Abstract:
A top for use on an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) includes a plurality of flexible sections that are supported by support rods located in tubes in the sections. Some of the sections include transparent windows, and one of the sections has a manually operated windshield wiper thereon. Straps are used to releasably mount the top on an ATV. Joint elements are also included so a support rod from one flexible section can be releasably attached to a support rod in another flexible section. Closure elements, such as zippers, are used to releasably attach several of the flexible sections together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of motor vehicles, and to the particular field of tops and accessories. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many people enjoy riding in an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV). Such vehicles are used for work, recreation, camping, and simply riding about. The vehicles are used on all types of terrain. 
     Riding ATVs is most pleasant when the weather is pleasant. However, many people start a trip in an ATV when the weather is pleasant only to have the weather turn inclement during the trip. The ATV rider is thus caught in the inclement weather. Most ATVs do not have any means for protecting the rider against the elements and thus the rider will get rained on, or snowed on, or worse. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a top that can be used on an ATV to protect the rider against the elements. 
     In most situations, however, the top will not be desired. Therefore, in most situations, the top should be stored and out of the way. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a top that can be used on an ATV to protect the rider against the elements and which can be stored when not needed or desired. 
     If an ATV rider is caught in a downpour, it is most desirable that the top be removed from storage and put in place as quickly and easily as possible. A rider does not want to be fumbling with complex elements while exposed to a downpour. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a top that can be used on an ATV to protect the rider against the elements and which can be stored when not needed or desired and which can be quickly and easily erected when desired. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a top that can be used on an ATV to protect the rider against the elements. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a top that can be used on an ATV to protect the rider against the elements and which can be stored when not needed or desired. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a top that can be used on an ATV to protect the rider against the elements and which can be stored when not needed or desired and which can be quickly and easily erected when desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a collapsible top for an ATV. The top includes a plurality of sections formed of flexible material. The sections have tubes which can accommodate support rods and some of the sections are connected by closure elements, such as zippers, or the like. The top also includes joint elements so a support rod from one section can be coupled to a support rod of another section. Some of the sections have translucent or transparent windows and the top has an anchor system that includes straps that are used to releasably attach the top to the frame of the ATV. The top also includes a manually operable windshield wiper. 
     Using the ATV top embodying the present invention will permit an ATV rider to have protection against the elements, but only when needed and desired. The top can be stored when not needed or desired, and can be very quickly and easily attached to the ATV. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top for an ATV embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing a connection between two frame elements of the top shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a frame element of the top shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a rear unit of the top shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a collapsible top  10  for an ATV. The overall unit comprises an ATV  12 , which is only indicated in FIG.  1 . 
     A top unit  14  includes first section top  16  and second top section  18 . Each top section  16 ,  18  includes a first surface  20 , which is an outside surface when the top unit  14  is in a use orientation on the ATV, and a second surface  22  which is an inside surface when in the use orientation on the ATV. Each section  16 ,  18  further includes a plurality of edges, such as edge  24 . A hem, such as hem  26 , is defined in each edge  24  of each section  16  and  18 . Each hem  26  forms a tube. 
     A side unit  30  includes a first window section  32  and a second window section  34 . Each window section  32 ,  34  is formed of flexible material and includes a first surface  36 , which is an outside surface when the side unit  30  is in a use orientation on the ATV, and a second surface  38 , which is an inside surface when the side unit  30  is in the use orientation on the ATV. A plurality of edges, such as edge  40 , are defined on each section  32 ,  34  of the side unit  30 , and a hem, such as hem  42 , is defined in each edge  40  of each window section  32 ,  34 . Translucent or transparent material  44  is in each window section  32 ,  34  of the side unit  30 . 
     The side unit  30  further includes two rear sections,  46  and  48 . Each rear section  46 ,  48  is formed of flexible material and further includes a first surface  50 , which is an outside surface when the side unit is in a use orientation on the ATV, and a second surface  52 , which is an inside surface when the side unit  30  is in the use orientation on the ATV. Each of the rear sections  46 ,  48  has a plurality of edges, such as edge  54 , and has a hem, such as hem  56 , defined in each edge  54  of each rear section  46 ,  48 . 
