Attachment apparatus for injection-molded frameless canopies

Abstract

An apparatus and method for latching a canopy to a vehicle, such as an aircraft, that avoids plastic creep and crazing due to concentrated loads is provided. The apparatus includes first attachment components that are at least partially embedded within an injection-molded canopy and second attachment components that are connected to the canopy rail for attaching to the one or more first attachment components and thereby attaching the canopy to the canopy rail.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for attaching a canopy to a canopy rail, the apparatus comprising: 
 one or more first attachment components being at least partially embedded within an injection-molded canopy; and    one or more second attachment components being connected to the canopy rail for attaching to the one or more first attachment components and thereby attaching the canopy to the canopy rail.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first attachment components includes: 
 at least one pair of base supports; and    a handle with one or more ends,    wherein the at least one pair of base supports are supported by the injection-molded canopy, and the combined base supports form a cavity that receives one end of the handle.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a canopy rail that surrounds a cockpit of a vehicle, wherein the canopy rail includes a device for attaching to the handle when the canopy is positioned in a closed position with respect to the canopy rail.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the device includes an arm that rotates about a pivot point within the canopy rail.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the canopy rail includes a door for receiving the handle.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the door is biased to close when the canopy is an open position.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first attachment components includes: 
 a shaft with two ends; and    one or more knobs attached to the ends of the shaft,    wherein the knobs are at least partially embedded into the canopy, the shaft is exposed within a cavity formed by the canopy, and the cavity is opened at a base of the canopy.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a canopy rail including one or more hooks, wherein the canopy is positioned so that the hooks insert into the cavity, and wherein at least one of the canopy or the canopy rail being slid such that the hooks receive the shaft that is within the cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first attachment components includes a hook at least partially embedded within the canopy, wherein a portion of the hook protrudes from a base of the canopy.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a canopy rail including one or more devices for receiving the hook.  
     
     
         11 . A method for attaching a canopy to a canopy rail, the method comprising: 
 at least partially embedding a first component within the canopy; and    attaching the first component to a second component,    wherein the canopy rail includes the second component.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the canopy includes an injection-molded canopy.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least partially embedding includes: 
 inserting an end of a handle between a pair of base supports;    attaching the pair of base supports to each other; and    embedding the pair of base supports within the canopy.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising attaching the handle to a device within the canopy rail when the canopy is positioned in a closed position with respect to the canopy rail.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the device includes an arm that rotates about a pivot point within the canopy rail.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the canopy rail includes a door for receiving the handle.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the door is biased to close when the canopy is an open position.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first components includes a shaft with two ends and one or more knobs attached to the ends of the shaft, and wherein at least partially embedding includes molding the knobs into the canopy with a cavity that includes the shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the canopy rail includes one or more hooks, the method further comprising: 
 inserting the one or more hooks into the cavity; and    sliding at least one of the canopy or the canopy rail in order for the hooks to receive the shaft that is within the cavity.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least partially embedding includes: 
 at least partially embedding a hook within the canopy,    wherein a portion of the hook protrudes from a base of the canopy.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the canopy rail includes one or more devices for receiving the hook.  
     
     
         22 . A canopy locking system comprising: 
 an injection-molded canopy including one or more first attachment components being at least partially embedded within an injection-molded canopy; and    a canopy rail including one or more second attachment components for attaching to the one or more first attachment components and thereby attaching the canopy to the canopy rail.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first attachment components includes: 
 at least one pair of base supports; and    a handle with one or more ends,    wherein the at least one pair of base supports are supported by the injection-molded canopy, and the combined base supports form a cavity that receives one end of the handle.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more second attachment components includes a device for attaching to the handle when the canopy is positioned in a closed position with respect to the canopy rail.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the device includes an arm that rotates about a pivot point within the canopy rail.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the canopy rail includes a door for receiving the handle.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the door is biased to close when the canopy is an open position.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first attachment components includes: 
 a shaft with two ends; and    one or more knobs attached to the ends of the shaft,    wherein the knobs are at least partially embedded into the canopy, the shaft is exposed within a cavity formed by the canopy, and the cavity is opened at a base of the canopy.    
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the canopy is positioned such that the hooks insert into the cavity, and wherein at least one of the canopy or the canopy rail being slid such that the hooks receive the shaft that is within the cavity.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first attachment components includes a hook at least partially embedded within the canopy, wherein a portion of the hook protrudes from a base of the canopy.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the second attachment components include one or more devices for receiving the hook.