Abstract:
An aerodynamic air dam device comprising a polychloroprene panel adapted for mounting on the front bumper of a vehicle, wherein the polychloroprene panel can wrap around the outer side corners of the bumper; a mounting strip positioned along the top edge of the panel for holding the panel in place by clamping the panel between the mounting strip and the bumper; a bolt for inserting through a coinciding strip aperture, panel aperture, and bumper of a vehicle, wherein the bolt together with a nut secure the mounting strip and the panel to the bumper.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an accessory for a truck or a car bumper. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an aerodynamic air dam for attaching to the bumper of a truck or car for improved energy consumption. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Air dams are devices made of metal or plastic for attaching to front bumpers of vehicles such as trucks and cars. Generally, air dams are intended to enhance the aerodynamics of the vehicle by blocking the flow of turbulent air underneath the chassis of the vehicle. The present invention features an improved aerodynamic air dam for attaching to a bumper of a truck or a car. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the air dam device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view and exploded view of the air dam device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the air dam device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a first side cross sectional view of an air dam device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a second side cross sectional view of an air dam device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the air dam device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following is a listing of numbers corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:
           100  air dam device     105  truck     106  bumper of truck     107  front surface of bumper     108  lower wing of bumper     110  panel     111  first side edge of panel     112  second side edge of panel     113  top edge of panel     114  bottom edge of panel     115  front surface of panel     116  back surface of panel     120  mounting strip     121  first end of mounting strip     122  second end of mounting strip     125  mounting bracket     126  first half of mounting bracket     127  second half of mounting bracket     130  bolt     131  flat end of bolt     132  threaded end of bolt     140  nut     150  strip aperture     155  panel aperture       

     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention features an improved air dam device  100  for attaching to a bumper  106  of a vehicle such as a truck  105  or a car. In some embodiments, the air dam device  100  of the present invention helps to redirect airflow around the outer sides of the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ). In some embodiments, the air dam device  100  of the present invention helps to prevent wind turbulence beneath the chassis of the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ). Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the air dam device  100  of the present invention is advantageous because it can help to improve fuel economy. It is also believed that the air dam device  100  of the present invention is long-lasting as it does not have moveable parts. 
     The air dam device  100  comprises an elongated panel  110  (e.g., constructed from a flexible neoprene/polychloroprene) having a first side edge  111 , a second side edge  112 , a top edge  113 , a bottom edge  114 , a front surface  115 , and a back surface  116 . Disposed on the front surface  115  of the panel  110  and running along the top edge  113  of the panel  110  is an elongated mounting strip  120  for allowing the panel  110  to be mounted on a bumper  106  of a car of a truck  105 . The mounting strip  120  has a first end  121  and a second end  122 . In some embodiments, the first end  121  is oriented near or at the first side edge  111  of the panel  110 . In some embodiments, the second end  122  is oriented near the second side edge  112  of the panel  110 . 
     Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that a panel  110  constructed from a polychloroprene material is advantageous because it is extremely durable, flexible, and has a high amount of tensile strength and elasticity. It is also believed that the flexibility and durability of the air dam  100  of the present invention is advantageous because it allows the device  100  to bend and accommodate debris or objects on the surface of the road. For example, the flexibility of durability of the polychloroprene panel  110  allows the device  100  to withstand contact with an animal or other large object in the road and bend such that the object does not get stuck on the front surface  115  of the panel  110  as it can with a rigid air dam. 
     The panel  110  of the air dam  100  of the present invention is flexible and is of a thickness that can withstand wind at a high velocity but can also bend and accommodate objects on the road surface. For example, in some embodiments, the panel  110  is about ¾ inch in thickness. This combination of flexibility and thickness also allow the panel  110  to be wrapped around the corners of the bumper  106 . 
     Disposed along the mounting strip  120  is one or more strip apertures  150 , which can receive an attachment means such as a bolt  130 , a screw, a nail, the like, or a combination thereof. Disposed along the panel  110 , for example along the top edge  113  is one or more panel apertures  155 , which can receive the attachment means (e.g., bolt  130 ) that is driven through the strip aperture  150  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The panel apertures  155  are aligned with the strip apertures  150  so that a user can attach the panel  110  to the bumper  106  of the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ) via the mounting strip  120 . 
