What's going on here, Ford copying other designs, or what ???

 

There a few companies using that style of vent now, not really copied, more "runnung with the pack"

 

i noticed that in my friends new rsx-typeS. i guess you gotta use whatever works. it may be interesting to look back at the oldest interior shots we have, and see which one had those types of vents first.

the vents look a little different, but are similar. maybe they get them from the same manufacturer or something. who knows.

 

The current generation Celica uses them too - many cars have adopted them, and there's probably one supplier getting rich manufacturing them for everyone! B)

They're definitely all the rage right now.

 

Those type vents have been around for a long time. Alfa Romeo has been using them on the Spyders. And I want to say Ferrari has had them as well.

Newer Alfa GTV:

 

and on a older Alfa Spyder:

 

I think you'll find all new Fords have been using them for quite some time. Nissan uses similar vents as well.

I must admit, I like this style better than the box with the extra lever to close the vent.

 

Mitsubishi uses the exact same AC vents on the eclipse, I don't think is Ford copying them since I believe they don't manufacture that part, but is more of a supplier getting rich and rich, since all types of cars are using them.

 

These parts are being supplied by one manufacturer to most car companies that is why you might see certain parts that look similar in other model cars.

 

The Mazda 6 has identical vents as the '05 Stang. Since they're built in the same plant, I'm sure it was a inventory related decision to use the same part.

 

My sisters Rav4 has them

 

That's what I was thinking. There is a lot of outsourcing these days so often one or two companies make a certain type of part.

 

It's also a much simpler design than the more conventional vents like the SN95 has.
Simple= cheaper to produce and less likely to break. Anybody that has done the little dance involved in reassembling the old syle vents that have gotten out of whack knows what I'm talking about.

 

Actually, most of the plastic parts of all cars are made by plastic injection molding companies. Then the auto company puts the completed plastic part on the car on the assembly line.

 

actually pontiac also has those same kinda vents

 

05 news is so slow were talking about a/c vents

 

European automakers have used similar vents for a long time, Aircraft as well.

 

Considering they are made at the same plant, I think those are taken right out of the Mazda 6.

 

If these vents are patented, the company that invented it must be darn rich now. But the reason why these vents are seen so often nowadays might be that the patent expired some time ago...

 

The F-series has them too