US 5,498,059 A · Apparatus for reducing drag

A. a first vertical panel means pivotally attached with respect to the trailing end of the body, said first vertical panel means extending generally vertically along the trailing end of the body and being pivotally movable horizontally to a deployed position extending generally outwardly therefrom approximately parallel with respect to the first side surface of the body, said first vertical panel means including stud means extending upwardly therefrom;

B. a second vertical panel means pivotally attached with respect to the trailing end of the body at a position spatially disposed from said first vertical panel means to define a dead space area therebetween, said second vertical panel means extending generally vertically along the trailing end of the body and being pivotally movable horizontally to a deployed position extending generally outwardly therefrom approximately parallel with respect to the second side surface of the body;

C. a first horizontal panel means pivotally movably attached with respect to the trailing end of a body and with respect to said first vertical panel means, said first horizontal panel means being pivotally moveable to a deployed position extending outwardly from the trailing edge of the body approximately parallel with respect to the top surface and between said first vertical panel means and said second vertical panel means to define a dead space area therebelow, said first horizontal panel means comprising:

(1) a first frame means pivotally mounted with respect to the trailing end of a body and comprising:

(a) a first inner rib means pivotally attached with respect to the trailing end of the body and extendable outwardly therefrom to a deployed position approximately perpendicularly thereto;

(b) a first outer rib means pivotally attached with respect to the trailing end of the body at a position spatially disposed from said first inner rib means, said first outer rib means being extendable outwardly to a deployed position angularly oriented with respect to the trailing end of the body being angled toward said first inner rib means, said first outer rib means being oriented at approximately 45 degrees with respect to said first vertical panel means in the deployed position;

(c) a first cross strut means integral with respect to said first inner rib means and extending laterally outwardly therefrom toward said first outer rib means and being integral therewith;

(d) a first inner spring biasing means connected with respect to said first inner rib means to urge movement thereof to the deployed position approximately parallel to the top surface;

(e) a first outer spring biasing means connected with respect to said first outer rib means to urge movement thereof to the deployed position approximately parallel to the top surface;

(f) a first mounting arm means being integral with respect to said first inner rib means and said first outer rib means and pivotally mounted with respect to the trailing end of the body to facilitate pivotal movement of said first frame means with respect to the trailing end of the body, said first mounting arm means including an inside first mounting arm section and an outside first mounting arm section spatially disposed from one another with the first locking bar positioned therebetween to facilitate rotational movement thereof, said first mounting arm means extending generally parallel to said first cross strut means and spatially disposed therefrom, said first mounting arm means along with said first inner rib means, said first outer rib means and said first cross strut means forming a trapezoidal shape within said first frame means to facilitate movement of said first horizontal panel means to the deployed position extending generally parallel to the top surface;

(2) a first link arm means pivotally attached with respect to said first vertical panel means and pivotally secured to said first outer rib means of said first frame means and adapted to extend outwardly approximately perpendicular to said first vertical panel means responsive to said first frame means being in the deployed position;

(3) a first covering means of flexible material attached with respect to said first vertical panel means and the trailing end of the body and being attached to and extending over said first frame means to extend approximately horizontally responsive to said first horizontal panel means being in the deployed position;

(4) a second frame means pivotally mounted with respect to the trailing end of a body and comprising:

(a) a second inner rib means pivotally attached with respect to the trailing end of the body and extendable outwardly therefrom to a deployed position approximately perpendicularly thereto and extending parallel to and adjacent said first inner rib means to form said first horizontal panel means extending approximately horizontally above the dead space area;

(b) a second outer rib means pivotally attached with respect to the trailing end of the body at a position spatially disposed from said second inner rib means, said second outer rib means being extendable outwardly to a deployed position angularly oriented with respect to the trailing end of the body being angled toward said second inner rib means, said second outer rib means being oriented at approximately 45 degrees with respect to said second vertical panel means in the deployed position;

(c) a second cross strut means integral with respect to said second inner rib means and extending laterally outwardly therefrom toward said second outer rib means and being integral therewith;

(d) a second inner spring biasing means connected with respect to said second inner rib means to urge movement thereof to the deployed position approximately parallel to the top surface;

(e) a second outer spring biasing means connected with respect to said second outer rib means to urge movement thereof to the deployed position approximately parallel to the top surface;

(f) a second mounting arm means being integral with respect to said second inner rib means and said second outer rib means and pivotally mounted with respect to the trailing end of the body to facilitate pivotal movement of said second frame means with respect to the trailing end of the body, said second mounting arm means including an inside second mounting arm section and an outside second mounting arm section spatially disposed from one another with the second locking bar positioned therebetween to facilitate rotational movement thereof, said second mounting arm means extending generally parallel to said second cross strut means and spatially disposed therefrom, said second mounting arm means along with said second inner rib means, said second outer rib means and said second cross strut means forming a trapezoidal shape within said second frame means to facilitate movement of said first horizontal panel means to the deployed position extending generally parallel to the top surface;

(5) a second link arm means pivotally attached with respect to said second vertical panel means and pivotally secured to said second outer rib means of said second frame means and adapted to extend outwardly approximately perpendicular to said second vertical panel means responsive to said second frame means being in the deployed position;

(6) a second covering means of flexible material attached with respect to said second vertical panel means and the trailing end of the body and being attached to and extending over said second frame means to extend approximately horizontally responsive to said second horizontal panel means being in the deployed position;

D. a first release cord means connected to said first frame means and attached to an intermediate location on said first vertical panel means to facilitate downward movement of said first horizontal panel means from the deployed position responsive to exerting of a downwardly directed force on said first release cord means;

E. a second release cord means connected to said second frame means and attached to an intermediate location on said second vertical panel means to facilitate downward movement of said second horizontal panel means from the deployed position responsive to exerting of a downwardly directed force on said second release cord means;

and

F. a second horizontal panel means positionable extending between said first vertical panel means and said second vertical panel means at a position below said first horizontal panel means to define a dead space area therebetween, said second horizontal panel means being pivotally secured with respect to said second vertical panel means and defining an engagement aperture therein adapted to be positioned over said stud means of said first vertical panel means for detachable securement of said second horizontal panel means with respect to said first vertical panel means to facilitate said first horizontal panel means to be retained in the deployed position extending approximately horizontally between said first vertical panel means and said second vertical panel means with a dead air space being defined thereabove.

Apparatus for reducing drag

Life of this patent

Apparatus for reducing drag

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims57