Patent Application
20220001820
The presently disclosed subject matter generally pertains to an automotive grille overlay, and more specifically to an automotive grille overlay capable of snapping over an identical, previously installed automotive grille of an automobile. The purpose of the formerly described automobile grille overlay is to cover up the latterly described manufacturer's automobile grille which was damaged, for example, during an automobile collision, or in the absence of an automobile collision but in the presence of other non-collision damage so as, to provide a span-on automobile grille overlay of the present invention with an enhanced cosmetic finish and an attractive appearance.
In general, after-market components are used to enhance automobile cosmetic appearances which can be added to an automobile to add decoration and customization to a vehicle beyond what is supplied by the vehicle manufacturer. One component is an automobile grille overlay which fits over the manufacturer's installed automobile grille and provides a customized look. An after-market automobile grille overlay is typically custom manufactured to precisely fit over a specific one or more grille of a specific vehicle or vehicles. Commonly, after-market automobile grille overlays are finished in a chrome or black finish, thus providing a new look to the automobile installed thereon.
After-market automobile grille overlays are comprised of different shapes and designs and are used to fit over automobile factory grilles when said grilles are damaged, for example, in an automobile collision or when said grilles demonstrate severe wear and tear and are unattractive due to being exposed to the environmental elements for a significant amount of time. When installed, the grille overlays cover the damaged grilles and provide the automobiles with new cosmetic and new decorative finishes which enhance said automobiles' appearances and increase their resale value.
Most automobile grilles which are known in the prior art are typically designed to replace the damaged manufacturer's grilles. Replacing the manufacturer's grille requires expending significant resources on labor needed to first remove the manufacturer's grille and second to replace the manufacturer's grille with the replacement after-market grille. Next the replacement grille is painted, which blends the grille with the appearance of the rest of the vehicle.
Prior to 2006, the prior art taught automobile grilles and method of manufacturing said grilles were used to outright replace manufacturers' grille when damaged, for example, during a automobile collision, or when damaged, for example, during long exposure to the environmental elements. Nunes in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,849 describes these pre-2006 prior art automobile grilles used as outright replacement for damaged grilles whether said damage was caused by an automobile collision or by environmental degradation, and the manner in which they were manufactured or constructed.
First, Nunes in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,849 describes Chase in U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,575 as teaching an automobile grille capable of withstanding a frontal collision impact which is chromium plated so as to promote flexural property of the automobile grille. Second, Nunes, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,849 describes Flewitt et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,150 as teaching an automobile radiator grille assembly comprising an upper edge that edges the hood of a vehicle and a lower edge that engages the bumper of a vehicle. According to Nunes, Flewitt et al. further teaches that resilient arms are used to secure the upper portion of the replaced automobile grille to the vehicle, and resilient means are used to bias the upper edge of the grille to the hood. Third, Nunes in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,849 describes Stull in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,343 as teaching a grille manufactured from aluminum and later power coated. Stull describes attaching to the leading edge of the grille multiple steel strips for reducing moisture within the coating and improving the decorative appearance of the grille.
Post 2006, Nunes in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,849, for its part teaches a snap-on chrome plated automotive grille overlay. Specifically, Nunes teaches a snap-on technology needing vertical and horizontal bars or slats configured to duplicate an existing automotive grille when nested thereupon. According to Nunes, the overlay grille is having protruding clips integrally formed on said grille overlay. Nunes further teaches said clips having a bevel on an interior surface allowing for deflection over the automotive grille, thereby permitting the grille overlay to be snapped into place.
Post Nunes, Doroghazi et al. in U.S Patent Application Publication 2009/0066096 A1 teaches a vehicle grille including structural inner member and decorative outer member with snap-in features. It is important to note that Doroghazi et al. does not teach an overlay snap automotive grille. Doroghazi et al. teaches a grille comprising an outer member and an inner member. Said outer member including a plurality of molded-in snap features to engage with the inner member at a plurality of corresponding snap-receiving points or locations. The snap-in technology described by Doroghazi et al. is a lower tensioning foot comprising a part that hooks around another specified part and includes a retaining portion that is generally perpendicular to the ground, which rocks into position and helps hold the grille in place.
