US Patent 11679823 Retractable aerodynamic side skirts for vehicles

Apparatuses and methods reducing the amount of drag on a vehicle are provided. In some embodiments, the proposed apparatuses are configured to remain stowed in a sidewall of the vehicle when not in use, thereby maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle, while in other embodiments the apparatus is static and fixed along the sides of the vehicle. In one example, an aerodynamic apparatus includes a tapered structure, in which an inner side panel is substantially planar, and an outer side panel has a convex curvature.