Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of air vents for vehicle interior. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an air vent assembly for a vehicle configured to provide multi-directional airflow inside the vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Air vents in vehicles direct environmental air or recirculated air, conditioned by an air conditioning system or a heating system, towards an interior of the vehicle. In order to provide maximum comfort for driver and passengers of the vehicle, the direction of the air provided for the interior can usually be adjusted by the air vent. This adjustment is usually provided by one or more air guiding elements, for example pivotable air guiding vanes or blades.
[0004] In general, warm air or cold air generated by the air conditioning system may be passed through a duct and then discharged to the inside/interior of the vehicle through the air vents. At this time, an occupant of the vehicle adjusts the direction of the discharged air by operating a knob installed on the air vent to control movement of the air guiding elements. The knob is generally located in vicinity of a fixed bezel installed in centre of the air vents. The fixed bezel is typically positioned in vicinity of the air guiding elements to distribute the airflow into separate airflow channels. The fixed bezel is generally chrome-plated and installed on a housing and at a front portion of the air vent. The fixed bezel extends transverse to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, to support the front portion of the air vent. In addition, the fixed bezel present in front of the air vent may make it difficult for the occupant to operate the knob in a reliable manner and maintain the desirable aesthetic appearance of the air vent assembly.
[0005] There is therefore a need to overcome the above drawbacks, and provide an easy to operate and assemble, and improved air vent assembly for vehicles to provide multi-directional airflow inside the vehicles. Further, there is a need in the art to improve reliability and operability of the process of controlling the airflow inside the vehicles.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.
[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved air vent assembly for vehicles to provide multi-directional airflow inside the vehicles.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to improve reliability and operability of the air vent assembly while also maintaining the desirable aesthetic appearance of the air vent assembly.

SUMMARY
[0009] The present disclosure relates to the field of air vents for vehicle interior. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an air vent assembly for vehicles configured to provide multi-directional airflow inside the vehicles.
[0010] An aspect of the present disclosure pertains to an air vent assembly including a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet defining an air flow direction. The air vent assembly comprises a knob assembly including a knob and a knob carrier. The knob carrier has at least one recessed portion. Further, the air vent assembly also include a vane member rotatably coupled to the housing for controlling the air flow direction into the vehicle interior. The vane member includes a proximal end along a lengthwise direction of the vane member. At least a portion of the proximal end is positioned within the at least one recessed portion of the knob carrier and a distal end opposite to the proximal end. The knob fixedly coupled to the knob carrier and slidably connected to only a first surface between the proximal end and the distal end of the vane member such that the distal end and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the vane member are uncovered (not covered) by the knob.
[0011] In an embodiment, the vane member may include at least one internal groove arranged between the distal end and the proximal end more particular on/in the first surface of the vane. The knob assembly may include a protrusion adapted to positioned into the at least one internal groove of the vane member.
[0012] In an embodiment, the air vent assembly may include a bezel arranged on the housing and positioned downstream to the distal end of the vane member in the air flow direction. The vane member and the bezel may face each other.
[0013] In an embodiment, the knob assembly including the knob fixedly coupled to the knob carrier may be movable in a lengthwise direction of the vane member for actuating at least a second vane arranged substantially perpendicular to the vane member.
[0014] In an embodiment, the knob may include a plurality of snap projections spaced apart from each other. More particular, the snap projections are spaced apart in a width-wise direction of the knob or the lengthwise direction of the vane member. Each of the plurality of snap projections may be configured to engage with a slot of the knob carrier.
[0015] In an embodiment, the proximal end of the vane member may be positioned within the at least one recessed portion through an elastomeric pad. Thus, no new design arrangement and/or modification is required in the knob for installing the elastomeric pad making it cost effective solution. More particularly, the proximal end may include a bulging member positioned to contact the elastomeric pad disposed within the at least one recessed portion. In an embodiment the elastomeric pad can be a silicon pad.
[0016] In an embodiment, the vane member may include a pivot shaft located towards the distal end the vane member.
[0017] In an embodiment, the protrusion may extend from a surface of a main body of the knob to engage with the at least one internal groove of the vane member.
[0018] In an embodiment, the at least one internal groove may be an opening formed on/in the first surface of the vane member. The knob may be coupled to the vane member by inserting the protrusion of the knob into the at least one internal groove. A shape of the protrusion and the at least one internal groove may be of L-shaped corresponding to each other. In another embodiment, the protrusion and the at least one internal groove may be of C-shaped corresponding to each other.
