AIR CONDITIONER REGISTER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air conditioner register that adjusts the direction of air-conditioning air discharged from an air conditioner into a room.

Air vents for air-conditioning air such as warm air and cool air sent from an air conditioner are mounted in an instrument panel of a vehicle. The air vents are each provided with an air conditioner register. The air conditioner register includes a tubular retainer and fins. The retainer has an air duct defined therein, and a square air outlet formed at the downstream end of the air duct. The fins are pivotally mounted in the retainer. The air conditioner register changes the direction of the air-conditioning air discharged from the air outlet by adjusting the direction of the fins.

From the aspect of an aesthetic appearance and an installation space, low-profile air conditioner registers with a rectangular air outlet as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-306365 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-188219 have been proposed. In the air conditioner register, among four walls surrounding the air duct of the retainer, a pair of walls including a pair of short sides of the air outlet forms first walls, and a pair of walls including a pair of long sides forms second walls. The fins include long fins, which extend along the long sides and are arranged along the short sides, and short fins, which extend along the short sides and are arranged along the long sides. The long fins are pivotally supported by support shafts located on its opposite ends in the direction of the long sides. The short fins are pivotally supported by support shafts located on its opposite sides in the direction of the short sides.

The state in which the long fins are arranged parallel to the second walls is referred to as a neutral state of the long fins, and the state in which the short fins are arranged parallel to the first walls is referred to as a neutral state of the short fins. When the long fins and the short fins are arranged in the neutral states, the air-conditioning air from the air conditioner flows along the long fins and the short fins, and is discharged straight from the air outlet of the retainer toward occupants. Also, when at least either the long fins or the short fins are tilted from the neutral state, the air-conditioning air is discharged from the air outlet of the retainer in the direction of the tilted fins.

In the above-mentioned low-profile air conditioner register, the number of the long fins, which are arranged along the short sides, is less than the number of the short fins, which are arranged along the long sides. This is to ensure the flow path of the air-conditioning air between the adjacent long fins. The number of the fins arranged along the short sides is less than the number of the fins arranged along any sides of an air outlet of a common air conditioner register having a square air outlet.

In a low-profile air conditioner register, if the number of the long fins arranged along the short sides of the air outlet is small, it is difficult to accurately discharge the air-conditioning air from the air outlet in a desired direction, that is, in the direction in which the long fins are tilted. That is, if the number of the long fins is small, the directivity of the air-conditioning air discharged from the air outlet is not sufficiently high.

In particular, when the long fins are tilted to a maximum tilt position of a movable range, a gap is formed between the second wall and one of the long fins located in the air outlet that is closest to the long side, and air flows through the gap. The air flowing through the gap affects the flow of the air-conditioning air that flows between the adjacent long fins and discharged from the air outlet, and reduces the directivity of the air-conditioning air.

An air conditioner register has also been proposed that includes an additional mechanism for inhibiting reduction in the directivity. In this case, however, the number of components is increased, and it is difficult to respond to requirements specific to the low-profile air conditioner register that preferably has small number of components to reduce the thickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an air conditioner register that improves directivity of air-conditioning air discharged from an air outlet without increasing the number of components.