Rosen et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,253 teaches a method for attaching a polished metal grille surround. Rosen et al. teaches a shell formed from metal sheet and a backing structure wherein the backing structure is fixedly secured to the shell and the backing structure is fixedly secured to the vehicle. That the shell and the backing structure are held together by an adhesive and by inserting a threaded insert into a corresponding aperture. Another prior art Lee in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2017/0021786 teaches a multi-piece vehicle shield assembled by studs and apertures having snap-together feature.
Other than Nunes or U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,849, no other prior art teaches a snap-on grille overlay. However, Nunes differs from the present invention in several ways. First, due to the limitations of Nunes' snap-on technology, Nunes' automotive grille overlay is capable of fitting only a manufacturer's automotive grille comprising one or more horizontal slats and one or more vertical bars that are formed within a thin-walled overlay body. In contrast, the present invention's snap-on technology allows for installing an automotive grille overlay capable of fitting all shapes and styles in the present day market place.
Second, Nunes' snap-on technology teaches a plurality of inward-protruding clips integrally formed within the slats and bars for connecting the grille to the vehicle. In additional to further support the plurality of inward-protruding clips and to prevent vibration from separating the overlay from the vehicle grille and to minimize noise levels, a cushioning material may be attached to an inside surface of the thin-walled grille overlay body. In contrast, the present invention teaches manufacturing and installing a snap-on technology within an interior region of a horizontal slat of an automotive grille overlay, teaches manufacturing and installing a snap on technology of the present invention within an interior region of a vertical bar of an automotive grille overlay, teaches manufacturing and installing a snap on technology of the present invention within an interior region of a parabolic bar of an automotive grille overlay, and teaches manufacturing and installing a snap-on technology of the present invention within an interior region of a polygon-based, interlocking mesh system of an automotive grille overlay.
The present invention does not require the use of protruding clips or cushioning material or the use of adhesive tapes to prevent vibration from separating the grille overlay from a vehicle's original grille or to minimize noise levels when a vehicle is in motion. Thus, the prior art automotive grille overlays require the application of secondary components for affixing to the original manufacturer's automotive grilles (i.e. tape, glue, clips, etc.). This makes installation somewhat tedious, inconvenient, expansive and perhaps even messy. Furthermore, these prior art automotive grille overlays are prone to loosen over time with repeated use of the automobile, and requiring numerous, labor intensive and costly repairs over the life span of the automobile.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved automotive grille overlay that has the identical configuration of a damaged manufacturer's automotive grille capable of being securely snapped on into place over the latter, and providing the appearance of a new or enhance manufacturer's automotive grille without the need of removing the damaged automotive grille.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved automotive grille overlay capable of being snapped-on to an existing manufacturer's automotive grille, without requiring the use of double-sided tape or other bonding materials, or clips, to hold the automotive grille overlay in place.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved automotive grille overlay constructed of rigid material capable of being flexed and optionally constructed of a single piece of polymer material capable of affixing over an existing manufacturer's automotive grille without any additional components.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved automotive grille overlay capable of being snapped over a manufacturer's grille to cover up damage or wear and tear of the latter without being noticeable to consumers that said improved automotive grille overlay had been installed.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved automotive grille overlay capable of being snapped over a manufacturer's grille to cover up damage or wear and tear of the latter without requiring numerous, labor intensive and costly repairs over the life span of the automobile.
In accordance with certain aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided an improved automotive grille overlay capable of being snapped over a manufacturer's existing grille to cover up damage or wear and tear of the latter, said improved automotive grille overlay comprising horizontal slats, vertical bars and/or polygon-based interlocking mesh system with interior regions used for snapping over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's existing grille in need of repair or appearance enhancement.
In accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, the interior regions of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay containing the snap-on technology used for snapping over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's existing grille is comprised of a rigid polymer upper lip protruding continuously along a rigid polymer upper longitudinal edge and a rigid polymer upper arm edge which is capable of having a curved shape, an oval shape, a parabolic shape, a linear shape or having a polygon shape with respect to the upper longitudinal edge, and a rigid polymer lower lip protruding continuously along a rigid polymer lower longitudinal edge and a rigid polymer lower arm edge which is capable of having a curved shape, an oval shape, a linear shape or having a polygon shape with respect to the lower longitudinal edge.
In accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclose subject matter, the interior regions of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay containing the snap-on technology used for snapping, over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's existing grille is comprised of an upper rigid polymer hook-shaped member that protrudes along the entire upper lip and defines an interior region which grippingly engages an upper portion of an existing manufacturer's grille, and a lower rigid polymer hook-shaped member that protrudes along the entire lower lip and defines an interior region which grippingly engages a lower portion of an existing manufacturer's grille.
Still, in accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclose subject matter, the interior regions of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay containing the snap-on technology is used for snapping over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's existing grille, wherein upon engagement of said rigid polymer upper lip and said rigid polymer lower lip of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay with the corresponding portions of a manufacturer's grille, the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay is firmly affixed to said manufacturer's grille.
Still, in accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, a rear surface of said automotive grille overlay of the present invention is contoured to precisely conform to the visible surface of an existing manufacturer's grille such that upon engagement of the upper lip and lower lip on said manufacturer's automotive grille, said improved automotive grille overlay of the present invention is intended to be flush against the manufacturer's automotive grille.
Still, in accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, the horizontal slats, the vertical bars, the parabolic bars and the interlocking parabolic mesh system, etc. of the improved automotive grille overlay of the present invention may be composed of a rigid polymer material that can be temporarily flexed during installation of said automotive grille overlay over an existing manufacturer's grille.
Yet, in accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, the horizontal slats, the vertical bars, the parabolic bars and the interlocking parabolic mesh system, etc. are manufactured from a rigid material that allows for manipulation of the panels and interlocking system during installation over an existing manufacturer's automotive grille to facilitate engagement of the upper lip and lower lip of the snap-on technology of the present invention with the upper portion and lower portion of the existing manufacturer's grille respectively.
Yet still, in accordance with further aspects and, optionally, in combination with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, the front surface of the improved automotive grille overlay of the present invention is finished in a decorative finish.
Among advantages of certain embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter is that the improved automotive grille overlay of the present invention can be snapped on to an existing manufacturer's existing grille and held firmly in place by means of the upper lip and lower lip of the improved automotive grille overlay of the present invention without requiring the use of double sided tape or clips to hold the automotive grille overlay in place.
In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, embodiments will be described, by the way of non-limiting examples, with references to accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the presently disclosed subject matter.
Bearing in mind, attention is drawn to
As shown in
Again referring to the embodiment of this present invention,
Still referring to the embodiment of this present invention,
Yet again referring to the embodiment of this present invention,
Still referring to the embodiment of this present invention,
Specifically referring to the cross sectional area of
Specifically referring to the cross sectional area of
During installation of the improved automotive grille of the present invention, the rear surfaces and interior regions of the grille overlay as depicted in
As such after installation, the interior regions of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay containing the snap-on technology is used for snapping over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's damaged existing grille, wherein upon engagement of said rigid polymer upper lip and said rigid polymer lower lip and said connecting rigid polymer lip of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay with the corresponding portions of a damaged existing manufacturer's grille, the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay is firmly affixed to said manufacturer's grille leaving no room for vibrations or interplay when an automobile is in motion.
Yet still, referring to
Specifically referring to the cross sectional area of
Specifically referring to the cross sectional area of
During installation of the improved automotive grille of the present invention, the rear surfaces and interior regions of the grille overlay as depicted in
As such after installation, the interior regions of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay containing the snap-on technology is used for snapping over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's damaged existing grille, wherein upon engagement of said rigid polymer upper lip and said rigid polymer lower lip and said connecting rigid polymer lip of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay with the corresponding portions of a damaged existing manufacturer's grille, the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay is firmly affixed to said manufacturer's grille leaving no room for vibrations or interplay when an automobile is in motion.
