Abstract:
A device protects at least a portion of an A/C condenser of an automotive vehicle against damage from stones and other road debris. The device includes a guard having a plurality of spaced apart louvers for intercepting and deflecting the stones and other road debris but permitting air to pass through the guard between the louvers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to damage protection devices and more particularly to a device for protecting an air conditioning (A/C) condenser of an automotive vehicle against damage from stones and other road debris. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An A/C condenser of an automotive vehicle can be damaged by stones and other road debris if not properly protected. Some protection devices in present use have not performed adequately. Others have been mounted on the fascia of the vehicle. Because different vehicles often have different fascias, a protection device mounted on a facia has to be custom made to fit each different fascia design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for protecting at least a portion of an A/C condenser against damage from stones and other road debris. The device includes a guard having a plurality of louvers for intercepting and deflecting the stones and other road debris but permitting air to pass through the guard between the louvers. 
     Preferably the guard comprises an elongated frame and the louvers are disposed in side-by-side relation to one another in a row extending lengthwise of the frame along a central plane thereof. 
     In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the frame extends transversely of the vehicle between the condenser and a front fascia, and is secured to a bumper beam. Also, the louvers are preferably slanted at an acute angle to the central plane of the panel. 
     One object of this invention is to provide a condenser protection device having one or more of the foregoing features and capabilities. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary front perspective view of a vehicle having a protection device constructed in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the protection device secured to a bumper beam in front of an A/C condenser; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken on the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the protection device as seen from the rear; 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of the protection device; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the protection device; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken on the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a vehicle  10  is shown having a front fascia  12  and an A/C condenser  14  behind the fascia. The condenser  14  is supported in an upright position by brackets  16  and  18  on the condenser which attach to certain vehicle support structure (not shown). A transverse bumper beam  20  is disposed between the fascia  12  and the condenser  14 . 
     A protection device  22  is provided for protecting a lower portion of the condenser  14  against damage from stones and other road debris as the vehicle is traveling along a highway. The protection device  22  comprises a guard in the form of an elongated horizontal frame  24  which is spaced from the fascia  12  and extends transversely of the vehicle across the front of the condenser. The frame is generally upright and has a horizontal top frame member  26 , a horizontal bottom frame member  28  and vertical end frame members  30  and  32 . The frame  24  is disposed close to the condenser  14  and has a plurality of flat vertical louvers  34  the upper and lower ends of which are secured to the top and bottom frame members  26  and  28 . The louvers  34  serve to intercept and deflect the stones and other road debris away from the condenser. The louvers  34  are equally spaced from one another and allow air entering through the fascia opening  36  to pass through the panel between the louvers. 
     The louvers  34  are disposed in side-by-side relation to one another in a row extending from one of the end frame members  30 ,  32  to the other lengthwise of the frame along a central vertical plane  40  thereof. 
     The louvers  34  are interconnected by a horizontal web  42  midway between the tops and bottoms of the louvers. One set  44  of the louvers covering one-half of the length of the frame are parallel to one another and are turned or slanted with respect to the central plane  40  of the frame in one direction, while another set  46  of the louvers covering the other half of the length of the frame are parallel to one another and are turned or slanted in an opposite direction. Preferably, and as seen in  FIG. 7 , the louvers are slanted at an acute angle to the central plane of the frame preferably about 30 degrees, and are about three fourths of one (1) inch apart. 
     The guard has a forward extension of the top frame member  26  forming a horizontal top flange  50 . The flange  50  is rigidly secured to the underside of the bumper beam  20  as by push pins  52 . The guard has a rearward extension of the bottom frame member  28  forming a horizontal bottom flange  54 . The flange  54  has a vertically down-turned lip  56  which is rigidly secured to a structural cross member  60  of the vehicle as by screws  62 . 
     Stones and other road debris will be intercepted by the protection device  22  and deflected away from the condenser. Even relatively small stones or particles of debris will not pass through the protection device because of the close spacing of the louvers, and yet air entering through the fascia opening  36  will readily pass between the louvers. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.