The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2011
Aaron William Joseph Atkinson, Glendale, AZ (US);
Charles Christopher Garnett, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Rob Anthony Mcconnell, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Aaron William Joseph Atkinson, Glendale, AZ (US);
Charles Christopher Garnett, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Rob Anthony McConnell, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Erlanger, KY (US);
Abstract
A vehicle component or apparatus usable in a motor vehicle is described herein, along with one or more examples of methods of manufacturing the same. The vehicle component may function to provide the feature of blocking water entering from a grille opening from reaching the engine. In situations where flooding occurs and the water level rises, thus immersing portions of the car such as the wheels, the vehicle component may block some of the water from rising beyond a certain level and thus reduce the likelihood that water may reach and damage the engine. In addition or alternatively, the vehicle component may function to separate air flow entering from the lower grille and upper grille openings, respectively, thereby increasing the efficacy of engine cooling by the air flows.