Hood scoop assembly
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 004,616 filed Jan. 20, 1987 (now abandoned), and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 201,328 filed May 27, 1988 (now abandoned), and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 308,810 filed Feb. 9, 1989 and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,442 issued Feb. 26, 1991. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to hood scoop assemblies for automotive vehicles, boats and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to hood scoop assemblies having removable panel units which may either be decorative units or units fitted with signalling or indicating lamps and readouts. 
     II. Description of the Relevant Art 
     Automobile design has long included adaptations loosely known as &#34;hood scoops&#34; ever since it was discovered that additional cooling air could be directed toward the engine compartment therethrough. Mostly hood scoops were after market fixtures that were fitted strategically to the engine hoods of cars by &#34;hot rodders&#34; , although some scoops were provided by the manufacuter as original equipment such as was supplied on the now-classic 1955-1957 Ford Thunderbird. 
     The use of hood scoops has not been limited to application as air capturing and directing fixtures, however. The placement of a non-functioning hood scoop on the engine hood of an automobile adds a &#34;racy&#34; look to the vehicle, even though the scoop serves no practical function other than enhancing overall aesthetic appeal. 
     While the conventional hood scoop is forward facing with the opening of the scoop facing the direction of travel, other scoops have been reversed, with the opening facing the rear of the automobile. 
     To this end, no modification of the hood scoop is known that improves on the utility or appearance of the conventional hood scoop. Accordingly, the presence of the hood scoop on most automobiles offers little other than the additional streamlined appearance and attempts to overcome the limitations of known scoops have failed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a hood scoop assembly which significantly improves upon the function and appearance of hood scoops for automotive vehicles and the like. The scoop of the present invention may also be fitted to the bow cover of a boat. 
     The hood scoop assembly for selective placement upon an external surface of an automotive vehicle, a boat and the like according to the present invention comprises a hood scoop body portion having a front end portion, a back end portion, an underside which defines an interior, and a panel unit. 
     The scoop body defines a gradual taper beginning at the front end and flaring gradually toward the back end. Thus constructed, the &#34;open&#34; end of the scoop faces the driver. 
     A panel unit is removably fittable at the &#34;open&#34; end of the scoop body. The panel unit may be a plate that is either plain or the panel can include one or more designs. Alternatively, the panel unit may be a box unit having a covering plate fitted with selective masking that displays information related to the status of the vehicle such as engine speed, speed, temperature and the like. A compass may be provided for directional information, this being particularly advantageous when the scoop is adapted for use on a boat. In this latter embodiment, the box unit includes appropriate lighting and electronic readouts. 
     The hood scoop body preferably includes a flange at its &#34;open&#34; or back end. The flange may either define a number of downward depending, cantilevered stud members to which the box unit may be fitted or may define a peripheral ridge having an interior-facing lip. The lip has a panel receiving side to which the panel is attached by fasteners. 
     When the box unit is selected for attachment to the cantilevered stud members, a number of barbed clips are fitted to the top side of the box unit for interfitting with the stud members. The barbed clips include a channel having two substantially parallel walls, each wall having an interior facing surface which has a plurality of barbs fixed thereto. The barbed clips lock the stud members therein. 
     In lieu of the attachment of the panel unit to a flange, the panel unit may be interfittable with a channel defined in the underside of the hood scoop body. The channel is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hood scoop body. 
     The body is preferably composed of a polymerized material such as a plastic or a hard rubber. 
     The present invention offers a more universal utility over known hood scoops in that it provides the driver with pertinent information in the preferred embodiment, thereby improving not only the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle, but also improving its overall function. In the other embodiment which does not utilize the information center of the scoop, advertisement and the like may be situated on the panel unit, thereby also improving the utility of the hood scoop assembly. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention in place upon the engine hood of an automotive vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a plate unit detached therefrom; 
     FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an alternate attachment construction of the assembly shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the encircled segment 6 of FIG. 5 illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention directed at the box unit of the panel unit; 
     FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of spaced apart hood scoop assemblies. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The drawing discloses the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the configurations according to the illustrated embodiments are preferred, it is envisioned that alternate configurations of the present invention may be adopted without deviating from the invention as portrayed. The preferred embodiments are discussed hereafter. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a hood scoop assembly, generally indicated as 10, is illustrated in place fixed upon the engine hood of an automotive vehicle 12. As illustrated, the scoop assembly 10 is generally situated on the engine hood with the &#34;open&#34; end of the assembly 10 facing rearward, or in the general direction of the windshield of the vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 is illustrated as being a truck, although the scoop assembly 10 of the present invention is adaptable to other vehicles. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the scoop assembly 10 according to the present invention is illustrated. The assembly 10 comprises a scoop body 14 and a plate unit 16. The body 14 presents a tapered appearance when viewed from the side, thereby adding to the overall streamlined appearance of the vehicle to which it is fitted. According to this embodiment, the plate unit 16 comprises a substantially flat plate which is removably fitted within a channel 18 defined in the rear end portion of the body 14. The plate unit 16 may be plain in appearance or may be presented with writing or figures thereupon. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 is shown to illustrate how the plate unit 16 is slottingly fitted into the channel 18. 
     As an alternate method to the channel 18 of holding the plate unit 16 to the scoop body 14, a flange 20 peripherally defined about the &#34;open&#34; end of the scoop body 14 may be provided and may include a plate attachment lip 22 for removably receiving the plate unit 16 thereupon. The plate unit 16 may be attached thereto by means of a fastener 24. 
     Whether the method of attachment of the plate unit 16 is the channel 18 of FIG. 3 or the flange 20 of FIG. 4, the plate unit 16 may be interchanged with other plate units of similar dimensions. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the scoop assembly 10 is shown and includes a scoop body 14&#39;. The scoop body 14&#39; of the embodiment described hereafter is substantially the same as the body 14, except for the construction of the &#34;open&#34; end. 
     Illustrated in the sectional view as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of supports 26, 26&#39; may be seen, beneath which are included a plurality of scoop fasteners 28. 
     Near the &#34;open&#34; end of the scoop body 14&#39; is situated a plate unit assembly 30. This unit assembly may be more clearly seen in FIG. 6. 
     With respect to FIG. 6, a detailed view of the plate unit assembly 30 is shown and includes a cover plate 32 and a housing 34. The cover plate 32 is preferably interchangable. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover plate 32 has defined thereon selected visual information directed at the operating condition of the vehicle including such information as engine speed, road speed, oil temperature, water temperature and the like. A lighting assembly 35 is provided to convey the pertinent visual signal. Of course, although the assembly 35 is disclosed as being a conventional bulb, a light-emitting diode may be substituted therefor. 
     The housing 34 is interfitted to the underside of the scoop body 14&#39; by a number of barbed channel fasteners 36. The fasteners 36 each includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart walls 38, 38&#39; having a plurality of barbs 40 downwardly depending therefrom. As illustrated, the barbs 40 are functionally engaged to a stud member 42 depending from the underside of the body 14&#39;. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the arrangement of the stud members relative to the scoop body 14&#39; and the housing 30. Of course, this arrangement may be modified somewhat depending upon, for example, the width of the scoop body 14&#39;. 
     FIG. 8 discloses a pair of scoop bodies 44, 44&#39; that may be preferably situated in a side-by-side relationship. In any event, the scoop bodies 44, 44&#39; are provided with one or the other of the plate assemblies disclosed and described above. 
     Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.