Abstract:
An insert for a plastic windshield of a boat, including an inner frame; an outer frame; a glass panel supported by said outer frames; and a washer and wiper assembly mounted on said glass panel. The insert allows users to operate a boat from an upper helm in adverse weather conditions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to windshields for boats, and more specifically to glass inserts for such windshields.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     The helm of a boat is, among other things, the location from which the speed and direction of the boat is controlled. In most pleasure craft, the helm is positioned either “above” or “below” the deck, and in many cases, a boat is provided with both above and below helms (typical in boats  25 ′ or longer).  
         [0005]     The helms below the deck provide less field of vision compared to “above” helms, but are usually protected from the elements by glass windows. The above helms are typically open to the environment, which can make navigating the craft difficult in less than ideal weather conditions. One partial solution to the exposure to the environment is to add a bimini top to the helm to protect the helm from the environment.  
         [0006]     Another solution in the prior art for protecting operators of the boat in an above helm is to use a flexible plastic windshield around the helm to protect the operator from the environment. The windshield is formed of a series of plastic panels which are maintained in place by zippers. The difficulty with this approach is that frequently the plastic windshield will become fogged or covered with rain or other elements, which are very difficult to remove, thus making it challenging for the operator to see outside the helm in less than ideal weather conditions.  
         [0007]     Prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,163 to Livingston for a Cockpit of a Boat with Fresh Air Vents and U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,599 to Johnson for a Boat Cockpit Enclosure.  
         [0008]     An insert for a flexible plastic windshield is provided, comprising an inner frame; an outer frame; a glass panel supported by said inner and outer frames; and a wiper assembly mounted on said glass panel. The insert may include a trough on the outer edge of the inner frame for receiving and supporting a water hose and a wire. The insert may also include a plurality of raised lines on the outer side of the inner frame and on the inner side of the outer frame for gripping a flexible plastic windshield and may also include a trench in the inner side of said outer frame for receiving bolts through apertures in the inner frame.  
         [0009]     The inner side of the inner frame of the insert may be marked at points corresponding to the trench. The insert may also have first and second supports, each having first and second ends, the first end of each of the supports securable to the insert, and the second end of each of the supports securable to a helm. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a windshield insert according to the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear view thereof;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view thereof;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4 a  perspective view showing the insert placed on a boat;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cutaway partial side view of the frame holding a flexible plastic windshield;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional side view of the inner frame;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a partial front view thereof;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional side view of the outer frame;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a partial rear view thereof;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of the outer frame thereof showing the connecting member; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a support and base therefor. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 REFERENCE TABLE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 REFERENCE 
               
               
                   
                 PART 
                 NUMBER 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Insert 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flexible plastic windshield 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Window wiper assembly 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Window washer 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 Glass panel 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Frame 
                 35 
               
               
                   
                 Inner frame 
                 40 
               
               
                   
                 Outer frame 
                 45 
               
               
                   
                 Inner side of outer frame 
                 50 
               
               
                   
                 Inner side of inner frame 
                 52 
               
               
                   
                 Outer side of inner frame 
                 55 
               
               
                   
                 Inner side of glass panel 
                 60 
               
               
                   
                 Outside surface of glass panel 
                 65 
               
               
                   
                 Top of inner frame 
                 70 
               
               
                   
                 Tube 
                 75 
               
               
                   
                 Trench 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 Bolt 
                 110 
               
               
                   
                 Aperture 
                 120 
               
               
                   
                 Raised Line 
                 130 
               
               
                   
                 Outer trough 
                 135 
               
               
                   
                 Hose 
                 140 
               
               
                   
                 Wires 
                 145 
               
               
                   
                 Supports 
                 150 
               
               
                   
                 Helm 
                 155 
               
               
                   
                 Bimini roof 
                 160 
               
               
                   
                 Wiper blade 
                 165 
               
               
                   
                 Wiper motor 
                 170 
               
               
                   
                 Wiper arm 
                 175 
               
               
                   
                 Outer edge of inner frame 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                 Markings 
                 185 
               
               
                   
                 Aperture in panel 
                 190 
               
               
                   
                 Set screws 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                 Support end 
                 210 
               
               
                   
                 Base 
                 215 
               
               
                   
                 Support aperture 
                 220 
               
               
                   
                 Base aperture 
                 225 
               
               
                   
                 Slot 
                 230 
               
               
                   
                 Support member 
                 235 
               
               
                   
                 Gripping member 
                 240 
               
               
                   
                 Screw 
                 245 
               
               
                   
                 Support Arm 
                 250 
               
               
                   