     Each window section  32 ,  34  has one edge, such as edge  60 , that is one piece with one edge, such as edge  62 , of the first top section  16 . 
     A zipper fastener element, such as element  66 , is located on an edge  40  of each window section  32 ,  34  and an adjacent edge of each rear section  46 ,  48 . 
     The top unit  14  further includes a front unit  70  which includes a front section  72  which is formed of flexible material and which further includes a first surface  74 , which is an outside surface when the front unit  70  is in a use orientation on the ATV, and a second surface  76 , which is an inside surface when the front unit  70  is in the use orientation on the ATV. The front section  72  has a plurality of edges, such as edge  78 , and a hem, such as hem  80 , defined in each edge  78  of the front section  72  of the window unit. A first edge  82  of the front section  72  of the front unit  70  is one-piece with an edge of the first top section  16  of the top unit  14 , a second edge  84  of the front section  72  of the front unit  70  is one-piece with an edge of the first window section  32  of the side unit  30 , and a third edge  86  of the front section  72  of the front unit  70  is one-piece with an edge of the second window section  34  of the side unit  30 . A rear unit  90  includes a flexible rear section  92  which has a first edge  94  which is one piece with an edge of the second top section  18 , a second edge  96  which is one piece with an edge of one of the two rear sections  46 ,  48  of the side unit  30 , a third edge  98  which is one piece with an edge of a second one of the two rear sections  48 ,  46  of the side unit  30 , and a fourth edge  100  that is located adjacent to the ATV when the rear unit  90  is in a use condition. The rear section  92  of the rear unit  90  further includes a translucent or transparent window  102  and a hem, such as hem  104 , defined in each of the first  94 , second  96 , third  98  and fourth  100  edges of the rear section  92  of the rear unit  90 . 
     The top unit  14  further includes a plurality of support rods, such as support rod  110  shown in FIG. 3, each of which is located in a hem when the top unit  14  is in the use condition. Each support rod includes a first end  112  and a second end  114 . One end  116  of each rod can be flared and the other end  118  narrowed to be accommodated in a flared end of an adjacent rod. The flared end can include a blind-ended bore  120  which has notches  122  defined therein, and the narrowed  118  end can have projections  124  thereon which are received in the notches  122  to lock a rod to an adjacent rod. A plurality of joint elements, such as joint element  130 , couple adjacent support rods together when the top  14 , side  30 , front  70  and rear  90  units are in the use orientations on the ATV. The joint element shown in FIG. 2 forms a 75° angle and is located between the top unit  14  and the front unit  70 . A similar joint is located between the top unit  14  and the rear unit  90 . The joints located at other locations in the top unit  14  form 90° angles as will be understood by those skilled in the art based on the teaching of the present disclosure. 
     A manually operated windshield wiper  150  is mounted on the front unit  70 . The manually operated windshield wiper  150  includes a handle  152  located adjacent to the second surface  76  of the front section  72  of the front unit  70 . 
     A plurality of front strap elements, such as element  160 , are mounted on a fourth edge of the front section  74  of the front unit  70  and are adapted to releasably attach to an ATV when the front section  74  is in the use orientation. 
     A plurality of rear strap elements, such as strap element  166 , are mounted on a fourth edge of the rear section  92  of the rear unit  90  and are adapted to releasably attach to an ATV when the rear section  92  is in the use orientation. 
     The top unit  14 , the side unit  30 , the rear unit  90 , and the front unit  70  are all one-piece with each other. 
     As will be understood from the foregoing, the top unit  14  can be dismantled by simply unzipping the zipper elements  66 , removing the rod elements from the hems, removing the straps  160 ,  166  from the ATV, and then collapsing the unit  10 . On the other hand, the top unit  14  can be quickly assembled by inserting the rod elements into the hems, attaching the straps  160 ,  166  to the ATV, and zipping the zipper elements  66 . 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.