# US 10,864,952 B2 · Drag reducing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,952 B2 - Document ID: US10864952B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/278,844 - Filed: 2019-02-19 - Published: 2019-06-27 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-05 - Assignees: Aero Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Aero Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Hunter Miller; John Vogel; James R. Tuerk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864952B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/008: {Side spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - 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 A drag reducing device for a vehicle body having a top wall and a door pivotably mounted to the rear of the body to open toward a side wall of the body, includes a wing sized and configured to turn airflow across the top wall of the body, the wing having a trailing edge and a proximal edge; and an assembly mounted to the door and configured for pivoting the wing so that the trailing edge of the wing is pivoted upward to a position above the top wall of the vehicle body when the door is open and for pivoting the wing so that the trailing edge of the wing is pivoted downward to a position below the top wall of the vehicle body when the door is closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drag reducing device for a vehicle body having a side wall and a door pivotably mounted to a door frame fixed to the rear of the body to open toward the side wall, the device comprising: a side wing assembly pivotably mounted to the door frame adjacent said side wall, said assembly including; a hinge plate pivotably mounted to the door frame and extending rearward from the rear of the vehicle body; and a panel pivotably mounted to the hinge plate to pivot about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle body, the panel mounted to the hinge plate at a forward edge of said panel and arranged so that a rear edge of said panel extends rearward from the vehicle body in a deployed configuration; and at least one first flexible lanyard connected between said hinge plate and the door; and at least one second flexible lanyard connected between the door and the panel adjacent said rear edge of said panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drag reducing device of claim 1, further comprising two first lanyards and three second lanyards. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein said at least one first flexible lanyard is shorter than said at least one second flexible lanyard. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein: said panel is substantially flat; and said side wing assembly further includes a curved edge plate fastened to said rear edge of said panel, said edge plate curving inward toward the door of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein said at least one second flexible lanyard is sized to hold the panel in said deployed position to an angle of about 14° relative to a plane including the side wall of the vehicle body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein said at least one second flexible lanyard is vertically adjustably mounted to the door. ### Claim 7 A drag reducing device for a vehicle body having a side wall and a door pivotably mounted to a door frame fixed to the rear of the body to open toward the side wall and close toward the rear of the body, the device comprising: a side wing assembly pivotably mounted to the vehicle body, said assembly including; a hinge assembly mounted to the vehicle body; and a panel mounted to the hinge assembly to pivot about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle body, the panel mounted to the hinge assembly at a forward edge of said panel and arranged so that a rear edge of said panel extends rearward relative to the vehicle body in a deployed position; at least one first flexible lanyard connected between said hinge assembly and the door; and at least one second flexible lanyard connected between the door and the panel adjacent said rear edge of said panel, wherein said hinge assembly is configured so that said panel can pivot forward to a stowed position adjacent the side wall of the vehicle as the door is pivoted to its open position, and pivot rearward so that the rear edge of the panel extends rearward in said deployed position as the door is pivoted to its closed position, and wherein said hinge assembly is further configured to limit pivoting of said panel beyond said deployed position toward the door. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, further comprising two first lanyards and three second lanyards. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein said at least one first flexible lanyard is shorter than said at least one second flexible lanyard. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein said at least one second flexible lanyard is vertically adjustably mounted to the door. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein said at least one second flexible lanyard is sized to hold the panel in said deployed position to an angle of about 14° relative to a plane including the side wall of the vehicle body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein: said panel is substantially flat; and said side wing assembly further includes a curved edge plate fastened to said rear edge of said panel, said edge plate curving inward toward the door of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein said hinge assembly is mounted to the door frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein said at least one of said at least one flexible lanyard is attached to said panel adjacent said rear edge of said panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drag reducing device of claim 14, wherein said at least one of said at least one flexible lanyard has a length configured to deflect said rear edge of said panel toward the door when the panel is in said deployed position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drag reducing device of claim 15, wherein said length is sized to hold the panel in said deployed position to an angle of about 14° relative to a plane including the side wall of the vehicle body. ### Claim 17 A drag reducing device for a vehicle body having a side wall and a door pivotably mounted to a door frame fixed to the rear of the body to open toward the side wall and close toward the rear of the body, the device comprising: a side wing assembly pivotably mounted to the vehicle body, said assembly including; a hinge assembly mounted to the vehicle body; and a panel mounted to the hinge assembly to pivot about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle body, the panel mounted to the hinge assembly at a forward edge of said panel and arranged so that a rear edge of said panel extends rearward relative to the vehicle body in a deployed position; and at least one flexible lanyard connected between said panel and the door, wherein said hinge assembly is configured so that said panel can pivot forward to a stowed position adjacent the side wall of the vehicle as the door is pivoted to its open position, and pivot rearward so that the rear edge of the panel extends rearward in said deployed position as the door is pivoted to its closed position, wherein said hinge assembly is further configured to limit pivoting of said panel beyond said deployed position toward the door, and wherein at least one of said at least one flexible lanyard is connected to the door at vertically adjustable positions on the door. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The drag reducing device of claim 7, wherein said hinge assembly is configured so that said panel can pivot through an angle of 180 degrees.