Abstract:
Windows of a vehicle can be quickly and efficiently protected from projectiles through a cover material and buffer zone combination. In a system aspect, the system comprises: a cover material, cover-material rolling means, mounting means suitable for mounting said rolling means to the vehicle and tensioning means suitable for applying a tension to the cover material. When the rolling means is mounted on the vehicle using said mounting means and the cover material is unrolled to cover the window and the tensioning means applies a tension across the cover material, a buffer zone results between said cover material and said window. A method aspect is also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a regular application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/553,938 filed Mar. 18, 2004 and entitled, “PROTECTIVE BLIND FOR EXCAVATOR WINDOWS”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to vehicle accessories and, more particularly, to vehicle windshield covers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     When transporting vehicles, flying rocks and debris often cause damage to the windshields of such vehicles. This is especially a problem when transporting excavators or backhoes, which have fairly extensive windshields, are often simply placed on a transport truck and travel at fairly significant velocities on such transport trucks, and hence are subjected to various flying debris and rock along the transport route.  
         [0004]     Covers, which are sheets of plastic or metal material and that can be temporarily mounted in front of the windshields of vehicles such as excavators, are one proposed solution to the aforementioned problem. Although useful, the inventor herein has determined that such covers are inconvenient because a significant amount of effort is required to place such covers in front of the windshields prior to transport, and remove them thereafter. Additionally, in a construction site scenario such cover are often lost or misplaced.  
         [0005]     Applicant is not aware of permanently mounted vehicular windshield cover, suitable for protecting the windshield of a vehicle from rocks and other debris during transport, that is simple to operate, has minimal moving parts and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and installed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect of the invention there is provided a window cover system for protecting a window of a vehicle from projectiles. The system comprises a cover material which is rollable up on a shaft of a blind and rollable off the shaft of the blind, mounting means suitable for mounting the blind to the vehicle; and tensioning means suitable for applying a tension to the cover material. When the blind is mounted on the vehicle using said mounting means and the cover material is unrolled to cover the window and the tensioning means applies a tension across the cover material, a buffer zone results between said cover material and said window.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment of the above aspect, the tensioning means comprises a spring to impart torque to the shaft and cover material hold-down means. In another embodiment, the tensioning means comprises a crank and ratchet system to impart torque to the shaft and cover material hold-down means.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of protecting a window of a vehicle from projectiles. The method comprises providing a cover material which is rollable up on a shaft of a blind and rollable off the shaft of the blind, mounting the blind to the vehicle, unrolling the cover material so as to cover the window, and applying a tension to the cover material so as to create a buffer zone between the cover material and the window.  
         [0009]     In a broader aspect of the invention, there is provided a window cover system for protecting a window of a vehicle from projectiles. The system comprises a cover material, cover-material rolling means, mounting means suitable for mounting said rolling means to the vehicle and tensioning means suitable for applying a tension to the cover material. When the rolling means is mounted on the vehicle using said mounting means and the cover material is unrolled to cover the window and the tensioning means applies a tension across the cover material, a buffer zone results between said cover material and said window.  
         [0010]     Preferably the buffer zone is in the range of 2 to 6 inches. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the invention mounted or installed on an excavator;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the blind is pulled down approximately half-way;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the blind is pulled down all the way so as to cover the front windshields of the excavator;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the blind is pulled down all the way so as to cover the front windshields of the excavator;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   l  are various components of the cover-material rolling means and the cover tensioning means of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are side and top views respectively of one embodiment of a mounting bracket, suitable for mounting the invention to a Hitachi or John Deere excavator;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are side and top views respectively of another embodiment of a mounting bracket, suitable for mounting the invention to a Caterpillar model 300 series excavator;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   c  are top, rear and side views respectively of a third embodiment of a mounting bracket, suitable for mounting the invention to a Komatsu model 400 series excavator;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, wherein the blind is pulled down all the way so as to cover the front windshields of the excavator;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  are top and side views respectively of a spacer bar;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are side views of two alternate embodiments of cover material hold-down means;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 12   a - 12   k  are various views of an embodiment of a cover tensioning means comprising a crank and ratchet system; and  
         [0023]      FIGS. 13   a - 13   j  are perspective views of various components of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     Generally, and referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a preferred embodiment of a permanently mounted vehicular windshield cover  10  is shown for protecting the windshield  12  of a vehicle  14 , such as an excavator, from rocks and other debris (not shown) during transport on a transport vehicle (not shown). The windshield cover  10  comprises cover-material rolling means  20 , cover material  22 , cover mounting means  30 , and cover tensioning means  40 . Preferably, the windshield cover  10  further comprises cover material pulling means  50 .  