[0019] In an embodiment, the air vent assembly may include at least one biasing member arranged on the knob to prevent the knob to move to its original position when moved in the lengthwise direction of the vane member for controlling the directivity of the air flow into the vehicle interior. In an embodiment, the biasing member can be a leaf spring. The arrangement of the biasing member on the knob enables a compact packaging of the air vent assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.
[0021] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0022] Figs. 1A and 1B illustrate a front view and a perspective view of an air vent assembly installed at an outlet of an air-conditioning system of a vehicle, respectively. in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] Figs. 2A to 2G illustrate various representations of an air directivity control assembly of the air vent assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Figs. 3A to 3D illustrate exemplary views of a knob carrier of a knob assembly of the air directivity control assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] Figs. 4A to 4D illustrate exemplary views of a vane member of the air directivity control assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Figs. 5A to 5D illustrate exemplary views of a knob of a knob assembly of the air directivity control assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0027] Figs. 6A and 6B illustrate a sectional view of a knob assembly and the vane member procedure to form the air directivity control assembly, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0029] The present disclosure relates to the field of air vents for vehicle interior. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an air vent assembly that is highly durable and easy to operate and configured to provide multi-directional airflow inside the automobile. The air vent assembly enables an occupant of the vehicle to efficiently control the airflow inside the vehicle, even with presence of a fixed bezel in front of the air vent assembly.
[0030] Figs. 1A and 1B illustrate a front view and a perspective view of an air vent assembly 100 installed at an outlet of an air-conditioning system of a vehicle, respectively. In an embodiment, the air vent assembly 100 may be installed downstream of an outlet of an air-conditioning system of the vehicle in an air flow direction. More particularly, the air vent assembly 100 is disposed on an interior trim panel of the vehicle interior. The air vent assembly 100 may include a housing 102. The housing 102 may include an air inlet (not shown, an air receiving side) and an air outlet 104 defining an air flow direction from the air inlet to the air outlet 104 of the housing 102. The air vent assembly 100 may include a bezel 208 arranged on the housing 102 and may positioned downstream to the air outlet 104. In an embodiment, the bezel 208 can be formed by central stiffer part (for example a metal rod) encompassed by a deco part (for example a plastic part) being softer compare to the stiffer part. The air vent assembly 100 may be positioned in a cabin of the vehicle such that the air vent assembly 100 faces an occupant of the vehicle and is easily accessible to the occupant for control of airflow direction of air conditioned or processed by the air-conditioning system in the cabin. In an embodiment, the air conditioning system may include a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system configured to provide warm air or cold air to an interior of the vehicle so as to maintain the temperature of the vehicle interior. The air vent assembly 100 may be installed around an axis secured to a dashboard, roof, rear side of front seats, and other interior surfaces of the vehicle. The air vent assembly 100 may include one or more air directivity control assembly 150 installed at the air outlet 104 of the housing 102. Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the air directivity control assembly 150 of the air vent assembly 100. Figs. 2B and 2C illustrate a front view and a rear view of the air directivity control assembly 150, respectively. Fig. 2D illustrates a plan view of the air directivity control assembly 150, and Fig. 2E shows a cross-sectional view across a section A-A of the air directivity control assembly 150 illustrated in Fig. 2D.
[0031] As shown in fig 1A-2D, the air directivity control assembly 150 includes a vane member 204 and a knob assembly including a knob 206 and a knob carrier 202. The vane member 204 rotatably coupled with the housing 102 on a pivot axis 412 for controlling the air flow directivity into the vehicle interior.
[0032] The vane member 204 may be arranged in a vehicle-width direction such that rotation of the vane member 204 is configured to change direction of airflow in a vertical direction inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vane member 204 may be connected to a plurality of first (horizontal) vane members, such that rotation of the vane member 204 is configured to actuate movement of the first (horizontal) vane members to enable precise control of direction of airflow in the vertical direction inside the cabin of the vehicle. Additionally, or alternatively, the knob carrier 202 may be operatively coupled to a plurality of second (vertical) vane members 250, such that sliding of the knob 206 and the knob carrier 202 in a lengthwise direction of the vane member 204 is configured to actuate movement of the second (vertical) vane members 250 to enable control of direction of airflow in a horizontal direction inside the cabin.
