to a surface SF3 facing downward in the vehicle height direction, based on a straight line (chord) CHD connecting a pair of outer edges, is less than a distance DT4 to a surface SF4 facing upward. For example, in the example shown in Figure 8, the base blade shape AF3 is set so that the lower and upper sides in the vehicle height direction are line-symmetrical with respect to the chord CHD. In the actual wing shape PL4, in the region AR2 from the center in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction to the outer edge at the rear, the surface SF3 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is deformed based on the chord CHD of the base wing shape AF3, so that the distance DT3 to the surface SF3 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is less than the distance DT4 to the surface SF4 facing upward based on the chord CHD of the base wing shape AF1.

[0046] Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of the at least one fin 24 shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 9, for example, in a cross section (longitudinal cross section) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAX, the at least one fin 24 has a surface (lower surface) SF5 facing downward in the vehicle height direction curved so as to bulge downward.

[0047] [Effects of Side Defroster Device] According to the side defroster device 1 of the embodiment, air (conditioned air) flowing along the outlet plane 52 is rectified along the planes of the fins 22, 24 that are provided parallel to the outlet plane 52, and is blown out toward the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102. This allows the conditioned air at a desired flow rate to be blown out from the air outlets 12, 14 toward the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102.

[0048] For example, if the outlet plane 52 is provided at the top of a raised portion 56 that protrudes from the bottom wall surface 54 of the outlet portion 42 into the duct interior, the flow of the conditioned air is accelerated at the outlet plane 52, and the accelerated conditioned air is supplied to the fins 22, 24. This allows the conditioned air to be blown out from the air outlets 12, 14 at a desired flow rate so as to reach the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102.

[0049] For example, by providing a first inclined surface 60 in the outlet sections 40, 42, a ridge line 62 is provided at the downstream end of the outlet plane 52, and when the ridge line 62 is provided parallel to at least the ridge-side outer edge of the outer edges of the pair of fins 22, 24 in the extension direction of the outlet sections 40, 42, the conditioned air flowing along the outlet plane 52 is separated by the ridge line 62 and supplied to the fins 22, 24. As a result, the conditioned air flowing along the outlet plane 52 is less likely to be attracted to the bottom wall surface 54, and the conditioned air flowing along the outlet plane 52 can be smoothly supplied to the fins 22, 24.

[0050] For example, when at least one fin 24 is positioned so as to overlap with the ridge line 62 at the downstream end of the outlet plane 52 in the blowing direction when viewed from the blowing direction, the fin 24 hides the ridge line 62, creating continuity between the fin 24 and the outlet plane 52 and improving the appearance.

[0051] For example, when the outlet portions 40, 42 have the second inclined surface 68, the conditioned air flows along the second inclined surface 68, so the flow of the conditioned air gradually increases in speed and is supplied to the outlet plane 52. This allows the conditioned air that flows along the second inclined surface 68 to be smoothly supplied to the outlet plane 52.

[0052] For example, if the longitudinal axis LAX of at least one fin 22, 24 is arranged so as to gradually incline forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction, the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 16 to the air outlets 12, 14 passes through the fins 22, 24 and is rectified toward the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102. This allows the conditioned air at a desired flow rate to be blown out from the air outlets 12, 14 toward the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102.

[0053] For example, if the air outlets 12, 14 open to the inclined surface 26 of the instrument panel 10 and the longitudinal axis LAX of at least one fin 22, 24 is arranged so that it gradually increases in the vehicle height direction from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction, the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 16 to the air outlets 12, 14 passes through the fins 22, 24 and is rectified toward the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102. This allows the air at a desired flow rate to be blown out from the air outlets 12, 14 toward the target TG set on the glass surface of the door glass 104 of the front side door 102.

[0054] For example, in a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis LAX, in a region AR1 from the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front outer edge, the distance DT1 to the surface SF1 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is equal to or less than the distance D2 to the surface SF2 facing upward, based on a straight line (chord) CHD connecting the pair of outer edges. In this case, the path length of the surface SF1 facing downward in the vehicle height direction can be made shorter than the path length of the surface SF2 facing upward in the region AR1 from the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front outer edge in the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis LAX. This makes it possible to make the speed of the conditioned airflow flowing along the surface SF1 facing downward in the vehicle height direction slower than the speed of the conditioned airflow flowing along the surface SF2 facing upward in the region AR1 from the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front outer edge.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, for example, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAX, in an area AR2 from the center in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle to the rear outer edge of at least one fin 22, 24, when the distance D3 to the surface SF3 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is equal to or less than the distance D4 to the surface SF4 facing upward, based on a straight line (chord) CHD connecting a pair of outer edges, the mold parting surface when resin molding the fins 22, 24 can be positioned forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, thereby improving the appearance of the fins 22, 24.

