The present invention relates to an air vent device for a vehicle comprising an air duct extending along a main axis and an air outlet device, in fluidic communication with the air duct, the air outlet device comprising:

- a housing extending along the main axis and defining an outlet through which air circulating in the air duct exits the air vent device,

- at least one deflector element, extending in the housing and movable relative to said housing, arranged to control the direction of the air flow passing through the outlet depending on the position of the deflector element in the housing,

- an actuator fixedly attached to the deflector element and arranged to move the deflector element relative to the outlet.

The ventilation system for the compartment of a motor vehicle generally emerges in at least one opening provided in the dashboard of the vehicle. An air outlet device closes this opening and makes it possible to control the direction of the flow of air leaving the ventilation system via an air duct placing the air outlet device in fluidic communication with the ventilation system.

One efficient way to accurately control the air flow is to use a deflector grill having a ball-joint connection with the housing forming the outlet. Such a connection makes it possible to orient a deflector grill in any desired direction by rotating the deflector grill in the housing.

However, such an air vent device is difficult to implement with a device for closing the fluidic communication between the outlet and the air duct in order to prevent air from being ventilated in the compartment of the vehicle. Such a device is generally controlled via an actuator separate from the actuator controlling the orientation of the deflector grill, which makes the structure of the air vent device more complicated and more space consuming. Alternatively, for preventing air from flowing out of the air vent device, the ventilation system has to be completely stopped, which is not satisfactory when several air vent devices are provided and when one wants to shut down only one of these air vent devices.

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a robust air vent device providing an efficient way to control the direction of the air flow exiting the air vent device in a simple manner and easy to implement with means for closing the fluidic communication between the air duct and the air outlet device.

To this end, the invention relates to an air vent device of the afore-mentioned type, wherein the actuator is movable in translation along the main axis relative to the housing between a free position, wherein the actuator is able to move the deflector element relative to the housing and a locked position, wherein the actuator is attached to the housing and wherein the deflector element becomes immovable relative to the housing.

By making the actuator further movable in a locked position relative to the housing, it is possible to use the actuator in conjunction with the housing to perform another function in addition to the function of controlling the orientation of the deflector element. The other function is for example the control of the amount of air exiting the air vent device and the closing of the fluidic communication between the outlet and the air duct.

According to other features of the air vent device according to the invention:

- the housing is movable in rotation relative to the air duct around the main axis; - the housing is connected to the air duct by a flexible duct, such that a rotation of the housing around the main axis causes the flexible duct to be twisted in a plane perpendicular to the main axis, said flexible duct being movable between an opened position, wherein the air duct is in fluidic communication with the housing, and a closed position, wherein the flexible duct is twisted so as to prevent the fluidic communication between the housing and the air duct.

The air vent device according to the invention therefore comprises an individual closing system allowing controlling the amount of air leaving the air vent device, without having to act on the whole ventilation system of the vehicle. Furthermore, this closing system is controlled with the same actuator that controls the orientation of the air flow, which makes the air vent device simpler and less space consuming.

According to other features of the air vent device according to the invention:

- the actuator is movable in rotation around the main axis, the rotation of the actuator causing a rotation of the housing around the main axis when the actuator is in the locked position;

- the flexible duct is attached to the housing in a twisted state, wherein the flexible duct has ah area of reduced cross-section, wherein the diameter of the flexible duct is inferior to the diameter of the flexible duct outside said area of reduced cross-section, said twisted state being arranged such that a rotation angle inferior or equal to 90° of the housing causes the flexible duct to move from the opened position to the closed position;

- the housing comprises an annular meshing area extending inside the housing, the deflector element comprising a corresponding gripping area, said gripping area meshing with the meshing area of the housing when the actuator is moved in the locked position such that the deflector element becomes immovable relative to the housing (20) in said locked position;

- the meshing area is formed of an annular notched surface comprising a plurality of notches, the gripping area being substantially complementary to the notched surface, such that the deflector element is able to mesh with the meshing area in every angular position around the main axis of the deflector element relative to the housing;

