Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural and/or with rigid closure – Diverse types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-02
2001-08-21
Purol, David M. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural and/or with rigid closure
Diverse types
C160S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276426
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a rear window screen for a vehicle and, more particularly, to the use of a laminate structure of a plastic frame and screen element as the window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In some vehicles, particularly in cabs of pick-up trucks, a rear window is included that is opened in the lateral direction, such as by sliding one or more window members along a channel. When such windows are opened while in the vehicle is in motion, air will circulate between the truck bed and cab, causing debris, insects, leaves, etc. to enter the cab area of the truck.
There have been numerous attempts in the prior art to solve this problem by including a screen with this rear window. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,368 discloses an add-on window screen that is engageable with pre-existing sealing strips on the window system. The add-on screen is removably attached to the vehicle by manual manipulation of the screen such that no screws, adhesives or other means of attachment are required. A problem with this arrangement may arise, however, in that repeated insertions and removals of the window screen may eventually degrade the sealing strips arid, eventually, cause leaks in the window system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A need remaining in the prior art is addressed by the present invention, which relates to a rear window screen for a vehicle and, more particularly, to the use of a laminate structure of a plastic frame and screen element as the window.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a relatively thin plastic material is used as the frame for the screen assembly. A separate screen element is disposed between two frames and pressed together to form a laminate assembly. Preferably, a glue treatment is used to form the laminate, ensuring that the perimeter of the screen element is firmly fixed between the two frames. A window track. formed to extend across an existing rear window structure, is used to support the laminate screen assembly in a slidable arrangement. An adhesive, such as a double-faced tape, is used to attach to upper and lower channels of the screen track to the existing window structure. In a preferred embodiment, the frame of the screen assembly can be colored to match the window frame, thus adding to the appearance of the vehicle.
It is an advantage of the screen assembly of the present invention that the laminate combination of the screen and frame forms a structure of high strength, able to withstand the wind speeds encountered when the vehicle is traveling at high rates of speed. Additionally, the screen assembly and window track can be permanently attached to the existing window structure, eliminating the need to remove the screen to close the window.
Other and further advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5192112 (1993-03-01), Gherardi et al.
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patent: 6007899 (1999-12-01), Yoshizawa et al.
patent: 6016861 (2000-01-01), Davis
Koba Wendy W.
Polak Stephen
Purol David M.
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