Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a tractor, a canopy assembly, and a method for attaching the two. The tractor canopy assembly is constructed to securely hold a sun shield on a tractor and allow for quick and easy installation and removal thereof. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Modern tractors are usually equipped with a rollover protection system (“ROPS”) that includes a rollover protection bar, which surrounds the operator&#39;s position and protects the operator in the event of a rollover. Commonly, the rollover protection bar is hinged so that it can be folded over to minimize the tractor&#39;s overall height. Exemplary rollover protection bars are described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,835 to Burns, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,430 to Miki et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,991 to Ludwig. 
   It is common practice to incorporate a canopy (sun shield) with the rollover protection bar to protect the operator from the elements. Traditional tractor canopies are heavy and awkward; therefore, installation and removal thereof can be time consuming and difficult. An exemplary tractor canopy is described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,063 to Job. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A canopy assembly for use on a tractor is provided according to the invention. The canopy assembly includes a sun shield, a bracket assembly, and attachment arms. 
   The sun shield is a structure that is adapted to protect the tractor operator from the elements. In some embodiments the sun shield is constructed of fiberglass or opaque plastic so that it is both waterproof and sun proof. 
   The bracket assembly is constructed for attachment to a rollover protection bar of a tractor. The bracket assembly includes at least two bracket mounting arms and a bracket mounting plate extending therebetween. The bracket assembly further includes at least one bracket catch constructed for attachment to a bracket mounting arm of the bracket assembly. The bracket catch is designed to engage and support attachment arms thereby facilitating installation and removal of the sun shield. 
   In some embodiments the canopy assembly includes two attachment arms. The attachment arms can be attached to the underside of the sun shield such that, when the canopy is installed, the sun shield is positioned over the operatior&#39;s position. At least one of the attachment arms can include a sun shield arm, an engaging member, and a lock assembly. The engaging member is mounted on an attachment arm and is adapted to engage the bracket assembly and support one end of the attachment arm during installation and removal of the sun shield. The attachment lock assembly is constructed to mount to an attachment arm and is adapted to secure the attachment arm onto a bracket mounting arm of the above-referenced bracket assembly. 
   A method of attaching a canopy to a tractor is also provided according to the invention. The method includes attaching a pair of attachment arms to a pair of bracket mounting arms that are mounted on a rollover protection bar. Since the attachment arms are connected to a sun shield, attaching the attachment arms to the bracket assembly thereby attaches the sun shield to the rollover protection bar. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the canopy assembly mounted on a tractor according to the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bracket assembly of the canopy assembly and the rollover protection bar of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the relationship between the sun shield and the attachment arms of the canopy assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is diagrammatic perspective view of the canopy assembly positioned for installation onto a rollover protection bar. 
       FIG. 5   a  is a side view of the over-center locking mechanism of  FIG. 3  shown in a locked position. 
       FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the over-center locking mechanism of  FIG. 3  shown in an unlocked position. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the angle adjustment mechanism of the bracket assembly of  FIG. 2   
       FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  are perspective views of an alternate embodiment of the secondary bracket assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a canopy assembly according to the invention is shown at reference numeral  20 . The canopy assembly  20  is provided attached to a rollover protection bar  40  of a tractor  15 . One advantage of the present invention is that the sun shield  30  of the canopy assembly  20  can be quickly and easily attached and detached from the rollover protection bar  40 . The rollover protection bar  40  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  is foldable and includes an upper portion  42 , a hinge  44 , and a lower portion  46 . However, it should be appreciated that while the canopy assembly  20  can be attached to a foldable rollover protection bar  40  on a tractor  15 , the canopy assembly  20  can also be attached to rollover protection bars that do not fold. In addition, it should be appreciated that the canopy assembly can be mounted on vehicles other than tractors. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 2–6 , the canopy assembly is shown in more detail. The canopy assembly  20  includes: a bracket assembly  100  shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 ; a sun shield and attachment arms shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; and an attachment lock assembly shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5   a , and  5   b.    
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the bracket assembly  100  attaches to the upper rollover protection bar  42  and the attachment arms  204  and  202  (see  FIG. 3 ). The bracket assembly  100  includes a first bracket mounting arm  120 , a second bracket mounting arm  130 , and a bracket mounting plate  110  extending therebetween, the bracket mounting plate  110  connecting the first bracket mounting arm  120  to the second bracket mounting arm  130 . When the canopy  30  is installed, the bracket mounting plate  110  of the bracket assembly  100  is fixed to the upper rollover protection bar  42 , the first bracket mounting arm  120  contacts and supports the first attachment arm  204 , and the second bracket mounting arm  130  contacts and supports the second attachment arm  202 . 
   The bracket mounting plate  110  also includes a secondary bracket assembly  160 . The secondary bracket assembly  160  can include mounting slots  112  and clamp bars  166  that are adapted to receive mounting bolts  168 , mounting washers  164 , and mounting nuts  162 . Installing the mounting bracket assembly  100  can include the steps of positioning the mounting plate  110  on the top side of the upper rollover protection bar  42 , positioning the clamp bars  166  on the bottom side of the upper rollover protection bar  42 , inserting mounting bolts  168  though the slots  112  in the mounting plate  110  and through the clamp bars  166 , and tightening the mounting nuts  162  onto the mounting bolts  168  until the bracket mounting plate  110  is securely attached to the rollover protection bar  40 . Note that the bracket mounting plate  110  may include holes  302  or other features to ensure that it does not interfere with other features that may be attached to the upper portion of the rollover protection bar  42 . 
