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 Title: |
US5054844:
Aerodynamic motorcar
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Miwa, Tsutomu; Saitama, 359, Japan
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1991-10-08
/ 1990-08-20
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| Application Number: |
US1990000569483
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B62D 35/00;
B62D 37/02;
IPC-7:
B62D 35/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
B62D35/00C; B62D35/00D; B62D37/02;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
296/198;
280/848;
296/180.1;
296/180.5;
296/181.5;
296/208;
Original:
296/198;
296/180.1;
296/180.5;
296/208;
296/185;
280/848;
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| Field of Search: |
296/180.1,180.5,208,185,198
180/68.1
280/848,849,668
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| Priority Number: |
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| Abstract: |
The present invention provides an automobile which offers air resistance and lift which are lower than those for a conventional automobile, yet which is hardly changed in its external appearance. The reducing means includes over each front wheel 19 an air passage 4 formed as a hollow 1 made by recessing a body panel located above the wheel, the air passage 4 having an air inlet 2 at its front and an air outlet 3 at its rear. Air current flows smoothly through the hollow 1 located above the front wheel to the air outlet 3 which is on the same level at or located at a higher position than the air inlet 2, thereby reducing air resistance and lift to levels which are lower than those for the conventional automobile. In one aspect of the invention, the air passage 4 is covered by a bonnet 16, other outer shell portions, and a pivotally secured reverse lift plate 5 or a reverse lift member 12 is included. The reverse lift plate 5 or the reverse lift member 12 is made flush with the surrounding outer shell and is provided in such a manner that it does not represent an unsightly appendage which would change the appearance of the conventional automobile. In another aspect of the invention comparable air passages and reverse lift members are provided over each of the rear wheels as well, to further reduce the air resistance and to improve the stability of the vehicle during motion and when exposed to side winds.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Lowe, Price, Leblanc & Becker ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Pedder, Dennis H.;
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| Maintenance Status: |
E3 Expired Check current status
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Parent Case: |
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/440,450filed Nov. 22, 1989, abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/162,305, filed Feb. 29, 1988, abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No. 06/926,412 filed Oct. 7, 1986, abandoned.
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| Designated Country: |
DE FR GB IT EP KR SU US
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| Family: |
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First Claim:
Show all 24 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. In a vehicle having a plurality of front and rear wheels supporting a vehicle body frame to which is mounted a body shell defining a vehicle exterior, each wheel being disposed within a wheel housing defined between the vehicle body frame and the body shell, the improvement comprising:
- a wheel cover means extending within at least one of the housings above the corresponding wheel therein,
- wherein said wheel cover means defines an air passage established in part by an upper surface of the wheel cover means and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle directly above the wheel, said air passage including an air inlet and an air outlet respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the associated wheel,
- said wheel cover means comprising a thin sheet of a flexible and resilient material secured at one portion thereof to the wheel housing and at another portion to an element supported by a spring support means capable of upward and downward movement related to movement of said corresponding wheel rotatably connected to said spring support,
- said air passage thereby having an inlet and an outlet and a cross-section that varies with upward and downward movement of the corresponding wheel, transmitted via said spring support means and element, which causes a deformation of the flexible and resilient sheet.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 19 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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