- the deflector element and the actuator are connected to the housing via a ball- joint connection, the air outlet device comprising a central rod, extending along the main axis, said central rod being attached to the housing and comprising, at its downstream end, one part of the ball-joint connection, the deflector element comprising the other part of the said ball-joint connection and being mounted on said downstream end of the central rod;

- the central rod is movable in translation along the main axis in a central recess provided in the housing, the movement of the actuator between the free position and the locked position moving the central rod in the downstream-upstream direction in said central recess;

- a biasing element is mounted between the central rod and the central recess, said biasing element being arranged to urge the central rod in the upstream-downstream direction such that the actuator tends to return to the free position when said actuator is in the locked position;

- the central rod comprises an abutment element, said abutment element being applied against the recess in the free position of the actuator.

The invention also relates to an interior trim part for a vehicle comprising the air vent device as described above.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, given by way of example and made in reference to the. appended drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the air vent device according to the invention, -Fig. 2 is a view in axial cross-section of the air-vent device according to the invention, the actuator being in the free position,

- Fig. 3 is a view in axial cross-section of the air-vent device of Fig. 2, the actuator being in the locked position, and

- Fig. 4 is a view in axial cross-section of the air outlet device of the air-vent device of Fig. 2, the deflector element being oriented in to deflect the air flow exiting the air-vent device.

In the following description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are defined relative to the direction of the flow of air circulating in the air vent device. The term "longitudinal" is defined along a plane in which the upstream-downstream direction extends. The term "transverse" is defined along a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane. In reference to Fig. 1 , an air vent device 1 is described for traditionally extending and opening in the dashboard (not shown) of a vehicle and connected to a ventilation system (not shown) of the vehicle. The air vent device 1 is further adapted to be assembled to any interior trim part of a vehicle, such as a console, pillars, or other trim parts.

The air vent device 1 comprises, in the upstream-downstream direction, an air duct 2, a flexible duct 4 and an air outlet device 6.

The air duct 2 is a rigid tubular member extending along a main axis A extending substantially longitudinally. By rigid, it is meant that the cross section of the air duct 2 is substantially constant along the main axis A. The cross section of the duct is defined as the section of the duct in a transversal plane, i.e. in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal main axis A. It is understood that the air duct can be flexible to have a shape adapted to the path the air duct 2 has to follow. The air duct 2 can have any appropriate shape to follow the path between the ventilation system and ti place from which the air is intended to be ventilated in the compartment of the vehicle, for example in the dashboard of the vehicle. The air duct 2 comprises an upstream end¾| not shown), connected to an outlet of the ventilation system, and a downstream end 8, connected to the flexible duct 4. The air duct 2 is fixed, i.e. immovable relative to the vehicle, when the air vent device is installed in the vehicle.

The flexible duct 4 is a flexible tubular member extending along thejmain axis A. By flexible, it is meant that the flexible duct 4 can be twisted or folded on itse'lf around the main axis A such that the cross section of the flexible duct 4 can be reduce'd by twisting said duct around the main axis A. Such a twisting is performed by rotating one end of the flexible duct relative to the other end, of the flexible duct around the main axis A, which causes a deformation of the flexible duct 4 in a plane perpendicular to the main axis A.

To be able to be deformed, the flexible duct 4 is made of a stretchable resilient material, such as latex, rubber, thermoplastic, elastomer (TPE), silicone, polyisoprene, or another stretchable material.

The flexible duct 4 comprises an upstream end 10, connected to the downstream end 8 of the air duct 2 and a downstream end 12, connected to the air outlet device 6.

