This application claims foreign priority to European Application No. 22202418.4 filed on Oct. 19, 2022, the disclosure and content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The disclosure relates generally to a sun protector. In particular aspects, the disclosure relates to an industrial vehicle sun protector. The disclosure can be applied in heavy-duty vehicles, such as construction equipment, for example pavers. Although the disclosure may be described with respect to a particular vehicle, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vehicle.
In tropical regions, the ambient temperature is often very high, and sunlight may strike directly onto an operator of an industrial vehicle, which causes inconvenience to the operator while performing a work operation. However, also in other regions of the world, be it during summer time or other time of the year, being stricken by direct sunlight may be cause inconvenience for an operator. To protect operators, some industrial vehicles are provided with sun shades. However, there is still room for improvement.
According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an industrial vehicle sun protector for the protection of an operator located in the cabin of an industrial vehicle. The industrial vehicle sun protector comprises:
In some examples, said different selectable deployed positions comprise a plurality of discrete predefined deployed positions. A technical benefit may include that providing a plurality of discrete predefined deployed positions may be relatively easy from a technical point of view. For example, there may be a mechanism which includes a number of selectable latching positions, such as a protrusion to be engaged with different recesses to provide different latching positions (or conversely, a recess to be engaged with different protrusions to provide different latching positions). Although having discrete predefined deployed positions may be advantageous, this disclosure is not limited to that. Indeed, in in some examples, said different selectable deployed positions may be selected in a stepless manner. For example, there may be a mechanism in which a protrusion may run in a track and be locked in position at any selected position of such a track.
In some examples, a pivoting of the shade member from the stored position to any one of the different selectable deployed positions results in an angular displacement of the shade member within a range of 130°-185°. A technical benefit may include that even though the stored position may be a horizontal position so as to keep the shade member well out of the way when not in use, an angular displacement range of 130°-185° may provide for good sun protection throughout normal working hours.
In some examples, said different selectable deployed positions comprise at least three discrete predefined positions:
In some examples, said mounting arrangement comprises a hook-shaped hinge and a locking member, wherein the shade member is fixedly connected to the hook-shaped hinge and follows the movements of the hook-shaped hinge, wherein the hook-shaped hinge is pivotably connected to the locking member, and is lockable to the locking member in different rotational positions relative to the locking member, said different rotational positions corresponding respectively to the stored position and the different selectable deployed positions of the shade member. A technical benefit may include that a hook-shaped hinge may allow the shade member to extend substantially horizontally when in the stored position (for instance extend adjacent to the inside of the roof), while also allowing the shade member to rotate around, past the edge of the roof such that it can be located and held outside of the cabin in the different deployed positions.
In some examples, one of said hook-shaped hinge and said locking member is provided with a locking pin, wherein the other one of said hook-shaped hinge and said locking member is provided with a pattern of holes or recesses that present a plurality of areas for receiving the locking pin, wherein the locking pin is selectively insertable into any one of said areas to lock said hook-shaped hinge in a desired one of said different rotational positions relative to the locking member. A technical benefit may include that this provides for a simple yet effective way of locking the shade member in the stored position or in any one of the deployed positions. It should be understood that in some examples, the locking pin may be provided on the hook-shaped hinge and the pattern of holes or recesses may be provided in the locking member, whereas in other examples, the locking pin may be provided in the locking member and the pattern of holes or recesses may be provided in the hook-shaped hinge. Either component having the pattern of holes or recesses may, for example, be plate-like, although other configurations are readily conceivable.
In some examples, the hook-shaped hinge has a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion extend at an angle relative to each other. A technical benefit may include that this may allow the shade member to be conveniently stored out of the way and yet allowing the shade member to rotate around, past the edge of the roof such that it can be located and held outside of the cabin in the different deployed positions.
In some examples, the pivotable connection between the hook-shaped hinge and the locking member is located at the first end portion of the hook-shaped hinge, wherein the fixed connection between the shade member and the hook-shaped hinge is located at the second end portion of the hook-shaped hinge. Similarly to above, a technical benefit may include that the shade member may be conveniently stored out of the way and yet allowing the shade member to rotate around, past the edge of the roof such that it can be located and held outside of the cabin in the different deployed positions.
In some examples, the mounting arrangement comprises at least another pivotable hook-shaped hinge, wherein the shade member is fixedly connected to said at least another pivotable hook-shaped hinge. A technical benefit may include that this provides more robustness when switching between the different positions of the shade member. Although it is conceivable to let said at least another hook-shaped hinge be lockable to another locking member, similarly to the previously discussed interlocking between the previously mentioned hook-shaped hinge and locking member, it may suffice that only one of the hook-shaped hinges are locked to a locking member.
