Zipper less removable windows for a folding SUV soft top

• US 9,827,833 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bestop Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bestop Incorporated
• Inventors: Hanson, Eric John
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK, MELISSA ANN
• Application Number:
  US14/968,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/004 Mounting of windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/085 removably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1807 movable for vehicles with convertible top
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/10 readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins covering of loads on vehicles by tarpaulins B60P7/04

Abstract

A zipper less removable window system having removable windows for use with a foldable, stowable roof for a vehicle. A plurality of attachment devices of the zipper less removable window system connect the windows to the foldable, stowable roof and to the vehicle without the use of zippers. The operator zipper effort caused by traditional windows is thereby eliminated and misalignment issues present with traditional zippered windows is eliminated or reduced. The stress placed on the portions of the windows connectable to the foldable roof during installation and removal, including around curved portions of the removable window, is eliminated or reduced.

Claims

1. A zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle, comprising

a rear window that is removable;

at least two quarter windows that are removable and selectively connected to said rear window and to a body of said vehicle;

a top deck connected to a deck side strip, said top deck connected to a roof of said vehicle;

a rear top deck connected to a rear side strip, said rear top deck connected to the roof;

a first retainer connected to said deck side strip;

a second retainer connected to said rear side strip;

a quarter window carrier having a first channel portion slidably connected to said first retainer to connect said quarter windows to said top deck;

a rear window carrier having a third channel portion slidably connected to said second retainer for connecting said rear window to said rear top deck;

a third retainer connected to said rear window;

a tailgate bar selectively connected to said vehicle, said tailgate bar having a seventh channel portion slidably connected to said third retainer to connect said rear window to the vehicle body; and

a quarter window belt retainer connected to said quarter windows to selectively connect said quarter windows to the vehicle body.

2. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the quarter window carrier further comprises,

a recess, each of said quarter windows connected to a respective quarter window carrier within said recess by adhesive and/or sewing;

a second channel portion, said second channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a top deck retainer that is connected to said top deck further connecting said top deck to said quarter windows.

3. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear window carrier further comprises,

a recess, said rear window connected to said rear window carrier within said recess;

and

a fourth channel portion, said fourth channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a rear deck retainer that is connected to said a rear valance top deck, wherein said rear valance top deck is connected to said rear top deck, further connecting said rear top deck to said rear window.

4. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said tailgate bar further comprises,

a swing gate weatherstrip provided to provide a sealing function between said tailgate bar and a panel swing gate outer of said vehicle body;

and

a tailgate clip on said body of the vehicle, said tailgate bar selectively connected to said tailgate clip for connecting said tailgate bar to said vehicle.

5. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said rear window further comprises

a rear window glass;

a rear window side carrier having a notch, said rear window side carrier connected to said rear window glass;

a fifth channel portion formed in said rear window side carrier, said fifth channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a respective rear quarter window retainer connected to each of said quarter windows to vertically connect said quarter windows to said rear window.

6. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of said quarter windows further comprises

a quarter window panel;

a front quarter window retainer connected to said quarter window panel;

wherein said front quarter window retainer is selectively connected within a sixth channel formed in a removable door rail to vertically connect the front edge of said quarter windows to said vehicle.

7. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said quarter window belt retainer is received and retained between a quarter panel outward and belt rail on said vehicle body to provide a horizontal connection along the bottom edge of the quarter windows to said body of the vehicle.

8. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said deck side strip and rear side strip are fabric and wrap around a bulb portion of said first retainer and second retainer, said quarter window carrier and rear window carrier in sliding engagement with said bulb portions, respectively.

9. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first channel portion is open on at least one end and retains a bulb portion of said first retainer longitudinally within said first channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said first retainer out of said first channel portion, including, moving laterally out of said first channel portion.

10. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said third channel portion is open on at least one end and retains a bulb portion of said second retainer longitudinally within said third channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said second retainer out of said third channel portion, including, moving laterally out of said third channel portion.

11. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said removable rear window and quarter windows have no zippers.

12. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said rear window and at least two quarter windows are polyvinyl chloride.

13. A zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle, comprising

a rear window that is removable;

at least two quarter windows that are removable;

a top deck connected to a deck side strip, said top deck connected to a roof of said vehicle;

a rear top deck connected to a rear side strip and to a rear valance top deck, said rear top deck connected to the roof;

a rear deck retainer connected to said rear valance top deck;

a first retainer connected to the deck side strip;

a second retainer connected to the rear side strip;

a quarter window carrier having a first channel portion slidably connected to said first retainer to connect said quarter windows to said top deck;

a rear window carrier having a third channel portion slidably connected to said second retainer for connecting said rear window to said rear top deck;

a fourth channel portion formed in said rear window carrier, said fourth channel portion selectively receiving and retaining said rear deck retainer further connecting said rear top deck to said rear window;

a third retainer connected to said rear window;

a tailgate bar selectively connected to said vehicle, said tailgate bar having a seventh channel portion slidably connected to said third retainer to connect said rear window to the vehicle body; and

a quarter window belt retainer connected to said quarter windows to selectively connect said quarter windows to the vehicle body.

14. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein said tailgate bar further comprises,

a swing gate weatherstrip provided to provide a sealing function between said tailgate bar and a panel swing gate outer of said vehicle body;

and

a tailgate clip on said body of the vehicle, said tailgate bar selectively connected to said tailgate clip for connecting said tailgate bar to said vehicle.

15. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein said rear window further comprises

a rear window glass;

a rear window side carrier having a notch, said rear window side carrier connected to said rear window glass;

a fifth channel portion formed in said rear window side carrier, said fifth channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a respective rear quarter window retainer connected to each of said quarter windows to vertically connect said quarter windows to said rear window.

16. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein each of said quarter windows further comprises

a quarter window panel;

a front quarter window retainer connected to said quarter window panel;

wherein said front quarter window retainer is selectively connected within a sixth channel formed in a removable door rail to vertically connect the front edge of said quarter windows to said vehicle.

17. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein said deck side strip and rear side strip are fabric and wrap around a bulb portion of said first retainer and second retainer, said quarter window carrier and rear window carrier in sliding engagement with said bulb portions, respectively.

18. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein said first channel portion is open on at least one end and retains a bulb portion of said first retainer longitudinally within said first channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said first retainer out of said first channel portion, including, moving laterally out of said first channel portion.

19. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein said third channel portion is open on at least one end and retains a bulb portion of said second retainer longitudinally within said third channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said second retainer out of said third channel portion, including, moving laterally out of said third channel portion.

20. A zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle, comprising

a rear window that is removable;

a left quarter window that is removable;

a right quarter window that is removable;

a plurality of window attachments for connecting said windows to a vehicle body;

a first retainer connected to said deck side strip;

a second retainer connected to said rear side strip;

a quarter window carrier having a first channel portion slidably connected to said first retainer to connect said quarter windows to a deck side strip;

a top deck connected to said deck side strip and to said quarter window carrier, said top deck connected to a roof of said vehicle;

a rear window carrier having a third channel portion slidably connected to said second retainer for connecting said rear window to a rear side strip;

a rear top deck connected to said rear side strip, said rear top deck connected to the roof;

a third retainer connected to said rear window;

a tailgate bar selectively connected to said vehicle, said tailgate bar having a seventh channel portion slidably connected to said third retainer to connect said rear window to the vehicle body; and

a quarter window belt retainer connected to said quarter windows to selectively connect said quarter windows to the vehicle body;

wherein said first channel portion is open on at least one end and retains said first retainer longitudinally within said first channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said first retainer out of said first channel portion; and

wherein said third channel portion is open on at least one end and retains said second retainer within said third channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said second retainer out of said third channel portion.