   Though the rollover protection bar shown in  FIG. 2  has a rectangular cross-section, it should be appreciated that the bracket mounting plate  110  may also be attached to a rollover protection bar that has a non-rectangular cross-section (e.g., a circular cross-section). If the rollover protection bar has a circular cross-section, the secondary bracket assembly  160  can include rollover protection bar mounting brackets  169 ,  170  and  171  shown in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , and  7   c  respectively. The rollover protection bar mounting brackets  169 ,  170 , and  171  attach to the rollover protection bar and also attach to the bracket mounting plate  110 . Though the mounting brackets  169 ,  170 ,  171  and the clamp bars  166  both secure the bracket mounting plate  110  to the rollover protection bar  40 , they are structurally different. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the rollover protection bar  40  is sandwiched between the clamp bars  166  and the bracket mounting plate  110  (i.e., the clamp bars  166  do not independently attach to the rollover protection bar  40 ). On the other hand, in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , and  7   c , the mounting brackets  169 ,  170 , and  171  attach independently to the rollover protection bar  40  and the bracket mounting plate  110  attaches to the mounting bracket. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , and  7   c  the mounting brackets  169 ,  170 , and  171  serve as an interface between the bracket mounting plate  110  and the rollover protection bar  40 . 
   It should be appreciated that, in accordance with the invention, the mounting plate  110  can be attached to the rollover protection bar  40  without clamp bars  166  or rollover protection mounting brackets  169 ,  170 , and  171 . Alternatives include, but not limited to, welding the bracket mounting plate  110  to the rollover protection bar  40 , or drilling holes into the rollover protection bar  40  and bolting the bracket mounting plate  110  directly to the rollover protection bar  40 . 
   The bracket mounting arms  120  and  130  can include at least one contact flange  144  and one bracket catch  150 . The contact flange  144  provides structure that interfaces with other elements of the attachment lock assembly  220  that are mounted on the attachment arms  204  or  202 . The attachment lock assembly  220  will be discussed in detail below. The bracket catch  150  engages and supports the attachment arms  204  or  202 . During installation and removal of the sun shield  30 , the bracket catch  150  is adapted to support one end of an attachment arm  204  or  202  while allowing the canopy  30  to be rotated towards, and onto, the bracket assembly  100 , or away from, and off of, the bracket assembly  100 . The bracket catch  150  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  as a protrusion  152 . However, it should be understood that the bracket catch  150  can be any structure adapted to engage an attachment arm  204  or  202  and pivotally support one end of an attachment arm  204  or  202 . 
   The bracket mounting arms  120  and  130  can include an angle adjustment mechanism  132 . The angle adjustment mechanism  132  may be used to level the sun shield  30  relative to the tractor, but it should be understood that the angle adjustment mechanism  132  can be used to set the sun shield  30  at any preferred angle. The angle adjustment mechanism  132  includes: a first adjustment plate  133 , a second adjustment plate  134 , and a adjustment mechanism fastener  140  that locks the first adjustment plate  133  to the second adjustment plate  134 . The adjustment mechanism fastener  140  includes through cuts  136  that are spaced at a radial distance R from a center hole  138 . The through cuts  136  can be constructed to receive a second adjustment plate fastener  142  that holds the second plate  134  at an angle relative to the first adjustment plate  133 . Additional through cuts  136  and fasteners  142  can be included to ensure that the angle adjustment mechanism  132  does not unexpectedly come out of adjustment. Note that in the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , one additional though cut  136  and one additional second adjustment plate fastener  142  have been included on each bracket mounting arm  120  and  130 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , it includes a sun shield  30 , a first attachment arm  204 , a second attachment arm  202 , an attachment lock assembly  220 , and engaging members  210 . The sun shield  30  can be any structure that is adapted to protect the tractor operator from the elements. In some embodiments the sun shields  30  can be made of fiberglass or opaque plastics so that they are both waterproof and sun proof. The attachment arms  204  and  202  can include two attachment lock assemblies  220 , two sun shield arms  203 , and two engaging members  210 , wherein each lock assembly  220  and each engaging member  210  is mounted on a different attachment arm  204  and  202 . 
   As discussed above, the attachment arms  204  and  202  include sun shield arms  203  that are constructed to interface with the bottom surface of the sun shield  30 . The sun shield arms  203  of the attachment arms  204  and  202  can be secured to the sun shield  30  with fasteners  206 . Fasteners  206  may include bolts  211 , washers  208 , and nuts  209  that are engage holes  300  in the sun shield and holes  301  in the sun shield arm  203 . In should be understood that the sun shield  30  can be fastened to the attachment arms  204  and  202  in many other ways including, but not limited to, the use of rivets, screws, adhesives, and interference fits. 
