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US 10,118,564 B2Granted
Cargo box with aerodynamic textured surface
AssigneeThule Sweden AB
InventorsFrederic Clark, Timothy Makris, Joe Settelmayer, John Laverack, Gregor Weaver, Kevin Bogoslofski, Ian McLeran
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Abstract
A cargo box attachable to a vehicle that includes a cover shell having a textured portion that lessens aerodynamic drag on the combination of the vehicle and cargo box.
Claims17
A cargo box mountable to a carrying vehicle, comprising:
- a base configured to be mounted to the carrying vehicle;
- and
- a cover shell with an inner surface and an outer surface,
- wherein the cover shell is attachable to the base with the inner surface of the cover shell and the base forming an interior cargo space,
- wherein a front portion of the outer surface of the cover shell includes an aerodynamic-potentiated textured portion having a plurality of elliptically shaped recessed dimples formed into the outer surface of the cover shell,
- wherein a first end of each elliptically shaped recessed dimple is curved and a second end opposite the first end is curved,
- wherein the dimples have a depth extending into the cover shell and are arranged in a pattern having a plurality of rows extending from the front portion of the outer surface of the cover shell toward a rear portion of the outer surface of the cover shell,
- wherein each elliptically shaped recessed dimple is symmetrical about two axes, and
- wherein at least one row of dimples progressively decreases in diameter and depth as the row extends from the front portion to the rear portion of the cover shell.
6 more elements
A cargo box mountable to a vehicle comprising:
- a base having a substantially flat bottom surface, wherein the base is configured to be mounted to the vehicle;
- and
- a cover shell comprising:
- an outer surface having a top surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall;
- an inner surface;
- and
- a plurality of recessed dimples having a long-axis and a depth formed in the front portion of the outer surface of the cover shell,
- wherein the recessed dimples are arranged in a pattern having a first longitudinal row and a second longitudinal row,
- wherein the first longitudinal row comprises dimples having the same length long-axis and the same depth,
- wherein the second longitudinal row comprises a first dimple and a second dimple disposed rearward of the first dimple, wherein a long-axis and a depth of the second dimple are shorter than the first dimple, and
- wherein the cover shell is configured to attach to the base such that the inner surface of the cover shell and the base define an interior cargo space.
8 more elements
A cargo box mountable to a carrying vehicle, comprising:
- a base configured to be mounted to the carrying vehicle;
- and
- a cover shell with an inner surface and an outer surface,
- wherein the cover shell is attachable to the base with the inner surface of the cover shell and the base forming an interior cargo space,
- wherein a front portion of the outer surface of the cover shell includes an aerodynamic-potentiated textured portion having a plurality of elliptically shaped recessed dimples formed into the outer surface of the cover shell,
- wherein the dimples have a depth extending into the cover shell and are arranged in a pattern having a plurality of rows extending from the front portion of the outer surface of the cover shell toward a rear portion of the outer surface of the cover shell, and
- wherein at least one row of dimples progressively decreases in diameter and depth as the row extends from the front portion to the rear portion of the cover shell.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.