Lightweight canopy for three-wheeled vehicle with low center of gravity

• US 4,336,964 A
• Filed: 03/17/1980
• Issued: 06/29/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Microcar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Microcar Incorporated
• Inventors: Pivar, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGiehan, Donn
• Application Number:
  US06/131,165
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 180/210, 180/215, 280/289 S, 296/78 R, 296/78.1, 296/190
• US Class Current: 296/77.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0487 simplified doors related to cabins of, e.g. golf carts, tractors, jeeps, cranes, forklifts, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/08 with single front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/086 Frame mounted hoods specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023

Abstract

A lightweight canopy is provided for sheltering passengers in a three-wheeled vehicle. The canopy is built of spaced and tubular frame parts of inverted generally U-shaped configuration with transverse connecting members connecting the extremities of these parts so that the U-shaped parts include bight portions resiliently deflectable towards each other. Cover portions are mounted under tension between the bight portions due to the resilient deflection of the latter. A transparent windshield is connected between front posts in the aforesaid canopy with horizontal tubes extending rearwardly from these front posts to define door frames with the tubular frame parts. Doors are hingeably connected to the front posts by hinge clips. A number of auxiliary features are provided in the form of struts over which portions of the doors may be folded in order to form window openings and by the use of Velcro connecting means whereby the parts may be releasably connected to the framework of the canopy in readily mountable and demountable manner without adding substantial weight to the superstructure of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A lightweight canopy for the sheltering of passengers in a vehicle, said canopy comprising spaced and parallel tubular frame parts of inverted generally U-shaped configuration, said frame parts including front and rear extremities, a transverse connecting member connecting the rear extremities of said parts, the U-shaped parts including bight portions resiliently deflectable towards each other, and at least one flexible cover portion mounted between said bight portions when the latter are deflected towards each other, and held under tension with the bight portions released and thereby tending to assume normal positions of rest.

2. A canopy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parts include front and rear posts inclusive of said extremities comprising a transparent windshield extending between and connected to the front posts.

3. A canopy as claimed in claim 1 comprising horizontal tubes extending rearwardly from the extremities of the front posts to define door frames therewith and to provide that the front posts are resiliently deflectable towards each other.

4. A canopy as claimed in claim 3 comprising doors in said door frames, each said door including a generally polylateral tubular frame, and a flexible transparent sheet on and closing the polylateral frame.

5. A canopy as claimed in claim 4 comprising hinge means on the polylateral frames and hingeably coupling the same to said front posts.

6. A canopy as claimed in claim 5 comprising tusk-like members on said transverse connecting member and on said horizontal tubes for attaching the canopy to said vehicle.

7. A canopy as claimed in claim 5 comprising struts extending across said doors to embrace the transparent sheets thereof.

8. A canopy as claimed in claim 5 wherein said windshield has an upper edge, comprising first Velcro means on and extending along said upper edge, and second Velcro means on said cover portion for lockingly engaging said first Velcro means.

9. A canopy as claimed in claim 8 comprising a canopy apron positioned below said windshield and Velcro strips on said apron to hold the same removably on said front posts, said canopy apron being provided with a vertical downwardly open slot to accommodate a steering column of said vehicle.

10. A canopy as claimed in claim 7, wherein said struts are positioned approximately midway relative to the height of the door and the transparent sheets are foldable over the struts to form window openings.