Three-Piece Flip Windshield Assembly for Off-Road Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art flip windshields on off-road vehicles with roofs do not provide full protection when closed and have design limitations that prevent effective opening and closing mechanisms, especially when equipped with a roof.
Innovation Solution
A removable windshield assembly with a multiple-piece design, featuring an upper and lower fixed portion and a central, movable portion hingedly connected, allowing for full closure or opening to prevent wind and rain ingress, with optional struts and a handle/latch system for easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single-piece flip windshield is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide full protection when closed and cannot open effectively when equipped with a roof
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield is divided into three separate pieces: an upper fixed piece, a lower fixed piece, and a central movable piece. This segmentation allows the central piece to be hinged and movable while the upper and lower pieces remain fixed to provide structural support and sealing, resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The central piece is designed with a hinged connection that allows it to move between closed and open positions dynamically. This dynamic element provides the necessary operational flexibility for opening and closing while the fixed upper and lower pieces maintain structural stability.
2Productivity
If the windshield is designed to open fully, then airflow is improved, but protection when closed is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the windshield into fixed upper/lower portions and a movable central portion, the design enables the central piece to open fully for maximum airflow while the fixed upper and lower pieces maintain the sealing structure to prevent wind and rain ingress when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged connection acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows the central piece to achieve full opening for airflow while the fixed upper and lower pieces serve as mediators that maintain the protective seal when the windshield is closed.
3Reliability
If a multiple-piece design is used, then full protection and effective opening are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield is segmented into three functional pieces with distinct roles: upper fixed piece for structural support and sealing, lower fixed piece for structural support and sealing, and central movable piece for operational flexibility. This segmentation achieves reliable protection capability while managing complexity through clear functional differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each piece serves multiple functions: the fixed upper and lower pieces provide structural support, sealing, and frame attachment points, while the central movable piece provides both protection when closed and airflow when open. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the multiple-piece design.
Data Source
AI summary
A windshield assembly for an off-road vehicle includes an upper piece, a lower piece, and a middle piece. The upper piece abuts the roof to prevent a noticeable gap between the windshield and the roof regardless of whether the windshield is open or closed. The lower piece spans the lowermost portion of the windshield area. The middle piece is the main viewing portion, and is hingedly attached to the upper piece to allow the main viewing portion to be moved from a closed position to one or more open positions. When the middle piece is in its closed position, it substantially spans the space between the upper piece and the lower piece. When the middle piece is in a fully open position, the space between the upper windshield piece and the lower windshield piece is substantially free of windshield protection. When the middle piece is in a partially open position, it is flipped partially upward so that air may flow relatively freely unto the cabin area under the middle piece, but the vehicle occupants are still substantially protected from harsh wind and rain.