Patent ID: 6033300
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
A high temperature injection molded polymeric rainhat for a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning air intake of an automotive vehicle, the vehicle having a cowling with a generally planar surface, the planar surface encircling a flared opening in the cowling, the rainhat comprising:a flange for adhesively and sealably joining to a portion of the generally planar surface encircling the flared opening;a water dam integrally joined to the flange and extending therefrom, the water dam having an interior surface closely engaging the flared opening of the cowling and extending upwards beyond a vertical end of the flared opening, and the water dam having an extreme upper edge forming an opening; anda foreign matter ingestion preventer, the foreign matter ingestion preventer having at least one first curvilinear support extending in a first direction over the water dam upper edge opening, each first support having opposite ends joined with the water dam, and each first support having a middle portion being domed above the opening of the water dam upper edge, each first support having the interior side and an exterior side with the exterior side being tapered, the foreign matter ingestion preventer having at least one second curvilinear support intersecting with the first curvilinear support, the second curvilinear support extending in a second direction over the flared opening, and each second support having opposite ends joined with the water dam, and each second support having a middle portion being domed above the opening of the water dam, each second support having an interior side and an exterior side with the exterior side being tapered, wherein a surface area of the foreign matter ingestion preventer minus the surface area defined by the transverse dimensions of the supports is generally equal to or greater than the area defined by the opening of the upper edge of the water dam.