U.S. patent application number 11/363297 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for air conditioner for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yosifumi Kamano, Tatsuhiko Nakamura, Shingo Yanagibashi.
Application Number | 20060201077 11/363297 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36969306 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamano; Yosifumi ; et
al. |
September 14, 2006 |
Air conditioner for vehicle
Abstract
A vehicular air conditioner including an air conditioner casing
with a supply opening and a perforated panel with a plurality of
vent holes, the perforated panel extending over the supply opening.
The vent holes each extend through the perforated panel and each
have an inlet opening exposed to an inside of the air conditioner
casing, an outlet opening exposed to an interior of the vehicle
compartment, and a nozzle length that extends from the inlet
opening to the outlet opening and is within a range from 0.3 mm to
0.8 mm.
Inventors: |
Kamano; Yosifumi; (Shizuoka,
JP) ; Yanagibashi; Shingo; (Shizuoka, JP) ;
Nakamura; Tatsuhiko; (Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
36969306 |
Appl. No.: |
11/363297 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/199 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 1/3407 20130101;
B60H 1/3421 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/199 |
International
Class: |
E04B 7/00 20060101
E04B007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2005 |
JP |
2005-052297 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: an air conditioner
casing with a supply opening through which an air flow is blown
into a vehicle compartment; and a perforated panel with a plurality
of vent holes, the perforated panel extending over the supply
opening of the air conditioner casing; wherein the plurality of
vent holes each extend through the perforated panel and each have
an inlet opening that is exposed to an inside of the air
conditioner casing, an outlet opening that is exposed to an
interior of the vehicle compartment and a nozzle length that
extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the nozzle
length being within a range from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.
2. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of a
sum of opening areas of the vent holes to a surface area of the
perforated panel is within a range from 55% to 65%.
3. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
vent holes has a circular shape.
4. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vent
holes comprise generally rectangular shaped slits, and a ratio
between a short side of the generally rectangular shaped slits and
a long side thereof is within a range from 1:3 to 1:8.
5. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle of a
direction of the air flow that is blown onto the perforated panel
with respect to a direction of the nozzle length of the vent holes
is within a range from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
6. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle of a
direction of the air flow that is blown onto the perforated panel
with respect to a direction of the nozzle length of the vent holes
is within a range from 40 degrees to 50 degrees.
7. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
perforated panel comprises a plurality of nozzle portions formed on
an inner surface of the perforated panel which is exposed to the
supply opening of the air conditioner casing, and the vent holes
extend through the nozzle portions.
8. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
perforated panel is made of metal.
9. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
perforated panel is made of fabric.
10. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
perforated panel is made of synthetic resin.
11. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
louver that is disposed below the perforated panel and arranged
within the air conditioner casing, the louver being operative to
define a direction of the air flow that is blown onto the
perforated panel.
12. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: an air
conditioner casing with a supply opening through which an air flow
is blown into a vehicle compartment; a panel extending over the
supply opening of the air conditioner casing; and means for
diverting a direction of the air flow that is blown out through the
panel, the means extending through the panel over a length that
ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.
13. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means
comprises a plurality of vent holes, and a ratio of a sum of
opening areas of the vent holes to a surface area of the panel is
within a range from 55% to 65%.
14. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means
comprises a plurality of circular-shaped vent holes.
15. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means
comprises a plurality of vent holes in the form of generally
rectangular-shaped slits, and a ratio between a short side of the
generally rectangular-shaped slits and a long side thereof is
within a range from 1:3 to 1:8.
16. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein an angle of
a direction of the air flow that is blown onto the panel with
respect to a direction of the length of the means is within a range
from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
17. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein an angle of
a direction of the air flow that is blown onto the panel with
respect to a direction of the length of the means is within a range
from 40 degrees to 50 degrees.
18. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means
comprises a plurality of vent holes, the panel comprises a
plurality of nozzle portions that are formed on an inner surface of
the panel which is exposed to the supply opening of the air
conditioner casing, and the vent holes extend through the nozzle
portions.
19. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the panel
is made of metal.
20. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the panel
is made of fabric.
21. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the panel
is made of synthetic resin.
22. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, further comprising
a louver that is disposed below the panel and arranged within the
air conditioner casing, the louver being operative to define a
direction of the air flow that is blown onto the panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a
vehicle.
