Patent Publication Number: US-2005115221-A1

Title: Model vehicle exhaust deflector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/525,713 filed Nov. 28, 2003 and entitled “One-Piece Exhaust-Pipe Deflector with Attached Plug.”  
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates, generally, to model vehicles and, more particularly, to an exhaust deflector for such a vehicle adapted to prevent exhaust leakage from the deflector during inoperative use of the vehicle.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      It is generally known to use an engine to power a model vehicle, such as an airplane, an automobile, a helicopter, or a motorcycle, just to name a few. Various designs for such an engine are available, including a single- or multi-cylinder gasoline-fueled engine. This engine is typically lubricated by adding oil to the gasoline and routing the resulting gasoline/oil mixture into each cylinder. During operation of the vehicle, the used gasoline/oil—in the form of smoke as a result of combustion in the engine—is usually exhausted from the cylinder via a port defined in a face of the cylinder. Near the end of every working stroke of a piston within the cylinder, the port is uncovered to allow passage of the exhaust fluids from the cylinder.  
      More specifically, the exhaust fluids—including the smoke and some unused gasoline/oil—are typically directed outwardly of the port and into and through an exhaust pipe connected in fluid communication with and extending from the port. The exhaust pipe is substantially tubular and the free end of which is open such that the exhaust fluids flow substantially horizontally from the exhaust pipe as the vehicle travels through the air either on or above the ground at typical traveling speeds. In this way, the exhaust fluids can sometimes impinge upon other portions of the vehicle, causing such portions to become colored and/or unsightly.  
      To overcome this problem in the related art, it is known to use an exhaust deflector. A conventional exhaust deflector is adapted to be secured to the free end of the exhaust pipe such that the pipe and deflector are in fluid communication with respect to each other. The exhaust deflector includes generally a silicone tube bent a certain angle at a specific circumferential area of the tube so as to deflect the flow of the exhaust fluids in a particular direction and has an open free end. As a result, the exhaust fluids flow from the exhaust pipe and into, through, and out the exhaust deflector. The exhaust deflector is designed to have various standard diameter sizes—depending upon the diameter size of the exhaust pipe to which the deflector is secured—and be bent at various angles and at various circumferential areas along the tube.  
      However, since the exhaust deflector of the related art has an open free end, the liquid exhaust—namely, the unused gasoline/oil—frequently drips, or leaks, from the open end of the deflector during inoperative use of the vehicle and onto a surface supporting the vehicle. As such, places where the vehicle is transported and stored—such as in a car and at home, respectively—can become messy. More specifically, surfaces on which the vehicle is parked—such as carpeting, pavement, upholstery, or wood—can become stained with gasoline and/or oil, for instance, leaving the area where the surface is located aesthetically displeasing.  
      Thus, there is a need in the related art for an exhaust deflector for a model vehicle that prevents liquid-exhaust leakage from the deflector during inoperative use of the vehicle. There is a need in the related art for an exhaust deflector for a model vehicle that prevents also places where the vehicle is transported and stored from becoming messy and surfaces on which the vehicle is parked from becoming stained with liquid exhaust.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention overcomes the problems in the related art in an exhaust deflector adapted to be removably secured to and in fluid communication with an exhaust pipe of a model vehicle for discharging exhaust from the vehicle. The deflector includes a tubular body defining a first open end adapted to be removably secured to the exhaust pipe and a second open end adapted to be free for discharging the exhaust. A plug is adapted to be removably secured to the second end to substantially stop up and, thus, prevent discharge of the exhaust from the interior of the body.  
      An advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that it prevents liquid-exhaust leakage from the deflector during inoperative use of the vehicle.  
      Another advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that it prevents places where the vehicle is transported and stored from becoming messy and surfaces on which the vehicle is parked from becoming stained with liquid exhaust.  
      Another advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that the plug can be aerodynamically stowed relative to the deflector during operative use of the vehicle to prevent fluttering of the plug and, thus, maintain proper balance of the deflector.  
      Another advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that the plug can be strapped to the deflector and, thus, prevent misplacement or loss of the plug.  
      Another advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that it can be designed as a unitary construction and, thus, produced relatively more efficiently.  
      Another advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that it is heat-resistant and flexible.  
      Another advantage of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention is that it is more durable than exhaust-pipe deflectors of the related art.  
      Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood while reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental view showing the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention removably secured to the free end of an exhaust pipe of a model vehicle in operative use and deflecting and discharging exhaust from the vehicle.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  and illustrating the plug aerodynamically stowed to the deflector.  
       FIG. 3  is an environmental view showing the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention removably secured to the free end of an exhaust pipe of a model vehicle not in operative use and preventing discharge of exhaust from the vehicle.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3  and illustrating the plug stopping up the interior of the deflector.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the model vehicle exhaust deflector of the present invention showing a strap thereof attaching the plug to the deflector. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , where like numerals are used to designate like structure, an exhaust deflector of the present invention is generally indicated at  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the deflector  10  is adapted to be employed with a model vehicle, generally indicated at  12 . The model vehicle shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  is a helicopter adapted to fly through the air while discharging exhaust. The helicopter  12  defines a rear end, generally indicated at  14 , from which rearwardly and substantially horizontally extends an exhaust pipe, generally indicated at  16 , through which the exhaust is adapted to be discharged. The exhaust pipe  16  defines a free end, generally indicated at  18 , which, in turn, defines an opening  20  into a hollow interior  22  and to an interior wall  24  of the exhaust pipe  16 .  
      The deflector  10  is adapted to be removably secured to the free end  18  of and in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe  16  for deflecting and discharging exhaust, generally indicated at  26 , from the vehicle  12 , in general, and the exhaust pipe  16 , in particular. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the model vehicle  12  can include any such vehicle having a suitable exhaust pipe to which the deflector  10  can be removably secured and with which the deflector  10  can be in fluid communication for deflecting and discharging exhaust from the respective vehicle.  
      In general and as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  5 , the deflector  10  includes a tubular body, generally indicated at  28 , defining first and second ends, generally indicated at  30 ,  32 , respectively. The first end  30  and second end  32  define openings  34 ,  36 , respectively, into a hollow interior  38  and to an interior surface  40  of the body  28 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the first end  30  is adapted to be removably secured to the free end  18  of the exhaust pipe  16 , and the second end  32  is adapted to be free for discharging the exhaust  26 . A plug, generally indicated at  42  and as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is adapted to be removably secured to the second end  32  to substantially stop up and, thus, prevent discharge of the exhaust  26  from the interior  38  of the body  28 .  
      In a preferred embodiment of the deflector  10  and as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  5 , the longitudinal cross-section of the body  28  is substantially cylindrical, and the exterior diameter of the body  28  is substantially uniform entirely along the body  28 . Also, the body  28  is substantially flexible, and the exterior surface of the body  28  is substantially smooth. Furthermore, the interior—including both the hollow interior  38  and interior surface  40 —of the body  28  is substantially non-uniform. More specifically, the inner diameter of the hollow interior  38  of the first end  30  of the body  28  and the inner diameter of the exhaust pipe  16  are smaller than the inner diameter of the remainder of the hollow interior  38  to create more volume in the remainder for the flow of the exhaust  26  through the deflector  10 . As such, the opening  34  defined by the first end  30  of the body  28  has a size smaller to that of the opening  36  defined by the second end  32 . In addition, the wall of the body  28  is thicker relative to the body walls of the corresponding exhaust deflectors of the related art for relatively more useful life of the deflector  10 .  
      It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the body  28  can have any suitable shape, size, structure, texture, degree of flexibility, and structural relationship with respect to the exhaust pipe  16 . By way of example, although the deflector  10  is described below and shown in  FIG. 1  removably secured within the free end  18  of the exhaust pipe  16 , the deflector  10  can be designed, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to be removably secured about the free end  18  of the exhaust pipe  16  as well. Also, the hollow interior  38  of the body  28  can have any suitable structural relationship with respect to the interior surface  40 , including the interior diameter of the body  28  being substantially uniform entirely along the body  28 . And, the opening  34  defined by the first end  30  of the body  28  can have a size equal to that of the opening  36  defined by the second end  32 .  
      Also preferably and as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  5 , the body  28  defines at least one bend  33  at a circumferential area along the body  28  for deflecting the exhaust  26  from the vehicle  12 . The bend  33  forms a concave area and an oppositely disposed convex area of the body  28  in the locality of the bend  33 . Each of the concave and convex areas defines a smooth, rounded surface. The bend  33  also is defined closer to the first end  30  of the body  28  than to the second end  32  and divides the body  28  into a first substantially linear portion  44  having a predetermined length and a second substantially linear portion  46  extending integrally from the first portion  44  and having a predetermined length greater than that of the first portion  44 . The first and second portions  44 ,  46 , respectively, define a desired angle “α” between them such that the exhaust  26  is deflected the angle “α” from the direction defined by the longitudinal axis of the first portion  44 . Preferably, the angle “α” measures approximately 135°.  
