Patent US3905440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3929369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3929369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air deflecting vane assembly for a vehicle
Assignee: BLAIR LEFLER Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-19
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1993-03-19
Abstract
Abstract An air current deflector for a vehicle has an above the roof air current turn vane mounted in spaced relation above the roof of the vehicle. In a preferred specific embodiment a forward air current deflecting vane is mounted on the vehicle juncture of the vehicles front with the windshield and the roof of the vehicle. In another preferred specific embodiment a nose air current deflecting vane is mounted on the front surface of the vehicle. In still another preferred specific embodiment another air current deflecting vane is mounted vertically along a corner of the vehicle. In still another preferred specific embodiment another air current deflecting vane is mounted vertically over a forward surface of the vehicle. The deflector is constructed and adapted to deflect air currents striking the vehicle to pass same over and by the vehicle in streamline flow and can be used with tractor-trailers, fixed bed trucks, vans, stationwagons, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence I Blair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:58
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D35/00; B62D35/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
398 words
An air current deflecting means for a tractor of a tractor trailer vehicle, comprising: a. a roof top air current deflecting means mountable on a tractor of a tractor-trailer vehicle having a support means having means to mount same above the roof of said tractor, said deflecting means having a plurality of vane members mounted in a parallel relation on said support means, b. said vane members each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said forward and rear surfaces being rearwardly curved, c. said support means having a frame securAble to said vehicle roof and having a pair of vane support members pivotally mounted on said vane support means extending upward therefrom, said pair of vane support members pivotally mounting leading edge portions and trailing edge portions of said vane members with said leading edges and said trailing edges being parallel and being essentially parallel to said roof, means with said support means to move said plurality of vanes as a group in a pivoting motion above said roof, d. a forward air current deflecting means having a forward vane mountable on a forward portion of said vehicle in a spaced relation to a forward corner portion of the roof of said vehicle and adjacent to the windshield of said vehicle, said forward vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface, a rear surface with said forward surface and said rear surface being generally upwardly and forwardly curved, said forward vane being constructed and adapted to turn an air current moving generally upward on said windshield so as to direct same onto said roof, e. a nose air current deflecting means having a nose vane mount means mountable on a forward portion of the nose of said vehicle, having a nose vane support means pivotally mounted on said nose vane mount means, said nose vane mount means mounting a plurality of nose vanes in a parallel spaced relation, said nose vanes each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said forward and rear surfaces being generally rearwardly and upwardly curved, said nose air current deflecting means being constructed and adapted to in use turn an air current moving toward said nose of said vehicle turning same to a direction upon and generally along said forward end portion of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
398 words
An air current deflecting means for a tractor of a tractor trailer vehicle, comprising: a. a roof top air current deflecting means mountable on a tractor of a tractor-trailer vehicle having a support means having means to mount same above the roof of said tractor, said deflecting means having a plurality of vane members mounted in a parallel relation on said support means, b. said vane members each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said forward and rear surfaces being rearwardly curved, c. said support means having a frame securAble to said vehicle roof and having a pair of vane support members pivotally mounted on said vane support means extending upward therefrom, said pair of vane support members pivotally mounting leading edge portions and trailing edge portions of said vane members with said leading edges and said trailing edges being parallel and being essentially parallel to said roof, means with said support means to move said plurality of vanes as a group in a pivoting motion above said roof, d. a forward air current deflecting means having a forward vane mountable on a forward portion of said vehicle in a spaced relation to a forward corner portion of the roof of said vehicle and adjacent to the windshield of said vehicle, said forward vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface, a rear surface with said forward surface and said rear surface being generally upwardly and forwardly curved, said forward vane being constructed and adapted to turn an air current moving generally upward on said windshield so as to direct same onto said roof, e. a nose air current deflecting means having a nose vane mount means mountable on a forward portion of the nose of said vehicle, having a nose vane support means pivotally mounted on said nose vane mount means, said nose vane mount means mounting a plurality of nose vanes in a parallel spaced relation, said nose vanes each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said forward and rear surfaces being generally rearwardly and upwardly curved, said nose air current deflecting means being constructed and adapted to in use turn an air current moving toward said nose of said vehicle turning same to a direction upon and generally along said forward end portion of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
The air current deflecting means of claim 1, wherein: a. said tractor is connected in towing relation with a trailer, b. said air current deflecting means has a corner air current deflecting means mountable on a forward corner portion of said trailer, c. said corner air current deflecting means has a corner vane mounting means mountable on a forward upright corner portion of said trailer with an elongated corner vane mounted thereon in a spaced relation to said upright corner portion, and d. said corner vane extends substantially the length of same said corner and has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface, and a rear surface, said forward and rear surfaces being generally forwardly and outwardly curved relative the center portion of said trailer with said leading edge forward and inward relative to said trailing edge, said corner air current deflecting means is constructed and adapted in use to turn an air current on a forward portion of said trailer and direct same around said corner to a side of said trailer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The vane assembly of claim 2, wherein: a. said corner air current deflecting means has a pair of said corner vanes with one of said corner vanes being mounted on opposed sides of said trailer, and b. said corner air deflecting means mount means has means to move said corner vanes between a position adjacent to said trailer and a position assuming said spaced relation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The vane assembly of claim 2, wherein: a. all said vanes have a cross-sectional shape of a low-speed airfoil having a generally blunt leading edge portion and a tapered trailing edge portion, and b. said vanes have a curved means line and are constructed and adapted in use to turn an air current at an angle of between 0* and 90* relative to the original direction of travel of some said air current.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
