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US3596974A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Air current deflecting device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-10
•
Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-03-10
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Abstract

Abstract An air current deflecting device for use with a vehicle pulling a trailer or the like. An elongated transparent deflecting shield is pivotally secured to a pair of spaced-apart support members which are detachably secured to the vehicle so as to position the deflecting shield above the roof of the vehicle. The shield includes a face portion having a length approximately equal to the width of the vehicle roof and having wing portions at opposite ends thereof which extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The shield is selectively movable from a position wherein the leading edge of the face portion is positioned below and forwardly of the trailing edge of the face portion so that the inclined face portion will deflect air currents passing over the vehicle roof upwardly and rearwardly above the forward end of the trailer. The lower or leading edge of the shield is positioned above the vehicle roof to permit a certain amount of air to pass therebelow to eliminate the formation of a vacuum pocket rearwardly of the shield means. The shield may also be selectively pivoted to an inoperative position wherein the face portion of the shield is substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Q Adams

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 11:17
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D35/00; B62D35/001; B62D35/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
An air current deflecting device for a vehicle pulling a trailer, comprising, a support means adapted to be detachably secured to the vehicle roof, and an elongated deflecting shield means mounted on said support means spaced above the roof of said vehicle, said shield means having its longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle and having a face portion with leading and trailing edges, said trailing edge normally being positioned above and rearwardly of said leading edge so that said face portion deflects the air passing over the roof of said trailer, said support means being comprised of first and second support members detachably secured to said vehicle at opposite sides of the roof thereof, each of said support members including first and second resilient suction cup members mounted on the roof and having a bar secured thereto and extending therebetween, an upstanding post means secured to said bar and extending upwardly therefrom, said shield means being pivotally secured to the upstanding post means on said first and second support members inwardly of the outer ends of said shield means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 184 words
An air current deflecting device for a vehicle pulling a trailer, comprising, a support means adapted to be detachably secured to the vehicle roof, and an elongated deflecting shield means mounted on said support means spaced above the roof of said vehicle, said shield means having its longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle and having a face portion with leading and trailing edges, said trailing edge normally being positioned above and rearwardly of said leading edge so that said face portion deflects the air passing over the roof of said trailer, said support means being comprised of first and second support members detachably secured to said vehicle at opposite sides of the roof thereof, each of said support members including first and second resilient suction cup members mounted on the roof and having a bar secured thereto and extending therebetween, an upstanding post means secured to said bar and extending upwardly therefrom, said shield means being pivotally secured to the upstanding post means on said first and second support members inwardly of the outer ends of said shield means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said post means is longitudinally adjustably mounted on said bar, and wherein said post means is length adjustable whereby the relationship of said leading edge of said shield means with respect to the vehicle roof may be changed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said shield means has a pair of spaced-apart braces secured thereto, said braces being pivotally secured to said post means, said braces having an arm member secured thereto and extending therebetween at the rearward side of said shield means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 166 words
In combination with a vehicle towing a trailer therebehind, said vehicle having a top, a support means secured to the vehicle, an elongated deflecting shield means mounted on said support means spaced above said vehicle top, said shield means having its longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle and having a face portion with leading and trailing edges, said trailing edge normally being positioned above and rearwardly of said leading edge so that said face portion deflects air passing thereover at least upwardly over the forward portion of the trailer, said leading edge being spaced above said vehicle top so that air will pass below said shield means to prevent the formation of objectionable vacuum pockets rearwardly of said shield means, said shield means being selectively vertically secured to said support means to permit the selective spacing of said leading edge with respect to the vehicle top to vary the amount of air flowing between said vehicle top and said leading edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 166 words
In combination with a vehicle towing a trailer therebehind, said vehicle having a top, a support means secured to the vehicle, an elongated deflecting shield means mounted on said support means spaced above said vehicle top, said shield means having its longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle and having a face portion with leading and trailing edges, said trailing edge normally being positioned above and rearwardly of said leading edge so that said face portion deflects air passing thereover at least upwardly over the forward portion of the trailer, said leading edge being spaced above said vehicle top so that air will pass below said shield means to prevent the formation of objectionable vacuum pockets rearwardly of said shield means, said shield means being selectively vertically secured to said support means to permit the selective spacing of said leading edge with respect to the vehicle top to vary the amount of air flowing between said vehicle top and said leading edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 54 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said shield means includes a pair of wing portions extending rearwardly from opposite ends of said face portion, said face portion having a length substantially equal to the width of said vehicle top so that said wing portions are positioned adjacent the opposite sides of the vehicle respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 52 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said shield means is pivotally secured to said support means about a horizontal axis which is transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, said shield means being pivotally movable to an inoperative position whereby said face portion is substantially parallel to said vehicle top.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2644716A Cited
US2863695A Cited
US3000663A Cited
FR1281065A Cited
US3368841A Cited
US3328074A Cited
US3309131A Cited
US3348873A Cited
US3425740A Cited
US3484130A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-08-02 1975-02-01 1975-08-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-08-02 1979-02-01 1979-08-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-08-02 1983-02-01 1983-08-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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