To achieve the foregoing objective, and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner register for adjusting the direction of air-conditioning air is provided. The air conditioner register includes a tubular retainer and a barrel. The retainer includes an air duct for air-conditioning air defined therein by a pair of first walls facing each other and a pair of second walls facing each other. The retainer includes a rectangular air outlet at a downstream end of the air duct. The air outlet includes a pair of short sides facing each other and a pair of long sides facing each other. Each of the first walls includes one of the short sides of the air outlet, and each of the second walls includes one of the long sides of the air outlet. The barrel includes two or more long fins extending in a direction of the long sides in the retainer and arranged along the short sides separate from and parallel to each other. The barrel includes a pair of barrel support shafts extending in the direction of the long sides on both sides of the barrel. The barrel is pivotally supported by the barrel support shafts at part of the first walls close to the air outlet. When the barrel is arranged in a barrel neutral state, in which the long fins are arranged parallel to the second walls, the long fins located closest to the long sides, among the long fins located in the air outlet, form a pair of main long fins. Each of the second walls includes a bulging portion, which bulges inward of the air outlet. When the barrel is tilted to a maximum tilt position in a range of the tilt motion, one of the bulging portions is located close to the downstream end of a one of the main long fins that leads in the tilt motion.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a vehicle air conditioner register according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the air conditioner register of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the barrel is arranged in a barrel neutral state;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating the air conditioner register of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the short fins are arranged in the short fin neutral state;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the air conditioner register of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the barrel is tilted to the maximum downward tilt position of the movable range; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the air conditioner register of a comparative example in which the barrel is tilted to the maximum downward tilt position of the movable range.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle air conditioner register according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the front, rear, up, down, left, and right are based on the advancing direction of a vehicle.

In a passenger compartment, an instrument panel (not shown) is located in front of a driver's seat and a front passenger seat. Low-profile air conditioner registers are installed at both ends and the center of the instrument panel in the vehicle widthwise direction. The dimension of the air conditioner registers in the vertical direction is shorter (the height is smaller) compared to the dimension in the vehicle widthwise direction (left and right direction). Each of the air conditioner registers adjusts the direction of air delivered from the air conditioner (not shown) and sent into the passenger compartment.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the air conditioner register according to the present embodiment. The air conditioner register includes a retainer 10, a barrel 30 having long fins, and a group of short fins. The structure of each component will now be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer 10 includes a flow path for an air-conditioning air A (hereinafter, referred to as an air duct 9) defined therein. The retainer 10 includes a main body 11 and a bezel 16 formed of a plastic material. The main body 11 is formed of a tube extending in the direction in which the air duct 9 extends, that is, in the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A. In the following description, “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the upstream and downstream of the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A along the air duct 9. In this direction, “upstream” is close to the air conditioner, and “downstream” is separate from the air conditioner. Also, the upstream end refers to the end portion at the upstream part, and the downstream end refers to the end portion at the downstream part.

The main body 11 includes an upstream section 12, which is located upstream of the center portion of the air duct 9 in the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A, and a downstream section 13, which is located downstream of the center portion. A laterally rectangular opening is formed at the upstream end of the upstream section 12. The opening forms an inlet of the air-conditioning air A to the air conditioner register.

The cross-section orthogonal to the flow direction of the air duct 9 at the downstream section 13 is greater than that at the upstream section 12 in the vertical direction. The cross-section of a boundary portion 14 between the upstream section 12 and the downstream section 13 gradually widens in the vertical direction toward the downstream direction. The side cross-section of the boundary portion 14 along the air duct 9 defines an arch (see FIG. 2). Engaging holes 15 are formed at the upper and lower portions of the downstream end of the downstream section 13.

The bezel 16 includes a square loop-like mounting portion 17 and a square frame 18. The frame 18 is integrally formed with the downstream end of the mounting portion 17 and forms an outer surface of the air conditioner register. Engaging hooks 19 are formed at the upper and lower portions of the upstream end of the mounting portion 17. The bezel 16 is arranged downstream of the main body 11. The bezel 16 is coupled to the main body 11 by inserting the mounting portion 17 in the downstream section 13, and engaging the engaging hooks 19 of the mounting portion 17 with the corresponding engaging holes 15 from the inside. Part of the opening at the mounting portion 17 of the bezel 16 forms an air outlet 20 for the air-conditioning air A from the air conditioner register. In the present embodiment, part of the opening of the bezel 16 with the smallest opening area forms the air outlet 20.

Among four sides of the laterally rectangular air outlet 20, a pair of sides extending in the vertical direction is referred to as “short sides X”, and a pair of sides extending in the vehicle widthwise direction, that is, the left and right direction is referred to as “long sides Y”.

