Muffler exhaust tip

Abstract

A muffler exhaust tip for a vehicle having a muffler tailpipe includes a substantially hollow, cylindrical muffler tip member with an inboard end adapted to be affixed to the tailpipe and an outboard end. The hollow, cylindrical member is defined by an elongated outer sleeve and a coaxial, perforated inner sleeve which jointly define a baffle interspace therebetween. The inner sleeve carries a plurality of radially inboard protrusions to alter exhaust flow through the muffler exhaust tip. The perforated inner sleeve of the cylindrical member may define a pattern of holes. The baffle interspace may include a layer of fire retardant sound baffling material. The plurality of inboard protrusions define a helix extending through part of the inner sleeve in one embodiment. In another embodiment, part of the outer sleeve of the muffler tip includes a conical reducer such that the inboard end matches the dimensions of the tailpipe.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a muffler exhaust tip with radially inboard protrusions to alter exhaust flow and exhaust noise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are numerous silencers and muffler exhaust tips available on the market for vehicle owners that want to customize their vehicles. Most of the aftermarket exhaust tips on the market are decorative in nature given that the exhaust tip is usually the only part of the engine muffler system that is visible to ordinary observers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,863 to Shuen, U.S. Design Pat. No. 413,296 to Hussaini, U.S. Design Pat. No. 384,319 to Harutiunian, U.S. Design Pat. No. 191,509 to Feinberg, and U.S. Design Pat. No. 164,960 to Russell, disclose a decorative exhaustion pipe.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,859 to Hussaini discloses a decorative muffler exhaust tip that serves to amplify exhaust noise.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,573 to Tabata, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,223 to Kesselring, disclose an exhaust piece that serves to further silence the noise from the exhaust of the engine to which the muffler system is connected.

[0005] Others, such as U.S. Design Pat. No. 189,573 to Russell, and U.S. Design Pat. No. 133,788 to Koch, disclose a tailpipe tip that diverts the exhaust in a particular direction

[0006] Some, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,097 to Inman, et al., and U.S. Design Pat. No. 247,360 to Hamaguchi, et al., disclose exhaust tips that channel air from around the muffler exhaust tip in a manner that creates a negative pressure on the muffler system when the vehicle is in motion.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,835 to Russell discloses a clamping means for an exhaust tail pipe.

[0008] None of the prior muffler exhaust tips provide internal protrusions or ridges which direct the exhaust in a predetermined manner and which also provide baffling such that the exhaust noise is modified to create a unique audio or acoustic signature. In addition, none of the prior exhaust tips provide inboard protrusions to reduce or control turbulence and to promote smoother exhaust flow through the muffler exhaust tip.

[0009] Objects of the Invention

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a muffler exhaust tip with an inner sleeve defining and carrying a plurality of radially inboard protrusions which serve to alter and control exhaust flow through the muffler exhaust tip.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a muffler exhaust tip with an inner sleeve carrying a plurality of radially inboard ridges which alter exhaust flow through the muffler exhaust tip such that exhaust noise is modified to create a unique acoustic signature.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a muffler exhaust tip with a baffling interspace between outer and inner sleeves and in which the inner sleeve includes radially inboard protruding ridges which serve to modify exhaust noise to create a unique audio signature.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a muffler exhaust tip having inboard protrusions to reduce or control turbulence and to promote exhaust flow through the muffler exhaust tip in a predetermined manner.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a muffler exhaust tip that may be attached to a vehicle tailpipe that has an outer cylindrical sleeve having a tapered end and an inner cylindrical sleeve defining radially inboard ridges with baffling space defined between the outer and inner sleeves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A muffler exhaust tip for a vehicle having a muffler tailpipe includes a substantially hollow, cylindrical muffler tip member with an inboard end adapted to be affixed to the tailpipe and an outboard end. The hollow, cylindrical member is defined by an elongated outer sleeve and a coaxial, perforated inner sleeve which jointly define a baffle interspace therebetween. The inner sleeve carries a plurality of radially inboard protrusions to alter exhaust flow through the muffler exhaust tip. The altered exhaust flow, together with the baffling properties of the baffle interspace, serve to create a unique audio signature.

[0016] The perforated inner sleeve of the cylindrical member may define a pattern of holes. In addition, the baffle interspace may include a layer of fire retardant sound baffling material. In one embodiment, the plurality of inboard protrusions define a helix extending through part of the inner sleeve. In another embodiment, part of the outer sleeve of the muffler tip includes a conical reducer such that the inboard end more closely matches the dimensions of the tailpipe of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates apartial, perspective, cutaway view ofthe muffler exhaust tip;

[0019] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of muffler exhaust tip having a slanted outboard end;

[0020] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the muffler exhaust tip installed on a vehicle;

[0021] FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of the muffler exhaust tip attached to the tailpipe of a vehicle;

[0022] FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a partial cutaway view of the muffler exhaust tip; and

[0023] FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the inner sleeve of the muffler exhaust tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The present invention relates to a muffler exhaust tip 10 with radially inboard protrusions to alter exhaust flow and exhaust noise. FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a partial, cutaway view of the muffler exhaust tip 10. Exhaust tip 10 is a substantially hollow, cylindrically shaped member permitting exhaust gases of a vehicle muffler system to flow through in the direction of arrow 12. In FIG. 1, the muffler exhaust tip 10 includes a tapered inboard end 20 and an outboard end 30. The terms inboard end and outboard end refer to the position of the exhaust tip relative to the vehicle tailpipe 26 (see FIG. 4) and the terminal end of the muffler system where exhaust gases are released into the environment, respectively. Similar features of the muffler exhaust tip 10 are referenced using the same reference numbers throughout the drawings.