Still, referring to the embodiment of this present invention,
Specifically referring to the cross sectional area of
Specifically referring to the cross sectional area of
That along the interior regions of the of the rear surface of the smaller-inner and peripheral-hexagonal member 58a of the present invention's, the interior regions of the upper lip 103 and the interior regions of the lower lip 104 are connected by an interior region 105 as shown in
During installation of the improved automotive grille of the present invention, the rear surfaces and interior regions of the grille overlay as depicted in
As such after installation, the interior regions of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay containing the snap-on technology is used for snapping over corresponding regions of a manufacturer's damaged existing grille, wherein upon engagement of said rigid polymer upper lip and said rigid polymer lower lip and said connecting rigid polymer lip of the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay with the corresponding portions of a damaged existing manufacturer's grille, the present invention's improved automotive grille overlay is firmly affixed to said manufacturer's grille leaving no room for vibrations or interplay when an automobile is in motion.
That to produce the finished embodiment described in the specification, suitable polymer materials well known in the art are first selected and tested for strength, durability, malleability and resistance, etc. to meet after-market standards and particularly to meet the rigid original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards demanded by established automobile manufacturers and distributors. Suitable rigid polymer materials are used straightly and without mixing or proportionally in percentile combination with other polymer materials, including but not limited to, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, poly vinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile butadeine styrene.
First, these materials (prior to being chrome plated and after being chrome plated) are placed through thermal cycle test(s) and exposed to predetermined temperature to examine for dimensional changes, deformation, clearance gaps, waviness, unevenness, creases, split, crack, breakage, blister, peeling and discoloration, etc. Second, these materials (prior to being chrome plated and after being chrome plated) are placed through chemical resistance test(s) and exposed to predetermined chemical concentrations, such as artificial perspiration, detergent, insect repellent, sun tan oil, sun screening cream and liquid paraffin, etc. to examine for dissolving, cloudiness, stains, discoloration, deformation, uneven surfaces, blooming, sticky surfaces, contamination, glossiness, cracking, breakage, softening, hardening, swelling, thinning and shrinkage, etc. Third, these materials (prior to being chrome plated and after being chrome plated) are placed falling ball impact test(s) by dropping a steel ball from a predetermined height to examine for cracks, breakage, detrimental deformation on the materials visible surface, and for conforming, etc. Fourth, these materials (prior to being chrome plated and after being chrome plated) are placed through pencil scratch test(s) and exposed to predetermined variable models of pencils, so as to examine for surface hardness and scratch resistance, etc. Fifth, these materials (prior to being chrome plated and after being chrome plated) are placed through abrasion resistance test(s) or TABER and exposed to predetermined abrasion wheels, load and rotation speed, etc. so as to examine for glossiness before gloss, after gloss and overall gloss retention. Sixth, these materials (prior to being chrome plated and after being chrome plated) are placed through scratch resistance test(s) and exposed to predetermined load, scratching speed and scratch length using sand paper, glass bead and abrasion tester to examine for based surface exposure, flaw observation rank and the difference between gloss value after test and initial gloss value.
After the suitable materials are selected and tested as describe above, a three dimensional (3D) scanned imaging of the individual embodiment component parts are generated. Next, the three dimensional scanned imaging of said individual embodiment component parts are transferred to an injection molding computer to generate the injection molding designed precisely corresponding to each individual component parts of the three embodiments of the present invention. Next, the desired material (preferably, but not limited to, rigid polymer material) is placed in the injection molding to form the individual component parts. After the individual component parts are formed from the injection molding, a fine tuning/finishing process ensues where the component parts are smoothed to remove all/any sharp and/or rough edges. Finally, the individual component parts of the present invention are chromed to obtain the final product.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the description contained herein or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Hence, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the presently disclosed subject matter. The snap-on technology of this present invention with variation and unique contours can be used for other car accessories such as wheels, view mirrors, side mirrors, license plate covers, etc. These accessories are capable of being fitted with LEDs as deemed necessary and appropriate and consistent with various regulations.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiment of the invention as herein before described without departing from its scope, defined in and by the appended claims.
