IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,728,956
Granted Patent B1
US 12,728,956 · App. 18/638,315 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Windshields for marine vessels

Inventor: Noah S. Esham (Edgewater, FL)
Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
B63B19/02B63B2019/0069
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,728,956
App. No.
18/638,315
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A marine vessel includes a bow and a stern, a deck, a console located on the deck between the bow and the stern, and a windshield on the console. The windshield includes a side panel and a movable panel coupled to the side panel. The movable panel includes a first panel surface and the movable panel is pivotable about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis into and between a first position in which the movable panel extends adjacent to the side panel and the first panel surface is oriented toward the bow and a second position in which the movable panel overlaps the side panel and the first panel surface is oriented toward the bow.

Claims (43)

1 . A marine vessel comprising:

a bow and a stem;

a deck;

a console located on the deck between the bow and the stern;

a windshield on the console, the windshield including a side panel and a movable panel coupled to the side panel, wherein the movable panel includes a first panel surface and is pivotable about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis into and between:

a first position in which the movable panel extends adjacent to the side panel and the first panel surface is oriented toward the bow; and

a second position in which the movable panel overlaps the side panel and the first panel surface is oriented toward the bow.

2 . The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the deck defines a pathway thereon, and wherein in the first position, the movable panel closes the pathway and in the second position the pathway is open.

3 . The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are parallel to each other.

4 . The marine vessel according to claim 3 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis extend transverse to the movable panel.

5 . The marine vessel according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a first support arm and a second support arm spaced apart from the first support arm that couple the movable panel to the side panel; and

a first guide arm and a second guide arm spaced apart from the first guide arm that couple the movable panel to the side panel.

6 . The marine vessel according to claim 1 , further comprising a rest pad coupled to the console and configured to axially cam the movable panel in a first axial direction as the movable panel is moved into the second position.

7 . The marine vessel according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide block coupled to the side panel and a rest block coupled to the movable panel, wherein when the movable panel is moved into the first position, the rest block engages the guide block such that the guide block cams the movable panel in a first axial direction.

8 . A marine vessel comprising:

a bow and a stem;

a deck;

a pair of consoles located on the deck between the bow and the stern;

a windshield on the consoles and including a first side panel, a second side panel, and a movable panel coupled to the first side panel, wherein the movable panel includes a first panel surface and is pivotable about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis into and between:

a first position in which the movable panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel and the first panel surface is oriented toward the bow; and

a second position in which the movable panel overlaps the first side panel and the first panel surface is oriented toward the bow.

9 . The marine vessel according to claim 8 , wherein a pathway extends between the consoles and wherein in the first position the movable panel closes the pathway and in the second position the pathway is open.

10 . The marine vessel according to claim 8 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are parallel to each other.

11 . The marine vessel according to claim 8 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis extend transverse to the movable panel.

12 . The marine vessel according to claim 8 , further comprising a rest pad coupled to one console of the pair of consoles and configured to axially cam the movable panel in a first axial direction as the movable panel is moved into the second position.

13 . The marine vessel according to claim 8 , further comprising a guide block coupled to the first side panel and a rest block coupled to the movable panel, wherein when the movable panel is moved toward the first position, the rest block engages the guide block such that the guide block cams the rest block and the movable panel in a first axial direction.

14 . A marine vessel comprising:

a bow and a stem;

a deck;

a console on the deck between the bow and the stem; and

a windshield on the console, the windshield including a side panel and a movable panel pivotably coupled to the side panel such that the movable panel is pivotable about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis into and between a first position in which the movable panel extends adjacent the side panel and a second position in which the movable panel overlaps the side panel.

15 . The marine vessel according to claim 14 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are spaced apart from and parallel to each other.

16 . The marine vessel according to claim 14 , wherein the bow is longitudinally spaced apart from the stern and the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are longitudinally offset from the movable panel in a direction toward the stem.

17 . The marine vessel according to claim 14 , wherein the deck defines a pathway thereon, and wherein in the first position, the movable panel closes the pathway and in the second position the pathway is open.

18 . The marine vessel according to claim 14 , further comprising a hinge assembly that couples the side panel to the movable panel, the hinge assembly includes:

a support arm with a first support arm end through which the first pivot axis extends and a second support arm end through which the second pivot axis extends; and

a guide arm with a first guide arm end through which a third pivot axis extends and a second guide arm end through which a fourth pivot axis extends;

wherein the movable panel is further pivotable about the third pivot axis and the fourth pivot axis into and between the first position and the second position.

19 . The marine vessel according to claim 18 , wherein the hinge assembly includes a flange coupled to the side panel and a bracket coupled to the movable panel;

wherein the first support arm end and the first guide arm end are coupled to the flange; and

wherein the second support arm end and the second guide arm end are coupled to the bracket.

20 . The marine vessel according to claim 18 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, the third pivot axis, and the fourth pivot axis are parallel to each other and extend transverse to the movable panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2024
From: ESHAM, NOAH S.
To: BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067351/0757 →
References Cited (23)
US 2836140A · Hunt, Jr. · 1958 [cited by applicant]
US 3161895A · Lewis · 1964 [cited by applicant]
US 3906563A · Bramhall · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 5505156A · Briggs · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 7144061B1 · Behm · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7178476B1 · Belkov · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7213533B2 · Gonzales · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 7255057B2 · Wright · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7421969B2 · Mercier · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 7845304B2 · Daniels · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 9233734B2 · Erskine · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9688363B1 · Marshall · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10167058B2 · Shearer · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10246164B1 · Flota · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10800494B2 · Deal · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11345446B2 · Wilson · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 12128990B1 · Berman · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20180072386A1 · Dubé · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Declaration of prior art by inventor, dated May 21, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Deluca et al. “Marine Vessels and Convertible Windshield Apparatuses for Marine Vessels” Unpublished U.S. Appl. No. 17/743,144, filed May 12, 2022. [cited by applicant]
“Gas Springs” accessed from https://www.bansbach.com/en/cad-configurator/gas-springs/ on Oct. 28, 2024. [cited by applicant]
“Freedom 325” accesed from https://www.gradywhite.com/models/dual-consoles/freedom-325/ on Oct. 29, 2024. [cited by applicant]
“LA12” accessed from https://www.linak-us.com/products/linear-actuators/la12/#/description on Oct. 29, 2024. [cited by applicant]