Patent ID: 8480162

Claim:
A method for reducing fuel consumption of a vehicle by reducing aerodynamic drag, the vehicle including a substantially vertical rear end portion, the method comprising: providing a drag reducing apparatus including an upper panel and a lower panel, the upper panel positioned above the lower panel and the drag reducing apparatus positioned adjacent the substantially vertical rear end portion of the vehicle; providing a first connecting structure between the upper panel and the lower panel of the drag reducing apparatus, the first connecting structure comprising: a first member hingedly mounted to the substantially vertical rear end portion of the vehicle; a second member pivotally connected to the first member and connected to the upper panel at a first joint; and a third member pivotally connected to the first member and connected to the lower panel at a second joint; moving the upper panel and the lower panel from a stowed position on the substantially vertical rear end portion outwardly and away from each other to a deployed position in which the upper panel and the lower panel define at least a portion of an aerodynamic structure with a rearwardly opening cavity; and coordinating the moving of the upper panel and the lower panel with the first connecting structure.