cover

Abstract

A cover (100) is attached to a heated element (10) of a vehicle, particularly a heated element located inside a vehicle cabin, to cover the heated element (10). The cover (100) includes ribs (110) formed on its outer surface. The ribs (110) are integrally formed with the cover (100) during molding. The cover (100) with the ribs (110) reduces contact between the body of a vehicle occupant and the heated cover when the occupant comes into contact with or approaches the heated cover, and substantially prevents the body of the occupant from being burned.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover, in particular to a cover for a heated element of a vehicle located in the passenger compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] A radiator is a heat exchanger that is part of a vehicle's engine cooling system. The radiator is generally mounted at the front of the vehicle to directly receive ram air for cooling the coolant flowing through the radiator's heat exchanger tubes. The radiator supplies the coolant, cooled by the ram air, to the vehicle's engine through a first pipe. The coolant is heated as it flows around the vehicle's engine and extracts heat therefrom. The heated coolant returns to the radiator through a second pipe for cooling and reuse of the heated coolant. The second pipe, which supplies the heated coolant from the engine to the radiator, is generally located in the passenger compartment and is heated by the heated coolant flowing through it. The second heated pipe is located in the passenger compartment and is therefore prone to burns to vehicle occupants if any part of their body, especially their legs, accidentally comes into contact with the heated pipe.

[0003] To prevent such burns, a cover is used to cover the heated second pipe. However, due to its close proximity to the second heated pipe, the cover also heats up. FIG. 1a shows an isometric view of a conventional cover 1 covering at least one heated pipe 2. FIG. 1b shows a schematic diagram depicting the interaction of the occupant's body "b" with the conventional cover 1 covering the heated pipe 2. Due to the plain outer surface of the cover 1, the cover 1 has a relatively larger surface area that is contacted by the occupant's body "b" than the surface area of ​​the second heated pipe 2. Thus, the cover 1 is more likely to burn the occupant's body "b" by accidentally contacting or approaching the cover 1. Such a configuration of the conventional cover defeats the purpose of the cover "b". If the occupant of the vehicle is the driver of the vehicle, the burn may distract the driver, leading to an accident. Additionally, the heated cover 1 may burn or damage other elements, such as, for example, plastic coated electrical wiring harnesses or fluid carrying pipes made of plastic material, that are located in the passenger compartment and may inadvertently come into contact with the heated cover 1 or that are in close proximity thereto.

[0004] Although certain prior art discloses a cover for covering at least one heated pipe, the previously known covers do not reduce the risk of burns to the body of a passenger who touches or approaches the cover. Furthermore, a few prior arts suggest providing insulation between the heated pipe and the cover to prevent overheating of the cover and burns to the body parts of a passenger who touches or approaches the cover. However, such prior arts still cannot prevent burns to the body of a passenger who touches or approaches the cover. This is because the previously known covers do not allow heat to dissipate from the cover, and therefore cannot prevent overheating of the cover.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a cover for covering a heated pipe, which substantially prevents the risk of a passenger's body being burned even if the passenger's body comes into contact with or approaches the cover. There is also a need for a cover that is simple in structure and easy to manufacture. There is also a need for a cover that can incorporate elements that prevent the passenger's body from being burned even if the passenger's body comes into contact with the cover without requiring significant modifications to the cover. There is also a need for a cover that is configured with elements for dissipating heat from the cover, thereby preventing overheating of the cover.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for covering heated pipes of a vehicle engine cooling system which overcomes the drawbacks associated with prior art covers.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover which substantially prevents an occupant's body from being burned as a result of contact with or proximity to the cover.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cover that is simple in structure and easy to manufacture.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cover that is configured with elements for dissipating heat from the cover, thereby preventing overheating of the cover.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an element that can be conveniently incorporated into an existing cover without significant modification to the cover to prevent an occupant's body from being burned even if the occupant's body comes into contact with or approaches the cover.

[0011] In this specification, some elements or parameters may be indexed as a first element, a second element, etc. In this case, unless otherwise stated, the index is only meant to distinguish and name similar but not identical elements. No idea of ​​priority should be inferred from such indexing, as these terms may be interchanged without detracting from the invention. Furthermore, the indexing does not imply an order of installation or use of the elements of the invention. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The present invention contemplates a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cover being adapted to be attached to a heated element of a vehicle to cover the heated element, the cover including ribs configured on an exterior surface thereof.

[0013] Generally, the ribs are integrally formed with the cover during molding.

[0014] Alternatively, the rib is separate from the cover and attached to the cover.

[0015] Generally, the ribs have a rectangular cross-section.

