COMPLETE AFTER PROVISIONAL LEFT ON 19 FEB 2007
FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
AN AIR VENT;

TATA AUTOCOMP SYSTEMS LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956, WHOSE ADDRESS IS SURVEY # 235 & 245
VILLAGE HINJEWADI, TAL MULSHI, PUNE

- 411| 057, MAHARASHTRA

THE

FOLLOWING

SPECIFICATION

PARTICULARLY

DESCRIBES

THE

INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT
IS TO BE PERFORMED. 1

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to air ventilation, and more particularly to air vents used for air ventilation.
BACKGROUND ART
Air vents or nozzles for ventilations are typically mounted on the dashboards of motor vehicles to control air supply from a ventilation and/or air conditioning system into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Presently known air vent comprises a housing, vanes for directing air flow, an operating mechanism for oscillating vanes and optionally a diffuser.
Air vents without diffuser have can only direct the flow of air and have a problem of adjusting the flow rate of air. Air vent comprising diffuser employs a second operating mechanism for oscillating the diffuser. This air vents are bulky and also requires trial and error to optimize flow rate of air through the air vents. For example air vent disclosed in the in US patent application NO. 2004/0219874 for a vehicle comprises a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an air flow control valve located in the inlet, and a screen comprising a plurality of slats located in the outlet. The slats are moveable by a control wheel from a closed condition, in which iair flow through the outlet is impeded, to an open condition allowing air flow through the outlet, the control wheel also operating the valve to permit the flow of air prior to opening the slats, the air flow passing through slots in at least some of the slats.

