Control element and assembly for an air vent as well as method for mounting a control element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9758018-B2
Application number	US-201414335979-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A control element ( 16 ) for an air vent ( 10 ) in a vehicle has a bearing portion which serves for the air-vent-side bearing of the control element ( 16 ) and includes a receptacle ( 22 ), in particular for a slat ( 12 ) of an air vent ( 10 ), and a spring element ( 34 ) which protrudes into the receptacle ( 22 ) of the bearing portion, wherein the spring element ( 34 ) is integrally molded to the control element ( 16 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control element for an air vent in a vehicle, the control element comprising:
a bearing part including a receptacle, wherein a slat is configured to extend through the receptacle to mount the bearing part to the slat;
the receptacle having a recess that passes through to a front edge of the slat and extends along a longitudinal direction of the front edge of the slat;
the bearing part forming a holding part wherein the holding part includes an integrally formed spring element, and
wherein the spring element is a leaf spring which body ends thereof are integrally molded to the control element so as to bias against the slat within the receptacle by extending into the recess to rest against the slat in the recess.

2. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein cooperating fastening elements, in particular latching elements, are provided at the bearing part and at the holding part.

3. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is formed substantially U-shaped, with the spring element with the legs of the U being integrally connected with the control element.

4. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element includes two flexible webs extending away from the control element and a double-S-shaped transverse web connecting the webs.

5. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is made of one or more plastics and metallic additives in the spring element.

6. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element and/or the control element have an abrasion-resistant coating.

7. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the control element in a viewing region and the spring element are coated with a chrome plating.

8. The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is a cutout extending through the control element, through which a slat of an air vent can be guided.

9. An assembly for an air vent in a vehicle, comprising at least one slat and a control element according to claim 1 , wherein the slat extends through the receptacle and the control element with the receptacle is mounted on the slat, in part icular shiftable to a limited extent, and the spring element is biased against the slat.

10. The control element of claim 1 , wherein the control element is configured to be biased between the spring element of the holding part and a spring tab of the slat.

11. The control element of claim 1 , wherein a rear end of the holding part couples to a front end of the bearing part.

12. An assembly for an air vent in a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a slat; and
a control element including:
a bearing part including a receptacle, wherein a slat is configured to extend through the receptacle to mount the bearing part to the slat;
the receptacle having a recess through to a front edge of the slat and extends along a longitudinal direction of the front edge of the slat;
the bearing part forming a holding part wherein the holding part includes an integrally formed spring element, and
wherein the spring element is a leaf spring which body ends thereof are integrally molded to the control element so as to bias against the slat within the receptacle by extending into the recess to rest agianst the slat in the recess.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control element is biased between the spring element of the holding part and a spring tab of the slat.

Assignees

• Itw Fastener Products Gmbh
• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Schlippe Michael

Classifications

• B60H1/3421 Primary

  using only pivoting shutters · CPC title

• B60H2001/3471

  Details of actuators · CPC title

• B60H1/24 Primary

  Ventilating devices where the heating or cooling is irrelevant (nozzles or air-diffusers B60H1/34) · CPC title

• B60H1/0065

  Control members, e.g. levers or knobs (B60H1/00985 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49945

  by driven force fit · CPC title