US4466654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive vehicle cowl construction
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1980-11-17
•
Granted: 1984-08-21
•
Expires: 2000-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A single shaped panel partitions off a portion of a vehicle cowl air box and adds structural rigidity to the box. The shaped panel is formed with raised portions which define openings which fluidly communicate the partitioned section of the air box with the remainder thereof. Some of the raised portions are formed with holes for mounting windshield wiper linkages or the like and/or are formed to act as a water deflector which prevents rain water or the like from passing through the box to an air outlet fluidly communicating with the partitioned section of the air box.
Inventors
- 👤 Masafumi Abe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:02
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/08; B62D25/081; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/24; B60H1/26; B60H1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A cowl assembly for a vehicle comprising: a first panel, having an air outlet opening, and extending generally transversly across said vehicle; a second panel, having an air inlet opening, and being fastened to said first panel, said second panel extending in a generally spaced parallel relationship with said first panel and defining therebetween an air space; a third panel, having first and second side edges, said third panel being fastened along said first edge to said first panel and extending through said air space to partition at least a portion of the air space from a remainder thereof, said third panel further having portions of said second edge fastened to said first panel to structurally support said first panel, said third panel further having at least one raised portion formed between said fastened portions of said second edge, said at least one raised portion extending generally toward said second panel and forming at least one opening between said third panel and said first panel for providing fluid communication between said partitioned portion of said air space and said remainder whereby air entering said air space through said air inlet opening may flow to said air outlet opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A cowl assembly for a vehicle comprising: a first panel, having an air outlet opening, and extending generally transversly across said vehicle; a second panel, having an air inlet opening, and being fastened to said first panel, said second panel extending in a generally spaced parallel relationship with said first panel and defining therebetween an air space; a third panel, having first and second side edges, said third panel being fastened along said first edge to said first panel and extending through said air space to partition at least a portion of the air space from a remainder thereof, said third panel further having portions of said second edge fastened to said first panel to structurally support said first panel, said third panel further having at least one raised portion formed between said fastened portions of said second edge, said at least one raised portion extending generally toward said second panel and forming at least one opening between said third panel and said first panel for providing fluid communication between said partitioned portion of said air space and said remainder whereby air entering said air space through said air inlet opening may flow to said air outlet opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cowl assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second raised portion which is adapted to support a device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cowl assembly of claim 2, wherein said device operates a mechanism disposed outside of said air space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cowl assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one raised portion is spaced and positioned with respect to said air inlet opening, so that water entering said air space through said air inlet opening is deflected and prevented from reaching said air outlet opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cowl assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cover for covering said air inlet opening, said cover having a plurality of spaces formed therein through which air may flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cowl construction for an automotive vehicle comprising: means defining an air space through which air flows; an elongate shaped panel having first and second edges, said elongate panel being disposed in said air space so that said first side edge is connected substantially along its entire length to said air space defining means and said second side edge is connected along a portion of its length to said air space defining means, said elongate panel dividing said air space into first and second sections; means defining at least one raised portion in said elongate panel, said raised portion being spaced from said air space defining means to permit air flow therepast between said first and second sections of said air space; and means defining a mounting site in said elongate panel for mounting a device thereon for operating a mechanism positioned externally of said air space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cowl construction for an automotive vehicle comprising: means defining an air space through which air flows; an elongate shaped panel having first and second edges, said elongate panel being disposed in said air space so that said first side edge is connected substantially along its entire length to said air space defining means and said second side edge is connected along a portion of its length to said air space defining means, said elongate panel dividing said air space into first and second sections; means defining at least one raised portion in said elongate panel, said raised portion being spaced from said air space defining means to permit air flow therepast between said first and second sections of said air space; and means defining a mounting site in said elongate panel for mounting a device thereon for operating a mechanism positioned externally of said air space.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1829751A
Cited
US1838852A
Cited
US2075936A
Cited
US2789007A
Cited
US2895157A
Cited
FR1206945A
Cited
US3120673A
Cited
FR1338717A
Cited
US3289564A
Cited
GB1140338A
Cited
FR2020877A1
Cited
GB1220658A
Cited
US3596978A
Cited
DE1943485A1
Cited
FR2115986A5
Cited
US3788681A
Cited
DE2256298A1
Cited
FR2161668A5
Cited
US3843194A
Cited
US3747500A
Cited
US4078840A
Cited
GB1547898A
Cited
DE2650641A1
Cited
US4285540A
Cited
US4270793A
Cited
US4264101A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-08-21 | 1988-02-20 | 1988-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-21 | 1992-02-20 | 1992-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-21 | 1996-02-20 | 1996-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |