Protective wind shield apparatus
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a shield for retractable devices that are part of or attached to vehicles, such as school buses, to protect the retractable device from damage or destruction from air movement. While such retractable devices are bolted or otherwise securely fastened to the vehicle, the retractable devices are susceptible to being damaged or torn off of the vehicle due to air movement such as headwinds, wind gusts, and turbulence from passing vehicles. The current invention overcomes the susceptibility to damage of the retractable devices from air movement by shielding the retractable device from such air movement. The current invention may include a shock absorber assembly to minimize or eliminate noisy vibration from the shield. As such, the present invention provides protection for retractable devices on vehicles from air movement with minimal additional noise.
1. A wind shield assembly for protecting a retractable device on a vehicle comprising:
a retractable device with a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a mirror, and wherein the first side is adjacent to the vehicle when the retractable device is retracted;
a shield having a front end and a back end, the front end having a projecting lip that extends outwardly from the shield to at least partially surround the retractable device when the retractable device is retracted; and
a mounting bracket for mounting the shield to the vehicle.
2. The wind shield assembly of claim 1 wherein the depth of the projecting lip is at least as large as the depth of the retractable device.
3. The wind shield assembly of claim 1 wherein the retractable device and shield are mounted using the same mounting bracket.
4. The wind shield assembly of claim 1 further comprising a shock absorber assembly.
5. A wind shield assembly for protecting a retractable device on a vehicle comprising:
a retractable device with a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a mirror, and wherein the first side is adjacent to the vehicle when the retractable device is retracted;
a shield having a projecting lip that extends outwardly from the shield to at least partially surround the retractable device when the retractable device is retracted, wherein the depth of the projecting lip is at least as great as the depth of the retractable device;
a mounting bracket for mounting the shield to the vehicle; and
a shock absorber assembly connected to the vehicle to limit vibrational noise from the shield while the vehicle is in motion.