IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,466,493
Granted Patent B2
US 12,466,493 · App. 18/159,496 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Bodywork for a motor vehicle

Inventor: Daniele Testa (Modena, IT)
Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
B62D25/081B60H1/28
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,493
App. No.
18/159,496
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bodywork for a motor vehicle includes a frame to fix and surround a windshield of the motor vehicle. The frame comprises a crossbar to constitute a support base for the windshield, and a pair of uprights respectively fixed at opposite ends of the crossbar so as to form an area with a closed contour for placing the windshield. The crossbar comprises a first wall facing away from the opposite side to the area. A duct extends through the crossbar between a first opening obtained on a second wall of the crossbar and a second opening obtained on the first wall.

Claims (27)

1 . A bodywork ( 3 ) for a motor vehicle ( 1 ), the bodywork ( 3 ) comprising a frame ( 10 ) to fix and surround a windshield ( 6 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ), wherein the frame ( 10 ) comprises:

a crossbar ( 11 ) to constitute a support base for the windshield ( 6 ), and

a pair of uprights ( 12 ) respectively fixed at opposite ends of the crossbar ( 11 ) so as to form an area with a closed contour for placing the windshield ( 6 ),

wherein the crossbar ( 11 ) comprises a first wall ( 14 ) facing away from said area, characterized in that it comprises a duct ( 20 ) extending through the crossbar ( 11 ) between a first opening ( 21 ) obtained on a second wall ( 17 ) of the crossbar ( 11 ) and a second opening ( 22 ) obtained on the first wall ( 14 ); and

a housing ( 26 ) communicating with the duct ( 20 ) through the second opening ( 22 ) and suitable for containing an air conditioning device ( 30 ) to condition a passenger compartment ( 2 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ).

2 . The bodywork according to claim 1 , wherein the second wall ( 17 ) extends so as to be transversely incident to the first wall ( 14 ).

3 . The bodywork according to claim 1 , wherein the first wall comprises a concave portion ( 23 ), which is concave towards the opposite side with respect to said area, the second opening ( 22 ) being obtained on the concave portion ( 23 ).

4 . The bodywork according to claim 3 , wherein the concave portion ( 23 ) comprises a flat zone ( 25 ) inclined relative to a further portion ( 24 ) of the first wall ( 14 ) distinct from the concave portion ( 23 ), the second opening ( 22 ) being obtained on the flat zone ( 25 ).

5 . The bodywork according to claim 1 , wherein the duct ( 20 ) is defined by a chamber completely obtained inside the crossbar ( 11 ).

6 . A motor vehicle ( 1 ) having a forward moving direction and comprising:

a bodywork ( 3 ) according to claim 1 ,

a windshield ( 6 ) fixed to the frame ( 10 ) of the bodywork ( 3 ) so as to be surrounded by said closed contour, and

a passenger compartment ( 2 ) defined by the bodywork ( 3 ) and an air conditioning device ( 30 ) configured to condition the passenger compartment ( 2 ), wherein the bodywork ( 3 ) further defines a housing ( 26 ) distinct from the passenger compartment ( 2 ), containing the air conditioning device ( 30 ) and communicating with the duct ( 20 ) through the second opening ( 22 ), so that the air conditioning device ( 30 ) can receive air flowing through the duct ( 20 );

wherein said first wall ( 14 ) is transversal relative to an axis orthogonal to the forward moving direction.

7 . The motor vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the second wall ( 17 ) is transversal relative to the forward moving direction.

8 . The motor vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the first opening ( 21 ) communicates with the outside so that air can flow into the duct ( 20 ) towards the housing ( 26 ).

9 . The motor vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the second opening ( 22 ) extends according to an ideal surface having a tangent plane; wherein the tangent plane is orthogonal to a straight line belonging to a plane orthogonal to the forward moving direction.

10 . The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the second wall ( 17 ) extends so as to be transversely incident to the first wall ( 14 ).

11 . The motor vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the duct ( 20 ) is defined by a chamber completely obtained inside the crossbar ( 11 ).

12 . A bodywork ( 3 ) for a motor vehicle ( 1 ), the bodywork ( 3 ) comprising a frame ( 10 ) to fix and surround a windshield ( 6 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ), wherein the frame ( 10 ) comprises:

a crossbar ( 11 ) to constitute a support base for the windshield ( 6 ); and

a pair of uprights ( 12 ) respectively fixed at opposite ends of the crossbar ( 11 ) so as to form an area with a closed contour for placing the windshield ( 6 );

wherein the crossbar ( 11 ) comprises a first wall ( 14 ) facing away from the area, characterized in that it comprises a duct ( 20 ) extending through the crossbar ( 11 ) between a first opening ( 21 ) obtained on a second wall ( 17 ) of the crossbar ( 11 ) and a second opening ( 22 ) obtained on the first wall ( 14 ); and

wherein the first wall ( 14 ) comprises a concave portion ( 23 ), which is concave towards the opposite side with respect to the area, the second opening ( 22 ) being obtained on the concave portion ( 23 ).

13 . The bodywork ( 3 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the second wall ( 17 ) extends so as to be transversely incident to the first wall ( 14 ).

14 . The bodywork ( 3 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the duct ( 20 ) is defined by a chamber completely obtained inside the crossbar ( 11 ).

15 . The bodywork according to claim 12 , wherein the concave portion ( 23 ) comprises a flat zone ( 25 ) inclined relative to a further portion ( 24 ) of the first wall ( 14 ) distinct from the concave portion ( 23 ), the second opening ( 22 ) being obtained on the flat zone ( 25 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2025
From: TESTA, DANIELE
To: FERRARI S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 072477/0448 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT 102022000002405 · Feb 10, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230249754A1 · Aug 10, 2023
References Cited (8)
US 20160221611A1 · Wolf et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20200247478A1 · Kehimkar · 2020 [cited by examiner]
AU 2002250119A1 · 2003 [cited by examiner]
JP S577767A · 1982 [cited by applicant]
JP S61249875A · 1986 [cited by applicant]
JP H06278653A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
FR2630391A1 (Year: 1989). [cited by examiner]
Italian Search Report for Application No. 102022000002405; Filing Date—Feb. 10, 2022; Date of Mailing—Sep. 26, 2022, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]