Patent Application
20250206130
The present specification generally relates to brackets for mounting vehicle accessories and, more specifically, magnetic brackets for snorkel attachment to vehicle bodies.
Some vehicles are configured to drive through water. Some of these vehicles have an internal combustion engine that uses air to combust fuel. Air intakes generally provide the air to cylinders of an engine of the vehicle so that combustion can occur. However, the engine can experience difficulties when the air intake is positioned relatively low on the vehicle permitting water to enter the air intake. To reduce water from entering the combustion engine, a vehicle may have a snorkel attached to the air intake on the combustion engine. The snorkel is a pipe or other tube that connects from the air intake at the engine to a relative higher position on the vehicle to avoid the air intake accepting water when the vehicle is traveling through water. An upper opening of the snorkel can be at a position that is at a roof of the vehicle. In some circumstances, attachment points for the snorkel can involve drilling holes in an A-pillar, which may permit moisture and other contaminates to enter the A-pillar.
In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a vehicle that includes a pillar that extends in a vehicle vertical direction alongside a window of the vehicle. A snorkel mounting system includes a snorkel mounting bracket including a bracket body with a magnet mounted at an inner face of the bracket body and a clip structure mounted to an opposite, outer face of the bracket body. The magnet is configured to magnetically secure the snorkel mounting bracket to the pillar to hold the snorkel mounting bracket to the pillar and the clip structure is configured to secure a snorkel body to the pillar.
In another embodiment, a snorkel assembly for a vehicle includes a snorkel mounting system that includes a snorkel mounting bracket including a bracket body with a magnet mounted at an inner face of the bracket body and a clip structure mounted to an opposite, outer face of the bracket body. The magnet is configured to magnetically secure the snorkel mounting bracket to a pillar of the vehicle to hold the snorkel mounting bracket to the pillar and the clip structure is configured to secure a snorkel body to the pillar.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Embodiments described herein are generally related to vehicles that include snorkel mounting systems for mounting snorkels to pillars of vehicles. The snorkel mounting systems include a snorkel mounting bracket including a bracket body with a magnet mounted on a first face of the bracket body and a clip structure mounted to an opposite, second face of the bracket body. The magnet is configured to magnetically secure the snorkel mounting bracket to the pillar to hold the snorkel mounting bracket to the pillar and the clip structure is configured to secure a snorkel body to the pillar.
As used herein, the term “vehicle longitudinal direction” refers to the forward-rearward direction of the vehicle (i.e., in the +/−vehicle X-direction depicted in
Referring to
The snorkel assembly 18 includes a snorkel mounting system 22 that includes a snorkel mounting bracket 24 including a bracket body 26.
A clip structure 34 extends outward from the outer face 30 that is configured to secure to the snorkel body 20. The bracket body 26 includes a support base 45 that is connected to the outer portion 28. The support base 45 includes first and second protruding portions 39 and 40 that extend outward from the outer portion 28, thereby placing the clip structure 34 in front of the outer face 30. The clip structure 34 includes a clip base 42 connected to the support base 45 of the bracket body 26 and bracket arms 36 and 38 that extend outward from the clip base 42 that are configured to connect to the snorkel body 20. The clip structure 34 may further include spring arms 44 and 46 on opposite sides of the bracket arms 36 and 38 that also extend forward from the clip base 42 and are configured to provide a spring force against the snorkel body 20 outward in the vehicle longitudinal direction when connected to the clip structure 34, which can be used to stabilize the snorkel body 20 during use.
Referring particularly to
The magnets 54, 56, 58 and 60 may be considered “high powered” in that they may have a relatively high magnetic energy compared to some other magnets, such as a magnetic energy (BHmax) greater than 60 KJ/m3, such as greater than 200 KJ/m3, such as greater than 400 KJ/m3. As one example, neodymium magnets may be used that can have a strong magnetic adherence to the pillar 12. While the magnets 54, 56, 58 and 60 are illustrated circular in shape, the magnets 54, 56, 58 and 60 may be any suitable shape, such as rectangular, polygonal, irregular, etc.
Referring now to
The above-described snorkel assemblies with snorkel mounting systems can provide ease in installing and removing the snorkel bodies with an integrated bracket body in structure. An anti-rotation tab may be provided between the windshield rain gutter and pillar to inhibit side-to-side rocking of the snorkel body relative to the pillar. The snorkel assemblies can provide a non-destructive (e.g., no cutting or welding) attachment to the pillar, particularly when the vehicle is not already equipped with snorkel attachment features. The snorkel assemblies can be readily removed for servicing in a repeatable manner. Use of high powered magnets can provide strong magnetic adherence, which can allow the snorkel assembly to be used in car washes, off-road conditions, long term mileage accumulation and any other conditions where a strong magnetic adherence is needed.
It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.
