Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Storm-front shield – apron – or robe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-08-07
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Storm-front shield, apron, or robe
C296S078100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270142
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to motor vehicle safety, and more particularly to apparatus that improves the vision of motorcycle drivers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to equip four-wheel motor vehicles with electric wipers for their windshields. Even four-wheel vehicles that lack an enclosed interior for the driver, such as military jeeps, routinely include windshields and wipers.
On the other hand, commercial motorcycles and offroad vehicles are usually not manufactured with wipers for their windshields. The lack of windshield wipers has long been a problem for riders of commercially available motorcycles. In wet weather, water both as raindrops and splash from the pavement strikes the windshield and distorts the driver's vision. Consequently, wet weather adds a dimension of danger to riding motorcycles and similar vehicles.
However, wipers for motorcycle windshields are not unknown. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,066,291; 4,355,838; and 4,439,886 show motorcycles with windshield wipers. As shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,838, the wiper motor is mounted directly to the windshield. That design imposes a stress on the windshield that may tend to crack it. The mounting structures for the wipers of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,066,291 and 4,439,886 are quite complicated and expensive. In general, the benefits obtained from the prior motorcycle windshield wipers were outweighed by their disadvantages. As a result, windshield wipers have rarely been used on motorcycles.
Thus, a need exists for an improved motorcycle windshield wiper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a simple wiper is provided that is easily installed on the windshields of commercial motorcycles and similar vehicles. This is accomplished by apparatus that utilizes structural components of existing windshields.
The windshield may have any of a variety of shapes. A common characteristic of the windshields is that they are unsupported for the majority of their peripheries. In most designs, the upper portion is generally ovular. The lower portion may be concealed by a fairing, or the lower portion may be exposed. In either case, the windshield is held to the motorcycle by being sandwiched between two horizontal windshield bars. In turn, the windshield bars are attached to the front wheel assembly of the motorcycle.
The windshield wiper of the invention has a motor that is mounted to the windshield bars. For that purpose, there are concentric holes through both bars and through the windshield. The motor case has a mounting surface in contact with the inside windshield bar. A motor tube extends through the holes and past the outside windshield bar. A nut threaded onto the motor tube and tightened against the outside windshield bar secures the motor. The motor armature protrudes past the tube in a manner that enables a wiper arm to be assembled to the armature.
To aid in resisting the torque produced on the motor case during operation, the motor case has a tab projecting from it. The tab is in facing contact with the inside windshield bar when the motor is mounted. A fastener passes through the tab and through second concentric holes in the two windshield bars and the windshield.
The windshield motor is powered via wires from an electrical source on the motorcycle. When the motor is mechanically and electrically assembled, it operates to clear the windshield of water and road splash.
The windshield wiper can be assembled at the time of manufacture as original equipment. Alternately, the windshield wiper can be purchased as a kit by the owner and retrofitted to his motorcycle.
The method and apparatus of the invention, using existing structural components to mount a windshield wiper, thus greatly improves the safety of a person riding a motorcycle in the rain. The windshield wiper can be furnished as original equipment by the manufacturer, even though it is equally suitable for the aftermarket.
Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4019774 (1977-04-01), Tsukahara et al.
patent: 4066291 (1978-01-01), Hickman
patent: 4226463 (1980-10-01), Gager
patent: 4355838 (1982-10-01), Hickman
patent: 4439886 (1984-04-01), Yagasaki et al.
patent: 4514006 (1985-04-01), Maruoka
patent: 4529242 (1985-07-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 4606571 (1986-08-01), Fujita
patent: 5658035 (1997-08-01), Armstrong
patent: 5836042 (1998-11-01), Funk et al.
patent: 5845955 (1998-12-01), Willey
patent: 5853217 (1998-12-01), Armstrong
patent: 5878631 (1999-03-01), Muchlpforte et al.
patent: 5997070 (1999-12-01), Matsuo et al.
patent: 6042171 (2000-03-01), Hesse
patent: 6120083 (2000-09-01), Gunther
Cayen Donald
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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