Abstract
A riding vehicle is provided with a downdraft fan assembly mounted on a vehicle roll bar for providing a flow of ambient air over the vehicle operator and a canopy carried by the fan assembly and providing solar and precipitation protection for the operator.
Claims
1. A canopy and fan assembly for a riding vehicle, comprising: a fan assembly having a rectangular frame secured to a lateral horizontal cross member of a vehicle roll bar assembly, wherein the rectangular frame projects forward of the roll bar assembly, and wherein a downdraft fan assembly is disposed within an area defined by the rectangular frame; and a canopy assembly secured to the fan assembly, wherein the canopy assembly sits above the fan assembly when secured to the fan assembly.
2. The canopy and fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the canopy and fan assembly extends substantially above a seat of the riding vehicle, such that the canopy assembly provides the seat of the riding vehicle at least some protection from at least one of sunlight or rain.
3. The canopy and fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the canopy assembly is generally rectangular.
4. The canopy and fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan assembly and canopy assembly extend substantially forwardly and horizontally from the roll bar assembly.
5. The canopy and fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising an apertured grill panel disposed across the rectangular frame.
6. The canopy and fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the canopy assembly is exclusively secured to the fan assembly.
7. The canopy and fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the canopy is indirectly secured to the roll bar assembly of the riding vehicle via the fan assembly.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a riding vehicle with a canopy and fan assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
(3) FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the riding vehicle of FIG. 1 showing the underside of the canopy and fan assembly;
(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the canopy and fan assembly:
(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the canopy and fan assembly;
(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the fan and canopy assembly:
(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3;
(8) FIG. 7 is a view taken in circle 7-7 of FIG. 3;
(9) FIG. 8 is view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 3;
(10) FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 3; and
(11) FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the canopy of the fan and canopy assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(12) Referring to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an open air motorized riding vehicle, such as a lawn mower 10, having a canopy and fan assembly 12. The canopy and fan assembly 12 is supported on a roll bar assembly 14. The canopy and fan assembly 12 extends horizontally from the roll bar assembly 14 forwardly over and above the operator seat 16 and as described below provides solar and precipitation protection for the operator and a downward flow of ambient air to provide protection from heat exposure, dust and biting insects.
(13) Referring additionally to FIGS. 2 and 3, the canopy and fan assembly 12 comprises a downdraft fan assembly 20 carrying a canopy assembly 22. The fan assembly 20 is supported on the lateral horizontal cross member 24 of the roll bar assembly 14. As additionally shown in FIG. 8, the fan assembly 20 is independently mounted on the cross member by laterally spaced U-bolt assemblies 26. The canopy assembly 22 is solely supported on the fan assembly 20. The fan assembly 20 comprises a generally rectangular peripheral support frame member 30 having laterally spaced side legs 32 and longitudinally spaced front and rear legs 34 and 36 respectively. The rear leg 36 is connected to the cross member 24 by a pair of U-bolt clam assemblies 38. The bottom of the frame member 30 is covered by an apertured grille panel 40, wire mesh, expanded metal or the like. The down draft fan 42 at attached to the panel by fasteners 44 as shown in FIG. 3. The fan 42 is connected to a power cable 46 connected to the power supply of the vehicle and controlled by an operator switch 48 with a control knob 49 mounted at the rear side of the panel 40 within convenient reach of the operator. Construction on the fan assembly is set forth in my prior referenced patent, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
(14) Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the canopy assembly 22 comprises a molded fiberglass shell 50 and a roof cap 52. The shell 50 has a generally rectangular, slightly domed, roof section 54 peripherally terminating with a downwardly extending outwardly flared peripheral rim 56. The roof section 54 includes a rectangular opening 58, centrally laterally positioned and longitudinally positioned toward the rear. The opening 58 is located so as to position the fan directly above the operator seat. The opening 58 is defined by a peripheral flange having front and rear ends respectively and spaced sides. A pair of spaced lateral reinforcing and mounting straps 60, 62 are attached to the bottom surface of the roof section 54 across the opening 58 by suitable fasteners 64. The straps 60, 62 provide structural reinforcement for the shell and mounting sites for attachment of the shell to the fan assembly. The frontal strap 60 includes an arcuate positioning bracket 66 that engages the front cross member of the fan frame member 30 to longitudinally position the canopy assembly thereon in assembly. The straps 60, 62 and the roof section 54 include through holes 68 in the center section. As shown in FIG. 6, the canopy is mounted on the fan assembly and connected at the straps 60, 62 and aperture grille panel 40 by fasteners 69. The roof section 54 of the shell 50 includes a rectangular central opening 56 defined by a peripheral inner flange 58. In assembly, the opening 56 aligned with the opening in the fan assembly 14 and sized such that the flange 58 overlies the frame member 30 of the fan assembly 16 and the outer perimeter of the grille panel, without obstructing air intake flow to the down draft fan 42.
(15) The roof cap 52 includes a rectangular top section 70 having longitudinally spaced downwardly inclined depending legs 72 terminating with outwardly turned flanges 74. In assembly, the top section 70 of the roof cap is slightly larger than the central opening 58 in the shell 50 to provide precipitation and solar protection thereover. The top section 70 is spaced vertically above the roof section 54 to provide side intake ports of sufficient size for the flow capacity of the fan. The flanges 74 of the roof cap 52 are attached to shell by suitable fasteners 76.
(16) For assembly, referring to FIG. 7, the rear leg of the fan assembly is mounted on the cross bar of the roll bar by the U bolt assemblies. The canopy assembly 22 is placed over the fan assembly 20 and the opening centered with respect to the fan with the bracket 66 on the strap 60 engaging the front cross member of the frame member 30 of the fan assembly. The canopy assembly 22 is thereafter laterally and longitudinally aligned on the vehicle. Threaded fasteners 64 are inserted through opening in the grille panel 42 and the holes 68 in the straps 60 and the roof section 54 and connected with nuts to secure mounting of the canopy assembly on the fan assembly. As shown in FIG. 9, the operator switch is mounted on the screen above the driver seat and connected between the fan motor and the vehicle power supply.
(17) It will thus be appreciated that the canopy assembly may be connected with existing fan assemblies for retrofit applications, or furnished as an accessory package on new or existing equipment. The mounting of the assembly accommodates a wide range of commercial vehicles without further or extensive modification. Moreover, if desired, the roof cap may be optional and the lateral orientation of the vents changed to a longitudinal flow through passage.
(18) Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claim.