However, there are some drawbacks of the aforementioned patent. One of the drawbacks is that the structure of the air vent is pretty complex and has got number of parts to provide air ventilation. Another drawback is that, the airflow control valve is connected to the screen through a lever and link mechanism, the link is hinged to the lever. This may create problem later on like jamming or broken hinge. Moreover, in this patent application, the horizontal vanes of air vent are provided only for aesthetic purpose.
Also in some prior available air vents the control wheel for moving a front side vanes (for directing the air flow) directly engages with a diffuser provided at the back side of the air vent. But the major problem with such air vents is that there is not enough flexibility available in the operating mechanism between the control wheel and the diffuser for controlling the amount of air to pass through the air vent.
Hence it is desirable and there is a need of an air vent that is relatively simple in structure by having minimum number of components.
Also there is a need of an air vent that provides greater flexibility to the components thereof in operating and controlling the amount of air entering and passing the air vent.
SUMMARY
An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified air vent structure for air ventilation.
Another object of the present invention is to obviate the above-identified problem of the air vents.
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According to one embodiment of the present invention an air vent for air ventilation, comprises a housing, a diffuser having a first pivot pin, said diffuser adapted on rear end of the housing to control airflow rate of incoming air. The diffuser controls the airflow rate of the incoming air. A plurality of vanes pivotally arranged on front end of the housing to guide airflow direction of outgoing air. A thumb wheel having an outer second pivot pin, the thumb wheel rotatably adapted to a side of the plurality of vanes, and a coupling means having elongated slots at the ends. The first pivot pin and the outer second pivot pin engage with the elongated slots in such a way that the thumb wheel upon rotation, simultaneously operates the coupling means, the diffuser and the plurality of vanes.
The first pivot pin and the outer second pivot pin engage with the two elongated slots respectively in such a way that upon rotation of the thumb wheel the coupling means, the diffuser and the vanes operate simultaneously. The thumb wheel and the coupling means are adapted outside the housing along the sidewall thereof.
According to another embodiment of the present invention the thumb wheel and the coupling means are adapted inside the housing.
The elongated slots engages with outer second pivot pin provided on the thumb wheel and the first pivot pin of the diffuser, said thumb wheel, said coupling means and said diffuser are operatively connected in such a way that upon rotation of the thumb wheel the diffuser flap moves between the open and close position.
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Details of operation of the instant invention and further objects thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrates embodiments of the invention in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Fig 1 shows a perspective view of an air vent according to the present invention.
Fig 2 shows a perspective view of the air vent without housing according to the present invention.
Fig 3A shows a perspective view of horizontal vanes of the air vent.
Fig 3B shows a perspective view of attachment of a coupling element with a wheel of the air vent of the present invention.
Fig 4 shows a perspective view of attachment of a diffuser with the wheel of the
air vent of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention
reference is made to the accompanying figures 1,2, 3 and 4, which in conjugation
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with this detailed description, illustrates and describes an arrangement in an air vent for air ventilation.
According to one embodiment of the present invention an air vent (100) for air ventilation, comprises a housing (10), a diffuser (30) having a first pivot pin (36), said diffuser (30) adapted on rear end of the housing (10) to control airflow rate of incoming air, a plurality of vanes (20) pivotally arranged on front end of the housing (10) to guide airflow direction of outgoing air, a thumb wheel (40) having an outer second pivot pin (44), the thumb wheel (40) rotatably adapted to a side of the plurality of vanes (20), and a coupling means (32) having elongated slots (34A, 34B) at the ends thereof, wherein the first pivot pin (36) and the outer second pivot pin (44) engage with the elongated slots (34A, 34B) in such a way that the thumb wheel (40) upon rotation, simultaneously operates the coupling means (32), the diffuser (30) and the plurality of vanes (20). With reference to figure 1,2 and 4, there is shown an air vent (100) that comprises of a housing (10) having a rear end and a front end, the housing (TO) in it incorporates a diffuser (30), and a plurality of vanes (20). The diffuser (30) is adapted at the rear end of the housing (10) whereas the plurality of vanes (20) is adapted at the front end .thereof. The diffuser (30) controls the airflow rate of the incoming air into the housing (10) and the plurality of vanes (20) guides the airflow direction of the outgoing air. Constructional features of the diffuser (30) is such that it has a plurality of vertical vanes or flaps pivotally arranged to operate between an open position and close position, and the first pivot pin (36) adapted on to the side of the diffuser (30) through a swivel in which the first pivot pin (36)
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forms a part. The incoming air into the housing (10) is obstructed by the plurality
of vertical vanes or flaps of the diffuser (30).
Plurality of vanes (20) that are adapted on the front end of the housing (10) are
pivotally arranged around a first axis (X-X). Plurality of vanes (20) is horizontally
juxtaposed and stacked one over the other. Similarly, plurality of vertical vanes or
flaps of the diffuser (30) are vertically juxtaposed and stacked one over the other.
According to another embodiment of he present invention the plurality of vanes
(20) is vertically juxtaposed and stacked one over the other, similarly plurality of
vanes (20) or flaps of the diffuser (30) are horizontally juxtaposed and stacked
one over the other.
The coupling means (32) as referred herein has preferably an inverted v-shape
element and have two arms bent, extended horizontally. Point at which the two
arms of the coupling means (32) is joined, said point is attached to outer sidewall
of the housing (10).
According to another embodiment of the present invention and as shown in figure
1, the coupling means (32) with the elongated slots (34A, 34B) has preferably a
v-shape element and have two arms bent, extended horizontally. Point at which
the two arms of the coupling means (32) is joined, said point is attached to outer
sidewall of the housing (10).
At the ends of the two arms two elongated slots (34A, 34B) are provided. One of
the elongated slots (34A) has two portions therein. With reference to figure 4, at
the starting of the slot (34A) there is a first portion, which is straighter in profile,
and then there is a second section, which is curved in profile. The second slot
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(34B) has only got one portion, which is straighter in profile. The first pivot pin (36) provided on the diffuser (30) and the outer second pivot pin (44) adapted on the outer surface of the thumb wheel (40) engages with the two elongated slots (34A, 34B) provided in the coupling means (32).
The coupling means (32) has elongated slots (34A, 34B) on the ends of both the arms and is pivotally fixed to the housing (10) of the air vent (100) as shown in Fig 1. One of the elongated slots (34A) of the coupling means (32) engages the outer second pivot pin (44) provided on the wheel and other elongated slot (34B) of the coupling means (32) adapt the first pivot pin (36) provided on the diffuser (30) thereby providing a connection between the diffuser (30) and the thumb wheel (40).
Two pivot pins are adapted on the thumb wheel (40), one of which would be hereinafter referred to as an inner second pivot pin (42A) adapted on to the inner surface of the thumb wheel (40) and the second would be hereinafter referred to as the outer second pivot pin (44) adapted on to the outer surface of to thumb wheel (40) as shown in figure 2 and figure 3B.
The plurality of vanes (20) are pivotally coupled to a connecting element (22) as shown in Fig 3A and 3B. The connecting; element (22) as shown in Fig 3B has an extension (24) having a guiding slot (26) that guides inner second pivot pin (42A) provided on the thumb wheel (40). The extension (24) along with the guiding slot (26) and inner second pivot pin (42A) acts as a cam and converts the rotary motion of the thumb wheel (40) into planar motion of the connecting element (22)
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that causes the plurality of vanes (20) to rotate in between fully closed and open
position.
As aforementioned in the air vent (100) between the diffuser (30) and the plurality
of vanes (20), the thumb wheel (40) and the coupling means (32) are provided,
both in conjugation with the diffuser (30) and the plurality of vanes (20) provides
air ventilation.
Also upon rotation of the thumb wheel (40) which is having a grip on its
circumferential periphery, the extension (24) along with the guiding slot (26) and
inner second pivot pin (42A) acts as a cam and converts the rotary motion of the
thumb wheel (40) into planar motion of the connecting element (22) that causes
the plurality of vanes (20) to rotate in between fully closed and open position. The
plurality of vanes (20) is so designed and arranged in the housing (10) that upon
rotation of the thumb wheel (40) it initially throws air towards the downward
direction and then gradually turns in the upward direction to throw air in the
horizontal and upward direction.
The elongated slots (34A, 34B) engages with outer second pivot pin (44)
provided on the thumb wheel and the first pivot pin (36) of the diffuser, said
thumb wheel, said coupling means (32) and said diffuser are operatively
connected in such a way that upon rotation of the thumb wheel the diffuser flap
moves between the open and close position.
As shown in figure 4, upon rotation of the thumb wheel (40) firstly the outer
second pivot pin (44) traverses into the straighter portion of the elongated slot
(34A). During this time due to the traverse of the outer second pivot pin (44) in
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the first portion i.e. straighter portion, said pin (44) exerts a rotary push on to the coupling means (32) which is hinged on to the housing (10) which in turn applies a rotary push onto the first pivot pin (36). Here, the first pivot pin exerts a rotary force on to the swivel thereby opening the flaps from close position to the fully open position. On further rotation of the thumb wheel (20), the outer second pivot pin (44) further traverses and enters into the second portion i.e. curved portion of the slot (34A). Here the mechanism is such developed by keeping the design consideration that the thumb wheel freely moves till the time the outer second pivot pin () traverses into the curved portion.
Both the coupling means (32) and the thumb wheel (40) are provided outside the housing (10) along the sidewall thereof as shown in figure 1, wherein the diffusef (30) and the plurality of vanes (20) are provided inside the housing (10).
According to another embodiment of the present invention the thumb wheel (40), the coupling means (32), the diffuser (30) and the plurality of vanes (20) are provided inside the housing (10).
As the thumb wheel (40) rotates, the first pivot pin (36) and outer second pivot pin (44) moves inside the elongated slots (34A, 34B) of the coupling means (32) and the coupling element (22). The inner pivot pin pushes the coupling element (22) downward causing pivotal motion of the vanes about x-x axis i.e. horizontal axis between the open position and the closed position, while the outer second pivot pin (44) pushes the coupling means (32) downward causing pivotal movement of the diffuser (30) between the open position and the closed position.

