WINDSHIELD AND FRAME THEREOF FOR MOTORCYCLES

Abstract: A windshield assembly (1) comprises a flexible substantially transparent shield (2) releasably engageable with a frame (3) which can be fixed to supports (4) protruding from the steering part of a motorcycle (5). The shield (2) comprises a central sheet portion (10) and two wings (11) folding to form a panel which can be rolled up (14). The shield (2) comprises a plurality of pockets (15) in which sticks (20, 21) pivotally connected to supporting arms (23) of the frame (3) can engage. The arms (23) have hooks (24) engageable in other pockets (16). The arms (23) are connected by two pivotal rods (25) pivoted to each other. The frame (3) can be folded and packed very easily and can be put in a small bag (30) along with the rolled shield (14) and stored, for example, under the seat of the motorcycle (5).

Description: TITLE WINDSHIELD AND FRAME THEREOF FOR MOTORCYCLES DESCRIPTION Field of the invention The present invention generally relates to the field of motorcycles and more precisely it relates to a windshield assembly for motorcycles . Description of the prior art Windshields are widely used secured to motorcycles or mopeds to protect the driver from wind, cold and rain. In many cases windshield assemblies for motorcycles comprise a substantially flexible transparent shield and mounting arms to stiffen it and to fasten it to the vehicle. The arms are fixed to the respective sides of the windshield and have lower ends which can be firmly coupled to supports extending from the steering portion of the motorcycle under the handlebar. Most of existing windshields can be easily detached from the motorcycle, normally by means of a spanner or by means of quick releasable lock means. They have also, in some cases, adjustable fastening means, so as to change the orientation of the arms, or to tighten the shield. On the other hand, existing windshields, when not used, cannot be brought by the driver and need to be left at home or in a lockup. In addition, notwithstanding they can be easily secured or removed to/from the motorcycle, in any case these steps require some time. Quickly and releasably mountable windshields for motorcycles are, therefore, known, but they do not allow the whole assembly to be brought by the driver when not used. Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a windshield assembly for motorcycles which can be easily folded when not used and can be brought ready to use by the driver. It is another object of the present invention to provide a windshield which take the minimum space when folded and can be packed tied to each other or put into a small bag. It is also object of the present invention to provide a windshield which can be secured to the motorcycle and can be removed from it very quickly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a windshield assembly having a frame supporting the windshield which can be easily and quickly folded along with the windshield and that can have at the same time good resistance against the wind. These objects are accomplished by the subject matter defined in claims 1 or 2. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the windshield assembly according to the present invention will become more apparent in the description which follows of some of its embodiments, given as an example and not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings in which: - figure 1 shows a perspective view of a windshield assembly according to the invention secured to a motorcycle; - figure 2 is rear view of the windshield assembly of figure 1 removed from the motorcycle; - figure 3 is the windshield assembly of figure 2 folded and closed into a bag; - figures 4, 5 and 6 show respectively a windshield separated from the frame and two successive folding and winding steps; - figures 7 and 8 show a frame of the windshield assembly respectively in extended and folded position; - figure 9 shows the frame of figure 7 in two possible positions when mounting the windshield (not shown) ; and - figure 10 shows an exploded view of the frame of figures 7 to 9. Description of preferred embodiments With reference to figure 1, a windshield assembly 1 comprises a flexible substantially transparent shield 2 releasably engageable with a frame 3 which can be fixed to supports 4 protruding from the steering part of a motorcycle 5. As better shown in figure 2, the flexible transparent shield 2 (see also figure 4) comprises a central sheet portion 10 and two wings 11 coupled in a folding relationship with said central portion 10 along a common side 12. Wings 11, as shown in figure 5, when folded onto sheet central portion 10 form a panel 13 which can be wound to form a roll 14 shown in figure 6 of minimum encumbrance . Flexible shield 2 can be made of one or more layers of transparent plastics, of known kind, for example of the type which is not sensitive to UV rays and does not lose its transparency with the time. In certain cases, at the choice of the manufacturer, some portions of shield 2 can be made of not transparent sheet material, such as, for example, the fabric used for sails. In the upper part of central sheet 10 a rigid, preferably transparent, bar 17 may be advantageously provided, for example included between two transparent plastics layers, or otherwise secured. Such bar has the double task of stiffening shield 2 and of making easier its winding when rolling. In fact, roll 14 can be formed by panel 13 of figure 5 starting the rolling step from bar 17 which acts as a roll core. With reference again to figure 2, wings 11 comprise a plurality of pockets 15, orientated substantially orthogonal to the border thereof, whereas sheet central portion 10 comprises two lower pockets 16. Pockets 15 and 16 have openings all on the same side of shield 2 and such openings are all orientated substantially towards the center of shield 2. Pockets 15 and 16 may be