Ventilating panel for vehicles

• US 6,042,473 A
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bradley K. Mcclary
• Original Assignee: Bradley K. Mcclary
• Inventors: McClary, Bradley K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US09/038,081
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 454/131, 454/133, 296/152, 296/154, 160/105
• US Class Current: 454/133
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/267 Openings in or near to vehicle windows pivoting side windows B60J1/14; wind deflectors associated with windows for ventilating B60J1/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/20 Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds antiglare provisions B60J3/00; wind deflectors associated with roof openings B60J7/22; removable external protective coverings for windows or windscreens B60J11/08 ; aerodynamical spoiler for vehicles B62D35/00; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety ventilating panel for use in vehicles provided with retractable windows mounted in a window frame. The safety panel is mounted on top of a window panel, and a sealing gasket attached to the bottom edge of the safety panel receives a top edge of a slightly retracted window. The safety panel is provided with a plurality of angularly oriented openings to allow creation of vacuum on the interior side of the vehicle. An outwardly convex panel body facilitates creation of a pressure differential for a more effective airflow from the interior of the vehicle. A safety flange secured on the interior side of the safety panel extends upwardly and inwardly in relation to the safety panel body to prevent intrusion into the vehicle by unauthorized persons.

Claims

1. A safety ventilating panel for a vehicle window defined by a retractable window panel movable within a window frame, the safety panel comprising:

a safety panel body having a top edge engageable with the vehicle window frame and a bottom edge detachably engageable with the vehicle window panel, said body being provided with a plurality of through openings for increasing a pressure differential between an interior side of the vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle by forcefully drawing air from an interior of the vehicle; and

a safety flange securely attached to an interior surface of said body a distance from an upper edge of said body, said safety flange extending upwardly and inwardly from said body in relation to the interior of said vehicle, said safety flange covering a space between said panel body and a receiving gasket of the window frame to prevent intrusion into the interior of the vehicle by unauthorized persons.

2. The safety panel of claim 1, wherein said body is formed from a substantially transparent material.

3. The safety panel of claim 1, wherein each of said openings extends at an angle to a vertical axis of said body, with an outlet of each of said openings being on an exterior surface of said body and being directed rearwardly and downwardly in relation to an inlet of each of said openings.

4. The safety panel of claim 1, wherein said body has a generally planar configuration.

6. The safety panel of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle mounted on the interior surface of said body to facilitate positioning and removal of said safety panel from said vehicle.

7. The safety panel of claim 1, further comprising a sealing gasket securely attached to the bottom edge of said body, said sealing gasket having a groove for receiving a top edge of said vehicle window panel therein.

8. The safety panel of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a first portion for extending along a top edge of said vehicle window frame and a second portion integrally connected to said first portion at an obtuse angle to said first portion, said second portion extending along at least a portion of a front side of said vehicle window frame.

13. The safety panel of claim 7, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises a second, upwardly facing groove for receiving a bottom edge of said body.

5. The safety panel wherein said body is outwardly convex to facilitate increase in pressure differential between the interior of said vehicle and exterior of said vehicle.

9. A safety ventilating panel for a vehicle window defined by a retractable window panel movable within a window frame, the safety panel comprising:

a safety panel body having a top edge engageable with the vehicle window frame and a bottom edge detachably engageable with the vehicle window panel, said body being provided with a plurality of through openings for increasing a pressure differential between an interior side of the vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle by forcefully drawing air from an interior of the vehicle; and

a safety flange securely attached to an interior surface of said body a distance from an upper edge of said body, said safety flange extending upwardly and inwardly from said body in relation to the interior of said vehicle, said body being outwardly convex, said safety flange covering a space between said panel body and a receiving gasket of the window frame to prevent intrusion into the interior of the vehicle by unauthorized persons.

10. The safety panel of claim 9, wherein each of said openings is angularly disposed in relation to a vertical axis of said body, each of said opening having an inlet on the interior surface of said body and an outlet on an exterior surface of said body, each said outlet being located rearwardly and downwardly in relation to a respective inlet.

11. The safety panel of claim 9, further comprising at least one handle mounted on the interior surface of said body for manual positioning and removal of said safety panel from said vehicle.

12. The safety panel of claim 9, further comprising a gasket for detachable engagement with the vehicle window panel, said gasket being provided with a groove for receiving said vehicle window panel in a sealing engagement therein.

14. The safety panel of claim 12, wherein said sealing gasket is further provided with a second, upwardly facing groove for receiving a bottom edge of said body.