System for adjusting a windshield for vehicles

• US 5,730,483 A
• Filed: 06/24/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Greger, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/669,649
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 296/78.1, 296/96.2, 296/77.1, 49/249, 49/248
• US Class Current: 296/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/04 Windscreens

Abstract

A system is provided for adjusting a windshield for vehicles, particularly for motorcycles. The windshield is continuously adjusted in its height as well as in its inclination. Two pairs of guide arms are provided which are arranged above one another and which are hinged to the windshield as well as to the vehicle body to form a four-bar joint. In some embodiments, the guide arms are driven by way of an electric motor and the windshield is raised or lowered in this manner. In other embodiments the windshield is manually adjustable.

Claims

1. A windshield adjusting system for adjusting a windshield of a cycle type vehicle comprising:

first, second, third, and fourth guide arms which each have a first end and a second end,

said first and second guide arms being disposed at one lateral side of a windshield longitudinal center of a windshield on a cycle type vehicle and said third and fourth guide arms being disposed at an opposite lateral side of the windshield longitudinal center,

said first and third guide arms being pivotal about a first fixed horizontal axis at their respective first ends, with respective said second ends of the first and third guide arms being pivotally connected to the windshield about a first moving horizontal axis which moves along a first arc in a first direction of rotation with respect to said first fixed horizontal axis between an upper windshield end position and a lower windshield end position, said first moving horizontal axis moving along said first arc in a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction of rotation between said lower windshield end position and said upper windshield end position,

said second and fourth guide arms being pivotal about a second fixed horizontal axis at their respective first ends, with respective said second ends of the second and fourth guide arms being pivotally connected to the windshield about a second moving horizontal axis which moves along a second arc in said first direction of rotation with respect to said second fixed horizontal axis between an upper windshield end position and a lower windshield end position, said second moving horizontal axis moving along said second arc in said second direction of rotation between said lower windshield end position and said upper windshield end position.

2. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second guide arms and said third and fourth guide arms are disposed symmetrically with respect to a horizontal centerline of a windshield being supported thereby when in an in use position on the vehicle.

3. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, comprising means accommodating continuous adjusting movement of the guide arms and the windshield supported thereby between the respective upper and lower windshield end positions.

4. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, comprising means for locking the guide arms and the windshield supported thereby in positions intermediate the respective upper and lower windshield end positions.

5. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 3, comprising means for locking the guide arms and the windshield supported thereby in positions intermediate the respective upper and lower windshield end positions.

6. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein said first guide arm is an upper guide arm which is disposed above the second guide arm, said second guide arm being a lower guide arm,

wherein said third guide arm is an upper guide arm which is disposed above the fourth guide arm, said fourth guide arm being a lower guide arm.

7. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 6, comprising an electric motor drivingly connected to at least one of said lower guide arms.

8. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 6, wherein said first and second guide arms and said third and fourth guide arms are disposed symmetrically with respect to a horizontal centerline of the windshield being supported thereby when in an in use position on the vehicle.

9. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 8, comprising an electric motor drivingly connected to at least one of said lower guide arms.

10. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 7, wherein said electric motor is drivingly connected to both of said lower guide arms.

11. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, comprising a support strip fastenable in a lower section on an interior side of the windshield to extend transversely in use with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein said first and second guide arms are disposed on one lateral end section of the support strip in an articulated manner, and said third and fourth guide arms are disposed on an opposite lateral end section of the support strip in an articulated manner.

12. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 11, wherein lower ones of the guide arms at opposite lateral sides of the support strip are non-rotatably connected with one another at said first ends by means of a horizontally extending, rod-shaped and rotatable shaft.

13. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 12, wherein a toothed wheel is non-rotatably arranged on the shaft which meshes with a toothed wheel which is driven by an electric motor.

14. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 13, wherein another rotary shaft is connected between the electric motor and the driven toothed wheel.

15. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 14, wherein the electric motor drives the rotary shaft by way of an intermediate gear.

16. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, comprising an over-dead center spring having one end attached to one of said guide arms and an opposite end attachable to a fixed part of said vehicle.

23. A windshield adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein said guide arms are arranged such that the movement of said first moving horizontal axis from said upper windshield end position to said lower windshield end position is concurrent with the movement of said second moving horizontal axis from said upper windshield end position to said lower windshield end position, and such that the movement of said first moving horizontal axis from said lower windshield end position to said upper windshield end position is concurrent with the movement of said second moving horizontal axis from said lower windshield end position to said upper windshield end position.

17. A motorcycle including a windshield and a windshield adjusting system, said windshield adjusting system comprising:

first, second, third, and fourth guide arms which each have a first end and a second end,

said first and second guide arms being disposed at one lateral side of a windshield longitudinal center and said third and fourth guide arms being disposed at an opposite lateral side of the windshield longitudinal center when in an in use position supporting the windshield on the motorcycle,

said first and third guide arms being pivotal about a first fixed horizontal axis at their respective first ends, with respective said second ends of the first and third guide arms being pivotally connected to the windshield about a first moving horizontal axis which moves along a first arc in a first direction of rotation with respect to said first fixed horizontal axis between an upper windshield end position and a lower windshield end position, said first moving horizontal axis moving along said first arc in a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction of rotation between said lower windshield end position and said upper windshield end position,

said second and fourth guide arms being pivotal about a second fixed horizontal axis at their respective first ends, with respective said second ends of the second and fourth guide arms being pivotally connected to the windshield about a second moving horizontal axis which moves along a second arc in said first direction of rotation with respect to said second fixed horizontal axis between an upper windshield end position and a lower windshield end position, said second moving horizontal axis moving along said second arc in said second direction of rotation between said lower windshield end position and said upper windshield end position.

18. A motorcycle according to claim 17, wherein said first and second guide arms and said third and fourth guide arms are disposed symmetrically with respect to a motorcycle center line.

19. A motorcycle according to claim 18, comprising means accommodating continuous adjusting movements of the guide arms and the windshield supported thereby between respective said upper and lower windshield end positions.

20. A motorcycle according to claim 18, comprising means for locking the guide arms and the windshield supported thereby in positions intermediate respective said upper and lower windshield end positions.

21. A motorcycle according to claim 18, wherein said first guide arm is an upper guide arm which is disposed above the second guide arm, said second guide arm being a lower guide arm,

wherein said third guide arm is an upper guide arm which is disposed above the fourth guide arm, said fourth guide arm being a lower guide arm, and

wherein an electric motor is drivingly connected to at least one of said lower guide arms.

22. A motorcycle according to claim 21, wherein said electric motor is drivingly connected to both said lower guide arms by way of a horizontally extending pivot shaft connecting the first ends of the two lower guide arms.

24. A motorcycle according to claim 17, wherein said guide arms are arranged such that the movement of said first moving horizontal axis from said upper windshield end position to said lower windshield end position is concurrent with the movement of said second moving horizontal axis from said upper windshield end position to said lower windshield end position, and such that the movement of said first moving horizontal axis from said lower windshield end position to said upper windshield end position is concurrent with the movement of said second moving horizontal axis from said lower windshield end position to said upper windshield end position.