Automotive Air Vent Knob Layout for Low-Protrusion Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive air vents face issues with knobs that protrude excessively, violating safety regulations and reducing grip space, posing a risk of injury and design constraints.
Innovation Solution
The air vent design features a rear wing rotating around a different axis from the knob, with connecting portions and through holes allowing the knob and rear wing to rotate independently, reducing forward protrusion and maintaining user grip space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rear wing and knob share the same rotation axis, then the structure is simple, but the knob protrudes excessively forward violating safety regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second rotation axis for the knob that is offset from the first rotation axis of the rear wing. This dimensional change in the rotation mechanism allows the knob to rotate without its outer edge protruding forward excessively, while still enabling the rear wing to function. The connecting portion with through holes accommodates this dual-axis rotation, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and safety compliance.
2Volume of moving object
If the knob rotates downwards close to the air vent housing, then the structure is compact, but the grip space for users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connecting portion with through holes as an intermediary element between the knob and the rear wing. This connecting portion allows the knob to rotate on a second axis offset from the rear wing's rotation axis, creating sufficient clearance between the knob and the air vent housing during rotation. This mediator structure maintains compactness while preserving adequate grip space for user operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the knob and rear wing rotate independently around different axes, then safety regulations are met and grip space is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the knob and rear wing into a single integrated assembly where the connecting portion with through holes serves as a unified structure enabling both components to rotate independently around different axes. This merging approach allows the dual-axis rotation mechanism to be implemented without requiring separate complex assemblies, thus achieving safety compliance and adequate grip space while limiting the increase in structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive air vent including a housing including an open front defined therein, a rear wing horizontally extending and rotatably mounted inside the housing, and a knob connected to the rear wing, the rear wing rotating around a first rotation axis different from a second rotation axis of the knob, and the rear wing being configured to rotate in linkage with a rotation of the knob.