[0002] In general, air conditioners for vehicles include louvers
moveable to define a direction of an air flow that is blown from a
supply opening into a vehicle compartment. Japanese Patent
Application First Publication No. 2003-276429 describes an air
conditioner for a vehicle as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6,
the air conditioner is disposed within instrument panel 21 of the
vehicle which is located rearward of front window panel 22. Front
window panel 22 is rearward inclined in a fore-and-aft direction of
the vehicle. Air conditioning duct 24 is disposed inside instrument
panel 21 and connected to a periphery of supply opening 23 that is
formed on instrument panel 21. An air is blown out from air
conditioning duct 24 through supply opening 23. Cover 27 that is
made of punching metal and adapted for ventilation is disposed over
supply opening 23. Eight louvers 25a-25h are arranged below cover
27 in substantially aligned relation to one another in the
fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Each of louvers 25a-25h has
an elongated shape in a width direction of the vehicle and moveable
pivotally about pins 26 and downwardly. Respective pins are mounted
to a front end portion of side edge portions of each of louvers
25a-25h which are opposed to each other in the width direction of
the vehicle. Owing to the pivotal movement of louvers 25a-25h, a
direction of the air blown through supply opening 23 is changeable.
That is, an angle of the direction of the blown air with respect to
the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is thus adjustable. Cover
27 extends over supply opening 23 to thereby enhance the appearance
of instrument panel 21. Cover 27 may be made of gas permeable
material or a gas permeable member such as a mesh.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] However, cover 27 of the air conditioner of the
above-described related art as conventionally proposed is adapted
to simply hide the structural members within supply opening 23
which are located below cover 27. The conventional art does not
consider a thickness of cover 27 and a volume ratio of vent holes
formed in cover 27 to cover 27. Further, in the air conditioner of
the related art, a direction of the air blown through cover 27 is
defined by the pivotal position of louvers 25a-25h.
[0004] Therefore, in the related art, a width of the supply opening
must be increased as large as possible for the purpose of directing
the blown air over a wide angle range. In order to increase the
width of the supply opening, an installation space for the air
conditioner must be enlarged. However, the installation space
cannot be enlarged due to limitation on design to the interior of a
vehicle compartment.
[0005] Inventors of the present invention have studied and
dedicated to realizing an air conditioner in which air blown
through a cover can be directed over a wide angle range without
enlarging the installation space of the air conditioner within the
vehicle compartment. As a result, the inventors have found that the
air blown through a cover can be directed over the wide angle range
by a specific arrangement of vent holes that are formed in the
cover and have a specific length.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an air
conditioner for a vehicle which is capable of directing air blown
through a cover over a wide angle range with arrangement of a
perforated panel in a supply opening.
[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: [0008] an air
conditioner casing with a supply opening through which an air flow
is blown into a vehicle compartment; and [0009] a perforated panel
with a plurality of vent holes, the perforated panel extending over
the supply opening of the air conditioner casing; [0010] wherein
the plurality of vent holes each extend through the perforated
panel and each have an inlet opening that is exposed to an inside
of the air conditioner casing, an outlet opening that is exposed to
an interior of the vehicle compartment and a nozzle length that
extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the nozzle
length being within a range from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.
[0011] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: [0012] an
air conditioner casing with a supply opening through which an air
flow is blown into a vehicle compartment; [0013] a panel extending
over the supply opening of the air conditioner casing; and [0014]
means for diverting a direction of the air flow that is blown out
through the panel, the means extending through the panel over a
length that ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section of an essential part of
an air conditioner for a vehicle, of a first embodiment according
to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a perforated panel of the
air conditioner shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section of a part of the
perforated panel of a second embodiment of the present invention,
which shows a vent hole of the perforated panel.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows a
function of the vent hole of the perforated panel.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a perforated panel of the
air conditioner of a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section of an essential part of
an air conditioner for a vehicle, of a related art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In the following, first to third embodiments of the present
invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, an air conditioner
for a vehicle, according to the first embodiment of the present
invention is explained. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the air
conditioner includes perforated panel 2, louver 3 and air
conditioner casing 6 which are disposed inside instrument panel 8
of the vehicle. Air conditioner casing 6 is connected with a duct
that supplies an air flow generated by a blower to air conditioner
casing 6. Air conditioner casing 6 has supply opening 9 at an end
portion thereof through which the air flow supplied via the duct is
blown into a vehicle compartment. The end portion of air
conditioner casing 6 is expanded toward an outside of air
conditioner casing 6 so as to be formed into a generally
sector-shape in section as shown in FIG. 1. Perforated panel 2 is
mounted to the end portion of air conditioner casing 6 and extends
over supply opening 9. Perforated panel 2 thus serves as a cover.
