Abstract:
A vehicle dirt protection device having a longitudinal extension extending larger than its lateral extension, and is placed along a lateral side of a vehicle for urging dirt, preferably dust, to extend horizontally and/or rearward during forward movement of the vehicle rather than upwards. This protects the seating area of the vehicle against dirt, and in particular against dirt.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the invention relate to a vehicle dirt protection device and method, in particular for protecting a seating area in the vehicle against dirt, in particular against dust. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A seating area in a vehicle, such as the vehicle&#39;s cockpit where a driver and/or passenger seats, may be exposed to incoming dirt such as dust. This may occur for example due to dust that is lifted when driving in off road terrain and/or in the outdoors. In dedicated off road vehicles, such as All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV&#39;s), side-by-side or Utility Task or Terrain Vehicle (UTV&#39;s); exposure to dirt may be increased since the driver is typically seated in a cockpit that is relatively open to the vehicle&#39;s outer environment. 
         [0003]    Improvements in automotive engineering may reduce or control the amount and direction of for example dust kicked up by vehicles. One example for dust protection, provided by Aegis Air Spoilers of Idaho USA, includes mounting a spoiler at a rear side of a vehicle in order to create vacuum that pushes air out of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. 
         [0005]    In a broad aspect, at least come embodiments of the present invention may be defined as relating to special dirt, preferably dust, protection devices; preferably in the form of side wings and/or spoilers—that may hook and/or attach and/or be fitted to a side of a vehicle (e.g. ATV/UTV) for tunneling and/or urging dirt dust and/or swirl lifted from a front wheel area of the vehicle, preferably away from the vehicle&#39;s cockpit. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment of the invention, the dirt protection device may be curved and shaped to hold all or most dust from the front wheel and/or the bottom of the vehicle (e.g. UTV) away from entering the driver or passenger area. 
         [0007]    Possibly, embodiments of the dirt protection devices may have dedicated hooks to connect to a side of the vehicle and/or existing built screw holes e.g. in the vehicle, device or both; and/or may require new holes/bores to be formed in e.g. the vehicle, device or both for attachment. 
         [0008]    Possibly, the dirt protection device may be hooked or attached to the vehicle by temporary quick discharge connectors at the side of the vehicle and may be foldable, e.g. downwards or upwards, in order to allow the vehicle to assume substantially a similar lateral width as it would have without the dust protection device(s). 
         [0009]    In an aspect of the invention, embodiments of the dirt protection device may be passive, i.e. able to provide e.g. dust tunneling/urging by virtue of shape alone combined with movement, preferably forward movement, of the vehicle. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, embodiments of the protection device may be active or at least in part active, i.e. by including (for example in addition to passive shape tunneling) also means such as small reversed fan(s) possibly attached to a rear end of the device—for urging and/or assisting in sucking/tunneling e.g. dust and swirl along the wing and away from the vehicle 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments the protection device may be hooked permanently to the vehicle or temporarily with e.g. vacuum holders for quick removal if needed. Possibly, embodiments of the protection device may optionally be combined with a fender cover (preferably forward, optionally rear, or both) in order to protect from water/mud/dirt splashes and swirl from the front or back wheels. 
         [0012]    Preferably, combination of the protection device with a fender may be with the front fender. Further, such combination with front and/or rear fender may be by integrally forming an embodiment of the a protection device with a fender, or by attaching by any means an embodiment of a protection device formed as a separate part with a fender of a vehicle. 
         [0013]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0014]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0015]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  schematically show perspective views of a vehicle, respectively, when standing still and during forward movement when dirt, here dust, is lifted; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  schematically show perspective views of a similar vehicle as in  FIG. 1  with an embodiment of a dirt protection device of the present invention, respectively, when standing still and during forward movement when dirt, here dust, is lifted; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  schematically shows a cross section of an embodiment of a dirt protection device of the present invention, taken along a plane similar to plane III-III in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  schematically shows a perspective view of a dirt protection device according to an embodiment of the invention, from an angle revealing an inner lateral edge or side of the device. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  schematically show cross sections of various embodiments of dirt protection devices of the present invention, taken along a plane similar to plane IV-IV in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  schematically shows a perspective bottom view of an embodiment of a dirt protection device of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  schematically shows a perspective view of a vehicle including a dirt protection device according to the embodiments of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a portion of  FIG. 6  taken adjacent a front wheel of the vehicle; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  schematically shows a perspective view of a vehicle including a dirt protection device according to the embodiments of the invention together with an embodiment of an additional type variation of dirt protection device; 
       
    
    
       [0024]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Attention is first drawn to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  showing a vehicle  10 , preferably an outdoor or off-road vehicle such as an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), a side-by-side or Utility Task or Terrain Vehicle (UTV), or the like. In  FIG. 1A  the vehicle  10  is shown standing still and in  FIG. 1B  during forward movement when lifting or kicking up dirt, here dust (or possibly mud)  12  from the ground. The dirt lifted from the ground as shown may rise and enter the vehicle&#39;s cockpit and hinder with a driver or passenger&#39;s vision and/or comfort. 
