Windshield support structure

• US 8,136,869 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Heck, Gerald, Meinhardt, Klaus, Nguyen, Phi-Cong, Vollhardt, Jürgen
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/362,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 296/192, 296/201, 296/84.1, 296/96.21, 296/96.22, 296/29, 296/30
• US Class Current: 296/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/004 Mounting of windows
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/081 Cowls ventilating openings situated directly in front of the vehicle front window B60H1/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

A windshield support structure for a vehicle, in particular an automobile, includes, but is not limited to a front bulkhead and a windshield support connected to the front bulkhead. The windshield support is supported on the front bulkhead by means of at least one support disposed on the windshield support and the front bulkhead. A method is also provided for producing a windshield support structure.

Claims

1. A windshield support structure for a vehicle, comprising:

a front bulkhead;

a cowl connected to the front bulkhead; and

a support disposed on the cowl and the front bulkhead and adapted to support an underside of the cowl on the front bulkhead wherein the cowl is enabled to support a windshield.

2. The windshield support structure according to claim 1, further comprising a second support.

3. The windshield support structure according to claim 2, further comprising a third support.

4. The windshield support structure according to claim 1, wherein the support is at least partially formed from a plastic.

5. The windshield support structure according to claim 1, wherein the support is provided with an adhesive on a contact surface of the support.

6. The windshield support structure according to claim 1, wherein a latching projection is disposed on the support by which the support may be fastened to at least one of the front bulkhead or the cowl.

7. The windshield support structure according to claim 1, further comprising a fastening device on the support configured to receive a further unit of the vehicle.

8. A method for producing a windshield support structure, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a front bulkhead and a cowl; and

disposing a support on the front bulkhead and on the cowl to support an underside of the cowl, wherein the cowl is enabled to support a windshield.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of disposing a second support on the front bulkhead and on the cowl.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of disposing comprising latching at least one of the front bulkhead or the cowl.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of applying an adhesive to at least one of the support, the cowl, or the front bulkhead in an area of contact surfaces of the support.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adhesive is an expanding adhesive.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of heating the windshield support structure to activate the expanding adhesive after the disposing the support on at least one of the cowl or the front bulkhead.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of heating is conducted in a continuous furnace.