Abstract:
An apparatus for attachment to the tail pipe of a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elongate bracket operative to be attached to said tail pipe and having an end extendable beyond the end of said tail pipe. The apparatus also comprises an endplate coupled to said end of said bracket. The apparatus also comprises a symbol formed as a part of said endplate and operative to be viewed by an observer outside said vehicle. The apparatus may amuse observers outside the vehicle and mask the normally unappealing appearance of the tailpipe.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Canadian patent application Serial No. 2,452,974 which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to apparatus mountable to an automobile tail pipe. More specifically the present invention relates to a decorative endplate mountable to the end of an automobile tail pipe. Background  
         [0003]     Traditionally the automobile tail pipe has served the utilitarian purpose of channeling exhaust gases away from the automobile&#39;s exhaust system. The tail pipe is not normally a pleasant site for those observers outside the automobile.  
         [0004]     Some attempts have been made to beautify the automobile tail pipe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,666 describes one such device. This device uses the force generated by exhaust gases to spin a decorative visual spinner. The device is complex, may be difficult to install and may only be usefully mountable to horizontal exhaust pipes.  
         [0005]     Another decorative device for an automobile tail pipe is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,144. This device is complicated in structure, and may be complicated to install. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]      FIG. 1   a  depicts a perspective view of a first example of an endplate of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1   b  depicts a perspective view of a first example of the endplate of the present invention mounted to a tail pipe using a first example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1   c  depicts a perspective view of an example of the present invention mounted to a portion of an exhaust system.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  depicts a side view of a first example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  depicts a perspective view of a first example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of a first example of the endplate of the present invention mounted to a tail pipe using a second example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of an example of an integral bracket/endplate of the present invention in unbent condition.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an example of an integral bracket/endplate of the present invention in bent condition and mounted to an automobile tail pipe.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6   a  depicts a side view of a third example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6   b  depicts a perspective view of a third example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of a second example of the endplate of the present invention mounted to a tail pipe using a third example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of a third example of the endplate of the present invention mounted to a dual tail pipe assembly using a bracket assembly of the present invention  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  depicts a perspective view of a second example of the endplate of the present invention shown dismounted from a bracket assembly of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  depicts a side view of a second example of the endplate of the present invention shown dismounted from a bracket assembly of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  depicts a top view of a second example of the endplate of the present invention shown dismounted from a bracket assembly of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  depicts a close up perspective view of the attachment points of a second example of the endplate and a first example of the bracket assembly of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  depicts a close up perspective view of the attachment points of a first example of the endplate and first example of the bracket assembly of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  depicts a close up perspective view of the attachment points of a third example of the endplate and fourth example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  depicts a close up perspective view of the attachment points of a fourth example of the endplate and a third example of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  depicts perspective views of various examples of the bracket of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  depicts the bracket of the current invention together with the sound dampener of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description and figures describe and show various examples of the endplates, brackets, bracket assemblies and integral endplate/brackets of the present invention. These examples show several different ways of combining the various elements of the invention together and those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many other ways of combining the various elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In general, the bracket is referred to as bracket  10  with specific examples shown in the different figures. In general, the endplate is referred to as endplate  20  with specific examples shown in the different figures. