Claims:We Claim:

1. An airvent (100) for a vehicle interior, the airvent (100) comprising:
a housing (500) comprising an air inlet (510) to receive an airflow and an air outlet (520) through which the airflow flows into the vehicle interior;
an air directing member (200) that is at least partly arranged in or on the housing (500) for directing the airflow into the vehicle interior;
wherein the air directing member (200) is inflatable at least in one direction for changing the airflow directivity into the vehicle interior.

2. The airvent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air directing member (200) is arranged in between the air inlet (510) and the air outlet (520) of the housing (500) such that the air directing member (200) together with the inner wall of the housing (500) forms a first partial air flow channel (200a) and a second partial air flow channel (200b).

3. The airvent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air directing member (200) is an inflatable air bladder arrangement having an inlet port (202) to ingress pressurized air into the air directing member (200).

4. The airvent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air directing member (200) is inflated by pressurised air coming from a manifold (240) to adjust the size and shape of the air directing member (200).
5. The airvent (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 3, wherein the inlet port (202) is an inlet valve for receiving the pressurised air from an air pump (250) associated with the manifold (240).

6. The airvent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air directing member (200) has a first section (210) and a second section (220), wherein both the first and the second sections (210, 220) has a corresponding inlet port (202) connected to the air pump (250) such that the first section (210) and the second section (220) is inflatable independently and in a different direction to each other.

7. The airvent (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 6 wherein when the first section (210) is inflated, the first section (210) configures a dome shape or a butterfly shape in the first partial air flow channel (200a) for changing the airflow directivity in a first direction into the vehicle interior.

8. The airvent (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 6 wherein when the second section (220) is inflated, the second section (220) configures a dome shape or butterfly shape in the second partial air flow channel (200b) for changing the airflow directivity in a second direction into the vehicle interior.

9. The airvent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when both the sections (210, 220) are inflated in the first partial air flow channel (200a) and in the second partial air flow channel (200a) respectively, the air directing member (200) at least partially shut off the airflow into the vehicle interior.

10. The airvent (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (500) has one or more slot (102, 104) configured over or along one of the side(s) a periphery of the housing (500), wherein the air directing member (200) is at least partly arranged on or in the one or more slot (102, 104) of the housing (500) such that the air direction member (200) is inflatable at least in one direction for changing the airflow directivity into the vehicle interior.
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an airvent. More specifically, the present invention relates to an airvent for a vehicle interior and can also be used for other land, air or water vehicles and in general for any ventilating rooms as well.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Numerous examples of air vents are known in the art. In many cases, spatial constraints need to be taken into account when considering the placement of air vents. In particular, the available space for air vents in dashboards, center consoles, ceilings, pillars, door modules, or similar interior elements of a motor vehicle may be highly limited. Accommodating the various components of the air vent for guiding, shutting and regulating the air flow may make the air vent too large to easily fit into the available space.

[0003] Another issues with known air vents can be insufficient protection against dust (or other small objects, such as coins) entering the interior of the air vent from an air outlet side when the air vent is not in use and most for the air vent has horizontal and/or vertical vane to provide desired airflow directivity into the vehicle interior thus due to these vanes the volume and/or the velocity of the airflow may become inadequate due to the reduction in the air outlet area of the vehicle interior.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an airvent, which overcomes the problems of the prior art.

Objects of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an air vent with combined airflow directivity and air volume control for a vehicle interior.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air vent for a vehicle interior, which is simple in construction and can be operated easily.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air vent for a vehicle interior, which has very less components therefore not complexity in design and construction.

[0008] One more object of the present invention is to provide an air vent for a vehicle interior, which is robust and economical in design.

Summary of the invention

[0009] According to the present invention, an airvent for a vehicle interior is provided. The airvent includes a housing and an air directing member. The housing may comprise an air inlet to receive an airflow and an air outlet through which the airflow may flow in the vehicle interior. The housing may be of any shape which can accommodate the air directing member therewithin. The air directing member is at least partly arranged in or on the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet for directing the airflow into the vehicle interior. The air directing member may be an inflatable air bladder arrangement which can adjust the size and shape according to filling of pressurized air into the air directing member. In some embodiment, the air directing member may be inflated by pressurised air coming from a manifold to adjust the size and shape of the inflatable air directing member.

