Air outlet assembly having controllable effort generation
US6059653A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 9, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60H2001/3464
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An air outlet assembly includes a housing secured to a structure. A plurality of air directional fins, i.e., louvers or vanes, extend through the housing. The housing includes a plurality of receiving apertures. The receiving apertures receive bosses of the louvers therein. The receiving apertures define a boss surface and a spring surface. The boss surface has a radius of curvature equal to that of the boss being inserted. The spring surface has a radius of curvature greater than that of the boss being inserted. Two extensions are cut away on either side of both the boss surface and the spring surface to define the amount of effort required to rotate the boss when it is inserted into the receiving aperture. An opening is cut away adjacent the receiving aperture to further control the resilience of the spring surface as it abuts the boss inserted into the receiving aperture. This resiliency or spring characteristic creates a frictional force against which an effort must be applied in order to rotate the boss and, therefore, the louvers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.