TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cover, particularly, to a cover for a heated element of a vehicle disposed in a passenger cabin.

BACKGROUND

A radiator is a heat exchanger that is part of an engine cooling system of a vehicle. The radiator is generally mounted at a front portion of a vehicle to directly receive ram air for cooling a coolant flowing through heat exchange tubes of the radiator. The radiator supplies coolant cooled by the ram air to an engine of the vehicle via a first pipe. The coolant is heated as the coolant is circulated around the engine of the vehicle to extract heat there from. The heated coolant is circulated back to the radiator via a second pipe for cooling of the heated coolant for reuse. The second pipe supplying the heated coolant from the engine to the radiator is generally disposed in the passenger cabin and is heated due to the heated coolant flowing there through. As the heated second pipe is disposed in the passenger cabin, the heated second pipe causes burns to the vehicle occupant due to vehicle occupant’s body parts, particularly, legs, accidently contacting the heated Pipe.

To prevent such burns, a cover is used to cover the heated second pipe. However, due to proximity with the second heated pipe the cover is also heated. FIG. 1a illustrates an isometric view of a conventional cover 1 covering at least one heated pipe 2. FIG. 1 b illustrates a schematic representation depicting interaction between an occupant’s body “b” and the conventional cover 1 covering the heated pipe 2. Due to plain external surface of the cover 1 , the cover 1 has a comparatively large surface area exposed to being contacted by the occupant’s body “b” than the surface area of the second heated pipe 2. Accordingly, the cover 1 increases the chances of burns to occupant s body b due to occupant s body b accidently contacting the cover 1 or being close to the cover 1. Such configuration of the conventional cover 1 defeats the purpose of the cover “b”. In case the vehicle occupant is the driver of the vehicle, the burning may cause distraction to the driver, thereby leading to accidents. Also, the heated cover 1 may cause burn or damage to other elements such as for example plastic coated electric wiring harness or fluid carrying pipes of plastic material, disposed in the passenger cabin that may accidently contact the cover or are close to the heated cover 1 .

Although certain prior art disclose a cover for covering at least one heated pipe, the conventionally known covers fail to reduce the risk of burning of the occupant’s body contacting the cover or being close to the cover. Further, few prior art suggest providing insulation between the heated pipe and the cover to prevent over heating of the cover and burns caused by occupant's body parts contacting the cover or being close to the cover. However, such prior art still fails to prevent burns caused by occupant's body contacting the cover or being close to the cover as the conventionally known covers fails to dissipate the heat from the cover, thereby fail to prevent overheating of the cover.

Accordingly, there is a need for a cover for covering the heated pipes that substantially prevents risk of burning of the occupant’s body in case the occupant’s body contacts the cover or is brought close to the cover. Further, there is a need for a cover that is simple in construction and easy to manufacture. Further, there is a need for cover that can be conveniently retrofitted with elements without many modifications in the cover to prevent burning of occupant’s body in case the occupant’s body contacts the cover. Still further, there is a need for a cover configured with elements for heat dissipation from the cover, thereby preventing over heating of the cover.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cover for covering the heated pipes of an engine cooling system of a vehicle that obviates the drawbacks associated with conventional covers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover that substantially prevents burning of the occupant’s body due to the occupant’s body contacting or being close to the heated cover.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cover that is simple in construction and easy to manufacture.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cover configured with elements for heat dissipation from the cover, thereby preventing over heating of the cover.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide elements that can be conveniently retrofitted over existing cover without many modifications in the cover to enable the cover to prevent burning of occupant’s body in case of occupant’s body contacts the cover or is close to the cover.

In the present description, some elements or parameters may be indexed, such as a first element and a second element. In this case, unless stated otherwise, this indexation is only meant to differentiate and name elements which are similar but not identical. No idea of priority should be inferred from such indexation, as these terms may be switched without betraying the invention. Additionally, this indexation does not imply any order in mounting or use of the elements of the invention.

SUMMARY

The present invention envisages a cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cover is mounted over a heated element of a vehicle to cover the heated element. The cover includes ribs configured on an external surface thereof.

Generally, the ribs are integrally formed along with cover during molding.

Alternatively, the ribs are separate from the cover and mounted on the cover.

Generally, the ribs are of rectangular cross section.

Typically, the ribs are disposed on the entire cover.

Further, the ribs are either one of intermittently and continuously disposed on the cover. Typically, the spacing between the ribs is in range of 3 mm to 10 mm, pitch of the ribs is less than thinnest section of occupant’s body.

Generally, the ribs are at a height in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, the ribs are of height to maintain the occupant’s body away from the cover.

Generally, the ribs are at least one of horizontally, vertically and angularly disposed on the cover.

Alternatively, the ribs are arranged along at least one of criss cross, hexagonal, circular, elliptical, octagonal and any closed pattern on the cover.

Specifically, the ribs are formed on portion of the cover facing the occupant and most likely to be contacted by the occupant body.

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

Generally, the ribs are of either one of plastic and metal.

Also is disclosed a cooling system for an engine of an automotive vehicle. The cooling system includes a pipe and the cover as disclosed above. The cover being mounted on the pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention can be inferred from the description of the invention hereunder. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1a illustrates an isometric view of a conventional cover mounted over and covering a heated pipe;

FIG. 1b illustrates a schematic representation depicting interaction between an occupant’s body and the conventional cover of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention mounted over and covering a heated Pipe;

FIG. 3 illustrates another isometric view of the cover of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates still another isometric view of the cover of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation depicting interaction between an occupant’s body and a cover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention covering a heated pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It must be noted that the figures disclose the invention in a detailed enough way to be implemented, said figures helping to better define the invention if needs be. The invention should however not be limited to the embodiment disclosed in the description.