[0016] Typically, the ribs are disposed throughout the cover.

[0017] Further, the ribs are disposed on the cover in either an intermittent or continuous manner.

[0018] Typically, the spacing between the ribs is in the range of 3mm to 10mm and the pitch of the ribs is smaller than the narrowest part of the occupant's body.

[0019] Overall, the ribs are in the range of 3mm to 10mm in height, the ribs having a height that keeps the occupant's body away from the cover.

[0020] Generally, the ribs are disposed on the cover in at least one of a horizontal, vertical, and angled orientation.

[0021] Alternatively, the ribs are arranged on the cover along at least one of a cross, a hexagon, a circle, an oval, an octagon, and any other closed pattern.

[0022] Specifically, the rib is formed in a portion of the cover that faces the occupant and is the portion that is most likely to come into contact with the occupant's body.

[0023] More specifically, the ribs are formed on at least a portion of the cover that is closer to the heated element that is covered by the cover.

[0024] Generally, the ribs are made of either plastic or metal.

[0025] Also disclosed is a cooling system for an engine of a motor vehicle, the cooling system including a pipe and a cover as disclosed above, the cover being attached to the pipe.

[0026] Other features, details and advantages of the invention can be inferred from the following description of the invention. A more complete understanding of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a shows an isometric view of a conventional cover that fits over a heated pipe. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b shows a schematic diagram depicting the interaction of an occupant's body with the conventional cover of FIG. 1a. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a cover according to an embodiment of the invention that fits over a heated pipe. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows another isometric view of the cover of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows yet another isometric view of the cover of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between the body of an occupant and a cover according to an embodiment of the invention covering a heated pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] It should be noted that the drawings disclose the invention in sufficient detail for carrying it out, and these drawings help to better define the invention if necessary, however, the invention should not be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0029] The present invention contemplates a protective cover for covering heated elements of a vehicle's engine cooling system, particularly the tubes that make up the fluid flow from the vehicle's engine to the radiator. The tubes are located in the passenger compartment and are subject to contact by the vehicle's occupants. The protective cover is attached to the heated elements of the vehicle to cover the heated elements. The cover includes ribs configured on its outer surface to minimize contact between the occupant's body parts and the heated cover, preventing the occupant's body parts from being burned if the occupant's body parts come into contact with the cover. The ribs also dissipate heat from the cover. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, the present invention is described with reference to a cover for covering a heated pipe that supplies hot coolant from the engine to the radiator. However, the application of the cover of the present invention is not limited to the vehicle's engine cooling system. The cover of the present invention can be used to cover any other heated elements in a vehicle environment that may cause burns to a human body upon contact.

[0030] Fig. 1a shows an isometric view of a conventional cover 1 fitted to and covering at least one heated pipe 2. Fig. 1b shows a schematic diagram depicting the interaction of an occupant's body "b" with the conventional cover 1 covering the heated pipe 2. The conventional cover 1 has a plain outer surface and a relatively larger surface area for contact by the occupant's body "b" than the surface area of ​​the second heated pipe 2. Thus, there is a high risk that the cover 1 will cause burns to the occupant's body "b" if the occupant's body "b" accidentally touches or approaches the cover 1.

[0031] The present invention contemplates a cover that overcomes the shortcomings of conventional covers.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a cover 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is attached to and covers at least one heated element, in particular at least one heated pipe 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as pipe 10), which is heated by the flow of heated coolant. More specifically, the pipe 10 is part of the engine cooling system of the vehicle, which constitutes the fluid flow from the radiator to the engine of the vehicle. FIG. 3 shows another isometric view of the cover 100. FIG. 4 shows yet another isometric view of the cover 100 alone. The cover 100 is attached to and covers the pipe 10. The cover 100 conforms to the shape of the element to be covered, in this case the pipe 10. The cover has a shape and configuration such that it covers the pipe 10 and prevents the occupants from directly contacting the pipe 10. Due to the close proximity of the cover 10 to the pipe 10, the cover 100 is also heated. However, the cover 100 is formed to significantly reduce contact between the vehicle occupant's body (hereinafter referred to as the occupant's body "B"), for example the legs of the vehicle occupant, and the cover 100, thereby preventing the occupant's body from being burned by contacting or approaching the heated cover 100. More specifically, the cover 100 of the present invention is configured with ribs 110 configured on the side of the cover 100 facing the occupant. With such a configuration of the cover 100, the contact between the occupant's body "B" and the cover 100 is line contact, instead of the surface contact between the occupant's body "b" and the conventional cover 1. Therefore, the contact between the occupant's body "B" and the cover 100 is significantly reduced, and the occupant's body is prevented from being burned even if the occupant's body "B" contacts or approaches the cover 100. Furthermore, such a configuration of the cover 100 allows heat to be dissipated from the cover 100, thereby preventing the cover 100 from overheating.

