Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-03-27
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S146160, C296S201000, C049S504000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective devices for protecting windows from damage and, more specifically, concerns a replaceable window protector assembly adapted to protect and allow replacement of the glazing used in windows in public transportation vehicles, such as buses and trains.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has long been appreciated that vandalism of windows in public transportation vehicles is an on-going problem. Oftentimes, the glazing of windows is damaged by people writing or painting on the glazing of the window with marking pens or spray paint. Further, the exposed glazing of the window may also be damaged as a result of people using sharp instruments to scratch the glazing of the window.
Oftentimes, the interior surface of the glazing is damaged as a result of the actions of individuals sitting inside of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. However, public transportation vehicles are increasingly being defaced or vandalized while the vehicles are sitting at rest. This can result in additional damage or defacement of the outside of the windows. It will be appreciated that oftentimes the vandalism takes the form of crude or otherwise disagreeable expressions being permanently marked onto the windows. Hence, there is an on-going problem of vandalism and defacement of public transportation vehicles and, in particular, damage or defacement of both the interior and exterior surfaces of the glazing of these windows.
To address this particular problem, various protective devices have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,207, which is owned by the assignee of this application, discloses one type of window protector which protects the interior surface of the glazing of the window from damage as a result of vandalism or defacement. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,207 discloses a window protector which includes a protective sheet that is positioned against the interior surface of the glazing of the window and is held in place by a plurality of brackets which is attached to the frame of the window. These protective sheets act as a sacrificial surface that protects the glazing of the window from damage as a result of vandalism or defacement. From time to time, the protective sheet can be replaced with a new protective sheet by removing the brackets and positioning the new protective sheet adjacent the inner surface of the glazing of the window.
While the window protector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,207 has been particularly effective in maintaining the integrity of the interior surface of the glazing of the window, this window protector does not provide any protection against damage to the outer surface of the glazing of the window. Moreover, if the protective layer on the interior surface of the window is not periodically replaced, it is possible that the glazing may be permanently damaged despite the best efforts of the window protector to protect the glazing. The window protector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,207 is designed to be used in conjunction with existing window frames such that replacement of the underlying glazing requires removal of the glazing from the existing transportation vehicle window frame. This can be a rather tedious process which increases the cost of maintaining and repairing the public transportation vehicle windows.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there is a need for an improved window protector that is capable of protecting both the interior surface and the exterior surface of the glazing of the window from damage as a result of vandalism or defacement. To this end, there is a need for a window protector that provides protection to the window glazing on both the interior and exterior surfaces of the glazing and also allows for easy and quick access to the protective layers and the glazing itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the window protector assembly of the present invention which is comprised of a frame that defines a window opening, a piece of glazing adapted to be positioned within the window opening, a protective layer adapted to be positioned within the window opening so as to be adjacent one side of the glazing, and one or more retainers that are pivotally attached to the frame so as to be moveable between an opened position, which allows the glazing and protective layer to be positioned within the window opening or removed therefrom, and a closed position, wherein the retainer retains the protective layer and the glazing within the window opening. In one embodiment, the one or more retainers are secured to the frame in the closed position by manipulation of a tool activated securing mechanism which is configured to inhibit unauthorized manipulation of the one or more retainers.
In one particular aspect of the invention, the assembly includes a frame that defines a recess that has a first perimeter shape and is adapted to receive an outer protective layer having a perimeter shape substantially equivalent to the first perimeter shape, a piece of glazing having an outer perimeter shape substantially equivalent to the first perimeter shape, and an inner protective layer having an outer perimeter substantially equal to the first perimeter shape. The pivoting retaining members are preferably attached to the frame such that the pivoting retaining members also define an outer perimeter shape which is substantially equal to the first perimeter shape such that, when the retaining members are in the closed position, the retaining members exert force against substantially the entire outer perimeter of the outer protective layer, the glazing, and the inner protective layer to thereby retain the protective layers and the glazing within the opening of the frame. In this embodiment, because the retaining members cover substantially the entire outer perimeter of the protective layers and the glazing in the closed position, the edges of the protective layers and the glazing are not readily accessible to an unauthorized individual with the retaining members in the closed position.
In one embodiment, the frame has an interior surface that is positioned within the opening that is to receive the protective layers and the glazing. One or more pivot points are mounted on the interior surface such that the pivoting retaining members can be pivotally attached to the one or more pivot points. The one or more pivot points are preferably located on the interior surface in a location such that, when the pivoting retaining members are positioned in the closed position, the pivot points are enclosed by the frame and the pivoting retaining members such that access to the pivot points, when the pivoting retaining members are in the closed position, is inhibited. In this way, the likelihood of an unauthorized person removing the retaining members by damaging the pivot points is reduced.
Because the retaining members retain the protective layers and the glazing within the recess defined by the frame, removal and replacement of the protective layers and the glazing is simplified as compared to similar replacements using window protectors of the prior art. In particular, the user simply has to pivot the retaining members from the closed position to the opened position such that the protective layers and the glazing are exposed and then remove these layers from the recess defined by the frame. The simplified removal of the glazing and the protective layers permits replacement of the glazing and also allows for easy installation of an exterior protective sheet which has not been readily accomplished in designs of the prior art. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1533731 (1925-04-01), Foley
patent: 1828515 (1931-10-01), Stone
patent: 1945742 (1934-02-01), Hilger
patent: 1973792 (1934-09-01), Barrows
patent: 1977899 (1934-10-01), Shapiro et al.
patent: 2163566 (1939
Carson Dale E.
Farrar Jerry
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
Transit Care, Inc.
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