In some examples, the mounting arrangement comprises at least one spring device, such as a gas spring, wherein the spring device accumulates potential energy when the shade member is pivoted towards the stored position and wherein the spring device releases potential energy when the shade member is pivoted away from the stored position. A technical benefit may include that less effort is needed from the operator to move the shade member from its stored position to any one of its deployed positions.
In some examples, the spring device has a first end connected to a remote connection point of the mounting arrangement, and a second end connected to said another pivotable hook-shaped hinge. A technical benefit may include that this may provide increased safety to an operator when the operator wants to lock the shade member in one of its positions, with reduced risk of interfering with the action of the spring device.
According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an industrial vehicle comprising a cabin for an operator and the industrial vehicle sun protector of the first aspect, including any example thereof, wherein the mounting arrangement of the industrial vehicle sun protector is installed in the cabin. The second aspect of the disclosure may seek to address the same matters as the first aspect, and technical benefits may include the technical benefits discussed in connection with the first aspect, including any example thereof.
In some examples,
In some examples, in the stored position, the shade member is held in parallel with and adjacent to the roof of the industrial vehicle. A technical benefit may include that in the stored position, the shade member may be kept adequately out of the way, not forming an obstruction to the operator, while still allowing the shade member to be moved to deployed positions in which it provides good sun protection.
In some examples, the industrial vehicle further comprises another industrial vehicle sun protector such that the industrial vehicle comprises two oppositely disposed industrial vehicle sun protectors attached to the roof thereof. A technical benefit may include that the operator is protected from the sun from two directions, thus being less dependent on the current orientation of the vehicle.
In some examples of the first aspect or the second aspect, the rigid shade member may comprise a single piece of material. In some examples, the rigid shade member may be made from a molded material. A technical benefit may include that it provides a robust shade member which can easily be produced.
The above aspects, accompanying claims, and/or examples disclosed herein above and later below may be suitably combined with each other as would be apparent to anyone of ordinary skill in the art.
Additional features and advantages are disclosed in the following description, claims, and drawings, and in part will be readily apparent therefrom to those skilled in the art or recognized by practicing the disclosure as described herein.
With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of aspects of the disclosure cited as examples.
Aspects set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure.
Operating an industrial vehicle may sometimes be a challenge for an operator as far as ambient conditions are concerned. High temperatures and direct sunlight may cause unnecessary inconvenience to an operator. To block the sun rays in an effective way throughout the working day is highly desirable. On the other hand, when there is no need to block any sun rays, it is desirable that any shading device used to block the sun can be conveniently stored and kept out of the way so that it avoids obstructing the operator's freedom to move around in the cabin. The present disclosure suggests providing an industrial vehicle sun protector in which a rigid shade member is pivotably connected to a mounting arrangement such that it can be pivoted at least 90° from a stored position to different selectable deployed positions. This allows for convenient storage of the shade member when not needed, while also allowing for adjusting the shade member based on the position of the sun when the operator wishes to block the sun rays.
It should be understood that although specific angles for the deployed positions have been discussed in relation to
Turning now to
The industrial vehicle sun protector 10 is configured to protect an operator located in the cabin of an industrial vehicle. The industrial vehicle sun protector 10 shown in
As can be seen in
The mounting arrangement 18 further comprises a locking member 26 (best seen in
The different lockable positions of the hook-shaped hinge 20 to the locking member 26 correspond respectively to the stored position and the different selectable deployed position of the shade member 12. In
As can be seen in
As best seen in
The spring device 38 may accumulate potential energy when the shade member 12 is pivoted towards the stored position. The spring device 38 may release potential energy when the shade member 12 is pivoted away from the stored position. This facilitates moving the shade member 12 from the stored position towards the selectable deployed positions. The spring device 38 may have a first end connected to a remote connection point 40 of the mounting arrangement 18 (in this example the remote connection point is at a beam 42 extending along or forming part of the roof 16), and a second end 44 connected to one of the hook-shaped hinges 20.
As best seen in
From this disclosure, it may also be understood, that the path traveled by the distal end 50 when the shade member 12 is moved, is a path that follows an arc of a circle. For instance, when moving the shade member 12 from its stored position to its fully deployed position, the distal end 50 of the shade member 12 may follow a path which substantially corresponds to half a circle.
It should also be understood that for a hinge-shaped hook 20 to which the second end 44 of a spring device 38 is connected, the pivot axis of such a hinge-shaped hook 20 may be offset from the connecting point between the spring device 38 and the hinge-shaped hook 20, whereby a linear movement of the spring device 38 is transferred into a pivoting movement of the hinge-shaped hook 20.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the aspects described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed aspects for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the inventive concepts being set forth in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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22202418.4 | Oct 2022 | EP | regional |