JP2003246214A - Air outlet unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air outlet unit which is not necessary to separately mount a decorative grill when the unit is provided at a place easy to be visually observed by reducing a manufacturing cost of the air outlet mounted on a door or a vehicle body panel of a vehicle for improving operability at a door closing time by suppressing an increase in pressure in a compartment generated at a door closing time or the like and improving durability and reliability. <P>SOLUTION: The air outlet unit comprises an outside grill member 12 having a plurality of first vent holes 24, and an inside grill member 14 having second vent holes 46 opposed to the first holes 24 so that both the grills 12 and 14 are superposed to fixedly support one edge of an elastic thin film valve member 18 for opening/closing the hole 46 to one edge of the hole 46, and to elastically bring the other free end edge of the member 18 into contact with the other edge of the hole 46. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided in a door of a vehicle such as an automobile or in a proper place of a vehicle body, and when the door is closed or the air pressure inside the vehicle is higher than the pressure of the outside air,
The present invention relates to an air outlet device that discharges air in a vehicle compartment to the outside air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An increase in door closing operation force and generation of noise in a proper place of a truck cab, such as an outer wall of the cab and a door, caused by an increase in air pressure in the passenger compartment when the door is closed. In order to prevent this, an air outlet that discharges the air in the vehicle interior to the outside air is provided. As one example thereof, as shown in FIG. 9 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-100563, air passages are provided on every other downwardly inclined surface of an air outlet body made of a resin material having a sawtooth cross section. An air outlet device having a structure in which a reed valve made of an elastic thin film such as rubber is provided in each air passage is shown.

The reed valve provided in the air passage for exhausting air from the vehicle compartment in the conventional air outlet device described above is provided with a plurality of fasteners such as screws along the upper edge of the opening that limits the upper edge of the air passage. Although it is fixed or fixed by using an appropriate adhesive, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost becomes high and the durability and reliability are uncertain because a lot of labor is required for attachment. Further, when the air outlet device is arranged in a place where it can be directly seen by the vehicle body, it is necessary to additionally install a grill for improving the appearance, which causes a problem that the manufacturing cost further increases.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was devised in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional air outlet device, and has a reed valve or an elastic thin film valve member for opening and closing an air passage for exhausting air from the vehicle interior. The main purpose is to provide an air outlet device that is easy to install, has excellent durability and reliability, and does not require a separate decorative grill to be installed even when it is placed in a place where it can be directly seen by the vehicle body at low cost. It is intended.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer grill member having a plurality of first vent holes for discharging air in the vehicle compartment, and an outer grill member facing the outside of the vehicle compartment, and the outer grill. A holding member that is provided with a plurality of second vent holes that are superposed on the member and that face the first vent holes, and that holds the inner grill member facing the interior of the vehicle interior, the outer grill member, and the inner grill member in a superposed state. Means, an elastic thin-film valve member that is interposed between the outer grill member and the inner grill member to open and close the second vent hole, and the outer grill member and the inner grill member are polymerized so that the elasticity is improved. One end of the thin-film valve member is fixed to one side of the second ventilation hole and the other end of the valve member is held in a free state to allow air to flow from the inside of the vehicle compartment to the outside. Air flow from outside the cabin to inside the cabin It is to propose an air outlet device being characterized in that is configured to prevent.

In the present invention, an engaging hole that engages with an engaging portion provided on either the outer grill member or the inner grill member is provided at one end of the elastic thin film valve member to be fixed. In addition, it is preferable that a holding projection for holding the engaging portion in the engaging hole of the elastic thin film valve member is provided on either of the grill members, and the outer grill member and the inner grill member are further provided. Are integrally connected by a hinge portion, and by rotating one of the grill members around the hinge portion, the grill member is preferably superposed on the other grill member. .

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings FIGS.
In the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, an air outlet generally denoted by reference numeral 10 includes an outer grill member 12 arranged to face the outside of the vehicle body, and an inner grill member 14 arranged to face the inside of the vehicle body. A hinge portion 16 for connecting the outer grill member 12 and the inner grill member 14 so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
And a plurality (four in the illustrated case) of elastic thin film valve members 18 interposed between the outer grill member 12 and the inner grill member 14 in a manner described in detail later. The inner and outer grill members 12 and 14 and the hinge portion 16 are integrally molded using an appropriate resin material, and the elastic thin film valve member 18 is made of, for example, a plate-shaped rubber material having a thickness of about 1 mm. There is.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the outer grill member 12 has a plurality of bridges between the upper and lower and left and right frame portions 20 having a substantially rectangular plan shape and the left and right frame portions 20. There is provided a first substrate 26 having a plurality of (four in the illustrated case) first vent holes 24 which are substantially the same elongated rectangular shape and which are divided by the horizontal rods 22. The cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 4 extend along one of the parallel long sides of each of the first vent holes 24 (the lower long side in FIG. 2) substantially at right angles to the flat upper surface of the frame portion 20. As well shown in
A thin plate-like first partition wall 2 each having a slender rectangular front shape
8 are set up respectively. The lower portions of the first partition walls 28 are connected to each other by the left and right vertical walls 30 that are formed to rise upward from the frame portion 20.

