Patent Application
20240416734
Not Applicable
This invention is directed to solving the problem of maintaining visibility when operating off-road and all-terrain vehicles. UTV's and side-by-side style vehicles generally have a frame on which a windshield may be installed. When a windshield is used and the vehicle operates in dirty, muddy, or sandy terrain the windshield gets obstructed, impeding the operator's ability to see.
Many variants of windshields exist in the prior art. However, the prior art only offers windshields that can be fully removed, or split windshields that can be folded by hinge attachment.
Recreational operation of a UTV or side-by-side will cover a windshield with debris in approximately 10 minutes. Removing or folding the windshield offers clear vision but leaves the passengers vulnerable to debris directly; creating further vision issues as well as a need to subsequently clean the interior of the vehicle as well as clothing.
The present invention solves this problem by protecting a visible area of the windshield from debris. The vision cover is transparent so the operator can see clearly when in use. The vision cover is also disposable, so when the visible area becomes obstructed the operator can operate a device to reset the visible area and maintain visibility.
This invention is a windshield vision cover and devise. The windshield vision cover is a roll of thin plastic film with transparent qualities that offer visibility as clear as the windshield being protected. The plastic film is attached to two metal tubes that are secured to the vehicle's windshield frame.
The metal tubes have a top portion with a cap and a side portion with a slit. The cap can be removed to place the plastic film inside the tubes or to remove the plastic film after use. The side slits allow the plastic film to pass through the tubes and stretch across the windshield.
The metal tubes also have a spool, a mechanical component, and an electrical component. The spool holds the plastic film within the tubes and allows the film to wrap around the spool when the other components are activated. The mechanical component causes the spool to rotate, which causes the plastic film to unwrap from one spool and wrap around the other spool. The electrical component provides power to the mechanical component, allowing the spool to rotate by button press.
By causing the plastic film to rotate, the operator can clear obstructed vision of the covered area by moving obstructed film into the metal tube and automatically replacing the obstructed film with clear, visible film. This allows operators to maintain a clear visible area of a vehicle without the need to remove the windshield, clean the windshield, or expose the interior of the vehicle to any debris.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The preferred embodiment of the mounting frame 60 is made of aluminum stock. The middle section 61 is 1″ wide and 18″ long. The mounting frame 60 is fixed to the vehicle by bolts and lock nuts attached at the central point of the curved ends 64. The detachable material 63 which secures the housing units is made of rubber-backed Velcro.
Referring now to
In the preferred embodiment, the housing unit 10 comprises a top metal cap 40, a bottom metal cap 50, and a metal cylindrical frame 20. The cylindrical frame 20 is connected by a piano hinge 21 that attaches vertically to the housing unit 10 on one side of the unit. The piano hinge 21 is attached to the housing unit 10 via rivets 24. Directly opposite of the piano hinge 21, there is a vertical slit 22 in the housing unit 10 that allows the film to pass through the housing unit 10.
Referring now to
The inside of the housing unit 10 generally includes a vertically attached rod 31, a rod bearing 54, a means to attach the rod to the top of the housing 90, film tube holders 33, a film guide 32, a coupling 56, a gear 55, a means to attach the coupling and gear to the rod 90, and a tube of film 70.
The rod 31 runs through the middle of the housing unit 10. The rod 31 inserts into the rod bearing 41, then the coupling 56 within the bottom cap 50. The top portion of the coupling 56 connects to the rod 31. The bottom portion of the coupling 56 connects to the ratchet gear 55. In a preferred embodiment, the means of attaching 90 the rod 31 to the coupling 56 is by set screws, and the means of attaching 90 the coupling 56 to the ratchet gear 55 is by set screws.
There are two film guides 32 within the housing 10. The film guides 32 are generally circular material with a hole in the center that fits over the rod 31. The first film guide 32 is placed on the rod 31 after the bottom portion of the rod 31 is connected to the rod bearing 41.
There are two film tube holders 33 within the housing 10. The film tube holders 33 are generally cylindrical pieces of material that have a hole in the center, which fits over the rod 31. The film tube holders 33 are slightly smaller in diameter than the film roll 70, and generally help the film roll 70 to rotate within the housing 10.
The film tube holders 33 are connected to the rod 31 by means of attachment 90. In the preferred embodiment, the means of attaching 90 the film tube holders 33 to the rod 31 is by set screws.
The first film tube holder 33 is placed over the rod 31 towards the bottom portion of the rod 31 and touching the film guide 32. The film tube holder 33 is then connected to the rod 31 by means of attachment 90.
The second film tube holder 33 is then placed over the rod 31 at the top portion of the rod 31. The film tube holder 33 is then connected to the rod 31 by means of attachment 90.
The second film guide 32 is placed over the rod 31 and touching the top film tube holder 33.
The top cap 40 contains a rod bearing 41 in the center of the cap. The rod bearing 41 is attached to the top cap 40 by a means of attachment 90. In a preferred embodiment, the means of attaching 90 the rod bearing 41 to the top cap 40 is by set screw.
The top cap 40 is removably connected to the rod 31 by placing the top of the rod 31 within the rod bearing 41 of the top cap 40.
Referring now to
In the preferred embodiment, the motor 52 is a 12-watt motor that fits within a 1¼″ cylinder tube. The electrical wires 53 connect the motor to the gear, and the motor to a power supply within the interior of the vehicle.
