DAYLIGHT OPENING SYSTEM

• US 20130292965A1
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Prater, David, Fenchak, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/76 for window sashes; for glass run channels
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/88 mounted on, or integral with, the glass-run seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A daylight opening system for a vehicle window opening may include a module having a carrier, a trim member and a first seal. The carrier may be adapted to be secured to a door of a vehicle. The trim member may be secured to the carrier and may cooperate with the carrier to define a space in which a window pane is selectively receivable. The first seal member may be integrally formed with the carrier and configured to sealingly engage the window pane.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vehicle window opening comprising:

a carrier adapted to be secured to a door of a vehicle

a trim member secured to the carrier and cooperating with the carrier to define a space in which a window pane is selectively receivable; and

a first seal member integrally formed with the carrier and configured to sealingly engage the window pane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trim member includes one of a trim piece extending along an upper section of the door and a molding applique extending along a pillar of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first seal member is over-molded onto the carrier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first seal member is over-molded onto the carrier by a two-shot molding process.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second seal member integrally formed with the carrier and configured to sealingly engage the trim member and a frame member of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a third seal member attached to the trim member and configured to sealingly engage the window pane, the third seal member being separate from the first and second seal members.

7. An apparatus for use with a window opening of a vehicle comprising:

a carrier adapted to be secured to a door of the vehicle

a trim member secured to the carrier and cooperating with the carrier to define a space in which a window pane is selectively receivable; and

a first seal member integrally formed with the carrier and configured to sealingly engage the trim member and a frame member of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the trim member includes one of a trim piece extending along an upper section of the door and a molding applique extending along a pillar of the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first seal member is over-molded onto the carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first seal member is over-molded onto the carrier by a two-shot molding process.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second seal member integrally formed with the carrier and configured to sealingly engage the trim member and a frame member of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a third seal member attached to the trim member and configured to sealingly engage the window pane, the third seal member being separate from the first and second seal members.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the carrier, trim member and the first seal member form a module that is adapted to be assembled on the vehicle.

14. A method comprising:

integrally forming a first sealing member onto a carrier;

integrally forming a second sealing member onto the carrier;

forming a daylight opening module by securing a trim piece onto a first attachment feature of the carrier and securing a molding member onto a second attachment feature of the carrier; and

securing the daylight opening module to a door frame of a vehicle such that the first and second sealing members at least partially extend around a window opening in the door frame.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching a third sealing member to at least one of the carrier, the trim piece and the molding member.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a fourth sealing member to at least one of the carrier, the trim piece and the molding member.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the daylight opening module to the door frame includes providing a selectively sealed relationship between a window pane and one of the door frame, trim piece and molding member via one of the first and second sealing members.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein integrally forming the first and second sealing members with the carrier includes overmolding the first and second sealing members onto first and second flanges of the carrier.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second sealing members are overmolded onto first and second flanges by a two-shot molding process.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the molding member and the trim piece are secured onto the carrier after the first and second sealing members are integrally formed onto the carrier.