Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The subject matter in general relates to ventilator duct provided in a vehicle. More particularly, but not exclusively, the subject matter relates to preventing entry of fluid inside the vehicle cabin.
BACKGROUND
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[001] Referring to FIG. 1, vehicles 100 comprise an air outlet component namely a ventilator 102. The ventilator 102 is located near a rear bumper 104 of the vehicle 100. The main function of the ventilator 102 is to vent out the air from the inside of the vehicle 100. Vehicle cabins today are practically sealed air tight to prevent exterior noises from entering the passenger cabin. Since the cabins are sealed, any air source within the vehicle 100 can build up pressure in the vehicle cabin when the windows are closed. This can either be caused by the door closure event or by the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Any perceptible increase in cabin pressure also lowers the perceived quality of the vehicle 100. Thus, the outlet ventilator 102 are installed in the vehicle 100 to relieve the steady state airflow.
[002] However, with increase in the cabin space of the vehicle 100, there is a need to provide additional ventilators 102 to vent the air out from within the cabin of the vehicle 100. The additional ventilators 102 are configured to be disposed under the rear combination lamp (RCL) 106. In some other cases, the ventilators 102 are to be repositioned from the rear bumper 104 of the vehicle 100 towards the underside of the RCL 106.
[003] Referring to FIG. 2, discloses an exploded view of the ventilator 102. The ventilator 102 comprises a ventilator duct 202 and a ventilator cover 204. The ventilator cover 204 is configured to cover the ventilator duct 202 to prevent the entry of external objects into the cabin.
[003] Referring to FIGs. 3 and 4, disclosed is the attachment of the ventilator 102 to the underside of the RCL 106. This arrangement allows seeping of water of any other fluid flowing downward in direction 300 to the inside portion 400 of the vehicle 100. The fluid seeping in enters the ventilator duct 202 and in the absence of any fluid exit pathway may enter the inside of the vehicle cabin. This is a cause of concern to the occupants of the vehicle and needs to be avoided.
[004] Thus, there is a need for an improved ventilator duct design that can prevent fluid entry inside vehicle cabin.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[004] In view of the foregoing limitations inherent in the state of the art, some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[005] It is an object of the present disclosure to propose a ventilator duct to prevent fluid entry inside vehicle cabin.
[006] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[007] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to ventilator duct provided in a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[008] The present disclosure relates to a ventilator duct for preventing fluid entry inside a vehicle cabin. The ventilator duct comprises a central wedge, at least two offset wedges and a hole. The central wedge is provided on a top surface of the ventilator duct. The two offset wedges are provided at each end of the central wedge such that the offset wedges are in contact with the central wedge. The hole is defined by the top surface between the central wedge and a surface connector.
[009] Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present subject matter, it is believed that the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other elements, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates rear of a vehicle 100 comprising a ventilator 102.
[0012] FIG. 2 discloses an exploded view of the ventilator 102.
[0013] FIG. 3 discloses attachment of the ventilator 102 to an underside of rear combination lamp 106 of the vehicle 100.
[0014] FIG. 4 discloses a ventilator duct 202 attached to an inside portion 400 of the vehicle 100.
[0015] FIG. 5 discloses an isometric view of a ventilator 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 discloses a sectional isometric view of the ventilator 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 discloses a sectional view of the ventilator 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 discloses an alternate sectional isometric view of the ventilator 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein 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.
[0021] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0022] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “consisting” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0023] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0024] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, disclosed is an isometric view of a ventilator 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The ventilator 500 comprises a ventilator duct 502 and a ventilator cover 504. The ventilator duct 502 is configured to vent out air from the inside of vehicle to outside. The ventilator cover 504 is configured to cover the ventilator duct 502 to prevent the entry of external objects into the cabin.
[0027] In an embodiment, the ventilator duct 502 is affixed to an inner surface of the vehicle body and the ventilator cover 504 is affixed to an outer surface of the vehicle body.
