Daylight opening system for vehicle

• US 8,919,846 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maass, Klaus-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Becker, Beverly
• Application Number:
  US13/869,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.08, 296/146.2, 296/146.15, 296/146.16, 495/02, 494/40, 494/41, 493/48, 493/49, 494/751, 494/891, 494/951
• US Class Current: 296/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/235 the parts being joined along their longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/36 using separately inserted fastening means, e.g. using clips, beads or strips
• 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: B60J 5/0402 window frame details, including sash guides and glass runs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a vehicle window opening may include a carrier, at least one molding member, at least one trim piece, a nut and a fastener. The carrier may have a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature. The at least one molding member may be removably secured to the first attachment feature of the carrier. The at least one trim piece may be removably secured to the second attachment feature of the carrier and arranged adjacent the at least one molding member. The nut may be connected to the carrier or the vehicle window opening. The fastener may extend between the vehicle window opening and the carrier and may engage the nut to removably secure the carrier, the at least one trim piece, and the at least one molding member to the vehicle window opening.

Claims

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

a carrier having a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature, said second attachment feature being in the form of a channel member having a protuberance extending from a closed end thereof;

at least one trim piece removably secured to the second attachment feature of the carrier;

at least one molding member removably secured to the first attachment feature of the carrier and arranged adjacent the at least one trim piece;

a nut connected to the carrier or the vehicle window opening; and

a fastener extending between the vehicle window opening and the carrier and engaging the nut to removably secure the carrier, the at least one trim piece, and the at least one molding member to the vehicle window opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nut is integrally formed with the carrier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first attachment feature of the carrier is a flange member having a plurality of protrusions extending from a first surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the nut includes a closed end adjacent the first surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third attachment feature connected to the carrier, wherein the third attachment feature and at least a portion of the at least one trim piece define a channel for removably securing at least one sealing member to the vehicle window opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the third attachment feature of the carrier is a flange member having a discontinuous lip portion extending from a surface of the flange member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third attachment feature connected to the carrier, wherein the third attachment feature includes a plurality of tabs extending perpendicularly to the first and second attachment features.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the trim piece includes a plurality of locking tabs secured to the plurality of extending tabs of the third attachment feature.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a door frame;

a window opening in the door frame; and

a daylight opening system mounted to the door frame and including a carrier, at least one molding member, and at least one trim piece, the carrier being mounted to the door frame proximate the window opening with at least one fastener extending through the door frame, the carrier including a plurality of attachment features for removably securing the molding member and the trim piece thereto, wherein the plurality of attachment features includes a member having one of a plurality of protrusions extending from a surface thereof, a single protuberance extending therefrom, and a discontinuous lip portion extending from the surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fastener extends to an integrally formed nut in the carrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the attachment features of the carrier is a flange member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the integrally formed nut includes a closed end adjacent the flange member.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the attachment features and at least a portion of the trim piece define a channel for removably securing at least one sealing member to the window opening.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the attachment features includes a plurality of tabs extending perpendicularly to the window opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the trim piece includes a plurality of locking tabs secured to the plurality of extending tabs.

16. A method for securing a daylight opening system to a vehicle window opening, the method comprising:

pressing a trim piece onto a second attachment feature of a carrier of the daylight opening system;

removably securing a molding member onto a first attachment feature of the carrier, adjacent to the trim piece;

after removably securing the molding member, removably securing a sealing member onto a third attachment feature of the carrier, adjacent to the trim piece;

extending a fastener through a door frame proximate the vehicle window opening; and

fastening the carrier, trim piece, and molding member to the vehicle window opening by rotating the fastener into an integrally formed nut in the carrier.

17. The method of claim 16, after pressing the trim piece onto the first attachment feature further comprising:

snapping a plurality of locking tabs of the trim piece into a plurality of extending tabs of the carrier.

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

a carrier having a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature;

at least one trim piece removably secured to the second attachment feature of the carrier;

at least one molding member removably secured to the first attachment feature of the carrier and arranged adjacent the at least one trim piece;

a nut connected to the carrier or the vehicle window opening;

a fastener extending between the vehicle window opening and the carrier and engaging the nut to removably secure the carrier, the at least one trim piece, and the at least one molding member to the vehicle window opening; and

a third attachment feature connected to the carrier,

wherein the third attachment feature and at least a portion of the at least one trim piece define a channel for removably securing at least one sealing member to the vehicle window opening.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the nut is integrally formed with the carrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second attachment feature of the carrier is a channel member having a protuberance extending from a closed end thereof.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first attachment feature of the carrier is a flange member having a plurality of protrusions extending from a first surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the nut includes a closed end adjacent the first surface.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the third attachment feature of the carrier is a flange member having a discontinuous lip portion extending from a surface of the flange member.

24. A vehicle comprising:

a door frame;

a window opening in the door frame; and

a daylight opening system mounted to the door frame and including a carrier, at least one molding member, and at least one trim piece, the carrier being mounted to the door frame proximate the window opening with at least one fastener extending through the door frame, the carrier including a plurality of attachment features for removably securing the molding member and the trim piece thereto, wherein at least one of the attachment features and at least a portion of the trim piece define a channel for removably securing at least one sealing member to the window opening.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of the attachment features includes a plurality of tabs extending perpendicularly to the window opening.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the trim piece includes a plurality of locking tabs secured to the plurality of extending tabs.

27. A vehicle comprising:

a door frame;

a window opening in the door frame; and

a daylight opening system mounted to the door frame and including a carrier, at least one molding member, and at least one trim piece, the carrier being mounted to the door frame proximate the window opening with at least one fastener extending through the door frame, the carrier including a plurality of attachment features for removably securing the molding member and the trim piece thereto,

wherein the fastener extends to an integrally formed nut in the carrier,

wherein at least one of the attachment features of the carrier is a flange member,

wherein the integrally formed nut includes a closed end adjacent the flange member.

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

a carrier having a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature;

at least one trim piece removably secured to the second attachment feature of the carrier;

at least one molding member removably secured to the first attachment feature of the carrier and arranged adjacent the at least one trim piece;

a nut connected to the carrier or the vehicle window opening; and

a fastener extending between the vehicle window opening and the carrier and engaging the nut to removably secure the carrier, the at least one trim piece, and the at least one molding member to the vehicle window opening,

wherein the first attachment feature of the carrier is a flange member having a plurality of protrusions extending from a first surface,

wherein the nut includes a closed end adjacent the first surface.