CA1289167C - Deflector for hatchbacks and the like - Google Patents

Deflector for hatchbacks and the like

Info

Publication number
CA1289167C
CA1289167C CA000527277A CA527277A CA1289167C CA 1289167 C CA1289167 C CA 1289167C CA 000527277 A CA000527277 A CA 000527277A CA 527277 A CA527277 A CA 527277A CA 1289167 C CA1289167 C CA 1289167C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
panel
deflector
frame portion
horizontal frame
centre
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000527277A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter Martens
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000527277A priority Critical patent/CA1289167C/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1289167C publication Critical patent/CA1289167C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60JWINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J1/00Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor
    • B60J1/20Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Hatchback and station wagon rear windows often suffer from dust, snow and rain deposition when driven in adverse weather conditions and perforated or solid air deflectors are normally secured across the rear of the roof of such vehicles in an attempt to deflect air over the rear window in order to keep same relatively clean.
Sometime rear window wipers are employed. The attach-ment of such deflectors in the correct location for efficient operation is often difficult particularly with hatchbacks inasmuch as it must be relatively close to the upper transverse edge of the hatchback panel in order to be efficient but this often interferes with the closing of the hatchback panel. The present device is a deflec-tor which attaches to the upper rear window frame rather than on the roof so that the correct location is possible for maximum efficiency yet the deflector lifts with the hatchback door or upper window portion of a station wagon tail gate without interfering with the rear side of the roof panel.

Description

DEFLECTOR FOR ~TCHBACKS AND THE LIKE

BACKGROU~D OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in air deflectors designed specifically for hatchbacks but also usable on station wayons having an upper rear window portion which hinges for upward lift-ing, adjacent the rear edge of the roof panel.
The aerodynamic design of the bodies of such vehicles often causes turbulence at the rear end thereof due to the square back of such vehicles which tends to draw in mud, snow, dust and the like when driven in unfavourable weather conditions. Some vehicles are pro-vided with rear window wipers and washer assemblies which of course are relatively expensive.
Air deflector panels are known but these usual-ly are secured to adjacent the rear edge of the roof panel and extend transversely thereacross. Such panels tend to lie substantially horizontally so that the rear edge must curve downwardly to an extent in order to direct air downwardly over the outer surface of the rear window panel, but due to the fact that thesP rear window panels hinge upwardly, correct spacing of such air deflectors for efficient air movement, is extremely dif-:~ I
' ;

';

~2~ 6'7 ficult so that the use of such air de~lectors is a com-promise and the efficiency thereof is extremely low.
The present invention overcomes these disadvan-tages by securing the deflector panel substantially vertically or at least substantially parallel to the plane of the rear window panel with the upper edge pro-jecting slightly above the roof line thereby ensuring that air currents of maximum velocity are directed upon the outer sur~ace of the window panel thus giving a much more efficient operation to these deflectors. Further-more, the spacing can be controlled for ma~imum efficien-cy yet at the same time the upper edge does not interfere with the outer surface of the rear of the roof panel when the hatchback doors or upper rear window doors of a station wagon, are open to the fullest extent.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an air de1ector for use with hatchbacks, station wagons and the like which include a rear window panel, horizontally hinged to adjacent the upper rear roof frame of the vehicle for opening and closing action, said rear window panel in~luding an upper, substantially horizontal, frame portion: said deflector comprising an alongated, substantially rectangular rigid panel, end portions curving inwardly relative to the longitudinal i2~39~ 6,'7 axis of said panel and wingtip brackets engageable over the ends of said end portions and being attachable to the horizontal frame portion of the window panel.
Another advantage of the invention is the 6implicity of construction of the air deflector panel when used in the position hereinabove described whereas when roof mounted, precise curvature along the transverse axis of such panels must be incorporated.
Another advantags of the pre~ent invention is the ease of installation with considerable flexibility as to the exact positioning thereof in contrast with the roof mounted deflectors which must be carefully position-ed in order to attempt to obtain any efficiency of air flow ovPr the rear window panels.
A still further advantage of the present inven-tion is to provide a device of the character within described which is simple in construction, economically manufactured and other well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advan-tages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this speci~ication proceeds, the invention i8 herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which ~ g~67 includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of the rear end of a hatchback or station wagon showing the device installed thereon.
Figure 2 is fragmentary isometric exploded view of one end portion of the deflector panel assambly.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the deflector panel.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to Figure 1 in which lO illustra~es the roof panel of a station wagon having the usual reinforcing ribs 11 incorporated there-in. Although a station wagon is shown, it will be appre-ciated that a hatchback construction is similar.
Reference character 12 illustra~es generally the upper rear window panel assembly which normally hinges along the hori~ontal line 13 for upward lifting movement, said line 13 being substantially parallel to . .~ .

~2~ 6~

and adjacent the rear horizontal line 14 of the roof panel 10.
The portion 12 includes the upper door side frame members lS and the horizontal door frame member 16 into which the upper rear window panel 17 engages in a conventional manner.
The air deflector collectively designated 18 is preferably made of synthetic plastic material or anodized aluminum although steel panels may of course be used. It consists of a substantially elongated rectangular portion 19 having end portions 20 which curve inwardly from the plane of the portion 19 and terminate in extremities 21 substantially spaced and parallel to the frame assembly 19 which is curved at these locations.
The lower longitudinally extending edge 23 of the deflector panel extends longitudinally and the major portion 24 of the upper edge of the deflector panel extends substantially spaced and parallel from this lower edge.
However, the end portions 25 of this upper edge incline outwardly and downwardly and appear shallowly concav~ as clearly shown from points 26 to the extrem-ities 21, due to the double curvature of the deflector panel in these outer areas.