The present invention envisages a protection cover to cover a heated element of an engine cooling system of a vehicle, particularly, the tubes configuring fluid flow from an engine of a vehicle to a radiator, wherein the tubes are disposed in passenger cabin and are likely to be contacted by vehicle occupants. The protection cover is mounted over the heated element of the vehicle to cover the heated element. The cover includes ribs configured on an external surface thereof to minimize contact between the occupant’s body part and the heated cover, thereby preventing burning of occupant’s body part in case of occupant’s body part contacts the cover. The ribs also cause heat dissipation from the cover. Although the forthcoming description and the accompanying drawings explain the present invention with example of cover for covering heated pipes that supply hot coolant from the engine to the radiator. However, the cover of the present invention is not limited to application in engine cooling system of vehicle only, and the cover of the present invention can be used to cover any other heated element in vehicular environment that likely to be contacted by humans and cause burns.

FIG. 1a illustrates an isometric view of a conventional cover 1 mounted over and covering at least one heated pipe 2. FIG. 1b illustrates a schematic representation depicting interaction between an occupant’s body “b” and the conventional cover 1 covering the heated pipe 2. The conventional cover 1 has plain external surface and has a comparatively large surface area exposed to being contacted by the occupant s body b than the surface area of the second heated pipe 2. Accordingly, the cover 1 increases the chances of burns to occupant’s body “b” due to occupant’s body “b” accidently contacting the cover 1 or being close to the cover 1 .

The present invention envisages a coverthat obviates the drawbacks of the conventional cover.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a cover 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention mounted over and covering at least one heated element, particularly, at least one heated pipe 10, hereinafter simply referred to as pipe 10 heated by a heated coolant flowing there through. More specifically, the pipe 10 is part of an engine cooling system of a vehicle that configures fluid flow from a radiator to an engine of the vehicle. FIG. 3 illustrates another isometric view of the cover 100. FIG. 4 illustrates still another isometric view of the cover 100 alone. The cover 100 is mounted over and covers the pipe 10. The cover 100 conforms to the shape of the elements to be covered, the pipe 10 in this case. The cover is of such shape and configuration that the cover covers the pipe 10 and prevents direct contact of the occupant with the pipe 10. Due to proximity of the cover 100 with the pipe 10, the cover 100 also gets heated. However, the cover 100 is so formed that contact between a vehicle occupant’s body part (hereinafter referred as occupant’s body “B”), such as for example vehicle occupant’s legs and the cover 100 is substantially reduced, thereby preventing burning of the occupant’s body due to the occupant’s body contacting or being close to the heated cover 100. More specifically, the cover 100 of the present invention is configured with ribs 110 configured on occupant facing side of the cover 100. Such configuration of the cover 100 cause line contacts between occupant’s body “B” and the cover 100 instead of surface contact between occupant s body b and the conventional cover 1. Accordingly, contact between the occupant’s body “B” and the cover 100 is substantially reduced and burning of the occupant’s body in case the occupant’s body “B” contacting the cover 100 or being closer to the cover 100 is prevented. Further, such configuration of the cover 100 causes heat dissipation from the cover 100, thereby preventing over heating of the cover 100.

Generally, the cover 100 includes the ribs HOconfigured on an external surface of the cover 100 facing the occupant. The ribs 110 are integrally formed along with the cover 100 during molding. Alternatively, the ribs 110 are separate from the cover and mounted on the cover 100. As illustrated in FIG. 5, with such configuration of the cover 100 with ribs 110 formed thereon, the contact between the occupant’s body “B” and the cover 100 is reduced to line contacts. Accordingly, burning of the occupant’s body “B” in case the occupant’s body “B” contacting the cover 100 or being closer to the cover 100 is prevented. Generally, the ribs 110 are of rectangular cross section. The ribs 110 are generally configured with chamfer or fillets to further reduce contact between the occupant’s body “B” and the cover 100. The chamfer and fillets formed on the ribs 110 also prevents sharp edges at corners of the ribs 110, thereby preventing hurting of the occupant’s body “B”. Typically, the spacing between the adjacent ribs 110 is in the range of 3 mm - 10 mm. More specifically, the pitch of the ribs is less than thinnest section of occupant’s body. Generally, the ribs 110 are at a height in the range of 3 mm -10 mm, particularly, the ribs 110 are of height to maintain the occupant’s body away from the cover. In one embodiment, all ribs are of uniform height. In another embodiment, the height of the ribs varies. The height, the pitch of the ribs and the configuration of the ribs is so selected that the ribs serve its purpose of reducing the contact between cover and occupant’s body “B” without substantially increasing the weight of the cover 100. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular configuration, number and placement of the ribs 110 formed of the cover 100 as far as the ribs 110 reduce the contact between the occupant’s body “B” and the heated cover 100.

Generally, the ribs 110 are at least one of horizontally, vertically and angularly disposed on the cover 100. Alternatively, the ribs 110 are arranged along at least one of criss cross, hexagonal, circular, elliptical, octagonal, and any other closed pattern on the cover 100. Specifically, the ribs 110 are disposed on at least a portion of the cover 100 facing the occupant and most likely to be contacted by the occupant body. More specifically, the ribs 110 are formed on at least a portion of the cover closer to the pipe 10 covered by the cover 100. Typically, the ribs 110 are disposed on the entire cover 100. Further, the ribs 110 are either one of intermittently and continuously disposed on the cover 100. Generally, the ribs 110 are of either one of plastic and metal.

Also is disclosed a cooling system 200 for an engine of an automotive vehicle. The cooling system 200 includes the pipe 10 and the cover 100 as disclosed above. The cover 100 being mounted on the pipe 10.

Obviously, numerous 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.

In any case, the invention cannot and should not be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, as other io embodiments might exist. The invention shall spread to any equivalent means and any technically operating combination of means.