   The attachment arms  204  and  202  include engaging members  210 . The engaging members  210  engage the bracket assembly  100  during installation and removal of the sun shield  30 . The engaging members  210  enable the attachment arms  204  and  202  to rest on, and pivot off of, the bracket assembly  100 . For stability, each attachment arm  204  and  202  can include its own engaging member  210 . 
   The engaging members  210  can include a hook  270  and a slot  280 . During installation, the hook is adapted to rest upon the protrusions  152  on the bracket assembly  100 , thereby enabling the bracket assembly  100  to support one end of the attachment arms  204  or  202 . Then, the attachment arms  204  and  202  can be rotated by the operator towards the bracket assembly  100  until the attachment arms  204  and  202  abut the bracket mounting arms  120  and  130 . During the rotation of the attachment arms  204  and  202  towards the bracket assembly  200 , the protrusion  152  slides from the hook  270  along the slot  280  to its end position  281 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rollover protection bar  40  can be folded over during installation and removal. Folding over the rollover protection bar  40  lowers the upper portion of the rollover protection bar  42  thereby enabling a single operator to more easily install the sun shield  30 . Though the engaging members  210  can include a hook  270  and a slot  280 , it should be appreciated that the engaging members  210  can be any structure adapted to engage the bracket assembly  100  such that one end of the attachment arms  204  and  202  can rest upon, and pivots on, the bracket assembly  100 . 
   The attachment lock assemblies  220  are mounts to attachment arms  204  and  202  for securing the attachment arms  204  and  202  to the bracket assembly  100 . Since the attachment arms  204  and  202  are connected together via the sun shield  30 , only one locking assembly is required. However, for added security, it is preferred that both attachment arms  204  and  202  include separate attachment lock assemblies  220 . 
   The attachment lock assembly  220  as shown is an over-center mechanical latch  230 . The over-center mechanical latch is mounted on the attachment arms  204  and  202  at lock attachment points  205  and  207 . The over-center mechanical latch  230  includes a lever  234 , a linkage  236 , a plunger  237 , a retainer  250 , and a retainer fastener  232 . The linkage  236  is pivotally connected to the lock attachment point  205  and pivotally connected to the lever  236 . The plunger  237  is pivotally connected to the lock attachment point  207  and pivotally connected to the lever  236 . The plunger  237  includes an adjustment screw  239  that can be axially extended or retracted to ensure a positive secure contact between the plunger  237  and the contact flange  144  of the bracket mounting arms  120  or  130 . The point where the linkage  236  and the lock attachment point  205  connect and the point where the plunger  237  and the lever  234  connect defines a center line  238 . The linkage  236  and the plunger  237  are attached to the lever  234  at locations whereby when the lever  234  is in its closed position shown in  FIG. 5   a , the attachment point between the linkage  236  and the lever  234  is between the center line  238  and the attachment arms  204  or  202 , and when the lever  234  is in its open position, the attachment point between the linkage  236  and the lever  234  is on the opposite side of the center line  238 . It should be appreciated that the attachment locking assembly  220  can be any mechanism that can secure the attachment arm  202  or  204  to the bracket assembly  100 . Other attachment locking assemblies  220  may include, but are not limited to, pins, clamps, hooks, and clips. 
   The attachment lock assembly  220  can include a retainer otherwise know as a spring lock  250  that ensures that the lock assembly  220  does not open unexpectedly. The retainer  250  is particularly useful when the tractor  15  is driven in high wind conditions, over uneven terrain, or used in other conditions that would cause a great deal of vibrations that might unexpectedly unlock the attachment lock assembly  220 . The retainer  250  is position such that when the lever  234  of the over-center mechanical latch  230  is in its closed position, the retainer  250  springs against the lever  234  and prevents the lever  234  from unexpectedly opening, even when jostled. The retainer  250  is attached to the attachment arms  204  or  202  via a retainer fastener  232 . The retainer fastener  232  can include, but is not limited to, nut and bolt combinations, rivets, screws, or welds. It should be appreciated that the retainer  250  can be any mechanism that is adapted to prevent the unexpected unlocking of the attachment lock assembly  220 . The retainers according to the invention, may include, but are not limited to, straps, pins, clasps, hooks, and clips. 
   The attachment arms  204  and  202  may further include handles  290 . Handles  290  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are located on the attachment arms  204  and  202  opposite the engaging members  210 . The handles  290  are shown as through cuts in the attachment arms  204  and  202  that are sufficiently large for one to hold onto. It should be appreciated that the handles  290  can be of many other configurations so long as they provide structure that can be conveniently gripped by a human hand. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , an alternative embodiment of the adjustment mechanism fastener  140  of the angle adjustment mechanism  132  is shown. In the alternative embodiment the though cuts  136  comprise discrete through holes  137 . The alternative embodiment of the adjustment mechanism  131  shown in  FIG. 6  works substantially like the embodiment of the adjustment mechanism  132  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The alternative embodiment of the angle adjustment mechanism  131  is advantageous because the adjustment mechanism  132  is operable even if the first pate  133  is not firmly pressed against the second plate  134 . 
   In the above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Category: b