Patent ID: 7976096

Claim:
An air drag reduction apparatus for use with vehicles having a generally rectangular rear door, said apparatus comprising: a side panel having an inner edge and an outer edge, said outer edge of the side panel having an upper corner; a top panel having an inner edge and an outer edge, said outer edge of the top panel having a laterally disposed outer corner; respective hinge assemblies mounted on the panels adjacent the inner edges thereof, said assemblies being configured and arranged for pivotally mounting said panels on the rear door of the vehicle and operative to permit each of said panels to pivot between an extended drag-reducing position where the panel extends generally rearwardly from the rear door and a collapsed position where the panel is located adjacent the rear door, said panels being located relative to one another such that the upper corner of the side panel and the outer corner of the top panel corner are in proximity with one another when the panels are in their respective extended drag-reducing positions; and a respective force transferring element mounted at each of said corners, said elements being interengageable and cooperable for causing the top panel to pivot toward its collapsed position in response to pivoting of the side panel toward its collapsed position, one of said elements comprising a cam surface and the other of said elements comprising a cam follower, wherein one of said elements comprises a ramp presenting said surface and the other element comprises a wheel which engages and rides on said surface.