Adjustable, readily removable windshield

• US 6,254,166 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willey, Barry A.
• Original Assignee: Willey, Barry A.
• Inventors: Willey, Barry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/607,650
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 296/78.1, 296/77.1, 296/84.1, 296/86.11, 296/96.21, 296/96.22, 296/201, 296/89
• US Class Current: 296/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/04 Windscreens

Abstract

A windshield assembly for a motorcycle. The shield includes a fixed portion and a movable portion. The movable portion moves within slots in the frame and the movable portion. A compressive force is releasably applied to hold the movable part in place, and to allow it to be moved. The assembly is held in place by mounting brackets which cooperate with locking brackets, and these attach to docking points on the cycle. The brackets or parts thereof may be frangible, wholly or in part.

Claims

1. A windshield assembly comprising, in combination, a movable windshield panel, a fixed windshield panel and a fastening frame assembly, said movable windshield panel having at least an upper portion adapted to be seen through, and a lower portion integrally formed with said upper portion and including a pair of vertically elongated slots permitting said movable windshield panel to move vertically within said slots, and said fixed windshield panel being immovably secured with respect to said fastening frame assembly, said fastening frame assembly including a rearward portion having a rear generally horizontally extending transverse brace and a pair of vertically extending mounting brackets, said fastening frame assembly further having a forward portion including a front, generally horizontally extending transverse brace and a pair of forwardly disposed generally vertically extending braces, at least one lowermost fastener extending from each of said lower portions of said forwardly disposed vertically extending braces through said fixed panel and through said mounting brackets, intermediate fasteners extending from said front brace, through both said fixed panel and said slots in said movable panel and through said rear mounting brackets, said intermediate fasteners being movable from a locked position placing a compressive force on said fixed and movable windshield panels to a released position exerting substantially no compressive force on said windshield panels, and two sets of upper fasteners, said first set of upper fasteners extending from said fixed windshield panel to said front transverse brace and said vertically extending braces, and said second set of upper fasteners extending from said rear transverse brace to said rear mounting brackets, said sets of fasteners having their heads disposed so as to allow vertical movement of said movable panel when said compressive force is released.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, which further includes at least gasket lying between each of said rear mounting brackets and said fixed panel.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one lowermost fastener comprises two lowermost fasteners.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate fasteners include a fastener with a head in the form of a cam and a handle portion attached to said cam, said handle portion being adapted to be manipulated so as to apply said compressive force.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate fastener comprises a shank and a head with a handle on one end portion and a cam surface on the other end portion, and which further includes a washer for distributing the force generated by said cam surface.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a plurality of pairs of fasteners extending from said fixed windshield panel through said front transverse brace.

7. A cycle windshield assembly unit that is adapted to be easily removed without tools and yet locked when in place, said windshield assembly comprising, in combination, a windshield panel through which a rider may view the road, and a supporting structure for said windshield panel, said supporting structure including a pair of mounting brackets each having a portion thereof secured to said windshield panel along a generally vertical axis, said mounting brackets each including a generally rearwardly and downwardly extending portion, said portions each including a downwardly opening re-entrant portion in the lower part of said mounting bracket for engaging a first pair of attachment points, a second pair of re-entrant portions extending generally horizontally near the central, rearward portion of said mounting bracket, and adapted to engage an upper pair of attachment points, and a pair of locking brackets movably attached to said mounting brackets, said locking brackets each having a horizontal leg portion with a re-entrant portion extending generally vertically upwardly and being adapted to move into and out of registration with said upper pair of attachment points, and to latch said windshield assembly in place against movement from said attachment points, and a vertical leg portion including a portion adapted to be engaged by hand for latching and release, at least one of said mounting bracket and said locking bracket having a lock including a movable portion engageable with an opening in said other bracket, whereby, when said locking bracket is moved into a position of registration with said attachment point, said opening is registered with said lock and said brackets may be locked in place.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said pair of locking brackets are pivotally attached to said mounting brackets.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said portion of said lock includes a tang that is movable into engagement within said opening.

10. An assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said vertical leg of said locking bracket includes an uppermost portion having an angled bend therein to facilitate pulling out and pushing said bracket into position.

11. An assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said attachment points include a fixed, given diameter fitting having a counterbore therein, a Belleville washer, and a pressure washer portion receivable within said counterbore and movable axially therein, said Belleville washer supplying a resistive axial force.

12. A motorcycle windshield assembly unit that is adapted to be easily removed without tools and yet locked when in place on said motorcycle, said windshield assembly comprising, in combination, a windshield panel through which a rider may view the road, and a supporting structure for said windshield panel, said structure including a pair of mounting brackets, with said mounting brackets each having a first opening therein directed along a first axis and a second opening directed approximately 90°

from said first axis, a pair of locking brackets associated with and movably attached to said mounting brackets, said locking brackets each having an opening approximately parallel to said first axis, at least one of said locking brackets and said associated mounting bracket having affixed thereto a lock assembly including a housing and a movable portion, and the other of said associated mounting and locking brackets having a portion in said bracket for receiving said movable portion, whereby, when said brackets are latched to said motorcycle, said portion of said lock may engage and hold said associated pair of brackets together, thereby locking said windshield to said motorcycle.

13. An assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said movable attachment between said locking brackets and said mounting brackets is a pivotal movement.

14. An assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one locking bracket and said associated mounting bracket comprises two locking brackets and two associated mounting brackets.

15. A motorcycle windshield assembly that is adapted to be easily removed without tools and yet locked when in place, said windshield assembly comprising, in combination, a windshield panel through which a rider may view the road, and a supporting structure for said windshield panel, said structure including a pair of mounting brackets, with said mounting brackets each having a first opening therein directed along a first axis and a second opening directed approximately 90°

from said first axis, a pair of locking brackets movably attached to said mounting brackets, said locking brackets each having an opening approximately parallel to said first axis, whereby said mounting brackets may both be attached to fixed attachment points on a motorcycle, at least one of said locking brackets and said mounting brackets having affixed thereto a lock assembly including a housing and a movable portion, and the other of said mounting and locking brackets having a portion in said bracket for receiving said movable portion, whereby, when said mounting and locking brackets are latched to said cycle, said portion of said lock may engage and hold said pair of mounting and locking brackets together, thereby locking said windshield assembly to said motorcycle, and said locking bracket being able to be released from said attachment point upon being struck from the rear by a great force.

16. An assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said locking brackets are made from a frangible material.

17. An assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said locking brackets are made from a hard, brittle plastic material.

18. An assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said locking brackets each have a relieved portion closely adjacent said attachment point, said relieved portion permitting said shield to be released from said cycle upon being struck by a strong force, but being unable to be released when struck by a slight force.

19. An assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said locking bracket contains a line of weakness extending across said locking bracket between said attachment point and said pivotal attachment to said mounting bracket.