CA2052875A1 - Air current deflector shield - Google Patents

Air current deflector shield

Info

Publication number
CA2052875A1
CA2052875A1 CA002052875A CA2052875A CA2052875A1 CA 2052875 A1 CA2052875 A1 CA 2052875A1 CA 002052875 A CA002052875 A CA 002052875A CA 2052875 A CA2052875 A CA 2052875A CA 2052875 A1 CA2052875 A1 CA 2052875A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
shield
deflector
hood
air
apertures
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002052875A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gregory J. Pacer
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.)
DFM Corp
Original Assignee
DFM Corp
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 DFM Corp filed Critical DFM Corp
Publication of CA2052875A1 publication Critical patent/CA2052875A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/80Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
    • Y02T10/82Elements for improving aerodynamics

Landscapes

  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An air current deflector shield is provided having a one piece construction so as to be mounted directly to the hood of a vehicle. The shield includes opposite ends which wrap around the fenders of the vehicle A plurality of apertures are provided in the leading edge of the shield so as to allow air to pass through the shield. The shield functions to deflect air current upwardly over the windshield of a moving vehicle. The opposite ends of the shield prevent air from being drawn inwardly behind the shield while the apertures allow air to pass through the shield, thereby minimizing air turbulence behind the shield.

Description

2~37~

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air current bug and gravel shields for automobiles and trucks have been used for many years. Typically, the bug shield includes a shield member, often times made of acrylic, which is mounted in a channel or bracket, which in turn, is fastened to the hood of the vehicle so as to deflect air upwardly over the windshield when the vehicle is moving. In older-style shields, the shield member is held in the bracket by rivets or bolts, which necessitates placing holes in the acrylic shield member. However, this manner of fastening the shield in the bracket tends to cause cracks and eventual failure of the shield member due to the brittleness of the acrylic. More recently, the shield member has been held in the bracket by the use of adhesives, as described in U.S.
patent 4,153,129. The use of the adhesive or adhesive tape eliminates the need for holes in the acrylic, and thereby eliminates the concentration of stress forces which lead to failure.
This two piece assembly of the shield, including the shield member and extruded bracket or channel, also adds to the cost of the shield.
One problem with conventional bug and gravel shields is that while air is being deflected upwardly over the windshield of the vehicle, turbulence is created behind the shield and above the hood of the vehicle. Such turbulence, in some ~ - 2 -20~287~

instances, causes the hood to vibrate and can damage the winds~ield wipers on the vehicle. This turbulence is created by the change in air pressure behind the shield as the air is deflected upwardly and by air coming over the fenders of the vehicle and around the sides of the shield.
Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved air current deflector shield.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an air current deflector bug and gravel shield having a unitary construction.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an air current deflector shield which eliminates or minimizes air turbulence behind the shield.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an air current deflector shield which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF_THE INVENTION
The air current deflector bug and gravel shield of the present invention is designed for use on motor vehicles, such as cars and trucks. The shield is made of a polycarbonate material and is of a unitary construction. The shield includes a horizontally disposed base portion adapted to fit `; ' ' ~0~2~75 beneath the hood for attachment to the hood with screws or bolts. The shield also includes a deflecting portion curving upwardly from the base portion for deflecting air upwardly over the hood of the vehicle. The deflecting portion has opposite ends which wrap around or follow the contour of the vehicle fenders, so as to eliminate or minimize the flow of air laterally around the ends of the shield and over the hood of the vehicle. Apertures are provided in the shield for allowing air to pass through the shield along the vehicle hood. The apertures, in conjunction with the wrap around ends of the shield minimizes air turbulence behind the shield.

BRIE~ DESCRIP~ION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shield of the present invention as mounted on a pickup truck.
~ igure 2 is an enlarged perspective view similar to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the deflector shield shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure ~ is a bottom view of the shield.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the shield taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the shield.

2~2~7~

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 of an alternati~e embodiment of the deflector shield.
Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the shield shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a bottom view of the s~ield shown in Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a sectional view ta~en along lines 10-10 of Figure 7.
Figure 11 is a top plan view of the shield of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIP~ION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates one embodiment of an air current deflector bug and gravel shield of the present invention. Shield 10 has a unitary construction, including a base portion 12 and a deflecting portion 14 curving upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion. The juncture between base portion 12 and defecting portion 14 defines a leading edge 16. Deflecting portion 14 includes a lower convex section 18 and an upper concave section 20, so as to provide a reverse curve in the deflecting portion. In the first embodiment of the shield shown in Figures 1-6, deflecting portion 14 terminates in an upward edge lip 22. In another embodiment shown in Figures 7-10, the deflecting portion terminates in a rearwardly extending lip 23. In both embodiments, the shield functions 2~2~7~

in substantislly the same manner as described below. While the shields of the two embodiments shown in thP drawings have different designs, similar structure is identified by the same reference numerals in the drawings.
The shield 10 is elongated, and may include a slight curvature along its length, as best seen in Figures 4 and 9, so as to follow the contour of the hood 24 of the vehicle.
The opposite ends 26 of shield 10 are curved rearwardly approximately 90 from the longitudinal axis of the shield so as to extend and wrap around the fenders 28 of the vehicle.
Ends 26 thus matingly it the contour of the fenders 28, as best seen in Figures 2, 7 and 11.
The leading edge 16 of shield 10 includes a plurality of apertures 30 in the form of elongated slots. Apertures 30 have a three dimensional characteristic, as they extend rearwardly ~nto base portion 12, upwardly toward deflecting portion 14, and laterally with respect to the length of shield 10. Preferably, apertures 30 have approximate dimensions of a 6.0" width, a 1.0" depth, and a 0.38" height. Apertures 30 allow air to pass through shield 10 and along the upper surface of hood 24.
Shield 10 is mounted on hood 24 by the use of screws or bolts 32 extending through aligned holes 34, 36 in the shield and hood, respectively, as seen in Figures 5 and 10. A shock absorbing washer 37 may be provided so as to minimize the transmission of stress forces to shield 10.

