# US 4,398,764 A · Air balance panel for vehicles

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- Number: US 4,398,764 A
- Document ID: US4398764A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/298,582
- Filed: 1981-09-02
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1980-09-08
- Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Teiji Okuyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398764A

## CPC

- B62D 35/005: {Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)}
- Y02T 10/82: Elements for improving aerodynamics
- 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)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An air balance panel for vehicles which includes an air balance panel integrally and unitarily formed with a vehicle bumper which is made of plastic and which further includes a flexible portion and a drive mechanism operatively connected to the air balance panel for acting on the flexible portion of the air balance panel according to a predetermined signal. The air balance panel also includes an arm member operatively connected to the drive mechanism for acting on the flexible portion of the air balance panel. Also included are link members interposed between the arm member and the air balance panel for transmitting driving force from the drive mechanism to the air balance panel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air balance panel for vehicles having a bumper, comprising
an air balance panel integrally and unitarily formed with said vehicle bumper which comprises plastic and which further comprises an expandable flexible portion for integrally interconnecting said air balancing panel with said vehicle bumper; and
drive means operatively connected to said air balance panel for acting on said expandable flexible portion of said air balance panel according to a predetermined signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An air balance panel for vehicles as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:
an arm member operatively connected to said drive means for acting on said flexible portion of said air balance panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An air balance panel for vehicles as set forth in claim 2 further comprising:
first and second link members interposed between said arm member and said air balance panel for transmitting driving force from said drive means to said air balance panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An air balance panel for vehicles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means further comprises a motor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An air balance panel for vehicles as set forth in claim 1 further comprising speed sensory means mounted on said vehicle wherein said drive means is driven in response to operation of said speed sensing means.

### Claim 6

An air balance panel for vehicles having a bumper comprising:
an air balance panel integrally and unitarily formed with said vehicle bumper which comprises plastic and which further comprises a vertically expandable and contractable flexible portion for integrally interconnecting said air balancing panel with said vehicle bumpers;
drive means operatively connected to said air balancing panel for acting on said vertically expandable and contractable flexible portion of said air balance panel according to a predetermined signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An air balance panel for vehicles as set forth in claim 6, wherein said flexible portion further comprises a bellows-type expandable and contractable flexible portion.