Panel member for an underside of an automotive vehicle, especially a passenger car
First Claim
1. A vehicle panel member arrangement for the underside of an automotive vehicle such as a passenger car having front and rear wheels supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, said panel member arrangement including:
- a first constricted panel member portion disposable in front of the front wheels of the vehicle and providing a first constricted space between the panel member and the ground;
a second constricted panel member portion disposable behind the rear wheels of the vehicle and providing a second constricted space between the panel member and the ground;
a central panel member portion extending between the first and second constricted panel member portions and being configured with its downwardly facing surfaces at a greater distance from the ground than the constricted panel member portion;
first and second boundary element panel member portions disposed laterally of and forming an air duct with the central portion;
first and second front wheel cut-out portions,first and second convexly shaped ascending ramp panel member portions disposed along the sides of the panel member arrangement in front of the respective first and second front wheel cut-out portions,a concavely shaped contour panel member portion disposed in front of said first constricted portion and between the ascending ramp portions, anda concavely shaped trailing panel member portion disposed behind the first constricted portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A panel member is disclosed for an automotive vehicle. The panel member is disposed on the underside of the vehicle in a spaced relation to the roadway and includes a first constricted portion in front of the front wheel, and a second constricted portion behind the rear wheel. The constricted portions provide first and second constricted spaces between the panel member and the roadway. The panel member also includes boundary element portions which are disposed along the longitudinal sides of the panel member, generally between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle. The boundary element portions cooperate with the panel member to form an air duct. The panel member is formed to provide an essentially smooth surface and to cover parts of the chassis such as axles, control arms, or the like.
23 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle panel member arrangement for the underside of an automotive vehicle such as a passenger car having front and rear wheels supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, said panel member arrangement including:
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a first constricted panel member portion disposable in front of the front wheels of the vehicle and providing a first constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a second constricted panel member portion disposable behind the rear wheels of the vehicle and providing a second constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a central panel member portion extending between the first and second constricted panel member portions and being configured with its downwardly facing surfaces at a greater distance from the ground than the constricted panel member portion; first and second boundary element panel member portions disposed laterally of and forming an air duct with the central portion; first and second front wheel cut-out portions, first and second convexly shaped ascending ramp panel member portions disposed along the sides of the panel member arrangement in front of the respective first and second front wheel cut-out portions, a concavely shaped contour panel member portion disposed in front of said first constricted portion and between the ascending ramp portions, and a concavely shaped trailing panel member portion disposed behind the first constricted portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle panel member arrangement for the underside of an automotive vehicle such as a passenger car having front and rear wheels supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, said panel member arrangement including:
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a first constricted panel member portion disposable in front of the front wheels of the vehicle and providing a first constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a second constricted panel member portion disposable behind the rear wheels of the vehicle and providing a second constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a central panel member portion extending between the first and second constricted panel member portions and being configured with its downwardly facing surfaces at a greater distance from the ground than the constricted panel member portion; first and second boundary element panel member portions disposed laterally of and forming an air duct with the central portion; a concavely shaped leading panel member portion disposed in front of the second constricted portion and a convexly shaped trailing panel member portion disposed behind the second constricted portion, the trailing portion extending rearwardly to the rear end of the panel member arrangement for forming a sharp-edged breakaway rim. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle panel member arrangement for the underside of an automotive vehicle such as a passenger car having front and rear wheels supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, said panel member arrangement including:
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a first constricted panel member portion disposable in front of the front wheels of the vehicle and providing a first constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a second constricted panel member portion disposable behind the rear wheels of the vehicle and providing a second constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a central panel member portion extending between the first and second constricted panel member portions and being configured with its downwardly facing surfaces at a greater distance from the ground than the constricted panel member portion; first and second boundary element panel member portions disposed laterally of and forming an air duct with the central portion; said air duct extending rearwardly to a point on the panel member arrangement corresponding generally to the center of the rear wheels of the motor vehicle; and wherein said boundary element portions each include interior side wall portions, the interior side wall portions including, a flow-exposed section disposed generally rearwardly of the front wheel cut-out portions and extending arcuately from an externally located zone to an internally located zone, a parallel section disposed behind the flow-exposed section and extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the panel member arrangement, an inwardly oriented, bent contoured section disposed generally behind the parallel section and in front of the rear cut-out portion for directing a flow of air around the rear wheels of the vehicle and a web section disposed behind the inwardly oriented, bent contoured section. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A vehicle panel member arrangement for the underside of an automotive vehicle such as a passenger car having front and rear wheels supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, said panel member arrangement including:
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a first constricted panel member portion disposable in front of the front wheels of the vehicle and providing a first constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a second constricted panel member portion disposable behind the rear wheels of the vehicle and providing a second constricted space between the panel member and the ground; a central panel member portion extending between the first and second constricted panel member portions and being configured with its downwardly facing surfaces at a greater distance from the ground than the constricted panel member portion; first and second boundary element panel member portions disposed laterally of and forming an air duct with the central portion; wherein said boundary element portions each include interior side wall portions, the side wall portions including a flow-exposed section disposed generally rearwardly of the front wheel cut-out portion, and extending arcuately from an externally located zone to an internally located zone, a parallel section disposed generally rearwardly of the flow-exposed section and extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the panel member arrangement, a rearwardly oriented, bent contoured section disposed generally behind the parallel section and in front of the rear cut-out portion for directing a flow of air around the rear wheels of the vehicle, and a web section disposed behind the inwardly oriented, bent contoured section.
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Specification