JP2010100111A - Vehicular ventilator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an operation knob to be reliably and visibly recognized even during the night time irrespective of the operational position of the operation knob for adjusting the wind direction. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicular ventilator comprises a light emitting diode 15 mounted on a ventilator body 1, a light guide 16 provided inside one horizontal louver 3 out of a plurality of horizontal louvers 3 to guide the light from the light emitting diode 15 to a cutout 17 forming a forward light outlet from a center part of the horizontal louver 3, and an operation knob 9 which is slidably mounted along the horizontal louver 3 so as to cover the cutout 17 of the horizontal louver 3. A translucent member 12 is provided on a front side of the operation knob 9, and a light diffusion member 13 for diffusing the light emitted from the cutout 17 is arranged within the operation knob. The light emitted from the cutout 17 is diffused by the light diffusion member 13 and guide forwardly via the translucent member 12 of the operation knob 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the wind direction of air blown from an air outlet of a ventilator body with a plurality of lateral louvers and longitudinal louvers that are attached in an interlocking manner.

In this type of vehicle ventilator, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an operation knob for changing the direction of the vertical louver is provided slidably along the horizontal louver, and a light source provided on the side surface of the ventilator main body is provided. By guiding light to the operation knob through the light guide, the operation knob is illuminated so that the wind direction can be easily adjusted even at night when the room is dark.
JP 2001-180252 A

  However, the above-described vehicle ventilator has a drawback that the amount of light of the translucent member changes depending on the operation position of the operation knob, making it difficult to see the operation knob.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably recognize an operation knob even at night, regardless of the operation position of the operation knob for adjusting the wind direction.

  For this reason, the first invention is a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the direction of air blown from the air outlet of the ventilator body with a plurality of lateral louvers and / or vertical louvers that can be interlocked, and is attached to the ventilator body. A light guide provided inside a horizontal louver of one of the plurality of horizontal louvers and guiding light from the light source from a central portion of the horizontal louver to a front light outlet, and a light outlet of the horizontal louver. An operation knob that is slidably mounted along the horizontal louver so as to cover the light, and a light transmissive member is provided on the front surface of the operation knob and diffuses light emitted from the light outlet inside. A member is provided, and the light emitted from the light outlet is diffused by the light diffusion member and guided forward through the light transmitting member of the operation knob.

  The second invention is a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the direction of air blown from the air outlet of the ventilator main body with a plurality of lateral louvers or / and vertical louvers that can be interlocked, and is attached to the ventilator main body. A light source, a light guide that is provided inside one horizontal louver of the plurality of horizontal louvers, guides light from the light source to the front light outlet from the center of the horizontal louver, and covers the light outlet of the horizontal louver And an operation knob that is slidably mounted along the lateral louver, and a front translucent member is provided on the front surface of the operation knob and an inner translucent member is provided therein, and the inner translucent member has a front surface. A reflection surface that reflects light toward the corner of the translucent member is provided.

  A third invention is a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the direction of air blown from an air outlet of a ventilator main body with a plurality of lateral louvers or / and vertical louvers that can be interlocked, and is attached to the ventilator main body. A light source, a light guide that is provided inside one horizontal louver of the plurality of horizontal louvers, guides light from the light source to the front light outlet from the center of the horizontal louver, and covers the light outlet of the horizontal louver And an operation knob slidably attached along the lateral louver, and a translucent member is provided on the front face of the operation knob and a non-translucent member having a window smaller than the translucent member is provided therein. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, the operation knob can be reliably recognized even at night regardless of the operation position of the operation knob for adjusting the wind direction. In particular, according to the first invention, the light from the light source enters the operation knob through the light guide path and the light outlet in the horizontal louver, and is diffused to the entire interior of the operation knob by the light diffusion member. Regardless of the position of the adjustment knob, the amount of light emitted from the translucent member on the front of the knob is almost unchanged, so you can see the knob securely even at night and set the wind direction safely even during driving. It can be carried out.

    According to the second invention, since the internal translucent member is provided with the reflecting surface that reflects light toward the corner of the front translucent member of the operation knob, the amount of light emitted from the front translucent member Can be made uniform to every corner, and it is also visually good.

