Active window seal
First Claim
1. A vehicle window system comprising:
- a movable window;
a seal assembly for sealing said movable window, said seal assembly operatively engaging said movable window with a first sealing force in an engaged position when said movable window is stationary and said seal assembly being movable to a disengaged position when said movable window is in motion wherein said seal assembly has a lower sealing force at said disengaged position, said seal assembly having a stationary frame, a movable lip that is operatively connected to said stationary frame, and a single cavity disposed between said stationary frame and said movable lip wherein said stationary frame, said movable lip and said cavity are molded as one piece of rubber; and
a window motor for controlling movement of the movable window, and an electronic controller that communicates with said window motor and determines the appropriate position of said adjustable seal assembly.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active window seal assembly is disclosed that operatively engages a movable window when the window is stationary and disengages the window when the window is in motion. The seal assembly comprises a stationary frame, a movable lip that is operatively connected to the stationary frame, and a cavity disposed between the stationary frame and the movable lip. Several configurations provide for movement of the movable lip when the movable window is in motion. The first configuration allows the cavity to inflate with air, thus forcing the movable lip away from the window. A second configuration provides that the air in the cavity be evacuated, thus pulling the movable lip away from the window. A third configuration provides that a voltage be applied to the stationary frame and the movable lip to create an electric field. The electric field draws the movable lip toward the stationary frame and away from the movable window.
52 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicle window system comprising:
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a movable window;
a seal assembly for sealing said movable window, said seal assembly operatively engaging said movable window with a first sealing force in an engaged position when said movable window is stationary and said seal assembly being movable to a disengaged position when said movable window is in motion wherein said seal assembly has a lower sealing force at said disengaged position, said seal assembly having a stationary frame, a movable lip that is operatively connected to said stationary frame, and a single cavity disposed between said stationary frame and said movable lip wherein said stationary frame, said movable lip and said cavity are molded as one piece of rubber; and
a window motor for controlling movement of the movable window, and an electronic controller that communicates with said window motor and determines the appropriate position of said adjustable seal assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle window system comprising:
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a movable window;
a seal assembly for sealing said movable window, said seal assembly operatively engaging said movable window with a first sealing force in an engaged position at least when said movable window is stationary, and said seal assembly movable to a disengaged position at least sometimes when said movable window is in motion, said seal having a lower sealing force when at said disengaged position and wherein said seal assembly includes a stationary frame, a movable lip that is operatively connected to said stationary frame, and a cavity disposed between said stationary frame and said movable lip, said stationary frame, said movable lip, and said cavity being formed from conductive rubber materials;
a window motor for controlling movement of the movable window;
an electronic controller that communicates with said window motor and determines the appropriate position of said adjustable seal assembly; and
a voltage source for applying a voltage to said adjustable seal assembly wherein and said electronic controller communicates with said voltage source and receives a signal that said window will begin moving, said electronic controller communicates with said voltage source to apply a voltage to said adjustable seal assembly that produces an electric field causing a force that separates said movable lip away from the movable window, and when said electronic controller receives a signal from said window motor that said window is stationary said electronic controller communicates with said voltage source to cease applying a voltage to said adjustable seal assembly thus removing the electric field and causing said movable lip to move toward the window and allow said movable lip to apply a force against the window.
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13. An adjustable window seal assembly for sealing around a movable window, said seal assembly comprising:
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a stationary frame;
a movable lip that is operatively connected to said stationary frame and which is directly activated by a voltage source; and
an electronic controller that determines the position of the movable window and communicates with said movable lip, wherein when the movable window is stationary said electronic controller signals to said movable lip to engage the movable window with a first force and when the movable window is in motion said electronic controller signals to said movable lip to move to a disengaged position at which said lip has a lower scaling force on the movable window wherein said lip is out of contact with said window in said disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A vehicle window system comprising:
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a window movable between raised and lowered positions;
a window motor for controlling movement of said window between said raised and lowered positions;
a seal assembly for scaling against said window, said seal assembly including a stationary frame, a movable lip supported by said stationary frame, and a cavity enclosed by a cavity wall integrally formed with said movable lip and stationary frame wherein said stationary frame includes a first axial portion positioned on a first side of said cavity wall and a second axial portion extending transversely to said first axial portion and positioned in all overlapping relationship with said cavity on a second side adjacent to said first side such that said stationary frame partially surrounds said cavity; and
an electronic controller in communication with said window motor and for controlling movement of said movable lip in response to window movement wherein said movable lip operatively engages said window with a first sealing force when said window is stationary and wherein said movable lip is moved to engage said window with a second sealing force, lower than said first sealing force, when said window is in motion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification