Windshield impact reduction system suitable for motorcycles

Replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices and methods with a base separated from an upper curved main section attached together with a pair of hinges which allows the main section to fold outward away in a vertical to horizontal direction forward of the motorcycle when force is applied to the main section of windshield. An elongated trim covers the upper leafs of the hinges between of the windshield. The base of the windshield is hidden beneath the existing mounting frame on the motorcycle.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to windshield safety for motorcycles, and in particular to replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices and methods with a curved translucent base separated from an upper curved translucent main section attached together with a pair of curved hinges which allows the main section to fold outward away in a vertical to horizontal direction forward of the motorcycle when force is applied to the main section of windshield.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Most motorcycles have their windshields rigidly mounted in place as a solid structure which does not move relative to the motorcycle. The windshields are generally made from tempered glass which can break into multiple small pieces or from hard material such as acrylic, and the like. During an abrupt stop or in an impact from an accident, the motorcyclist is thrust forward. The impact with the hard plastic or glass has been known to cause head injury to the cyclist. Windshields made from break away materials such as tempered glass have been known to break into shards from the impact which can cause severe lacerations to the face, neck and upper torso.

Over the years attempts have been made to have some fold out capability to a motorcycle windshield. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,387,349 to Campbell; U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,110 to Vetter; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,315 to Barstow. However, there are many problems with these attempts.

The Campbell '349 reference requires a separate piston arrangement to be clamped to a steering wheel which both can obstruct the field of vision of the cyclist as well as be a hazard to the cyclist if an impact or accident occurs since the cyclists can easily hit into the obstructing piston post.

The Vetter '110 reference requires a fairing with an upper edge having a recessed seat30where the bottom of the folding windshield is fit into, and hinges attach the bottom of the windshield to the separate fairing. In addition to the expense of requiring a separate fairing, this devices requires extra hardware such as clips18to secure edges of the windshield in addition to the flat hinges16, and would appear to be expensive and difficult to manufacture and attach onto existing curved motorcycle windshields or fairings.

The Barstow '315 reference requires an unsightly continuous hinge contraption that also adds extra weight and substantially greater expense to the motorcycle over typical windshields

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide safe replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices, and methods with a base separated from an upper curved main section attached together with a pair of curved hinges which allows the main section to fold outward away in a vertical to horizontal direction forward of the motorcycle when force is applied to the main section of windshield.

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide safe replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices, and methods that both aesthetic and not unsightly to the cyclist.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide safe replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices, and methods, having minimal hardware by using only curved hinges, hinge fasteners, and an elongated curved trim piece.

A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide safe replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices, and methods that has no more substantial weight to the motorcycle over an existing windshield.

A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide safe replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices, and methods that is generally no more expensive than a traditional windshield.

A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide safe replaceable forward foldable curved motorcycle windshield assemblies, systems, devices, and methods of using a folded curved windshield with an elongated trim that covers upper leafs of curved hinges, wherein the base of the curved windshield is hidden beneath the existing mounting frame on the motorcycle.

An embodiment of the retrofit windshield for a motorcycle can include a curved windshield having a translucent upper curved section with an top edge and a bottom edge, a front face and a rear face, and a translucent lower base section with a top edge having an identical contour to the bottom edge of the upper curved section, and a front face and a rear face, the lower base section having a bottom end being mountable to an existing frame on a motorcycle, a curved hinge having a top leaf attached to a front portion of the upper section of the windshield adjacent to the bottom edge, and the curved hinge having a bottom leaf attached to a front portion of the lower base section adjacent to the top edge of the lower base section, and a trim across the front face of the upper windshield section covering the top leaf of the curved hinge, wherein the windshield folds to a front of the motorcycle when a force is applied to a rear surface to the upper windshield section.

The retrofit windshield can further include slots and fasteners for attaching the bottom end of the translucent windshield base section to the frame on the motorcycle.

The curved hinge can include pair of curved hinges each spaced apart from one another and attached to a mid-portion on the front face of the upper windshield section and to a mid-portion on the front face of the translucent windshield base section.

Each of curved hinges includes a single left hand curved hinge and a single right hand curved hinge.

Each of the curved hinges can include mounting studs with threaded ends extending to one side of the top leaf and the bottom leaf, the studs for passing through openings in the upper windshield section and the windshield base section, and nuts for threading onto the threaded ends of the mounting studs. The nuts can be acorn nuts.

