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:
May. 03, 2016
Filed:
Dec. 24, 2014
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Jason W. Guenzel, Milford, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a first body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface, and also having a second body end opposite of the first body end. The vehicle also includes first and second lateral body sides disposed generally parallel to one another. The vehicle additionally includes first and second side panels mounted to the vehicle body and configured to selectively deploy into ambient airflow aft of the second body end to become positioned along the respective first and second lateral body sides and retract from the ambient airflow. The first and second side panels provide an active lengthening of the vehicle body aft of the second body end to thereby reduce aerodynamic drag when both side panels are deployed and positioned along the respective first and second lateral body sides.