      It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the bend  33  can form a corner of each of the concave and convex areas. Similarly, the bend  33  can also be defined at any suitable location along the body—for example, such that the bend  33  is defined closer to the second end  32  of the body  28  than to the first end  30 . In a like manner, the angle “α” can have any suitable measurement—for example, 180°, such that the deflector  10  is substantially straight. It will be appreciated also that the body  28  can define any suitable number of bends  33  along the body  28 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the plug  42  is adapted to be removably inserted at least partly into the hollow interior  38  of the body  28  through the opening  36  such that the plug  42  is removably secured to the second end  32  and substantially stops up and, thus, prevents discharge of the exhaust  26  from the hollow interior  38 . To this end, the plug  42  includes a member, generally indicated at  48 , and a ring  50  substantially disposed about the member  48  such that the ring  50  creates an interference fit with the interior surface  40  of the body  28 . More specifically, the member  48  is substantially tubular and hollow and defines an open end  52  and a cap-shaped hollow end  54 , and the ring  50  is integrally disposed about the hemispherical circumference of the cap-shaped end  54 . The distance the plug  42  is inserted into the hollow interior  38  of the body  28  is short relative to the length of the body  28 .  
      It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the plug  42  can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with respect to the second end  32  of the body  28 . For instance, the ring  50  of the plug  42  can be designed to be matingly received within a groove (not shown) defined by the interior surface  40  of the body  28 , and the plug  42  can be removably inserted into the hollow interior  38  of the body  28  any suitable distance such that the plug  42  is removably secured to the second end  32  and substantially stops up and, thus, prevents discharge of the exhaust  26  from the hollow interior  38 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the deflector  10  further includes a nub, generally indicated at  56 , extending integrally outwardly from the body  28  and, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , adapted to removably secure the plug  42  for stowing—preferably, substantially aerodynamic stowing, of the plug  42 . More specifically, the nub  56  includes a tubular member, generally indicated at  58 , integrally extending from the body  28  such that the end of the member  58  proximate the body  28  tapers from the body  28  to give structural integrity to the nub  56 . The member  58  also defines a cap-shaped end  60  opposite the body  28  and a ring  62  substantially disposed about the member  58  such that the nub  56  is adapted to matingly receive the plug  42  to secure it for aerodynamic stowing thereof. The nub  56  also is located adjacent the convex area of the body  28  between the bend  33  and the second end  32  of the body  28 . The nub  56  also extends a very short distance relative to the length of the body  28 .  
      Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the nub  56  can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with respect to the body  28  so as to secure the plug  42  for aerodynamic stowing thereof. For instance, the nub  56  can be located at any suitable position along the body  28 .  
      As shown in each of  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  5 , the deflector  10  includes further an elongated, flexible strap, generally indicated at  64 , disposed between and attached to the plug  42  and the body  28  such that, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the plug  42  can remain attached to the deflector  10  during inoperative use of the plug  42 . More specifically, the inner end, as viewed in  FIG. 5 , of the strap  64  is integrally attached to an arc of the second end  32  of the body  28  such that the strap  64  is substantially aligned with the nub  56  relative to the length of the second portion  46  of the body  28 . The outer end of the plug  64  is arcuate and free. The plug  42  integrally and substantially perpendicularly extends from the outer face  66 , as viewed in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , of the outer end of the strap  64 . The outer end defines an aperture  68  disposed completely through the depth of the strap  64  and in fluid communication with the hollow interior (not shown) of the plug  42 . In this way, the inner face  70 , as viewed in  FIG. 4 , of the strap  64  provides the nub  56  access into the aperture  68 .  
      Furthermore, a tab  72  integrally extends from the outermost area of the edge of the outer end of the strap  64  in the direction of the length of the strap  64 . The tab  72  is adapted to be pulled for manually removing the plug  42  when it is secured within the hollow interior  38  of the body  28  or aerodynamically stowed in mating relationship with the nub  56 . In addition, the strap  64  is of sufficient length to allow the nub  56  to secure the plug  42  for aerodynamic stowing thereof. Moreover, the width of the strap  64  is substantially constant between the ends of the strap  64  and substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body  28 . Plus, the depth of the strap  64  is substantially constant and equal to the depth of the tab  72  and small in relation to the length and width of the strap  64 . Alternatively and although not shown, the depth of the central area of the strap  64  can be smaller than the remainder of the strap  64  for greater flexibility thereof.  