The air duct 9 is surrounded by four walls of the retainer 10. Among the four walls, a pair of walls including the pair of short sides X of the air outlet 20 are referred to as first walls 21, and a pair of walls including the pair of long sides Y are referred to as second walls 22. In the present embodiment, in which the air outlet 20 has a laterally rectangular shape, the pair of walls opposing the vehicle widthwise direction, that is, the left and right direction, are the first walls 21, and the pair of walls opposing the vertical direction are the second walls 22.

Furthermore, the second walls 22 of the retainer 10 according to the present embodiment each include a bulging portion 23. Each bulging portion 23 is integrally formed with the associated second wall 22 to bulge inward of the air outlet 20. More specifically, an upper bulging portion 23 bulges downward, and a lower bulging portion 23 bulges upward. When the barrel 30 is arranged in a later described barrel neutral state, the bulging ends of the bulging portions 23 in the bulging direction align with sub-long fins 32 in the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A at a position downstream of the sub-long fins 32 (see FIG. 2). Also, when the barrel 30 is tilted to a maximum tilt position of a movable range of the barrel 30, the bulging end of one of the bulging portions 23 is located close to the downstream end of a leading one of the main long fins 31. That is, when the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt position, the bulging end of one of the bulging portions 23 is in close proximity to the main long fin 31 that has the leading position during the movement to the maximum tilt position (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the barrel 30 includes the long fins 31, 32, the number of which is greater than or equal to two (four in this embodiment), and a pair of side walls 33. The long fins 31, 32 extend in the retainer 10 in the direction of the long sides Y of the air outlet 20, that is, the vehicle widthwise direction. The long fins 31, 32 are arranged separate from and parallel to each other along the short sides X, that is, the vertical direction. The pair of side walls 33 is arranged on both sides of the long fins 31, 32 in the direction of the long sides Y. The long fins 31, 32 and the side walls 33 are formed of a plastic material. The long fins 31, 32 are flat plates and extend in the flow direction of the air duct 9 by a predetermined width.

The side walls 33 extend at positions close to the first walls 21 of the retainer 10 in the direction of the short sides X, that is, the vertical direction. The side walls 33 are formed integrally with the long fins 31, 32. Each side wall 33 includes a barrel support shaft 34, which protrudes toward the adjacent first wall 21. That is, the barrel support shafts 34 extend in the direction of the long sides Y. The barrel 30 is pivotally supported by the first walls 21 via the barrel support shafts 34 at a position close to the air outlet 20 in the flow direction of the air duct 9.

In the direction of the short sides X (or the long sides Y) of the air outlet 20, the portion closer to the center of the short sides X (or the long sides Y) is referred to as an “inner portion”, and the portion separate from the center is referred to as an “outer portion”.

The state of the barrel 30 when the long fins 31, 32 are arranged parallel to the second walls 22 (see FIG. 2) is referred to as a “barrel neutral state”. Also, the state of the barrel 30 when the long fins 31, 32 are tilted with respect to the second walls 22 (see FIG. 4) is referred to as a “barrel tilt state”.

In the present embodiment, among the plurality of long fins 31, 32, the middle two long fins in the direction of the short sides X are referred to as the “main long fins 31”, and two long fins located outward of the main long fins 31 in the direction of the short sides X are referred to as the “sub-long fins 32”. When the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutral state, the downstream ends of the main long fins 31 are located at or in the vicinity of the air outlet 20. Also, the main long fins 31 are closest to the long sides Y among the long fins 31 located in the air outlet 20. A bearing hole 35 is formed in the upstream end of each of the main long fins 31.

The sub-long fins 32 are located at positions near the second walls 22 (see FIG. 2). When the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutral state, both sub-long fins 32 are located at positions outward of the air outlet 20 in the retainer 10. Also, the outer surface of each sub-long fin 32 forms a curved surface that bulges toward the outside of the air outlet 20. When the barrel 30 is in the barrel neutral state, the upstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located at positions near the upstream ends of the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. In contrast, the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located upstream of the downstream ends of the main long fins 31. That is, the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located upstream of the air outlet 20. Therefore, the sub-long fins 32 are shorter than the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9.