Perforated panel 2 includes a body portion and a mount portion that
surrounds the body portion and extends along an outer periphery of
perforated panel 2. The mount portion is fixed to the generally
sector-shaped end portion of air conditioner casing 6 by means of
support member 7. A plurality of louvers 3, in this embodiment four
louvers 3, are disposed below perforated panel 2 and arranged
within air conditioner casing 6. Louvers 3 are substantially
aligned with one another in a fore-and-aft direction of the
vehicle. Louvers 3 are elongated in a width direction of the
vehicle which extends perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction
thereof. Louvers 3 are operative to define a direction of the air
flow that is blown onto perforated panel 2. Specifically, louvers 3
are pivotally moved by a link mechanism such that an inclination
thereof is adjusted. The link mechanism is driven by rotationally
operating an actuator dial.
[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 2, perforated panel 2 has a generally
rectangular shape and is formed with a plurality of generally
circular-shaped vent holes 12. Perforated panel 2 may be made of a
suitable material, such as metal, fabric or synthetic resin. A
punching metal and a mesh may be used as perforated panel 2. As
shown in FIG. 1, vent holes 12 extend through perforated panel 2 to
open to opposed inner and outer surfaces of perforated panel 2.
Each of vent holes 12 thus has an inlet opening that is exposed to
an inside space of air conditioner casing 6 and opposed to louvers
3, and an outlet opening that is exposed to an interior of the
vehicle compartment. The inlet and outlet openings have generally
circular shape.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, perforated panel 2 has a thickness as
indicated at "t" and vent holes 12 have a length, hereinafter
referred to as a nozzle length, that extends from the inlet opening
to the outlet opening. The nozzle length of vent holes 12 is
equivalent to the thickness "t" of perforated panel 2. In this
embodiment, perforated panel 2 has thickness "t" of 0.3 mm to 0.8
mm, and therefore, the nozzle length of vent holes 12 is within a
range from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm. By selecting the nozzle length of vent
holes 12 within this range, when the air flow is blown out through
vent holes 12, the air flow can be blown out from vent holes 12 at
an increased angle with respect to a direction of the nozzle length
as compared to an angle of air flow which is formed between louvers
3 and the direction of the nozzle length. Namely, when the air flow
is blown out from the outlet opening of vent holes 12 through the
nozzle length, the direction of the air flow which is defined by
louvers 3 can be largely diverted toward an outer surface of the
outer peripheral portion of perforated panel 2 which is connected
with the sector-shaped end portion of air conditioner casing 6.
[0024] If the nozzle length of vent holes 12 is smaller than 0.3
mm, the direction of the air flow which is defined by louvers 3
cannot be diverted and oriented toward the outer surface of the
outer peripheral portion of perforated panel 2 when the air flow is
blown out from the outlet opening of vent holes 12. If the nozzle
length of vent holes 12 is larger than 0.8 mm, the direction of the
air flow which is defined by louvers 3 will be diverted and
oriented toward the direction of the nozzle length, thereby failing
to largely change the air flow direction toward the outer
peripheral portion of perforated panel 2 when the air flow is blown
out from the outlet opening of vent holes 12. Vent holes 12 may be
formed by a suitable method, for instance, stamping, though not
limited to the specific method.
[0025] An opening area ratio of vent holes 12 to perforated panel 2
is within a range from 55% to 65%. That is, a ratio between a sum
of opening areas of vent holes 12 to a surface area of perforated
panel 2 is within a range from 55% to 65%. The ratio may be
calculated on one of the opposed surfaces, for instance, the outer
surface, of perforated panel 2. With this arrangement of vent holes
12 in perforated panel 2, the direction of the air flow blown out
through vent holes 12 can be effectively varied over a wide angle
range as explained later. If the ratio is larger than 65%, the
direction of the air flow blown out through vent holes 12 cannot be
varied over the wide angle range. If the ratio is smaller than 55%,
resistance to ventilation in vent holes 12 will be increased to
thereby cause deterioration in blow-out efficiency. Further, in
such a case where the ratio is smaller than 55%, increased wind
noise will occur to thereby deteriorate practicality of the air
conditioner.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, the second embodiment of the present
invention is explained, which differs from the first embodiment in
provision of a plurality of nozzle portions on one side of the
perforated panel. For the sake of simple illustration, FIG. 3 shows
only one of nozzle portions 12a. Specifically, in this embodiment,
a plurality of nozzle portions 12a extend from the inside surface
of perforated panel 2 which is exposed to the inside space of air
conditioner casing 6. Each of vent holes 12 extends from the inlet
opening to the outlet opening through nozzle portions 12a and has
the nozzle length as indicated at "h" in FIG. 3. The nozzle length
"h" of vent holes 12 is within the range from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.