At the top edge of the first partition 28, a plurality of (two in the illustrated case) engaging portions 32 having a sawtooth planar shape are formed.
Is projected. Further, a fixing tool such as a tapping screw or a screw grommet for attaching the assembled air outlet 10 to a predetermined position of a door or a panel of a vehicle body, as will be described later, in the upper frame portion of the frame portion 20. A mounting hole 34 for inserting a hole is provided at a substantially central portion, and a plurality of small hook-shaped projections 36 are provided on a side edge portion.

Further, only one of the side edges of the lower portions of the left and right frame portions 20 of the frame portion 20 extending along the short side of the first ventilation hole 24 is shown in FIG. A hook-shaped protrusion 38 is provided. The hook-shaped protrusion 36 and the hook-shaped protrusion 38 are formed in substantially the same shape. Further, the lower end edge of the lower frame portion of the frame portion 20 is connected to the upper end side edge of the inner grill member 14 via the thin hinge portion 16.

Next, the inner grill member 14 is a frame of the outer grill member 12 when the outer grill member 12 is rotated around the hinge axis aa of the hinge portion 16 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. A frame portion 40 having a flat surface that substantially comes into close contact with the portion 20 (the outer grill member 12 is pivoted about the hinge axis aa as described above, and the frame portions of both grill members 12 and 14 are rotated). The state in which the frame 20 and the frame portion 40 are overlapped is referred to as “polymerization” in this specification) and is surrounded by the frame portion 40. When the inner side and the grill members 12 and 14 are polymerized, the plurality of first Vent 2
4, a second substrate 43 having a wide common opening 42 for receiving the first partition 28 and the vertical wall 30. Same opening 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a horizontal cauldron 44, which is arranged substantially parallel to the horizontal cauldron 22 of the outer grill member 12 (a vertical cross-sectional view at the time of superposition).
It is divided into a plurality of (four in the case shown) second vent holes 46 by the reference.

A second partition wall 48 having a rectangular front shape along one side edge (lower edge in FIG. 5) of the horizontal shaft 44 is provided.
Are erected substantially perpendicular to the flat surface of the frame part 40, and both ends of the second partition 48 in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 are a pair of left and right sawtooth-shaped erected substantially vertically from the frame part 20. They are connected to each other by a side wall 50 having a side shape. The open end of the second vent hole 46 on the vehicle interior side, which is limited by the sawtooth side wall 50 and the second partition wall 48, is formed to be inclined with respect to the frame portion 40. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a downward groove portion 52 opening downward is provided at the upper end of the second partition 48.
And a downward saw tooth shape adjacent to a plurality of saw tooth shaped engaging portions 32 provided on the top edge of the first partition 28 of the outer grill member 12 is formed on the edge of the groove portion 52. Is provided with a holding protrusion 54. As best shown in the cross-sectional view in the overlapping state of FIG. 9, the engaging portion 32 and the holding projection 54 complement each other to form an engaging portion having a substantially rectangular front shape.

Further, the left and right frame portions 40 of the inner grill member 14 are provided with locking holes 56 with which the hook-shaped projections 38 of the outer grill member 12 engage, and the lower frame portion 40.
A notch 60 for accommodating a locking hole 58 with which the hook-shaped protrusion 36 of the outer grill member 12 is engaged and a raised portion 34 ′ having a mounting hole 34 for inserting a fixing tool such as the tapping screw is provided. Has been. Further, in FIG. 5, the upper frame portion 40 is provided with a through hole 62 into which a locking member on the vehicle body side (not shown) is inserted and a projection 64 for positioning the air outlet 10 with respect to the vehicle body in cooperation with the locking member. Is the second best
The protrusion is provided on the partition wall 48, and the upper end edge of the frame portion 40 is connected to the frame portion 20 below the outer grill member 12 via the hinge portion 16.

