Air Outlet, Heater or Air Conditioning Unit With Such an Air Outlet, Recreational Vehicle With an Air Outlet, Heater and/or Air Conditioning Unit and Methods for Attaching, Operating and Converting an Air Outlet

Abstract

An air outlet, in particular for heaters or air conditioning units for recreational vehicles like campers or caravans, having a main housing, a flap suitable to seal the air flow channel in the main housing and a coupling mechanism. The main housing forms an air flow channel and the coupling mechanism couples the flap to the main housing in a movable manner such that the flap can be moved with respect to the main housing between a closed state, in which the flap seals the air flow channel, and an opened state, in which the flap does not seal the air flow channel. The coupling mechanism is configured such that the flap conducts a rotating and sliding movement with respect to the main housing when being moved between the closed state and the opened state.

Claims

1. An air outlet, in particular for heaters or air conditioning units for recreational vehicles like campers or caravans, comprising: a main housing, wherein the main housing forms an air flow channel; a flap suitable to seal the air flow channel in the main housing; and a coupling mechanism coupling the flap to the main housing in a movable manner such that the flap can be moved with respect to the main housing between a closed state, in which the flap seals the air flow channel, and an opened state, in which the flap does not seal the air flow channel; and wherein the coupling mechanism is configured such that the flap conducts a rotating and sliding movement with respect to the main housing when being moved between the closed state and the opened state.

2. The air outlet of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one sliding pin and at least one corresponding sliding groove, and wherein the at least one sliding pin is provided to the flap and the at least one corresponding sliding groove is provided on an inner surface of the main housing in such a manner that the at least one sliding pin and the corresponding at least one sliding groove are in engagement with each other and that the at least one sliding pin slide along the corresponding at least one sliding groove during the movement of the flap between the closed state and the opened state with respect to the main housing.

3. The air outlet of claim 2, wherein the at least one corresponding sliding groove extends in parallel with a longitudinal axis (LA) of the air flow channel within the main housing, and wherein the at least one sliding pin extends radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (LA) of the air flow channel within the main housing.

4. The air outlet of claim 2, wherein at least one sliding pin is provided with a rotation restriction arrangement, in the form of a protrusion and/or one or more flattened surfaces, and wherein the rotation restriction arrangement is configured to restrict a rotation of the at least one sliding pin within the at least one corresponding sliding groove.

5. The air outlet of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one rotation lever, wherein the rotation lever has two lateral end sections, and wherein a first one of the end sections is coupled rotatably to the flap and a second one of the end sections is coupled rotatably to the main housing, such that the flap is rotated during a sliding movement along a longitudinal axis (LA) of the air flow channel with respect to the main housing.

6. The air outlet of claim 5, wherein a first rotation axis of the rotation lever at the first end section thereof is in parallel with a second rotation axis of the rotation lever at the second end section thereof, and wherein the at least one sliding pin, if provided, extends in parallel with the first and second rotation axes.

7. The air outlet of claim 5, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one hinge, in the form of pin hinges, coupling the rotation lever to the main housing and/or to the flap.

8. The air outlet of claim 5, wherein the main housing and/or the flap is/are provided with an integrally formed, bearing arrangement, wherein the rotation lever is coupled to the bearing arrangement, wherein the bearing arrangement comprises two coupling arms, and wherein the respective end section of the rotation lever is coupled rotatably to the coupling arms.

9. The air outlet of claim 1, wherein the air outlet further comprises a locking arrangement configured to lock the flap in its closed state and/or in its opened state, and wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one biasing configuration acting on the flap in such a manner that a distinct non-negligible force has to be applied onto the flap to move the flap from its closed state and/or its opened state to the other state thereof and/or in such a manner that, when the flap is close to any one of its closed state and its opened state, the flap is biased into this closest state.

10. The air outlet of claim 9, wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one biasing bar made of elastic material and coupled to the main housing as well as at least one corresponding locking protrusion provided on the flap, and wherein the at least one corresponding locking protrusion is configured to interact with the corresponding at least one biasing bar to realize the functionality of the locking arrangement.

