Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – End gates
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-11
2001-03-27
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
End gates
C296S180500, C296S180100, C296S057100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206444
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to pick-up trucks and like vehicles which have an open bed and a tailgate. More particularly, the present invention relates to utilizing a conventional tailgate to act as an aerodynamic spoiler to reduce wind drag.
By virtue of its very design, pick-up trucks are aerodynamically inefficient. This is due, in large part, to the open bed of the truck which is closed off by a tailgate. Ambient airstreams flow relatively smoothly over the cab down into the bed of the truck, however, the airstream makes an abrupt transition from horizontal flow over the truck bed to a vertical flow when encountering the tailgate. Without a gradual redirection of the airstream, a tremendous amount of drag occurs. This drag increases fuel consumption and reduces available horsepower and vehicle performance. Although wind drag occurs at all speeds, the negative effects become more pronounced as vehicle speed increases.
Attempts have been made to remedy or at least alleviate this problem. These attempts can be classified into two areas, namely reconfiguration of the truck bed and reconfiguration of the tailgate.
Pick-up truck owners have reconfigured the truck bed by placing a cover over the bed. There are many forms of covers. Some are elevated, making the truck cab and bed into what appears to be a single unit. Other covers are placed over only the bed of the truck. These are oftentimes referred to as tonneaus. Tonneaus may be hard or soft and are usually secured to the upper edge of the truck bed. Although at least partially effective at reducing wind drag, these truck bed covers make it difficult to use the pick-up in its intended manner. Typically, objects are constantly being inserted into and removed from the truck bed, requiring removal of the cover before use. However, removal of the cover eliminates the wind drag reduction benefits. The tonneau must also be stored when removed and then re-secured after the objects are taken out of the truck bed. This practice has been found to be very inconvenient.
Other devices have been developed which modify or replace the tailgate itself. Some devices require the manual repositioning or removal of the tailgate and are typically quite cumbersome. Another device mounts spoilers atop the tailgate to direct wind flow. However, this device does not resolve the problem of the drag encountered at the face of the closed tailgate within the bed of the truck. Other devices replace the conventional tailgate with a fabric mesh or pivotal wings. However, these devices drastically alter the appearance of the truck and can also adversely affect the ability to transport items in the bed of the truck.
Thus, what is needed is a device which allows a truck owner to reduce tailgate wind drag without having to manually remove a cover or tailgate. Further, a device is needed which reduces wind drag while allowing the truck owner to conveniently place objects in and out of the truck bed. Additionally, a device is needed which utilizes the original equipment manufactured tailgate of the truck, thus retaining the overall look of the truck. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention resides in apparatus which utilize the tailgate of a vehicle, such as a pick-up truck, to create an aerodynamic windspoiler for the vehicle. In one form, the apparatus comprises, generally, a housing which is attached to the vehicle, a rod having a first end supported within the housing and a second end attached to the tailgate, wherein the rod is capable of being slidably extended and retracted from the housing, and means for controlling the positioning of the rod relative to the housing in relation to the speed of the vehicle.
In one illustrated embodiment, the housing is pivotally attached to the vehicle and the rod is pivotally attached to the tailgate by a pivotal joint. The controlling means comprises an electrically driven motor. The electrically driven motor may be manually actuated or activated by a speed sensing logic control unit.
In another illustrated embodiment, the housing is pivotally attached to the vehicle and the rod is pivotally and removably attached to the tailgate by a pivotal joint. The controlling means comprises an hydraulic cylinder and spring assembly associated with the housing. The spring normally biases the rod towards the housing, but permits the rod to extend in response to ambient air-flow over the tailgate as the speed of the vehicle increases.
In another form of the invention, the apparatus includes, generally, a rotatable shaft attached to a sheet of stretch resistant material which is extendable and retractable from the shaft. A first end of the sheet is attached to the shaft and a second end of the sheet is removably attachable to the tailgate. Upon extending and attaching the sheet of material to the tailgate, a windspoil is created. The sheet has a width substantially the width of the bed of the vehicle and is typically attached to the tailgate with clamps. The shaft may be coupled to a torsional spring which biases the shaft so that the sheet of material is normally wrapped around the shaft when not attached to the tailgate. The shaft is usually attached to the vehicle between the cab portion and wheel wells by frictionally lodging the shaft between opposing bed walls of the vehicle. The apparatus may also include a housing which envelopes the shaft and torsion spring and may be lodged between the walls of the cab. The housing includes a longitudinal aperture through which the sheet passes as it is extended from and retracted back onto the shaft.
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Kelly Bauersfeld Lowry & Kelley LLP
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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