    Further, as in the third invention, since the non-translucent member having a window smaller than the translucent member provided on the front surface is provided inside the operation knob, the light from the light exit of the lateral louver is transmitted to the window of the non-translucent member. By illuminating the translucent member of the operation knob via the, the amount of light emitted from the translucent member can be prevented from changing depending on the operation position, and an equivalent effect can be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention relating to a vehicle ventilator will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a ventilator body of a vehicle ventilator, which is installed on a dashboard (not shown) so as to be connected to an air conditioning air duct (not shown) of the vehicle, and has an air outlet on the front surface. 2 has. A plurality of horizontal louvers 3 and a plurality of vertical louvers 4 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction on the air outlet 2 side inside the ventilator main body 1. The horizontal louver 3 and the vertical louver 4 are made of a black synthetic resin material.

    As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of lateral louvers 3 have protrusions 3 a at both ends on the front end side rotatably supported by the left and right support plates 5 of the ventilator body 1 and at both ends on the rear end side. The protrusions 3b are rotatably supported by the respective connecting plates 6, and the plurality of lateral louvers 3 are supported so as to be interlocked with each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of vertical louvers 4 are configured such that the protrusions 4 a at both ends on the front end side are rotatably supported by the upper and lower support plates 7 of the ventilator body 1 and both end portions on the rear end side. The projections 4b are rotatably supported by the connecting plates 8, and the plurality of vertical louvers 4 are supported by the connecting plates 8 so as to be interlocked with each other.

    An operation knob 9 is attached to the horizontal louver 3 located at the upper and lower center of the plurality of horizontal louvers 3 so that the front end portion protrudes from the air outlet 2. That is, the operation knob 9 has a cylindrical shape that is flattened horizontally, and has a notch 10 that extends to the left and right at the rear, and the central lateral louver 3 is fitted in the notch 10. Further, a pair of protruding pieces 9a, 9a are integrally formed at the left and right intermediate portions of the rear end portion, and the vertical louver 4 located at the center of the left and right is fitted into the pair of protruding pieces 9a, 9a. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an engagement piece 9b is provided on the left side of the rear end portion of the operation knob 9 when viewed from the front, and the engagement piece 9b is provided at the rear portion of the horizontal louver 3 located at the upper and lower centers. By disposing in the formed notch 11, the engagement piece 9 b moves within a predetermined left and right movable range in the notch 11, so that the operation knob 9 moves left and right along the lateral louver 3. It is slidably supported in the direction.

    The operation knob 9 is made of a black synthetic resin material, and a translucent member 12 made of a milky white translucent synthetic resin material is fitted into the front opening. Further, a light control member (light diffusion member) 13 made of a light diffusing synthetic resin material is provided at a portion protruding forward from the lateral louver 3 inside the operation knob 9.

    On the outer surface of the support plate 5 of the ventilator main body 1 on the side of the front end of the upper and lower central horizontal louver 3, a light emitting diode 15 as a light source attached to the light source housing 14 is provided. Then, a light guide body 16 (forming a light guide path) made of transparent acrylic is embedded along the front end edge of the central horizontal louver 3 with the left protrusion 3a facing the light source storage section 14. Yes.

    Then, the front end portion of the light guide 16 faces the notch 17 at the center of the front end of the upper and lower horizontal louvers 3 so that the light from the light emitting diode 15 passes through the light guide 16 at the center of the upper and lower sides. The light is introduced into the horizontal louver 3 and the notch 17 is used as an outlet for the light introduced. In addition, a reflective layer 18 is provided behind the light guide 16 corresponding to the notch 17 by applying a white coating or a satin finish to the same length as the notch 17. Further, the operation knob 9 is slidably supported by the upper and lower central horizontal louvers 3 within the movable range described above, and the length of the notch 17 and the length of the reflective layer 18 are substantially equal to each other. The operation knob 9 always covers the notch 17 serving as the light exit even if it moves in the left direction or the right direction so that the light is directly applied. To prevent leaks.