11. The air outlet of claim 10, wherein the at least one corresponding locking protrusion is provided with a first engaging surface and a second engaging surface, and wherein in the closed state of the flap, the at least one biasing bar rests at least partly on the first engaging surface of the at least one corresponding locking protrusion, and in the opened state of the flap, the at least one biasing bar rests at least partly, and preferably flat, on the second engaging surface of the at least one corresponding locking protrusion, such that in each of said two states of the flap, the biasing force generated by the at least one biasing bar onto the at least one corresponding locking protrusion is minimal, but in particular never zero.

12. The air outlet of claim 11, wherein the at least one corresponding locking protrusion is provided with a third engaging surface, wherein the third engaging surface is provided between the two other engaging surfaces, continuously formed to them and having a curved shape, such for the movement of the at least one corresponding locking protrusion with respect to the at least one biasing bar between the two end states of the flap, the at least one biasing bar is in contact with the third engaging surface, and wherein the third engaging surface is formed such that the biasing force generated by the respective biasing bar onto the at least one corresponding locking protrusion is greater when the biasing bar contacts the third engaging surface, than for the two end states of the flap, in which the biasing bar rests on one of the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface.

13. The air outlet of claim 11, wherein the air outlet further comprises an attachment housing, wherein the attachment housing is configured to be attached to a respective attachment surface or section of a heater and/or of an air conditioning unit, in particular of a heater or air conditioning unit of a recreational vehicle like a camper or caravan, and wherein the attachment housing and the main housing are coupled releasably to each other via an engagement arrangement.

14. The air outlet of claim 13, wherein the engagement arrangement is a combination of latching elements or sections and threaded elements or sections on the attachment housing and on the main housing, wherein the combination of latching elements or sections with the threaded elements or sections is configured such that the main housing is coupled to the attachment housing or uncoupled from the attachment housing in a two-step procedure, and wherein one step comprises the engaging or disengaging the latching elements or sections and another step comprises engaging or disengaging the threaded elements or sections with each other.

15. A method for operating an air outlet comprising the steps of: wherein to move the flap from the closed state to the opened state: pushing a flap at a first operation section thereof such that the flap slides and rotates with respect to the main housing from the closed state to the opened state, wherein to move the flap from the opened state to the closed state: pushing the flap at a second operation section, which is different from the first operation section, thereof such that the flap slides and rotates back with respect to the main housing from the opened state to the closed state.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the applied pushing force must exceed a predetermined non-negligible threshold value to initiate a relative movement of the flap with respect to the main housing from its closed state and/or from its opened state.

17. A method for attaching an air outlet to a desired attachment surface or section, comprising the steps of: attaching an attachment housing of an air outlet to a respective attachment surface with a corresponding attachment structure, and coupling a main housing of the air outlet to the attachment housing of the air outlet with a combined process of engaging latching elements or sections and engaging threaded elements or sections of the main housing with corresponding elements or sections on the attachment housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein for engaging the main housing with the attachment housing, at first latching elements or sections of the main housing are engaged with corresponding latching elements or sections of the attachment housing with a longitudinal movement of the main housing with respect to the attachment housing along the longitudinal axis (LA) of the main housing which is aligned with the longitudinal axis (LA) of the attachment housing, and then, threaded elements or sections of the main housing are engaged with corresponding threaded elements or sections of the attachment housing with a rotational movement of the main housing with respect to the attachment housing about the common longitudinal axis (LA) of the main housing and of the attachment housing.

19. A method for converting an air outlet in a configuration in which a main housing of the air outlet is coupled to a corresponding attachment housing of the air outlet, and the main housing with a flap and a coupling mechanism, comprising the steps of: decoupling the main housing with the flap and the coupling mechanism from the corresponding attachment housing and replacing by another component having an alternative main housing; and wherein the alternative main housing is coupled to the corresponding attachment housing and comprises a non-movable end cap, the non-movable end cap having ventilation openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] These and other features of the various embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a first spatial view of an air outlet according to a first exemplary embodiment (from diagonally in front);

[0032] FIG. 2 is a further spatial view of the air outlet of FIG. 1 (from diagonally behind);

