Windshield mounting structure for vehicles

• US 6,543,831 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ichiriki, Tsuguhito, Takemura, Hiroo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/961,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 296/78.1
• US Class Current: 296/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/04 Windscreens

Abstract

A windshield mounting structure for vehicles in which a windshield as a sheet for protection from the wind is mounted between a vehicle body frame and a cowling attached at the front of the vehicle body frame. The cowling is attached to a retaining plate, which is rockably mounted on the vehicle body frame and positioned opposite to the front of the windshield. A operating lever is provided for pressing the retaining plate against the windshield to hold the windshield in a fixed position, and for releasing the retaining plate from the windshield so that the windshield height can be adjusted up or down. A ratchet mechanism is provided for supporting the windshield when it is released, and for adjusting the windshield to a desired position. This combination of elements and configuration provides for a structure that increases the freedom of design of the exterior components of the vehicle, particularly the cowling.

Claims

1. A windshield mounting structure for vehicles in which a windshield is mounted between a vehicle body frame and a cowling attached at a front of said vehicle body frame, comprising:

a retaining plate fixed to said cowling, said retaining plate being rockably supported on a front part of said vehicle body frame, opposite to a front of said windshield; and

a rocking mechanism for moving said retaining plate toward and away from said windshield, said rocking mechanism being mounted on said vehicle body frame behind said windshield and said rocking mechanism being operable by a rider of said vehicle,

wherein said windshield is slidably mounted between said vehicle body frame and said cowling to provide for vertical movement of said windshield in a direction of a windshield surface.

2. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first stay attached to a head pipe at a front of said vehicle and extending forward; and

a second stay disposed above and attached to said first stay for mounting said retaining plate and said rocking mechanism.

3. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein said retaining plate includes a support portion fitted in a support pin projecting upwardly at a lower end part of said second stay, said support portion being rockably supported in a nearly vertical plane on the center of said support pin.

4. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said rocking mechanism is located between a right rearwardly projecting end and a left rearwardly projecting end of the retaining plate to thereby move a pressing portion of the retaining plate toward and away from said windshield.

5. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 1, said rocking mechanism comprising:

a link plate rockably attached to a second stay for moving said retaining plate toward and away from said windshield;

an operating lever for rotatably actuating said link plate; and

a link rod for transmitting a rotational motion of the operating lever to the link plate, wherein said link plate prevents said operating lever from turning, thus locking said retaining plate in place tightly against the stay.

6. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising a ratchet mechanism disposed between said windshield and said vehicle body frame, for adjusting a vertical position of said windshield to a plurality of positions.

7. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 2, further comprising a meter visor located behind said windshield, said meter visor being attached to said second stay and being provided a with a plurality of guide holes for supporting and vertically moving said windshield.

8. The windshield mounting structure for vehicles according to claim 7, further comprising a friction reducing sheet affixed on a contact surface of said windshield and a contact surface of said meter visor.

9. The windshield mounting structure of vehicles according to claim 8, wherein said friction reducing sheet affixed on said contact surface of said windshield is a polyethylene film.

10. The windshield mounting structure of vehicles according to claim 8, wherein said friction reducing sheet affixed on said contact surface of said meter visor is an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene tape.