Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5820199?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-11-26 04:35:02
Document Index: 59753028

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 28', 'art 30', 'art 28', 'art 30', 'art 28', 'art 30', 'art 28', 'art 30']

Patent US5820199 - Frame assembly for an operator's compartment - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA frame assembly for an operator's compartment includes an upper roof portion, a lower base portion, and first and second side support assemblies connected between the roof portion and the base portion. Each side support assembly includes a straight part, comprised of a formed tube, and a curved part,...http://www.google.com/patents/US5820199?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5820199 - Frame assembly for an operator's compartmentAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5820199 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/554,381Publication dateOct 13, 1998Filing dateNov 8, 1995Priority dateNov 8, 1995Fee statusLapsedPublication number08554381, 554381, US 5820199 A, US 5820199A, US-A-5820199, US5820199 A, US5820199AInventorsChris F. Camplin, Paul J. Staebler, Jr., Gary D. Hiatt, Adrian Mulholland, Philip C. WrightOriginal AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (11), Referenced by (16), Classifications (12), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetFrame assembly for an operator's compartmentUS 5820199 AAbstract A frame assembly for an operator's compartment includes an upper roof portion, a lower base portion, and first and second side support assemblies connected between the roof portion and the base portion. Each side support assembly includes a straight part, comprised of a formed tube, and a curved part, formed as a fabricated box section having several individual wall plates. The fabricated box section curved parts are stronger than the formed tubes and are, therefore, in the area of highest stress.
We claim: 1. A frame assembly for an operator's compartment, comprising:a frame structure having an upper roof portion, a lower base portion, and first and second spaced apart side support assemblies; each of said first and second side support assemblies having a first substantially straight part and a second curved part, said first straight part being connected to said roof portion and to said curved part, and said second curved part being connected to said base portion and to said first straight part; each of said first straight parts formed of a tube having continuous common wall sections; and each of said second curved parts formed as a fabricated box section having individual first, second, third, and fourth wall plates, said plates being joined together to form said box section. 2. A frame assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first straight parts slope outwardly away from said roof portion.
TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to a frame assembly for the operator's compartment of a work machine and more particularly to such a frame assembly which provides increased strength in a specific location.
BACKGROUND ART The operator's compartment of earthmoving and construction work machines are often equipped with a heavy framework or protective structure. These structures are generally formed of various lengths of steel tubing which are welded together to form the specific framework. Such structures are generally required to meet certain governmental requirements for strength and rigidity. To meet the requirements, the tubing framework is often re-enforced with steel plates and gussets in specific areas requiring greater strength and resistance to deflection. The addition of such re-enforcing plates is time consuming and adds cost and weight to framework.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the invention, a frame assembly for an operator's compartment of a work machine includes a frame structure having an upper roof portion, a lower base portion, and first and second side support assemblies. Each of the side support assemblies has a first substantially straight part and a second curved part, with the straight part being connected to the roof portion and the curved part being connected to the base portion. Each of the straight parts consists of a formed tube and each of the curved parts is formed as a fabricated box section having several individual wall plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a frame assembly of the subject invention;
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings, a frame assembly 10 for an operator's compartment 12 of a work machine (not shown) includes a frame structure 14 having an upper roof portion 16, a lower base portion 18, first and second spaced-apart side support assemblies 20,22 and first and second spaced-apart front support members 24,26. Each of the first and second side support assemblies 20,22 has a first substantially straight part 28 and a second curved part 30. The first straight part 28 has first and second end portion 32,34 and the second curved part 30 has first and second end portion 36,38. The first end portions 32, of the straight part 28, are connected to the respective first end portions 36 of the curved part 30, while the second end portions 34 of the straight part 28 are connected to opposite sides of the roof portion 16. The first end portions 36 of the curved part 30 are spaced above and outwardly of the base portion 18 and the second end portions 38 are positioned adjacent the base portion 18.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3451713 *Sep 15, 1967Jun 24, 1969Hollingshead Donald KSafety enclosure and cab for tractorsUS3656803 *Aug 27, 1970Apr 18, 1972Deere & CoTractor roll barUS4023851 *Feb 19, 1974May 17, 1977Caterpillar Tractor Co.Modular operator's compartment for tractorsUS4079985 *Mar 3, 1975Mar 21, 1978Martin Robert PCab for industrial truckUS4135756 *Dec 3, 1976Jan 23, 1979Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.Roll-over protective structure for vehicles and method of construction thereforUS4210362 *Sep 28, 1978Jul 1, 1980Fiat-Allis Construction Machinery, Inc.Operator's compartment and seat mountingUS4772065 *Apr 15, 1987Sep 20, 1988Kubota, Ltd.Transparent front panel bound with elastic and adhesiveFR2685276A3 * Title not availableGB413711A * Title not availableGB1428528A * Title not availableGB2194921A * Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6189955Apr 18, 2000Feb 20, 2001Deere & CompanyOperator enclosure for an agricultural tractorUS6279978 *Oct 5, 1999Aug 28, 2001Deere & CompanyWork vehicle roof structureUS6322136Mar 21, 2001Nov 27, 2001Deere & CompanyVehicle headliner mounting structureUS6325449Jun 8, 2000Dec 4, 2001Deere & CompanyROPS structure for work vehicleUS6464288Jan 25, 2001Oct 15, 2002Mack Trucks, Inc.Modular truck sleeper assemblyUS6485084Jul 25, 2001Nov 26, 2002Deere & CompanyRops structure for work vehicleUS6543840 *Sep 18, 2001Apr 8, 2003New Holland North America, Inc.Cab for an agricultural vehicleUS6582010 *Sep 13, 2001Jun 24, 2003Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Cab for construction machineryUS7413241 *Sep 14, 2006Aug 19, 2008Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Cab of a working machineUS7770963 *Jul 13, 2006Aug 10, 2010Komatsu Ltd.Cab structure for construction machineUS7887124 *Jul 13, 2006Feb 15, 2011Komatsu Ltd.Cab structure for construction machineUS8152225 *Mar 6, 2008Apr 10, 2012Komatsu Ltd.Roof panel and cab with the same, and method of manufacturing cabUS8757662 *Mar 20, 2013Jun 24, 2014Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Top for a vehicleDE202012104063U1Oct 23, 2012Mar 6, 2013Stehr Baumaschinen GmbhMaschinenkombination mit �berrollschutzEP1162117A2 *May 31, 2001Dec 12, 2001Deere &amp; CompanyRoll-over protective device for a tractorEP1380497A2 *Jul 9, 2003Jan 14, 2004Komatsu Ltd.Operator's cab for work vehicle* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification296/102, 296/190.08, 296/205, 180/89.12, 296/203.03, 280/756International ClassificationB62D33/06, B60R21/11Cooperative ClassificationB62D33/0617, B60R21/11European ClassificationB62D33/06E, B60R21/11Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 10, 2002FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20021013Oct 15, 2002LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesApr 30, 2002REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedApr 10, 1996ASAssignmentOwner name: CATERPILLAR INC., ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CAMPLIN, CHIRS F.;STAEBLER, PAUL J., JR.;HIATT, GARY D.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:007950/0651;SIGNING DATES FROM 19960318 TO 19960402RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google