[0033] Generally, the cover 100 includes ribs 110 configured on an outer surface of the cover 100 facing the occupant. The ribs 110 are integrally formed with the cover 100 during molding. Alternatively, the ribs 110 are separate from the cover and attached to the cover 100. As shown in FIG. 5, such a configuration of the cover 100 with the ribs 110 reduces contact between the occupant's body "B" and the cover 100 to a line contact. Thus, even if the occupant's body "B" contacts or approaches the cover 100, the occupant's body "B" is prevented from being burned. Generally, the ribs 110 have a rectangular cross section. To further reduce contact between the occupant's body "B" and the cover 100, the ribs 110 are generally configured with a chamfer or fillet. Also, the chamfers and fillets formed on the ribs 110 prevent sharp edges at the corners of the ribs 110 from injuring the occupant's body "B". Typically, the spacing between adjacent ribs 110 is in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm. More specifically, the pitch of the ribs is less than the narrowest part of the occupant's body. Generally, the ribs 110 are in the range of heights of 3 mm to 10 mm. In particular, the ribs 110 have a height that keeps the occupant's body away from the cover. In one embodiment, all the ribs have a uniform height. In another embodiment, the heights of the ribs vary. The height and pitch of the ribs, and the configuration of the ribs are selected to achieve their purpose of reducing contact between the cover and the occupant's body "B" without substantially increasing the weight of the cover 100. However, the present invention is not limited to a particular configuration, number, and arrangement of the ribs 110 formed on the cover 100, so long as the ribs 110 reduce contact between the occupant's body "B" and the heated cover 100.

[0034] Generally, the ribs 110 are disposed on the cover 100 in at least one of a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and an angled direction. Alternatively, the ribs 110 are disposed on the cover 100 along at least one of a cross, a hexagon, a circle, an ellipse, an octagon, and any other closed pattern. Specifically, the ribs 110 are disposed on at least a portion of the cover 100 that faces an occupant and is the portion that is most likely to be contacted by the occupant's body. More specifically, the ribs 110 are formed on at least a portion of the cover that is closer to the pipe 10 covered by the cover 100. Typically, the ribs 110 are disposed on the entire cover 100. Furthermore, the ribs 110 are disposed on the cover 100 in either an intermittent or continuous manner. Generally, the ribs 110 are made of either a plastic or a metal.

[0035] Also disclosed is a cooling system 200 for an engine of a motor vehicle. The cooling system 200 includes a pipe 10 and the cover 100 disclosed above. The cover 100 is attached to the pipe 10.

[0036] Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

[0037] In any case, the invention cannot and should not be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, since there may be other embodiments, and the invention is intended to cover any equivalent means and combinations of means that are technically operable.

Claims

1. A cover (100) adapted to be attached to a heated element (10) of a vehicle and to cover said heated element (10), said cover (100) having ribs (110) formed on an outer surface thereof, a spacing between said ribs (100) being in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, said ribs having chamfers or fillets; A cover (100) in which a portion of the cover (100) having ribs (110) formed on an outer surface thereof is spaced from the heated element (10).

2. The cover (100) of claim 1, wherein the ribs (110) are integrally formed with the cover (100) during molding.

3. The rib (110) is separate from the cover (100) and is attached to the cover (100). The cover (100) of claim 1.

4. The rib (110) has a rectangular cross section. A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

5. The ribs (110) are disposed across the cover. A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. The ribs (110) are disposed on the cover (100) in either an intermittent or continuous manner. A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. the ribs (110) are in the range of height 3mm to 10mm, the ribs (110) having a height that keeps the occupant's body away from the cover (100); A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. The ribs (110) are disposed on the cover (100) in at least one of a horizontal, vertical, and angled orientation. A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. The ribs (110) are arranged on the cover (100) along at least one of a cross, a hexagon, a circle, an oval, an octagon, and any other closed pattern; A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The rib (110) is formed on at least a portion of the cover (100) that faces an occupant and is a portion that is most likely to be touched by the occupant's body. A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. The ribs (110) are formed on at least a portion of the cover (100) closer to the heated element (10) covered by the cover (100). A cover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A pipe and the cover (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the cover (100) being attached to the pipe, A cooling system (200) for an engine of an automobile, wherein a portion of the cover (100) having ribs (110) on an outer surface thereof is spaced from the pipe.

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