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 having an inlet that is fluidically coupled to an outlet via a cavity;   an inlet frame positioned at the inlet;   a frame assembly positioned at the outlet,
 wherein the frame assembly is configured to pivot relative to the air vent housing about an axis of rotation between a first extreme and a second extreme via a neutral position; 
   a first flexible air guide positioned in the cavity and coupled to each of the inlet frame and to the frame assembly; and   a second flexible air guide positioned in the cavity and coupled to each of the inlet frame and to the frame assembly,
 wherein the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are configured to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide is fixedly coupled to the frame assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame. 
     
     
         4 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame via a first slot and the second flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame via a second slot. 
     
     
         5 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are configured to flex as the frame assembly pivots between the first extreme and the second extreme. 
     
     
         6 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are spaced apart to define a flow path therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The air register of  claim 1 , wherein the flow path is configured to guide fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The air register of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flexible vanes coupled to the frame assembly to define an airflow redirector,
 wherein the frame assembly comprises a first frame and a second frame that is configured to translate relative to the first frame along an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation, and   wherein the plurality of flexible vanes is coupled to each of the first frame and the second frame and configured to flex when the second frame translates relative to the first frame.   
     
     
         9 . The air register of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         10 . The air register of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         11 . The air register of  claim 10 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . An airflow redirector for an air register having an air vent housing with an inlet that is fluidically coupled to an outlet via a cavity, the airflow redirector comprising:
 an inlet frame positioned at the inlet;   a frame assembly positioned at the outlet,
 wherein the frame assembly is configured to pivot relative to the air vent housing about an axis of rotation between a first extreme and a second extreme via a neutral position; 
   a first flexible air guide positioned in the cavity and coupled to each of the inlet frame and to the frame assembly; and   a second flexible air guide positioned in the cavity and coupled to each of the inlet frame and to the frame assembly,
 wherein the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are configured to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. 
   
     
     
         13 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide is fixedly coupled to the frame assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame. 
     
     
         15 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein the first flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame via a first slot and the second flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame via a second slot. 
     
     
         16 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are configured to flex as the frame assembly pivots between the first extreme and the second extreme. 
     
     
         17 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are spaced apart to define a flow path therebetween configured to guide fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         18 . An airflow redirector for an air register having an air vent housing with an inlet that is fluidically coupled to an outlet via a cavity, the airflow redirector comprising:
 an inlet frame positioned at the inlet;   a frame assembly positioned at the outlet,
 wherein the frame assembly is configured to pivot relative to the air vent housing about an axis of rotation between a first extreme and a second extreme via a neutral position; 
   a first flexible air guide positioned in the cavity and coupled to each of the inlet frame and to the frame assembly; and   a second flexible air guide positioned in the cavity and coupled to each of the inlet frame and to the frame assembly,
 wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are configured to flex as the frame assembly pivots between the first extreme and the second extreme, and 
 wherein the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide are spaced apart to define a flow path therebetween configured to guide fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. 
   
     
     
         19 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide is fixedly coupled to the frame assembly and each of the first flexible air guide and the second flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame. 
     
     
         20 . The airflow redirector of  claim 12 , wherein the first flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame via a first slot and the second flexible air guide is slidingly coupled to the inlet frame via a second slot.