# US 10,370,043 B2 · Aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,043 B2 - Document ID: US10370043B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/810,646 - Filed: 2017-11-13 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2005-06-29 - Applicants: Thomas Scott Breidenbach - Inventors: Thomas Scott Breidenbach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370043B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/00: Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - B62D 35/004: {Inflatable nose or rear cones} - B62D 35/007: {Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adaptable for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus consists of a series of nesting shapes and/or frameworks that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus adapted for mounting at a mounting location of a vehicle with a substantially vertical rear end, the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus comprising: an aerodynamic panel adapted for movement between a first position whereat the aerodynamic panel is in a deployed configuration and a second position whereat the aerodynamic panel is in a non-deployed configuration; a first link; a first rotational joint defining relative movement between the first link and the mounting location of the vehicle at least when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle; a second rotational joint defining relative movement between the first link and the aerodynamic panel; a second link; a third rotational joint defining relative movement between the second link and the mounting location of the vehicle at least when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle; and a fourth rotational joint defining relative movement between the second link and the aerodynamic panel; wherein the second rotational joint and the fourth rotational joint are adapted to guide the movement of the aerodynamic panel at least when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle; and wherein the movement of the aerodynamic panel between the first position and the second position includes rotational movement of the aerodynamic panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle, the aerodynamic panel is deployed behind the substantially vertical rear end of the vehicle when the aerodynamic panel is in the deployed configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle, the aerodynamic panel is at a side of the vehicle when the aerodynamic panel is at the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle, the aerodynamic panel moves with a door of the vehicle between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the aerodynamic panel and the door of the vehicle are fixedly connected to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle: the first link and the second link are included in a four-bar linkage; a third link of the four-bar linkage is connected between the first rotational joint and the third rotational joint and the vehicle thereby forms at least a portion of the third link at the mounting location; and a fourth link of the four-bar linkage is connected between the second rotational joint and the fourth rotational joint and the aerodynamic panel is guided by the second rotational joint and the fourth rotational joint at least between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the first rotational joint defines a first axis, the second rotational joint defines a second axis, the third rotational joint defines a third axis, and the fourth rotational joint defines a fourth axis; the second axis and the fourth axis are fixedly located with respect to the aerodynamic panel; and the first axis, the second axis, the third axis, and the fourth axis are substantially parallel to each other and the four-bar linkage is thereby a planar four-bar linkage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the first axis is defined by a first feature fixedly positioned at the mounting location of the vehicle at least when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle; the second axis is defined by a second feature fixedly positioned on the aerodynamic panel; the third axis is defined by a third feature fixedly positioned at the mounting location of the vehicle at least when the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is mounted at the mounting location of the vehicle; and the fourth axis is defined by a fourth feature fixedly positioned on the aerodynamic panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first distance between the first rotational joint and the third rotational joint is less than a second distance between the second rotational joint and the fourth rotational joint. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 9, wherein a third distance between the first rotational joint and the second rotational joint is less than a fourth distance between the third rotational joint and the fourth rotational joint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first rotational joint is positioned outboard relative to the third rotational joint with respect to the vehicle at least when the aerodynamic panel is at the deployed configuration. ### Claim 12 An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus adapted for use on a vehicle with a substantially vertical rear end, the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus comprising: an aerodynamic panel assembly adapted for movement between a first position whereat the aerodynamic panel assembly is in a deployed configuration, a second position whereat the aerodynamic panel assembly is in a non-deployed configuration, and an intermediate position through which the aerodynamic panel assembly passes when moving between the first position and the second position; and a linkage arrangement adapted to mount the aerodynamic panel assembly to the vehicle and to guide the movement of the aerodynamic panel assembly between the first position, the intermediate position, and the second position; wherein when the aerodynamic panel assembly is moved from the first position to the intermediate position, a distance that the aerodynamic panel assembly is spaced from the vehicle increases; and wherein when the aerodynamic panel assembly is moved from the second position to the intermediate position, the distance that the aerodynamic panel assembly is spaced from the vehicle increases. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the distance that the aerodynamic panel assembly is spaced from the vehicle when the aerodynamic panel assembly is at the first position is zero. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the aerodynamic panel assembly is mounted to the vehicle and at the first position, the aerodynamic panel assembly is deployed behind the substantially vertical rear end of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the aerodynamic panel assembly is mounted to the vehicle and at the second position, the aerodynamic panel assembly is at a side of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the aerodynamic panel assembly includes a door of the vehicle and wherein when the aerodynamic panel assembly is mounted to the vehicle, the aerodynamic panel assembly moves with the door of the vehicle between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the movement of the aerodynamic panel assembly between the first position and the second position includes rotational movement of the aerodynamic panel assembly. ### Claim 18 An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus adapted for use on a vehicle with a substantially vertical rear end, the aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus comprising: at least one aerodynamic panel assembly moveable between a first position whereat the aerodynamic panel assembly extends a contour of the vehicle and a second position; and at least one support device for supporting the at least one aerodynamic panel assembly at least in the first position; wherein the at least one support device includes a four-bar linkage having at least four joint axes for guiding the aerodynamic panel assembly between the first position and the second position, the four-bar linkage including: at least one first link having a first length and at least one second link having a second length, the first length being longer than the second length; wherein the first link and the second link each include a first joint for attachment to the vehicle and a second joint for pivotally connecting the first link and the second link, respectively, to the aerodynamic panel assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the four-bar linkage comprises precisely four joint axes that are parallel to one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least four joint axes are each vertical joint axes and wherein the aerodynamic panel assembly extends the contour of a side wall of the vehicle when the aerodynamic panel assembly is at the first position.