The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1998
Ireneusz Jankowski, Richmond Hill, CA;
Derrick Wayban Chow, Whitby, CA;
Robert Ronald Mitchell, King City, CA;
Collins & Aikman Plastics, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An air outlet assembly is used to direct airflow of a climate control system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet assembly is used by the passengers sitting on a back seat in a passenger compartment. The air outlet assembly includes first and second doors which are used to open and close an outlet thereof. The doors also direct the air flowing therethrough. An actuator moves the doors between their respective open and closed positions. The actuator moves the second door from its open position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its closed position as it moves the first door from an intermediate position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its open position. This allows the doors to act in unison, after the first door passes the intermediate position, by moving in parallel form, to affect the direction of airflow. The actuator includes a single gear and rack for the first door and a pair of gears and a single rack for the second door. Each of the pair of gears moves the second rack in opposite directions. The second gear opens the second door and the third gear directs the airflow by moving the second door once it is opened. A recess pin associated with the second rack is engagable with the third gear to coordinate the transfer of the control of the second rack between the second and third gears. A set of horizontal louvers may also be adjusted to direct the airflow in vertical directions.