Air exhauster invention
AssigneeCadillac Automotive Products Compang
InventorHoward R. Misner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a pressure relief valve for installation in an opening in a motor vehicle body. In particular, the valve is configured to allow a volume of air to flow therethrough substantially equivalent to the volume of air permitted to flow through the opening if the valve was not installed therein. Furthermore, the valve is formed of flexible material for ease of installation into an opening that is smaller than the interior portion of pressure relief valve.
Claims21
A pressure relief valve for installation in an aperture of a body panel of a motor vehicle, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises:
- a rim portion having a perimeter at least as great as a perimeter of the aperture defined by the body panel;
- a plurality of walls in the general form of a funnel and extending from the rim portion, thereby defining a void;
- and
- a flap hingedly affixed to at least one of the plurality of walls, wherein the flap is displaceable between a closed position and an open position.
The pressure relief valve of claim 7, wherein said flap selectively includes a convex or concave shape, wherein the amount of said concavity or said convexity varies the amount of said force required to displace said flap to said open position.
A pressure relief valve for installation in an aperture of a body panel of a motor vehicle, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises:
- a member having a perimeter at least equal to the perimeter of the aperture of the body panel;
- a flange extending from said member to engage said body panel when said member is installed in the aperture of the body panel;
- a flap extending from said wall movable between a closed position and an open position;
- and
- a hinge operably interconnecting said flap and said wall wherein said flap is biased in said closed position by said hinge.
A pressure relief valve for installation in a body panel, defining an aperture, of a motor vehicle, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises:
- a valve body having a perimeter that is substantially equal to a perimeter of the aperture defined by the body panel;
- a valve flap extending from said valve body and displaceable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a living hinge operably interconnecting said valve body and said valve flap, wherein said hinge biases said valve flap in said closed position;
- wherein said valve body is substantially resiliently deformable such that said valve body is capable to be deformed to be installed into the aperture defined by the body panel and resiliently engage the body panel after installation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.