The hook-shaped projections 36 and 38 of the outer grill member 12 and the locking holes 56 and 58 of the inner grill member 14 are overlapped by relatively rotating both grill members around the hinge axis aa. At this time, a holding means for contacting the frame portions 20 and 40 of both with each other in a substantially airtight manner is constituted. It should be noted that the hook-shaped projections 36 and 38 are made into hook-shaped members of sufficiently small size, and the engaging holes 56 and 58 of the mating members are made sufficiently small in thickness so that the operator can apply a slight force to quickly and easily. In addition, both grill members 12 and 14 can be simply polymerized and locked as shown in FIG. 8, and unlocked and disengaged as shown in FIG.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, the second ventilation hole 46 is provided between the inner grill member 12 and the outer grill member 14.
The elastic thin film valve member 18 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a valve member) for opening and closing is shown, and as shown in the drawing, the second vent hole 46 is provided.
It has a rectangular front shape that conforms to the shape of the passage.
For the elastic thin film forming the valve member, it is preferable to use a rubber plate material having a thickness of about 1 mm. The engaging portion 32 is located close to one side edge (upper side edge in the case shown) of the valve member 18.
Also, an engaging hole 76 into which the holding protrusion 54 is inserted is formed.

The procedure for assembling the air outlet 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the drawing, one of the outer grill member 12 and the inner grill member 14 which are connected to each other by the hinge portion 16 so as to be rotatable relative to each other and are extended, in the case of the drawing, as shown by the double-dashed line arrow, After inserting the valve member 18 into the grill member 14 and engaging the engaging holes 76 thereof with the respective serrated holding projections 54 provided in the groove portions 52 of the second partition wall 48, the outer grill member 12 is hinged. Axis a
When it is rotated in the direction of the arrow around -a, the hook-shaped protrusions 36 and 38 provided on the frame portion 20 of the outer grill member 12 and the locking holes 56 and 58 of the inner grill member 14 engage with each other, The frame portions 20 and 40 of both grill members 12 and 14 abut in a substantially watertight manner.

At the same time, the first of the outer grill member 12
As shown in FIG. 9, a serrated engagement portion 32 protruding from the top edge of the partition wall 28 is fitted into the engagement hole 76 of the valve member 18 together with the serrated holding projection 54, as shown in FIG. , The valve member 1
One edge of 8 (upper edge in the case of FIG. 1) is fixed. The other free end edge of the valve member 18 abuts the cross rail 44 of the inner grill member 14 as well shown in the sectional view of FIG. 8 and the partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. The pores 46 are closed. The outer grill member 12 and the inner grill member 14 are superposed and assembled as described above, and then the inner grill member 14 is assembled.
Through hole 62 provided in the frame portion 40 above the second end and the second uppermost end
The protrusion 64 provided on the partition wall 48 is engaged with a suitable locking member provided on the door or the vehicle body panel to fix the upper portion of the air outlet 10 to the door or the vehicle body panel,
Next, a fixing tool such as a tapping screw or a screw grommet is inserted and tightened in the mounting hole 34 which is located near the lower end of the air outlet 10 by the above-mentioned superposition and assembly of the outer grill member 12, so that the air outlet 10 is closed. Alternatively, it is mounted on the body panel.

In the vehicle provided with the air outlet 10, when the pressure in the vehicle interior increases when the door is closed, the valve member 18 rotates around its one fixed end as indicated by an arrow X in FIG. It moves and is displaced as shown by the chain double-dashed line, the second vent hole 46 is opened, and the air inside the vehicle flows out to the outside air. As a result, the uncomfortable feeling at the time of closing the door due to the increase in the air pressure inside the vehicle interior Generation of noise is prevented and operability when the door is closed is improved. The opening of the valve member 18 occurs for some reason other than the closing of the door, for example, when the air pressure rises due to the temperature rise in the passenger compartment during a severe heat,
Ventilation is performed. Further, even when high-pressure water is injected from the first air passage 24 of the outer grill member 12 and collides with the valve member 18 when washing the vehicle, the lower end free portion of the valve member 18 contacts the horizontal rail 44 and closes. Since it is kept in the position, there is no problem that the washing water enters the vehicle interior. I

In the air outlet 10, the outer grill member 12 and the inner grill member 14 are overlapped with each other, and at the same time, one end edge of the valve member 18 is fixed at a predetermined position. There is an advantage that manufacturing cost can be reduced and durability and reliability can be improved as compared with the case where one end edge of the valve member is fixed at a required position in the air outlet by using a fixture or an adhesive. . Further, the outer grill member 12 and the inner grill member 14
Can be separately molded to assemble the outer and inner grille members 12 and 14 by way of hook-shaped projections 36 and 38 and cooperating locking holes 56 and 58, respectively.
As shown in the above embodiment, by integrally molding the outer and inner grill members 12 and 14 and the hinge portion 16, there is an advantage that the assembly workability can be further improved. Further, since the outer grill member 14 itself of the air outlet 10 is a grill, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to separately provide a decorative grill even when the air outlet 10 is provided in a place where the vehicle body is easily visible.

