Ventilation – Vehicle – Having inlet airway
Utility Patent
1996-05-30
2001-01-02
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Vehicle
Having inlet airway
C454S149000
Utility Patent
active
06168516
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates in general to air circulating systems for automobiles, and more particularly to a device and method for facilitating the proper function of, and avoiding improper functioning of, certain air vent intake systems of automobiles.
For many years, automobiles have had air circulating systems for the automobile, where ambient air is taken in through vents and then selectively directed into the interior of the automobile either for heating, air conditioning, defogging windows, etc. In some instances, the air vents can have rain or snow be ingested into the air vent, and also various unwanted materials such as leaves, twigs, or other debris. This sometimes can cause clogging of the drain and/or distribution system, or possibly leaking into the interior of the automobile.
A typical example of this is found in certain MG automobiles, and possibly others, where there is an air vent positioned on the upper quarter panel, a short distance forwardly of the windshield. This vent faces upwardly, and it is susceptible to having rain or other foreign material be drawn into the vent or simply fall into the intake vent, this causing water to leak into the automobile interior. Also sometimes the vent does not close properly, this causing a draft of cold air. These problems have been recognized, and different solutions have been proposed. For example, it has been attempted to make mechanical changes to the intake system to avoid such problems, or possibly add other elements or make operating changes to the system to solve the problems.
To the best knowledge of the applicant herein, such solutions have either not proven to be successful in resolving the problems, or they at least have not been implemented to any large degree possibly for other reasons, such as cost or inconvenience of installing the apparatus or components. In any event, this still remains a problem.
Accordingly, it is obvious that the present invention should provide a simple, convenient, and reliable solution to the problem noted above, of the air vent ingesting water, debris or other matter which either forms an obstruction in the system, which leads to leaking of water into the interior of the automobile, and also improper closing of the vent in cold weather.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is to prevent clogging and leaking in an automobile air vent system where there is an upwardly facing air vent intake grill means which is made of a magnetically permeable material. The grill means is positioned on an upper portion of a body surface of the automobile forwardly of the forward windshield of the automobile, and has an intake opening with an intake open perimeter portion.
The method of the present invention comprises first providing a generally planar intake cover having a perimeter configuration substantially the same as the intake opening. The cover comprises a magnetic material extending over at least a substantial portion of the cover.
The cover is placed over the vent intake grill means where the perimeter of the cover is over the intake opening perimeter portions so as to enclose the intake opening, with the cover magnetically adhering to the grill means.
When the automobile is operated by driving it over the road surface, the cover remains positioned over the vent intake grill means to close the vent intake grill means from water and/or debris passing therethrough.
Also, the present invention comprises the combination of the automobile air vent system and the intake cover, as described above, positioned over the air vent intake grill means.
Other features will become apparent from the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1681942 (1928-08-01), Ledwinka
patent: 2279369 (1942-04-01), Findley
patent: 3845983 (1974-11-01), Heintz
patent: 5479984 (1996-01-01), Easterbrook et al.
Hughes Robert B.
Hughes & Schacht, P.S.
Joyce Harold
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