More particularly, the downstream end 12 of the air duct 2 is attached to a connection ring 14 attached to the air outlet device 6. The connection ring for example comprises an annular groove 16 receiving the downstream end 12 of the flexible duct 4 in a fluid tight manner. The connection ring 14 is angularly offset relative to the air duct 2, meaning the connection ring 14 has been subjected to a rotation around the main axis relative to the air duct 2, after having received the downstream end 12 of the flexible duct and before being attached to the air outlet device 6. This means that when the connection ring 14 is attached to the air outlet device 6, the downstream end 12 of the flexible duct 4 is angularly offset relative to the upstream end 10 of the flexible duct 4. According to an embodiment, the offset angle between the downstream end 12 and the upstream end 10 is superior or equal to 90°, meaning that the downs tream end has been rotated by an angle superior or equal to 90° relative to the upst ream end 12 before the connection ring 14 is attached to the air outlet device 6.

Consequently, the flexible duct 4 is in a twisted state and comprises a central area 18 of reduced cross section, wherein the diameter of the flexible duct 4 is inferior to the diameter of the flexible duct 4 outside the central area 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. More particularly, the diameter of the flexible duct 4 is arranged to progressively decrease from the upstream end 10 to the central area 18 and to progressively increase from the central area 18 to the downstream end 12, the diameter of the flexible duct 4 at the downstream end 12 being for example substantially equal to the diameter of the flexible duct 4 at the upstream end 10.

According to another embodiment, the central area 18 of reduced cross-section can be formed by a particular shape of the flexible duct itself.

The flexible duct 4 is arranged such that is can be deformed between an opened position, wherein the flexible duct 4 is in the twisted shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and a closed position when the flexible duct 4 is completely twisted, as shown in Fig. 3. In the opened position, the amount of air flowing in the flexible duct 4 is maximal and in the closed position, the air is stopped at the central area 18 and is prevented from reaching the downstream end 2 of the flexible duct 4. Between the opened position and the closed position, the amount of air circulating in the flexible duct 4 is reduced such that the amount of air can be controlled by controlling the degree of twisting of the flexible duct 4, i.e. by controlling the angle of rotation around the main axis A of the downstream end 12 relative to the upstream end 10, as will be described subsequently. According to an embodiment, the rotation angle needed to move from the opened position to the closed position is inferior or equal to 90°, thanks to the twisted sta te of the flexible duct 4 in the opened position.

The connections between the downstream end 8 of the air duct 2 and the upstream end 10 of the flexible duct 4 and between the downstream end 12 of the flexible duct 4 and the connection ring 14 are fluid tight connections ensured by any suitable way. A fluid tight connection is arranged to prevent air circulating in the air vent device 1 to leak out from the air vent device at said connections. For example, seal rings 19 can be used to attach one end of the flexible duct to the corresponding end of the air duct 2 or to the connection ring 14. Such a seal ring 19 is placed around the end of the flexible duct 4 and is arranged to press said end against the end of the air duct 2 or to maintain the downstream end 12 of the flexible duct 4 in the groove 16 of the connection ring 14, the pressing force ensuring the fluid tightness of the connection.

In addition to the connection ring 14, the outlet device 6 comprises a housing 20 and a deflector element 22.

The housing 20 is a rigid tubular member extending along main axis A and comprising an upstream end 24, on which the connection ring 14 is rigidly mounted, and a downstream end 26, forming the outlet of the air vent device through which air exits the air vent device and is ventilated in the compartment. By rigidly mounted, it is meant that the connection ring 14 is not displaceable relative to the housing 20 once the connection ring 14 has been mounted on the upstream end 24 of the housing 20.

The housing 20 for example comprises an upstream part 28 extending from the upstream end 24 to a central radial shoulder 30 and a downstream part 32 extending from the central radial shoulder 30 to the downstream end 26 of the housing. The upstream part 28 has a diameter which is inferior to the diameter of the downstream part 32 and the central radial shoulder 30 is formed by a wall extending radially inside the housing 20 and joining the inner wall 34 of the upstream part 30 to the inner wall 36 of the downstream part 32.

The upstream part 28 of the housing 20 comprises an inner part 38 extending inside the housing 20, while allowing the circulation of the air flow through the housing 20.

