Vehicle shield device

• US 5,755,483 A
• Filed: 04/18/1994
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lund Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lund Industries, Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lund, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/229,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 296/91, 296/95.1, 296/136, 296/180.1, 180/68.6, 280/770, D12/181
• US Class Current: 296/91
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2005 for windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/005 Front spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

A vehicle shield device is provided for mounting on a front of a vehicle. The vehicle shield device has a hood protector portion and a fender protector portion for protecting portions of the hood and the fender from contact with airflow. The vehicle shield further includes an airflow deflector portion extending from a back edge of the hood protector portion for deflecting airflow away from a windshield of the vehicle. The hood protector portion, the fender protector portions, and the airflow deflector portion cooperate to form a continuous airflow engaging surface extending across a portion of the front of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle having a hood and fender protected from denting or marring from stones or other hard object comprising:

a motor vehicle having a hood and fender arrangement wherein the hood does not include the vehicle'"'"'s top front and side corner surfaces which form a leading edge of the vehicle'"'"'s fender;

a shield device mounted to said hood, said shield device comprising a hood protector portion having a first end and a second end and a front edge and a back edge, and a fender protector portion located adjacent at least one of said ends of said hood protector portion; and

a mounting member for mounting to the vehicle'"'"'s hood, said mounting member extending rearwardly from the front edge of the hood protector portion, extending underneath the hood and mounted to the hood'"'"'s underside;

wherein said hood protector portion extends from said first end, adjacent a front left portion of said hood, outwardly across a front surface of the hood to said second end, adjacent a front right portion of said hood, said hood protector generally extends forwardly away from the hood at said front edge, and continues to then curve upwardly and rearwardly over the hood'"'"'s front surface to the back edge of the hood protector portion;

wherein said fender protector portion is constructed to wrap around the leading edge of the fender;

wherein when the hood is moved to an open position to expose the vehicle'"'"'s engine, the fender protector portion moves in unison with the hood away from the vehicle'"'"'s top front and side corner surfaces comprising the leading edge of the vehicle'"'"'s fender; and

wherein the device is made of a material capable of holding its own shape so that stones and other hard objects striking the device are deflected without denting or marring the hood or fender underneath.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said shield device further comprises an airflow deflector portion attached to the back edge of said hood protector portion.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said shield device is formed as a continuous and integral unit.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said shield device is made from a plastic material.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said shield device is made from a transparent plastic material.

6. The motor vehicle according to claims 1, wherein said mounting member is constructed and arranged for displacing the hood and tender protector portions a distance away from the hood and fender so that, when mounted to the vehicle, the hood protector and fender protector portions do not damage the hood and fender through contact, also so that dirt and debris are more easily removed when trapped between the device and the vehicle, and further so that moisture between the device and vehicle can more easily dry out without removal of the device from the vehicle.