[0033] FIG. 3 is another spatial view of the air outlet of FIGS. 1 and 2 (from behind along a longitudinal axis of the air outlet);

[0034] FIG. 4A is a spatial view of the flap and of the rotation lever of the air outlet of FIGS. 1 to 3 (from diagonally behind);

[0035] FIG. 4B is an enlarged sectional view of one of the sliding pins of FIG. 4A (along its rotation axis);

[0036] FIGS. 5A to 5B are cross-sectional side views of the air outlet of FIGS. 1 to 3 in the closed state (see FIG. 5A), in an intermediate state (see FIG. 5B) and in the opened state (see FIG. 5C) thereof;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a first spatial view of an alternative main housing having a non-movable end cap (from diagonally in front);

[0038] FIG. 7 is a second spatial view of the alternative main housing of FIG. 6 (from diagonally behind);

[0039] FIG. 8 is a partial spatial view of an air outlet according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present embodiments;

[0040] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the air outlet of FIG. 8; and

[0041] FIGS. 10A-10D are enlarged side views of the first locking protrusion of FIGS. 8 and 9 interacting with the respective biasing bar in various moments during a movement of the flap with respect to the main housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In the following, a first exemplary embodiment of an air outlet 1 according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4B.

[0043] The air outlet comprises a main housing 10, a flap 20, a coupling mechanism 30 and an attachment housing 40. The main housing 10 has a tubular shape and forms in its inner an air flow channel. The flap 20 is coupled via the coupling mechanism 30 to the main housing 10 in a movable manner and configured such that it can seal (i.e. close) the air flow channel within the main housing 10. The coupling mechanism 30 is configured such that the flap 20 can be moved with respect to the main housing 10 between a closed state and an opened state. In the closed state the flap 20 closes or seals the air flow channel. In the opened state the air flow channel is open and air is allowed to pass through the air flow channel. The concrete configuration of the coupling mechanism 30 and its components will be described in more detail later. The main housing 10 is coupled via an engagement arrangement to the attachment housing 40. the attachment housing 40 is provided with a tubular shape. Each of the main housing 10, the air flow channel and the attachment housing 40 has a longitudinal axis LA. In the assembled state of the air outlet 1, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the longitudinal axis LA of the main housing 10 corresponds to the longitudinal axis LA of the air flow channel and further corresponds to a longitudinal axis LA of the attachment housing 40, as is particularly illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0044] The attachment housing 40 comprises on its outside surface with respect to its longitudinal axis LA. The attachment housing 40 can be coupled to an attachment surface or section of for example a heater or of an air conditioning unit with the attachment structure 42. The air outlet 1 is to be attached to the attachment structure 42. As the skilled artisan knows various possibilities for implementing such an attachment structure 42, further details with regard to a concrete implementation thereof are omitted here.

[0045] On the inside surface of the attachment housing 40, an engagement configuration is provided. The engagement configuration is realized in the form of an intersected internal thread 44 (FIG. 5B). On its outside surface and with respect to the longitudinal axis LA the main housing 10 has a counter engagement configuration. The counter engagement configuration is provided in the form of an intersected external thread 12. The intersections in the internal thread 44 of the attachment housing 40 and the intersections in the external thread 12 of the main housing 10 extend along the longitudinal axis LA. The intersections in the internal thread 44 of the attachment housing 40 and the intersections in the external thread 12 (FIG. 9) are provided in such a manner that the main housing 10 can be inserted or removed from the attachment housing 40 with a transversal movement of the main housing 10 with respect to the attachment housing 40 along the longitudinal axis LA in a first relative orientation between the main housing 10 and the attachment housing 40. During insertion of the main housing 10 into the attachment housing 40, the main housing 10 is rotated about the central longitudinal axis LA with respect to the attachment housing 40 to engage the external thread 12 of the main housing 10 with the internal thread 44 of the attachment housing 40. In this state, the engaged threads 12 and 44 prevent a translational movement of main housing 10 with respect to the attachment housing 40. During decoupling the main housing 10 from the attachment housing 40, the main housing 10 is rotated at first with respect to the attachment housing 40 to rotate the main housing 10 and the attachment housing 40 back into the original relative orientation in which the external thread 12 of the main housing 10 is aligned with the intersections in the internal thread 44 of the attachment housing 40 and vice versa. Then, the main housing 10 is removed from the attachment housing 40 with a translational movement of the main housing 10 along the central longitudinal axis LA. Here, the protrusions of the threads 12 and 44 depict threaded elements or sections in the sense of one embodiment. The intersections in the threads 12 and 44 depict latching elements or sections in the sense of one present embodiment.