The inner part 38 for example comprises one or several arms 40 extending radially from the inner wall 34 of the upstream part 28 to a central recess 42, extending around and along the main axis A. Air is therefore able to flow between the arms 40 and around the recess 42. The central recess 42 extends axially in the upstream-downstream direction in the upstream part 28 and is arranged to receive a central rod 44, as will be described subsequently.

The inner wall 34 of the upstream part 28 comprises, downstream of the inner part 38 and upstream of the central radial shoulder 30, an annular notched surface 46. The annular notched surface 46 comprises a plurality of successive notches extending side by side in the axial direction. More specifically, each notch extends on the inner wall 34 of the upstream part 28 from the central radial shoulder 30 towards the upstream end 24 of the housing 20. In the vicinity of the central radial shoulder 30, the notched surface 46 for example comprises a flare 48, wherein the diameter of the inner wall 34 of the upstream part 28 increases progressively in the upstream-downstream direction, as shown in Figs 2 and 4. ^■ _. As mentioned previously, a central rod 44 is mounted inside the central recess 42, the central rod 44 extending axially and protruding from the central recess 42 in the downstream part 32 of the housing 20. Consequently, the central rod 44 comprises a downstream end 50 extending around the main axis A in the downstream part 32 of the housing 20. The downstream end 50 of the central rod 44 forms one part of a ball-joint connection, for example, the spherical ball part of such a connection, as shown in Figs 2 to 4.

The central rod 44 is movable in translation along the main axis A in the central recess 42, as will be described subsequently. A biasing element 52 such as a spring is arranged in the central recess 42 to urge the central rod 44 in the upstream-downstream direction. Furthermore, the central rod 46 comprises an abutment element 54, for example a shoulder provided at the upstream end of the central rod 44, arranged to limit the displacement of the central rod 44 in the upstream-downstream direction. The upstream end of the central rod 44 for example extends through an opening formed in the upstream end of the central recess 42 and the abutment element 54 is arranged to be applied against the bottom of the recess 42 around the opening when the central rod 44 is urged in the upstream-downstream direction by the biasing element 52, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The deflector element 22 extends in the downstream part 32 of the housing 20 in the vicinity of the downstream end 26 of the housing 20. The deflector element 22 is arranged to control the direction of the air flow exiting the air vent device 1 , said direction depending on the position of the deflector element 22 in the housing 20, as will be described subsequently. Consequently, the deflector element 22 comprises at least one air guiding surface 56 extending across the housing 20 in a transversal direction and arranged to guide the air coming from the air duct 2 according to the plane in which the air guiding surface 56 extends. By modifying this plane, it is possible to modify the direction of the air flow. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 , the deflector element 22 comprises two branches 58 extending in substantially perpendicular directions in an annular part 60 so as to form an deflector grill extending in the housing 20, as shown in Fig. 1. It is understood that other shapes of deflector element 22 can be provided, from a simple vane to a grill comprising more branches.

On the downstream side of the deflector element 22, an actuator 62 is provided for moving the deflector element 22 in the housing 20 and therefore for modifying the orientation of the air guiding surface(s) of the deflector element 22. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the actuator is formed by a knob protruding from the central portion of the deflector grill, where the branches 58 are interconnected, and extending axially towards the exterior of the air vent device 1. The deflector element 22 and the actuator 62 are for example made of a single part. According to another embodiment, the actuator 62 could be formed by the deflector element 22 itself, for example by manipulating directly the central portion of the deflector grill.

On the upstream side, the deflector element 22 comprises the other part 64 of the ball joint connection, for example the socket part, complementary to the spherical ball part, mounted on the downstream end 50 of the central rod 44.

Such a ball-joint connection between the deflector element 22 and the central rod 44 allows orienting the deflector element 22 in any direction relative to the central rod 44, and hence relative to the housing 20, simply by moving the deflector element 22 on the downstream end 50 of the central rod 44. Consequently, the deflector element 22 can be oriented as wished by the user, thereby modifying the direction of the flow of air exiting the air vent device, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the deflector element 22 has been moved downward. The functioning of such a ball joint connection to control the orientation of one element relative to another is known and will not be described in greater detail herein.

