Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-29
2001-08-07
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S145000, C296S107070, C264S511000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270146
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an insert molded frame and glazing assembly, and more particularly, to an insert molded frame and glazing assembly for use as a backlight, or rear window, of a convertible roof top for an automobile and a method for making the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In conventional convertible roof tops for automobiles, the roof is made primarily of a fabric material with a clear vinyl panel employed as a backlight. The vinyl panel is attached around its periphery to an opening in the fabric roof top so as to be substantially permanently attached to the fabric. The permanent attachment of the vinyl panel to the fabric roof makes it virtually impossible to replace only the vinyl panel should it become weathered or torn. To replace a weathered or torn vinyl backlight, it is often necessary to replace the entire soft portion of the convertible roof top.
Rigid glass panels have also been employed in convertible roof tops because they are more resistant to weathering and are not prone to tearing. Because such panels are rigid, however, they do not neatly fold into a small package for stowing and are further susceptible to cracking or shattering.
Accordingly, the need exists for a soft, flexible backlight for a convertible roof top which may be separately removed from the fabric portion of the roof top yet is securely fixed at its perimeter to the backlight opening in a weather-tight fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disadvantages of the prior art may be overcome by providing a backlight assembly for a convertible roof of a vehicle. The assembly comprises a fabric roof cover having a backlight opening formed therein and a plurality of apertures formed therein about a periphery of the backlight opening. A glazing is disposed in the backlight opening. The glazing has a flange extending about a periphery thereof which overlaps a portion of the fabric roof cover. The flange has a plurality of fastener-receiving structures, each of which are received within a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures in the roof cover. A first frame member extends about a periphery of the glazing and overlaps the flange and sealingly engages the roof cover. A second frame member extends about periphery of the glazing and overlaps the flange. The second frame member is disposed opposite the first frame member with the flange and the roof cover disposed therebetween. The second frame member has a plurality of fasteners, each interlocking with a corresponding one of the fastener-receiving structures to fasten the second frame member to the flange to thereby secure the glazing to the roof cover.
It is desirable to provide a method for securing a backlight glazing into a backlight opening formed in a fabric cover of a convertible roof of a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a fabric cover with a backlight opening and a plurality of apertures extending about a periphery of the backlight opening;
providing a glazing having a plurality of fastener-receiving structures formed about a flange extending from a periphery of the glazing, the plurality of fastener-receiving structures being constructed and arranged to permit each of the fastener-receiving structures to be received within a corresponding one of the apertures in the roof cover when the glazing is inserted through the backlight opening;
forming a first frame member secured to the periphery of the glazing and overlapping the flange by placing the periphery and flange of the glazing into a cavity of a mold assembly and injecting flowable molding material into the cavity and permitting the molding material to be molded directly to the periphery and flange of the glazing to form a first frame member;
positioning the glazing and the first frame member with respect to the backlight opening so that each of the fastener-receiving structures is received within a corresponding one of the apertures, the flange overlapping a portion of the fabric cover;
providing a second frame member and positioning the second frame member opposite the first frame member with the overlapping portions of the flange and the fabric cover disposed between the first and second frame members and fastening the second frame member to the fastener-receiving structures, sandwiching the fabric between the flange and the second frame member thereby securing the glazing to the fabric cover.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4572570 (1986-02-01), Trucco
patent: 5460424 (1995-10-01), Wagner
patent: 5464265 (1995-11-01), Hemmis et al.
patent: 5558390 (1996-09-01), Hemmis et al.
patent: 5560671 (1996-10-01), Ojanen et al.
patent: 6015181 (2000-01-01), Exner
patent: 6082807 (2000-07-01), Hartmann et al.
patent: 38 35 292 A1 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 42 40 281 A1 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 0 561 323 A1 (1993-03-01), None
Hirmer Gerhard F.
Ojanen Lassi M.
Decoma International Inc.
Pape Joseph D.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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