` 2P~2~7a Prefera~ly, shield 10 is mad~ of a polycarbonate material which is stronger and more flexible than acrylic and resistant to failure due to stress forces. For example, a polycarbonate material sold under the trade name "LEXAN ~" by General ElectriC is virtually unbreakable and more flexible than stiff and brittle acrylic. Shield 10 can be clear, smoked, or painted to match the color of the vehicle.
In use, shield 10 deflects the air current over the windshield 38 of the vehicle while minimizing or eliminating air turbulence behind the shield. More particularly, as the vehicle moves, air is deflected by deflecting portion 14 upwardly over the windshield 38. Simultaneously, apertures 30 allow air to pass through shield 10 so as to minimize or eliminate the pressure differential caused by the change in direction of air flow over deflecting portion 14. ~nds 26 of shield 10 also deflect air outwardly away from fenders 28 of the vehicle and prevent air from being drawn inwardly behind shield 10. Thus, ends 2~ and apertures 30 each help to reduce and eliminate detrimental air turbulence behind shield 10.
Likewise, the reduced turbulence, wraparound ends and polycarbonate construction work in combination to prevent breakage. Also, the unitary construction of shield 10 minimizes construction costs.
In summary, the combination of air vents or apertures 30, the air flow caused by wrap around ends 26 and the use of ?~ 7a polymeric polycarbonate shield material work cooperatively to control air flow, to reduce shield vibration, to reduce shield breakage and to provide effective air flow for deflection of bugs and debris away from the windshield. This combination of structural features provides both integrity and controlled air flow, such that the shield achieves more effective deflection of bugs and debris away from the windshield and hood. Thus, the bug and gravel shield allows distinct advantages never before achieved.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.

Claims (17)

1.

An air current deflector shield for use on a motor vehicle having opposite fenders, a hood extending between the fenders, and a windshield, the shield comprising:
an elongated polycarbonate shield member having a substantially horizontally disposed base position adapted to fit beneath the hood for attachment thereto and a deflecting portion curving upwardly from the base portion for deflecting air upwardly over the hood of the vehicle, the base portion and deflecting portion being continuous so as to define a juncture therebetween:
the juncture having at least one aperture therein for venting air through the shield member so as to decrease air turbulence behind the deflecting portion: and the shield member including opposite ends extending approximately 90° to the longitudinal axis of the shield member and matingly wrapping around the fenders adjacent the hood.
2.

The deflector shield of claim 1 wherein the juncture has a plurality of spaced apart apertures for venting air through the shield member.
3.

The deflector shield of claim 1 wherein the apertures extends forwardly on the base portion from a position substantially at the forward edge of the hood.
4.
The deflector shield of claim 1 wherein the aperture is an elongated slot.
5.
The deflector shield of claim 4 wherein the aperture is approximately 6.0" long, 0.38" high and 1.0" in depth.
6.
The deflector shield of claim 1 wherein the deflecting portion of the shield member has a lower convex section and an upper concave section.
7.
The deflector shield of claim 1 wherein the shield member includes a horizontally disposed upper lip.
8.
The deflector shield of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the shield member has a plurality of holes adapted to receive fastening means for securing the shield member to the vehicle.
9.
An improved air current deflector for use of a motor vehicle having a hood and opposite fenders, the improvement comprising:

a one piece shield adapted to be mounted directly to the hood of the vehicle; and opposite ends on the shield extending beyond the vehicle hood and being curved rearwardly, so as to extend approximately 90° around the fenders of the vehicle.
10 .
The deflector of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of apertures in the shield for allowing air to pass therethrough.
11 .
The deflector of claim 9 wherein the shield is constructed of polycarbonate material.
12.
The deflector of claim 9 wherein the shield has a leading edge, the apertures being formed adjacent the leading edge.
13.
The deflector of claim 9 wherein the apertures are elongated slots.
14.
The deflector of claim 9 wherein the shield has a lower edge and the apertures are adjacent the lower edge.
15 .
The deflector of claim 9 wherein the apertures are three dimensional.
16.
The deflector of claim 9 wherein the shield has a substantially horizontal base portion adapted to extend beneath the hood and a deflecting portion curving upwardly from the base portion.
17.
The deflector of claim 16 wherein the deflecting portion terminates in a rearwardly extending lip.
CA002052875A 1990-09-09 1991-10-07 Air current deflector shield Abandoned CA2052875A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/756,533 1990-09-09
US75653391A 1991-09-09 1991-09-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2052875A1 true CA2052875A1 (en) 1992-03-10

Family

ID=25043919

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002052875A Abandoned CA2052875A1 (en) 1990-09-09 1991-10-07 Air current deflector shield

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2052875A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104494711A (en) * 2014-12-23 2015-04-08 北京驻友邦房车投资股份有限公司 Wind resistance adjusting mechanism and transport equipment applying same

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104494711A (en) * 2014-12-23 2015-04-08 北京驻友邦房车投资股份有限公司 Wind resistance adjusting mechanism and transport equipment applying same
CN104494711B (en) * 2014-12-23 2017-06-16 北京驻友邦房车投资股份有限公司 Windage governor motion and the transporting equipment using the windage governor motion

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
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