[0010] The air directing member may have at least an inlet port for the ingress of the pressurised air into the air directing member. The inlet port is an inlet valve for receiving the pressurised air from an air pump associated with the manifold. In some embodiment, the air directing member may have two sections like a first section and a second section. Each section of the air directing member may have their own corresponding inlet port connected to the air pump. In some embodiment, the air directing member is arranged at a middle portion of the housing such that the air direction member together with an inner wall of the housing forms a first partial air flow channel and a second partial air flow channel. The inflation or the deflation of each sections of the air directing member is regulated by controlling the pressurised air from the air pump. Deflation of the air section(s) may also be done by any other known means to release pressurised air from the air section(s). Further, the airvent may include a light indication to notify the user which air section(s) has been selected for inflation and/or deflation.

[0011] In some embodiment, the air directing member may be inflatable at least in one direction for changing the airflow directivity into the vehicle interior. In some embodiment, the air directing member has a rectangular profile which when inflated changes to a dome shaped structure or a butterfly shape structure. The inflation or deflation of both sections of the air directing member can be controlled independently. Specifically, when the first section is inflated, the first section may configure the dome shape structure or the butterfly shape structure in the first partial air flow channel to change the airflow directivity in a first direction into the vehicle interior. In some embodiment, the first section is an upper section of the air directing member arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing. When the first section is inflated, the airflow directivity changes from linear direction to a curved profile of the dome shaped structure or of the butterfly shaped structure configuring in the first partial airflow channel. Specifically, when the first section is inflated, the air flows in a downward direction into the vehicle interior.

[0012] Similarly, when the second section is inflated, the second section may configure a dome shape or a butterfly shape in the second partial air flow channel to change the airflow directivity in a second direction into the vehicle interior. In some embodiment, the second section is a lower section of the air directing member arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing. When the second section is inflated, the airflow changes from linear direction to a curved profile of the dome shaped or of the butterfly shaped structure in the partial air flow channel. Specifically, when the second section is inflated, the air flows in an upward direction into the vehicle interior.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the air directing member is of rectangular shape wherein the first section is a right section of the air directing member arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing such that when the first section is inflated, the air flows in a leftward direction into the vehicle interior. Further, the second section is a left section of the air directing member arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing such that when the second section is inflated, the air flows in a rightward direction into the vehicle interior.

[0014] Further, when both the sections are inflated, the airflow in both the first direction and the second direction for at least partially shutting off the airflow into the vehicle interior.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the housing may have one or more slot configured over or along one of the sides of a periphery the housing, wherein the air directing member is at least partly arranged on the one or more slot of the housing such that the air directing member is inflatable at least in one direction inside the housing for changing the airflow directivity into the vehicle interior.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when reading the detailed description given below, purely by way of example and in a non-limitative manner, referring to the following figures:

[0017] Figure 1 shows an airvent for a vehicle interior in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d shows the change of an airflow directivity when size and shape of an air directing member is adjusted to a dome shaped structure;

[0019] Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d shows another embodiment of the air directing member changing the airflow directivity when size and shape of the air directing member is adjusted to a butterfly shaped structure;

[0020] Figure 4a illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the air directing member when the air directing member is in a deflate position;

[0021] Figure 4b illustrates another view of the figure 4a when a first section of the air directing member is in a inflate position;

[0022] Figure 5 illustrates a supporting structure for the air directing member in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] Figures 6a, 6b and 6c illustrates a second embodiment of the airvent in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising, "having, "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0025] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “an” and “a” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

[0026] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0027] Numerous examples of air vents are known in the art. In many cases, spatial constraints need to be taken into account when considering the placement of air vents. In particular, the available space for air vents in dashboards, center consoles, ceilings, pillars, door modules, or similar interior elements of a motor vehicle may be highly limited. Accommodating the various components of the air vent for guiding, shutting and regulating the air flow may make the air vent too large to easily fit into the available space.

[0028] Referring now to figure 1, an airvent (100) for a vehicle interior in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The airvent (100) comprises a housing (500) and an air directing member (200). The housing (500) has an air inlet (510) to receive an airflow and an air outlet (520) through which the airflow may flow into the vehicle interior. The housing (500) may be of any shape which can accommodate the air directing member (200). In a first embodiment of present invention, the housing (500) is shown to have a dome shape housing structure with the air inlet (510) and the air outlet (520) configured opposite to each other as shown in figure 1-3. In a second embodiment, the housing (500) is of rectangular shape as shown in figure 6a-6c.

[0029] Further in the first embodiment, the air directing member (200) is arranged in the housing (500) between the air inlet (510) and the air outlet (520) such that the air directing member (200) together with the inner wall of the housing (500) forms a first partial air flow channel (200a) and a second partial air flow channel (200b). The air directing member (200) is used for changing the airflow directivity into the vehicle interior. The air directing member (200) is supported by brackets (204) on both sides of the housing (500) such that the air directing member (200) accommodates substantially at a middle portion of the housing (500) as shown in figure 5. The air directing member (200) is an inflatable air bladder arrangement which can adjust its size and shape. In the present embodiment, the air directing member (200) is inflated by pressurised air coming from a manifold (240) to adjust the size and shape of the inflatable air directing member (200) as shown in figure 4b.