[0033] The knob 206 fixedly coupled to the knob carrier 202 and slidably with the vane member 204. The knob 206 is configured to rotate the vane member 204 with respect to the housing 102 of the air vent assembly 100, upon actuation by an occupant of the vehicle, to enable the occupant to efficiently control the airflow in the vertical direction inside the cabin. The knob 206 may also allow the occupant to move the knob assembly with respect to the vane member 204 in the lengthwise direction to enable the occupant to control the airflow in the horizontal direction inside the cabin.
[0034] Fig. 2F shows a side view of the air directivity control assembly 150 and the bezel 208 of the air vent assembly 100. Fig. 2G illustrates an exploded view of the air directivity control assembly 150 and the bezel 208 of the air vent assembly 100. The bezel 208 arranged on the housing 102 and may positioned downstream to a distal end 404 of the vane member 204 in the air flow direction. The vane member 204 and the bezel 208 may face each other. The bezel 208 may be located downstream of the air directivity control assembly 150 in the airflow direction. The bezel 208 may be chrome-plated to improve aesthetic of the air vent assembly 100. The bezel 208 may extend in the lengthwise direction of the vane member 204. The vane member 204 may be positioned to direct the airflow flowing from the air inlet to the air outlet. The knob 206 is in the form of a floating-type knob extending outwards from the air outlet 104 to enables the occupant to easily and comfortably operate the knob 206 to actuate the vane member 204 and second vane member 250, even with the presence of the bezel 208 at the front portion of the air directivity control assembly 150.
[0035] The vane member 204 may be coupled with the knob carrier 202 through an elastomeric pad 210 for effort management of the knob assembly to avoid unintentional sliding of the knob assembly on the vane member 204. The elastomeric pad 210 may be a silicon pad. The elastomeric pad 210 may extend along a longitudinal direction of the knob carrier 202. The air directivity control assembly 150 may also include at least one biasing member 212 arranged on the knob (206) to prevent the knob 206 to retract to its original position when moved in the lengthwise direction of the vane member 204. The biasing member 212 may be provided between the knob 206 and the vane member 204. The biasing member 212 may be in the form of a plate spring or leaf spring having one or more spring projections to limit retraction of the knob 206. The biasing member 212 may also provide the occupant with a tactile feedback when the knob 206 is moved with respect to the vane member 204 in its lengthwise direction.
[0036] Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate a perspective view and a front view of the knob carrier 202. Figs. 3C and 3D illustrate a plan (top or rear) view and a side view of the knob carrier 202. The knob carrier 202 includes at least one recessed portion 302 adapted to receive the vane member 204. The elastomeric pad 210 may be pre-fitted into recessed portion 302 of the knob carrier 202 to allow the vane member 204 to abut with the elastomeric pad 210 when inserted into the recessed portion 302. The knob carrier 202 may also include a plurality of slots 304 for receiving snap projections 508 of the knob 206, as clearly shown in Fig. 5B. The slots 304 may be formed on side surfaces protruding from a bottom surface of the knob carrier 202. The knob carrier 202 may also include a plurality of grooves 306 formed on the side surfaces, adapted to receive vane projections 410 of a bulged portion 411 of the vane member 204, as clearly shown in Fig. 4C. The knob carrier 202 may also include a set of fixing members 308 formed on a rear surface of the knob carrier 202, to support coupling of the knob carrier 202 with the second (vertical) vane member 250 may be via a yoke (not shown), to enable precise control over directivity of the processed air supplied by the air conditioning system in the horizontal direction inside the cabin.
[0037] Fig. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the vane member 204. Fig. 4B shows a plan view of the vane member 204, and Fig. 4C illustrates a sectional view across section B-B of the vane member 204 as shown in Fig. 4B. Figs. 4D and 4E show a rear view and a side view of the vane member 204, respectively. The vane member 204 is rotatably coupled to the housing 102 of the air vent assembly 100. The vane member 204 includes a proximal end 402 along a lengthwise direction of the vane member 204, the proximal end 402 adapted to be positioned within the recessed portion 302, and the distal end 404 opposite to the proximal end 402. The distal end 404 may protrude outwards from the recessed portion 302. The vane member 204 also includes a first surface 406 and a second surface 408 between the proximal end 402 and distal end 404 and opposite to each other. The first surface 406 has at least one internal groove 406-A, as shown in Fig. 4C, disposed between the proximal end 402 and the distal end 404.