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the applicable law interpreting the claims following this description.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1   a  a first example of an endplate  20  is depicted. A symbol  50  is formed as a part of the endplate  20  by punching. Alternatively the symbol  50  may be formed as a part of the endplate  20  by painting, etching, drawing, engraving, stamping, imprinting, strking, drilling, milling, molding or any other appropriate process. In this example the endplate  20  has a slot  90  which allows the endplate  20  to be attached to a first example of a bracket  10  as described below. The slot  90  may be formed by punching, drilling, milling, molding or any other appropriate process. The endplate  20  may be formed in any applicable shape such as circular (as shown), triangular, square, rectangular, oval, polygonal or misshapen. The symbol  50  may be any symbol desired by a user and limited only by the designer&#39;s creativity. Some examples of the symbol  50  include “letters”, “numbers”, “lightning bolts”, “smiley faces”, “stars”, “moons”, “hearts”, “diamonds”, “radiation symbols”, “toxic waste symbols” and many others limited only by the imagination.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 1   b  the first example of the endplate  20  is shown coupled to the first example of the bracket  10  and mounted to a tail pipe  60 . The bracket  10  is formed from a straight piece of material which has a tab  30  (or lance) punched out of it. Alternatively, the tab  30  may be molded as a part of the bracket  10  or formed in another appropriate process. The tab  30  is engagble with-the outlet end  95  of the tail pipe  6  and may also be engagable with the inner surface of said tailpipe whereas a first section  11  of the bracket  10  engages the outside surface of the tail pipe  60 . The bracket is thus mountable flush with the tail pipe  60 . A second section  12  of the bracket  10  supports the endplate  20  and comprises a circular bend  80  (or curl) which holds the endplate  20  through slot  90 . A bend  70  that may be present in bracket  10  separates the first II and second  12  sections of the bracket  10  and may serve to position the endplate  20  in the centre of the tail pipe  60 . This may be desirable when the diameter of the endplate  20  is larger than that of the tail pipe  60 . The tab  30  may serve the purpose of preventing the installer from installing the endplate  20  too close to the tail pipe  60  thus preventing backpressure on the automobile engine if this is not desired The bend  70  may also serve to position the endplate  20  such that the endplate hangs vertically even when the tail pipe  60  is not horizontal. The endplate  20  may thus obscure at least a portion of the exhaust system of the vehicle it is mounted to.  
         [0030]     The bracket  10  may be attached to the tail pipe  60  with hose clamp  40 . The clamp  40  in conjunction with the tab  30  may serve to hold the assembly onto the tailpipe and prevent rotation and slippage. Alternatively the bracket  10  may be attached to the tail pipe  60  or a sleeve covering the tail pipe  60  by bolts, other types of clamps, gluing, welding, etc. In addition, the clamp  40  may be welded or otherwise attached to the bracket  10  or the clamp  40  may be loose from the bracket  10  until it is installed by the user. The bracket  10  and endplate  20  may be formed of any applicable material such as stainless steel, aluminum, high temperature plastics, etc. In fact with the emergence of fuel cell powered vehicles with much lower exhaust temperatures, it is conceived that the endplate and bracket may be formed out of materials less impervious to heat such as lower temperature plastics.  
         [0031]     The circular bend  80  may alternatively be other shapes such as a squared bend, oval, etc. as long as endplate  20  engages the slot  90  and the endplate is retained by the bend. The circular bend  80  may be clamped tight, bonded, welded, etc. through the slot or alternatively the endplate  20  may swing within the circular bend  80  which allows the endplate  20  to be swung adjacent to the bracket  10  for shipment. If the endplate  20  is swingable it also allows for the endplate  20  to remain vertical when the tail pipe  60  is off horizontal. I.e., gravitational pull on the endplate  20  will swing it to a vertical position. This may ensure the endplate remains easily visible to an observer.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b  additional depictions of the bracket  10  are shown. The first section  11  of the bracket  10  may be longer or shorter depending on the proximity of the muffler  15  to the end of the tail pipe  60  and whether the tail pipe  60  has a straight or angled cut at its outlet.