Movable or removable closures – Stored in housing – Reciprocates vertically in and out of housing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-29
2004-02-17
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Stored in housing
Reciprocates vertically in and out of housing
C049S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06691464
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a window assembly and, more particularly, to a window assembly with a vertically sliding pane.
Many trucks, such as pick-up trucks, on the market today offer back window assemblies with sliding panes that provide access to the bed of the truck from the passenger compartment. In addition, the position of the sliding pane can be adjusted to enhance the circulation of air through the vehicle cabin. Typically, such sliding window assemblies include a supporting structure that supports one or more fixed panes and one or more sliding panes, which are moved preferably using electro-mechanical systems.
The trend in vehicle windows is to form a pre-assembled modular assembly that can be installed as a single component. In addition, more recently, window assemblies are preferably retained in the vehicle by studs or clips that are encapsulated or otherwise attached to the window assembly. As a result, the window assembly comprises a pre-assembled unit that is easier to handle during shipping and installation. Examples of such pre-assembled units are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,606,159; 4,723,809; 5,853,895; 6,086,138; and 6,293,609, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
In vertical sliding window assemblies, and particularly in multiple window pane vertical window assemblies, such as commonly used as the rear window in a pickup truck and similar light truck vehicles, the mounting of the window assembly poses several additional challenges over fixed position window assemblies. In addition, when manufacturing a window assembly there can be numerous restrictions imposed on the shape and configuration of the window assembly and also on the performance of the window assembly—such as noise, air leakage, and water/moisture intrusion, which for various reasons the prior art has failed to achieve in vertical slider window assemblies. For example, the channels that are used to guide the sliding pane, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,470, impose additional loads and demands on the supporting structure that supports the fixed panes. Perhaps for these reasons and other reasons, the seal in the lower portion of these types of vertical sliding window assemblies, which seals the sliding pane, may lose its effectiveness over time.
In addition, given the different space requirements and configurations of rear window assemblies, vehicle manufacturers have typically provided different body panel configurations for fixed pane window assemblies, horizontal slider window assemblies, and vertical slider window assemblies. However, this has increased the cost of vehicles and, further, limited the type of window assembly that can be mounted in the vehicle once the body panel configuration has been chosen.
Hence, for these and other reasons, there is a need for a simplified vertical sliding widow assembly unit that can be mounted in the same opening as a horizontal slider window assembly and a fixed window assembly to decrease the cost of vehicles incorporating such rear window assemblies and, further, increase window type options for the vehicle manufacture when assembling vehicles in the vehicle assembly line. Furthermore, there is a need for a window assembly that can integrate one or more fixed panes and a sliding pane, and its supporting structure, into a single unit that is easier to handle and install while minimizing the weight of the assembly and, further, which will meet or exceed industry standards for noise, air leakage, and water intrusion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a vertical slider window system which integrates a pair of fixed panes and at least one sliding pane into an integrated unit that is easier to handle and install in an opening of a vehicle (such as the rear window or backlite of a pickup truck or similar style light truck vehicle) and, further, which seals the sliding pane to meet or exceed the industry standards for noise, air leakage, and water intrusion.
In one form of the invention, a vertical slider window assembly includes a first fixed pane, a second fixed pane, and a sliding pane. The window assembly further includes a support, such as a frame, for holding the first and second fixed panes in a spaced relationship to thereby define an opening of the window assembly therebetween. The support includes vertical tracks for guiding the sliding pane between an open position and a closed position. The support preferably comprises a reinforcing member at least partially encapsulated in a polymeric material, and, further, includes a seal that provides sealing engagement with the exterior surface of the sliding pane. In addition, the reinforcing member is preferably substantially aligned with the seal to enhance the sealing engagement of the seal with the exterior surface of the sliding pane when the sliding pane is moved to its closed position.
In one aspect, the seal comprises a Y-shaped seal.
In other aspects, the support comprises spaced horizontal members and spaced vertical members, with the spaced horizontal members being interconnected by the spaced vertical members to thereby define the opening of the window assembly. Preferably, the vertical members include the tracks for guiding the sliding pane between its closed position and its open position.
In other aspects, the support includes exterior surfaces that extend between the fixed panes and that are generally flush with the exterior surfaces of the first and second panes. In preferred form, the peripheral edges of the fixed panes are substantially free of attachment to the support to thereby form a flush window assembly for mounting in a vehicle. As a result, the window assembly has an appearance of “floating” in the vehicle body.
In another form of the invention, a vertical slider window assembly includes a first fixed pane, a second fixed pane, and a sliding pane. The window assembly further includes a support, such as a frame, which holds the first and second fixed panes in a spaced relationship to thereby define an opening therebetween. The support includes vertical tracks for guiding the sliding pane between a closed position to an open position. The tracks are angled with respect to the first and second fixed panes whereby the sliding pane moves in a plane offset from a plane defined by the first and second fixed panes. The support also preferably has exterior surfaces extending between the fixed panes above and below the opening, which are generally flush with the exterior surfaces of the first and second fixed panes. In this manner, the opening of the window assembly is framed by the fixed panes and the support. The peripheral edges of the fixed panes are preferably substantially free of attachment to the support to thereby form a flush window assembly for mounting in a vehicle so that the fixed panes have an appearance of “floating” in the vehicle body opening.
In one aspect, the support preferably comprises a reinforcing member at least partially encapsulated in a polymeric material. The support includes a seal for sealing against an outer lower surface of the sliding pane, with the reinforcing member being substantially aligned with the seal to provide increased stiffness in the support at the seal and, hence, provide a more effective seal with the sliding pane. In a further aspect, the seal preferably comprises a Y-shaped seal.
In further aspects, the support comprises spaced horizontal members and spaced vertical members, with the spaced horizontal members being interconnected by the spaced vertical members to thereby define the opening. For example, the vertical members include the tracks for guiding the sliding pane between the closed position and the open position. In addition, the tracks are preferably angled with respect to the first and second fixed panes whereby the sliding pane moves in a plane offset from a plane defined by the first and second fixed panes.
According to yet a further aspect, the support preferably includes a peripheral portion that extends along an
Galer Jim
Nestell David E.
Renkema Loren Brent
Snider Darin J.
Donnelly Corporation
Redman Jerry
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