Active gutter, deflector, and guard for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440488-B2
Application number	US-202117147187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2021
Priority date	Jan 12, 2021
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A fin assembly of a vehicle includes a fin supported on an A-pillar and disposed along the A-pillar at a location that is interposed between and separates a side window and a windshield in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The fin is configured for being driven to a retracted condition with respect to the A-pillar where an exterior surface of the vehicle at least partially formed along an exterior surface of the windshield, an exterior surface of the fin, and an exterior surface of the side window substantially conforms to an aerodynamic shape, and for being driven to an extended condition where the exterior surface of the vehicle is at least partially formed along the exterior surface of the windshield, an exterior surface of the A-pillar located behind the fin in a front-back direction of the vehicle, and the exterior surface of the side window.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fin assembly of a vehicle, the fin assembly comprising:
a fin supported on an A-pillar and configured as an external covering for the A-pillar that extends from one lateral side of the A-pillar to another lateral side of the A-pillar in a lateral direction of the vehicle, with a first lateral side of the fin being located closer to a side window as compared to a windshield, and with a second lateral side of the fin being located closer to the windshield as compared to the side window,
wherein an exterior surface of the A-pillar is offset in a front-back direction of the vehicle relative to an exterior surface of the windshield and defines a recessed portion,
wherein the fin is configured for being driven to a retracted condition with respect to the A-pillar and to an extended condition with respect to the A-pillar,
where in the retracted condition the fin is positioned over the recessed portion such that an exterior surface of the vehicle at least partially formed along the exterior surface of the windshield, an exterior surface of the fin, and an exterior surface of the side window substantially conforms to an aerodynamic shape, and
where in the extended condition the exterior surface of the vehicle is at least partially formed along the exterior surface of the windshield, the exterior surface of the A-pillar, and the exterior surface of the side window, and at least one of the first lateral side of the fin and the second lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the recessed portion at least partially defined by the exterior surface of the A-pillar to prevent liquid from traveling around the A-pillar from the windshield to the side window.

2. The fin assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the fin is in the retracted condition the exterior surface of the fin is aligned with the exterior surface of the side window at the first lateral side of the fin such that the exterior surface of the fin substantially continues a curve of the exterior surface of the side window at the first lateral side of the fin, and the exterior surface of the fin is aligned with the exterior surface of the windshield at the second lateral side of the fin such that the exterior surface of the fin substantially continues a curve of the exterior surface of the windshield at the second lateral side of the fin.

3. The fin assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the fin is in the extended condition, the fin is in a gutter position to form a gutter with the A-pillar such that the first lateral side of the fin in contact with the exterior surface of the A-pillar and the second lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the exterior surface of the A-pillar, the gutter being configured to prevent liquid from traveling around the A-pillar from the windshield to the side window.

4. The fin assembly according to claim 3 , further comprising a controller configured to drive the fin into the gutter position in response to at least one of a user command and an input from a sensor configured to detect an amount of liquid on the windshield, the input from the sensor to the controller corresponding with a nominal amount of liquid detected on the windshield.

5. The fin assembly according to claim 4 , wherein when the fin is in the extended condition, the fin is in a guard position to form a guard such that the first lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the exterior surface of the A-pillar, and the second lateral side of the fin is in contact with the exterior surface of the vehicle, the guard being configured to separate a headwind from the exterior surface of the vehicle at a location between the windshield and the side window along the exterior surface of the vehicle, directing the headwind and liquid traveling with the headwind away from the exterior surface of the vehicle so as to prevent liquid traveling with the headwind around the A-pillar from contacting the side window, and
wherein the controller is configured to drive the fin into the guard position in response to input corresponding with an amount of liquid in excess of the nominal amount detected on the windshield by the sensor.

6. The fin assembly according to claim 4 , wherein when the fin is in the extended condition, the fin is in a deflector position to form a deflector with the exterior surface of the vehicle such that the first lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the exterior surface of the vehicle, and the second lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the exterior surface of the vehicle, the deflector being configured to direct a headwind between the fin and the exterior surface of the A-pillar, away from the exterior surface of the vehicle so as to prevent liquid traveling with the headwind around the A-pillar from contacting the side window, and
wherein the controller is configured to drive the fin into the deflector position in response to input corresponding with an amount of liquid in excess of the nominal amount detected on the windshield by the sensor.

7. The fin assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the fin is in the extended condition, the fin is in a guard position to form a guard such that the first lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the exterior surface of the A-pillar, and the second lateral side of the fin is in contact with the exterior surface of the vehicle, the guard being configured to separate a headwind from the exterior surface of the vehicle at a location between the windshield and the side window along the exterior surface of the vehicle, directing the headwind and liquid traveling with the headwind away from the exterior surface of the vehicle so as to prevent liquid traveling with the headwind around the A-pillar from contacting the side window.

8. The fin assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising a controller configured to drive the fin into the guard position in response to at least one of a user command and an input from a sensor configured to detect an amount of liquid on the windshield, the input from the sensor to the controller corresponding with at least a nominal amount of liquid detected on the windshield by the sensor.

9. The fin assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the fin is in the extended condition, the fin is in a deflector position to form a deflector with the exterior surface of the vehicle such that the first lateral side of the fin is spaced outward from the exterior surface of the vehicle, and an arm supports the second lateral side of the fin spaced outward from the exterior surface of the vehicle, the deflector being configured to direct a headwind between the fin and the exterior surface of the A-pillar, away from the exterior surface of the vehicle to prevent liquid traveling with the headwind around the A-pillar from contacting the side window.

10. The fin assembly according to claim 9 , further comprising a controller configured to drive the fin into the deflector position in response to at least one of a user command and an input from a sensor configured to detect an amount of liquid on the windshield, the input from the sensor to the controller corresponding with at least a nominal amount of liquid detected on the windshield by the sensor.

11. The fin assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to drive the fin into the retracted condition in response to at least one of a user command and an input from a sensor configured to detect an amount of liquid on the windshield, the input from the sensor to the controller corresponding with less than a nominal amount of liquid detected on the windshield by the sensor.

12. The fin assembly according to claim 1 , further comprisi

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moradnia Pirooz
• Metka Matthew L

Classifications

• B60R13/07 Primary

  Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure (B60R13/06, {B60J10/25} take precedence; {integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24}) · CPC title

• B60J7/0084

  Water draining for non-fixed roofs or roof panels (for fixed roofs not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, for fixed roofs integral with roof structure B62D25/07) · CPC title

• B62D35/00 Primary

  Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining · CPC title

• B60J1/2002

  Wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling, e.g. for side windows (integral with sealing arrangements B60J10/72) · CPC title

• B60R16/08

  fluid · CPC title