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US4470341A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1983-02-16
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Granted: 1984-09-11
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Expires: 2003-02-16
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed herein is an air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle provided with a transversely elongated space between a rear end portion of an engine hood panel and a substantially horizontal plate of a cowl outer panel for inducing air to a compartment therefrom. The improvement comprises a windshield lower moulding plate arranged above the horizontal plate of the cowl outer panel in such a manner that it strides across a lower end portion of a windshield glass and extends transversely from one of fender panels of the vehicle to another, a second tube provided between the windshield lower moulding plate and the horizontal plate of the cowl outer panel to communicate with first tubes defined inside of the fender panels and an air inducing aperture opened through the horizontal plate covered with the windshield lower moulding plate. With this arrangement, even when the space is covered with snow, the second tube and the air inducing apertures are prevented from being blocked by snow and accordingly, air may be readily induced to the compartment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masahiko Hirukawa
  • 👤 Kiyokazu Seo
  • 👤 Tadashi Shimizu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 11:51
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: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
An air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle comprising: fender panels forming both side-exterior surfaces and located in front of doors of said vehicle; a cowl side panel spaced from an interior surface of one of said fender panels and forming a first tube with said fender panel; a cowl outer panel located on the top end of said cowl side panel and extending transversely from said cowl side panel to another of said fender panels; a windshield lower moulding plate located above and spaced from said cowl outer panel and forming a second tube communicating with said first tube; and at least one aperture formed in said cowl outer panel, whereby air is sucked into the compartment through said first tube, said second tube and said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 130 words
An air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle comprising: fender panels forming both side-exterior surfaces and located in front of doors of said vehicle; a cowl side panel spaced from an interior surface of one of said fender panels and forming a first tube with said fender panel; a cowl outer panel located on the top end of said cowl side panel and extending transversely from said cowl side panel to another of said fender panels; a windshield lower moulding plate located above and spaced from said cowl outer panel and forming a second tube communicating with said first tube; and at least one aperture formed in said cowl outer panel, whereby air is sucked into the compartment through said first tube, said second tube and said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first tube has at least one lower opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cowl side panel has a cowl lower side panel and a cowl top side panel located on the cowl lower side panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 136 words
An air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle comprising: fender panels forming both side-exterior surfaces and located in front of doors of said vehicle; cowl side panels spaced from each interior surface of both of said fender panels and forming two first tubes with said fender panels; a cowl outer panel located on the top ends of said cowl side panels and extending transversely from one of said cowl side panels to another of said cowl side panels; a windshield lower moulding plate located above and spaced from said cowl outer panel and forming a second tube communicating with said both two first tubes; and at least one aperture formed in said cowl outer panel, whereby air flows into the compartment through said two first tubes, said second tube and said air inducing aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 136 words
An air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle comprising: fender panels forming both side-exterior surfaces and located in front of doors of said vehicle; cowl side panels spaced from each interior surface of both of said fender panels and forming two first tubes with said fender panels; a cowl outer panel located on the top ends of said cowl side panels and extending transversely from one of said cowl side panels to another of said cowl side panels; a windshield lower moulding plate located above and spaced from said cowl outer panel and forming a second tube communicating with said both two first tubes; and at least one aperture formed in said cowl outer panel, whereby air flows into the compartment through said two first tubes, said second tube and said air inducing aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said each first tube has at least one lower opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cowl side panel is comprised of a cowl lower side panel and a cowl top side panel located on the cowl lower side panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cowl outer panel has a first vertical wall and a second horizontal plate extending rearwardly from the top end of said first vertical wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second horizontal plate has a front horizontal portion and rear inclined portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said aperture is opened on the rear inclined portion of said cowl outer panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said aperture is formed in the front horizontal portion and the rear inclined portion of said cowl outer panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a cowl ventilator louver covering over said aperture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cowl ventilator louver has a lot of slits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
The device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a windshield glass located on the rear end of said cowl outer panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 36 words
The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said windshield lower moulding plate covers the lower end of said windshield glass and the rear inclined portion and the front horizontal portion of said cowl outer panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 28 words
The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said windshield lower moulding plate covers the rear inclined portion and the front horizontal portion of said cowl outer panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said windshield lower moulding plate covers the lower end of said windshield glass and the rear inclined portion of said cowl outer panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 36 words
The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said windshield lower moulding plate has the front end located on said cowl ventilator louver and the rear end lcoated on the lower end of said windshield glass.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a cowl inner panel located under and spaced from said cowl outer panel, and forming a third tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 47 words
The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said cowl inner panel has a third horizontal plate extending from the lower end of said first vertical wall of said cowl outer panel and a fourth vertical wall extending from the rear end of said third horizontal plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 143 words
An air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle comprising: fender panels forming both side-exterior surfaces and located in front of doors of said vehicles; cowl side panels spaced from each interior surface of both of said fender panels and forming two first tubes with said fender panels; a cowl outer panel located on the top ends of said cowl side panels and extending transversely from one of said cowl side panels to another further comprising a front horizontal portion, a rear inclined portion and at least one aperture formed in said cowl outer panel and extending over said front horizontal portion and said rear inclined portion; and a windshield lower moulding plate located above and spaced from said rear inclined portion of said cowl outer panel and forming a second tube communicating with at least one of said two first tubes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 143 words
An air intake device for a compartment of automotive vehicle comprising: fender panels forming both side-exterior surfaces and located in front of doors of said vehicles; cowl side panels spaced from each interior surface of both of said fender panels and forming two first tubes with said fender panels; a cowl outer panel located on the top ends of said cowl side panels and extending transversely from one of said cowl side panels to another further comprising a front horizontal portion, a rear inclined portion and at least one aperture formed in said cowl outer panel and extending over said front horizontal portion and said rear inclined portion; and a windshield lower moulding plate located above and spaced from said rear inclined portion of said cowl outer panel and forming a second tube communicating with at least one of said two first tubes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said cowl side panel is constructed of a cowl lower side panel and a cowl top side panel arranged on the cowl lower side panel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a cowl ventilator louver covering over said aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said cowl ventilator louver has a lot of slits.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2730032A Cited
US2888274A Cited
US4385549A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-09-11 1988-03-12 1988-09-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-09-11 1992-03-12 1992-09-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-09-11 1996-03-12 1996-09-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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