Patent Publication Number: US-2009230715-A1

Title: Windshield for a Vehicle and a Vehicle Comprising Same

Description:
The present invention relates to a windshield for a vehicle, such as a motorbike or bicycle, and to a vehicle comprising such a windshield. 
     A vehicle such as a motorbike or bicycle is provided with a windshield in order to protect the driver of the vehicle against windy or rainy conditions and against flying objects when riding with the vehicle. Under particular conditions, such as riding the vehicle at low speed, the windshield serves no particular important function. Furthermore, when parking or storing the vehicle, the windshield is vulnerable and may be subject to damage 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a transparent, preferably plastic windshield for a vehicle which substantially overcomes the afore mentioned disadvantages. Accordingly, the windshield for a vehicle such as a mountainbike or a bicycle according to the invention comprising a frame connectable to said vehicle, which frame carries a shield comprising a number of shield elements foldably mounted to the frame. Accordingly, when the windshield serves its function for shielding the driver of the vehicle, the shield is formed by folding out the shield elements thereby forming the windshield. When the shielding function is no longer required, the driver removes or collapses the windshield by folding in the shield elements. 
     An elegant manner of folding in or out the windshield is by rotation. To that extent it is preferred that the rotatable shield elements are mounted on a common rotation shaft. In the folded in mode, the windshield resides normally below the hand handles bars of the vehicle, thereby providing a non obstructed free view for the driver. According to one preferred embodiment the rotatable shield elements when folding in or out the windshield rotates in the same rotational direction. According to another preferred embodiment the rotatable shield elements when folding in or out the windshield rotates in reverse rotational directions towards one another. In this preferred embodiment in the folded in mode shield elements reside at both sides of the vehicle which provides a more balanced appearance and riding properties of the vehicle. 
     According to another preferred embodiment the windshields comprises a motor connected to the rotational shaft for folding in or out the windshield elements. Accordingly, by actuating the motor via a switch the windshield is folded in or out in a very convenient manner, such as while maintaining the hands on the handles. 
     In order to adjust the windshield to a particular vehicle or driver it is preferred that it comprises means for adjusting the height dimension of the windshield relative to the vehicle. 
     According to another preferred embodiment the windshield is provided with a headlight. Accordingly, the vehicle may be provided with an additional headlight or a traditional headlight mounted to the vehicle frame may be avoided. 
     The windshield according to the invention may have a very aesthetic appearance when preferably the windshield has the form of a circle. 
     Finally, the present invention further relates to a vehicle such as a motorbike or bicycle provided with the windshield according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       Hereafter, a windshield and vehicle according to the invention will be further defined and described by way of two embodiments without limiting the invention thereto, while making reference to the annexed drawings. In the drawings are: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  a first embodiment of the windshield according to the invention in the folded out and folded in mode, respectively. 
         FIG. 2  at a different scale and schematic a side view according to arrow II in  FIG. 1B ; and 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  another embodiment of the windshield and vehicle according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is shown a vehicle  1 , a motorbike, provided with a windshield according to the invention. 
     The motorbike  1  is provided with a front wheel  3  mounted in a front steer fork  4  provided with a steering bar  5  and hand handles  6 . The motorbike  2  is provided with the windshield  2  comprising a number of shield elements  7 . In this embodiment the shield elements are seven in number. 
       FIG. 1B  shows the windshield  2  in the folded in mode inwhich the shield elements  7  are grouped in a row below the hand handles of the steering bar  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the windshield  2  in the folded in mode of  FIG. 1B . The shield elements  7  are grouped in a row next to one another. The windshield comprises a frame  8  inwhich a rotational shaft (non shown) is rotatably mounted and carries the shield elements. The frame comprises further a head light  9 . The frame  8  comprises two parallel bars  10  connected via a hinge  11  and a connecting bar  12  to the frame  13  of the motorbike, in this embodiment the steering bar  5 . The bars  10  are provided with means  14  for adjusting the height of the windshield  2  relative to the vehicle, in this respect the steering bar  13 . Accordingly, by adjusting the height with the means  14  for adjusting the height of the windshield  2  relative to the vehicle, in this respect the steering bar  13 . Accordingly, by adjusting the height with the means  14  and the inclination position with the hinge  11 , the windshield  2  according to the invention may be optimally positioned relative to the driver on the motorbike  2 . 
     The steering bar  5  is provided with a switch  15  for actuating a motor  16  of the frame  8 . This motor  16  is connected to the rotational shaft on which the shield elements are mounted. By actuating the motor  16  via the switch  15 , the windshield  2  according to the invention may be folded out or folded in as desired by the driver. Electrical connections between the motor  16  or the head light  9  are not shown for reasons of convenience. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B  is shown another vehicle according to the invention, namely a bicycle  17 . The bicycle  17  is provided with a windshield  18  according to the invention comprising eight shield elements according to the invention. The shield elements  19  are mounted on a common or two coaxial rotational shafts. The shield elements are divided in two groups. A first group is grouped in a row at the left side of the bicycle  17  and the other group is grouped in a row at the right side of the bicycle near the hand handles  20  of the steering bar  21 . The bicycle is provided with a head light  22  mounted on the windshield according to the invention. In the folded out mode of the windshield the top shield elements overlap or abut thereby forming a windshield properly protecting the driver. In order to maintain the windshield according to the invention in the folded out mode, the rotational shaft or shafts may be arrested against undesired rotation or the shield elements may be provided with carry on elements  25  and/or with an arresting clamp or magnet  26  as desired for resting the folded out windshield in the position shown in  FIG. 3   a . Similar means may be provided for maintaining the folded in windshield in the positions shown in  FIG. 3B  or  3 A.