[0028] The ventilator duct 502 comprises a central wedge 508, at least two offset wedges 510 and an opening 512. The central wedge 508 is provided on a top surface 506 of the ventilator duct 502. The two offset wedges 510 are provided at each end of the central wedge 508 such that the offset wedges 510 are in contact with the central wedge 508. The opening 512 is defined by the top surface 506 between the central wedge 508 and a surface connector 514.
[0029] The surface connector 514 is configured to connect the ventilator duct 502 to the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the surface connector 514 forms the outer periphery of the ventilator duct 502.
[0030] In an embodiment, the two offset wedges 510 are offset from the central wedge 508 towards the surface connector 514. The central wedge 508 and the two offset wedges 510 are not along a same line.
[0031] The opening 512 is defined between the two offset wedges 510. In an embodiment, the opening 512 may be serrated openings 512 or oblong holes 512 or there may be a plurality of openings 512 defined for fluid to flow through the ventilator duct 502.
[0032] FIG. 6 discloses a sectional isometric view of the ventilator 500 along line AA (shown in FIG. 5), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A seal 600 is provided between the surface connector 514 and the two offset wedges 510 such that a containment area 604 is defined by the seal 600, the two offset wedges 510 and the central wedge 508.
[0033] In an embodiment, the fluid that flows between the seal 600 and the surface connector 514 of the ventilator duct 502 may flow onto the top surface 506 of the ventilator duct 502. In the absence of the opening 512, two offset wedges 510 and the central wedge 508, the fluid may enter the cabin of the vehicle. Even if only the opening 512 were to be present with the absence of the two offset wedges 510 and the central wedge 508, some of the fluid may flow through the opening 512 and not enter the cabin. However, with the increased flow rate of fluid, not all of the fluid may pass through the opening 512. Instead some of the fluid may overflow and enter the cabin of the vehicle. Thus, the presence of the two offset wedges 510 and the central wedge 508 provides a barricading effect to the inflow of the fluid and forces the fluid contained in the containment area 604 to flow through the opening 512.
[0034] FIG. 7 discloses a sectional view of the ventilator 500 along the line AA, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The ventilator duct 502 comprises a plurality of flaps 700 that are configured to pivot about a point to open towards the ventilator cover 504 for the air to pass through. The fluid entering the ventilator duct 502 through the opening 512 slides adjacent to the flap 700 to enter bottom portion of the ventilator duct 502.
[0035] In an embodiment, the ventilator cover 504 defines a drain channel 702 for the fluid accumulated within the ventilator 500 to drain out. Thus, the fluid flowing adjacently to the flap 700 is collected towards the bottom of the ventilator 700 and is disposed of through the drain channel 702.
[0036] FIG. 8 discloses an alternate sectional isometric view of the ventilator 500 along the line AA, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The drain channel 702 of the ventilator 500 is shown clearly in the instant figure.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE
[0037] The present disclosure proposes a ventilator duct to prevent fluid entry inside vehicle cabin.
[0038] Furthermore, each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0039] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.
[0040] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0041] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0042] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure 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.
[0043] The term “vehicle” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving automobile that is capable of carrying one or more human occupants and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.

Claims:

We claim:
1. A ventilator duct (502) for preventing fluid entry inside vehicle cabin, the ventilator duct (502) comprising:
a central wedge (508) provided on a top surface (506) of the ventilator duct (502);
at least two offset wedges (510) provided at each end of the central wedge (508) such that the offset wedges (510) are in contact with the central wedge (508); and
an opening (512) defined by the top surface (506) between the central wedge (508) and a surface connector (514).

2. The ventilator duct (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two offset wedges (510) are offset from the central wedge (508) towards the surface connector (514).

3. The ventilator duct (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening (512) is defined between the two offset wedges (510).

4. The ventilator duct (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central wedge (508) and the two offset wedges (510) are triangular in shape.

5. The ventilator duct (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a seal (600) is provided between the surface connector (514) and the two offset wedges (510) such that a containment area (604) is defined by the seal (600), the two offset wedges (510) and the central wedge (508).

6. The ventilator duct (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilator duct (502) is configured to be covered using a ventilator cover (504).

7. The ventilator duct (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilator cover (504) defines a drain channel (702) at bottom part.