Forwardly and rearwardly folding roll-over protection structure
AssigneeFull Vision, Inc.
InventorKenneth G. Schlup, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable roll-over protection structure is provided for use on a vehicle movable in a generally fore-and-aft direction. The foldable roll-over protection structure includes a frame comprising a base section and an upper section. The base section is connectable to the vehicle. The upper section is swingable relative to the base section between a forward position in which the upper section projects forwardly from the base section, a rearward position in which the upper section projects rearwardly from the base section, and an upright position positioned between the forward and rearward positions. A hinge assembly swingably interconnects the sections of the frame. The hinge assembly is configured to releasably secure the upper section in each of the positions of the upper section.
Claims22
A foldable roll-over protection structure for a vehicle moveable in a generally fore-and-aft direction, said foldable rollover protection structure comprising:
- a frame including a base section and an upper section,
- said base section being connectable to the vehicle,
- said upper section being swingable relative to the base section between an upright position and a second position angularly offset relative to the upright position;
- a hinge assembly swingably interconnecting the sections of the frame;
- a first resilient vibration dampener operably coupled between the sections of the frame,
- said first vibration dampener being resiliently deformed when the upper section is in the upright position, such that relative vibrational movement between the frame sections is restricted;
- and
- a second resilient vibration dampener operably coupled between the sections of the frame,
- said second vibration dampener being resiliently deformed when the upper section is in the second position, such that relative vibrational movement between the frame sections is restricted,
- said hinge assembly including a hinge plate fixed to a first one of the frame sections,
- said hinge plate projecting outwardly relative to said first one of the frame sections,
- at least one of said vibration dampeners being fixed to the hinge plate exteriorly of said first one of the frame sections.
A foldable roll-over protection structure for a vehicle moveable in a generally fore-and-aft direction, said foldable rollover protection structure comprising:
- a frame including a base section and an upper section,
- said base section being connectable to the vehicle,
- said upper section being swingable relative to the base section between an upright position and a second position angularly offset relative to the upright position;
- a hinge assembly swingably interconnecting the sections of the frame;
- a first resilient vibration dampener operably coupled between the sections of the frame,
- said first vibration dampener being resiliently deformed when the upper section is in the upright position, such that relative vibrational movement between the frame sections is restricted;
- and
- a second resilient vibration dampener operably coupled between the sections of the frame,
- said second vibration dampener being resiliently deformed when the upper section is in the second position, such that relative vibrational movement between the frame sections is restricted,
- said hinge assembly including a hinge plate fixed to a first one of the frame sections,
- said hinge plate projecting outwardly relative to said first one of the frame sections,
- said vibration dampeners being fixed to the hinge plate exteriorly of said one of the frame sections, with one of the vibration dampeners being forward of the first one of the frame sections and the other of the vibration dampeners being rearward of the first one of the frame sections.
A foldable roll-over protection structure for a vehicle moveable in a generally fore-and-aft direction, said foldable rollover protection structure comprising:
- a frame including a base section and an upper section,
- a first one of said sections including opposite front and rear exterior walls,
- said base section being connectable to the vehicle,
- said upper section being swingable relative to the base section between an upright position and a second position angularly offset relative to the upright position,
- a hinge assembly swingably interconnecting the sections of the frame;
- and
- a resilient vibration dampener operably coupled between the sections of the frame,
- said vibration dampener being located exteriorly of said first one of said sections,
- said vibration dampener resiliently engaging a corresponding one of the walls of the first one of said sections when the upper section is in a respective one of said positions, such that relative vibrational movement between the frame sections is restricted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.