Rollover protection apparatus

• US 9,327,670 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartel, Harlan John, Nebel, Brian Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US14/540,708
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 280/756, 296/35.2, 296/190.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0076 Agricultural vehicles, e.g. tractors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 Ridable lawn mowers

Abstract

A rollover protection apparatus unlocks and lowers from a raised position to a lowered position suitable for clearing a low hanging obstacle when an operator applies a force to an operator lever or pedal. The rollover protection apparatus returns to the raised position when the operator ceases applying force to the operator lever or pedal.

Claims

1. A rollover protection apparatus, comprising:

(a) roll bar assembly including a lower portion that is mounted to a vehicle frame and an upper portion which is movably mounted to the lower portion for moving between a raised position and a lowered position,

(b) a releasable lock associated with the upper portion and the lower portion for securing the upper portion in the raised position,

(c) a lock releasing and upper portion actuation device that is operable for releasing the releasable lock and for moving the upper portion from the raised position toward the lowered position, and,

(d) a movable element suitable for receiving a manually applied force, the movable element operably associated with the lock releasing and upper portion actuation device such that when a force is applied to the movable element, the releasable lock unlocks and the upper portion pivots toward the lowered position and such that if the application of the force to the movable element ceases, the upper portion moves back to the raised position and the releasable lock re-engages to secure the upper portion in the raised position.

2. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the upper portion of the roll bar assembly is pivotably mounted to the lower portion of the roll bar assembly to pivot between the raised position and the lowered position,

the upper portion of the roll bar assembly is biased toward the raised position,

the lock is biased to secure the upper portion in the raised position.

3. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the releasable lock and the actuation device for rotating the upper portion of the roll bar assembly are mechanically associated with a manual actuator selected from a group consisting of a pedal and a lever.

4. The rollover protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the releasable lock and the actuation device for rotating the upper portion of the roll bar assembly is an electro-mechanical device which is operably associated with a control button and which is able to be activated by an operator pressing the control button and which is able to be deactivated by an operator ceasing to press the control button.