[0046] However, also other configurations for coupling the main housing 10 to the attachment housing 40 in an expedient manner are conceivable. For example, simple non-intersected threads engaging with each other can be provided, if desired.

[0047] The main housing 10 with the flap 20 and the coupling mechanism 30 is coupled to the attachment housing 40 via the engagement arrangement with the threads 12 and 44 in a releasable manner. Thus, the main housing 10 with the flap 20 and the coupling mechanism 30 can be replaced with an alternative main housing 60 in a simple and easy manner, if desired. An example for such an alternative main housing 60 is for example illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The alternative main housing 60 comprises an intersected external thread 62. The intersected external thread 62 of the alternative main housing 60 corresponds to the external thread 12 provided on the main housing 10. The alternative main housing 60 has in principle the same overall shape as the main housing 10. But instead of the flap 20 and the coupling mechanism 30, the alternative main housing 60 is provided with a non-movable end cap 64. The non-movable end cap 64 has several ventilation openings 66 which limit the cross section of the provided air flow channel but cannot be varied in any manner. In the present embodiment the non-movable end cap 64 has six ventilation openings 66 in form of slits. However, neither the number nor the shape of the ventilations openings 66 is essential to the invention and can be varied upon the specific needs and requirements of the user. According to some embodiments, the possibility to replace the main housing 10 with the flap 20 and the coupling mechanism 30 by such a simple alternative main housing 60 allows to save costs for forming an air outlet 1 where it is not necessary to be able to close and to open the air flow channel. Furthermore, the gained overall configuration is highly flexible as the provided main housing 10 and 60 can be switched in an easy manner, if and whenever desired.

[0048] Referring now again to the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4B, the coupling mechanism 30 is configured such that the flap 20 can be moved with respect to the main housing 10. The flap 20 can be moved with respect to the main housing 10 in a sliding and rotating manner. In other words, the coupling mechanism 30 is configured such that the flap 20 conducts a rotating and sliding movement with respect to the main housing 10 when being moved between its closed state and its opened state. This movement can be seen in FIGS. 5A to 5C. FIG. 5A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the air outlet 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 in the closed state, in which the flap 20 seals the air flow channel (see the arrows). FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the air outlet 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 in the opened state, in which the flap 20 does not seal the air flow channel (see the arrows). FIG. 5C illustrates an intermediate state of the flap 20 in a state between its closed state of FIG. 5A and its opened state of FIG. 5C. In this state, the air flow channel is partly blocked (see the arrows).

[0049] As illustrated by the different states of the flap displayed in FIGS. 5A to 5C, during a movement of the flap 20 between its closed state of FIG. 5A and its opened state of FIG. 5C a center point CP of the flap 20 moves or slides along the longitudinal axis LA. Simultaneously, a first operation section OS1 depicting a specific area on the flap 20 and a second operation section OS2 depicting another specific area on the flap 20 rotate about the center point CP of the flap 20. Thus, the flap 20 conducts a combined rotating and sliding movement when moving between its closed state and its opened state. In the present embodiment, the coupling mechanism 30 and the first operating section OS1 are provided in such a manner that the flap 20 can be moved from the closed state of FIG. 5A to the opened state of FIG. 5C (via the intermediate state of FIG. 5B) by applying a predetermined amount of force onto the first operation section OS1. In other words, by pushing the first operation section OS1 with the predetermined amount of force the flap 20 moves from the closed state of FIG. 5A to the opened state of FIG. 5C (via the intermediate state of FIG. 5B). Furthermore, the coupling mechanism 30 and the second operating section OS2 are provided in such a manner that the flap 20 can be moved from the opened state of FIG. 5C to the closed state of FIG. 5A (via the intermediate state of FIG. 5B) by applying a predetermined amount of force onto the second operation section OS2. In other words, by pushing the second operation section OS2 with the predetermined amount of force the flap 20 moves from the open state of FIG. 5C to the closed state of FIG. 5A (via the intermediate state of FIG. 5B).

