Vehicular air flow control device with variable angle air flow control fin

An air flow control fin for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising:

• a fin having a first section and a second section connected to said first section in oblique fashion, said first section having a first surface and said second section having a second surface, said fin being mounted on a roof of the vehicle adjacent said rear window and pivotable between a first position in which said first surface splits air flowing along the roof, and a second position in which said second surface directs said air flowing along the roof to flow along said rear window and which further comprises actuator means associated with said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said actuator means including a manual operator disposed within a vehicle compartment for enabling actuation of said fin between said first and second positions from inside the vehicle compartment and said actuator means including a driving motor electrically operable in either a first or a second direction, said driving motor being electrically connected to said manual operator which comprises an electric switch actuable to either a first switch position corresponding to said first position of said fin or a second switch position corresponding to said second position of said fin and a link mechanism comprising a first component associated with said mounting means for movement between first and second positions with said fin, and a second component releasably engaging said first component;
• and
• mounting means secured to said fin adjacent said oblique connection pivotally mounting said fin on said roof adjacent said rear window, said mounting means allowing pivotable movement of said fin between said first position and said second position including means for holding said fin in the selected one of said first and second positions;
• wherein said first position directs said first surface toward said air flowing along said roof and directs the air upward, and wherein said second position directs said second surface to said air flow and guides said air flow towards said rear window.

An air flow control fin for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising:

• a fin;
• mounting means for pivotably mounting said fin on said vehicle adjacent said rear window, said mounting means allowing pivotal movement of said fin between a first position in which said fin diverts air flowing along the vehicle body upwards to reduce aerodynamic lift, and a second position in which said fin guides air flow toward said rear window for blowing rain water, dust and debris off said rear window, said mounting means including means for holding said fin in the selected one of said first and second positions;
• actuator means associated with said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said actuator means including:
• a manual operator disposed with a vehicle compartment for enabling actuation of said fin between said first and second positions from inside the vehicle compartment;
• and
• means for transmitting force applied to said manual operator to said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said force transmission means including a link mechanism having a first component associated with said mounting means for movement between first and second positions with said fin, and a second component releasably engaging said first component.

An air flow control fin for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising:

• a fin;
• mounting means for pivotably mounting said fin on said vehicle adjacent said rear window, said mounting means allowing pivotal movement of said fin between a first position in which said fin diverts air flowing along the vehicle body upwards to reduce aerodynamic lift, and a second position in which said fin guides air flow toward said rear window for blowing rain water, dust and debris off said rear window, said mounting means including means for holding said fin in the selected one of said first and second positions;
• actuator means associated with said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said actuator means including:
• a manual operator disposed with a vehicle compartment for enabling actuation of said fin between said first and second positions from inside the vehicle compartment;
• a driving motor electrically operable in either a first or a second direction, said driving motor being electrically connected to said manual operator which comprises an electric switch actuable to either a first switch position corresponding to said first position of said fin or a second switch position corresponding to said second position of said fin;
• and
• a link mechanism including a first component associated with said mounting means for movement between first and second positions with said fin, and a second component releasably engaging said first component.

An air flow control device for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising:

• a fin;
• mounting means for pivotably mounting said fin on a portion of the roof of said vehicle adjacent said rear window, said mounting means allowing pivotal movement of said fin between a first position in which said fin splits air flowing along the vehicle body to reduce drafting force, and a second position in which said fin guides air flow toward said rear window for sweeping rain water, dust and debris off said rear window, said mounting means including means for holding said fin in the selected one of said first and second positions;
• and
• actuator means associated with said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said actuator means including:
• a manual operator disposed with a vehicle compartment for enabling actuation of said fin between said first and second positions from inside the vehicle compartment;
• and
• means for transmitting force applied to said manual operator to said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said force transmission means including a link mechanism having a first component associated with said mounting means for movement between first and second positions with said fin, and a second component releasably engaging said first component.

An air flow control device for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising:

• a fin;
• mounting means for pivotably mounting said fin on a portion of the roof of said vehicle adjacent said rear window, said mounting means allowing pivotal movement of said fin between a first position in which said fin splits air flowing along the vehicle body, and a second position in which said fin guides air flow toward said rear window, said mounting means including means for holding said fin in the selected one of said first and second positions, said holding means including a lever pivotable about a pivot axis and having a projection engageable with a slot in a member operatively engaging said fin, said lever being arranged to receive a force exerted on said fin and to alter the direction of said force toward said pivot axis to establish a holding force for holding said fin at said selected position;
• and
• actuator means associated with said mounting means for actuating said fin between said first and second positions, said actuator means including:
• a manual operator disposed with a vehicle compartment for enabling actuation of said fin between said first and second positions from inside the vehicle compartment;
• and
• a driving motor electrically operable in either a first or a second direction, said driving motor being electrically operable in either a first or a second direction, said driving motor being electrically connected to said manual operation which comprises an electric switch actuable to either a first switch position corresponding to said first position of said fin or a second switch position corresponding to said second position of said fin.