[0038] At least a portion of the proximal end 402 of the vane member 204 may be positioned in the recessed portion 302 of the knob carrier 202 through the elastomeric pad 210. The proximal end 402 may include a bulging member 411. adapted to be received into the recessed portion 302. More particularly, the bulging member 411 may be positioned inside the recessed portion 302 to abut with the elastomeric pad 210 disposed therein. As shown in Fig. 4C, the bulging member 411 may include a plurality of vane projections 410, and extending in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the vane member 204. Each of the vane projections 410 may be adapted to engage the groove 306 present in the recessed portion 302 of the knob carrier 202. The vane member 204 may also include a plurality of flanges at longitudinal ends thereof for guiding and fitting of the vane member 204 with the knob carrier 202. The vane member 204 may include the pivot shaft 412 located towards the distal end 404 the vane member 204. The pivot shaft 412 may be configured to pivotally move upon actuation of the knob assembly.
[0039] The knob 206 may be fixedly coupled to the knob carrier 202 and slidably connected to only the first surface 406 between the proximal end 402 and the distal end 404 of the vane member 404 such that the distal end 404 and the second surface 408 opposite to the first surface 406 of the vane member 204 is not covered by the knob assembly. This makes the air vent assembly 100 aesthetically appealing, and eases assembly of the elastomeric pad 210 in the recessed portion 302 of the knob carrier 202 without making any major change/modification in the air vent assembly 100.
[0040] Figs. 5A and 5B illustrate a plan view and a perspective view of the knob 206 of the air directivity control assembly 150. Figs. 5C and 5D illustrate a rear view and a side view of the knob 206. As illustrated, the knob 206 includes a protrusion 502 adapted to be positioned into the at least one internal groove 406-A of the vane member 204. The protrusion 502 may extend outwards from a surface of a main body 504 of the knob 206. The protrusion 502 may include an end projection 502-1, as shown in Fig. 5B, arranged substantially parallel with the main body 504, to form an L-shaped protrusion extending from the main body 504. The end projection 502-1 is adapted to be inserted into the internal groove 406-A of the vane member 204 by passing the end projection 502-1 through the at least one groove 406-A formed in/on the first surface (406, bottom portion) of the vane member 204. The knob 206 may also include an operating member 506 extending from the main body 504, to enable the occupant of the vehicle to actuate or move the knob 206 by applying a load on the operating member 506. The operating member 506 may have a curved profile extending away from the main body 504. The curved profile of the operating member 506 may be in the form of a crescent shape or a semi-circular shape. The curved profile of the operating member 506 enables the occupant of the vehicle to easily and comfortably operate the knob 206 to actuate the vane member 204, even with the presence of the bezel 208 at the front portion of the air directivity control assembly 150.
[0041] The knob 206 may also include plurality of snap projections 508 adapted to engage the slots 304 formed in the side surfaces of the knob carrier 202. The snap projections 508 may be formed at a rear end of the main body 504, and may be spaced apart from one another in the lengthwise direction of vane 204. The knob 206 is coupled to the knob carrier 202 to enable movement of the knob carrier 202 in a lengthwise direction of the vane member 204.
[0042] In an implementation of the assembling condition:
• Firstly, the elastomeric pad 210 is inserted into the recessed portion 302 of the knob carrier 202,
• The knob carrier 202 along with the elastomeric pad 210 is slidably pushed on to the bulging member 411 of the vane member 204,
• The projection 502 including the end projection 502-1 of the knob 206 is inserted into the at least one internal groove 406-A of the vane member 204 to couple the knob 206 with the vane member 204.
• Further, pushing the knob 206 in a perpendicular direction of the vane 204 and knob carrier 202, the snap projections 508 of the knob 206 get engaged with the corresponding slots 304 formed in the side surfaces of the knob carrier 202, to couple the knob 206 with the knob carrier 202.
The air vent assembly 100 enables the occupant of the vehicle to easily and conveniently actuate the vane member 204, even with the presence of the bezel 208 at the front portion thereof.
