IP Library Granted Patent US 9,758,018
Granted Patent B2
US 9,758,018 · App. 14/335,979 · Granted Sep 12, 2017

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

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,758,018
App. No.
14/335,979
Granted
Sep 12, 2017
Kind
B2
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 ).

Claims (23)

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.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2017
From: ITW FASTENER PRODUCTS GMBH
To: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
Reel/Frame 042271/0964 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2016
From: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
To: ITW FASTENER PRODUCTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 039355/0187 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2014
From: SCHLIPPE, MICHAEL
To: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 033561/0363 →