Slim Air Vent Vertical Adjustment Using Hidden Link and Dummy Wing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slim type air vents for vehicles require separate devices to adjust the vertical air direction, compromising design freedom and appearance due to their large size and exposed structural components.
Innovation Solution
A slim type air vent design utilizing spacers and links to adjust the vertical angle of horizontal wings, with a dummy wing covering the spacer and link to maintain a sleek appearance, allowing for easy vertical air direction adjustment and improved design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a slim type air vent with a single horizontal wing is used, then the mounting area is reduced and design freedom is improved, but a separate device is required to adjust the vertical air direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vertical air direction adjustment function into the horizontal wing structure itself. The horizontal wing is designed to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, allowing it to perform both its primary function of horizontal air direction control and the additional function of vertical air direction adjustment, thereby eliminating the need for a separate adjustment device
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal wing is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the air discharge control element and as the vertical direction adjustment mechanism. By enabling the horizontal wing to rotate about a horizontal axis, it can independently control both horizontal and vertical air directions, making the system more versatile while reducing component count
2Ease of operation
If multiple horizontal wings and vertical wings are exposed, then air direction adjustment is effective, but the air vent occupies a large mounting area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the vertical wings from the traditional air vent structure, retaining only the horizontal wing. The horizontal wing is then given the additional capability to adjust vertical air direction through rotation about a horizontal axis, thereby achieving effective air direction control with a reduced number of components and smaller mounting area
3Device complexity
If spacers and links are exposed, then the structure is simple, but the appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy wing serves as an intermediary cosmetic element that covers the functional spacers and links. It is positioned to extend from the horizontal wing and visually conceal the mechanical components, thereby maintaining the sleek appearance while allowing the simple spacer and link structure to remain functional underneath
Data Source
AI summary
An air vent structure may include spacers mounted at sides of an outlet of an air duct; a single horizontal wing, and an upper and lower horizontal wings that have hinge grooves to which hinge pins of the spacer are inserted and formed in front side portions of the horizontal wings and positioned in horizontally in the outlet, the upper and lower horizontal wings being disposed above and below the single horizontal wing; a main link having a front end portion which a first hinge end portion hinged to a rear portion of both side surfaces of the respective horizontal wings and a rear end portion in which a second hinge end portion is formed at upper and lower portions in the rear end portion; an auxiliary wing connected to the slot of the spacer and the second hinge end portion of the main link; and a dummy wing covering the spacer.