[0056] As shown in Figure 9, for example, when at least one of the fins 22, 24 is curved so that the surface SF5 facing downward in the vehicle height direction bulges downward in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAX, the path length of the surface SF5 facing downward in the vehicle height direction becomes longer than the path length of the surface SF6 facing upward, so that the flow of the conditioned air along the downward facing surface SF5 becomes faster, and the conditioned air supplied to the fins 22, 24 can be blown upward in the vehicle height direction.

[0057] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Side defroster device 10 Instrument panel 12, 14 Air outlet 16 Air conditioner 18, 20 Side defroster duct 22, 24 Fin 26 Inclined surface 28 Upright surface 30, 32 Air outlet 34 Plane 36, 38 Extension portion 40, 42 Outlet portion 44, 46 Inlet portion 48, 50 Front defroster duct 52 Outlet plane 54 Bottom wall surface of outlet portion 56 Raised portion 60 Inclined surface (first inclined surface) 62 Ridge line 64, 66 Outer edge 68 Inclined surface (second inclined surface) 102 Front side door 104 Door glass 106 Door mirror 108 Windshield LAX Longitudinal axis AR1 Region from the center of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction to the outer edge which is forward AR2 Area from the center of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction to the outer edge at the rear CHD Straight line connecting a pair of outer edges (wing chord) SF1 Surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction SF2 Surface facing upward in the vehicle height direction SF3 Surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction SF4 Surface facing upward in the vehicle height direction SF5 Surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction SF6 Surface facing upward in the vehicle height direction DT1 Distance from the wing chord to the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction DT2 Distance from the wing chord to the surface facing upward in the vehicle height direction DT3 Distance from the wing chord to the surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction DT4 Distance from the wing chord to the surface facing upward in the vehicle height direction AF1 Base wing shape AF2 Actual wing shape AF3 Base wing shape AF4 Actual wing shape TG Target set on the glass surface

Claims

1. an air outlet that opens on an upper surface of the instrument panel outside in the vehicle width direction and blows conditioned air toward a side window of the vehicle; a side defroster duct extending from an air conditioner to the air outlet within the instrument panel and supplying the conditioned air from the air conditioner to the air outlet; a fin disposed at the air outlet and configured to guide the conditioned air in a predetermined direction; A side defroster device comprising: The fin has a flat plate shape with a longitudinal direction extending in the vehicle width direction, and has a flat surface on at least a part of an upper surface or a lower surface, the side defroster duct has an outlet portion that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction toward the air outlet and is connected to the air outlet, a bottom wall surface of the outlet portion has an outlet plane formed in the vicinity of the air outlet and parallel to the plane of the fin, a raised portion is formed on the bottom wall surface of the outlet portion in the vicinity of the air outlet so as to approach an upper wall surface opposite to the bottom wall surface as the raised portion approaches the air outlet, the raised portion has the outlet plane provided at its top, and a first inclined surface inclined from a downstream end of the outlet plane in the blowing direction of the air conditioning airflow toward the air outlet in a direction away from the upper wall surface, a ridgeline is formed between the outlet plane and the first inclined surface; the raised portion has a second inclined surface that is inclined from the upstream end of the outlet plane in the blowing direction toward the upstream side of the outlet portion in the blowing direction in a direction away from the upper wall surface. Side defroster device.

2. (delete)

3. The fin is disposed at a position overlapping with the ridge line of the outlet plane at a downstream end in the blowing direction when viewed from the blowing direction. The side defroster device according to claim 1.

4. (delete)

5. the fin is inclined upward and rearward in the vehicle when viewed in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is inclined from the inner side toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction so as to be positioned gradually forward in the vehicle front-rear direction when viewed from above. The side defroster device according to claim 1 or 3.

6. the air outlet opens on an inclined surface of the instrument panel that gradually decreases in a vehicle height direction toward the rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, The fins are inclined so as to gradually increase in height in the vehicle height direction from the inner side toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear. The side defroster device according to claim 5.

7. The fin has a pair of outer edges in a front-rear direction in the blowing direction of the air-conditioning air, and in a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a distance from a line connecting the pair of outer edges in a region from the center of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction to the front outer edges to a surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction is equal to or shorter than a distance from a line connecting the pair of outer edges to a surface facing upward. The side defroster device according to claim 1 or 3.

8. The fin has a pair of outer edges in a front-rear direction in the blowing direction of the air-conditioning air, and in a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a distance from a line connecting the pair of outer edges in a region from the center of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction to the rear outer edges to a surface facing downward in the vehicle height direction is equal to or shorter than a distance from a line connecting the pair of outer edges to a surface facing upward. The side defroster device according to claim 1 or 3.

9. The fin is curved so that the lower surface bulges downward in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The side defroster device according to claim 1 or 3.