The distance between the main long fins 31 is denoted by D1, and the distance between each main long fin 31 and the adjacent sub-long fin 32 is denoted by D2. The barrel 30 is formed such that the distance D1 is greater than the distance D2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the group of short fins includes plastic short fins 40 (seven in this embodiment). The short fins 40 extend in the retainer 10 in the direction of the short sides X of the air outlet 20. The short fins 40 are arranged separate from and parallel to each other along the long sides Y. The short fins 40 are flat plates and extend in the flow direction of the air duct 9 by a predetermined length L1 (see FIG. 3). The short fins 40 are longer than the sub-long fins 32 and the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. When the short fins 40 are arranged parallel to the first walls 21, one third or more part of the length L1 of the short fins 40 in the flow direction of the air duct 9 is arranged in the barrel 30. In the present embodiment, the area between the downstream end of each short fin 40 and a position separate from the downstream end toward the upstream portion by one third or more of the length L1 is arranged in the barrel 30.

According to the above arrangement, the short fins 40 overlap the long fins 31, 32 along the air flow direction of the air duct 9. Thus, in the flow direction of the air duct 9, distance from the most upstream one of the upstream ends of the short fins 40 and the upstream ends of the long fins 31, 32, to the most downstream one of the downstream ends of the short fins 40 and the downstream ends of the long fins 31, 32 is shorter than it would be if the short fins 40 were not arranged in the barrel 30.

The short fins 40 are formed as follows to fabricate a structure in which at least parts of the short fins 40 are arranged in the barrel 30 as described above. The upstream section of each short fin 40 is formed of a base 41, and the downstream section is formed of three projections 42, 43, which are separate from each other in the direction of the short sides X and protrude downstream from the base 41. The projections 42, 43 include two side projections 42, which are on opposite ends in the direction of the short sides X, and a middle projection 43 arranged between the side projections 42. Each of the side projections 42 is separate from the middle projection 43 in the direction of the short sides X by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the main long fins 31. A pair of short fin support shafts 44 protrude from the middle projection 43 toward the side projections 42. That is, the short fin support shafts 44 extend in the direction of the short sides X.

The middle projection 43 is inserted and arranged between the main long fins 31 from the upstream end toward the downstream end. The downstream end of the middle projection 43 is located at a position close to the downstream ends of the main long fins 31, that is, a position close to the air outlet 20 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. Also, each side projection 42 is inserted and arranged between one of the main long fins 31 and the adjacent sub-long fin 32 from the upstream end toward the downstream end. Furthermore, both short fin support shafts 44 of each short fin 40 are pivotally engaged with the corresponding bearing holes 35 of the main long fins 31.

A manipulating knob 45 is mounted on one of the short fins 40 located at the center in the direction of the long sides Y. Furthermore, a coupling shaft 46 is formed on each short fin 40 at a position upstream of the short fin support shafts 44. In the present embodiment, a cutout 47 is formed at the lower part of the base 41 of each short fin 40, and the coupling shaft 46 is formed to extend downward from the cutout 47. The coupling shafts 46 of the short fins 40 are coupled to each other by a long coupling rod 48, which extends in the direction of the long sides Y. The coupling rod 48 transmits the tilt motion of the short fin 40 on which the manipulating knob 45 is mounted to the other short fins 40.

As for the group of short fins and the short fins 40, the state in which the short fins 40 are arranged parallel to the first walls 21 (see FIG. 3) is referred to as a “short fin neutral state”, and the state in which the short fins 40 are tilted with respect to the first walls 21 (not shown) is referred to as a “short fin tilt state”.

Operation of the air conditioner register according to the present embodiment structured as described above will now be described.

In the air conditioner register, most of the air-conditioning air A flowing through the air duct 9 of the retainer 10 passes through the barrel 30. At this time, the direction of flow of the air-conditioning air A is determined by the main long fins 31, the sub-long fins 32, and the short fins 40.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the air conditioner register, in which the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutral state, and the short fins 40 are arranged in the short fin neutral state. At this time, both sub-long fins 32 are located in the retainer 10, but are located outward of the air outlet 20. The bulging portions 23 are located downstream of the sub-long fins 32. Therefore, when an occupant looks at the air conditioner register from downstream, the sub-long fins 32 are hidden upstream of the bulging portions 23 and are not visible.

