Air deflector for attachment to a lower surface of a vehicle and method for producing same

• US 20030234555A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hojna, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,874,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/005 Front spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

An air deflector for attachment to a lower surface of a vehicle includes a first portion and a second portion attached to and extending downwardly from the first portion. The first portion is adapted to be attached to a lower surface of a vehicle and is formed of a first material having a first durometer value. The second portion is formed of a second material different from the first material. The second portion has a second durometer value less than the first durometer value.

Claims

1. An air deflector for attachment to a lower surface of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion formed of a first plastic material having a first durometer value and adapted to be attached to a lower surface of a vehicle; and

a second portion attached to and extending downwardly from said first portion, said second portion being formed of a second material different from said first material and having a second durometer value less than said first durometer value.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first plastic material is polypropylene.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second plastic material is 101-80 durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first portion includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom to facilitate attaching said air deflector to the lower surface of the vehicle.

5. A method for producing an air deflector, the air deflector adapted to be attached to a lower surface of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first plastic molding material;

b) forming a first portion of an air deflector from said first plastic molding material, said first portion having a first durometer value;

c) providing a second plastic molding material different than said first plastic molding material;

d) forming a second portion of the air deflector from said second plastic molding material, said second portion having a second durometer value less than said first durometer value; and

e) joining said first portion to said second portion to form the air deflector.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said first plastic molding material is polypropylene.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said second plastic molding material is 101-80 durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein said steps are performed as part of an injection molding process.

9. The method according to claim 5 including steps of providing a mold having a first molding area and a second molding area, separating said first molding area from said second molding area, performing said step b. in said first molding area, exposing said first molding area to said second molding area, performing said step d. in said second molding area, performing said step e. at an interface of said first molding area with said second molding area, and removing the air deflector from the mold.

10. The method according to claim 9 including forming a tongue on said first portion during said step b. and forming a groove in said second portion during said step d., said tongue and said groove cooperating to join said first portion to said second portion.

11. An air deflector for attachment to a lower surface of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion formed of a first plastic material having a first durometer value and adapted to be attached to a lower surface of a vehicle; and

a second portion formed integral with and extending downwardly from said first portion, said second portion being formed of a second material different from said first material and having a second durometer value less than said first durometer value.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first plastic material is polypropylene and said second material is a 101-80 durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first portion includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom to facilitate attaching said air deflector to the lower surface of the vehicle.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first portion has a tongue formed along a lower edge thereof and said second portion has a cooperating groove formed along an upper edge thereof, said tongue and said groove being joined together by molding.