Windshield mounting system and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9266408-B2
Application number	US-201314043984-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2013
Priority date	Oct 2, 2012
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A system for mounting a windshield to a small vehicle such as an all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”), a utility-terrain vehicle (“UTV”), or a snowmobile comprising a pair of receiving members configured to be mounted to, or integrated with, the vehicle and a corresponding pair of mounting members mounted to, or integrated with, the windshield panel or panel assembly. The receiving member may be integrated to the lighting pod of the vehicle. The mounting members of the system are configured to be respectively releasably received into the receiving members. Each receiving member comprises a receiving cavity and at least one locking opening, and each mounting member comprises at least one resilient locking arm configured to releasably engage the at least one locking opening such that the mounting members can respectively engage the receiving members in a releasable locking engagement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A windshield mounting system for mounting a windshield panel to a vehicle, the windshield mounting system comprising:
a) a receiving member configured to be located on the vehicle, the receiving member comprising an internal receiving cavity having a receiving opening and a locking opening;
b) a mounting member configured to be located on the windshield panel, the mounting member comprising a base portion and a connecting portion extending from the base portion, the connecting portion comprising a resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the receiving cavity, the locking arm comprising a locking projection configured to releasably engage the locking opening when the locking arm is received into the receiving cavity, wherein the receiving member is configured to be located on a lighting pod of the vehicle.

2. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking projection is located at an extremity of the locking arm.

3. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion further comprises a guide arm configured to be received into the receiving cavity.

4. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the locking arm is spaced from the guide arm.

5. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking opening is a first locking opening, wherein the locking arm is a first locking arm, wherein the locking projection is a first locking projection, and wherein the receiving member comprises a second locking opening, wherein the connecting portion comprises a second resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the receiving cavity, and wherein the second locking arm comprises a second locking projection configured to releasably engage the second locking opening when the second locking arm is received into the receiving cavity.

6. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the locking opening is a first locking opening, wherein the locking arm is a first locking arm, wherein the locking projection is a first locking projection, and wherein the receiving member comprises a second locking opening, wherein the connecting portion comprises a second resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the receiving cavity, and wherein the second locking arm comprises a second locking projection configured to releasably engage the second locking opening when the second locking arm is received into the receiving cavity.

7. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first and second locking arms are spaced from the guide arm.

8. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receiving member comprises an outer wall portion, a first side wall portion, and a second side wall portion, and wherein the locking opening is substantially located in one of the first and second side wall portions.

9. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first side wall portion is a substantially upper wall portion, and wherein the second side wall portion is a substantially lower wall portion.

10. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receiving member comprises an outer wall portion, a first side wall portion, and a second side wall portion, and wherein the locking opening is substantially located in the outer wall portion.

11. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receiving opening is configured to face in a forward direction of the vehicle when the receiving member is located on the vehicle.

12. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receiving member is integral with the lighting pod of the vehicle.

13. A windshield mounting system for mounting a windshield panel to a vehicle, the windshield mounting system comprising:
a) a first receiving member configured to be located on the vehicle, the first receiving member comprising a first internal receiving cavity having a first receiving opening and a first locking opening;
b) a second receiving member configured to be located on the vehicle, the second receiving member comprising a second internal receiving cavity having a second receiving opening and a second locking opening;
c) a first mounting member configured to be located on the windshield panel, the first mounting member comprising a first base portion and a first connecting portion extending from the first base portion, the first connecting portion comprising a first resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the first receiving cavity, the first locking arm comprising a first locking projection configured to releasably engage the first locking opening when the first locking arm is received into the first receiving cavity; and
d) a second mounting member configured to be located on the windshield panel, the second mounting member comprising a second base portion and a second connecting portion extending from the second base portion, the second connecting portion comprising a second resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the second receiving cavity, the second locking arm comprising a second locking projection configured to releasably engage the second locking opening when the second locking arm is received into the second receiving cavity;
wherein the first locking projection is located at an extremity of the first locking arm, and wherein the second locking projection is located at an extremity of the second locking arm.

14. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first connecting portion further comprises a first guide arm configured to be received into the first receiving cavity, and wherein the second connecting portion further comprises a second guide arm configured to be received into the second receiving cavity.

15. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first locking arm is spaced from the first guide arm, and wherein the second locking arm is spaced from the second guide arm.

16. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first receiving member comprises a third locking opening, wherein the first connecting portion comprises a third resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the first receiving cavity, and wherein the third locking arm comprises a third locking projection configured to releasably engage the third locking opening when the third locking arm is received into the first receiving cavity, and wherein the second receiving member comprises a fourth locking opening, wherein the second connecting portion comprises a fourth resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the second receiving cavity, and wherein the fourth locking arm comprises a fourth locking projection configured to releasably engage the fourth locking opening when the fourth locking arm is received into the second receiving cavity.

17. A windshield mounting system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first receiving member comprises a third locking opening, wherein the first connecting portion comprises a third resiliently displaceable locking arm configured to be received into the first receiving cavity, and wherein the third locking arm comprises a third locking projection configured to releasably engage the third locking opening when the third locking arm is received into the first receiving cavity, and wherein the second receiving member comprises a fourth locking opening, wherein the second connecting portion comprises a fo

Assignees

• Soucy Int Inc

Inventors

• Pellerin Michel
• Provencher Guillaume
• Archambault Denis
• Morin Vincent

Classifications

• B60J1/007 Primary

  received in frames to be attached to vehicle · CPC title

• B62J17/04 Primary

  Windscreens · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• B62K5/01

  Motorcycles with four or more wheels (specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003) · CPC title