      It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the strap  64  can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with respect to the body  28  and plug  42  so that the plug  42  can remain attached to the deflector  10  during inoperative use of the plug  42 . It will be appreciated also that the tab  72  is optional.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  5 , the body  28  includes at least one rib  74  disposed substantially about the first end  30  of the body  28  between the bend  33  and the opening  34  of the first end  30 . The at least one rib  74  is adapted to create an interference fit between the interior wall  24  of the exhaust pipe  16  and the at least one rib  74  to, thereby, removably secure the body  28  to the exhaust pipe  16 . Preferably, the at least one rib  74  includes a plurality of substantially uniform ribs  74  disposed integrally and completely about the body  28 , substantially perpendicular to the length of the first portion  44  of the body  28 , and parallel with respect to each other such that adjacent ribs  74  are substantially equidistantly spaced with respect to each other.  
      Each space  76  defined between adjacent ribs  74  is adapted to receive, for example, a strap or zip-tie (not shown) for securing the deflector  10  to the exhaust pipe  16  when the deflector  10  is designed to be removably secured about the free end  18  of the exhaust pipe  16 . Also preferably, the inner diameter of the hollow interior  38  of the body  28  is greater from immediately beyond the innermost rib  74  toward the second end  32  of the body  28  to create more volume for the flow of the exhaust  26  through the deflector  10 .  
      It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that, although the figures show the body  28  having four ribs  74 , the body  28  can have any suitable number of ribs  74  to removably secure the body  28  to the exhaust pipe  16 . It will be appreciated also that each rib  74  can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with respect to each of the other rib(s) and the body  28 . It will be appreciated also that any ribs  74  are optional. And, if the body  28  does not include any ribs  74  and the deflector  10  is designed to be removably secured about the free end  18  of the exhaust pipe  16 , any straps or zip-ties can be wrapped about the first end  30  of the body  28  for securing the deflector  10  to the exhaust pipe  16 . On the other hand, if the body  28  does not include any ribs  74  and the deflector  10  is designed to be removably secured within the free end  18  of the exhaust pipe  16 , the first end  30  of the body  28  can create the necessary interference fit between the interior wall  24  of the exhaust pipe  16  and the at least one rib  74 .  
      In the preferred embodiment, the deflector  10  is made of rubber—particularly, 100% automotive-grade silicone rubber functional to about 315° C. (600° F.)—and of a unitary construction. However, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that the deflector  10  can be made of any suitable material. It will be understood also that the various elements of the deflector  10  can be made of different materials with respect to each other. It will be understood also that the deflector  10  can be of a non-unitary construction. Also preferably, the deflector  10  can be designed to fit any suitably sized exhaust pipe  16 .  
      In operation of the deflector  10 , while the helicopter  12  is not in operative use, the deflector  10  is secured either about the exhaust pipe  16  or within the exhaust pipe  16 . In the meantime, the plug  42  is secured within the body  28  of the deflector  10 . Immediately prior to operative use of the helicopter  12 , the plug  42  is manually removed from the body  28  and aerodynamically stowed with the nub  56 . During operative use of the helicopter  12 , the helicopter exhaust  26  is conveyed through, deflected by, and discharged out the deflector  10 . Upon inoperative use of the helicopter  12 , the plug  42  is manually removed from the nub  56  and re-secured within the body  28  to substantially stop up and, thus, prevent leakage of any liquid exhaust from the body  28 . The plug  42  remains in this position until immediately prior to the next operative use of the helicopter  12 .  
      As can easily be seen, the deflector prevents liquid-exhaust leakage from the deflector during inoperative use of the vehicle. The deflector prevents also places where the vehicle is transported and stored from becoming messy and surfaces on which the vehicle is parked from becoming stained with liquid exhaust. And, the plug can be aerodynamically stowed relative to the deflector during operative use of the deflector to prevent fluttering of the plug and, thus, maintain proper balance of the deflector. The plug can be further strapped to the deflector and, thus, prevent misplacement or loss of the plug. In addition, the deflector can be designed as a unitary construction and, thus, produced relatively more easily and quickly and less costly. Moreover, the deflector is heat-resistant and flexible and more durable than exhaust-pipe deflectors of the related art.  
      The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.