         [0026]    Attention is additionally drawn to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  showing a vehicle  100  possibly similar to vehicle  10  in  FIG. 1  or any other similar type vehicle such as vehicle  1000  shown in  FIG. 6 . Vehicle  100  is preferably an outdoor or off-road vehicle such as an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), a side-by-side or Utility Task or Terrain Vehicle (UTV), or the like. 
         [0027]    In an aspect of the present invention, vehicle  100  includes a dirt protection device  14  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Dirt protection device  14 , here in the form of a wing or spoiler, may be fitted or mounted to a lateral side of a vehicle in a vicinity of the vehicle&#39;s cockpit  16  where the driver and/or passenger seats. The device  14  extends below the cockpit and towards the front and back wheels of the respective side of the vehicle where the device is attached, placed and/or possibly integrally formed with the vehicle&#39;s body. 
         [0028]    In a non-binding example, the material of a dirt protection device  14  according to various embodiments of the invention may be chosen to be from strong material (such as steel or the like) that can also serve as a side step for stepping into the vehicle. In another example, the material of the dirt protection device  14  may be chosen to be from soft material (such as a material comprising or consisting polymer material e.g. plastic or the like) that can be bendable or flexible in order to not e.g. limit maneuvering of the vehicle around any road or terrain. 
         [0029]    With attention briefly drawn to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of a dirt protection device  14  of the invention is shown being divided into lateral segments  14   a ,  14   b ; possibly of different type. Dashed line L extending parallel or along a longitudinal axis of device  14  divides device  14  into the two segments  14   a ,  14   b  that extend each possibly a full longitudinal extension of the device. In one example, the inner segment  14   a  adjacent the vehicle (here vehicle  1000 ) may be formed from a stiffer material, possibly metal or steel or the like, suitable for serving as a side step for entering the vehicle&#39;s cockpit  16 , and the outer segment  14   b , more distal from the vehicle, may be formed from a more softer and/or bendable and/or flexible and/or elastic material—possibly polymer material e.g. plastic or the like. In one example, outer segment  14   b  may be foldable about line L, preferably upwards. The folding about line L may be for any amount of degree, possibly also 180 degrees to place outer segment  14   b  to preferably lie upon or snuggly below inner segment  14   a.    
         [0030]    Device  14  in various embodiments of the invention may be mounted to a single lateral side of the vehicle, possibly a lateral side adjacent where the driver seats; or to both lateral sides of the vehicle and cockpit. Such vehicle lateral side to which a device  14  according to an embodiment(s) may be fitted or on which said device  14  may be integrally formed, may typically be defined as a lateral side of a vehicle&#39;s chassis or frame and/or bodywork added or attached to said vehicle&#39;s chassis or frame. In the figures only one dirt protection device  14  is shown at the close visible lateral side of the vehicle; however another second dirt protection device  14  may be located at the other hidden lateral side of the vehicle. 
         [0031]    With attention drawn back to  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; dirt protection device  14  according to the embodiments of the present invention is seen including a front edge  13  most proximal to the front wheel, a rear edge  15  most proximal to the rear wheel, an inner lateral edge  17  most proximal to the vehicle&#39;s lateral side and an outer lateral edge  19  most distal from the vehicle&#39;s lateral side in a general lateral direction, where said lateral direction being defined as extending possibly horizontally away from a side of the vehicle. 
