US3778340A

US3778340A - Insulating devices for automobile manifolds and methods of making and using the same

Info

Publication number: US3778340A
Application number: US00181301A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Mcniff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-09-17
Filing date: 1971-09-17
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO AN INSULATING DEVICE FOR USE ON AUTOMOBILE MANIFOLDS AND THE LIKE WHICH MAY BE MANUALLY INSTALLED WITHOUT FASTENERS COMPRISING BASE MEANS COMPOSED OF A SUITABLE FLEXIBLE INSULATING MATERIAL AND A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED ALUMINUM FOIL BACKING STRIPS OPERABLY FASTENED AT OPPOSITE EXTREMITIES OF SAID BASE MEANS.

Description

Dec. 11, 1973 w. H. MCNIFF 3,778,340

INSULATING DEVICES FOR AUTOMOBILE MANIFOLDS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME Filed Sept. 17, 1971 FIG. 1

FIG 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM H MC NIFF F 1.6. 5 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 161-39 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an insulating device for use on automobile manifolds and the like which may be manually installed without fasteners comprising base means composed of a suitable flexible insulating material and a plurality of elongated aluminum foil backing strips operably fastened at opposite extremities of said base means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A particular application of the contemplated invention is for use as an insulating device to be disposed between the conventional exhaust manifold and spark plugs on a conventional automobile.

Ordinarily a heat shield is used to accomplish the foregoing purpose which consists of a metal plate disposed between the exhaust manifold and spark plugs and is secured to the engine by means of a plurality of conventional fasteners.

Other applications contemplated by the present invention presently have insulators which are preformed to fit a particular part or is provided with a fastening device or is used in conjunction with conventional fasteners or fastening devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an insulating device which may readily be formed by hand to fit into highly irregularly shaped spaces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device which may readily be formed by hand to fit about an irregular shaped part.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which may be used without the necessity of using additional fasteners or fastening devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which is simply and economically manufactured and used.

These together with other objects and advantages, which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details and construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an insulating device constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective and sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in a particular application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodi- 3,778,340 Patented Dec. 11, 1973 ments of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of insulating device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, insulating device 1 comprises elongated base means 2, which is composed of a flexible insulating material such as glass wool, and a plurality of varied length strips 3, attached by conventional means such as shown in Okoomian patent, U.S. No. 2,840,500, to opposite extremities of said base-means 2 of essentially rectangular cross-section. Strips 3 are composed of a material which is readily manipulated and shaped by hand and assumes the shape thus formed, such as commercially available household aluminum foil. The flexible insulating material contemplated herein has, as stated above, the characteristics of glass wool. That is, it is highly flexible and tends to remain intact when subjected to reasonable stretching in much the same manner as steel wool.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of insulating device 1 to further illustrate the structure thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a particular application contemplated by the present invention wherein insulating device 1 is shown disposed between a conventional automobile exhaust manifold 4, a source of considerable heat, and an associated spark plug wire 6 and spark plug cover 5. It is highly desirable for the spark plug cover 5 and spark plug wire 6, both of which are normally covered with a rubber type material, to be shielded from the heat radiated from the exhaust manifold 4.

As may readily be seen in FIG. 3, insulating device 1 is utilized by simply forming it by hand to fit within the space between opening 7, in manifold 4, and spark plug cover 5 and spark plug wire 6, with strips 3 providing a suflicient amount of rigidity to insulating device 1 to retain its shape and remain in position, and thus provide an effective insulator without requiring additional fasteners or fastening devices.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the parts and steps of the insulating device and methods of making and using the same may be substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An insulating device for automobile exhaust manifolds comprising:

base means, said base means comprising an elongated piece of flexible insulating material, essentially rectangular in cross section, and

a plurality of elongated metallic foil backing strips of different lengths operably fastened at the ends thereof to the ends of said base means and disposed above one surface thereof, said strips being longer than said base means.

2. A device as described in claim 1 wherein said metallic foil is aluminum foil.

3. A device as described in claim 1 wherein said flexible insulating material is glass wool.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,500 6/1958 Okoomian et a1. 161-196 X 3,233,699 2/1966 Plummer 161-196X PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.