[0050] The structural configuration of the coupling mechanism 30 of the illustrated embodiment will be described in the following in more detail.

[0051] As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, sliding pins 22a and 22b are coupled to or provided on the flap 20. A first sliding pin 22a is provided on the outer circumference of the flap 20 on one side of the flap 20 with respect to the longitudinal axis LA of the air outlet 1. A second sliding pin 22b is provided on the outer circumference of the flap 20 on the opposed side of the flap 20 with respect to the longitudinal axis LA of the air outlet 1. The first and the second sliding pins 22a and 22b extend radially with respect to the longitudinal axis LA. On the inner surface of the main housing 10 a corresponding sliding groove 14a and 14b is provided for each of the first and second sliding pins 22a and 22b. As for example can be seen in FIG. 2, each sliding groove 14a and 14b (here the second sliding groove 14b) is configured such that the respective sliding pin 22a or 22b (here the second sliding pin 22b) is engaged with the corresponding sliding groove 14a or 14b, respectively. The sliding pins 22a or 22b are engaged with the sliding grooves 14a or 14b such that the sliding pins 22a and 22b can slide along the sliding grooves 14a and 14b along the longitudinal axis LA and can rotate within the sliding grooves 14a and 14b about a rotation axis RA extending perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis LA (see FIG. 3).

[0052] Although, terminologically the sliding pins 22a and 22b as well as the sliding grooves 14a and 14b are elements of the coupling mechanism 30, they can be provided integrally with the flap 20 and/or with the main housing 10, as it is the case in the displayed embodiment. However, within the scope of the present embodiments also other configurations are conceivable, in particular in which these elements are coupled to the flap 20 and to the main housing 10. Furthermore, within the scope of the present embodiments the term “coupling mechanism 30” does not necessarily describe one arrangement in which several components are connected to each other. The term “coupling mechanism 30” can comprise several independent components or groups of components, as it is the case in the displayed embodiment. Nevertheless, also integrally formed coupling mechanisms 30 are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0053] To stabilize and restrict the rotational movement of the sliding pins 22a and 22b within the respective sliding grooves 14a and 14b to a predetermined angle, each sliding pin 22a and 22b comprises a rotation restriction arrangement, as is displayed in the illustrated embodiment. As can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, here, the rotations restriction arrangement on the first sliding pin 22a is provided in the form of two flattened surfaces 22a1 and 22a2. The two flattened surfaces 22a1 and 22a2 are provided on a circumference of the respective sliding pin 22a with respect to the rotation axis RA. The first flattened surface 22a1 is configured to contact a corresponding side wall of the respective sliding groove 14a in the closed state of the flap 20. The second flattened surface 22a2 is configured to contact the other side wall of the respective sliding groove 14a in the opened state of the flap 20. The two flattened surfaces 22a1 and 22a2 are provided on the corresponding sliding pin 22a. The two flattened surfaces 22a1 and 22a2 are oriented with respect to each other such that they do not hinder a rotation of the sliding pin 22a and thus of the flap 20 during a movement between its closed and its opened state but such that they hinder a further rotation of the sliding pin 22a and thus of the flap 20 beyond its closed state and beyond its opened state. For this embodiment, the flattened surfaces 22a1 and 22a1 extend perpendicular with respect to each other and protrude from a circular cross section of the respective sliding pin 22a, as for example is illustrated in FIG. 4B. Such, the rotation restriction arrangement with the flattened surfaces 22a1 and 22a2 enables the movement of the flap 20 with respect to the main housing 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C but restricts the rotational movement beyond this range. In the illustrated embodiment, both sliding pins 22a and 22b are provided with such flattened surfaces.

