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

• US 6,874,842 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Hojna, Joseph J
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/178,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 296/180.3, 296/180.4, 296/180.5, 180/903, 280/847, 280/848, 280/851, 280/156
• 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 the 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 monolithic front air deflector including a first portion formed of a first plastic material having a first durometer value and adapted to be attached to the lower surface at a front of the vehicle; and

a second portion fused to said first portion to prevent detachment therefrom and movement therebetween 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, whereby when said air deflector is attached to the lower front surface of the vehicle, said first and second portions deflect air the vehicle moves forward.

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

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second material is a low 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. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an exterior surface of said first portion and an exterior surface of said second portion are smooth in order to facilitate directing airflow around said air deflector.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a lower portion of said second portion of said air deflector is curved inwardly towards the vehicle body to facilitate directing airflow by said air deflector.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an upper portion of the first portion of said air deflector is curved inwardly towards the vehicle body to facilitate directing airflow by said air deflector.

8. A multi-material unitary molded air deflector adapted to be attached to a lower surface of a vehicle, comprising

a monolithic front air deflector including a first portion formed of a polypropylene plastic material having a first durometer value and adapted to be attached to the lower surface at a front of the vehicle;

and

a second portion formed of a low durometer thermoplastic elastomer and having a second durometer value less than said first durometer value, said second portion extending downwardly from said first portion,

wherein said first and second portions are fused together at a seam to prevent detachment from and movement between one another to form the unitary air deflector, whereby when said air deflector is attached to the lower front surface of the vehicle, said first and second portions deflect air as the vehicle moves forward.

9. The air deflector according to claim 8 wherein said first portion includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom to facilitate attaching said air deflector to the lower surface of the vehicle.

10. The air deflector according to claim 8 wherein the seam includes a tongue formed along a lower edge of said first portion and a cooperating groove formed along an upper edge of said second portion, said tongue and said groove being fused together.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein an exterior surface of said first portion and an exterior surface of said second portion are smooth in order to facilitate directing airflow around said air deflector.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a lower portion of said second portion of said air deflector is curved inwardly towards the vehicle body to facilitate directing airflow by said air deflector.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein an upper portion of the first portion of said air deflector is curved inwardly towards the vehicle body to facilitate directing airflow by said air deflector.

14. A monolithic air deflector adapted to be attached to a lower surface of a vehicle, comprising

a monolithic front air deflector including,

a first portion formed of a first material having a high hardness property and adapted to be attached to the lower surface at a front of the vehicle, said first portion including a plurality of integral projections extending therefrom to facilitate attaching said air deflector to the lower surface of the vehicle;

and

a second portion co-molded with said first portion to form said monolithic air deflector and to prevent detachment therefrom and movement therebetween, said second portion extending downwardly from said first portion, said second portion being formed of a second material different from said first material and having a low hardness property, whereby when said air deflector is attached to the lower front surface of the vehicle, said first and second portions deflect air as the vehicle moves forward.