The short fins 40 are brought into the short fin neutral state by arranging the short fin 40 on which the manipulating knob 45 is mounted to be parallel to the first walls 21. When the short fin 40 on which the manipulating knob 45 is mounted is arranged parallel to the first walls 21, the other short fins 40 coupled to each other via the coupling rod 48 are also arranged parallel to the first walls 21. The air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent short fins 40 flows parallel to the first walls 21 by flowing along the short fins 40. Also, the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the short fins 40 on both ends in the direction of the long sides Y and the adjacent side walls 33 flows parallel to the first walls 21 by flowing along the short fins 40 and the side walls 33. In this manner, the air-conditioning air A is discharged parallel to the first walls 21 from the air outlet 20 at the downstream end of the retainer 10.

When the barrel 30 is in the barrel neutral state, the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32 are arranged parallel to the second walls 22. The air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent main long fins 31 flows parallel to the second walls 22 by flowing along the main long fins 31. Also, the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fins 31 and the adjacent sub-long fins 32 flows parallel to the second walls 22 by flowing between the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32. In this manner, the air-conditioning air A is discharged from the air outlet 20 parallel to the second walls 22. Since the gap between each sub-long fin 32 and the associated second wall 22 is small, the amount of the air-conditioning air A that is discharged from the air outlet 20 through the gap is very small.

When the short fin 40 on which the manipulating knob 45 is mounted is tilted about the short fin support shafts 44, the tilt motion is transmitted to the other short fins 40 via the coupling shafts 46 and the coupling rod 48. Accordingly, the short fins 40 are tilted in the same direction in synchronization with each other while maintaining the state in which the short fins 40 are parallel to each other. In this manner, all the short fins 40 are tilted with respect to the first walls 21. The flow direction of the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent short fins 40 is changed to the tilt direction of the short fins 40 by flowing along the short fins 40. The air-conditioning air A is discharged from the air outlet 20 in the direction in which the short fins 40 are tilted.

Also, when the barrel 30 is tilted about the barrel support shafts 34 with respect to the second walls 22 within the movable range, the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32 are tilted with respect to the second walls 22. The case in which the barrel 30 is not tilted to the maximum tilt position will now be described. In this case, the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion approaches the bulging portion 23 in the vicinity of the main long fin 31, and the main long fin 31 that trails in the tilt motion separates from the bulging portion 23 in the vicinity of the main long fin 31. The flow direction of the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent main long fins 31 is changed to the tilt direction of the main long fins 31 by flowing along the main long fins 31. Also, the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fins 31 and the adjacent sub-long fins 32 is changed to the tilt direction of the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32 by flowing along the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32. At this time, since the barrel 30 is not tilted to the maximum tilt position, the downstream end of the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion of the barrel 30 is separate from the bulging portion 23 in the vicinity of the main long fin 31. However, the gap between the downstream end of the main long fin 31 and the bulging portion 23 is smaller than the gap when the barrel 30 is in the barrel neutral state. Then, the air-conditioning air A is discharged from the air outlet 20 along the tilt direction of the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32. At this time also, since the gap between the sub-long fin 32 and the associated second wall 22 is small, the amount of air-conditioning air A that is discharged from the air outlet 20 through the gap is very small.

Also, the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located upstream of the downstream ends of the main long fins 31. Therefore, when the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel tilt state, the sub-long fin 32 that leads in the tilt motion does not contact the second wall 22. Also, the sub-long fin 32 that trails in the tilt motion is not easily exposed downstream of the air outlet 20 of the retainer 10.