Referring now to
The top 111 and bottom portions 112 are elongated across a central area of a windshield. Said top portion 111, side portions 113, and bottom portion 112 have a flat top side. Said top 111 and bottom portions 112 have a bottom side with a routed edge creating ridges, the concave portion of said ridges being oriented towards the middle section of the track assembly 110.
Said side portions 113 are attached to a windshield in an orientation perpendicular to the top 111 and bottom portions 112, said side portions 113 being configured to create a flush rectangular area between the top 111, bottom 112, and side portions 113. Said flush rectangular area between the top 111, bottom 112, and side portions 113 is a visible area 100, wherein the present invention protects visibility from dirt and debris.
Spaced apertures 120 are applied directly to the visible area of a windshield by any means capable of creating small apertures in a windshield. Said apertures 120 are configured to be evenly spread across the visible area 100.
In a preferred embodiment, the windshield track assembly 110 is made of plexiglass. The side portions 113 are 2″ in length. The routed edges are 1/16″ deep and 1″ wide. The top portion 111 and bottom portion 112 are 4½ ft long. The side portions 113 are 18″ long.
The best mode to prepare the present invention for use is to first attach the mounting frame 60 to the windshield frame of a vehicle, such as a UTV or side-by-side. The mounting frame 60 is attached vertically to the vehicle's windshield frame. The mounting frame 60 is fixed to the windshield frame by screws or bolts.
The user should then attach the windshield track assembly 110 to the vehicle's windshield. To do so, the user should place the top portion 111 horizontally across the windshield at a slightly lower elevation compared to the top housing insert 64. The user may then place the side portions 113 on the sides of the top portion 111 creating a flush line across the top wherein the top edge of the side portions 113 are of equal elevation to the top edge of the top portion 111. The user can then place the bottom portion 112 in a similar configuration, being of a higher elevation compared to the bottom housing insert 64, and creating a flush line between the bottom edge of the bottom portion 112 and the bottom edge of the side portions 113. Once placed, the user may apply attachment means 62 directly through the windshield track assembly 110 portions to attach the assembly.
Once the windshield track assembly 110 is attached, the user should use any means capable of creating holes in a windshield to create spaced apertures 120 evenly across the visible area 100.
The housing units 10 are placed within the inserts 64 with the small motors 52 and electrical wires 53 on the bottom, and the vertical slits 22 of the housing units 10 facing directly towards the opposing housing unit 10.
The housing units 10 are then secured to the inserts 64 by securing the connective straps 63 around the housing units 10 and connecting the straps 63 to the inserts 64.
Once the housing units 10 are secured to the mounting frame 60, a user can then remove the top cap 40 of one of the housing units 10 and place a film tube 70 into the housing unit 10 and around the film tube holders 33. The user can then replace the top cap 40.
Once the film tube 70 is placed within the housing unit 10, the user should then open both housing units 10 by pulling the sides of the vertical slit 22 away from each other and towards the hinge 21. Once the housing units 10 are open, the user can begin connecting the plastic film 70 to both housing units 10.
To connect the plastic film 70 to both housing units 10, the user should begin unrolling the plastic film 70 while it is inserted in the housing unit 10. The plastic film 70 should be pulled towards the opposite housing unit 10 and should be wrapped around the empty film tube holders 33 of the empty housing unit. The user should tuck the top and bottom edges of the plastic film 70 under the ridges of the windshield track assembly 110 before wrapping the film 70 around the receiving film tube holder 33. The user should wrap the plastic film 70 around the film tube holders 33 of the empty housing unit 10 in a clockwise orientation and should complete at least one full rotation of the plastic film 70 around the empty film tube holders 33.
Once the plastic film 70 is wrapped around the empty film tube holders 33, both housing units 10 should be closed completely.
Once the plastic film 70 is connected to the housing units 10 and the housing units 10 are completely closed, the user should connect the small motor 52 to the vehicle's power supply by inserting the electrical wires 53 through the hood of the vehicle. Once through the hood of the vehicle, the electrical wires 53 can be connected to a fuse box or battery within the vehicle, as well as the button (not shown).
The electrical wire 53 connected to the power supply will power the housing units 10 as well as the button (not shown). When pressed, the button (not shown) will send an electrical signal to the motor 52, which will cause the rod 31 to rotate.
The invention is operated by a single button hold. When a user presses and holds the button, the button sends a signal to the motors 52 to rotate the rod 31 in a clockwise orientation. When the rod 31 begins to rotate, the plastic film 70 also rotates. As the plastic film 70 rotates, it leaves the original housing unit 10 and wraps around the housing unit 10 that was empty. When a user releases the button, the button's signal ceases, the motor 52 stops receiving electricity and thus stop rotating the rod 31.
When a user is operating a vehicle utilizing the invention and the plastic film 70 becomes dirty or obstructed, the user can press and hold the button until the obstructed portion of the plastic film 70 has moved out of the visible area and has been replaced by clear plastic film 70. The user can then repeat this process as needed.
Once the roll of plastic film 70 has been used, the user can simply remove the top caps 40, remove the used plastic film 70 from the originally-empty housing unit 10, place a new roll of plastic film 70 into the originally-full housing unit 10, and connect the plastic film 70 to the empty housing unit 10 as described above.
