US4750549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiator grille cover with adjustable center openings
Assignee: AUTOTRON PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-09
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Granted: 1988-06-14
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Expires: 2006-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A radiator grille cover for motor vehicles comprises a base panel composed of a flexible material and has suitable fasteners on the base panel for releasable connection to the radiator grille of a motor vehicle. The base panel has a centrally located air-receiving opening with one or more additional panels superimposed thereon which are sized to at least partially cover the opening in the base panel. The additional panels are in the form of flexible flaps with a center opening of a different size, the opening being symmetrical with respect to air passage through the radiator grille and having fasteners for releasably fastening the additional panels to the base panel. One or more of the flaps may be released from a position overlying the center opening of the base panel and inserted into a storage pocket on the front thereof so as not to require complete removal from the grille.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Ziegler
- 👤 John A. Daniels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:58
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K11/00; B60K11/08; B60K11/085; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/88; Y10; Y10S; Y10S160/00; Y10S160/01; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/092; Y10S165/093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A radiator grille cover for controlling the effective opening size of a radiator grille on a motor vehicle comprising in combination: a base panel composed of a material impervious to air and water and including fastening means on said base panel for connection to said grille, said panel having an air-receiving opening therein; and a flexible panel superimposed on said base panel having an outer peripheral edge and sized to at least cover said opening in said base panel, said flexible panel including first connecting means for connecting a portion of said peripheral edge to said base panel and second connecting means releasably connecting said flexible panel to said base panel at a location(s) spaced from said first connecting means whereby upon release of said second connecting means said flexible panel is movable to a position exposing said air-receiving opening in said base panel; and a plurality of additional panels, each said additional panel provided with an opening substantially aligned with the opening in said base panel in their superimposed positions, said additional panels being superimposed upon one another, and said flexible panel next adjacent to said base panel having a smaller air-receiving opening therein than the opening in said base panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A radiator grille cover for controlling the effective opening size of a radiator grille on a motor vehicle comprising in combination: a base panel composed of a material impervious to air and water and including fastening means on said base panel for connection to said grille, said panel having an air-receiving opening therein; and a flexible panel superimposed on said base panel having an outer peripheral edge and sized to at least cover said opening in said base panel, said flexible panel including first connecting means for connecting a portion of said peripheral edge to said base panel and second connecting means releasably connecting said flexible panel to said base panel at a location(s) spaced from said first connecting means whereby upon release of said second connecting means said flexible panel is movable to a position exposing said air-receiving opening in said base panel; and a plurality of additional panels, each said additional panel provided with an opening substantially aligned with the opening in said base panel in their superimposed positions, said additional panels being superimposed upon one another, and said flexible panel next adjacent to said base panel having a smaller air-receiving opening therein than the opening in said base panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 1, each said additional panel having opposite end portions, one of said end portions being releasably connected to the next adjacent panel beneath it and an opposite end portion on each additional panel permanently connected to each next adjacent panel beneath it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 2, said base panel including a pocket disposed in its exterior surface beyond said opposite end portion of said additional panels, one or more of said additional panels being releasable from said next adjacent panel and insertable into said pocket to expose the opening in the next adjacent panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 3, said pocket provided with drain openings therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 3, said pocket including a removable closure along one end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 1, said base panel and each additional panel being composed of a flexible vinyl material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 1, said base panel provided with fasteners at spaced intervals connected to said grille, said base panel dimensioned to substantially cover said grille.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A radiator grille cover for covering the effective air opening size in a radiator grille of a motor vehicle, said cover comprising a flexible base panel including fastening means for connection to the exterior surface of said grille in symmetrical relation to the center opening of said grille, said flexible base panel provided with an opening therein which is symmetrical with respect to the center of said grille, at least one flap section superimposed on said base panel and sized to cover the opening in said base panel, said flap section adjacent to said base panel provided with an opening therein smaller than and substantially aligned with the opening in said base panel when in their superimposed positions, and means releasably connecting one end of each said flap section to the next adjacent underlying panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
A radiator grille cover for covering the effective air opening size in a radiator grille of a motor vehicle, said cover comprising a flexible base panel including fastening means for connection to the exterior surface of said grille in symmetrical relation to the center opening of said grille, said flexible base panel provided with an opening therein which is symmetrical with respect to the center of said grille, at least one flap section superimposed on said base panel and sized to cover the opening in said base panel, said flap section adjacent to said base panel provided with an opening therein smaller than and substantially aligned with the opening in said base panel when in their superimposed positions, and means releasably connecting one end of each said flap section to the next adjacent underlying panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 8, there being a plurality of additional flap sections, said additional flap sections superimposed upon one another, at least one additional flap section in succession away from said base panel having a progressively smaller opening therein, and the outermost of said flap section fully covering the opening in the next adjacent underlying panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 9, each said flap section having opposite end portions, one of said end portions being releasably connected to said base panel or next adjacent panel and the other of said end portions being permanently connected to said base panel or each next adjacent panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 10, including means for releasably securing each said flap section in a storage position whereby to expose the opening in the next adjacent flap section or base panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radiator grille cover according to claim 11, said releasable securing means defined by string ties securable in surrounding relation to each flap section.
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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) | 1991-06-14 | 1991-12-14 | 1992-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-14 | 1995-12-14 | 1996-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-14 | 1999-12-14 | 2000-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |