Air vent for a vehicle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air vents for vehicles lack visual appeal and ease of cleaning due to the traditional arrangement of control elements and air guide elements, which can make them appear cluttered and difficult to maintain.

Innovation Solution

The air vent design features a control element carried by the rear air guide elements via a transmission element, allowing the control element to appear as if it 'floats' and enhancing the visual appeal, while also being easily accessible for cleaning. This design includes the control element being supported on the rear air guide elements, with the transmission element extending upstream, and optionally, the front air guide elements being concealed to maintain the floating effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the control element is arranged on the front air guide elements, then the air flow direction control is intuitive, but the visual appeal is reduced and cleaning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow direction controlVSAvoidvisual appearance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control element is extracted from the front air guide elements and relocated to the rear air guide elements. This separation removes the visual clutter from the front view, creating a cleaner, more appealing appearance while maintaining the control functionality through the transmission element mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A transmission element is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the control element (on rear air guide elements) and the front air guide elements. This transmission element transmits the control movements through the housing, enabling intuitive control while keeping the control element hidden from the front view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the control element and transmission elements are visible, then the air flow control mechanism is transparent, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol mechanism visibilityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission elements are extracted from the visible front region and routed through the housing structure to connect with the rear air guide elements. This hides the transmission mechanism from view while maintaining its functional connectivity, preserving aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission elements are nested within the housing structure, utilizing the internal space of the air vent assembly. This nesting approach conceals the mechanical transmission components within the existing structure, maintaining a clean external appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If the control element is supported by front air guide elements, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The control element is extracted from the front air guide element structure and independently mounted on the rear air guide elements. This separation allows the front air guide elements to be accessed and cleaned independently without disassembling the control mechanism, improving cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3626493A1Air vent for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3626493A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626493A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3626493A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An air vent for a vehicle, comprising a housing (10) having an inlet opening (14) and an outlet opening (16), wherein the housing (10) forms an air channel (18) for air flowing from the inlet opening (14) to the outlet opening (16), and wherein at least one adjustable front air guide element (20) and at least one adjustable rear air guide element (44) are arranged in the housing (10), wherein the at least one adjustable rear air guide element (44) is positioned upstream of the at least one adjustable front air guide element (20) with respect to the flow direction (L) of the air, further comprising a control element (56) arranged in the region of the outlet opening (16) for adjusting at least the at least one adjustable rear air guide element (44), wherein the control element (56) is carried by at least one of the at least one adjustable rear air guide element (44) via a transmission element (36) extending between the control element (56) and the at least one adjustable rear air guide element (44), and the transmission element (36) is adapted to transmit a movement of the control element (56) into a movement of the at least one adjustable rear air guide element (44).