Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – With grille or radiator guard
Reexamination Certificate
2003-09-24
2004-10-19
Morrow, Jason (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
With grille or radiator guard
Reexamination Certificate
active
06805389
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to automobile accessories and more particularly concerns a shield for protecting the radiator of a motor vehicle.
The front grilles and radiators of motor vehicles are typically presently protected or shielded by optional or after-market devices which cover the outer surface of the grille. Some of these devices are intended to be primarily decorative, so their openings are contoured to coordinate with and enhance the appearance of the grille. While they may be aesthetically pleasing, their openings are too large to prevent stones and other highway debris from passing through the grille and striking the face of the radiator. Others of these devices are intended to be primarily protective of the grille and radiator. While they may block stones and other debris from passing through the grille, their openings, if any, are generally too small or incorrectly shaped to permit a sufficient flow of air to the radiator. All of these devices cover the grille, and even the most aesthetically pleasing of them detract from the beauty of the vehicle'grille as it appeared to the purchaser at the time of purchase. Their exposed covers are easily pierced, tom or otherwise damaged and, despite being accessible from the exterior, they are inconvenient to remove and clean.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which does not cover the external details of the vehicle. Another object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which is mounted between the vehicle front grille and radiator. A further object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which is mountable on the vehicle frame rather than on the vehicle grille. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which is easily removable from the vehicle for replacement or cleaning. It is also an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which has openings small enough to effectively reduce occurrences of stones and debris striking the face of the radiator. Still another object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield with a percentage of open surface area sufficient to permit air to flow to the radiator at a rate useful to cool the radiator. An additional object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which has openings which are contoured to increase the velocity of air flow to the radiator. Another object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle radiator shield which is durably constructed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a shield for protecting a radiator mounted behind the front grille of a motor vehicle has a grating vertically disposed between the grille and the radiator. A plurality of couplings has first and second mating members. The first members are mounted on the frame of the vehicle in a vertically planar pattern forward of the radiator. The second members are contoured to engage downwardly on and be supported by the first member. The second members are secured to the grating in a pattern horizontally coincident with the first members of the vertically planar pattern. Thus, the second members can be engaged on the first members to secure the shield in place between the vehicle grille and radiator.
Preferably, the grating has a matrix of quadrangular openings tapering from front to rear in the shape of a truncated pyramid. The increase of open area in the front face of the grating and the tapered walls of the openings maximize the rate of flow of air to the radiator. The small openings on the rear face of the grating reduce the possibility of stones and debris passing through the grating to the radiator.
To secure the second members to the grating, plugs contoured to be seated in the grating openings are dispersed in selected openings in the grating. In one embodiment, the second members may be clips secured to the plugs with the grating clamped therebetween by threaded engagement of shafts on the clips into holes in their respective plugs. The first members may take the form of tap screws with flanges projecting from their shanks for abutment against the frame of the vehicle. The clips have bodies with open-bottomed receptacles of T-shaped cross-section to receive the heads and shanks of the tap screws therein. In another embodiment, the buttons and clips may be interchanged so that the clips are the first members mounted to the vehicle frame and the buttons are the second members mounted on the gratings. In this embodiment, the clips will be open-topped to downwardly receive the buttons.
In a modified embodiment of the clips, mechanisms are also provided for locking the buttons in the clip receptacles. The locking mechanisms may, for example, be detents on leaf springs which are fastened to the clips. Indentations in the buttons engage with the detents to prevent the buttons from inadvertently separating from the clips. Mechanisms may also be provided on the clips to facilitate the user bending the leaf springs against bias to withdraw the detents from the indentations and permit disengagement of the buttons and the clips to detach the shield from the vehicle frame.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3282368 (1966-11-01), Pittera
patent: 3762489 (1973-10-01), Proksch et al.
patent: 3788419 (1974-01-01), Drone et al.
patent: 4406489 (1983-09-01), Trabert
Catalano Frank J.
Morrow Jason
LandOfFree
Motor vehicle radiator shield does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Motor vehicle radiator shield, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motor vehicle radiator shield will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3261048