         [0025]     In operation, the windshield cover  10  is mounted on the vehicle  14  via the mounting means  30  such that when the cover material  22  is unrolled from the rolling means  20 , and thus covering the windshield  12 , a space, passage or buffer zone  60  results between the cover material  22  and the windshield  12  (as more clearly seen in  FIG. 4 ). An optimal space or buffer zone  60  is a distance in the range of 2 to 6 inches between cover material  22  and the windshield  12 .  
         [0026]     Further in operation, the cover tensioning means  40  apply a tension across the cover material  22  which causes the cover material  22  to absorb the impact of a rock or other debris (not shown) across all or part of the buffer zone  60 , such impact otherwise having hit the windshield  12 . Advantageously, the cover material  22  when unrolled to cover the windshield  12  and tensioned by the tensioning means  40  reflects rocks and other debris.  
         [0027]     Although the cover rolling means  20  is shown mounted on the top of the vehicle  14 , it could also be mounted near the bottom of the vehicle  14  or on one of the sides of the vehicle  14 .  
         [0028]     More specifically, and referring to  FIGS. 1-5   l , the cover tensioning means  40  further comprise a spring-driven cover roller  42  attached to the rolling means, and cover material hold-down means  44  located near that end of the windshield  12  opposite to where the cover  10  is mounted and suitable for engaging the free end  22   a  of the cover material. In this embodiment tension is created across the cover material  22  when a spring-driven cover roller  42  attempts to roll up the cover material  22  on the cover rolling means  20  (much like a window blind, when actuated, attempts to roll up the window blind) while the hold-down means  44  engage the free end  22   a  of the cover material  22  preventing the cover material  22  from rolling up.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 5   a - 5   l , the rolling means  20  and tensioning means  40  of the preferred embodiment comprise the following: 
        a 36 inch long shell  20   a  having bracket engaging tabs  20   b  ( FIG. 5   a ), preferably made from metal, stainless steel, or plastic;     a hollow square-shaped cover-roller-shaft  20   c  preferably made from 2″ square steel tubing ( FIG. 5   b );     two shaft pieces  20   d ,  20   e  preferably made from ¾″ diameter round aluminum ( FIGS. 5   e  and  5   f );     end caps  20   m ,  20   n  ( FIGS. 5   c  and  5   d ) into which the shaft pieces  20   d ,  20   e  fit and which in turn engages the ends of the cover roller  20   c , preferably the end caps  20   m ,  20   n  are made from plastic;     a spring  20   f  ( FIG. 5   g );     a square shaped spring end  20   g  ( FIG. 5   i ), preferably made of plastic; and     end pieces  20   h ,  20   i  ( FIGS. 5   j - 5   l ), preferably made of metal, and each having three set screw holes  20   j  and a shaft receiving opening  20   k.          
 
         [0037]     When assembled, end pieces  20   h ,  20   i  attach to the ends of the shell  20 , and the end caps  20   m ,  20   n  attach to the ends of the square shaft  20   c . Further, the ends of the shafts  20   d ,  20   e  protrude through the end caps  20   m ,  20   n  and engage the shaft receiving opening  20   k  of the end pieces  20   h ,  20   i ; thereby rotatably supporting the square shaft  20   c  between the end pieces  20   h ,  20   i . The spring  20   f  slides over the shaft piece  20   e . One end of the spring  20   f  attaches to shaft piece  20   e  at one of three points  20   m  (depending on the desired spring tension) and at the other end attached to the square spring end  20   g  which attaches to the other end of the shaft piece  20   e . The spring  20   f  and spring end  20   g  are therefore also inside the hollow square shaft  20   c , with the square spring end  20   g  sized so as to engage the square inner walls of the hollow square shaft  20   c . One of the end pieces  20   i , further comprises a groove  20 L for receiving a set screw (not shown) to lock the shaft piece  20   e  in place.  
         [0038]     Thus in operation, the shaft  20   e  and spring end  20   g  float inside the square hollow shaft  20   c  with the spring end  20   g  sliding back and forth inside and along the axis of the shaft  20   c  as assembly is rotated thereby imparting or relieving torque to the shaft  20   c.    
         [0039]     Alternatively, in another embodiment, the cover tensioning means  40  may further comprise a crank and ratchet system wherein the cover material  22  is unrolled from the rolling means  20 , the free end  22   a  is engaged by hold-down means  44  and the crank and ratchet system are then employed to draw tension across the cover material  22 . Crank and ratchet systems are well known in the art and one embodiment of such a system in shown in  FIGS. 12   a - 12   k.    