     In some embodiments, the air dam device  100  is mounted on the front surface  107  of the bumper  106  of the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ). In some embodiments, the panel  110  is attached to the bumper  106  of the vehicle by aligning the top edge  113  of the panel  110  with the front surface  107  of the bumper  106  and then aligning the mounting strip  120  on the top surface  115  of the panel at the top edge  113 . Then, a user can insert a bolt  130 , a screw, or the like, through the panel apertures  155  and strip apertures  150 . In some embodiments, the bolt  130  can be secured with a nut  140 . For example, the bolt  130  has a threaded end  132  and a flat end  131 . In some embodiments, a nut  140  can be attached to the threaded end  132  after the threaded end  132  has been driven through the mounting strip  120 , panel  110 , and bumper  106  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     In some embodiments, the air dam device  100  is mounted on a lower wing  108  of the bumper  106  via a mounting bracket  125 . In some embodiments, the mounting bracket  125  is generally L-shaped having a first half  126  and a second half  127 . In some embodiments, a mounting bracket  125  (e.g., first half  126  of mounting bracket  125 ) is attached to the lower wing  108  of the bumper  106  via an attachment means, for example a bolt  130  and nut  140 . The mounting bracket  125  (e.g., second half  127 ) extends downwardly from the bumper  106 . The panel  110  and mounting strip  120  can be attached to the mounting bracket  125  (e.g., second half  127 ) via an attachment means, for example a bolt  130  and nut  140  (see  FIG. 4A ). 
     The air dam device  100  extends downwardly (e.g., toward the ground surface) from the bumper  106  such that it is close to the ground surface (e.g., pavement) so as to redirect airflow while the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ) is moving forward. In some embodiments, the panel  110  is generally flat. In some embodiments, the first side edge  111  and/or second side edge  112  of the panel  110  are generally curved so as to wrap around the lower corners of the bumper  106  of the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ) (see  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5 ). In some embodiments, the first side edge  111  and/or second side edge  112  of the panel almost touch the front steering tires of the vehicle (e.g., truck  105 ). 
     The air dam device  100  of the present invention may be constructed from a variety of materials. For example, in some embodiments, the air dam device  100  is constructed from a material comprising a metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, iron), a plastic, a rubber (e.g., neoprene/polychloroprene rubber), the like, or a combination thereof. Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the panel  110  being constructed from a flexible polychloroprene rubber is advantageous because it is extremely durable and flexible. 
     The air dam device  100  of the present invention may be constructed in a variety of sizes so as to fit various sizes of vehicles (e.g., commercial truck  105 ). In some embodiments, the air dam device  100  is attached to after-market vehicles. In some embodiments, the air dam device  100  is installed in vehicles during production. 
     In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 60 to 80 inches in length as measured from the first side edge  111  to the second side edge  112 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 80 to 110 inches in length as measured from the first side edge  111  to the second side edge  112 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 110 to 120 inches in length as measured from the first side edge  111  to the second side edge  112 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 120 to 130 inches in length as measured from the first side edge  111  to the second side edge  112 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 130 to 150 inches in length as measured from the first side edge  111  to the second side edge  112 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is more than about 150 inches in length. 
     In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 10 to 15 inches in height as measured from the top edge  113  to the bottom edge  114 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 15 to 20 inches in height as measured from the top edge  113  to the bottom edge  114 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about 20 to 25 inches in height as measured from the top edge  113  to the bottom edge  114 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is more than about 25 inches in height. In some embodiments, the panel  110  is more than about 10 inches in height. 
     In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about ¼ inch and ½ inch in thickness as measured form the front surface  115  to the back surface  116 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is between about ½ inch and ¾ inch in thickness as measured form the front surface  115  to the back surface  116 . In some embodiments, the panel  110  is more than about ¾ inch in thickness. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the panel  110  is about 130 inches in length includes a panel  110  that is between 117 and 143 inches in length. 
     The following the disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,262; U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,339; U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,441; U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,016; U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,166; U.S. Pat. No. 2,036,560; U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,911; U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,037; U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,769. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.