Since the deflector element 22 and the actuator 62 are mounted on the central rod 44 and since the central rod 44 is movable in axial translation inside the housing 20, the deflector element 22 and the actuator 62 are movable in translation along the main axis relative to the housing 20, between a free position (Figs 2 and 4), wherein the deflector element 22 is free to move relative to the housing 20, thanks to the ball-joint connection, and a locked position (Fig. 3), wherein the deflector element 22 is pushed inside the housing 20 in the downstream upstream direction and is attached to the housing 20 as will now be described.

On the upstream side, the deflector element 22 comprises a gripping area 66, substantially complementary to the notched surface 46 of the upstream part 28 of the housing 20. The gripping area 66 is therefore formed by successive recesses, for example formed in the annular part 60 of the deflector element 22, each recess having a shape complementary to the shape of a notch of the notched surface 46 of the upstream part 28 of the housing 20. The gripping area 66 is arranged to mesh with the notched surface 46, which forms an annular meshing area extending inside the housing 20, when the deflector element 22 is moved in the locked position, as shown in Fig. 3. In the locked position, the recesses of the gripping area 66 are engaged inside the notches of the meshing area and the deflector element 22 is applied against the central radial shoulder 30 of the housing, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the deflector element 22 and the actuator 62 become immovable relative to the housing 20, meaning that the deflector element 22 is no longer free to be moved relative to the housing 20 but remain free to rotate, with the housing, around the main axis A. Since the deflector element 22 and the housing 20 are attached to each other in the locked position, a rotation of the actuator 62 around the main axis A causes a corresponding rotation of the housing 20 around the main axis A.

In normal use of the air vent device, the deflector element 22 is in the free position and the user can choose the orientation of the deflector element 22 by acting on the actuator 62.

When the user wants to modify the amount of air exiting the air vent device, the user simply presses the actuator 62 and the deflector element 22 in the downstream upstream direction to place the deflector element 62 and the actuator 62 in the locked position and rotates the actuator 62 around the main axis A as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3. It should be noted that, since the meshing area and the gripping area 66 extend all around the inner wall 34 of the upstream part 28 of the housing 20 and all around the deflector element 22 respectively, the deflector element 22 is able to mesh with the housing 20 in any angular position of the deflector element 22 around the main axis A.

This rotation causes a corresponding rotation of the housing 20, which in turn causes a twisting of the flexible duct 4 around the main axis A, as described previously. Consequently, the actuator can also be used to control the amount of air circulating in the air vent device, simply by placing it in the locked position and making it turn around the main axis A. According to an embodiment, a rotation of 90° of the actuator and deflector element 22 around the main axis A makes the flexible duct 4 move from its opened position to its closed position, wherein air no longer exits the air vent device 1 , thanks to the twisted state of the flexible duct 4 in the opened position. Such a rotation angle inferior or equal to 90° is more comfortable for the user, w ho only has to perform a small rotation to shut down the air-vent device.

It should be noted that the deflector element 22 and the actuator remain in the position in which they have been moved thanks the frictional ball joint connection between the deflector element 22 and the central rod 44. Furthermore, by providing a frictional connection between the housing 20 and the element in which the air-vent device is mounted, for example the dashboard of a vehicle, the housing 20 also remains in the position in which it has been turned to control the amount of air exiting the air-vent device 1. Alternatively, a locking device (not shown) can be used to lock the housing 20 in various positions relative to the element in which it is mounted corresponding to various amounts of air circulating in the air vent device 1. In this case, when the user wants to modify the amount of air exiting the air vent device 1 , said user unlocks the locking device thereby making it possible to rotate the housing 20 around the main axis A and locks the locking device when the desired position of the housing 20 has been reached. Once the amount of air has been adjusted, the user simply releases the actuator 62, which makes the deflector element 22 and the actuator 62 return to the free position, thanks to the biasing element 52 urging the central rod 44 in the upstream downstream direction.

The air vent device described above is therefore very simple to manipulate both for orienting the flow of air and for controlling the amount of air.