Exterior mirror sail air flow spoiler

• US 7,530,625 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Karen Yale, Debra, Gulker, Bill, Sullivan, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/752,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20080290690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.1, 296/1.07, 296/1.11, 296/146.1, 296/152, 296/1.03, 296/154, 359/549, 248/466, 248/476, 248/477, 248/489
• US Class Current: 296/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A side view mirror assembly for minimizing noise generated during movement of a vehicle having the assembly mounted thereto. The assembly includes a sail mountable to the vehicle, an arm mounted to or formed with the sail, and a mirror mountable to the arm. The sail may include a spoiler having a generally triangular cross-section for deflecting air flow away from the vehicle and thereby minimizing noise generated during movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A side view mirror assembly for minimizing noise generated during movement of a vehicle having said assembly mounted thereto, said assembly comprising:

a sail mounted to the vehicle;

an arm mounted to or formed with said sail; and

a mirror mounted to said arm,

wherein said sail includes a spoiler protruding therefrom having a generally triangular cross-section for deflecting air flow away from the vehicle and thereby minimizing noise generated during movement of the vehicle, said spoiler being disposed a predetermined distance away from said mirror to provide a substantial gap between said spoiler and said mirror.

2. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed at an obtuse angle relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed at an acute angle relative to said outer surface of said sail.

3. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed between a range of approximately 117°

-145°

relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed between a range of approximately 1°

-90°

relative to said outer surface of said sail.

4. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed at approximately 144°

relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed at approximately 46°

relative to said outer surface of said sail.

5. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first and second surfaces are connected to each other at a generally sharp edge.

6. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first and second surfaces are connected to each other at a generally rounded edge.

7. A vehicle including a side view mirror assembly for minimizing noise generated during movement of the vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

a sail mounted to said vehicle;

an arm mounted to or formed with said sail; and

a mirror mounted to said arm,

wherein said sail includes a spoiler having a generally triangular cross-section for deflecting air flow away from said vehicle and thereby minimizing noise generated during movement of said vehicle, said spoiler being disposed a predetermined distance away from said mirror to provide a gap between said spoiler and said mirror.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed at an obtuse angle relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed at an acute angle relative to said outer surface of said sail.

9. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed between a range of approximately 117°

-145°

relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed between a range of approximately 1°

-90°

relative to said outer surface of said sail.

10. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed at approximately 144°

relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed at approximately 46°

relative to said outer surface of said sail.

11. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first and second surfaces are connected to each other at a generally sharp edge.

12. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first and second surfaces are connected to each other at a generally rounded edge.

13. A side view mirror assembly for minimizing noise generated during movement of a vehicle having said assembly mounted thereto, said assembly comprising:

a sail mountable to the vehicle;

an arm mounted to or formed with said sail; and

a mirror mountable to said arm,

wherein said sail includes a spoiler having a generally triangular cross-section for deflecting air flow away from the vehicle and thereby minimizing noise generated during movement of the vehicle, said spoiler being disposed a predetermined distance away from the mirror to provide a gap between said spoiler and the mirror.

14. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed at an obtuse angle relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed at an acute angle relative to said outer surface of said sail.

15. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed between a range of approximately 117°

-145°

relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed between a range of approximately 1°

-90°

relative to said outer surface of said sail.

16. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein said spoiler includes a first surface disposed at approximately 144°

relative to an outer surface of said sail and a second surface disposed at approximately 44°

relative to said outer surface of said sail.

17. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein said first and second surfaces are connected to each other at a generally sharp edge.

18. A side view mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein said first and second surfaces are connected to each other at a generally rounded edge.