Motor vehicle windshield and motor vehicle provided with windshield

Abstract

To provide a windshield, in particular for an open motor vehicle, configured to be able to carry out useful functions not only for a driver but also for a passenger sitting beside the driver.SOLUTION: A windshield for motor vehicles having a driver seat and a passenger seat arranged adjacently to the driver seat includes two windshield parts (4, 5) separated from each other. The two windshield parts are angularly displaceable independently in a motor-driven manner between a lowered position and a raised position around a lower transversal axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a windshield for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to an open-top motor vehicle, for example of the convertible type, more particularly of the so-called "barchetta" or "torpedo" type, which is completely roofless. [Background technology]

[0002] EP 1291274 B1 and EP 1752367 B1 disclose vehicles with windshields, more precisely with a fairing arranged in front of the driver and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position, in particular in relation to motorcycles. EP 06853895 B1 and GB 486067 A describe windshields with variable inclination that are applicable to vehicles in general.

[0003] These prior art solutions are explicitly limited to vehicle driver windshields, and furthermore, windshield actuation systems are typically complicated and cumbersome.

[0004] FR 602139 A describes a windshield formed by two parts arranged adjacent to each other, each of which can be independently and manually angularly displaced about an upper joint axis.

[0005] DE 102005004809 B3 describes a windshield manufactured in a single part, with an upward and downward movement of the windshield, respectively, which part can be displaced by sliding between a raised position and a lowered position in a motor-driven manner. Summary of the Invention

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a windshield, in particular for motor vehicles, which is designed to perform a useful function not only for the driver but also for the passengers next to him.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is primarily achieved by a windshield for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1.

[0008] In an embodiment of the invention, at least one or each of the two windshield parts has a front node and a liftable internal support frame to which an actuation mechanism is connected, conveniently including a horizontal actuator. Preferably, the horizontal actuator is constituted by an electric jack, which is arranged below the windshield part and connected to the support frame by an articulated linkage.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the articulated link mechanism comprises a generally triangular rotating cam having a first vertex, a second vertex and a third vertex, the first vertex being articulated to the power jack, the second vertex being articulated to a lower end of a generally vertical connecting rod, the upper end of the connecting rod being articulated to the windshield support, and the third vertex being rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation of the cam.

[0010] The windshield component associated with the driver's seat is expediently larger than the windshield component associated with the passenger seat.

[0011] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield thus produced, and to an operating device for the windshield.

[0012] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided for non-limiting illustrative purposes only. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a front part of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield according to the present invention, showing the windshield in a first state; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the windshield in a second position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing one of two windshield parts according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the windshield part of FIG. 3 in the state of FIG. 1; [Diagram 5] 4, showing the windshield part of FIG. 3 in the state shown in FIG. 2; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] 1, the front part of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, for example a "barchetta" type sports car, is generally designated by the reference numeral 1. The front part 1 has a dashboard 2 and a steering wheel 3 arranged in front of a station with a driver's seat (not shown), adjacent to which is a station with passenger seats (also not shown).

[0015] According to a particular feature of the invention, the motor vehicle is provided with a windshield formed by two normally transparent windshield parts 4, 5. The windshield parts 4, 5 are separate from each other and are independently movable as will become apparent below.

[0016] Windshield part 4 is located in front of the steering wheel 3, which is the driver's seat, while windshield part 5 is located in front of the passenger seat.

[0017] The two windshield parts 4, 5 are selectively and independently angularly displaced between a lowered position and a raised position. In Fig. 1, the windshield part 4 is in the raised position and the windshield part 5 is in the lowered position, whereas in Fig. 2, the windshield part 4 is in the lowered position and the windshield part 5 is in the raised position. Obviously, the windshield parts 4, 5 can be in the raised or lowered position at the same time.

[0018] 3, windshield part 4 is generally shaped like a relatively elongated fairing (similar to a fairing on a sports type motorcycle, but larger), as opposed to windshield part 5 which is shaped substantially like a deflector.

[0019] The front edge of each windshield part 4,5 is articulated to the bottom of the vehicle structure about a corresponding axis 7. The axis 7 is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0020] The windshield parts 4, 5, which are articulated to the front and bottom of the vehicle structure about this transverse axis 7, can each be raised and lowered about such axis within a limited angular range, for example in the order of 20° to 30° or more.

[0021] The angular displacement of each windshield part 4, 5 is effected by a respective motor-driven actuating mechanism that is controlled from inside the vehicle cabin, independent of the driver and passengers. This will be described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5 in relation to windshield mechanism 4, but it will be apparent that the following description also applies to windshield part 5. Alternatively, the actuating mechanism of windshield part 5 may be different or simplified.

[0022] The windshield part 4 is supported on a support frame 6 which—at the front—can rotate about a horizontal / lateral articulation axis 7. The support frame 6 is provided—at the rear—with a support element 8 which supports the windshield part 4 from the inside. To increase the stability of the windshield support 4, a further support element 9 may also be provided at the front of the support frame 6.

