Storable windshield system for a utility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9365094-B2
Application number	US-201414490164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A storable windshield system for a utility vehicle is provided, wherein the utility vehicle includes a frame to which a support structure is attached. The support structure includes front pillars and rear pillars extending from the frame. The system is operatively connected to the support system, and the system allows an operator to store a windshield onboard the utility vehicle when not needed as well as install the windshield over the front viewport during inclement weather without the need for tools. The windshield is slidable and rotatable relative to the roof member for storing and installing the windshield.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A storable windshield system attached to a support system of a utility vehicle, said storable windshield system comprising:
a roof assembly having a recess formed therein;
a windshield assembly operatively connected to said roof assembly, said windshield assembly is slidable relative to said roof assembly between a stored position and an extended position and rotatable relative to said roof assembly between said extended position and an installed position located immediately adjacent to said support system; and
a locking mechanism for securing said windshield to said support system when said windshield is in said installed position, wherein said locking mechanism includes a rotatable knob assembly attached to said windshield assembly and a receiving member attached to said support system, wherein said knob assembly is selectively attachable to said receiving member, and wherein a first multi-pole magnet is attached to said rotatable knob assembly and a second multi-pole magnet is attached to said receiving member, and quadrants of said multi-pole magnets are selectively alignable for attaching or releasing said knob assembly relative to said receiving member.

2. The storable windshield system of claim 1 further comprising a track assembly attached to said roof assembly and positioned within said recess, said track assembly including a pair of opposing rails and each of said rails receives a sliding mechanism operatively connected to said windshield assembly to allow said windshield assembly to slide and rotate relative to said track assembly.

3. The storable windshield system of claim 2 , wherein said sliding mechanism is a wheel bearing.

4. The storable windshield system of claim 1 further comprising a visor rotatably connected to said roof assembly, wherein said visor is rotatable between a closed position and an opened position relative to said roof assembly.

5. A storable windshield system attached to a support system of a utility vehicle, said support system forming a front viewport for said utility vehicle, said storable windshield system comprising:
a roof assembly attached to said support system, said roof assembly formed of an upper shell and a lower shell attached to said upper shell, wherein said roof assembly defines a recess therewithin;
a track assembly operatively attached to said roof assembly within said recess;
a windshield assembly operatively connected to said track assembly, wherein said windshield assembly is slidable relative to said roof assembly for selectively storing said windshield assembly within said recess, and said windshield assembly is rotatable relative to said roof assembly for selectively engaging said support system, wherein said windshield assembly is slidable relative to said roof assembly between a first operative position in which said windshield assembly is positioned within said recess and a second operative position in which said windshield assembly is extended relative to said recess; and
a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism includes a first multi-pole magnet rotatably connected to said windshield assembly and a second multi-pole magnet attached to said support system, and rotation of said first multi-pole magnet relative to said second multi-pole magnet selectively engages and disengages said first and second multi-pole magnets.

6. The storable windshield system of claim 5 , wherein said windshield assembly includes a windshield and a pair of wheel bearings attached to opposing corners of said windshield, said wheel bearings rollingly engageable with said track assembly for allowing said windshield to be slidable and rotatable relative to said roof assembly.

7. The storable windshield system of claim 6 , wherein each of said wheel bearings is attachable to said corner adjacent to a trailing edge of said windshield.

8. The storable windshield system of claim 5 , wherein said windshield assembly is rotatable relative to said roof assembly between said second operative position and a third operative position in which said windshield assembly is positioned adjacent to said viewport.

9. The storable windshield system of claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second multi-pole magnets is divided into a plurality of quadrants, and each of said quadrants has a magnetic polarity.

10. The storable windshield system of claim 9 , wherein said magnetic polarity of each of said quadrants is opposite said magnetic polarity of each adjacent quadrant.

11. A storable windshield system attached to a support system of a utility vehicle, said storable windshield system comprising:
a roof assembly removably attachable to said support system, said roof assembly defining a recess therewithin;
a track assembly attached to said roof assembly within said recess, wherein said track assembly includes a pair of opposing rails;
a windshield assembly operatively connected to said track assembly, wherein said windshield assembly includes a windshield and a pair of wheel bearings attached to said windshield, said wheel bearings being engageable with said track assembly;
a pair of locking mechanisms attached to opposing corners of said windshield adjacent to a leading edge of said windshield, wherein each of said locking mechanisms includes a first multi-pole magnet operatively and rotatably connected to said windshield and a second multi-pole magnet operatively connected to said support system, and selective rotation of said first multi-pole magnet relative to said second multi-pole magnet causes said windshield to be engageable or disengageable from said support system;
wherein said windshield is slidable relative to said rails between a first operative position and a second operative position, and said windshield is rotatable relative to said rails between said second operative position and a third operative position, said windshield being storable within said recess when in said first operative position and selectively engageable with said support system when in said third operative position.

Assignees

• Mtd Products Inc

Inventors

• Salamon Jeff P

Classifications

• B60J3/002 Primary

  External sun shield, e.g. awning or visor · CPC title

• B60J1/04

  adjustable · CPC title

• B60J1/025 Primary

  Temporary windscreens · CPC title