Active vehicle pillar arrangement for selective wind noise, wind throb, snow buildup and moisture control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMark George Vojtisek, Douglas Richard Olson, Jamal Kanso, William S Gulker, Jonathan B Barnes, Travis S Garland
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Abstract
An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise.
Claims20
An apparatus for use with a pillar adjacent a vehicle windshield or door frame, comprising:
- a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel juxtaposed with the windshield in a deployed condition for channeling moisture away from the pillar or reducing the effects of wind throb;
- and
- a flexible actuator associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise.
An apparatus for use in connection with a vehicle pillar adjacent a windshield, comprising:
- a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding having a deployed condition providing a channel juxtaposed with the windshield for channeling moisture away from the pillar and a non-deployed condition for reducing the effects of wind noise;
- and
- a rotatable actuator for causing the molding to assume the deployed condition or the non-deployed condition.
An apparatus for use in connection with a vehicle pillar adjacent a windshield, comprising:
- a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding having a first portion mounted for sliding along a second portion to and fro between a deployed condition in which the first portion of the molding includes an opening for receiving and channeling moisture away from the pillar and a non-deployed condition in which the second portion of the molding blocks the opening to reduce the effects of wind noise;
- and
- an actuator for moving the second portion of the molding relative to the first portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.