Claims
- 1. An environmental enclosure device for a vehicle, the vehicle having a passenger compartment therein for receipt of an occupant, comprising:
a roof portion disposed substantially over the passenger compartment to protect the occupant located therein from undesirable weather elements; and at least one transparent portion extending downwardly from said roof portion toward the vehicle such that an opening remains between the vehicle and a bottom edge of said transparent portion to allow at least a front portion of the passenger compartment to be exposed to the outdoors while the enclosure device is in a closed position.
- 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a lower floor portion lying below the passenger compartment, said lower floor portion configured such that an opening remains between said lower floor portion and said bottom edged of said at least one transparent portion to allow the occupant to interface with the outdoors while the vehicle is being operated.
- 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said lower floor portion is moveably secured to the vehicle and moveable between a raised position and a lowered position.
- 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has an open front to allow the occupant to readily enter and exit the vehicle while the device is in said closed position.
- 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is pivotable between said closed position and an open position.
- 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one transparent portion is a front windshield portion.
- 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one transparent portion is a single piece extending around the passenger compartment to leave the front and the sides of the passenger compartment open for the occupant between the vehicle and said bottom edge of said at least one transparent portion.
- 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said roof portion is pivotally secured to a roll bar of the vehicle.
- 9. The device of claim 5, further comprising:
at least one grab handle to allow the occupant to pivot the device between said closed position and said open position.
- 10. The device of claim 7, wherein said roll bar includes at least one locking latch thereon to secure the device thereto.
- 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said lower floor portion is supported by the mobility
- 12. The device of claim 10, wherein the enclosure is maintained in said open position by at least one gas assist strut.
- 13. An environmental enclosure device for a mobility vehicle comprising:
a pivotable canopy portion secured to the mobility vehicle, said canopy portion including a roof portion that lies over a passenger compartment and a windshield portion that extends generally downwardly from said roof portion and wraps around said passenger compartment, an air gap being formed between the vehicle and a bottom edge of said windshield portion to allow an operator to interface with the outdoors while the vehicle is operating and said pivotable canopy portion is in a closed position; a latch mechanism for releasably securing said pivotable canopy portion to the vehicle to keep said canopy portion in said closed position; and a release mechanism for releasing said canopy portion from engagement with said latch mechanism to allow said canopy portion to pivot to an open position.
- 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said mobility vehicle is has open front.
- 15. The device of claim 13, wherein said canopy portion is hingeably secured on a roll bar of the mobility vehicle.
- 16. The device of claim 13, further comprising:
a lower floor portion secured to the mobility vehicle and moveable between a lowered position and a raised position.
- 17. The device of claim 13, wherein said canopy portion is maintained in said open position by at least one gas assist strut.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/324,145, entitled “Canopy and Visor Windshield For A Mobility Vehicle,” filed Sep. 21, 2001; and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/293,877, entitled “Floor Closure For Assisted Entry Vehicle,” filed May 25, 2001.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60324145 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
|
60293877 |
May 2001 |
US |