CA2032639A1

CA2032639A1 - Tailgate wind deflector

Info

Publication number: CA2032639A1
Application number: CA 2032639
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert B. Peterson; Steven D. Henwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-12-19
Filing date: 1990-12-19
Publication date: 1992-06-20

Abstract

ABSTRACT
It is a known fact that, in the closed position, the tailgate of a moving pickup truck causes increased wind resistance and therefore decreased fuel economy of the vehicle. Current products designed to alleviate this wind resistance require that the tailgate be removed (ie.'flow through' type tailgate) or that products be installed that significantly alter the appearance of the vehicle (ie. caps or covers ). In this invention wind is deflected over the tailgate by means of a tailgate wind deflector which is concealed within the bed of the truck. The deflector is attached to the top of the tailgate and extends downward toward the cab where it is attached to the floor of the bed behind the wheel wells. This invention does not spoil the appearance of the vehicle and keeps the inherent safety features that the tailgate provides.

Description

SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to the deflection of wind over the tailgate of moving pickup trucks.
There are existing products which attempt to alleviate the wind resistance caused by the closed tailgate of a moving pickup truck. O~e ~uch product is the flow through type tailgate. To install this product it is necessary to remove the original tailgate. The new tailgate ( being perforated ) may allow some items in the bed to fall through the tailgate, or simply allow those standing or driving behind the vehicle to see the contents of the bed. The loss of the original tailgate tends to spoil the appearance of the vehicle. Another product would be a tunnel cover. Installation of this product requires fasteners on the outside edge of the bed, which may require drilling and therefore permanent damage. Also, when the cover is removed the fastening devices are quite visible.
Tunnel covers tend to flap in the wind and collect rain and snow. While installed, the cover restricts the transportation of taller items. The hard shell cover would be another product.
These covers tend to be quite expensive to purchase, difficult to install, and require drilling of holes. While installed the cover restricts the bed to the hauling of smaller items, and loading and unloading can be difficult. The cover is hard to remove and requires significant space to store. Some may feel that the cover spoils the original appearance of the truck.
These disadvantages will be overcome by installing a wind deflector on the inside of the bed. The deflector is fastened to the top of the tailgate and extends downward toward the cab where it is fastened to the floor of the bed just behind the wheel wells. The device is installed with Velcro *
fasteners which require no drilling and therefore no damage to the vehicle. The location of the fastening devices is such that they,and the product itself,arenot visible to those situated away from the vehicle. The appearance of the vehicle is not affected. The original tailgate remains installed, keeping the inherent safety features that the tailgate provides and privacy to the contents of the bed. Because the deflector is installed at an angle to the horizontal it does not collect rain or snow and allows for normal draining of the bed. Since the deflector takes up a small portion of the bed the load size is not greatly affected. The product is quick to install and remove and can be stored just about anywhere including inside the cab. ~ue to its size and composition the item remains lnexpenslve.
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the top face of the invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the bottom face of the invention.
Figure 3 is a view of the invention properly installed.

The tailgate wind deflector is comprised of a vinyl material which is approximately the same width as the tailgate, and its height is equal to the distance between the top of the tailgate and the floor of the bed just behind the wheel wells ( size varies according to vehicle make and model).

Figure 1 labels the follo-;ing components: viny] material (1), doweling- (2), the length of which is slightly shorter than the height of the deflector. The doweling is sewn under the hem of the material. The stitching (3) runs along the entire perimeter of the deflector. There are two rows of stitc~ing, one which runs along the edge, and one which is approximately one inch from the edge.
Figure 2 illustrates the Velcro* Easteners (4) which are located on the bottom face of the deflector. One of the fasteners extends across the entire top edge while the others are in three short sections along the bottom edge (one on each outer edge and one in the centre). Each section is approximately eight inches long.
Figure 3 is a view of the tailgate wind deflector properly installed. Velcro* (4) along the top edge of the deflector fastens to opposing Velcro* (4a) along the top edge of the tailgate (A). The deflector runs downward on an angle to the fastening point located on the floor of the bed (B) behind the wheel wells (C). Velcro* (4) along the bottom edge fastens to opposing Velcro* (4a) mounted on the truck bed floor.

Claims

1. A wind deflecting device for deflecting wind over the tailgate of a moving pickup truck, comprised of a vinyl b fasteners situated on the top and bottom edges, rigid members supporting the lateral edges, in which the top edge is attached to the top of the tailgate and the bottom edge is attached to the floor of the bed of the truck behind the wheel wells, and is the width of the tailgate.

2. A wind deflecting device as in claim 1 in which the fastening devices are made of Velcro* and extend the entire width of the top edge and are also located in three short sections along the bottom edge of the bottom face.

3. A wind deflecting device as in claim 2 which is installed inside the bed so as not to spoil the appearance of the vehicle.

4. A wind deflecting device as in claim 3 in which the three short Velcro* sections along the bottom edge of the bottom face are located on the two outer edges and once in the middle.

5. A wind deflecting device as in claim 1,2,3 or 4 in which the rigid members supporting the lateral edges are those made of wooden doweling, or plastic or metal rods.

* Velcro is a trademark of Velcro Canada LTD.