US-20260126023-A1 - INTERCHANGEABLE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE FLARE HOUSINGS

US20260126023A1US 20260126023 A1US20260126023 A1US 20260126023A1US-20260126023-A1

Abstract

A method of installing an interchangeable intake assembly on an automobile includes removing a stock air intake component, positioning a base member over an automobile intake box such that the aperture receives and engages the automobile intake box, securing the base member using at least one fastener dimensioned to avoid disturbing the automobile intake box, and removably securing an interchangeable flare housing to a second end opening of the base member. The base member may have an interior cavity configured to direct air into the automobile intake box. An interchangeable intake assembly may comprise a base member, an interchangeable flare housing removably secured to the base member, and an LED unit disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to a vehicle ignition system. The assembly may comprise a cotter pin coupling system with a dual-lock mechanism for securing the interchangeable flare housing.

Inventors

Dan Joseph Becker

Assignees

Velossa Tech Engineering Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A method of installing an interchangeable intake assembly on an automobile, comprising: removing a stock air intake component from the automobile; positioning a base member defined by an aperture over an automobile intake box such that the aperture receives and engages the automobile intake box; securing the base member to the automobile intake box using at least one fastener dimensioned to avoid disturbing the automobile intake box; and removably securing an interchangeable flare housing to a second end opening of the base member, wherein the base member has an interior cavity configured to direct air into the automobile intake box from the second end opening to a first end opening through the interior cavity.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising trimming a shroud surrounding the automobile intake box prior to positioning the base member.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning at least one spacer component between the base member and the automobile intake box during the securing step.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the securing step comprises using fasteners that extend through apertures in a perimeter of the base member surrounding the aperture.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the interchangeable flare housing from a plurality of interchangeable flare housings having different geometric configurations.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the removably securing step comprises using at least one of a cotter pin coupling system, a twist-lock mechanism, and a tab and groove arrangement.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating an LED unit disposed within the interchangeable flare housing after the removably securing step.
8 . An interchangeable intake assembly comprising: a base member defined by an aperture configured to receive and engage an automobile intake box; an interchangeable flare housing removably secured to the base member; and an LED unit disposed within the interchangeable flare housing and electrically coupled to a vehicle ignition system, wherein the LED unit is configured to activate when the vehicle ignition system is engaged.
9 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 8 , wherein the LED unit is configured for remote activation via a wireless device.
10 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 8 , wherein the LED unit is configured to operate in intermittent illumination mode.
11 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 8 , wherein the LED unit is configured to operate in continuous illumination mode.
12 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 8 , wherein the LED unit is configured to produce multiple colors at high intensities.
13 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 8 , wherein the LED unit is electrically coupled to both the vehicle ignition system and a braking system.
14 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a remote switch electrically coupled to the LED unit for selective activation.
15 . An interchangeable intake assembly comprising: a base member defined by an aperture configured to receive and engage an automobile intake box, the base member having a second end opening; an interchangeable flare housing; and a cotter pin coupling system configured to removably secure the interchangeable flare housing to the second end opening of the base member, the cotter pin coupling system comprising a dual-lock mechanism.
16 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cotter pin coupling system comprises a spring-loaded feature.
17 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a twist-lock mechanism as an alternative coupling system for the interchangeable flare housing.
18 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a tab and groove arrangement configured to engage the interchangeable flare housing with the base member.
19 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a click-lock mechanism with a spring-loaded feature for securing the interchangeable flare housing.
20 . The interchangeable intake assembly of claim 15 , wherein the interchangeable flare housing comprises at least one tab configured to engage with at least one corresponding slot in the base member.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/677,573 filed on Feb. 22, 2022, which issues on Jan. 6, 2026 as U.S. Pat. No. 12,516,649, which is a Continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/US21/26465 filed on Apr. 8, 2021, which is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 16/785,609 filed on Feb. 9, 2020, which issued on Dec. 31, 2024 as U.S. Pat. No. 12,180,916, which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. It is intended that the above-referenced application may be applicable to the concepts and embodiments disclosed herein, even if such concepts and embodiments are disclosed in the referenced applications with different limitations and configurations and described using different examples and terminology. FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for an interchangeable intake manifold assembly with interchangeable flare housings and portions thereof. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, intake manifold assembly upgrades to an automobile require cutting and/or altering the interior of an engine space, including sometimes permanent removal of engine components. For example, new intake manifold assemblies with interchangeable flare housings and portions thereof can require physically altering or replacing of an air box, installation of a cold air intake, cutting or drilling support structures, and other modifications to the interior of an engine bay. Accordingly, there remains a need for interchangeable portions of intake systems. These and other needs are satisfied by the various aspects of the present disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention, in one aspect, relates to an intake manifold assembly that facilitates interchangeable parts. According to one aspect, an interchangeable intake manifold assembly is a high-performance ram air intake line of interchangeable components designed to boost performance of automobiles. The intake manifold assemblies offer the ability of a user to customize an inlet horn, flare, throat, or mouth, which is visible through the grill of the vehicle, adding an aggressive and aesthetically pleasing appearance. In general, the intake bell house includes a larger inlet, converging to the stock cowl inlet already present in the vehicle. According to one aspect, the converging, coupled with the relative speed of the vehicle, will boost air pressure to the airbox. This boosting generally increases performance. The horn, flare, throat, or mouth also increase customer appreciation due to the aggressive and aesthetically pleasing visual properties. In still further aspects, the invention also relates to methods for interchanging portions of intake manifold assemblies and variants thereof. According to an aspect, an apparatus may comprise a base member being defined by an aperture or opening configured to receive and engage an automobile intake box, the base member being further defined by a perimeter surrounding the aperture and having at least one fastener or aperture configured to receive a fastener dimensioned to avoid disturbing the automobile intake box; a gooseneck member fixedly attached to the base member, the gooseneck member having a first end opening and a second end opening, the gooseneck member having an interior cavity configured to direct air into the automobile intake box from the second end opening to the first end opening through the interior cavity; and an interchangeable bell housing removably secured to the second end opening of the gooseneck member, the interchangeable bell housing having a frustoconical shaped cross section on at least one plane. According to another aspect, an apparatus may comprise a gooseneck member fixedly attached within an engine bay of an automobile, the gooseneck member having a first end opening and a second end opening, the gooseneck member having an interior cavity configured to direct air into an automobile intake airbox from the second end opening to the first end opening through the interior cavity; and an interchangeable bell housing removably secured to the second end opening of the gooseneck member. The interchangeable flare housing can have at least one of the following on at least one plane: a frustoconical shaped or substantially frustoconical shaped cross section, a frustopyramidal shaped or substantially frustopyramidal shaped cross section, a frustocylindrical shaped or substantially frustocylindrical shaped cross section, a box shaped or substantially box shaped cross section, a frustopolyhedrical shaped or substantially frustopolyhedrical shaped cross section, an asymmetrical frustopolyhedrical shaped or substantially asymmetrical frustopolyhedrical shaped cross section, a frustooctagonal-pyramidal shaped or substantially frustooctagonal-pyramidal shaped cross section, and an asymmetrical frustooctagonal-pyramidal shaped or sub