         [0032]    Dirt protection device  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , may be configured to urge dirt, in particular dust, away from the vehicle&#39;s cockpit  16 , for example when the vehicle in a moving in a forward direction. Dirt  12 , possibly lifted by the vehicle&#39;s front wheel and/or front portion, may at least in part be urged by device  14  to extend in a generally horizontal and/or backward rear direction as vehicle  10  progresses forwardly—in order to substantially avoid cockpit  16  or limit/reduce entry of dirt, preferably dust, into the cockpit. In certain embodiments, the dirt  12  may be urged to extend or flow at least in part below device  14  in the horizontal or backward direction as the vehicle moves forward. 
         [0033]    With attention drawn to  FIG. 3A , a lateral cross section of an embodiment of device  14  is schematically seen, which is taken in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a ground face and intersects the inner and outer lateral edges  17 ,  19 . In the shown cross section, also a dashed line G representing an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a ground face is indicated. 
         [0034]    With attention additionally drawn to  FIG. 3B , an embodiment of a device  14 , in particular when formed as a separate non-integral part of a vehicle, is seen including attachments means  21  located preferably along or adjacently along inner edge  17  for attaching device  14  to a vehicle. In the shown example, the attachment means  21  are shown formed on an optional attachment face  23  that extends away from inner edge  17  in a transverse or slanting direction relative to at least a portion of a main face  25  of device  14  adjacent edge  17 , where said main face  25  being bound by the inner, outer, front and rear edges  17 ,  19 ,  13 ,  15 . Such attachment means  21  may take various forms, such as dedicated hooks to connect to a side of a vehicle and/or existing screw holes in the device; and/or locations along edge  17  or face  23  for new holes/bores to be formed on site by a user; or the like. 
         [0035]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the attachment means  21 , may define an imaginary attachment plane P upon or about which device  14  may attach, connect and/or abut a lateral side of a vehicle. Possibly, plane P includes a part of device  14 , such as face  23 , which is adapted to at least partially attach and/or abut a lateral side of a vehicle. Such plane P may be generally perpendicular to a ground face above which device  14  is adapted to be placed when attached to a vehicle. 
         [0036]    With attention drawn to  FIG. 3A , device  14  in this embodiment is shown curved upwards forming, when viewed from an inner lower side when e.g. attached to a vehicle, a concave shape that opens downwards. Device  14  is also shown fitted to a vehicle, as here defined by attachment plane P, with its inner edge  17  and/or attachment face  23  and/or attachment means  21  running generally parallel to a ground face or a plane G parallel to the ground face. In this position and/or orientation, device  14  is shown placed with at least part of its outer lateral edge  19  lower than its inner edge  17  and more proximal to the ground face. Device  14  in this position and/or orientation may in some embodiments exhibit in substantially all lateral cross sections, an outer lateral edge  19  that is closer to the ground face in relation to inner edge  17 , when attached to a vehicle; while in other embodiments only in a few lateral cross sections lateral side edge  19  may be lower. 
         [0037]    Such lower lateral side  19  has been found in experiments to assist in urging dirt, preferably dust, away from the cockpit, possibly also in a lateral direction away from the vehicle. 
         [0038]    With attention drawn to  FIG. 4A , a longitudinal cross section of an embodiment of device  14  is schematically seen, which is taken in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a ground face and intersects the front and rear edges  13 ,  15 . In the shown cross section, also a dashed line G representing an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a ground face is indicated. 
         [0039]    Device  14  in this embodiment, in particular when formed as a separate part from the vehicle, may be fitted to a vehicle in a similar manner as defined above with respect to  FIG. 3 , i.e. by being attached to the vehicle upon or about plane P with inner edge  17  and/or attachment face  23  and/or attachment means  21  running generally parallel to the ground face. In such position and/or orientation, device  14  may be located with at least part of its rear edge  15  lower than its front edge  13  and more proximal to the ground face. Device  14  may in some embodiment&#39;s exhibit in substantially all such longitudinal cross sections a rear edge  15  that is closer to the ground face in relation to the front edge  13 ; while in other embodiments only in a few longitudinal cross sections such a rear edge  15  that is lower. 
         [0040]    Such lower rear edge  15  has been found in experiments to assist in urging dirt, in particular dust, to extend horizontally or backwards, preferably below the device, during forward movement of vehicle  10 —in order to avoid or limit entry of dirt into a vicinity of the cockpit. 
         [0041]    With attention drawn to  FIG. 4B , a longitudinal cross section of an embodiment of device  14  is schematically shown with respect to again a dashed line G representing an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a ground face. In the shown embodiment, device  14  is seen having possibly an aerodynamic profile producing a downward aerodynamic force possibly sucking air downwards away from cockpit  16  to possibly flow horizontally below device  14 —in order to avoid or limit dirt, in particular dust, from entering the cockpit. 