According to the present invention, diffuser (30) start opening first as the thumb wheel (40) rotates and immediately reach to fully open condition. Simultaneously, the plurality of vanes (20) starts opening giving bottom direction to the airflow before the diffuser (30) reaches to its fully open condition. As the thumb wheel (40) rotates further, the plurality of vanes (20) only rotate directing airflow to any require direction from bottom to top.
The foregoing description of the invention has been set for merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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WE CLAIM
1. An air vent (100) for air ventilation, comprising:
a housing (10);
a diffuser (30) having a first pivot pin (36), said diffuser (30) adapted on rear end of the housing (10) to control airflow rate of incoming air; a plurality of vanes (20) pivotally arranged on front end of the housing (10) to guide airflow direction of outgoing air;
a thumb wheel (40) having an outer second pivot pin (44), the thumb wheel (40) rotatably adapted to a side of the plurality of vanes (20); and a coupling means (32) having elongated slots (34A, 34B) at the ends thereof, wherein the first pivot pin (36) and the outer second pivot pin (44) engage with the elongated slots (34A, 34B) in such a way that the thumb wheel (40) upon rotation, simultaneously operates the coupling means (32), the diffuser (30) and the plurality of vanes (20).
2. An air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated slot (34A) has initially a straighter portion and then a curved portion.
3. An air vent as (100) claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling means (32) is of inverted v shape, the coupling means (32) is hinged to the housing (10).
4. An air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling means (32) is if v shape, the coupling means (32) is hinged to the housing (10).
5. An air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated slots (34A, 34B) engages with outer second pivot pin (44) provided on the thumb wheel and the first pivot pin (36) of the diffuser, said thumb wheel, said coupling means (32)
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and said diffuser are operatively connected in such a way that upon rotation of the thumb wheel the diffuser flap moves between the open and close position.
6. An air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser () has horizontal vanes () juxtaposed and pivotally operating between an open position and a closed position thereof.
7. An air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser has vertical vanes juxtaposed and pivotally operating between an open position and a closed position.
8. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes (20) is pivotally arranged on a connecting element (22) (22), the connecting element (22) (22) having a guiding slot (26).
9. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1 & 6, wherein the inner second pivot pin (42A) adapted on the thumb wheel (40) engages with the guiding slot (26).

10. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes (20) is horizontally juxtaposed and stacked one over the other.
11. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes (20) is vertically juxtaposed and stacked one over the other.
12. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim, wherein the plurality of vanes (20) has an open position and a closed position.
13. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim, wherein the thumb wheel (40) and the coupling means (32) are adapted outside the housing (10) along the sidewall thereof.
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14. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thumb wheel (40) and the coupling means (32) are adapted inside the housing (10).
15. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thumb wheel (40) has a grip on the periphery to rotate it.
16. The air vent (100) as claimed in claim 1 as described in the preceding claims, description and drawings.
Dated this 19 th day of February, 2006.

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ABSTRACT
An air vent (100) for air ventilation, comprises a housing (10), a diffuser (30) having a first pivot pin (36), said diffuser (30) adapted on rear end of the housing (10) to control airflow rate of incoming air, a plurality of vanes (20) pivotally arranged on front end of the housing (10) to guide airflow direction of outgoing air, a thumb wheel (40) having an outer second pivot pin (44), the thumb wheel (40) rotatably adapted to a side of the plurality of vanes (20), and a coupling means (32) having elongated slots (34A, 34B) at the ends thereof. The first pivot pin (36) and the outer second pivot pin (44) engage with the elongated slots (34A, 34B) in such a way that the thumb wheel (40) upon rotation, simultaneously operates the coupling means (32), the diffuser (30) and the plurality of vanes (20).
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Reference figure 2.