[0054] As can be seen best in FIGS. 2 and 4A, the coupling mechanism 30 of the air outlet 1 of the illustrated embodiment further comprises a rotation lever 32. The rotation lever 32 is provided to combine the sliding movement with the rotating movement of the flap 20 in a reliable manner, as will be described in more detail below. The rotation lever 32 has a first lateral end section and a second lateral end section. The first lateral end section of the rotation lever 32 is coupled to a first bearing arrangement 26 provided on the back surface 20a of the flap 20 via a first pin hinge 34. The first bearing arrangement 26 comprises two first coupling arms 26a and 26b. One end of each of the first coupling arms 26a and 26b is coupled to the back surface 20a of the flap 20. The first coupling arms 26a and 26b extend from the back surface 20a of the flap 20 in parallel with respect to each other and perpendicular along the longitudinal axis LA. In the present embodiment, the first coupling arms 26a and 26b are provided in the form of relatively flat substantially two-dimensional components. The other ends of the first coupling arms 26a and 26b are provided with an engagement structure. The engagement structure is configured to be engaged with a first hinge pin 34a provided through a corresponding pin opening (not illustrated) of the rotation lever 32. Thus, the rotation lever 32 can rotate with respect to the flap 20. The second lateral end section of the rotation lever 32 is coupled via a second pin hinge 36 with a second hinge pin 36a to a second bearing arrangement 16 provided within the main housing 10. The two hinge pins 34a and 36a can be seen for example in in FIGS. 5A to 5C. The second bearing arrangement 16 comprises two second coupling arms 16a and 16b. Each of two second coupling arms 16a and 16b has a “L”-shape and is coupled to the main housing 10 at its end sections. Each of the second coupling arms 16a and 16b has an intermediate section. The intermediate section of each of the second coupling arms 16a and 16b is coupled to the second end section of the rotation lever 32 via the second pin hinge 36 in a manner quite similar to the first pin hinge 34. To prevent the occurrence of shearing forces during movement of the flap 20 with respect to the main housing 10, the rotation axes of the pin hinges 34 and 36 as well as of the sliding pins 22a and 22a are oriented in parallel with respect to each other, while the sliding grooves 14a and 14b extend in parallel with respect of the longitudinal axis LA. Thus, the rotation lever 32 can also rotate with respect to the main housing 10. At the same time, the rotation lever 32 restricts the movement of the flap 20 with respect to the main housing 10 in such a manner that during a sliding movement of the flap 20 with respect to the main housing 10 along the sliding grooves 14a and 14b the flap 20 is forced to rotate about the sliding pins 22a and 22b about the rotation axis RA.

[0055] Another exemplary embodiment for an air outlet 1 according to the present invention is illustrated by reference to FIGS. 8 to 10D. The air outlet 1 according to this exemplary embodiment has in principle the same structural configuration as the air outlet 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5C. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10D, the corresponding attachment housing was omitted but the air outlet 1 has all the structural components and configurations described above with respect to the air outlet 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5C. For the sake of brevity, a repetition of the concrete description of these features described above is not provided here.

[0056] The structural difference between the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5C with respect to the configuration of FIGS. 8 to 10D is that in the latter a further locking arrangement is provided. The further locking arrangement comprises a biasing configuration. The biasing configuration is formed of two biasing bars 50 and 52 and two corresponding locking protrusions 54 and 56. The biasing bars 50 and 52 are provided on the inner surface of the main housing 10. The biasing bars 50 and 52 are essentially flat components and have an “L”-shape. The biasing bars 50 and 52 protrude into the air flow channel within the main housing 10. In the present embodiment, the biasing bars 50 and 52 are formed integrally with the main housing 10 of a suitable material, like for example plastic material, such that the biasing bars 50 and 52 have a specific elasticity. The locking protrusions 54 and 56 are provided on the back surface 20a of the flap 20 just adjacent to the first coupling arms 26a and 26b. The locking protrusions 54 and 56 are provided in the form of plate like two dimensional components.

[0057] As can be seen best in FIGS. 10A to 10D each of the locking protrusions (here in particular locking protrusion 54) comprises several, here in particular three, distinct engaging surfaces 54a, 54b and 54c.