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 3 a  second example of the bracket  10  is shown attached to the first example of the endplate  20 . In this example the bracket  10  is straight except for the circular bend  80 . In this example the bracket is attachable to the tail pipe  60  using two hose clamps  40 . This example of the bracket  10  without the bend  70  may be usable when the tail pipe  60  is larger in diameter than the endplate  20 . This may also be the case when the tail pipe  60  has an aftermarket sleeve mounted over it (which the bracket  10  may be mounted to in a similar fashion as it is mounted to the tail pipe  60  directly.)  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5  a perspective view of an integral endplate/bracket  100  is shown both in unbent ( FIG. 4 ) and bent ( FIG. 5 ) condition. In this example of the invention the endplate/bracket  100  comprises both the bracket  10  and the endplate  20  with a bend  110  separating the two. The endplate/bracket  100  may be shipped in bent or unbent condition and the user may adjust the bend  110  to ensure the endplate  20  is visible to an observer if for example, the tail pipe  60  does not exit the vehicle in a horizontal position The user may also adjust the bend  110  to position the endplate  20  to hide as much of the tail pipe  60  and muffler  15  as desired.  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a,    6   b  and  7 , a second example of the endplate  20  is shown attached and attachable to a third example of the bracket  10 . In this example an elongated tab  130  is formed in the bracket  10  such that the bracket  10  may be slid onto the tailpipe  60  with the elongated tab  130  on the inside of the tail pipe  60  and a remaining portion  135  of the bracket  10  on the outside surface of the tail pipe  60  thus positioning the bracket  10  flush with the tail pipe  60 . As with the tab  30 , the elongated tab  130  may cooperate with the clamp  40  to prevent movement of the bracket  10  in relation to the tail pipe  60 . Also, as with the tab  30 , the elongated tab  130  (depending on its length) may prevent the installer from mounting the bracket too close to the tail pipe  60  if it is desirable to prevent backpressure on the vehicle&#39;s engine.  
         [0036]     In this example, bracket  10  has endplate attachment tabs  120  formed at the opposite end as the elongated tab  130 . These endplate attachment tabs  120  have holes  125  formed within them that cooperate with holes  225  (seen in  FIG. 12 ) formed in tabs  220  formed in the second example of endplate  20 . The bracket  10  and endplate  20  may be rotatably or fixedly attached to each other using nuts/bolts, pins, rivets, etc.  
         [0037]     Referring now to FIGS.  8  to  11  an example of the invention for mounting to a dual tail pipe configuration is shown. This example is similar to the previous examples with the addition of two slidable brackets  300  which are “U” shaped and have elongated slots  310  formed within them. In this configuration, the bracket  10  has two holes  320  formed within it. Bolts or other attachment mechanisms may be threaded through the elongated slots  310 . The bolts may have nuts attached to their end. This allows the assembly to be expanded or contracted to fit various dual tail pipe  60  spacings. Once the clamps  40  are attached, the nuts/bolts may or may not be tightened depending on the desired rigidity.  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 12 a  close up perspective view of the attachment points of a second example of the endplate  20  and first example of the bracket  10  is shown. In order to attach these two examples a pin, bolt or other attachment device is threaded through the channel formed by circular bend  80  and holes  225 . In this example, the circular bend  80  may have a relatively smaller circumference.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 13 a  close up perspective view of the first example of the endplate  20  and bracket  10  is shown.  
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIG. 14 a  close up perspective view of a third example of the endplate  20  and bracket  10  attachment point is shows In this example the bracket  10  has two circular bends  80  and the endplate  20  also has a circular bend  81 . A pin, bolt, etc. is threaded through the channel formed by these bends to rigidly or rotatably attach the endplate  20  and bracket  10 . Alternatively, the endplate  20  may have two bends  81  and the bracket  10  may have one bend  80 .  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 15 a  close up perspective view of a fourth example of the endplate  20  and third example of the bracket  10  attachment point is shown. In this example the endplate has a circular bend  81  (or loop, curl, etc.) which is attached to the bracket  10  in a similar fashion as the previous example.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 16  various additional examples of the bracket  10  are shown. As indicated above, the bracket may be formed of different lengths depending on the application. In addition, the various elements of the bracket  10  may be combined to create many versions of the bracket  10 .  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIG. 17  the bracket  10  is shown along with a sound dampener  44 . The sound dampener  44  may fit within the circular bend  80  and may prevent or reduce sound caused by vibration between the endplate  20  and bracket  10 . The sound dampener  44  may be formed of any appropriate material such as rubber.