Bulletproof glass window for a motor vehicle

Details Bulletproof glass window for a motor vehicle Bulletproof glass window for a motor vehicle

1999-12-15

2001-08-28

Jones, Deborah (Department: 1775)

Stock material or miscellaneous articles

Structurally defined web or sheet

Edge feature

C428S014000, C428S038000, C428S046000, C428S049000, C428S426000, C428S432000, C428S433000, C428S911000, C296S084100, C109S049500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280826

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bulletproof glass window, in particular for use as a lowerable side window of a motor vehicle or car, with a sandwich structure of glass panes and with a reinforcement or metal armouring on the edge of the bulletproof glass window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a window pane made of bulletproof glass for a motor vehicle is known from the DE 41 42 416 A1. The known window pane comprises several glass panes in a sandwich structure, five in all, of which the two outer glass panes project beyond the other glass panes at the edge of the bulletproof glass window to form a grading on a face of the bulletproof glass window. An angled bulletproof element made of sheet steel or a metal armouring on the grading prevents projectiles that strike the edge or a marginal area of the bulletproof window at an unfavourable angle from penetrating the bulletproof window. However, major modifications are required as the chassis or the frame of the vehicle has to be adapted to accommodate the measures of the bulletproof glass window.
In DE 195 39 607 A1 a bulletproof glass window as a wind-screen is described, which is formed as a laminated glass pane made of five glass panes with laminates or laminations between them. One pane of glass projects beyond the other glass panes at the edge of the bulletproof glass window to form a step or portion jutting out or a projection. With the projection, the known bulletproof glass window lodges and engages into the opening or groove of a chassis or door frame when the bulletproof glass window, for instance, is power-driven upwards in a motor vehicle to close the window. In this case no additional modification of the motor vehicle chassis is necessary, but in the event of a gun-fire attack against the edge of the known bulletproof glass window the bullet can, however, enter the interior of the motor vehicle because the projection alone is not sufficient to withstand a bullet. In the event of a blow or stroke with a blunt instrument or a shock wave, the projection can break or burst and the glass pane can fall inwards.
In DE 197 45 248 a bulletproof glass window with a metal insert is described, which shows a construction with four laminated glass panes in a multilayered structure. The outer glass pane projects above the other glass panes to provide a projection as the holding device for the bulletproof glass window on, for instance, a chassis. The inner surface of the projection is covered entirely with a metal insert as reinforcement. The faces of the glass panes positioned further inside form a flush surface, the face of the recessed glass pane adjoining the outer pane borders flush with the metal insert at a transitional region. A violent blow on the outside of the glass pane or a shock wave of an explosion, or something similar, can cause the outer glass pane to break at a point that adjoins the above-mentioned transitional region. In unfortunate circumstances a circumferential break can occur at this point around the entire frame if a violent blow is struck against the bulletproof glass window from outside; this can cause the glass pane to fall into the interior of the motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to exclude this risk of breakage on the edge of the bulletproof glass window.
This problem is solved by the bulletproof glass window of the invention which has, in particular for use as a lowerable side window of a motor vehicle, several glass panes in a sandwich structure, e.g. made of bulletproof glass and composite material, at least one layer of composite material being positioned between two adjoining glass panes, in order to join the two panes, a grading or stepped portion formed at the edge of the bulletproof glass window and having a projection to enable the bulletproof glass window to lodge or engage into a chassis or door frame, and a reinforcement or metal armouring that covers at least the inner surface of the projection or the surface of the projection that faces inwards, a recess being formed on the face of the grading or stepped portion, and the reinforcement or metal armouring extending into said recess.
The bulletproof glass window of this invention has the considerable advantage that the weak spot or location of the projection at the transitional region between metal armouring and glass extends within the groove, and is consequently enclosed or rather covered and supported on the inside and the outside by the sides of the recess or the adjoining glass or the adjoining or bordering glass panes; thus avoiding a breakage or severance of the projection at the weak spot. Therefore, due to this invention, it can be avoided that the bulletproof glass window falls into the interior of the motor vehicle as a result of a blow or other impact being delivered from outside the vehicle. Moreover, due to the metal armouring of the bulletproof glass window according to the invention, a projectile that strikes the marginal area of the glass pane will definitely be prevented from penetrating the interior of the motor vehicle. The bulletproof glass window of the invention thus makes it possible to provide optimal protection for the passengers in the vehicle, although the bulletproof glass window is only held in a standard motor vehicle chassis or door frame by a relatively narrow projection on its marginal area, without necessitating a costly and complicated modification of the motor vehicle, which considerably facilitates light armour-plating or heavy armour-plating of a motor vehicle, even if refitted at a later date.
A preferred embodiment of the bulletproof glass window according to the invention has at least one outer glass pane, at least one inner glass pane, and at least one middle glass pane that is positioned between the outer and the inner glass panes, the outer glass pane jutting out over the other glass panes to form the projection, and the inner glass pane jutting out beyond the middle glass pane at the area of the projection to form the recess for the reinforcement or the metal armouring between the inner glass pane and the outer glass pane. As the inner glass pane juts out over the middle glass pane it overlaps the weak region or spot between the metal armouring and the middle glass pane and reliably prevents a severance of the projection in the area of the weak spot. This preferred construction of the bulletproof glass window according to the invention can be produced simply as the recess is formed simply by using a middle glass pane that is comparatively shorter than the inner glass pane.
The metal armouring or metal insert is preferably fixed by means of a polyurethane layer on the adjoining glass pane or on the outer glass pane. The use of polyurethane as a laminate or composite material between the metal armouring and the surface of the glass provides a particularly long-lasting and stable composite.
The metal armouring can border flush with the face of the middle glass pane, which simplifies the manufacture of the bulletproof glass window according to the invention.
The metal armouring can be formed as a flat strip, or as a flat frame circumferentially extending along the edge of the bulletproof glass window, or as a frame section, which further simplifies the manufacture and enables a complete reinforcement without any weak points. The metal armouring can, however, for instance also be designed as an angled element and enclose or cover a larger area of the grading or stepped portion.
The thickness of the metal armouring can be less than the inside or internal width of the recess to provide for, e.g. a void or hollow space within the recess to accommodate process tolerance or varying thermal expansion of the metal armouring and the glass.
Preferably such a hollow space between the metal armouring and the adjoining glass pane and/or between metal armouring and the adjoining laminates and glass panes or composite layers within the recess is filled with a sealant or sealing in order to protect the edges and faces of the laminates and tra

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