Work vehicle cab screen
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorsJohn D. Richards, Gerald M. Berg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A side screen for the cab of a work vehicle, such as a skid steer loader, comprises a panel having strips defining openings therebetween. A high percentage of the area of the screen is open for visibility. At least one reinforcing member, such as a rib, is formed in the screen, such as on a strip or on a panel section. An intermediate panel may also provide a section of relatively heightened rigidity. Such reinforcing members reduce sheet bowing, or “oil can” effect, and maintain flatness of the screen, thereby optimizing the screen for a combination of both protection and visibility.
Claims25
A screen comprising:
- an array of intersecting strips extending in first and second directions at a significant angle to each other and substantially in the plane of the screen, the array defining openings surrounded by the strips;
- at least one panel section between the array and an edge of the screen;
- a plurality of ribs disposed in the array of strips;
- at least one panel section rib disposed on the panel section;
- and
- at least one intermediate panel disposed in the array, wherein the intermediate panel is substantially wider than the strips.
A side screen configured for forming a side of a cab on a vehicle, the side screen comprising:
- an array of generally vertical strips and generally horizontal strips, defining openings between the strips;
- at least one intermediate panel disposed within the array;
- a panel frame substantially surrounding the array, the panel frame comprising at least one panel section;
- a plurality of ribs disposed in the array of strips;
- and
- at least one panel rib disposed on the panel frame;
- wherein the plurality of ribs disposed in the array and the panel rib protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the screen, wherein the intermediate panel section is significantly wider than the strips, and extends from a first position of the panel frame to a substantially opposing section of the panel frame.
A side screen configured for forming a side of a cab on a vehicle, the side screen comprising:
- a metal sheet having a generally planar first major surface and a parallel generally planar second major surface;
- a plurality of apertures in the sheet extending from the first major surface to the second major surface, the apertures defining an array of strips therebetween;
- and
- at least one reinforcing deformation disposed on the sheet for relieving stresses on the sheet induced by the formation of the apertures in the sheet, thereby retaining the sheet in a flat condition, the reinforcing deformation protruding from the first major surface of the sheet.
A work vehicle comprising:
- a frame supported for movement over the ground;
- an operator cab supported by the frame;
- and
- a side screen forming a side of the cab, the side screen including:
- a metal sheet having a generally planar first major surface and a parallel generally planar second major surface;
- a plurality of apertures in the sheet extending from the first major surface to the second major surface, the apertures defining an array of strips therebetween;
- and
- at least one reinforcing deformation disposed on the sheet for relieving stresses on the sheet induced by the formation of the apertures in the sheet, thereby retaining the sheet in a flat condition, the reinforcing deformation including a rib protruding from the first major surface and a complementary recess on the second major surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.