                 Ledge 
                 255 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0023]     The invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , comprises a glass windshield insert  1  for positioning within a flexible plastic windshield  15 . Insert  1  comprises glass panel  30  positioned in frame  35 . Panel  30  is preferably tempered safety glass and is 3/16″ thick. Secured to panel  30  is window wiper assembly  20  and window washer  25  to assist in the removal of water or other elements from the outside surface  65  of panel  30 .  
         [0024]     Frame  35  includes inner frame  40  and outer frame  45 . The terms “inner” and “outer” as used in this document relate to the positioning of the item in question to the helm. For example inner frame  40  is the portion of frame  35  on the helm side of windshield  15  and outer frame  45  is positioned on the outside of the windshield. Glass panel  30  is held in place by outer frame  45  using conventional means, as seen in  FIG. 6 . Preferably a vinyl gasket (not shown) is inserted into slot  230  before glass panel  30 , to tightly hold glass panel  30  in place.  
         [0025]     As seen in  FIG. 11 , outer frame  45  is assembled using a pin and set screw system. Outer frame  45  is preferably provided in two parts. A pin and set screw system is used to hold the two parts together without requiring less aesthetic clamps or the like. Two use the pin and set screw system, pin  235  is placed within gripping members  240  so that pin  235  is approximately half way within one part of outer frame  45 . Set screws  200  are then placed in apertures positioned to allows set screws  200  to frictionally engage pin  235 , holding pin  235  in place. The other part of outer frame  45  is then positioned alongside the first part such that pin  235  is partially within the other part and is held by holding members  40 . Then set screws  200  are used to frictionally engage pin  235  as previously described.  
         [0026]     With further reference to  FIG. 6 , plastic windshield  15  is secured between inner frame  40  and outer frame  45  by bolts  110 . Inner side  50  of outer frame  45  has trench  100  running throughout. Trench  100  is shaped to receive a bolt  110  placed through apertures  120  in inner frame  40 . Trench  100  preferably runs through the entire length of inner side  50  of outer frame  45  in the approximate center of outer frame  45  and is aligned with apertures  120 , although in alternative embodiments, trench  100  may be placed intermittently along inner side  50 . As seen in  FIG. 8 , markings  185  on the surface of inner side  52  of inner frame  40  correspond with the location of trench  100  thereby allowing new appertures  120  to the created that align with trench  100 .  
         [0027]     As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 10 , inner side  50  of outer frame  45  and outer side  55  of inner frame  40  have a plurality of raised lines  130 . Raised lines  130  help frame  35  grip windshield  15 . As windshield  15  is flexible plastic, raised lines  130  force windshield  15  to conform to the surface of inner frame  40  and outer frame  45  thereby strengthening the grip of frame  35  to windshield  15 . Windshield  15  fits against ledge  255  on outer frame  45  as seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , which further assists in holding windshield  15  in place.  
         [0028]     Insert  1  can be provided in a variety of sizes to fit different windshields. As windshield  15  is typically provided in a variety of flexible plastic panels, frame  35  is preferably sized to fit within a single panel, with at least 1″ margin of plastic all around frame  35 .  
         [0029]     As seen in  FIG. 7 , outer edge  180  of inner frame  40  has trough  135  for receiving wires  145  for wiper assembly  20  and hose  140  for window washer  25 . Tubes  75  may be positioned in trough  135  to support and hold wires  145  to frame  40 . Tube  75  is preferably made of a hardened material such as steel. Inner frame  40 , as in the case of outer frame  45 , is preferably manufactured in two pieces, and tube  75  may be used to assist in holding the two pieces of inner frame  40  together, using set screws as described above in association with outer frame  45 . Preferably the set screws frictionally engage tube  75  from below so that they are not easily visible.  
         [0030]     Supports  150  affix to frame  35  and help hold frame  35  in place (as windshield  15  is flexible, the weight of insert  1  may otherwise cause windshield  15  to sag). Supports  150  are preferably affixed to helm  155  by screws, bolts or other conventional means, but alternatively can be affixed to a roof  160 , for example if a hard top bimini roof has been installed. As seen in  FIG. 12 , in a preferred embodiment, an end  210  of support  150  is secured to support base  215 . Support aperture  220  is positioned between support arms  250  and aligned with base aperture  225  and held in place by a screw or pin. Base  215  is affixed to helm  155  or roof  160  by use of screws  245 . Supports  150  are hollow and can be used as a conduit for wires  145  and hose  140 .  
         [0031]     Wires  145  should run from wiper assembly  20  to helm  155  in order for wiper assembly  20  to receive power. In an alternative embodiment, wiper assembly  20  could be powered by batteries. Hose  140  runs from washer  25  to helm  155  to receive water or washing fluid. Both hose  140  and wires  145  can run along the edge of inner frame  40  to avoid unsightly wires and  145  and hose  140  cluttering the helm  155 . Hose  140  should connect a pump on the vessel to an aperture  190  in panel  30  which leads the hose to washer  25 .  
         [0032]     Wiper assembly  20  is affixed to panel  30  and includes motor  170 , arm  175  and blade  165 . Motor  170  is secured to panel  30  by conventional means such as bolts  200 ,  205  and  210 . Bolt  200  affixes motor  170  to panel  30 . Wiper arms  175  are pivotally secured to bolts  205  and  210 . Blade  165  is conventionally attached to wipers arms  175 .  
         [0000]     Installation  
         [0033]     Insert  1  will typically be provided in a kit form for installation by boat owners or users. To install insert  1 , the following steps are take: 
        (a) Inner frame  40  is placed on windshield  15  for optimum line of sight and visibility. A line is traced along the inside edge of inner frame  40  (although outside edge of inner frame  40  could also be used).     (b) Windshield  15  is preferably removed from helm  155 , then cut along the traced line. There should be sufficient plastic to allow inner frame  40  and outer frame  45  to grip windshield  15 .     (c) Inner frame  40  is then secured to outer frame  45  using bolts  110  such that windshield  15  is held between the frames. If necessary apertures  120  are drilled in inner frame along markings  185 . Windshield  15  is then repositioned on helm  155 .     (d) Support bases are positioned on helm  155 . One end of each support  150  is bolted to opposite sides of inner frame  40  using apertures  120 . The other end of each support  150  is attached to support base  215  to support insert  1 .     (e) Hose  140  is connected to aperture  190  and run along trough  135 , then through support  150  to a pump.     (f) Wires  145  are run through trough  135 , then through support  150  to a power supply on the helm.        
 
         [0040]     Although the particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus lie within the scope of the present invention.