advantageously made by means of sewn on, or glued, or press welded plastics or textile portions. Preferably, such portions are tube portions bent about the border of shield 1 and attached at both sides, so that they automatically have their opening or openings substantially oriented towards the center of shield 2. Into pockets 15 free rounded ends 19 are engageable which cover sticks 20 and 21, such sticks being pivotally connected to arms 23 of frame 3 (see also figures 7-10) . More precisely, sticks 20 pivot end pivotally engages with the top end 23a of arms 23, whereas sticks 21 pivot end pivotally engage with the center portion 23b of arms 23. The lower ends 23c of arms 23 may comprise sockets suitable for being secured to supports 4 of figure 1. Moreover, lower ends 23c have hooks 24, covered by rounded ends 19, suitable for engaging in pockets 16. Both sticks 20 and 21 pivotally engage with arms 23 at the external side thereof of figure 2, whereas inner sides of arms 23, that is the sides facing to one another, are connected by two rods 25. More precisely, rods 25 are pivotally connected to each other and are also pivotally connected to top ends 23a of arms 23 at the inner sides thereof. Pivotal connection between rods 23 can be locked by tightening a nut 26. As shown in figure 9, top end 23a comprises advantageously a sleeve 27 to which sticks 20 and rods 25 are directly pivoted. Sleeve 27 can be lowered in the position indicated with a dotted line in order to allow introduction of sticks 20 ends in pockets 15. Then sleeves 27 can be snap fitted after upward movement to ends 23a of arms 23 in order to stretch shield 2. Shield 2 can also be stretched by regulating the angle between rods 25 and then by tightening nut 26 after that a sufficient tension to wings 11 is transmitted by sticks 20 and 21. As shown in figure 8, frame 3 can be folded very easily by pivoting sticks 20 and 21 until they are parallel to arms 23. Also rods 25 can be brought parallel to each other after loosening nut 27, so that arms 23 approach to each other too. Frame 3, when packed more than shown in figure 8, and shield 2, rolled as shown in figure 6, can be put very easily in a bag 30, as shown in figure 3, and stored, for example, under the seat of motorcycle 5 of figure 1. Instead of being put into a bag, the rolled shield 2 and the folded frame 3 may be simply tied together, for example by means of laces not shown. Such laces, advantageously, can extend directly from lower portions of wings 11 of shield 1, so that they extend freely (in a manner not shown but obvious for the skilled man) from the roll 14 of figure 6 and can be tied together or secured to the roll 14 by snap fasteners or tear strips. The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Windshield assembly for motorcycles comprising a flexible substantially transparent shield (2) releasably engageable with a frame (3) which can be fixed (4) to the motorcycle (5) , characterised in that said flexible transparent shield (2) comprises at least two sheet portions (10,11) joined in a folding relationship (12), said sheet portions when folded onto one another (13) being able to be wound together to form a roll (14) of minimum encumbrance . 2. Windshield assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible transparent shield (2) comprises a central sheet portion (10) and at least two wing (11) sheet portions joined in a folding relationship (12) with said central portion (10) , said central portion (10) and said wings (11) when folded (13) on said central portion (10) being able to be wound together to form said roll (14) . 3. Windshield assembly for motorcycles comprising a flexible substantially transparent shield (2) releasably engageable with a frame (3) which can be fixed (4) to the motorcycle (5), characterised in that said frame (3) comprises at least one arm (23) with which a plurality of sticks (20,21) pivotally engage, said sticks (20,21) having free ends (19) and said shield (2) having a plurality of pockets (15,16) in which said ends (19) can engage whereby said sticks (20,21) stretch and stiffen said shield (2) , said arm having hook means (24) engageable with said pockets (16) . 4. Windshield assembly according to claim 3 wherein said frame (3) comprises two arms (23) each having an internal side and an external side, said plurality of sticks (20,21) pivotally engaging and extending from said external side of said arms (23), at least a couple of pivotally engaging rods (25) being provided for pivotally connecting the internal side of said arms (23) to each other, means being provided for to lock (26) the pivotal engagement of said rods (25) with respect to each other. 5. Windshield assembly according to claim 1 wherein said frame (3) is the frame of claims 3 or 4. 6. Windshield assembly according to claim 5 wherein said sticks (20, 21) and said hook (24) have rounded end elements engaging with said pockets (15,16) . 7. Windshield according to claim 5 wherein a sleeve (27) is provided slidingly engaging with the or each said arm (23), with said sleeve (27) certain of said sticks (20) being engageable, said sleeve (27) being able to slide on said arm (23) up to a releasably locked position (23a) to stretch said shield (2) . 8. Windshield assembly according to claim 4 wherein said pockets (15,16) comprise flexible bent tube portions fixed at the border of said shield (2) and having apertures to receive said sticks ends (19) . 9. Windshield according to claim 4 wherein said arms (23) of said frame (3) have one end (23c) releasably engageable (4) with said motorcycle (5) . 10. Windshield according to claim 4 wherein said central sheet portion (10) comprises a rigid transversal element (17) .

Inventors: BAIAMONTE GIUSEPPE, BAIAMONTE, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: BAIAMONTE GIUSEPPE, BAIAMONTE, GIUSEPPE
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B62J17
IPC codes: B62J17