# US 11,077,893 B2 · Deflector structure for automobile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,893 B2 - Document ID: US11077893B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/722,532 - Filed: 2019-12-20 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-26 - Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation - Applicants: Mazda Motor Corporation - Inventors: Akihiro Nakata; Michiya Mizokane; Shuhei Nishida; Yoshiatsu Kuga; Ryo Yanagisawa; Masaaki Bessho - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077893B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/005: {Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take 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 deflector structure for an automobile. The deflector structure includes a protruding structure having an outer surface positioned to be hit by traveling air when the automobile travels forward. The outer surface of the protruding portion includes a first inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction outer side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side; and a second inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction inner side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side. An angle of inclination of the second inclined portion on an acute angle side of the second inclined portion with respect to a horizontal direction is smaller than an angle of inclination of the first inclined portion on an acute angle side of the first inclined portion with respect to the horizontal direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deflector structure for an automobile, the deflector structure comprising: a deflector mounted on a lower surface ahead of a front wheel well in the automobile; a protruding portion protruding downward and having an outer surface provided on a lower surface of the deflector, the outer surface positioned to be hit by traveling air when the automobile travels forward, wherein the outer surface of the protruding portion comprises a first inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction outer side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side; and a second inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction inner side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side, wherein an angle of inclination of the second inclined portion on an acute angle side of the second inclined portion with respect to a horizontal direction is smaller than an angle of inclination of the first inclined portion on an acute angle side of the first inclined portion with respect to the horizontal direction, and the deflector structure includes an upper member and a lower member that includes the protruding portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deflector structure of claim 1, wherein the second inclined portion is located nearer to the vehicle-width-direction inner side than a center of the front wheel in a vehicle width direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The deflector structure of claim 2, wherein the deflector is mounted on a lower surface of a corner portion of a front bumper of the automobile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The deflector structure of claim 3, wherein the corner portion is formed in a round shape so as to be positioned rearward toward the vehicle-width-direction outer side in a bottom view of the automobile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The deflector structure of claim 1, wherein the upper member is formed by a metal plate material, and the lower member is formed of synthetic resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The deflector stricture of claim 1, wherein the upper member includes a curved edge portion formed on the vehicle-width-direction outer side in a shape following a shape of a front bumper of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The deflector structure of claim 6, wherein the curved edge portion is mounted at a plurality of positions to a lower surface of a corner portion of the bumper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The deflector structure of claim 1, wherein the lower member includes a first curved edge portion that is configured to be attached to the upper member by fasteners at a plurality of positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The deflector structure of claim 1, wherein the upper member includes a first vertical wall portion, the lower member includes a second vertical wall portion, and the first vertical wall is configured to be attached to the second vertical wall by fasteners at a plurality of positions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The deflector structure of claim 9, wherein the second vertical wall portion is integrally formed with the outer surface of the protruding portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The deflector structure of claim 1, wherein a distance between a lower edge of the protruding portion and the ground when the deflector structure is mounted to the vehicle is approximately 110 mm. ### Claim 12 A deflector structure for an automobile, the deflector structure comprising: a deflector mounted on a lower surface ahead of a front wheel well in the automobile, a protruding portion protruding downward and having an outer surface provided on a lower surface of the deflector, the outer surface positioned to be hit by traveling air when the automobile travels forward, wherein the outer surface of the protruding portion comprises a first inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction outer side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side; and a second inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction inner side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side, wherein an angle of inclination of the second inclined portion on an acute angle side of the second inclined portion with respect to a horizontal direction is smaller than an angle of inclination of the first inclined portion on an acute angle side of the first inclined portion with respect to the horizontal direction, and the second inclined portion includes an upper-side inclined portion having a first angle of inclination and a lower-side inclined portion including a second angle of inclination. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The deflector structure of claim 12, wherein the first angle of inclination is different from the second angle of inclination. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The deflector stricture of claim 12, wherein the first angle of inclination of the upper-side inclined portion on the acute angle side thereof with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller than the second angle of inclination of the lower-side inclined portion on the acute angle side thereof with respect to the horizontal direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The deflector structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second angles of inclination on the acute angle side thereof with respect to the horizontal direction are smaller than an angle of inclination of the first inclined portion on the acute angle side thereof with respect to the horizontal direction. ### Claim 16 A deflector structure for an automobile, the deflector structure comprising: a protruding structure having an outer surface positioned to be hit by traveling air when the automobile travels forward, wherein the outer surface comprising a first inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction outer side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side; and a second inclined portion located on a vehicle-width-direction inner side and inclined upward toward the automobile front side, wherein an angle of inclination of the second inclined portion on an acute angle side of the second inclined portion with respect to a horizontal direction is smaller than an angle of inclination of the first inclined portion on an acute angle side of the first inclined portion with respect to the horizontal direction, the second inclined portion includes an upper-side inclined portion having a first angle of inclination and a lower-side inclined portion including a second angle of inclination, and the first angle of inclination of the upper-side inclined portion on the acute angle side thereof with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller than the second angle of inclination, of the lower-side inclined portion on the acute angle side thereof with respect to the horizontal direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The deflector structure of claim 16, wherein the second inclined portion is located closer to a first edge of a wheel of the vehicle closer to the vehicle-width-direction inner side than a second edge of the wheel of the vehicle closer to a vehicle-width-direction outer side.