Rollover protection apparatus

• US 10,442,385 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartel, Harlan John, Nebel, Brian Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US15/133,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 280756, 296 352, 29619003
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0076 Agricultural vehicles, e.g. tractors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/131 Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 Ridable lawn mowers

Abstract

A rollover protection apparatus unlocks and lowers from a raised position to a lowered position suitable for clearing a low hanging obstacle when an operator applies a force to an operator lever or pedal. The rollover protection apparatus returns to the raised position when the operator ceases applying force to the operator lever or pedal.

Claims

1. A rollover protection apparatus for a terrain working vehicle, the rollover protection apparatus comprising:

a lower portion and an upper portion movably coupled to the lower portion such that the upper portion is movable relative to the lower portion between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position securing the upper portion in the raised position;

a lever coupled to the lock, wherein;

upon an application of a force to the lever, the lock moves to the unlocked position; and

upon a cessation of the force to the lever, the lock moves to the locked position.

2. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application of the force to the lever moves the upper portion toward the lowered position.

3. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is biased toward the raised position.

4. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cessation of the force to the lever moves the upper portion toward the raised position.

5. The terrain working vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lever is one of a foot pedal and a hand lever.

6. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator and a switch that is communicatively coupled to the actuator.

7. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switch has an open default state, wherein:

the application of the force closes the switch, and when the switch is closed the actuator is effective to unlock the lock and move the upper portion toward the lowered position; and

the cessation of the force opens the switch, and when the is opened the actuator is effective to move the upper portion toward the raised position and lock the lock.

8. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the application of the force maintains the switch in the closed state.

9. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuator retains the upper portion in the lowered position when the switch is in the closed state and the upper portion reaches the lowered position.

10. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuator retains the upper portion in the raised position when the switch is in the open state and the upper portion reaches the raised position.

11. A rollover protection apparatus for a terrain working vehicle, the rollover protection apparatus comprising:

a lower portion and an upper portion movably coupled to the lower portion such that the upper portion is movable relative to the lower portion between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the upper portion is biased toward the raised position;

a releasable latch pin movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein a default position of the releasable latch pin is the latched position;

a lever coupled to the releasable latch pin, wherein;

upon an application of a force to the lever, the releasable latch pin moves to the unlatched position; and

upon a cessation of the force to the lever, latch pin moves to the latched position.

12. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application of the force moves the upper portion toward the lowered position and the cessation of the force moves the upper portion toward the raised position.

13. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a return spring assembly that biases the upper portion toward the raised position.

14. A rollover protection apparatus for a terrain working vehicle, the rollover protection apparatus comprising:

a lower portion and an upper portion movably coupled to the lower portion such that the upper portion is movable relative to the lower portion about an axis of rotation between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position securing the upper portion in the raised position;

a lever coupled to the lock, wherein;

upon an application of a force to the lever, the lock moves to the unlocked position; and

upon a cessation of the force to the lever, the lock moves to the locked position.

15. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 14, wherein the application of the force moves the upper portion toward the lowered position and the cessation of the force moves the upper portion toward the raised position.

16. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 14, wherein the axis of rotation is longitudinally offset from the lock.

17. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lever is coupled to an actuator.

18. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lock comprises a latch mechanism.

19. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a latch member biased to the locked position.