IP Library Granted Patent US 12,485,744
Granted Patent B2
US 12,485,744 · App. 18/029,868 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Air guidance control unit for a motor vehicle

Inventors: Andreas Pütz (Much, DE); Andreas Ewert (Waldbröl, DE); Sebastian Schwegmann (Lohmar, DE); Johannes Müller (Waldbröl, DE); Frank Mika (Nümbrecht, DE)
Assignee: MONTAPLAST GMBH
B60K11/085
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,485,744
App. No.
18/029,868
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air guidance control unit having a frame, which surrounds at least one air opening for air flowing along an air flow direction to flow through, a closing device including adjustable flaps, which closing device can be adjusted by means of an adjusting element between an open position in which the air opening is exposed and a closed position in which the air opening is at least partly closed. The invention devises various solutions for especially compact and reliable flap arrangements.

Claims (9)

1 . An air flow control for a vehicle, the air flow control being insertable into an air opening for controlling air flowing along an air flow direction, having a closure device comprising adjustable flaps which can be adjusted between an open position releasing the air opening and a closed position at least partially closing the air opening by an adjustment device for selectively releasing and closing the air opening, wherein each flap comprises a flap surface extending along a flap longitudinal axis, which is delimited by flap longitudinal sides and flap end faces limiting the flap surface, wherein the flap end faces are formed shorter than the flap longitudinal sides and wherein pins are provided at the flap end faces, said pins can be inserted movably into a frame or joining partner and are arranged collinearly, wherein the closure device comprises a flap arrangement with three flaps rotatably connected to each other comprising a centrally arranged center flap and two outer flaps enclosing the center flap, a flap axis of rotation of the center flap extending through a center of the flap surface of the center flap, the pins of the center flap extending as rotation pins coaxially to the flap axis of rotation of the center flap, the center flap being rotatably connected at the flap longitudinal sides with the adjacent flap longitudinal sides of the outer flaps, wherein the pins of the outer flaps are designed as guide pins which project outwardly offset from a center line of the center flap from the flap end faces of the outer flaps, in that the flap rotation axis of the rotation pins are designed to be drivable, wherein the guide pins ( 24 A, 24 B) of the outer flaps are displaceably guided in channel guides of the frame or of a holding arrangement insertable into the frame, and wherein a first part of a hinge is formed at the flap longitudinal sides of the center flap and a second part of the hinge engages the first part of the hinge, and the second part of the hinge is formed at a proximal-flap longitudinal side of the outer flap adjacent to the center flap.

2 . The air flow control for the vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the channel guides are arcuate in shape.

3 . The air flow control for the vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a pivot pin and a bushing.

4 . The air flow control for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the flaps of the flap arrangement are inserted into end flap holders insertable into the frame.

5 . The air flow control for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a frame.

6 . The air flow control for the vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the frame is part of a radiator grille.

7 . The air flow control for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein it is made of plastic.

8 . The air flow control for the vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a radiator grille.

9 . The air flow control for the vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a radiator, wherein the air flow control regulates an air flow to the radiator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2023
From: PÜTZ, ANDREAS; EWERT, ANDREAS; SCHWEGMANN, SEBASTIAN; MÜLLER, JOHANNES; MIKA, FRANK
To: MONTAPLAST GMBH
Reel/Frame 063264/0877 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 125 891.7 · Oct 2, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240123816A1 · Apr 18, 2024
References Cited (20)
US 8312676B2 · Maciulewicz · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 8550887B2 · Walters · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 8646552B2 · Evans · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8915320B2 · Chinta · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9827847B1 · Hanna et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10017048B2 · Manhire · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10202049B2 · Nagaosa · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10391557B2 · Faust · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10391855B2 · Brueckner · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10647194B1 · Burtch · 2020 [cited by examiner]
CN 107160997A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 109969113A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 209479413U · 2019 [cited by applicant]
DE 202011050032U1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
DE 102014104041A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018124572A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018218570A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012047528A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
Int'l Search Report issued Jun. 9, 2022 in Int'l Application No. PCT/EP2021/077292. [cited by applicant]
Int'l Preliminary Report on Patentability mailed Apr. 6, 2023 in Int'l Application No. PCT/EP2021/077292. [cited by applicant]
Cited By (3)
US 12,606,009 US 12,661,974 US 12,722,475