The curved hinges can include a spring for biasing the hinge in an open extended position.

The trim can include a length of at least as long as a length between a left side outer edge and a right side outer edge of the upper curved windshield section. The trim can include a length greater than a length between a left side outer edge and a right side outer edge of the upper windshield section.

The trim can include a flexible gasket between the trim and the upper windshield section, and include mounting fasteners for fastening the trim and gasket to the upper windshield section.

The translucent upper section of the windshield can consist of a one piece translucent section, and the translucent lower base section consists of another one piece translucent section.

A preferred embodiment of the forward foldable windshield assembly for motorcycles, can include a curved windshield having a single translucent upper curved section with an top edge and a bottom edge, a front face and a rear face, and a single translucent lower curved base section with a top edge having an identical contour to the bottom edge of the upper curved section, and a front face and a rear face, the lower base section having a bottom end being mountable to an existing frame on a motorcycle, a pair of curved hinges, each having a top leaf attached to a front portion of the upper section of the windshield adjacent to the bottom edge, and each curved hinge having a bottom leaf attached to a front portion of the lower curved base section adjacent to the top edge of the lower base section, and a single trim with a gasket rear surface fastened across the front face of the upper windshield section covering the top leaf of the hinge, wherein the windshield folds to a forward of the motorcycle.

Each of the curved hinges can include mounting studs with threaded ends extending to one side of the top leaf and the bottom leaf, the studs for passing through openings in the upper windshield section and the windshield base section, and nuts for threading onto the threaded ends of the mounting studs. The nuts can be acorn nuts.

The curved hinges can include a spring for biasing the hinge in an open extended position.

The trim can include a flexible gasket between the trim and the upper windshield section, and include mounting fasteners for fastening the trim and gasket to the upper windshield section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A list of components will now be described.10Motorcycle with removable windshield (Prior Art).20Removable windshield (Prior Art).30Windshield mounting slot (Prior Art).40Windshield mounting fastener (Prior Art).45Mount frame on motorcycle for windshield50Curved Folding Windshield (FW) assembly in unfolded configuration.55FW in folded configuration.60FW mounting slot.70Translucent Top section of FW.80Translucent Bottom section of FW.90/150Right hand curved windshield hinge.100/260Left hand curved windshield hinge.110Top FW section curved trim strip.110R Outer end(s) cut to fit side edge contour of windshield115Trim strip gasket, such as a rubber seal.120Trim strip mounting fasteners (such as screws and bolts).120H hole for threaded end of fastener120130Acorn nut securing item120above.140nuts (such as acorn nut(s) securing curved hinge leafs to top and bottom FW sections.145Washer(s) such as flat and/or locking washers.150Right hand (RH) windshield curved hinge.160Mounting stud(s) for top RH & LH curved hinge leaf.160H Holes in top windshield section70for threaded end of mounting stud160.170Mounting stud(s) for bottom RH & LH hinge leaf.170H Holes in bottom windshield section80for threaded end of mounting studs170180Top RH curved hinge leaf.190Bottom RH curved hinge leaf.195Bent tab to limit unfolded position of top leaf relative to bottom leaf in the curved hinges200curved Hinge pin (universal).210Spring loaded hinge curved lock latch.220curved Hinge lock latch spring.230Latch catch feature on top RH curved hinge leaf knuckle.240Top RH curved hinge leaf knuckle.250Bottom RH curved hinge leaf knuckle.260Left hand (LH) windshield curved hinge.270Top LH hinge curved leaf.280Bottom LH curved hinge leaf.290Top LH hinge leaf curved knuckle.300Bottom LH hinge leaf curved knuckle.

FIG. 1is a front perspective view of motorcycle10with removable prior art windshield20.FIG. 2is another perspective view of the motorcycle10ofFIG. 1with prior art windshield20removed, which shows the lower end slots and fasteners40used to attach the windshield in place.

FIG. 3is a front perspective view of the motorcycle10ofFIGS. 1-2with a novel folding windshield50ready to install.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the motorcycle10ofFIG. 3with the folding windshield50installed in an upright unfolded position50.

FIG. 5is an enlarged view ofFIG. 4with the top section70of the folding windshield50folded forward in the direction of arrow F, in a folded down position55.

