Motorized vehicles with deflectable components

Abstract

A deflectable component for a motorized vehicle can include a deflectable part formed at least partially from a superelastic and or shape memory material, wherein at least a portion of the deflectable component is moved to a deflected position upon application of a threshold force when moving at or above a predetermined speed, and returning to an undeflected position when moving below the predetermined speed. The deflectable component may comprise a connection link fabricated at least partially from a superelastic and/or shape memory material to tailor the flex point characteristics of a connected surface to a desired response. The deflectable component may improve the performance of motorized vehicles by improving the aerodynamic and fuel efficiency, as well as other beneficial effects.

1 . A deflectable component for a motorized vehicle comprising:
 a deflectable part at least partially formed from a superelastic or shape memory material, wherein at least a portion of the deflectable part is moved to a deflected position upon application of a threshold force to the deflectable part when said motorized vehicle is moving at a predetermined speed, and wherein the deflectable part returns to an undeflected position upon reduction of the threshold force when said motorized vehicle is moving below the predetermined speed.   
     
     
         2 . The component of  claim 1  wherein the deflectable part returns to a resting undeflected configuration when external forces causing deflection of the deflectable part are removed. 
     
     
         3 . A motorized vehicle air deflector for providing variable aerodynamic effects of the vehicle at different speeds, said deflector comprising:
 a connection link at least partially fabricated from a superelastic or shape memory material to tailor flex characteristics of the connection link to a desired response in order to effect a desired response of the motorized vehicle air deflector when exposed to changing external forces.   
     
     
         4 . The deflector of  claim 3  wherein the connection link enables flexion of the motorized vehicle air deflector into a desired position at higher speeds and returns to an undeflected or less deflected position at lower speeds. 
     
     
         5 . A vehicle comprising:
 a deflectable part at least partially formed from a superelastic or shape memory material, wherein a portion of the deflectable part is configured to be positioned in a first position to generate a first amount of downforce when the vehicle is traveling above a selected speed, and wherein said portion is configured to be positioned in a second position to generate a second amount of downforce when the vehicle is traveling at or below the selected speed, wherein the second position generates a greater amount of downforce than the first position of the deflectable part to provide improved vehicle performance.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 5  further comprising a connection link to connect the deflectable part to the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The deflectable component of  claim 1 , wherein said deflectable part comprises a surface having a trailing edge and a main portion. 
     
     
         8 . The deflectable component of  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of said trailing edge is configured to be deflected while said main portion of the surface remains undeflected, thereby improving straight-line speed. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein a spring characteristic of said superelastic or shape memory material is tailored to specify the transition between a deflected high-speed orientation and a higher downward force and less deflected position at a lower speed depending on the speed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein said high-speed orientation is less aerodynamically restrictive than said downward force position. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said part comprises a trailing edge and a main portion. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said trailing edge is configured to be deflected while said main portion remains undeflected, thereby improving straight-line speed. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein said connection link is at least partially formed of a superelastic or shape memory material. 
     
     
         14 . The deflector of  claim 3 , further comprising a part attached to the connection link. 
     
     
         15 . The deflector of  claim 14 , wherein said connection link is for attaching said part to a body of a motorized vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The deflector of  claim 14 , wherein said part comprises a trailing edge and a main portion. 
     
     
         17 . The deflector of  claim 16 , wherein said trailing edge is configured to be deflected while the main portion of the part remains undeflected, thereby improving straight-line speed. 
     
     
         18 . The deflector of  claim 14 , wherein said part is a deflectable part. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a deflectable part attached to said vehicle through a connection link, wherein said connection link is at least partially formed of a superelastic or shape memory material, wherein a portion of the deflectable part is configured to be positioned in a first position to generate a first amount of downforce when the vehicle is traveling above a selected speed, and wherein said portion is configured to be positioned in a second position to generate a second amount of downforce when the vehicle is traveling at or below the selected speed, wherein the second position generates a greater amount of downforce than the first position of the deflectable part to provide improved vehicle performance.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein said deflectable part comprises a trailing edge and a main portion.