Air channeler for reducing wind resistance and method of use

In a vehicle having a forward and a rearward end, an air channeler device for reducing wind resistance of the vehicle, the device comprising:

• an air inlet for positioning within an air stream surrounding the vehicle so that air is received in the inlet as the vehicle is moved in a forward direction;
• an air discharge located at a generally central location of the rearward end of the vehicle and having a width that is substantially less than the width of the rearward end of the vehicle so that the air discharge is spaced inward from the edges of the rearward end;
• and
• an air conduit mounted to the vehicle and that has a generally tubular passageway that is in communication between the air inlet and the air discharge for directing air from the air inlet through the conduit to the discharge, the air conduit being formed in at least two sections that are releasably joined together so that the at least two sections can be engaged and disengaged from one another.

An air channeler device for use with a vehicle having a forward and rearward end for reducing wind resistance of the vehicle, the device comprising:

• an air inlet for positioning within an air stream surrounding the vehicle so that air is received in the inlet as the vehicle is moved in a forward direction;
• an air discharge for positioning at the rearward end of the vehicle;
• and
• an air conduit that couples to the vehicle and has a generally tubular passageway that is in communication between the air inlet and the air discharge for directing air from the air inlet through the conduit to the discharge, the air conduit being formed in at least two sections that are releasably joined together so that the at least two sections can be engaged and disengaged from one another;
• and wherein
• one of the at least two sections is adapted to be mounted to a movable portion of the vehicle that is movable between first and second positions and wherein movement of the movable portion between the first and second positions causes engagement and disengagement of the at least two sections.

A method of reducing wind resistance of a body having a forward end and a rearward end that is located in an air stream comprising:

• positioning an air inlet within an air stream surrounding the body so that air is received in the inlet as the air stream moves about the body;
• providing an air discharge at a generally central location of the rearward end of the body, the air discharge having a width that is substantially less than the width of the rearward end of the body so that the air discharge is spaced inward from the edges of the rearward end;
• and
• allowing air to pass through an air conduit having a generally tubular passageway that is in communication between the air inlet and the air discharge so that air is directed from the air inlet through the conduit to the discharge;
• and wherein the air conduit is formed in at least two sections that are releasably joined together so that the at least two sections can be engaged and disengaged from one another;
• and wherein
• one of the at least two sections is adapted to be mounted to a movable portion of the body that is movable between first and second positions and wherein movement of the movable portion between the first and second positions causes engagement and disengagement of the at least two sections.

A method of selectively reducing wind resistance and slowing a moving vehicle having a forward end and a rearward end comprising:

• positioning an air inlet within an air stream surrounding the vehicle so that air is received in the inlet as the vehicle is moved in a forward direction;
• providing an air discharge at a generally central location of the rearward end of the vehicle, the air discharge having a width that is substantially less than the width of the rearward end of the vehicle so that the air discharge is spaced inward from the edges of the rearward end;
• and
• selectively allowing air to pass through an air conduit having a generally tubular passageway that is in communication between the air inlet and the air discharge so that air is directed from the air inlet through the conduit to the discharge to thereby reduce wind resistance of the vehicle and restricting air flow through the passageway of the conduit so that wind resistance is increased to thereby slow the vehicle.