Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Storm-front shield – apron – or robe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-04-17
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Storm-front shield, apron, or robe
C296S180100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217100
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a windshield unit for a motor vehicle.
2.Background Art
An example of a conventional windshield unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei3-26063. In this publication, a steering handle bar of the vehicle is covered from the front side with a front cover, and side visors for shielding wind are mounted along leg shield edges. The side visors each have a backwardly projecting edge portion to conduct running wind backward. Part of the front cover also serves as a front cowl.
The conventional side visors are used only for the purpose of shielding a rear passenger from wind.
It would therefore be desirable for the side visors to fulfill multiple functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a windshield unit which, not only shields a passenger from wind, but which also provides a down-force on the vehicle to help maintain the vehicle's running posture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a windshield unit which allows for reduced running resistance from wind.
The present invention achieves the above objects and further advantages not contemplated by the conventional art.
An embodiment of the present invention includes a front cowl disposed ahead of a steering handle bar, and side visors disposed to the sides of the front cowl. The side visors are each provided with a slant portion which projects from the side of the vehicle generally downwardly, and towards the front of the vehicle.
The side visors may be equipped each with an aperture, and may be formed by a transparent plate member.
Because the side visors are each provided with a slant portion, when running wind strikes the side visors, it is directed downwardly by the slant portions. A down-force is consequently generated, which acts to press the vehicle body downward. Thus, the side visors not only serve as wind shielding members, but also aid in maintaining the vehicle running posture.
Because the side visors each have an aperture, a part of the running wind flows backwardly through the apertures of the side visors. It is therefore possible to reduce vehicle running resistance. The area of each aperture can be set to a desired value to achieve a desired wind shielding effect, a resulting down-force, and a running resistance to be reduced.
Because the side visors are each formed by a transparent plate member, the side visors have a desirable appearance.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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Ishii Takanori
Tanaka Koichi
Dayoan D. Glenn
Gutman Hilary
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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