[0030] Referring now to figure 4a and 4b in detail, the air directing member (200) has at least an inlet port (202) for the ingress of the pressurised air into the air directing member (200). The inlet port (202) is an inlet valve for receiving the pressurised air from an air pump (250) associated with the manifold (240). By way of non-limiting example, in the present embodiment, the air directing member (200) has two sections like a first section (210) and a second section (220) arranged adjacent to each other. Each section (210), (220) of the air directing member (200) has an inlet port (202a, 202b) connected to the air pump (250). In an exemplary embodiment, more than two sections of the air directing member (200) may be arranged at least partly in the housing (500). The two sections (210, 220) inflate independently with the aid of a controller (260). The inflation or the deflation of each sections (210, 220) of the air directing member (200) is regulated by the controller (260) for controlling the pressurised air from the air pump (250) as shown in figure 4b. A regulator switch may be associated with the controller (260) to open or close the valves of the inlet ports (202a, 202b). When the regulator switch is switched ON, the valves of the inlet ports (202a, 202b) opens. Further, the air pump (250) pumps air from an air source (270) to adjust the size and shape of the air directing member (200).

[0031] In the present embodiment, the air directing member (200) is inflatable at least in one direction for changing the airflow directivity into the vehicle interior. In the present embodiment, the air directing member (200) has a rectangular profile which when inflated changes to a dome or butterfly shaped structure. The inflation or the deflation of both sections (210, 220) of the air directing member (200) is controlled independently. Referring now to figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, when the first section (210) is inflated, the first section (210) configures the dome or butterfly shape structure in the first partial air flow channel (200a) to change the airflow directivity in a first direction into the vehicle interior. In the present embodiment, the first section (210) is an upper section of the air directing member (200) arranged parallel substantially at a middle portion of the housing (500). When the first section (210) is inflated, the air flow directivity changes from a linear direction to a curved profile of the dome or butterfly shape structure. Specifically, when the first section (210) is inflated, the airflow directivity changes in downward direction to the vehicle interior as shown in figure 2b and 3b.
[0032] Similarly, when the second section (220) is inflated, the second section (220) configures the dome or butterfly shape structure to change the airflow directivity in a second direction into the vehicle interior. In the present embodiment, the second section (220) is a lower section of the air directing member (200) arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing (500). When the second section (220) is inflated, the airflow directivity changes from a linear direction to the curved profile of the dome or butterfly shaped structure. Specifically, when the second section (220) is inflated, the airflow directivity changes in an upward direction into the vehicle interior as shown in figure 2c and 3c.

[0033] Further, when both the sections (210, 220) are inflated as shown in figure 3d, it at least partially shut-off the airflow into the vehicle interior.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment (now shown), the air directing member is of rectangular shape wherein the first section is a right section of the air directing member arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing such that when the first section is inflated, the air flows in a leftward direction into the vehicle interior. Further, the second section is a left section of the air directing member arranged substantially at the middle portion of the housing such that when the second section is inflated, the air flows in a rightward direction into the vehicle interior.

[0035] In a second embodiment of the proposed air vent (100) as illustrated in figure 6a, 6b and 6c, the air vent (100) has a housing (500) of rectangular shaped structure. The housing (500) has a first slot (102) and a second slot (104) arranged opposite to each other over or along one of the sides of periphery of the housing (500) as shown in figure 6b. The first section (210) of the air directing member (200) is arranged at least partly on the first slot (102) and is configured substantially perpendicular parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing (500) and extending such that when the first air directing section (210) is inflated inside the housing (500), the air flows in a rightward direction into the vehicle interior as shown in figure 6c. Further, the second section (220) is arranged at least partly on the second slot (104) and is configured substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing (500) such that when the second section (220) is inflated inside the housing (500), the air flows in a leftward direction into the vehicle interior (not shown).

[0036] Further, when the pressurised gas is released from the air directing member (200), the air directing member (200) deflates and forms the rectangular section to guide the air linearly through the air outlet (520) into the vehicle interior. The air vent (100) is adapted to be coupled to an air conditioning system or a heating system or a ventilation system of the vehicle interior.

[0037] Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of providing an air vent (100) for a vehicle interior. The air vent (100) is simple in construction and can be operated easily. The air vent (100) has a very less components therefore not complexity in design and construction.

[0038] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.