Clip assembly and windshield assembly for selectively connecting a windshield to a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10960736-B2
Application number	US-201816647827-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2018
Priority date	Sep 19, 2017
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A clip assembly and a windshield for selectively connecting a windshield to a vehicle. The windshield defines at least one windshield aperture and the clip assembly includes a windshield member including a windshield member head larger than a corresponding portion of the at least one windshield aperture, and a windshield member body being sized and shaped for passing through the at least one windshield aperture; a vehicle member including a projection for extending through the frame aperture when the windshield is connected and defining a pivot axis about which the vehicle member pivots with respect to the at least one frame member when transitioning between a latched position and an unlatched position; and a connecting member selectively connected between the windshield member and the vehicle member, the connecting member, the windshield member and the vehicle member forming an overcenter latch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clip assembly for selectively connecting a windshield to at least one frame member of a vehicle, the at least one frame member defining at least one frame aperture, the windshield defining at least one windshield aperture, the clip assembly comprising:
a windshield member including:
a windshield member head larger than a corresponding portion of the at least one windshield aperture, and
a windshield member body extending from the windshield member head, the windshield member body being sized and shaped for passing through the at least one windshield aperture;

a vehicle member for partially inserting into the at least one frame aperture, the vehicle member including:
a vehicle member body, and
a projection extending from the vehicle member body, the projection extending through the at least one frame aperture when the windshield is connected to the at least one frame member by the clip assembly, the projection defining a pivot axis about which the vehicle member pivots with respect to the at least one frame member when transitioning between a latched position and an unlatched position; and

a connecting member selectively connected between the windshield member body and the vehicle member body,
the windshield member, the connecting member, and the vehicle member forming an overcenter latch.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
a first end of the connecting member defines a first axis about which the connecting member pivots with respect to the windshield member, the first axis being parallel to the pivot axis;
a second end of the connecting member defines a second axis about which the connecting member pivots with respect to the vehicle member, the second axis being parallel to the pivot axis;
in the latched position, a line extending from the first axis to the second axis is disposed on a first side of the pivot axis, the line being normal to the pivot axis; and
in the unlatched position, the line is disposed on a second side of the pivot axis opposite the first side.

3. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection of the vehicle member is curved such that a distal end of the projection extends generally toward the windshield member.

4. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection at least partially forms a curve centered about the pivot axis.

5. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the windshield member body defines a slot for receiving an upper portion of the connecting member; and
the vehicle member body defines at least one groove for receiving a lower portion of the connecting member.

6. The clip assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one groove is a first groove;
the vehicle member further defines a second groove;
the vehicle member further comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion; and
the first protrusion extends partially over the first groove and the second protrusion extends partially over the second groove,
the protrusions being adapted for aiding in maintaining the connecting member in the grooves when the clip assembly is in the latched position.

7. The clip assembly of claim 5 , wherein the windshield member body includes at least one protrusion extending into the slot to aid in keeping the connecting member in the slot.

8. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is a rigid wire.

9. The clip assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rigid wire is bent near a central region of the rigid wire such that:
one portion of the rigid wire is generally aligned with the windshield member body, and
an other portion of the rigid wire is generally aligned with the vehicle member body.

10. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle member body has a vehicle abutting surface;
the vehicle abutting surface being sized and shaped to contact a clip surface of the at least one frame member when the windshield is connected to the at least one frame member by the clip assembly and the clip assembly is in the latched position; and
the vehicle abutting surface is spaced from the clip surface when the clip assembly is in the unlatched position.

11. The clip assembly of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle abutting surface is at least partially concave.

12. A windshield assembly for selectively connecting to at least one frame member of a vehicle, the at least one frame member defining at least one frame aperture, the windshield assembly comprising:
a windshield defining at least one windshield aperture; and
at least one clip assembly including:
a windshield member including:
a windshield member head larger than a corresponding portion of the at least one windshield aperture, and
a windshield member body extending from the windshield member head, the windshield member body being sized and shaped for passing through the at least one windshield aperture;

a vehicle member for partially inserting into the at least one frame aperture including:
a vehicle member body, and
a projection extending from the vehicle member body, the projection extending through the at least one frame aperture when the windshield is connected to the at least one frame member by the clip assembly, the projection defining a pivot axis about which the vehicle member pivots with respect to the at least one frame member when transitioning between a latched position and an unlatched position; and

a connecting member selectively connected between the windshield member body and the vehicle member body,
the windshield member, the connecting member, and the vehicle member forming an overcenter latch.

13. The windshield assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
a first end of the connecting member defines a first axis about which the connecting member pivots with respect to the windshield member, the first axis being parallel to the pivot axis;
a second end of the connecting member defines a second axis about which the connecting member pivots with respect to the vehicle member, the second axis being parallel to the pivot axis;
in the latched position, a line extending from the first axis to the second axis is disposed on a first side of the pivot axis,
in the latched position, the line extending at least partially through the at least one frame member; and
in the unlatched position, the line is disposed on a second side of the pivot axis opposite the first side,
the line being normal to the pivot axis.

14. The windshield assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
the at least one windshield aperture is a first windshield aperture;
the at least one frame member is first frame member;
the at least one frame aperture is a first frame aperture;
the at least one clip assembly is a first clip assembly;
the first clip assembly fastens the windshield to the vehicle using the first windshield aperture and the first frame aperture of the first frame member;
the vehicle further includes a second frame member defining a second frame aperture, the second frame member being disposed on an opposite lateral side of the vehicle from the first frame member;
the windshield further defines a second windshield aperture on a lateral side of the windshield opposite the first windshield aperture;
the windshield assembly further comprises a second clip assembly; and
the second clip assembly further fastens the windshield to the vehicle using the second windshield aperture and the second frame aperture of the second frame member.

15. The windshield assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
the at least one windshield aperture is a plurality of windshield apertures;
the at least one frame aperture is a plurality of frame apertures;
the at least one clip ass

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Savoie Felix
• Berthelette Miguel

Classifications

• F16B2/18

  using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles {(for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1418, F16B7/1427, F16B7/1454)} · CPC title

• B60J1/025 Primary

  Temporary windscreens · CPC title

• B60J1/006 Primary

  characterised by fixation means such as clips, adhesive, etc. (incorporated in seal B60J10/70) · CPC title

• B60J10/70

  specially adapted for windows or windscreens · CPC title