US 6,637,363 B2 · Adjustable boat windshield support brace

Abstract

An adjustable windshield brace for boat windshields has sufficient flexibility to permit utilization on the windshields of many boat manufacturers. The brace is formed of two linearly extending members, one of which is provided with a bell to receive the other member. The belled brace member is formed with internal threading to be engageable with corresponding threads on the other brace member. The threads are finely formed to permit a linear translational movement of approximately one-sixteenth of an inch for each revolution of the brace members. Each brace member is provided with a mounting flange pivotally mounted on the respective opposing ends of the brace members to provide an attitude adjustment of the mounting flanges. Length adjustment and orientation adjustment of one mounting flange relative to the other mounting flange is accomplished by rotating the threads interengaging the two brace members. This three dimensional adjustment of the windshield brace permits the windshield brace to be adapted to many different windshield configurations. The belled portion on the one brace member hides the threads of the other brace member as the windshield brace is extended in length.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A brace supporting a boat windshield comprising:

a first linearly extending brace member having external threads formed on one end thereof;
a first mounting flange pivotally mounted on an opposing end of said first brace member about a first pivot axis;
a second linearly extending brace member having internal threads formed in one end thereof to correspond to the external threads formed on said first brace member, said second brace member being adapted to receive said first brace member such that said first and second brace members are threadably engaged and linearly adjustable in length in response to rotation of one of said brace members relative to the other brace member;
and
a second mounting flange pivotally mounted on an opposing end of said second brace member about a second pivot axis, each said mounting flange being positionally adjustable relative to the other said mounting flange in three attitudes, pivotal movement about the corresponding said pivot axis, linear distance between said respective pivot axes, and rotational orientation.

2 more elements

An adjustable brace attached to a boat windshield and to a boat support structure to support said boat windshield relative to said support structure comprising:

a first linearly extending brace member having external threads formed on one end thereof;
a first mounting flange pivotally mounted on an opposing end of said first brace member by a first detachable fastener defining a first pivot axis, said first mounting flange being connected to one of said boat windshield and said boat support structure;
a second linearly extending brace member having internal threads formed in one end thereof to correspond to the external threads formed on said first brace member, said second brace member being adapted to receive said first brace member such that said first and second brace members are threadably engaged and linearly adjustable in length in response to rotation of one of said brace members relative to the other brace member;
and
a second mounting flange pivotally mounted on an opposing end of said second brace member by a second detachable fastener defining a second pivot axis, said second mounting flange being connected to the other of said boat windshield and said boat support structure opposite of said first mounting flange, each said mounting flange being positionally adjustable relative to the other said mounting flange in three attitudes, pivotal movement about the corresponding said pivot axis, linear distance between said respective pivot axes, and rotational orientation.

2 more elements

A method of supporting a boat windshield comprising the steps of:

providing an adjustable brace device formed with two members threadably engaged so that relative rotation therebetween varies a length dimension of said brace device, each opposing end of said brace device having a pivotally attached mounting flange adapted for connection to a support structure;
rotating one of said members of said brace device relative to the other said member until said length dimension corresponds to a desired length distance between a mounting position on said boat windshield and a mounting position on said support structure;
further rotating one of said members of said brace device relative to the other said member until said mounting flanges at each opposing end of said brace device are aligned with said mounting position on said boat windshield and said mounting position on said support structure;
positioning said mounting flanges until said mounting flanges are substantially parallel to the corresponding said mounting positions on said windshield and said support structure;
and
fastening said mounting flanges to the corresponding said mounting positions on said windshield and said support structure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjustable boat windshield support brace

Life of this patent

Adjustable boat windshield support brace

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18