Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Window or window sash – sill – mullion – or glazing – Panel or panel edging – directly clamped or adhered to wall
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2001-07-24
Callo, Laura A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Window or window sash, sill, mullion, or glazing
Panel or panel edging, directly clamped or adhered to wall
C052S204591, C052S204597, C052S716500, C052S716200, C052S717050, C296S096210, C296S084100, C296S146150, C296S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263627
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an assembly for mounting a window glass in a motor vehicle. More particularly this invention concerns such an assembly used for mounting the glass pane in a hatchback door, sun roof, or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The glass of a motor-vehicle window or sunroof must be mounted solidly enough that it can withstand the buffeting of the high-speed winds created during road travel, and it also must seal very tightly. Furthermore it must present a neat appearance and have a low profile for minimal wind resistance.
A typical system is described in German patent 197 24 592 of L. Hartmann imbeds the inside edge of the normally metallic frame and the outside edge of the glass pane in a polyurethane seal strip that is formed in situ around the parts. To this end the edges of the frame and pane must be encased between a pair of mold parts forming a cavity at the edges. This cavity is filled with liquid polyurethane that is allowed to cure, whereupon the mold is open. While this system does produce a very neat and strong joint, it makes it virtually impossible to replace the glass if necessary. Thus if the glass is broken, an entire new frame assembly is needed.
A partial solution to this problem is seen in German patent document 195 26 283 of J. Siebold. It provides separate seal strips on the window and frame edge and uses screws to secure the two parts together. This arrangement is fairly complex and the seal is often inadequate. Furthermore the parts are difficult to assemble.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved motor-vehicle glass-mount assembly.
Another object is the provision of such an improved motor-vehicle glass-mount assembly which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is simple to install and repair and that provides a very tight seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An outside edge of a glass pane and a coextensive inside edge of a frame are connected together according to the invention by a glass-mount assembly having according to the invention a T-section outer seal strip fixed to an inner face one of the edges and having an inwardly projecting T-leg and a U-section inner seal strip fixed to the other of the edges and forming an outwardly open groove snugly receiving the T-leg, and a plurality of screw fasteners each having a part bearing outward on the inner seal strip and a shank engaged in the T-leg of the inner seal strip.
This system allows the two seal strips to be formed in situ on the glass pane and frame, typically of polyurethane by injection molding. When joined together they interfit so snugly that leakage is impossible due to the labyrinth effect of the interfitting T- and U-shapes. If the pane needs to be replaced, the screws are backed off and the pain with its inner strip is pulled off and replaced with a new part. The seal strips have a shore D hardness of between 40 and 60 so they will deform enough to form a tight seal but still will be strong enough to hold the pane solidly, which is particularly important in a hatch lid that might be slammed.
The outer strip is provided with a plurality of inwardly open threaded sleeves each receiving a respective one of the shanks. These sleeves can be part of one or more metal reinforcement profiles imbedded in the outer strip. Alternately the screw fasteners are self-tapping screws and the outer seal strip is formed with a plurality of inwardly open blind bores each receiving a respective one of the screws. Either way, the inner strip is formed with a plurality of counterbored through-going holes through each of which passes a respective one of the screws. The inner strip can be provided with an imbedded metallic reinforcement through which the screws pass. The outer-strip reinforcement is exposed at an inner face of the T-leg and the self-tapping screws are actually seated in this outer-strip reinforcement. In addition the inner-strip reinforcement is inwardly exposed and directly engaged by the screw parts, normally screw heads.
The screw fasteners each can also include an inwardly projecting threaded stud anchored in the inner strip and a nut threaded on the stud and constituting the respective part.
In another arrangement according to the invention the inside frame edge is turned in and engages around one of the arms of the T-shaped outer seal strip. In this case a gasket strip is engaged between the turned-in inside frame edge and an outer face of the glass pane.
The inside frame edge can be imbedded in one of the T-arms or the outer seal strip can be bonded to an inner face of the outside pane edge. Such bonding is very strong when the seal strips are molded right on the respective edges. The T-leg can be shorter than a groove formed between the legs of the outer seal strip so that a space is formed between an inner face of the T-leg and a floor of the groove. This ensures some compression of the strips for best sealing action.
The inner and outer seal strips according to the invention have aligned inner peripheries. In addition an opaque layer, e.g. of primer, can be provided between an inner face of the outside pane edge and the outer seal strip. For flush glazing the outside pane edge overlaps the inside frame edge, in which case the inside frame edge is offset inward to allow the outer faces of the glass and of the frame to be generally coplanar.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4487448 (1984-12-01), Griffin
patent: 4611850 (1986-09-01), Fujikawa
patent: 4723809 (1988-02-01), Kida et al.
patent: 4754586 (1988-07-01), Fujikawa
patent: 4768319 (1988-09-01), Derner
patent: 4905432 (1990-03-01), Romie
patent: 5062248 (1991-11-01), Kunert
patent: 5096255 (1992-03-01), Leischner
patent: 5344205 (1994-09-01), Yada et al.
patent: 5475956 (1995-12-01), Agrawal et al.
patent: 5529366 (1996-06-01), Gold
patent: 3604364 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 195 26 283 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 197 24 592 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 678891 (1952-09-01), None
patent: 60-219181 (1985-11-01), None
Krieg Heinrich
Schonenbach Heinz
Windpassinger Martin
Callo Laura A.
Dubno Herbert
Parat Automotive Schonenbach GmbH + Co. KG
Wilford Andrew
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