Furthermore, when the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt position at one end of the movable range (lower end in FIG. 4), the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fin 31 leads in the tilt motion (lower part in FIG. 4) and the second wall 22 acts to flow along the main long fin 31 and the second wall 22. If the bulging portions 23 are not formed on the second walls 22 as shown in FIG. 5, a gap G is formed between the downstream end of the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion (lower part in FIG. 5) and the second wall 22. In this case, the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fin 31 and the second wall 22 blows through the gap G. The air-conditioning air A that has blown through the gap G affects the air-conditioning air A that has passed through the adjacent main long fins 31 and discharged from the air outlet 20, and reduces the directivity of the air-conditioning air A. In FIG. 5, like or the same reference numerals are given to those components that are like or the same as the corresponding components of FIG. 4. Also, in FIG. 5, the retainer 10 is shown in a state where the main body 11 and the bezel 16 are integrated to facilitate illustration.

In the present embodiment, in which the bulging portions 23 are formed on the second walls 22, the tilt motion of the barrel 30 causes the downstream end of the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion (lower part in FIG. 4) to approach the bulging portion 23, and the gap between the downstream end of the main long fin 31 and the bulging portion 23 is reduced as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion and the second wall 22 is inhibited from blowing through the gap between the main long fin 31 and the second wall 22. Accordingly, the air-conditioning air A that is discharged from the air outlet 20 passing through the adjacent main long fins 31 is inhibited from being affected. Even if being affected, the influence will be small that it can be ignored.

When the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt position of the other end of the movable range (upper end), the same result as described above is obtained. The explanation is therefore omitted.

In general, when the short fins 40 are arranged further upstream from the air outlet 20 in the flow direction of the air duct 9, the possibility is increased that, after the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A is changed by the short fins 40, the air-conditioning air A strikes at least either the first wall 21 or the side wall 33 of the barrel 30 before blowing out from the air outlet 20. Such a tendency is increased as the short fins 40 are arranged further upstream away from the air outlet 20. In particular, the above-mentioned phenomenon tends to occur in a case where the short fins 40 are arranged upstream of the barrel 30 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. In this case, the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A that has struck at least either the first wall 21 or the side wall 33 of the barrel 30 is changed to the direction along the first wall 21 or the side wall 33 of the barrel 30, and the air-conditioning air A is discharged from the air outlet 20 in this state.

In the present embodiment, one third or more of the length L1 of the short fins 40 is arranged in the barrel 30 as described above. That is, the downstream ends of the short fins 40 are located at positions close to the downstream ends of the main long fins 31, that is, at the position close to the air outlet 20. Therefore, the air-conditioning air A the flow direction of which is changed by the short fins 40 does not strike the first wall 21 or the barrel 30 (the side wall 33), but is easily discharged from the air outlet 20 along the tilt direction of the short fins 40.

The present embodiment has the following advantages.

(1) The barrel 30 of the air conditioner register of the present embodiment is pivotally supported at a position close to the air outlet 20 in the retainer 10 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. In the air conditioner register, when the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutral state, in which the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32 are arranged parallel to the second walls 22, the main long fins 31 are arranged closest to the long sides Y among the long fins located in the air outlet 20 (FIG. 2). The second walls 22 include the bulging portions 23, which bulge inward of the air outlet 20. When the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt position of the movable range, one of the bulging portions 23 is located close to the downstream end of the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion (FIG. 4).

Therefore, a desired directivity of the air-conditioning air A, which is discharged from the air outlet 20, is ensured by the two main long fins 31.

Furthermore, when the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt position of the movable range, the air-conditioning air A is inhibited from blowing out from the air outlet 20 passing between the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt direction and the associated second wall 22. Thus, the directivity of the air-conditioning air A is improved.

Also, in the air conditioner register of the present embodiment, since an additional member is not added, the directivity of the air-conditioning air A is improved without increasing the number of components.

(2) The barrel 30 includes the sub-long fins 32, which are located in the retainer 10 and at a position outward of the air outlet 20 when the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutral state (FIGS. 2 and 4).