         [0042]    With attention drawn to  FIG. 5  a further embodiment of a dirt protection device  14  according to the present invention is seen including one or more active means for producing air flow. Possibly such means may be in the form of one or more fans  20 , located preferably at a lower rear side of the device  14 . Such fan(s)  20  may assist in actively drawing dirt horizontally or backwards preferably below device  14  in order to avoid or limit presence of dirt in the vehicle&#39;s cockpit. 
         [0043]    Attention is drawn to  FIG. 6  showing a vehicle  1000 , preferably an outdoor or off-road vehicle, such as an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), a side-by-side or Utility Task or Terrain Vehicle (UTV), or the like. In this example, vehicle  1000  is schematically illustrated as a side by side ATV generally similar to a Polaris RZR model. Vehicle  1000  is seen here including an embodiment of a device  14  generally similar and possibly including at least some or all of the various aspects/embodiments already described hereinabove. 
         [0044]    With attention additionally drawn to  FIG. 7 , schematically showing a partial front view of  FIG. 6  adjacent one of its front wheels (when said wheel is directed/steered to point forwardly), further aspects of the present invention may be seen. In the shown example, an embodiment of a dirt protection device  14  is seen including a lateral extension away from the vehicle&#39;s lateral side that meets, or as here illustrated, preferably exceeds a lateral side  30  of a wheel, preferably a front wheel of the vehicle. Such extension of device  14  in a lateral direction away from the vehicle at least up to (or beyond) the lateral side  30  of the wheel, has been found to improve channeling by device  14  of dirt, preferably dust, away from the vehicle&#39;s cockpit  16  during forward movement of the vehicle. 
         [0045]    Device  14  in the various embodiments of the invention may be formed to extend, merge and/or attach to the front and/or rear fenders  27 ,  29  of the vehicle that respectively frame the front and rear wheels on each side of the vehicle. In  FIG. 7 , an example is seen where a front fender  27  of a vehicle is shown having a lateral extension that is less than the lateral side  30  of the vehicle&#39;s front wheel (at least when said wheel points forwardly) and less than the lateral extension of device  14  up to edge  19 . Possibly, an embodiment of device  14  when attached to a vehicle including such a relation between fender, preferably front fender  27 , and wheel and/or embodiment of protection device  14 ; may be provided with a fender extension, here front fender extension  27   a . In embodiments where device  14  merges and/or attaches to a fender, device  14  may extend forwardly also to the extension  27   a  of the fender. 
         [0046]    With attention drawn to  FIG. 8  a vehicle such as that seen in  FIG. 7  is schematically shown including an embodiment of a dirt protection device  144  placed on a front bonnet or on the front frame of the vehicle to channel away dirt, possibly, from other vehicles driving in front of the vehicle. Device  144  may be provided alone and/or with an embodiment of a device  14  (one of those described above) to a vehicle. In an embodiment, device  144  may be substantially identical in geometry to a device  14  according at least some embodiments of the invention, that may be placed together therewith on the vehicle. That is to say that device  144  may be bound in its longitudinal direction between two generally laterally extending edges  133 ,  155  and in its lateral direction between two generally longitudinally extending edges  177 ,  199 , with the device&#39;s lateral extension being shorter than its longitudinal extension. Device  144  in addition may be curved by e.g. providing the two edges  133 ,  155  in a curved formation, and device  144  may be placed on the vehicle&#39;s bonnet with its longitudinal edges  177 ,  199  extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle with a face  255  of device  144  bound between edges  133 ,  155 ,  177 ,  199  being curved upwards so as to form a concave shape opening upwards. 
         [0047]    In aspects of the invention, combinations of features shown in various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined in order to produce enhanced performance in certain driving environments. For example, in addition to at least part of outer edge  19 , as discussed with respect to  FIG. 3A , being lower than inner edge  17 ; at least part of rear edge  15 , as discussed with respect to  FIG. 4A , may be lower than front edge  13 . In another example; outer lateral edge  19  shown in its lower relative position in  FIG. 3A  may be combined with the lower rear edge  15  and/or upwards curving profile seen in  FIG. 3A  and/or the aerodynamic profile seen in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0048]    In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb. 
         [0049]    Although the present embodiments have been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.