[0058] Here, the locking protrusion 54 comprises a first engaging surface 54a, a second engaging surface 54c and a third engaging surface 54b. The first engaging surface 54a and the second engaging surface 54c are both flat and are oriented more or less perpendicular with respect to each other. The third engaging surface 54b is provided between the first engaging surface 54a and the second engaging surface 54c and couples them to each other. Here, the third engaging surface 54b is formed continuously on one side thereof to the first engaging surface 54a and on the other side thereof to the second engaging surface 54c and has a curved, in particular found, shape seen along the rotation axis RA.

[0059] The biasing bars 50 and 52 as well as the locking protrusions 54 and 56 are configured such that in the closed state of the flap 20, the first engaging surface 54a rests in particular flat on the corresponding biasing bar 50 or vice versa (see FIG. 10A). Moreover, the biasing bars 50 and 52 as well as the locking protrusions 54 and 56 are configured such that in various intermediate states of the flap 20 between its closed state and its opened state, the third engaging surface 54b rests in particular flat on the corresponding biasing bar 50 or vice versa (see FIGS. 10B and 10C). Finally, the biasing bars 50 and 52 as well as the locking protrusions 54 and 56 are configured such that in the opened state of the flap 20, the second surface 54c rests in particular flat on the corresponding biasing bar 50 or vice versa (see FIG. 10D).

[0060] The biasing bars 50 and 52 as well as the locking protrusions 54 and 56 are configured such that a biasing force generated by the biasing bars 50 and 52 onto the locking protrusions 54 and 56 is minimal for the opened state and for the closed state of the flap 20. However, in both of these end states for the flap, the generated biasing force should be not Zero such that the flap 20 is stabilized at the respective end state preventing wobbling of the flap in its end states. For the intermediate states of the flap 20, the generated biasing force is increased with respect to the two end states of the flap 20 such that the flap 20 tends towards the two end states thereof. This increased biasing force results from an increased deformation of the biasing bars 50 and 52 by the locking protrusions 54 and 56 when then the biasing bars 50 and 52 are in contact with the respective third engaging surfaces 54b.

[0061] Forming the third engaging surface 54b continuously i.e. flat to the two other engaging surfaces 54a and 54c and providing the third engaging surface 54b with a curved, in particular round shape, seen along rotation axis RA results in a continuous development of the generated biasing force at first increasing and then decreasing during a movement of the flap 20 between its two end states. This results in a quite stable and reliable overall configuration.

[0062] Finally, it is pointed to the fact that the herein described embodiments depict various implementations of the present embodiments but that the scope of protection is only defined by the accompanying claims and not limited by the above given explanations with respect to the exemplary embodiments.

[0063] Besides, it is pointed to the fact that the accompanying claims refer not only to an appropriate air outlet but also to a heater or air conditioning unit with such an air outlet as well as to a recreational vehicle having such a heater, air conditioning unit and/or air outlet. Furthermore, the claims refer to various above described (implicitly) methods related closely to the air outlet according to the present embodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0064] 1 air outlet [0065] 10 main housing [0066] 12 intersected external thread [0067] 14a first sliding groove [0068] 14b second sliding groove [0069] 16a first one of second coupling arms [0070] 16b second one of second coupling arms [0071] 20 flap [0072] 20a back surface [0073] 22a first sliding pin [0074] 22a1 first flattened surface [0075] 22a2 second flattened surface [0076] 22b second sliding pin [0077] 26 first bearing arrangement [0078] 26a first one of first coupling arms [0079] 26b second one of first coupling arms [0080] 30 coupling mechanism [0081] 32 rotation lever [0082] 34 first pin hinge [0083] 34a first hinge pin [0084] 36 second pin hinge [0085] 36a second hinge pin [0086] 40 attachment housing [0087] 42 attachment structure [0088] 44 intersected internal thread [0089] 50 first biasing bar [0090] 52 second biasing bar [0091] 54 first locking protrusion [0092] 56 second locking protrusion [0093] 54a first engaging surface [0094] 54b third engaging surface [0095] 54c second engaging surface [0096] 60 alternative main housing [0097] 62 intersected external thread [0098] 64 end cap [0099] 66 ventilation openings [0100] CP center point [0101] LA longitudinal axis [0102] OS1 first operating section [0103] OS2 second operating section [0104] RA rotation axis