Air deflector

• US 4,585,263 A
• Filed: 09/14/1984
• Issued: 04/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jay A. Hesner
• Original Assignee: Jay A. Hesner
• Inventors: Hesner, Jay A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/650,650
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1 S, 296/91, 160/13, 160/15
• US Class Current: 296/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

The present invention is a device for diverting air flow passing through the bed (18) of a pickup truck (10) up and over the tailgate (24) of that vehicle in order to reduce the resultant drag. The device includes a diversion element (30) which redirects the air flow upwardly and rearwardly within the bed (18) and over the tailgate (24). The diversion element (30) is detachably secured to the vehicle in a manner so that no damage is done to the body of the vehicle. One or a plurality of clamping members (52) can be employed for this purpose.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reducing drag upon an open vehicle, such as a pickup truck having an open bed defined between lateral walls thereof and a generally vertical surface, such as a tailgate, extending generally transversely to a direction of air flow through the bed, comprising:

(a) a diversion element positionable between the lateral walls of the pickup truck, said element including a panel having a deflecting surface formed therein; and

(b) at least one clamping member permanently attached to said element for detachably securing said diversion element to the tailgate of a pickup truck, said member having a pair of generally parallel fingers spaced from one another at a distance to permit said member to clamp onto a conventional pickup truck tailgate without damage thereto; and

(c) wherein said panel deflecting surface is, when said diversion element is secured to a tailgate, disposed obliquely to the horizontal with said panel in a desired orientation and with an edge of said panel, distal from said clamping member, engaging the floor of the truck bed.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel extends substantially the full distance between the lateral walls of the pickup truck.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel has opposite lateral edges, and further comprising a plurality of said clamping members carried by said panel at locations spaced along its length, at least one of said clamping members being secured to said panel proximate each lateral edge thereof.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said clamping members is coated with a plastic material.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said diversion element further comprises:

(a) a first panel having a length shorter than the distance between the lateral walls of a pickup truck with which said apparatus is to be used;

(b) a second panel having a length shorter than the distance between the lateral walls of the pickup truck with which said apparatus is to be used, but wherein the joint lengths of said first and second panels exceeds the distance between the lateral walls; and

(c) means for mounting said second panel to said first panel for relative movement along an axis aligning their lengths, and to define closely proximate, parallel planes.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first panel has a plurality of generally parallel dovetail grooves aligned along said axis of alignment formed therein, and wherein said mounting means comprises, in combination with said grooves, a corresponding plurality of dovetail fittings formed on a surface of said second panel, said fittings extending generally parallelly and being spaced from one another at a distance the same as that between said grooves, wherein said fittings are received in said grooves to hold said panels together in a telescoping fashion and permit them to move relative to one another.

7. In combination with apparatus for reducing drag upon a pickup truck created by impingement of relative air flow upon the truck'"'"'s tailgate, which apparatus includes a panel detachably securable to the tailgate to extend forwardly and downwardly form an upper edge of the tailgate and into engagement with a floor of the truck bed, wherein air flow moving through the bed as the truck moves forward is diverted upwardly and rearwardly over the tailgate;

ramp means, disposable on the floor of the truck bed immediately forward of an edge of said panel, distal from a location at which it is secured to the tailgate, to initially deviate air flow over said distal edge, said ramp means having a bottom surface closely conforming to the floor of the truck bed.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further comprising means, carried by said panel, for facilitating substantially continuous engagement of said edge of said panel, distal from a location at which it is secured to the tailgate, with the floor of the truck bed.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said facilitating means comprises ballasting means carried by said panel at said distal edge thereof.