Patent Application
20080035048
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.
The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular air scoop device, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
The present invention provides an air scoop device that cools the foot-well area of open top vehicles, for example, convertible cars, water boats, water crafts, and the like, during driving. As used herein, a ‘foot-well area’ generally refers to an area of a car that accommodates lower waist region of a person sitting on front seat of the car. For a convertible car, the air scoop device is designed as per automotive standards and is capable of being installed on a windshield header member of the convertible car. The air scoop device allows sufficient quantity of fresh air to be directed to the foot-well area. The circulation of fresh air in the foot-well area helps in cooling the lower waist region of the person sitting on the front seat. The air scoop device may be mass manufactured in a simple and cost effective manner. Although, the air scoop device of the present invention is ideally suited for use with convertible cars, the air scoop device may be designed to be installed on non-convertible cars and other open top vehicles, water boats and water crafts.
Referring to
The retention system 60 has a retention rod 62 and at least one pole extending vertically from the retention rod 62. In an embodiment, the retention system 60 has two poles 64, 66 extending vertically from the retention rod 62. The retention rod 62 has an elongated cylindrical geometry with a first end 68 and a second end 70. The poles 64, 66 are positioned at equal distance from the first end 68 and the second end 70 in a manner, such that, the poles 64, 66 are engageably received within protruding cups 80, 82 disposed on an inner surface 88 of a top portion of the scoop body 20. For such an engagement, the poles 64, 66 have an engagement profile (e.g., threaded bolts, screws, insert posts, hinges and the like) that removably engage with a complementary engagement profile (e.g., threaded sleeves, grooves, insert holes, and the like) of the protruding cups 80, 82. As shown in
Referring to
To further strengthen the engagement between the windshield header member 410 and the air scoop device 200, the protruding members 44, 46 may have features for bonding the protruding members 44, 46 to the lower portion of the windshield header member 410. For example, the protruding members 44, 46 have a dual lock pad 52 (for example, a Velcro strip) or any similar fastening means that bond with a complementary dual lock pad 54 (for example, a complementary Velcro strip) disposed on the lower portion of the windshield header member 410. The disposal of dual lock pad 52 on the protruding members 44, 46 and of the complementary dual lock pad 54 on the lower portion of the windshield header member 410 may be carried out in various fashions, such as thermal bonding (e.g., pattern bonded), ultrasonic bonding, adhesive bonding (e.g., adhesive, resin, latex, and the like), and/or mechanical bonding (e.g., through-air dried attachment, and the like).
The installation of the air scoop device 100 on the windshield header member 410 may be carried out in a quick and easy manner. Firstly, the retention system 60 of the air scoop device 200 may be introduced into the groove 412 of the windshield header member 410, such that, the retention rod 62 and a portion of the poles 64, 66 may be engageably received within the groove 412. Next, the dual lock pad 52 is disposed on protruding members 44, 46; and the complementary dual lock pad 54 is disposed on the lower portion of the windshield header member 410. Finally, the scoop body 20 of the air scoop device 200 is introduced to enclose a portion of the windshield header member 410 equal to the distance between the first sidewall 24 and the second sidewall 26, while allowing the poles 64, 66 to be received within the protruding cups 80, 82, and simultaneously further strengthening the bonding between the windshield header member 410 and the air scoop device 200 due to the bonding between the dual lock pad 52 and the complementary dual lock pad 54.
In the driving state, air strikes the windshield 420 of the car 400 and enters into the hollow interior space 90 through a first area A1 (See
The air scoop device 200 may be made of any material providing sufficient structural integrity to enable the air scoop device 200 to be suitably installed on the windshield header member 410 and for maintaining the orientation for the proper direction of air to the foot-well area, while also providing aesthetic appearance. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, thermoformed plastics, such as, polyolefines, polyesters, polybutylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and the like. Optionally, the scoop body 20 and the retention system 60 (i.e., the retention rod 62 and the poles 64, 66) may be made of different materials. Various processes may be employed to form the air scoop device 200 and the scoop cover 300. Suitable processes include, but are not limited to, injection molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, vacuum forming, compression molding, and the like.
The air scoop device 200 may have a color and texture that matches with the color and texture of bumper of car 400. Alternatively, the air scoop device may have any color and texture providing an aesthetic appearance. In one embodiment, the air scoop device 200 is non-reflective black with a sand textured finish. Additionally, aesthetic decorations and/or designs, product, manufacturer, and/or source identifiers, and the like may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the scoop body 20 of the air scoop device 200.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
