Tripartite support mechanism for frame-mounted vehicle components

A vehicle, comprising:

• a unibody vehicle frame;
• a vehicle body panel;
• a windshield having one or more exposed edges;
• one or more integrated, tripartite support mechanisms, each of which provide support to at least three frame-mounted vehicle components, and each support mechanism comprising:
• a windshield support arm coupled to the windshield along at least one edge of the windshield;
• a side-view mirror support arm coupled directly to, and extending from, the windshield support arm;
• a body panel fixing plate coupled directly to, and extending from, the windshield support arm, the side-view mirror support arm, or both, wherein the fixing plate secures the body panel to the frame;
• and
• one or more pivot joints disposed between, and coupling, the windshield support arm and the side-view mirror support arm, the windshield support arm and the fixing plate, the side-view mirror support arm and the fixing plate, or combinations thereof.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a unibody vehicle frame;
• a vehicle body panel;
• a right-side windshield having one or more exposed edges;
• a left-side windshield independent of the right-side windshield and having one or more exposed edges;
• one or more monolithic, tripartite support mechanisms, each of which provide support to at least three frame-mounted vehicle components, and each support mechanism comprising:
• a right-side windshield support arm coupled to the right-side windshield along at least one edge of the right-side windshield;
• a left-side windshield support arm coupled to the left-side windshield along at least one edge of the left-side windshield,
• wherein the right-side and left-side windshield support arms are disposed between the right-side and left-side windshields;
• and
• a body panel fixing plate extending from the right-side windshield support arm, the left-side windshield support arm, or both, wherein the fixing plate secures the body panel to the frame.