Patent ID: 6412853
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: B62D,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
A vehicle air drag reduction system using louvers comprising, in combination:a plurality of louver strips each including a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, each louver strip further including a layer of adhesive formed on the bottom face thereof for allowing the coupling thereof to a body of a vehicle, a plurality of rectangular cut outs formed in the strip, and a rectangular louver tab having a long side edge thereof integrally coupled along and coincident with a front long edge of each rectangular cut, each louver tab extending upwardly and rearwardly thereby forming an approximate 45 degree angle with respect to a plane in which the louver strip resides, the louver strips including: a first set of louver strips each having a rectangular configuration and with the rectangular cut outs and louver tabs thereof situated in a matrix of rows and columns, the first set of louver strips including a first louver strip adhered to a top surface of a trunk of the vehicle, a second louver strip adhered to a first rear side panel of the body of the vehicle, a third louver strip adhered to a second rear side panel of the body of the vehicle, a fourth louver strip adhered to a lower surface of the vehicle, and a fifth louver strip adhered to a top surface of a passenger cabin of the vehicle adjacent a rear of the top surface of the passenger cabin, wherein the louver tabs of the louver strips are angled toward a rear of the vehicle, and a second set of louver strips each having a generally triangular configuration with the rectangular cut outs and louver tabs thereof situated in a matrix of rows and columns, the second set of louver strips including a first louver strip coupled to a first rear side panel of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a second louver strip coupled to a second rear side panel of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the louver tabs of the louver strips are angled toward a rear of the vehicle; the coupling means comprising an adhesive applied on the bottom face of the louver strip; the adhesive being substantially uniformly applied to an entirety of the bottom face of the louver strip; the adhesive comprising a tape substrate having adhesive applied to both side of the tape substrate; and wherein a portion of the louver strip extends between each of the louver tabs and the cutouts, the adhesive being located on the bottom face of said portions of the louver strip for coupling said portions of the louver strip to a surface of the body of the vehicle.