The air current deflecting means of claim 1, wherein: a. said vehicle is a truck having a cab and a cargo body mounted on a chassis in an adjacent relation, b. said air current deflecting means has a vehicle body top air current deflecting means, c. said body top air current deflecting means has a body top vane mount means mountable on a forward transverse corner portion of said cargo body, a plurality of body top vanes pivotally mounted with said mount means in a parallel spaced relation to said forward transverse corner portion, said body top vane mount means having means to move said vanes relative to said cargo body and maintain said parallel space relation, and d. said body top vanes each have a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface with said forward and rear surfaces being generally forwardly curved with said trailing edge being above and to the rear of said leading edge, said body top air current deflecting means is constructed and adapted to in use turn an air current that is moving upward over a forward portion of said cargo body directing same rearwardly over the top of said cargo body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
199 words
An air current deflecting means for a vehicle, comprising: a. an air current deflecting means having a support means having means to mount same above a vehicle roof, b. said deflecting means having a plurality of vane members in a parallel spaced relation mounted on said support means, each said vane members having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface, a rear surface, said rear and forward surfaces being rearwardly curved, c. said plurality of vane members are in two groups mounted in an opposed relation having said leading edges facing generally toward a forward end portion of said vehicle and having said trailing edges in an opposed relation pointing in the direction of opposite sides of said vehicle, said rear and said forward surfaces being rearwardly curved, and d. said support means has a frame securable to a supporting surface of said vehicle, a vane support means secured to said frame and extending forwardly and outwardly therefrom and mounting said vane members, said deflecting means being constructed and adapted to in use deflect air currents that move over the roof of a vehicle and direct same in streamline flow to reduce air resistance on said vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
An air current deflecting means for a vehicle, comprising: a. an air current deflecting means having a support means having means to mount same above a vehicle roof, b. said deflecting means having a plurality of vane members in a parallel spaced relation mounted on said support means, each said vane members having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface, a rear surface, said rear and forward surfaces being rearwardly curved, c. said plurality of vane members are in two groups mounted in an opposed relation having said leading edges facing generally toward a forward end portion of said vehicle and having said trailing edges in an opposed relation pointing in the direction of opposite sides of said vehicle, said rear and said forward surfaces being rearwardly curved, and d. said support means has a frame securable to a supporting surface of said vehicle, a vane support means secured to said frame and extending forwardly and outwardly therefrom and mounting said vane members, said deflecting means being constructed and adapted to in use deflect air currents that move over the roof of a vehicle and direct same in streamline flow to reduce air resistance on said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The vane assembly of claim 6, wherein: a. said vanes have a cross-sectional shape with a pointed and tapered leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a relatively thick center portion, and b. said vanes have a curved mean line and are constructed and adapted in use to turn an air current at an angle between 0* and 90* relative to the original direction of travel of some said air current.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vane assembly of claim 6, wherein: said airfoil has the camber and basic thickness of a Clark-Y airfoil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
242 words
The air current deflecting means of claim 6, wherein: a. said vehicle is a truck having a cab and a cargo body mounted on a chassis in an adjacent relation, said cargo body having an upright forward portion, b. said air current deflecting means has a forward air current deflecting means having a forward vane mountable in a spaced relation on a forward portion of said cab adjacent to the windshield and roof thereof, said forward vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface, a rear surface with said forward surface and said rear surface being generally upwardly curved, said forward vane being constructed and adapted to in use turn an air current moving generally upward on said windshield so as to direct same onto said roof, c. said air current deflecting means has a corner air current deflecting means mountable on a forward corner portion of said cargo body, d. said corner air current deflecting means has a corner vane mounting means mountable on a forward upright corner portion of said cargo body with an elongated corner vane mounted thereon in a spaced relation to said upright corner portion, said corner vane has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said forward and rear surfaces being generally forwardly and outwardly curved relative the center portion of said cargo body with said leading edge forward and inward relative to said trailing edge. Pg,70
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The air current deflecting means of claim 9, wherein: a. said corner air current deflecting means has a pair of said corner vanes with one being mounted on each opposed upright corner of said cargo body, and b. said corner vane mounting means has means to move said corner vanes between a position adjacent to said cargo body and a position assuming said spaced relation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
222 words
An air current deflecting vane assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a. an air current deflecting means having a support means having means to mount same above a vehicle roof, b. said deflecting means has a plurality of vane members mounted in a spaced parallel relation on said support means above said roof, said vane members each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said rear and forward surfaces being rearwardly curved, c. said support means has a frame securable to said vehicle roof, and a vane support means pivotally secured said frame extending upward therefrom and mounting said vane members, d. said vane support means has a pair of vane support members with one vane support member pivotally secured to said leading edge portion of said vane members and the other vane support member pivotally secured to said trailing edge portion of said vane members to maintain said vane members in said spaced parallel relation, e. said vane members being mounted with said vane support means having said leading edges and said trailing edges in a spaced parallel relation and essentially parallel to said roof, said deflecting means being adapted to in use deflect air currents that move over said roof and direct same in streamline flow to reduce the air resistance on said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
222 words
An air current deflecting vane assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a. an air current deflecting means having a support means having means to mount same above a vehicle roof, b. said deflecting means has a plurality of vane members mounted in a spaced parallel relation on said support means above said roof, said vane members each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a forward surface and a rear surface, said rear and forward surfaces being rearwardly curved, c. said support means has a frame securable to said vehicle roof, and a vane support means pivotally secured said frame extending upward therefrom and mounting said vane members, d. said vane support means has a pair of vane support members with one vane support member pivotally secured to said leading edge portion of said vane members and the other vane support member pivotally secured to said trailing edge portion of said vane members to maintain said vane members in said spaced parallel relation, e. said vane members being mounted with said vane support means having said leading edges and said trailing edges in a spaced parallel relation and essentially parallel to said roof, said deflecting means being adapted to in use deflect air currents that move over said roof and direct same in streamline flow to reduce the air resistance on said vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |