IP Library Granted Patent US 7,399,025
Granted Patent B2
US 7,399,025 · App. 11/828,054 · Granted Jul 15, 2008

Wind deflector for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle having such a wind deflector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,399,025
App. No.
11/828,054
Granted
Jul 15, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motor vehicle wind deflector contains a stretching bow mounted to be pivotable around a first fixed pivot axis running transversely to the vehicle. A flexible flat structure which is rollable onto and unrollable from a rolling axis parallel to stretching bow axis is attached to the stretching bow to which a roof arch is also connected. The roof arch is mounted to be pivotable around a second fixed pivot axis extending transversely to the vehicle, which second axis is spaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the first pivot axis. The stretching bow is connected via a movable coupling mechanism to the roof arch.

Claims (20)

1. A wind deflector for a motor vehicle, comprising a stretching bow pivotally mounted around a first fixed pivot axis extending in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, a flexible flat structure operatively attached to the stretching bow so as to be rollable onto and unrollable from a rolling axis extending parallel to the first pivot axis, and a roof arch operatively connected to the stretching bow, wherein the roof arch is pivotally mounted around a second fixed pivot axis extending in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle and spaced in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle from the first fixed pivot axis, and the stretching bow is operatively connected to the roof arch via a movable coupling mechanism.

2. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is operatively connected to the stretching bow and to the roof arch in lateral areas thereof.

3. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is rotatably connected both to the stretching bow and the roof arch.

4. The wind deflector according to claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism a four-bar mechanism.

5. The wind deflector according to claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a steering lever operatively connected to the stretching bow and to the roof arch and a first pivot point acting as a connection point between the stretching bow and the steering lever is spaced from a second pivot point of the stretching bow for pivotable mounting of the stretching bow, and a third pivot point acting as a connection point between the roof arch and the steering lever, is spaced from a fourth pivot point of the roof arch for pivotable mounting of the roof arch.

6. The wind deflector according to claim 5 , wherein the fourth pivot point is configured to act as a drive point for operatively connecting a drive to pivot the wind deflector.

7. The wind deflector according to claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a first steering lever, a second steering lever, and a third steering lever that are rotatably connected to one another in a joint pivot point, the first steering lever also being connected to the stretching bow, the second steering lever being rotatably connected to the roof arch, and the third steering lever having a drive point for connecting a drive to pivot the wind deflector.

8. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is operatively connected to the stretching bow and the roof arch so that a transmission ratio of approximately 1:2 is established between pivoting of the stretching bow and pivoting of the roof arch.

9. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein the rolling axis for rolling and unrolling the flexible flat structure is fixed in place in the motor vehicle and the roof arch is situated to act as a deflection element for deflecting the unrolled flat structure.

10. The wind deflector according claim 1 , wherein the rolling axis is arranged on a transverse web of the roof arch extending parallel to the second fixed pivot axis.

11. The wind deflector according to claim 10 , wherein a further flexible flat structure is fixedly attached in place at the motor vehicle and is rollable and unrollable around the rolling axis arranged on the roof arch.

12. The wind deflector according to claim 11 , wherein the flat structures are situated to be rollable and unrollable around a common rolling axis and, in their rolled states, are wound lying one on top of another on the common rolling axis.

13. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible flat structure comprises a net-like material.

14. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein the stretching bow and the roof arch are mounted so as to be pivotable in diametrically opposite, lateral areas of a vehicle body of the motor vehicle.

15. The wind deflector according to claim 14 , wherein lateral cover parts are provided so that, in an active position of the wind deflector in which it is used for wind protection, the lateral cover parts assume cover positions for essentially horizontal coverage of gaps between the lateral areas of the motor vehicle and the unrolled flat structure.

16. The wind deflector according to claim 1 , wherein lateral wind protection parts are provided, so as to be pivotable on the stretching bow such that, in the active position of the wind deflector in which it is used for wind protection, the lateral cover parts span lateral active areas between lateral areas of the stretching bow and the unrolled flat structure to generate additional wind protection.

17. The wind deflector according to claim 16 , wherein the stretching bow, the lateral wind protection parts operatively attached thereto, and the roof arch are so configured and arranged that the roof arch, upon pivoting of the wind deflector into its active position, pivots the lateral wind protection parts to span the lateral active areas.

18. The wind deflector according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the lateral cover parts and the lateral wind protection parts are operatively arranged so as to be concealable under a panel of the motor vehicle in a neutral position of the wind deflector when not used as for wind protection.

19. The wind deflector according claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is concealable under a panel of the motor vehicle.

20. A motor vehicle, including a cabriolet, having a wind deflector according to claim 1 .

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Nov 2, 2010
From: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 025227/0699 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 2, 2010
From: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 025227/0747 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 30, 2008
From: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (COMPANY NUMBER 722287)
Reel/Frame 021184/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2007
From: HERMANN, FELIX; BEIERL, DOMINIK
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 019756/0271 →