Golf car top
AssigneeYamahaMotor Manufacturing Corporation of America
InventorsJoel A. Cheek, Louis R. Doucette, Kendall A. Fisher, Keisuke Yoshida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A top for a small vehicle, such as a golf car, has a roof member and a set of struts that are pivotally attached to the roof member. The struts can be folded for shipping and storage. The top also has features that accommodate stacking of tops for shipping and storage. In addition, a handle is located inboard of an outer periphery of the roof member so that a hand grasping the handle is not exposed outside of the periphery. Furthermore, in one arrangement, the handle is mounted at a location that keeps an occupant's arm within the periphery if the handle is properly grasped. An improved drainage system also is provided to minimize splashing toward occupants.
Claims65
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that an outboard elbow would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter when an outboard hand grasps said handle, wherein said roof member comprises a generally horizontal portion and a downwardly extending circumferential flange, said flange extending downward a first distance, said handle extending downward from said generally horizontal portion a distance less than said first distance such that said handle is recessed into said roof member relative to a plane define by a lower lip of said flange.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that an outboard elbow would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter when an outboard hand grasps said handle, wherein said handle comprises a substantially cylindrical portion adapted for grasping, said substantially cylindrical portion comprising a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending at an angle relative to a generally vertical, plane that extends in a longitudinal direction of the roof member.
A method of manufacturing and shipping an assembled top for a small vehicle, said method comprising forming a roof member, pivotally attaching supports to said roof member and securing said supports in a lowered position to said roof member and shipping said assembled top separate from the small vehicle.
A top assembly for a small vehicle, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising downwardly depending feet to which said front strut and said rear strut are pivotally attached, said roof member further comprising an upper surface and contact pads formed on said upper surface at a location that aligns with said downwardly depending feet such that a first roof member can be stacked on a second roof member with said feet positioned on said contact pads, said front strut and said rear strut being pivotally connected to said roof member, said roof member, and said front strut and said rear strut each comprising a securing configuration adapted to secure said front strut and said rear strut in an extended position.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that a hand grasping said handle would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter, said roof member comprising a generally horizontal portion and a downwardly extending circumferential flange, said flange extending downward a first distance, said handle extending downward from said generally horizontal portion a distance less than said first distance such that said handle is recessed into said roof member relative to a plane define by a lower lip of said flange.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that a hand grasping said handle would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter, said handle comprising a substantially cylindrical portion adapted for grasping, said substantially cylindrical portion comprising a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending at an angle relative to a generally vertical plane that extends in a longitudinal direction of the roof member.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that a hand grasping said handle would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter, a rear foot supporting wall extending inboard of a rear foot and said supporting wall being adapted to receive an information holder.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that a hand grasping said handle would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter, said front strut being pivotally connected to said roof member by a front foot and said rear strut being pivotally connected to said roof member by a rear foot, said roof member further comprising an upwardly extending protrusion with at least one antennae mounting pad being defined on an upper surface of said protrusion.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that a hand grasping said handle would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter, said roof member further comprising a rain gutter that extends around only three sides of said roof member.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said outer perimeter such that a hand grasping said handle would be completely positioned within said outer perimeter, and a drain hole being positioned adjacent said front strut such that water passing through said drain hole is directed onto an exterior surface of said front strut.
A top assembly for a small vehicle, said top assembly comprising a roof member, a front strut and a rear strut, said roof member further comprising an upper surface and an antennae mounting pad being disposed on said upper surface, said front strut and said rear strut being pivotally connected to said roof member, said roof member, and said front strut and said rear strut each comprising a securing configuration adapted to secure said front strut and said rear strut in an extended position.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, said roof member comprising a generally horizontal portion and a downwardly extending circumferential flange, said flange extending downward a first distance from said horizontal portion, a front strut and a rear strut being connected to said roof member, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said vertical plane, said handle having a vertical dimension and about ⅛ of said vertical dimension extending downward more than said first distance from said horizontal portion.
A small vehicle comprising a frame assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel supporting said frame assembly, a top assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said top assembly comprising a roof member, said roof member comprising a front foot and a rear foot, a front strut and a rear strut being connected to said front foot and said rear foot respectively, a generally vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction of said roof and intersecting said front foot, said roof member comprising an outer perimeter and a handle, and said handle being connected to said roof member and being disposed inside of said vertical plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.