Overhead frame structure system

• US 8,523,225 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custom Products of Litchfield Incorporated (Custom Products)
• Original Assignee: Custom Products of Litchfield Incorporated (Custom Products)
• Inventors: Reinke, Randy R., Becker, Steven R., Schmitt, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US12/913,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20120104802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 280/756, 296/190.03
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• 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

Abstract

Overhead frame structures for a vehicle that are adjustable for modifying the overall height of the vehicles yet meet an industry-recognized standard of rollover protection for the operator of the vehicle regardless of such adjustment to the structure. In some cases, the structures are incorporated with brackets at their adjustable connection areas. The brackets have separate members for one or more of aligning and supporting adjustable members of the structure.

Claims

1. An overhead frame structure for a vehicle, comprising:

a lower section having a crossbar joining upper ends of the lower section; and

an upper section having a crossbar joining upper ends of the upper section, the upper section being operably coupled to the lower section and being rotatably adjustable to different positions in relation to the lower section, two of the positions involving a raised position for the upper section and a lowered position for the upper section, the overhead frame structure configured to provide rollover protection for an operator of the vehicle regardless of whether the upper section is in the raised position or the lowered position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein one of the lower section and upper section are situated for taking on differing prominent roles in rollover protection depending on the position of the upper section crossbar.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein when the upper section is in the raised position, the upper section crossbar is at a height higher than that of the lower section crossbar.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein when the upper section is in the raised position, the upper section crossbar is vertically aligned with the lower section crossbar.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein when the upper section is in the raised position, the upper section provides the primary means of rollover protection.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein when the upper section is in the lowered position, the lower section provides the primary means of rollover protection.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the upper section is coupled to the lower section via at least one bracket, each bracket including separate members for one or more of aligning and supporting posts of the upper section in each of the raised and lowered positions of the upper section.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein each bracket further includes a dampening member protruding from the separate members and toward the upper section posts in each of the raised and lowered positions of the upper section, wherein the dampening members are configured to separate the upper section posts from the bracket to limit vibration of the upper section.

9. The overhead frame structure of claim 1 wherein when the upper section is in the raised position, the upper section and the lower section each provide means of rollover protection.

10. An overhead frame structure for a vehicle, comprising:

a first segment comprising a first crossbar joining upper ends of the first segment; and

a second segment comprising a second crossbar joining upper ends of the second segment, the second crossbar being operably coupled to the first crossbar such that the second crossbar can be rotatably adjusted to different positions with respect to the first crossbar, two of the positions involving the second crossbar being positioned at a lower height with respect to the first crossbar and at a higher height with respect to the first crossbar, the second crossbar vertically offset from the first crossbar when the second crossbar is at the higher height, the overhead frame structure configured to provide rollover protection for an operator of the vehicle regardless of whether the second crossbar is at the lower height or the higher height.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein each of the first and second crossbars are joined to upper portions of posts, wherein the posts of the second crossbar are operably joined to the posts of the first crossbar.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein one of the first crossbar and adjoined posts and the second crossbar and adjoined posts are situated for taking on differing prominent roles in rollover protection depending on the position of the second crossbar.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein when the second crossbar is positioned at the higher height, each of the first and second crossbars are situated for providing rollover protection to the operator.

14. The structure of claim 12 wherein when the second crossbar is positioned at the higher height, the second crossbar and adjoined posts provide the primary means of for rollover protection.

15. The structure of claim 12 wherein when the second crossbar is positioned at the lower height, the first crossbar and adjoined posts provide the primary means of rollover protection.

16. The structure of claim 11 wherein each of the posts adjoined to the second crossbar are coupled to a corresponding one of the posts adjoined to the first crossbar via at least one bracket, each bracket including separate members for one or more of aligning and supporting the posts adjoined to the second crossbar in each of the higher and lower height positions.

17. The structure of claim 16 wherein each bracket further includes a dampening member protruding from the separate members and toward the posts adjoined to the second crossbar in each of the higher and lower height positions, wherein the dampening members are configured to separate the posts adjoined to the second crossbar from the bracket to limit vibration of the upper section.

18. An overhead frame structure for a vehicle, comprising:

a lower section including two posts having upper ends joined via a crossbar;

an upper section including two posts having upper ends joined via a crossbar, each of the upper section posts being operably coupled and made rotatably adjustable to a corresponding one of the lower section posts; and

at least one bracket coupling the upper and lower section posts, each bracket including separate members for one or more of aligning and supporting the upper section posts in each of a raised position and a lowered position of the upper section with respect to the lower section;

wherein the upper section crossbar is vertically offset from the lower section crossbar in the raised position of the upper section, and wherein the overhead frame structure is configured to provide rollover protection for an operator of the vehicle regardless of whether the upper section is in the raised position or the lowered position.

19. The structure of claim 18 wherein when the upper section is in the raised position, the upper section crossbar is at a height higher than that of the lower section crossbar.

20. The structure of claim 19 wherein when the upper section is in the raised position, the upper section crossbar is vertically aligned with the lower section crossbar.

21. The structure of claim 18 wherein when the upper section crossbar is in the raised position, the upper section crossbar and adjoined posts provide primary means of rollover protection.

22. The structure of claim 18 wherein each bracket further includes a dampening member protruding from the separate members and toward the upper section posts in each of the raised and lowered positions of the upper section, wherein the dampening members are configured to separate the upper section posts from the bracket to limit vibration of the upper section.

23. The structure of claim 22 wherein each of the dampening members is fed through a bore in the corresponding bracket separate member.

24. The structure of claim 18 wherein when the upper section crossbar is in the lowered position, the lower section crossbar and adjoined posts provide primary means of rollover protection.