         [0040]     In one embodiment, and now referring to  FIGS. 6   a - 6   b , the mounting means  30  comprises a pair of angular brackets  30   a  each measuring 6 inches by 2 inches by ¼ inch thick and angled at approximate 65° as shown (see  FIG. 6   a ). A ¾ inch hole  30   b  is drilled through the bracket at one end, as shown, and a pair of 33/64 inch holes is drilled through the bracket at the other end, as shown. The single hole  30   b  is suitable for mounting the bracket on the light brackets on the roof of a cab of a Hitachi or John Deere excavator, via bold means (not shown). The pair of holes  30   c  are suitable for mounting the bracket to the bracket engaging tabs  20   b  of the shell  20   a  of the preferred embodiment of the invention, via nut and bold means (not shown).  
         [0041]     In a second embodiment, and now referring to  FIGS. 4 and 7   a - 7   b , the mounting means  30  comprises a pair of planar brackets  30   d  with similar holes and dimension to those of the angular brackets of  FIGS. 6   a - 6   b , with the exception of being 8 inches long (as opposed to 6 inches long). Such a pair of brackets are suitable mounting means  20  to mount the invention to a Caterpillar model 300 series excavator. The pair of brackets  30   d  may be fastened to the shell  20   a  and its tabs  20   b  by nut and bolt means  31 . The pair of brackets  30   d  may be further fastened to the vehicle  14  by bolt means  32 .  
         [0042]     In a third embodiment, and now referring to  FIGS. 8   a - 8   c , the mounting means  30  comprises a single bracket  30   e . In this embodiment the single bracket  30   e  is a 36 inch long piece of aluminum angle iron, with 2 inch sides joined at 90° to relative each other, wherein a pair of 3/8 inch diameter holes  30   f  are drilled through near the center of one of the sides and as shown in  FIG. 8   b , the holes  30   f  spaced 14 inches apart center to center, and further wherein a pair of 33/64 inch diameter holes  30   g ,  30   h  are drilled through at each end of the other side and as shown in  FIG. 8   a , the holes  30   g  spaced 1 inch from the ends and the holes  30   h  spaced 2 inches center to center from holes  30   g . The pair of holes  30   g ,  30   h  at each end are suitable for mounting the bracket to the bracket engaging tabs (not shown) of the shell (not shown) of the preferred embodiment of the invention, via nut and bold means (not shown). This mounting bracket  30   e  is suitable for mounting the invention to a Komatsu model 400 series excavator which has a pair of holes on the top front of its cab which match the 14 inch center-to-center spacing of the holes  30   f.    
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an alternate embodiment a permanently mounted vehicular windshield cover  10  is shown for protecting the windshield  12  of a vehicle  14  from rocks and other debris (not shown) during transport on a transport vehicle (not shown). The windshield cover  10  comprises cover material rolling means  20 , cover material  22 , cover mounting means  30 , and cover tensioning means  40 . In this embodiment, the cover mounting means  30  comprises a pair of 3/8 inch thick metal plates  35  shaped as shown and placed edgewise, one on each side of the top of the cab of the vehicle  14 . The plates  35  are attached to the vehicle via bolt means  32 . The rolling means  20  is therefore mounted between the pair of plates  35 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIGS. 10   a - 10   b , in yet another embodiment and in cases where the windshield of an excavator may be curved, the mounting means  30  further comprises a spacer bar  39  having end brackets  39   a ,  39   b . In this embodiment the spacer bar  39  measures approximately 35½ inches from the inside of one end bracket  39   a , to the inside of the other end bracket  39   b . Advantageously, the spacer bar  39  can be mounted to existing flanges on the front of an excavator&#39;s cab where the two windows of the windshield meet.  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  two embodiments of cover material hold-down means  44  are shown. In  FIG. 11   a  the hold-down means  44  further comprises a 6 inch long 1/8 inch steel cable  44   a  having an eye  44   b  on one end and a hook  44   c  on the other end. The eye  44   b  can be mounted to an excavator or other vehicle at the appropriate place while the hook  44   c  is used to engage and retain the free end  22   a  of the cover material  22 . Preferably a pair of cables  44   a  is used. The length of cable  44   a  can vary depending on the style of excavator cab.  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 11   b , in an alternate embodiment, the hold-down means  44  further comprises a clip  44   d  suitable for engaging and retaining the free end  22   a  of the cover material  22 . The clip  44   d  can be mounted to an excavator or other vehicle at the appropriate place.  
         [0047]     Suitable cover material  22  include swather canvas, canvas, conveyor belting material and a coated polyester material such as IP-18E from Inland Plastics Ltd. of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.