Air Register with Flexible Vanes

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses an air register comprising an air vent housing that includes a first airflow redirector assembly to adjust airflow along the first axis and a second airflow redirector assembly to adjust airflow in the second axis. The air vent housing comprises a first housing component, a second housing component, and a collar that collectively define a cavity in which the first and second airflow redirectors are positioned to redirect air from an inlet to an outlet. The air register allows for control of airflow in one or more directions, while simplifying assembly of the air vent housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air register, comprising:
 an air vent housing that defines an inlet that is fluidically coupled to an outlet via a cavity; and   an airflow redirector assembly positioned at the outlet and configured to adjust airflow from the cavity along an axis,
 wherein the airflow redirector assembly comprises a first frame, a second frame, and a plurality of flexible vanes that are coupled to each of the first frame and the second frame, 
 wherein the second frame is configured to translate relative to the first frame along the axis, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes is configured to flex when the second frame translates relative to the first frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes includes a first end that is fixedly coupled to the first frame and a second end that is slidingly coupled to the second frame. 
     
     
         3 . The air register of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of flexible vanes is sandwiched between a set of nibs formed in or on the second frame. 
     
     
         4 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein the second frame is configured to translate relative to the first frame between a first extreme and a second extreme via a neutral position. 
     
     
         5 . The air register of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of flexible vanes is configured to direct airflow in a first direction along the axis when the second frame is positioned at the first extreme. 
     
     
         6 . The air register of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flexible vanes is configured to direct airflow in a second direction along the axis that is opposite the first direction when the second frame is positioned at the second extreme. 
     
     
         7 . The air register of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of flexible vanes is linear when the second frame is positioned at the neutral position. 
     
     
         8 . The air register of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of flexible vanes is curved when the second frame is positioned at the first extreme or at the second extreme. 
     
     
         9 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein the second frame is configured to translate relative to the first frame via a third frame that is fixedly coupled to said first frame. 
     
     
         10 . The air register of  claim 9 , wherein the third frame defines one or more channels configured to receive at least a part of the second frame. 
     
     
         11 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes is between 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The air register of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes is about 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The air register of  claim 1 , further comprising a second airflow redirector assembly configured to adjust the airflow along a second axis that is transverse to said axis. 
     
     
         14 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow redirector assembly is configured to rotate about relative to the air vent housing about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         15 . An airflow redirector assembly for an air register, the airflow redirector assembly comprising:
 a first frame;   a second frame that is configured to translate relative to the first frame along an axis; and   a plurality of flexible vanes, wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes is coupled to the first frame and to the second frame,
 wherein the second frame is configured to translate relative to the first frame along the axis, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes is configured to flex when the second frame translates relative to the first frame and configured to adjust airflow along the axis. 
   
     
     
         16 . The airflow redirector of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes includes a first end that is fixedly coupled to the first frame and a second end that is slidingly coupled to the second frame. 
     
     
         17 . The airflow redirector of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of flexible vanes is sandwiched between a set of nibs formed in or on the second frame. 
     
     
         18 . An air register comprising:
 an air vent housing that defines an inlet that is fluidically coupled to an outlet via a cavity; and   an airflow redirector assembly positioned at the outlet and configured to adjust airflow from the cavity along an axis,
 wherein the airflow redirector assembly comprises a first frame, a second frame configured to translate relative to the first frame along the axis, and a plurality of flexible vanes that are coupled to each of the first frame and the second frame, 
 wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes is configured to flex when the second frame translates relative to the first frame, and 
 wherein the first airflow redirector assembly is configured to rotate about relative to the air vent housing about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the axis. 
   
     
     
         19 . The air register of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible vanes includes a first end that is fixedly coupled to the first frame and a second end that is slidingly coupled to the second frame. 
     
     
         20 . The air register of  claim 19 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of flexible vanes is sandwiched between a set of nibs formed in or on the second frame.