[0025] The muffler exhaust tip 10 is made of a ferrous material, usually having a chrome finish for aesthetic purposes, such that the tip does not oxidize from exposure to the elements. The cylindrical muffler tip member 10 is defined by an elongated outer sleeve 40 and a coaxial, perforated inner sleeve 50. The outer sleeve 40 is substantially solid. The perforated inner sleeve 50 defines a plurality of holes 52, 54. A baffle space or chamber 60 is defined between outer sleeve 40 and inner sleeve 50.

[0026] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exhaust tip 10 in FIG. 1. Outer sleeve 40 is substantially cylindrical, having a tapered inboard end 42 which is affixed to the tailpipe 26 of the vehicle. In FIG. 2, the exhaust tip 10 is affixed to the end of tailpipe 26 via clamp 24. Clamp 24 includes tightening screw 28 which is used to cause radial movement of the clamp 24 such that turning screw 28 clockwise causes clamp 24 to move radially inboard, trapping the tailpipe 26 between the radially inboard surface of outer sleeve 40 and the clamp 24. Other means to affix muffler exhaust tip 10 to tailpipe 26 may also be used, including simple set screws, weld or solder, exterior clamp, threads on the tailpipe and exhaust tip, or an interference fit. This list is merely exemplary. FIG. 3 illustrates the muffler exhaust tip 10 installed on a vehicle 14. FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates exhaust tip 10 with a plurality of clamps 24a, 24b.

[0027] In FIG. 2, outer sleeve 40 includes drainage pin hole 44 near its outboard end 30. Hole 44 provides a drain for water trapped between outer sleeve 40 and inner sleeve 50. The outboard end 30 of exhaust member 10 forms an angle a relative to reference line 86. Accordingly, outboard end or mouth 30 is slightly slanted.

[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, outer sleeve 40 and inner sleeve 50 are adjacent each other at an inboard area 46 in the tapered region 42 and at an inboard area 48 near the outboard end 30 of member 10. The junction at area 46 may be fixed through any number of means, such as spot welding or the like, or the outer and inner sleeves 40, 50 may be held stationary viz-a-viz thrust or pressure created by the junction of the inner and outer sleeves at the outboard end 30. In FIG. 2, the outboard end 30 of exhaust tip 10 is bent radially inboard capturing the outboard end 54 of inner sleeve 50 therein. Because the diameter of the inner sleeve 50 at inboard end 56 is larger than the diameter of the inboard end 20 of the tapered exhaust tip 10, inner sleeve 50 is held stationary relative to outer sleeve 40 viz-a-viz the thrust or pressure exerted at a result of the union of the two sleeves at the outboard end 30.

[0029] In FIG. 2, perforated inner sleeve 50 defines a pattern of holes 52. Inner sleeve 50 also carries a plurality of radially inboard protrusions 70, 72, 74. The protrusions 70, 72, 74 define lands or rounded ridges which alter the exhaust flow through the muffler tip 10 during operation of the vehicle's engine. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the plurality of protrusions 70, 72, 74 define a spiral or helix extending longitudinally through part of inner sleeve 50. In another embodiment, inner sleeve 50 carries six rounded ridge protrusions 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 such that two 74, 80 extend substantially across the longitudinal aspect of inner sleeve 50 with two shorter length protrusions on either side (see FIG. 6). FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates inner sleeve 50 spread out on a plane showing the diagonal pattern of protrusions 72-82 which form the helix or spiral.

[0030] The baffle space 60 defined between the outer sleeve 40 and the inner sleeve 50 may include a sound baffling material 62. The baffling material 62 absorbs sound energy to help dampen the exhaust noise as it passes through the muffler exhaust tip 10. The baffle material 62 is fire retardant as known to those of ordinary skill.

[0031] The muffler exhaust tip 10 is installed on a vehicle by affixing the inboard end 20 to the vehicle's tailpipe 26 via one or more of the means previously described or as known to those of ordinary skill. During operation of the vehicle's engine, engine exhaust exits the engine into the vehicle's muffler exhaust system. Muffled noise and exhaust gases flow through the tailpipe 26 and into exhaust tip 10. The protrusions 70, 72, 74 alter the flow of exhaust gases such that turbulence is controlled in a predetermined manner. In addition, exhaust noise is altered by both the altered exhaust flow and the acoustic characteristics of the interior of the exhaust tip 10, including the pattern of holes 52 and the baffling space 60 and any baffling material 62 contained therein, creating a unique acoustic signature.

[0032] The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A muffler exhaust tip for a vehicle having a muffler tailpipe comprising:

a substantially hollow, cylindrical muffler tip member with an inboard end adapted to be affixed to said tailpipe and an outboard end, said hollow, cylindrical member defined by an elongated outer sleeve and a coaxial, perforated inner sleeve which jointly define a baffle interspace therebetween, said inner sleeve carrying a plurality of radially inboard protrusions to alter exhaust flow through said muffler exhaust tip.

2. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said perforated inner sleeve of said cylindrical member defines a pattern of holes.

3. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a layer of fire retardant sound baffling material disposed in said interspace.

4. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of inboard protrusions define a helix extending through part of said inner sleeve.

5. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein part of said outer sleeve includes a reducer.

6. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outboard end defines a slanted opening.

7. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a layer of fire retardant sound baffling material disposed in said interspace.

8. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of inboard protrusions define a helix extending through part of said inner sleeve.

9. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein part of said outer sleeve includes a reducer.

10. A muffler exhaust tip as claimed in claim 9 wherein said outboard end defines a slanted opening.