    The conditioned air that has entered the ventilator main body 1 from an air-conditioning air duct (not shown) is changed in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction by a plurality of horizontal louvers 3 and a plurality of vertical louvers 4, It is blown into the room.

    That is, in order to adjust the wind direction of the air blown from the air outlet 2 in the vertical direction, the operation knob 9 provided on the horizontal louver 3 at the upper and lower centers is operated up and down. At this time, the plurality of lateral louvers 3 rotatably supported by the support plate 5 are adjusted in the vertical direction in conjunction with the connecting plate 6.

    In order to adjust the air direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 2 in the left-right direction, the operation knob 9 is operated left and right. At this time, the left and right movements of the operation knob 9 are transmitted to the left and right central vertical louvers 4 through a pair of projecting pieces 9 a, and the plurality of vertical louvers 4 rotatably supported by the support plate 7 are connected to the connecting plate 8. Is adjusted in the horizontal direction in conjunction with. In this way, the plurality of horizontal louvers 3 and the plurality of vertical louvers 4 are interlocked by the vertical and horizontal operations of the operation knob 9, and the wind direction is adjusted vertically and horizontally.

    During driving of the vehicle, the light emitting diode 15 provided on the side of the ventilator main body 1 is lit. The light from the light emitting diode 15 is introduced into the upper and lower central horizontal louvers 3 through the light guide 16, passes through the light guide 16 along the front edge, and is formed as a light outlet by the reflective layer 18. Enters the light control member 13 inside the operation knob 9. At this time, since the light control member 13 is made of a light diffusing synthetic resin material, the light from the light emitting diode 15 diffuses and spreads throughout the light control member 13, passes through the light transmitting member 12 of the operation knob 9, and Go out indoors.

    For this reason, even if the operation knob 9 is operated at any position on the center, left and right, the light from the light exit is guided to the light transmitting member 12 by the light adjusting member 13, and the light entering the vehicle interior from the light transmitting member 12 is transmitted. Since the amount hardly changes, the operation knob 9 can be surely visually recognized even at night, and the wind direction can be set safely even during driving.

    Further, the engagement piece 9b on one side of the rear end portion of the operation knob 9 is engaged with the notch 11 on the rear part of the upper and lower central horizontal louver 3, and the left and right movable ranges of the operation knob 9 are restricted, Since the operation knob 9 does not slide more than necessary, the notch 17 serving as the light exit is always covered by the operation knob 9, and there is no fear of light leaking directly around the operation knob 9.

    FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention relating to a vehicle ventilator. What differs from FIG. 2 is a light control member (translucent member) 13A made of a translucent synthetic resin material. That is, reflecting surfaces 19, 19 that reflect light toward the left and right corners of the translucent member 12 of the operation knob 9 are formed in the left and right light incident portions. That is, the reflection surfaces 19 and 19 are formed by applying white coating or matte treatment to form a reflection layer, and reflect light toward the left and right corners of the translucent member 12 of the operation knob 9.

    Further, the operation knob 9 is slidably supported along the upper and lower central horizontal louvers 3, and the length of the notch 17 and the length of the reflective layer 18 are substantially equal, and the length of the movable range of the operation knob 9. The operating knob 9 is always covered even if it moves the notch 17 serving as the light exit leftward or rightward so that the light leaks directly. I am trying not to.

    As described above, the light emitted from the light guide 16 through the notch 17 is reflected toward the corners of the translucent member 12 of the operation knob 9 by the reflection surfaces 19 and 19 on both the left and right sides of the light control member 13A. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the operation knob 9 moves to the right corner when viewed from the front, the light from the light guide 16 is reflected by the left reflecting surface 19 when viewed from the front. Even if the operation knob 9 is reflected to the right corner and conversely moves to the left corner when viewed from the front, the left corner of the translucent member 12 is reflected by the right reflecting surface 19 when viewed from the front. Reflected toward the part.

    Therefore, not only can the amount of light emitted from the translucent member 12 not be changed depending on the operation position of the operation knob 9, but also the amount of light emitted from the translucent member 12 can be made uniform to every corner, and visual Also good.

    FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention relating to a vehicle ventilator, and differs from FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 in that a light control member made of a non-translucent black synthetic resin material. (Non-light-transmissive member) A small window 20 smaller than the light-transmissive member 12 is opened at the center of 13B.

    The operation knob 9 is slidably supported along the horizontal louver 3 at the upper and lower centers, and the length of the notch 17 and the length of the reflective layer 18 are substantially equal, and the length of the movable range of the operation knob 9 is set to these. This operation knob 9 always covers the cutout 17 serving as a light exit even if it moves leftward or rightward so that light does not leak directly. However, the small window 20 is about half the length of the movable range of the operation knob 9.

    As described above, the light from the light guide 16 illuminates the light transmissive member 12 of the operation knob 9 through the small window 20 of the light control member 13B, and the amount of light emitted from the light transmissive member 12 varies depending on the operation position. You can avoid it.

    In addition, as a light guide path in the first to third embodiments described above, a hollow (not shown) that guides the light of the light emitting diode 15 to the notch 17 instead of the light guide 16 made of transparent acrylic is used as a horizontal louver. 3 may be formed along the front edge.

    Further, the operation knob 9 may adjust the wind direction of only the vertical louver or the horizontal louver, or may adjust both of the wind directions.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various alternatives, modifications, and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the above description, and the present invention is not limited to the various alternatives described above without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It includes modifications or variations.

It is a perspective view of the ventilator for vehicles which cuts and shows a part of side louver. It is sectional drawing of the ventilator for vehicles of the state which put the operation knob in the right end part (The state which put the dotted line in the left end part). It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment state of a horizontal louver. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment state of a vertical louver. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd embodiment of the ventilator for vehicles of the state which put the operation knob in the right end part (The state which put the dotted line moved to the left end part). It is sectional drawing which shows the 3rd embodiment of the ventilator for vehicles of the state which put the operation knob to the right end part (The state which put the dotted line moved to the left end part).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ventilator body 2 Air outlet 3 Horizontal louver 4 Vertical louver 8 Operation knob 12 Light transmitting member 13 Light control member 13A Light control member 13B Light control member 15 Light emitting diode (light source)
16 Light guide (light guide)
17 Notch (light exit)
20 Small window

Claims (3)

  In a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the wind direction of air blown from the air outlet of the ventilator body with a plurality of lateral louvers and / or vertical louvers that can be interlocked, a light source attached to the ventilator body and a plurality of lateral A light guide that is provided inside one of the louvers and guides light from the light source to the front light outlet from the center of the horizontal louver, and along the horizontal louver so as to cover the light outlet of the horizontal louver. An operation knob that is slidably attached to the operation knob. A light transmissive member is provided on the front surface of the operation knob, and a light diffusion member that diffuses light emitted from the light outlet is disposed inside the operation knob. A vehicle ventilator characterized in that light emitted from an exit is diffused by the light diffusing member and guided forward through the translucent member of the operation knob.   In a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the wind direction of air blown from the air outlet of the ventilator body with a plurality of lateral louvers and / or vertical louvers that can be interlocked, a light source attached to the ventilator body and a plurality of lateral A light guide that is provided inside one of the louvers and guides light from the light source to the front light outlet from the center of the horizontal louver, and along the horizontal louver so as to cover the light outlet of the horizontal louver. And an operation knob that is slidably attached to the operation knob. A front light-transmitting member is provided on the front surface of the operation knob and an inner light-transmitting member is provided inside. The inner light-transmitting member has a corner portion of the front light-transmitting member. A vehicle ventilator provided with a reflecting surface for reflecting light toward the vehicle.   In a vehicle ventilator that adjusts the wind direction of air blown from the air outlet of the ventilator body with a plurality of lateral louvers and / or vertical louvers that can be interlocked, a light source attached to the ventilator body and a plurality of lateral A light guide that is provided inside one of the louvers and guides light from the light source to the front light outlet from the center of the horizontal louver, and along the horizontal louver so as to cover the light outlet of the horizontal louver. And a non-translucent member having a window smaller than the translucent member therein and a translucent member provided on the front surface of the operation knob. For ventilator.

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