Movable-window safety device

• US 6,158,170 A
• Filed: 11/27/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GDX North America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Draftex Industries Limited
• Inventors: Brodowsky, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US08/945,876
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 49/440, 49/441, 49/475.1, 49/489.1, 49/495.1
• US Class Current: 49/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/74 for sliding window panes, e.g. sash guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/443 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A movable-window safety device for arresting upward movement of a power-driven window glass in a motor vehicle body in the event of obstruction in the window opening comprises a resilient channel for receiving the window glass and which is mounted in a rigid window frame. The base of the resilient channel comprises an electrical detecting member housed in a hollow chamber. The side walls of the resilient channel extend proud of the sides of the rigid window frame and carry curved-over outer lips and inner lips. An obstruction in the window opening is carried upwardly by the window glass and applies a force to one or other of the side walls of the resilient channel, according to whether the obstruction extends inwardly or outwardly of the window opening. The resultant force is applied to the detecting member. The detecting member may be part of a capacitor in the tuned circuit of an oscillator whose frequency correspondingly varies in response to the resultant movement of the detecting member and is detected to arrest the window glass. Instead, it could be a member whose electrical resistance is changed by the applied force and is detected by an appropriate detecting circuit to arrest the window glass. An additional hollow chamber is provided in the base of the channel to increase its resilience.

Claims

1. A movable-window safety device for detecting a presence of an obstruction in a window opening closable by a power-driven window glass, comprising resilient material forming a resilient channel for mounting in a rigid window frame and for receiving an edge of the window glass when so mounted, the resilient channel having a base, a mouth and two side walls and being dimensioned so that the two side walls have extensions beyond the rigid window frame whereby an obstruction entering the window opening from either side thereof is moved into contact with a respective one of the extensions by the window glass when the window glass is power-drivingly moving and applies a force through said one extension to the respective side wall and directed towards the base of the resilient channel, electrical detecting means mounted within and extending along the rigid window frame so as to be acted on by the force and to produce a corresponding electrical signal, the width of the electrical detecting means extending substantially across the width of the resilient channel so as to respond to the force applied through either of the extensions, control means responsive to the electrical signal to arrest power-driven movement of the window glass, the electrical detecting means being mounted within a resilient enclosure in the base of the resilient channel, and wherein the resilient material forming the base of the channel is provided with at least one hollow chamber to increase its resilience, this hollow chamber being additional to the resilient enclosure in which is mounted the electrical detecting means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each extension is formed by the edge of the respective one of the walls of the resilient channel.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein each edge carries an integral lip extending away from the mouth of the channel and for partially embracing an adjacent part of the window frame.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein each edge carries an integral lip for making sealing contact with an edge of the window glass.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is closer to the outside of the base of the channel than the electrical detecting means.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is closer to the inside of the base of the channel than the electrical detecting means.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the base of the channel is formed with integral lips extending externally of the channel and outwardly from the base thereof to make locking contact with respective formations on the rigid frame.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises an electrical oscillator having a tuned circuit for determining the frequency of the oscillator, and in that the detecting means comprises an electrical conductor the movement of which in response to the force affects capacitance within the tuned circuit and thus the frequency of the oscillator, the control means including means responsive to variation in the frequency of the oscillator to produce a controlled output, and means responsive to the controlled output for arresting the movement of the power-driven window glass.

9. A device according to claim 8, and including means responsive to the controlled output for reversing the power-driven window glass so as to drive it away from the resilient channel.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises material having an electrical resistance that undergoes a variation in response to the force, and in that the control means comprises means connected to the detecting means for detecting the variation in its electrical resistance and for producing a controlled output, and means responsive to the controlled output for arresting the power-driven window glass.

11. A device according to claim 10, and including means responsive to the controlled output for reversing the power-driven window glass so as to drive it away from the resilient channel.