FIG. 6is a front right perspective view of the folding windshield50ofFIGS. 3-5.FIG. 7is a rear right perspective view of folding windshield50ofFIG. 6FIG. 8is a front view of the folding windshield50ofFIG. 6.FIG. 9is a rear view of the folding windshield50ofFIG. 7.FIG. 10is a top view of the folding windshield50ofFIG. 6.FIG. 11is a bottom view of the folding windshield50ofFIG. 6.FIG. 12is a left side view of the folding windshield50ofFIG. 6.FIG. 13is a right side view of the folding windshield50ofFIG. 6.

Referring toFIGS. 6-13, the curved folding windshield50can include a translucent top section70attached to a translucent bottom section80by two curved hinges: a right hand curved hinge90/150and left hand curved hinge100/260, with a curved trim strip (trim cover)110covering the exposed top leaf portion of each curved hinge90/150,100/160. Mounting slot(s)60can attach the folding windshield50to an upper frame mount45on the motorcycle (as shown inFIGS. 3-4by using existing mounting fastener(s)40.

Details of the curved hinges90/150,100/260and how they are attached to the windshield50with the trim strip110and gasket115will be described in more detail in reference toFIGS. 22-42below. The curved hinges90/150,100/260and curved trim strip110follow the curved surface of the curved top section110of folding windshield50.

FIG. 14is a front perspective view of folding windshield55of the previous figures folded down.FIG. 15is a rear perspective view of the folded down windshield55ofFIG. 14.FIG. 16is a front view of the folded windshield55ofFIG. 14.FIG. 17is a rear view of the folded windshield55ofFIG. 16.FIG. 18is a top view of the folded windshield55ofFIG. 14.FIG. 19is a bottom view of the folded windshield55ofFIG. 14.FIG. 20is a left side view of the folded windshield ofFIG. 14FIG. 21is a right side view of the folded windshield55ofFIG. 14.

Referring toFIGS. 3-5 and 14-21, the translucent top section70can be folded forward relative to the mounted translucent bottom section80when a force is applied to the rear surface of the top section70.

FIG. 22is a front exploded perspective view of the top section70of the folding windshield50.FIG. 23is a rear perspective view of the folding windshield50with the bottom section80and exploded from the top section70.

Referring toFIGS. 22-23, the top section70is shown with right hand curved hinge90, left hand curved hinge100, trim strip110, trim gasket115with trim strip mounting fasteners120(such as bolts and screws) that mount into mateable openings120H in the top section70, nuts130,140(such as acorn nuts), with washer(s)145(such as flat and/or locking washer(s)).

Referring toFIGS. 22-23, the single translucent top section70and the single translucent bottom section80can initially be formed from a single translucent windshield which is cut into the separate sections. As such, the lower edge of the top section70can confirm to the upper edge of the bottom section80.

FIG. 24is a front view of a right hand hinge150used in the curved folding windshield50of the preceding figures in its closed (expanded) upright condition.FIG. 25is a rear view of right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.FIG. 26is a top view of the right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.FIG. 27is a bottom view of the right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.FIG. 28is a right side view of the right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.FIG. 29is a left side view of the right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.

FIG. 30Ais a front perspective view of the right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.FIG. 30Bis a cross-sectional view of the right hand curved hinge150ofFIG. 30Aalong arrows30B showing curved hinge lock component.FIG. 31is a rear perspective view of the curved hinge150ofFIG. 30A.

FIG. 32Ais a front perspective view of the curved hinge150ofFIG. 24in an opened (folded) condition for the curved folded windshield55of the preceding figures.FIG. 32Bis a cross-sectional view of the curved hinge lock components ofFIG. 32Aalong arrows32B.FIG. 33is a rear perspective view of the curved hinge150ofFIG. 32Ain an opened condition.

FIG. 34is an exploded perspective view of the curved hinge150ofFIG. 24.

FIG. 35is a front view of a left hand curved hinge260used in the folding windshield50of the preceding figures in a closed (expanded) upright position.FIG. 36is a rear view of the left hand curved hinge260ofFIG. 35.FIG. 37is a top view of the left hand curved hinge260ofFIG. 35.FIG. 38is a bottom view of the curved hinge260ofFIG. 35.FIG. 39is a right side view of the curved hinge260ofFIG. 35.FIG. 40is a left side view of the curved hinge260ofFIG. 35.FIG. 41is a front perspective view of the curved hinge260ofFIG. 35.FIG. 42is a rear perspective view of the curved hinge260ofFIG. 41.

