Air conditioner register

Abstract

An air conditioner register includes a downstream retainer portion, a barrel pivotally mounted in the downstream retainer portion to change the flow direction of air for air conditioning, and a pair of guide fins. First outer surfaces of the barrel extend along first inner surfaces of the downstream retainer portion. The barrel is supported pivotally about a pivot shaft extending in the direction perpendicular to a second inner surface of the downstream retainer portion. Each of the guide fins guides air for air conditioning into the opening of the barrel upstream in the airflow direction. Together with pivoting of the barrel from its neutral position, one of the guide fins is moved together with the barrel to a position between the barrel and a portion of the first inner surface of the downstream retainer portion from which the opening of the barrel upstream in the airflow direction becomes separated as the barrel pivots.

1 . An air conditioner register comprising:
 a tubular retainer functioning as a duct of air for air conditioning, the retainer having an inner surface and an opening downstream in an airflow direction;   a barrel that is pivotally mounted in the retainer and changes a flow direction of air for air conditioning by pivoting about a neutral position, the barrel having an outer surface opposed to the inner surface of the retainer, the barrel including an upstream opening and a downstream opening that are arranged at an upstream side and a downstream side in the airflow direction, respectively;   an outer outlet formed by the inner surface of the retainer and the outer surface of the barrel at the opening of the retainer; and   a guide mechanism for guiding the air for air conditioning into the upstream opening of the barrel, wherein   when the barrel pivots in either direction from the neutral position, the upstream opening of the barrel becomes separated from one portion of the inner surface of the retainer and approaches another portion of the inner surface of the retainer, and   together with pivoting of the barrel from the neutral position, the guide mechanism is moved to a position between the barrel and a portion of the inner surface of the retainer from which the upstream opening of the barrel becomes separated as the barrel pivots.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the barrel is at the neutral position, the guide mechanism is arranged to extend along the inner surface of the retainer. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retainer and the barrel both have a tubular shape having a substantially rectangular cross section;   the inner surface of the retainer includes a pair of first inner surfaces each including a long side of the substantially rectangular shape and a pair of second inner surfaces each including a short side of the substantially rectangular shape, the outer surface of the barrel having a pair of first outer surfaces each including a long side of the substantial rectangular shape;   the first outer surfaces of the barrel extend along the first inner surfaces of the retainer, and the barrel is pivotable about a shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the second inner surfaces of the retainer; and   together with pivoting of the barrel from the neutral position, the guide mechanism is moved to a position between the barrel and a portion of the first inner surface of the retainer from which the upstream opening of the barrel becomes separated as the barrel pivots.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 3 , wherein the guide mechanism includes:
 at least one plate-like guide plate arranged upstream from the upstream opening of the barrel in the airflow direction;   at least one pivot shaft that extends in a direction perpendicular to the second inner surfaces of the retainer and pivotally supports the guide plate; and   an actuation mechanism that pivots the guide plate together with pivoting of the barrel,   wherein, together with pivoting of the barrel, the actuation mechanism pivots the guide plate to a position between the barrel and a portion of the first inner surface of the retainer from which the upstream opening of the barrel becomes separated as the barrel pivots.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 4 , wherein the guide plate extends along the entirety of the long side of the substantial rectangular shape of the barrel in the retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one pivot shaft is arranged at one end of the at least one guide plate and in the vicinity of a corresponding one of the first inner surfaces of the retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 6 , wherein, when the barrel is at the neutral position, the actuation mechanism causes the entirety of the at least one guide plate to contact the corresponding first inner surface of the retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one guide plate includes a pair of guide plates, the at least one pivot shaft including a pair of pivot shafts, the guide plates and the pivot shafts being arranged in correspondence with the two first inner surfaces of the retainer, and   together with pivoting of the barrel, the actuation mechanism pivots a corresponding one of the guide plates, while maintaining contact between the entirety of one of the guide plates and the corresponding one of the first inner surfaces of the retainer.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner register according to  claim 8 , wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
 an actuation shaft that is formed integrally with each one of the guide plates and extends in a direction parallel to an axial direction of each pivot shaft; and   actuation holes each formed in a portion of the barrel including a short side of the substantial rectangular, each actuation hole receiving one of the actuation shafts, wherein each actuation hole includes:   an arcuate portion having an arcuate shape about the shaft about which the barrel pivots, the arcuate portion having a first end and a second end;   a first portion that is connected to the first end of the arcuate portion and extends toward the pivot shaft of the corresponding one of the two guide plates when the barrel is at the neutral position; and   a second portion that is connected to the second end of the arcuate portion and extends toward the pivot shaft of the other one of the guide plates when the barrel is at the neutral position.