Therefore, in the air conditioner register of the present embodiment, the directivity of the air-conditioning air A is further improved as compared to the air conditioner register in which the barrel 30 does not include the sub-long fins 32.

(3) In the present embodiment, the sub-long fins 32 are arranged at positions close to the second walls 22, and the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located upstream of the downstream ends of the main long fins 31 (FIGS. 2 and 4).

Therefore, the air-conditioning air A is inhibited from blowing out from the air outlet 20 passing between the sub-long fins 32 and the second walls 22.

Also, when the barrel 30 moves to the barrel tilt state, the sub-long fin 32 that leads in the tilt motion is inhibited from contacting and interfering with the second wall 22. Furthermore, the sub-long fin 32 that trails in the tilt motion is inhibited from being exposed downstream from the air outlet 20 of the retainer 10, and the aesthetic appearance is prevented from being spoiled.

(4) The short fins 40 are provided in the retainer 10. At least part of each short fin 40 is arranged in the barrel 30. The short fin support shafts 44 of the short fins 40 are supported by the barrel 30, and the short fins 40 are coupled to each other by the coupling rod 48 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Therefore, the dimension of the air conditioner register in the flow direction of the air duct 9 is reduced for downsizing.

Also, the air-conditioning air A the flow direction of which is changed by the short fins 40 is discharged from the air outlet 20 along the tilt direction of the short fins 40 without striking the first wall 21 or the side wall 33 of the barrel 30.

(5) The short fins 40 are formed to be longer than the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. In a state where the short fins 40 are arranged parallel to the first walls 21, one third or more of the length L1 of the short fins 40 in the flow direction of the air duct 9 is arranged in the barrel 30 (FIG. 3).

Therefore, the above-mentioned advantage (4) that the dimension of the air conditioner register in the flow direction of the air duct 9 is reduced for downsizing is more efficiently obtained.

(6) The downstream ends of the short fins 40 are arranged at positions close to the downstream ends of the main long fins 31 (FIG. 3).

Therefore, the above-mentioned advantage (4) that the air-conditioning air A the flow direction of which is changed by the short fins 40 is discharged from the air outlet 20 without striking the first wall 21 or the side wall 33 of the barrel 30 is more efficiently obtained.

The present invention may be modified as follows.

The barrel 30 may include one or more other long fins arranged between the pair of main long fins 31.

In this case, three or more long fins are located in the air outlet 20, and two of the long fins closest to the long sides Y are referred to as the main long fins 31.

The barrel 30 may not include the sub-long fins 32.

The short fins 40 may be formed such that the length of the short fins 40 is equivalent to or shorter than that of the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9.

The length of part of the short fins 40 arranged in the barrel 30 may be changed as long as one third or more of the length L1 of the short fins 40 in the flow direction of the air duct 9 overlaps the main long fins 31.

The short fins 40 may be supported by a short fin support shaft formed of an additional member from the short fins 40 to be tiltable with respect to the main long fins 31.

The short fins 40 may be pivotally supported by the sub-long fins 32 instead of the main long fins 31. Also, the short fins 40 may be pivotally supported by the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32.

The short fins 40 may be pivotally supported by a short fin support shaft located at one position or by short fin support shafts located at three or more positions in the flow direction of the short sides X.

The short fins 40 may overlap the entire length of the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9, or may overlap only part of the length of the main long fins 31.

The present invention may be applied to an air conditioner register that is located at a position different from the instrument panel in the passenger compartment.

The air conditioner register of the present invention is not limited to applications within the vehicle, but may be widely applied to cases in which the direction of air discharged from the air conditioner into a room is adjusted.

The present invention may be applied to an air conditioner register in which the long sides of the air outlet 20 are arranged to extend in the vertical direction. In this case, in the retainer 10, the pair of walls facing the vertical direction form the first walls 21, and the pair of walls facing the vehicle widthwise direction form the second walls 22. The long fins 31, 32 are arranged in the vehicle widthwise direction, and the short fins 40 are arranged in the vertical direction.

Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.

AIR CONDITIONER REGISTER

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