Referring toFIGS. 3, 4, 6-13, 22-31, 34-42, the novel curved windshield50can include the top section70attached to the bottom section80by right hand curved hinge90/150and left hand hinge100/260. The threaded end of mounting studs160of both right hand curved hinge90/150and left hand curved hinge100/260can be placed on the front side of the top section70and placed through the holes160H. Nuts140(such as but not limited to acorn nuts) and washers145(such as but not limited to flat washers and locking washers) can be located on the rear side of the top section70to hold and lock the top right hand curved hinge leaf180and top left hand curved hinge leaf270in place.

Similarly the threaded end of mounting studs170of both right hand curved hinge90/150and left hand curved hinge100/260can be placed on the front side of the bottom section80and placed through the holes170H. Nuts140(such as but not limited to acorn nuts) and washers145(such as but not limited to flat washers and locking washers) can be located on the rear side of bottom section80to hold and lock the bottom right hand curved hinge leaf190and bottom left hand curved hinge leaf280in place.

As shown inFIG. 22an elongated trim strip110having a length at least as long as the width of the top windshield section70can be placed over the front of the top section70to cover the top leafs180,240with a gasket115, such as a trim rubber seal sandwiched therebetween and held in place by fasteners120(such as screws and bolts) that pass through the trim strip110and gasket115and holes120H in the top section70and held and locked in place by nuts130and washers145.

As shown inFIG. 19, the outer end110R of trim strip110can be cut off along the dotted lines on both ends of the strip110in order to follow the side contours of the top curved windshield section70.

When assembled, the elongated trim strip110covers the upper leafs of the hinges90/150,100/260between on the top section70of the curved windshield50. The base section80of the windshield50is hidden beneath the existing mounting frame45on the motorcycle10.

Referring toFIGS. 24-31 and 34, the right hand curved hinge90/150can include a top curved leaf180rotatably attached to a bottom curved leaf190by a curved hinge pin200passing through openings in both a top right hand curved hinge leaf knuckle240and a bottom right hand curved hinge leaf knuckle250. A spring loaded curved hinge lock latch250with curved hinge lock latch spring220, allows the top curved hinge leaf180and bottom curved hinge leaf190to be an open expanded position for keeping the curved windshield50in an unfolded position as shown inFIGS. 3, 4 and 6-13.

Referring toFIGS. 35-41, the left hand curved hinge100/260also includes a top curved hinge leaf270rotatably attached to a bottom curved hinge leaf280by a curved hinge pin200passing through openings in both a top left curved hand leaf knuckle290and a bottom left hand curved leaf knuckle300. Similarly, a spring loaded hinge lock latch250with curved hinge lock latch spring220, allows the top curved hinge leaf270and bottom curved hinge leaf280to be in an open expanded position for keeping the curved windshield50in an unfolded position as shown inFIGS. 3, 4 and 6-13.

Referring toFIGS. 24-31 and 34-45, a bent tab195extending up from the bottom curved leaf(s)190,280can be used to limit the unfolded position of top curved leafs180/240relative to bottom curved leafs190/250in the hinges90/150and100/260by abutting against the latch catch230in the top right hand curved hinge leaf180and top left hand curved hinge leaf270.

Referring toFIGS. 5, 14-21, 32A, 32B, 33, 34, a force F pushing against a rear side of the top curved windshield section70can push against the curved hinge lock latch spring220allowing the top section70fold outward relative to the mounted bottom section80by rotating along curved hinges90/100and150/260.

The novel windshield invention can be mounted to a motorcycle fairing in a flexible manner that allows movement (rotation) of the top section70of the windshield in a forward direction which reduces or avoids impact of the head of the rider against the windshield. Such movement reduces or avoids the severity of head impacts, and damage caused by the rigid windshields that are conventional for motorcycles.

The novel windshield invention can be factory installed or dealership installed, or can be sold as a new kit or replacement kit for motorcycles. The novel invention can be a retrofit for motorcycles.

Although the drawings show the invention being with motorcycles, the invention can be used with other vehicles where a curved windshield is used, such as but not limited to being on scooters, jet skis, boats, and other vehicles, and the like.

Although the embodiments show a trim strip110and gasket115covering only the top leafs180,240of the hinges90/150and100/260, another trim hinge can be used to cover the bottom leafs

The curved hinges90/150and100/260and related fasteners120,130,140,145, can be formed from metal, such as but not limited to stainless steel, zinc coated metal, and the like. The trim strip110can be formed from metal, such as but limited to stainless steel, aluminum and plastics, and the like.

The windshield top and bottom sections70,80can be formed from a translucent material, such as but not limited to acrylic, tempered glass, and other materials and the like.