[0023] The support frame 6 is connected to an actuating mechanism generally indicated with the reference number 10. The actuating mechanism 10 comprises a horizontal actuator 11 housed in the front part 2 of the vehicle, below the windshield part 4. The horizontal actuator 11 consists, for example, of an electric jack fixed at its centre of rotation 20. A stem of the jack 11 is generally indicated with the reference number 12. The stem 12 is connected to the rear part of the support frame 6 by an articulation linkage 13. The articulation linkage 13 comprises a generally triangular rotating cam 14 and a generally vertical connecting rod 15 providing a rotation-translation movement. A first lower vertex 16 of the cam 14 is articulated to the stem 12 of the jack 11 and another lower vertex 17 is articulated to the lower end of the connecting rod 15, the upper end of which is articulated at 18 to the support frame 6. The upper vertex of the cam 4 rotates about a horizontal / lateral axis of rotation 19.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the windshield part 4 in the lowered position. The stem 12 of the jack 11 is electronically adjustable in longitudinal stroke in the direction opposite to the forward movement of the vehicle. The stem 12 is retracted, the cam 14 is located in a lowered angular position and the connecting rod 15 is held in a position corresponding to the approximately horizontal state of the frame 6.

[0025] As the stem 12 of the jack 11 extends, the cam 14 rotates counterclockwise, rotating-translating the connecting rod 15 upwards, with it the frame 6 and windshield part 4 towards the raised position shown in Figure 5. During thrust exerted by the stem 12, the jack 11 is free to rotate about its centre of rotation 20.

[0026] The actuation mechanism of the windshield part 5 may be exactly the same as that outlined above, or may be simplified from the viewpoint of construction. The actuation mechanism of the windshield part 5 may also be actuated by an electric actuator. The two electric actuators may be selectively controlled independently, so that the two windshield parts 4, 5 can be moved at the discretion of the driver and the passenger, respectively.

[0027] Obviously, the details of construction and the embodiment of the invention may be varied considerably from those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A windshield for a motor vehicle having a driver's seat and a passenger seat disposed adjacent to the driver's seat, Two windshield parts (4, 5) spaced apart from each other and independently angularly displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position, the two windshield parts (4, 5) are articulated at their lower parts and are displaceable by a motor drive, Windshield.

2. At least one of the two windshield parts (4, 5) comprises a liftable support frame (6) having a front transverse joint (7) and internal supports (8, 9) for the windshield parts (4, 5), and an actuation mechanism (10) including a horizontal actuator (11) is connected to the support frame (6).

2. The windshield of claim 1.

3. The horizontal actuator (11) is constituted by an electric jack, the electric jack being arranged below the windshield parts (4, 5) and connected to the support frame (6) by an articulated link mechanism (13).

3. The windshield of claim 2.

4. the articulated link mechanism (13) comprises a substantially triangular rotating cam (14) having a first vertex (16), a second vertex (17) and a third vertex, the first vertex (16) being articulated to the electric jack (11), the lower end of a substantially vertical connecting rod (15) being articulated to the second vertex (17), the upper end of the connecting rod (15) being articulated to the support frame (6), and the third vertex rotating around a horizontal rotation axis (19) of the cam (14); 4. The windshield of claim 3.

5. The windshield part (4) corresponding to the driver's seat is larger than the windshield part (5) corresponding to the passenger seat; A windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle of the Barchetta type, The driver's seat and A passenger seat disposed adjacent to the driver's seat; a windshield disposed in front of the driver's seat and the passenger seat; The windshield comprises two windshield parts (4, 5) which are spaced apart from each other and can be angularly displaced independently of each other between a lowered position and a raised position, the two windshield parts (4, 5) are articulated at the bottom of the motor vehicle and are displaceable by a motor drive; Motor vehicle.

7. At least one of the two windshield parts (4, 5) has a liftable support frame (6) having a front transverse joint (7) and internal supports (8, 9) for the windshield parts (4, 5), and an actuation mechanism (10) including a horizontal actuator (11) is connected to the support frame (6).

7. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6.

8. The horizontal actuator (11) is constituted by an electric jack, the electric jack being arranged below the windshield parts (4, 5) and connected to the support frame (6) by an articulated link mechanism (13).

8. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7.

9. the articulated link (13) comprises a substantially triangular rotating cam (14) having a first vertex (16), a second vertex (17) and a third vertex, the first vertex (16) is articulated to the electric jack (11), the lower end of a substantially vertical connecting rod (16) is articulated to the second vertex (17), the upper end of the connecting rod (16) is articulated to the support frame (6), and the third vertex rotates around a horizontal rotation axis (19) of the cam (15); 9. The motor vehicle of claim 8.

10. The windshield part (4) corresponding to the driver's seat is larger than the windshield part (5) corresponding to the passenger seat; A motor vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9.

11. 1. An apparatus for actuating a movable vehicle windshield, comprising: The windshield has a liftable support frame (6) to which an operating mechanism (10) is connected, and the operating mechanism (10) is connected, the windshield (4) is articulated at the bottom of the vehicle, the actuation mechanism (10) comprising a horizontal actuator (11) arranged below the windshield (4), the horizontal actuator (11) being connected to the support frame (6) by an articulated linkage (13), the articulated linkage (13) controlling the angular displacement of the windshield (4) about a lower transverse axis (7); Actuating device.

12. the articulated link mechanism (13) comprises a generally triangular rotating cam (14) having a first vertex (16), a second vertex (17) and a third vertex, the first vertex (16) being articulated to the horizontal actuator, the second vertex (17) being articulated to a lower end of a generally vertical connecting rod (15), the upper end of the connecting rod (15) being articulated to the support frame (6), and the third vertex rotating about a horizontal rotation axis (19) of the cam (14); 12. The actuator of claim 11.

13. The horizontal actuator (11) is composed of an electric jack.

13. An actuator according to claim 11 or 12.

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