A method of manufacturing a vane assembly for an air vent includes comprising molding an intermediate member in a molding die, the intermediate member having a head portion and a stem portion extending distally from the head portion, the stem portion defining a gate for the molding, the intermediate member being an unreinforced polymer material, subsequently molding a vane body over the stem portion of the intermediate member in the molding die, the vane body being a reinforced polymer material, and after molding the vane body over the stem portion of the intermediate member, securing a facia to the head portion of the intermediate member to form the vane assembly.

An outlet assembly having a plurality of different operating modes for improving air flow in an air distribution system is provided. The assembly includes a first blocking element supported by a first wall of a housing for movement between blocking and unblocking positions within a cavity of the housing. The first blocking element prevents a first layer of air from flowing immediately adjacent the first wall in its blocking position. A second blocking element is supported by a second wall of the housing for movement between blocking and unblocking positions within the cavity. The second blocking element prevents a second layer of air from flowing immediately adjacent the second wall in its blocking position. An actuator subassembly including a selector member is supported for movement between a plurality of predefined positions which correspond to first and second blocking modes and a nominal unblocking mode.

A ventilation system including a housing, with an inlet end into which air is directed, and an outlet end at which the air exits. The housing includes an inlet portion at the inlet end, and first and second channels downstream from the inlet portion. The ventilation system includes an air flow guide element pivotable between a first position, in which a first major portion of the air flowing into the inlet end is directed into the first channel and a first minor portion of the air flow is directed into the second channel, and a second position, in which a second major portion of the air flowing into the inlet end is directed into the second channel and a second minor portion of the air flow is directed into the first channel.

An actuator assembly for actuating air blocking elements of an outlet assembly is provided. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm and a selector member operatively connected to the actuator arm to rotate the actuator arm about an arm axis. The actuator arm is operatively connected to a first air blocking element to rotate the first air blocking element towards its air blocking position without moving a second air blocking element upon rotation of the actuator arm in a first direction from a neutral, non-blocking position of the actuator arm about the arm axis. The actuator arm is operatively connected to the second air blocking element to rotate the second air blocking element towards its air blocking position without moving the first air blocking element upon rotation of the actuator arm in a second direction opposite the first direction from the neutral, non-blocking position.

A coupling rod for manipulating air guiding louvers of a louver assembly which are used in an air vent for vehicles. The coupling rod has a multiplicity of bearing regions, each bearing region being configured to receive a bearing shaft (bearing journal, bearing pin, etc) which is assigned to one of the air guiding louvers in such a way that, in the case of a movement of the coupling rod in an adjusting direction relative to the air guiding louvers, the corresponding bearing shaft which is received in the bearing region is suitably guided.

An adjustable air vent adapted to guide an air stream flowing through the air vent includes an elongate housing extending in a length direction, one or more vertical vanes at least partly located in the housing, one or more horizontal vanes at least partly located in the housing, an air guide at least partly located in the housing and extending in the length direction, and an air adjustment actuator displaceable in relation to the housing to adjust a direction of the air stream. The air vent includes a first connection directly or indirectly connecting the air adjustment actuator to the horizontal vanes for vertical direction of the air stream and a second connection directly or indirectly connecting the air adjustment actuator to the vertical vanes for horizontal direction of the air stream. The air adjustment actuator surrounds the air guide and is displaceable relative thereto.

An antimicrobial, injection molded air register for use in an air distribution system to direct airflow from ductwork into a passenger cabin of a vehicle or into an enclosed space within a residential structure is provided. The air register includes a perforated cover configured to cover an outlet end of the ductwork and a plurality of injection molded components supported by the cover to direct air flow into the passenger cabin. Each of the components includes a surface layer in fluid communication with the airflow and is made of a molded material which absorbs airborne liquid droplets containing infectious, disease-causing pathogens moving with the airflow. The molded material includes antimicrobial agents disbursed throughout each of the surface layers to reduce the number of pathogens contained within droplets absorbed by the surface layers.

An air-conditioning register includes: a movable fin; an operation knob; and a transmission mechanism. A load generating mechanism is provided in a middle of a force transmission path in the transmission mechanism. The load generating mechanism includes a pressure receiving portion, a pressing member, and a spring. The pressure receiving portion has a pressure receiving surface. The pressing member rotates with respect to the pressure receiving portion as the operation knob rotates. The spring generates a load between the pressing member and the pressure receiving portion by urging the pressing member toward a side approaching the pressure receiving surface and pressing the pressing member against the pressure receiving surface. The pressing member and the pressure receiving portion are each formed of a hard resin material, and the pressing member is directly in contact with the pressure receiving surface to generate the load.

Air vent for a vehicle, including a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and an air duct for air flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a main flow direction. A slat assembly is arranged in the air duct and has a plurality of air-guiding slats that are pivotable together with respect to the main flow direction, and designed to divert the air flow from the main flow direction in an open position of the slat assembly and to interrupt the air flow in a closed position of the slat assembly. The air-guiding slats, in the closed position, are braced relative to one another and each of them takes up its end position, and at least some of the air-guiding slats reach their respective end position in succession during an adjustment of the slat assembly from the open position to the closed position.

A control method for controlling an air intake system for an engine of a vehicle; the intake system has a main air intake coupled to an air filter provided with a heating device. The control method comprises the steps of: determining a pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the air filter; determining a variation speed of the pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the air filter by calculating the first derivative in time of the pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the air filter; and turning on and/or turning off the heating device based on the variation speed of the pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the air filter.