~2~g~

Wingtip brackets collectively designated 27 are utilized to secure the air deflector panel in the correct spaced and parallel relationship to the plane of the window frame portion 16 and the plane of the window panel 17. These wingtip brackets include a base plate 28, upwardly extending upper and lower end walls 29 and an outer wall 30 which also extends upwardly from the outer edge of the base plate 28.
An upper plate 31 spans the upper edg~ of the outer wall 30 and the outer ends o the upper edges of the walls 24 thereby defining an open pocket 32 into which engages the extremities 21 and the shaping of the base panel 28 together with the location of the end walls 29 is such that the extremities 21 engage within the pocket in a snug fashion.
A shaped gasket 33 engages the underside of the base 28 w~en the brackets and the deflector panel are installed upon the rear frame portion 16.
Apertures 34 are formed through the extremities 21 and corresponding apertures 35 are formed through the base plate 2B of the wingtip brackets 27. When the brackets engage over the extremities these apertures 34 and 35 align and eonventional metal screw bolts 36 pass through the apertures and are screw threadably engaged ~2~ i7 within the frame member 16 of the rear panel adjacen~ the areas 22 thereof thus firmly securing the air deflector panel in the desired relationship relative to the rear window panel 17. It will be noted that the upper edge 24 extends slightly above the roof line thus deflecting air passing over the roof downwardly over the rear window panel 17 when the vehicle is in motion.
A centxal stabilizer bracket 37 is engaged between adjacent the upper rear centre of the deflector panel to assist in the correct spacing of the panel from the frame of the window and also to stabilize the air deflector panel. This may be secured by means of a similar screw bolt 36 through aperture 38 in the upper centre area of the deflector panel and through a corres-ponding aperture formed through the bracket 37.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

- 8 - (1) An air deflector for use with a vehicle having an upper rear roof frame, a rear window panel, horizontally hinged to adjacent the upper rear roof frame of the vehicle for opening and closing action, said rear window panel including an upper, substantially horizontal, frame portion;
said deflector comprising an elongated, subtantially rectangular rigid panel, end portions curving inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of said panel and wingtip brackets engageable over ends of said end portions and being attachable to the horizontal frame portion of the window panel.
(2) The deflector according to Claim 1 in which said end portion includes extremities, said wingtip brackets slideably engaging over said extremities and screw bolt means extending through said extremities, through said wingtip brackets and into the ends of the associated horizontal frame portion of the window panel.
(3) The deflector according to Claim 2 in which each of said wingtip brackets includes a planar base plate, upper and lower end walls extending outwardly one from each end of said base plate, an outer wall extending outwardly from the outer side edge of said base plate and between the end walls and an upper plate spanning the upper edge of said outer wall and said end walls but terminating partway along the upper edges of said end walls thereby defining a pocket into which engages the extremities of said panel.
(4) The deflector according to Claim 1 in which the configuration of said extremities matches the configuration of the pockets defined by said brackets, said screw bolts engaging through said extremities and through the base plate of said brackets.
(5) The deflector according to Claim 1 which includes a centrally located stabilizer bracket secured between substantially the centre of said deflector panel and substantially the centre of said horizontal frame portion of said rear window panel thereby spacing said air deflector panel a predetermined distance from said horizontal frame portion and stabilizing said air deflec-tor panel.
(6) The deflector according to Claim 2 which includes a centrally located stabilizer bracket secured between substantially the centre of said deflector panel and substantially the centre of said horizontal frame portion of said rear window panel thereby spacing said air deflector panel a predetermined distance from said horizontal frame portion and stabilizing said air deflec-tor panel.
(7) The deflector according to Claim 3 which includes a centrally located stabilizer bracket secured between substantially the centre of said deflector panel and substantially the centre of said horizontal frame portion of said rear window panel thereby spacing said air deflector panel a predetermined distance from said horizontal frame portion and stabilizing said air deflec-tor panel.
(8) The deflector according to Claim 4 which includes a centrally located stabilizer bracket secured between substantially the centre of said deflector panel and substantially the centre of said horizontal frame portion of said rear window panel thereby spacing said air deflector panel a predetermined distance from said horizontal frame portion and stabilizing said air deflec-tor panel.
CA000527277A 1987-01-13 1987-01-13 Deflector for hatchbacks and the like Expired - Lifetime CA1289167C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000527277A CA1289167C (en) 1987-01-13 1987-01-13 Deflector for hatchbacks and the like

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000527277A CA1289167C (en) 1987-01-13 1987-01-13 Deflector for hatchbacks and the like

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1289167C true CA1289167C (en) 1991-09-17

Family

ID=4134752

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000527277A Expired - Lifetime CA1289167C (en) 1987-01-13 1987-01-13 Deflector for hatchbacks and the like

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1289167C (en)

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
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