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US4214786A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Air foil apparatus

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-25
•
Granted: 1980-07-29
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Expires: 1999-04-25
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Abstract

Abstract An air deflector for a vehicle such as a cab-over-engine truck is described comprising a conical-shaped member positioned at the forward end of the truck. The conical-shaped member includes a centrally disposed leading portion designed to deflect the air over the vehicle cab, laterally around both sides of the cab, and downwardly beneath the cab. A pair of wing portions are disposed laterally and rearwardly of the leading portion and have air scoops formed therein for directing the deflected air rearwardly closely along opposite sides of the cab. An opening is formed in the lower central portion of the conical-shaped member forwardly of the truck radiator to enable cooling air to be supplied to the radiator of the truck. A perforated door is pivotally mounted in the opening and is normally positioned in a substantially vertically disposed position when the truck is not moving. The perforated door is pivotally moved upwardly and rearwardly upon wind forces being applied thereto so that the door is then in substantially the same plane as the lower forward portion of the conical-shaped member in which the door is mounted.

Inventors

  • 👤 D. Jon Morrison

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:17
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D35/00; B62D35/001

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 313 words
In combination, a cab-over-engine type vehicle including a cab having a forwardly presented front end portion, opposite side portions and a roof portion, said front end portion having a radiator grill means mounted therein at the lower central portion thereof, said front end portion having a windshield mounted therein at the upper end thereof, an air deflector means mounted on said vehicle forwardly of said front end portion for deflecting air around the sides of said front end portion, over said roof portion of said front end portion, and below the lower forward end of said cab, said air deflector means comprising a cone means having a leading portion which is spaced substantially forwardly of said front end portion, said cone means including a lower central wall which extends downwardly and rearwardly from said leading portion, said lower central wall having an opening formed therein positioned forwardly of said radiator grill means, a perforated door means movably positioned in said opening, said door means being pivotally movable about its upper end, front first to second positions with respect to said lower central wall, said door means normally being in said second position when the vehicle is not moving, said door means, when in its said second position, dwelling in substantially a vertical plane so that the lower end thereof is spaced forwardly of said opening to permit a person to enter said opening to service the vehicle, said door means extending downwardly and rearwardly from its upper end when in its first position to enhance the deflection of air downwardly from said leading portion, the perforations in said door permitting some of the air passing over said door means to pass therethrough towards said radiator grill means, said door means normally being positioned in said second position until sufficient wind force is encountered to move said door means to its said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 313 words
In combination, a cab-over-engine type vehicle including a cab having a forwardly presented front end portion, opposite side portions and a roof portion, said front end portion having a radiator grill means mounted therein at the lower central portion thereof, said front end portion having a windshield mounted therein at the upper end thereof, an air deflector means mounted on said vehicle forwardly of said front end portion for deflecting air around the sides of said front end portion, over said roof portion of said front end portion, and below the lower forward end of said cab, said air deflector means comprising a cone means having a leading portion which is spaced substantially forwardly of said front end portion, said cone means including a lower central wall which extends downwardly and rearwardly from said leading portion, said lower central wall having an opening formed therein positioned forwardly of said radiator grill means, a perforated door means movably positioned in said opening, said door means being pivotally movable about its upper end, front first to second positions with respect to said lower central wall, said door means normally being in said second position when the vehicle is not moving, said door means, when in its said second position, dwelling in substantially a vertical plane so that the lower end thereof is spaced forwardly of said opening to permit a person to enter said opening to service the vehicle, said door means extending downwardly and rearwardly from its upper end when in its first position to enhance the deflection of air downwardly from said leading portion, the perforations in said door permitting some of the air passing over said door means to pass therethrough towards said radiator grill means, said door means normally being positioned in said second position until sufficient wind force is encountered to move said door means to its said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said door means is substantially parallel to said lower central wall when in its said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the perforations in said door means serve to deflect cooling air rearwardly and upwardly from the forward surface of said door means when said door means is in its first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said door means includes a removable perforated insert.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said door means has an area at the lower forward end thereof below the lower forward end thereof below the perforations formed therein for supporting license plates thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a front bumper, the lower end of said door means engaging said front bumper when in its said first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle has headlights positioned at the lower forward end of said cab adjacent the sides thereof, said cone means having cut-away portions formed therein for exposing said headlights.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 57 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said cone means has wing portions spaced laterally and rearwardly of said leading portion, each of said wing portions having an air scoop opening formed therein for directing the deflected air rearwardly along the respective side of the cab in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said wing portions dwell in a plane different than the deflecting surface of the cone means adjacent thereto so that a lift effect is created by air passing through said scoop openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 294 words
In combination, a cab-over-engine type vehicle including a cab having a forwardly presented front end portion, opposite side portions and a roof portion, said front end portion having a radiator grill means mounted therein at the lower central portion thereof, said front end portion having a windshield mounted therein at the upper end thereof, said cab having a bumper positioned below said grill means, an air deflector means mounted on said vehicle forwardly of said front end portion for deflecting air around the sides of said front end portion, over said roof portion of said front end portion, and below the lower forward end of said cab, said air deflector means comprising a cone means having a leading portion which is spaced substantially forwardly of said front end portion, said cone means including an upper central wall extending upwardly and rearwardly from said leading portion; first and second upper wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from opposite sides of said leading portion; first and second lower wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from opposite sides of said leading portion; a first intermediate wall portion between said first upper and lower wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from said leading portion; a second intermediate wall portion between said second upper and lower wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from said leading portion; and a lower central wall extending downwardly and rearwardly from said leading portion between said lower wall portions, said lower central wall having an opening formed therein positioned forwardly of said radiator grill means, said opening being positioned forwardly of said bumper and being sufficiently large enough to permit a person to stand upon the ground or other supporting surface forwardly of said bumper and to enter said opening to service the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 294 words
In combination, a cab-over-engine type vehicle including a cab having a forwardly presented front end portion, opposite side portions and a roof portion, said front end portion having a radiator grill means mounted therein at the lower central portion thereof, said front end portion having a windshield mounted therein at the upper end thereof, said cab having a bumper positioned below said grill means, an air deflector means mounted on said vehicle forwardly of said front end portion for deflecting air around the sides of said front end portion, over said roof portion of said front end portion, and below the lower forward end of said cab, said air deflector means comprising a cone means having a leading portion which is spaced substantially forwardly of said front end portion, said cone means including an upper central wall extending upwardly and rearwardly from said leading portion; first and second upper wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from opposite sides of said leading portion; first and second lower wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from opposite sides of said leading portion; a first intermediate wall portion between said first upper and lower wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from said leading portion; a second intermediate wall portion between said second upper and lower wall portions extending laterally and rearwardly from said leading portion; and a lower central wall extending downwardly and rearwardly from said leading portion between said lower wall portions, said lower central wall having an opening formed therein positioned forwardly of said radiator grill means, said opening being positioned forwardly of said bumper and being sufficiently large enough to permit a person to stand upon the ground or other supporting surface forwardly of said bumper and to enter said opening to service the vehicle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3762758A Cited
US4098534A Cited
US4116482A Cited
US4131309A Cited
US4131308A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-07-29 1984-01-28 1984-07-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-07-29 1988-01-28 1988-07-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-07-29 1992-01-28 1992-07-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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