Nozzle portions 12a of perforated panel 2 may be provided as burrs
which may be formed upon stamping a metal plate into perforated
panel 2. The thickness "t" of perforated panel 2 may be selectively
set to a suitable value smaller than the nozzle length "h" of vent
holes 12 so as to provide a rigidity necessary to serve as
perforated panel 2.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, the third embodiment of the present
invention is explained, which differs from the first embodiment in
shape of the vent holes of the perforated panel. As illustrated in
FIG. 5, perforated panel 2 is provided with a plurality of vent
holes 14 in the form of generally rectangular-shaped slits. A ratio
between a short side of the generally rectangular-shaped vent holes
14 and a long side thereof is within a range from 1:3 to 1:8. By
setting the ratio within the range from 1:3 to 1:8, the air flow
blown out from vent holes 14 can be oriented at a wide angle even
when an inclination of louvers 3 is small. Further, the resistance
to ventilation can be reduced to thereby suppress occurrence of
wind noise and serve for enhancing operating efficiency of the air
conditioner. The shape of vent holes 14 is not limited to those of
the first to third embodiments and may be formed into various
shapes such as a polygonal shape.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, a function of vent holes 12 of
perforated panel 2 is explained. In FIG. 4, perforated panel 2 with
nozzle portions 12a of the third embodiment is used. As shown in
FIG. 1, when an air flow generated by the blower is transmitted to
the inside space of air conditioner casing 6 through the duct, the
air flow is oriented to a desired direction defined by louvers 3
and blown onto perforated panel 2 and then enters vent holes 12. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the air flow blown onto perforated panel 2
and entering respective vent holes 12 is indicated by solid line.
Here, the air flow forms an angle with respect to vent hole 12,
specifically, with respect to nozzle portion 12a of perforated
panel 2. The angle is represented by angle .theta. formed between
the direction of the air flow that is blown onto perforated panel 2
and a direction of the nozzle length "h" of vent hole 12. The
direction of the nozzle length "h" is indicated by long and short
dashed lines in FIG. 4. The angle .theta. is hereinafter referred
to as wind axis angle .theta.. The wind axis angle .theta. is set
within a range from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and preferably within
a range from 40 degrees to 50 degrees.
[0029] By setting the wind axis angle .theta. within the
above-described specific range, the air flow blown out through vent
hole 12 can be diverted at a wide angle that is larger than the
wind axis angle .theta., and oriented toward the outer surface of
perforated plate 2 as indicated by dotted line in FIG. 4. In
particular, depending on the shape of the end portion of air
conditioner casing 6 which defines supply opening 9, the wind axis
angle .theta. at vent holes 12 formed in the outer peripheral
portion of perforated plate 2 can be set larger than the wind axis
angle .theta. at vent holes 12 formed in a central portion of
perforated plate 2. It is preferable to set the wind axis angle
.theta. at vent holes 12 of a desired portion of perforated plate 2
in which the air flow blown out through vent holes 12 is to be
oriented at a wide angle, within the above-described specific
range. Accordingly, if the wind axis angle .theta. is set within
the above-described specific range in the desired portion of
perforated plate 2, the air flow blown out through vent holes 12 of
the desired portion thereof can be diverted at a wide angle.
[0030] An evaluation test was carried out as follows to evaluate a
relationship between wind axis angle .theta., thickness "t" of the
perforated plate and ratio (%) of diversion angle of the air flow
blown out through the vent holes of the perforated plate to wind
axis angle .theta.. The diversion angle was an angle formed between
the direction of the air flow blown out from the outlet opening of
the vent holes and the direction of the nozzle length. An air flow
was blown to vent holes of a punching metal as the perforated plate
at a speed that was set to a value usually used in an air
conditioner. The test was conducted by changing the number of the
punching metals used from 0 to 4. The test conditions were: wind
axis angle .theta.: 10.degree., 40.degree.and 50.degree.; thickness
"t" of each punching metal: 0.5 mm. Table 1 shows results of the
evaluation test. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Wind Number of Punching
metals axis (thickness of perforated panel) angle 1 2 3 4
(.degree.) 0 (0.5 mm) (1.0 mm) (1.5 mm) (2.0 mm) 10 Orientation
Diversion -- 8 6 5 4 properties angle (.degree.) Ratio (%) -- 80 60
50 40 Ventilation resistance 16 32 33 34 35 (Pa) 40 Orientation
Diversion -- 42 25 12 0 properties angle (.degree.) Ratio (%) --
105 63 30 0 Ventilation resistance 41 50 61 65 69 (Pa) 50
Orientation Diversion -- 55 25 12 0 properties angle (.degree.)
Ratio (%) -- 110 50 24 0 Ventilation resistance 58 90 100 98 98
(Pa)
[0031] As seen from Table 1, when the wind axis angle .theta. was
10.degree. and the thickness "t" of the perforated panel was
changed from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, namely, the number of the punching
metals used was changed from 1 to 4, the air flow blown out from
the vent holes was diverted only at the diversion angle smaller
than the wind axis angle .theta. of 10.degree.. The ratio (%) of
the diversion angle to the wind axis angle .theta. was in the range
of 80% to 40% as shown in Table 1. On the other hand, when the wind
axis angle .theta. was 40.degree. and the thickness "t" of the
perforated panel was 0.5 mm, namely, one sheet of the punching
metal was used, the air flow blown out from the vent holes was
diverted at the diversion angle larger than the wind axis angle
.theta. of 40.degree. and the ratio (%) of the diversion angle to
the wind axis angle .theta. was 105%. Similarly, in the case of the
wind axis angle .theta. of 50.degree. and the thickness "t" of the
perforated panel was 0.5 mm, the air flow blown out from the vent
holes was diverted at the diversion angle larger than the wind axis
angle .theta. of 50.degree. and the ratio (%) of the diversion
angle to the wind axis angle .theta. was 110%. Thus, in these
cases, the diversion angle of the air flow blown out from the vent
holes was increased to the wide angle larger than the wind axis
angle .theta. to thereby direct the air flow toward the outer
surface of the punching metal as the perforated panel.
[0032] When the wind axis angle .theta. was 40.degree. and the
thickness "t" of the perforated panel was changed from 1.0 mm to
2.0 mm by using two to four sheets of the punching metal, the air
flow blown out from the vent holes was diverted at the diversion
angle smaller than the wind axis angle .theta. of 40.degree. and
the ratio (%) of the diversion angle to the wind axis angle .theta.
was 63% to 0%. When the wind axis angle .theta. was 50.degree. and
the thickness "t" of the perforated panel was changed from 1.0 mm
to 2.0 mm by using two to four sheets of the punching metal, the
air flow blown out from the vent holes was diverted at the
diversion angle smaller than the wind axis angle .theta. of
50.degree. and the ratio (%) of the diversion angle to the wind
axis angle .theta. was 50% to 0%. Thus, in these cases, the
diversion angle of the air flow blown out from the vent holes was
not increased to the wide angle larger than the wind axis angle
.theta..
[0033] It has been found that by adjusting the thickness of the
perforated panel, namely, the nozzle length of the vent holes, and
the wind axis angle within the above-described specific ranges, the
diversion angle of the air flow blown out from the vent holes
becomes larger than the wind axis angle.
[0034] The perforated panel of the above embodiments of the present
invention can be applied to the conventional air conditioner to
thereby readily perform a wide-angled diversion of the air flow
blown out through the perforated panel. Further, even if the
perforated panel of the above embodiments of the present invention
is applied to the conventional air conditioner in which the air
flow direction that is defined by the louvers is varied in a small
range, the air flow blown out through the perforated panel can be
supplied over a wide-angled range. Further, the perforated panel of
the above embodiments of the present invention can ensure supply of
the air flow over a wide-angled range even under condition that an
acute angle is formed between the outer surface of the perforated
panel to which the vent holes are open, and a direction of the air
flow which is defined by the louvers, to thereby cause poor
orientation of the air flow blow out. Furthermore, the perforated
panel of the above embodiments of the present invention can ensure
supply of the air flow over a wider-angled range in combination
with a diffusion vent.
[0035] Further, the construction and arrangement of the louvers,
the duct, the air conditioner casing, the link mechanism, the
actuator dial, and the mount position of the perforated panel are
not limited to those as described in the embodiments. The louvers
may be a stationary louver that is prevented from pivotally
moving.
[0036] This application is based on a prior Japanese Patent
Application No. 2005-052297 filed on Feb. 28, 2005. The entire
contents of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-052297 is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0037] Although the invention has been described above by reference
to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and
variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those
skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The scope of
the invention is defined with reference to the following
claims.
* * * * *