[0043] Fig. 6A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the air directivity control assembly 150 depicting an exemplary assembly procedure therefor. During the assembly of the knob 206 with the knob carrier 202 and the vane member 204, the projection 502 including the end projection 502-1 of the knob 206 may be inserted into the at least one internal groove 406-A of the vane member 204 to couple the knob 206 with the vane member 204. This configuration enables the knob 206 to be simply slided into the groove 406-A from below to couple the knob 206 with the vane member 204. Also, in this state pushing the knob in a perpendicular direction of the vane member 204 such that the snap projections 508 of the knob 206 get engaged with the corresponding slots 304 formed in the side surfaces of the knob carrier 202, to couple the knob 206 with the knob carrier 202, as shown in Fig. 6B.
[0044] The knob 206, when operated by the occupant of the vehicle, enables rotation of the vane member 204 with respect to the housing 102 to control airflow in the vertical direction in the cabin of the vehicle or into the vehicle interior. Also, the operating member 506 enables the occupant to slide the knob 206 in the lengthwise direction of the vane member 204 to allow the knob assembly to control the airflow direction in the horizontal direction in the cabin of the vehicle or into the vehicle interior.
[0045] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0046] The proposed invention provides a simple, easy to operate and assemble, and improved air vent assembly for vehicles to provide multi-directional airflow inside the vehicles.
[0047] The proposed invention improves reliability and operability of the process of controlling the airflow inside the vehicles.
[0048] The proposed invention provides a highly durable and cost-efficient air vent assembly for vehicles.
[0049] The proposed invention provides an air vent assembly capable of allowing an operator to efficiently control the airflow inside the vehicles, even with presence of a fixed bezel member in close proximity of a knob thereof.
[0050] The proposed invention provides an air vent assembly for vehicles, which is aesthetically pleasing.
[0051] The proposed invention provides an air vent assembly capable of being easily retrofitted into existing vehicles.
, Claims:1. An air vent assembly (100) for a vehicle interior, comprising:
a housing (102) with an air inlet and an air outlet (104) defining an air flow direction;
a knob assembly comprising a knob (206) and a knob carrier (202), wherein the knob carrier (202) including at least one recessed portion (302); and
a vane member (204) rotatably coupled to the housing (102) for controlling the air flow direction into the vehicle interior,
the vane member (204) including a proximal end (402) along a lengthwise direction of the vane member (204), wherein at least a portion of the proximal end (402) is positioned within the at least one recessed portion (302) of the knob carrier (202) and a distal end (404) opposite to the proximal end (402),
wherein the knob (206) fixedly coupled to the knob carrier (202) and slidably connected to only a first surface (406) between the proximal end (402) and the distal end (404) of the vane member (204) such that the distal end (404) and a second surface (408) opposite to the first surface (406) of the vane member (204) are uncovered by the knob (206).
2. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vane member (204) comprises at least one internal groove (406-A) arranged on/in the first surface (406), wherein the knob assembly (206) comprises a protrusion (502) positioned into the at least one internal groove (406-A) of the vane member (204).
3. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bezel (208) arranged on the housing (102) and positioned downstream to the distal end (404) of the vane member (204) in the air flow direction, wherein the vane member (204) and the bezel (208) are facing each other.
4. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knob assembly comprising the knob (206) fixedly coupled to the knob carrier (202) is movable in a lengthwise direction of the vane member (204) for actuating at least a second vane arranged substantially perpendicular to the vane member (204).

5. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the knob (206) comprises a plurality of snap projections (508) spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of snap projections (508) configured to engage with a slot (304) of the knob carrier (202).
6. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the proximal end (402) of the vane member (204) is positioned within the at least one recessed portion (302) through an elastomeric pad (210), and wherein the proximal end (402) comprises a bulging member (411) positioned to contact the elastomeric pad (210) disposed within the at least one recessed portion (302).
7. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vane member (204) comprises a pivot shaft (412) located towards the distal end (404) of the vane member (204).
8. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protrusion (502) extends from a surface of a main body (504) of the knob (206) to engage with the at least one internal groove (406) of the vane member (204).
9. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one internal groove (406-A) is an opening formed on/in the first surface (406) of the vane member (204), and wherein the knob (206) is coupled to the vane member (204) by inserting the protrusion (502) of the knob (206) into the at least one internal groove (406-A), and wherein a shape of the protrusion (502) and the at least one internal groove (406) is of L-shaped corresponding to each other.
10. The air vent assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one biasing member (212) arranged on the knob (206) to prevent the knob (206) to move to its original position when moved in the lengthwise direction of the vane member (204) for controlling the directivity of the air flow into the vehicle interior.