In the above-described assembly procedure, the locking hole 76 of the valve member 18 is formed in the serrated holding projection 54 of the inner grill member 14.
After being inserted into the outer grill member 14, the outer grill member 14 is superposed, but conversely, the locking hole 76 of the valve member 18 is inserted into the outer grill member 1.
After being inserted into the serrated engagement portion 32 of No. 4, the outer grill member 1
2 may be polymerized. Further, the sawtooth engagement portion 32
Since the holding projections 54 are provided mainly for positioning the valve member 18 with respect to the outer and inner grill members 12 and 14, only one of the grill members 12 or 14 has a serrated engagement portion. 32 or holding protrusion 5
4, and the groove portion 52 of the other grill member 14 or 12 is provided.
It is also possible to make the free edge or the top edge of the first partition wall 28 act only as a pressing member for fixing one side edge of the valve member 18.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but various changes and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment within the scope of the claims. For example, the first
The number of the second ventilation holes 24 and 46, the front shape, and the like can be changed as appropriate.

[0022]

As described above, the air outlet device according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of first vent holes for discharging the air in the passenger compartment, the outer grill member facing the outside of the passenger compartment, and the outer grill. A holding member that is provided with a plurality of second vent holes that are superposed on the member and that face the first vent holes, and that holds the inner grill member facing the interior of the vehicle interior, the outer grill member, and the inner grill member in a superposed state. Means, an elastic thin-film valve member that is interposed between the outer grill member and the inner grill member to open and close the second vent hole, and the outer grill member and the inner grill member are polymerized so that the elasticity is improved. One end of the thin-film valve member is fixed to one side of the second ventilation hole and the other end of the valve member is held in a free state to allow air to flow from the inside of the vehicle compartment to the outside. Of air from outside the cabin to the interior of the cabin It is characterized in that it is configured to prevent the passage of air, and when the air pressure in the vehicle interior is high, the valve member that opens and discharges air to the outside is easy to install, and special fasteners, adhesives, etc. Since it is not necessary, there are advantages that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the durability and the reliability can be improved. Also, when it is placed in a place where the body of the vehicle can be directly seen,
There is an advantage that it is not necessary to attach a decorative grill separately.

Further, in the present invention, an engaging hole for engaging with an engaging portion provided on either the outer grill member or the inner grill member is arranged at one end portion of the elastic thin film valve member to be fixed. In addition, the holding member for holding the engaging portion in the engaging hole of the elastic thin film valve member is provided on either side of the grill member, so that the valve member can be easily and accurately determined. Can be held in the position of
Further, the outer grill member and the inner grill member are integrally connected by a hinge portion, and one of the grill members is rotated around the hinge portion so that the grill member is different from the other grill member. By being configured so as to be polymerized, both grill members can be integrally molded, and the component manufacturing cost can be further reduced, and
This has the effect of facilitating the polymerizing and assembling work and reducing the work cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an outer grill member of the air outlet shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

5 is a front view showing an inner grill member of the air outlet shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

7 is a front view showing an elastic thin film valve member of the air outlet shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a superposed state of the air outlet shown in FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Air outlet, 12 ... Outside grill member, 14
... Inner grill member, 16 ... Hinge portion, 18 ... Elastic thin film valve member, 24 ... First vent hole, 32 ... Engaging portion, 36 and 38
... hook-like projections, 46 ... second vent holes, 54 ... holding projections, 56
And 58 ... locking hole, 76 ... engaging hole.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of first vent holes for exhausting air in a vehicle compartment, a plurality of outer grill members facing the outside of the vehicle compartment, and a plurality of them located at a position overlapping the outer grill member and facing the first vent holes. Between the outer grill member and the inner grill member, the inner grill member having the second vent hole and facing the inside of the vehicle compartment, the holding means for holding the outer grill member and the inner grill member in a superposed state. The elastic thin film valve member which is interposed and opens and closes the second ventilation hole, and the outer grill member and the inner grill member are polymerized, so that one end of the elastic thin film valve member is located at one side of the second ventilation hole. The other end of the valve member is held in a free state while allowing the air to flow from the inside of the vehicle interior to the outside, but prevents the flow of air from the outside of the vehicle interior to the inside of the vehicle interior. Is configured as Outlet device. 2. An engaging hole for engaging with an engaging portion provided on either the outer grill member or the inner grill member is provided at one end of the elastic thin film valve member to be fixed. 2. The air outlet device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding protrusion for holding the engaging portion in an engaging hole of the elastic thin film valve member, which is provided on the other of the grill members. 3. The outer grill member and the inner grill member are integrally connected by a hinge portion, and by rotating one of the grill members around the hinge portion, the grill member is the other grill member. The air outlet device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air outlet device is configured to be superposed on the member.