Window assembly

• US 4,139,234 A
• Filed: 12/27/1977
• Issued: 02/13/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Inventors: Morgan, Cleon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/864,487
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 296/84 R, 296/84 A, 296/84 D, 296/93, 296/146, 49/DIG. 2, 160/371, 20/40, 20/56.5, 20/56.4, 29/428, 52/400, 52/624
• US Class Current: 296/201
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/10 fixedly mounted B60J1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens

Abstract

A vehicular assembly formed as a complete unit prior to installation and adapted to be installed as a unit from the exterior of the vehicle body with only final securement of attachment means being necessary from the interior of the vehicle body. The assembly includes a molded plastic casing or gasket, a transparent window around which the casing or gasket is molded, and an attachment member. The attachment member may be a continuous rigid frame concealed from view from the outside of the assembly having a portion embedded within the casing and a portion extending from the casing by which the entire assembly is secured to the vehicle body. Alternately, separate attaching members are embedded within the casing. Decorative strips may be secured to the casing exterior. The casing may be molded around only one edge of the window thereby forming a flexible, resilient hinge allowing the window to be moved between open and closed positions. The hinged version may be used when the attachment member is either an external frame, a continuous rigid frame embedded within the casing, or individual members embedded within the casing.

Claims

1. A vehicular window assembly formed as a complete unit prior to installation and adapted for installation from the exterior of a vehicle body to provide an assembly for closing an opening in a vehicle body, said window assembly comprising a casing constructed of a molded plastic material approximating the shape and size of the opening in a vehicle;

a transparent window having a peripheral edge with said casing molded around said peripheral edge;

attachment means for attaching said casing and window to said vehicle body, said casing being molded around at least a first portion of said attachment means so as to embed said first portion within the casing;

said first portion of said attachment means including a continuous, rigid frame extending along the entire length of said casing and concealed from view from outside the vehicle body, said frame having at least one flange extending therealong which is embedded within said casing, said frame providing strength and support for said casing;

said casing having an inner surface arranged to face in a direction toward the inside of the vehicle body and an outer surface arranged to face in a direction toward the outside of said vehicle body;

said attachment means having second portions spaced along the casing, extending in a direction toward the inside of said vehicle body, and constituting affixing means for affixing said composite casing and transparent window over said opening in the vehicle body;

said casing and attachment means structure providing a finished trim around said window and the periphery of the opening in the vehicle body in which said frame including said second, affixing means, portions are concealed from view outside of the vehicle body.

2. The vehicular window assembly of claim 1 wherein said flange extends along one edge of said frame and terminates within said casing adjacent said window peripheral edge.

3. The vehicular window assembly of claim 2 wherein said frame includes a second flange extending along the edge opposite said one edge, said second flange being at least partially embedded in said casing.

4. The vehicular window assembly of claim 3 wherein said second, affixing means portions of said attaching means include elongated studs extending from said frame inwardly of said casing inner surface, said studs adapted to receive fastening means for fastening said assembly to a vehicle body.

5. The vehicular window assembly of claim 4 wherein said studs extend inwardly from spaced locations along said second flange on said frame.

6. The vehicular window assembly of claim 3 wherein said frame extends along the inside surface of said casing, said flanges projecting into said casing from said inside casing surface.

7. The vehicular window assembly of claim 1 wherein said frame includes a second flange extending along a portion of said frame opposite said one edge, said second flange also being at least partially embedded in said casing.

8. The vehicular window assembly of claim 1 including a decorative strip extending over at least a portion of said outside casing surface.

9. The vehicular window assembly of claim 8 including at least one recess molded in and extending into said outside casing surface;

said decorative strip including a metallic strip having at a flange extending into and secured within said recess for holding said strip on said casing.

10. The vehicular window assembly of claim 8 wherein said decorative strip includes a strip of plastic material having a thin layer of metal applied thereon said plastic strip being permanently bonded to said outside casing surface.

11. The vehicular window assembly of claim 8 wherein said decorative strip is a metallic strip having bendable flanges thereon at spaced locations, said bendable flanges adapted to be bent around peripheral edge of said casing and against said inside casing surface whereby said strip is held on said casing.

12. The vehicular window assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of said bendable flanges includes a recess of sufficient size to receive one of said second, affixing means portions therein when said flange is bent around said casing.

13. A vehicular window assembly formed as a complete unit prior to installation and adapted for installation from the exterior of a vehicle body to provide an assembly for closing an opening in a vehicle body, said window assembly comprising a casing constructed of a molded plastic material approximating the shape and size of the opening in said vehicle;

a transparent window having a peripheral edge with said casing molded around said peripheral edge;

attachment means for attaching said casing and window to said vehicle body, said casing being molded around at least a first portion of said attachment means so as to embed said first portion within the casing;

said first portion of said attachment means including a plurality of separate, rigid, attaching members embedded within said casing at spaced locations along said casing and concealed from view from outside the vehicle body;

said casing having an inner surface arranged to face in a direction toward the inside of the vehicle body and an outer surface arranged to face in a direction toward the outside of said vehicle body;

said attachment means having second portions spaced along the casing, extending in a direction toward the inside of said vehicle body, and constituting affixing means for affixing said composite casing and transparent window over said opening in the vehicle body;

said casing and attachment means structure providing a finished trim around said window and the periphery of the opening in the vehicle body by which said attachment means are concealed from view outside of the vehicle body.

14. The vehicular window assembly of claim 13 wherein said attaching members are each U-shaped and extend around said peripheral edge of said window;

said second, affixing means portions including a plurality of elongated stud projections extending out of said casing in a direction toward the inside of the vehicle body, one stud projection extending from each attaching member.

15. The vehicular window assembly of claim 13 wherein said attaching members are generally L-shaped and extend intermediate said window and said inside casing surfaces, said second, affixing means portions including a plurality of elongated stud projections extending out of said casing in a direction toward the inside of the vehicle body, one stud projection extending from each attaching member.

16. The vehicular window assembly of claim 13 wherein said attaching members each include an aperture extending therethrough, said molded plastic material of said casing extending through said apertures and around said attaching members to firmly embed and retain them in said casing.

17. The vehicular window assembly of claim 13 wherein said casing includes at least one flexible, resilient, sealing flange extending along the periphery of said casing and molded integrally with said casing from said plastic casing material for engaging a portion of the vehicle body when said assembly is installed on such a body to seal the opening in the vehicle body.

18. The vehicular window assembly of claim 17 wherein said casing also includes a positioning flange projecting inwardly from and extending along the inside surface of said casing such that it extends over the edge of said vehicle body portion forming said opening, said positioning flange being molded integrally with said casing from said plastic casing material and providing a guide for securing materials on the interior of said vehicle body.

19. The vehicular window assembly of claim 13 including a decorative strip extending over at least a portion of said outside casing surface.

20. The vehicular window assembly of claim 19 wherein said decorative strip includes a strip of plastic material having a thin layer of metal applied thereon, said plastic strip being permanently bonded to said outside casing surface.

21. The vehicular window assembly of claim 19 wherein said decorative strip is a metallic strip having bendable flanges thereon at spaced locations, said bendable flanges adapted to be bent around the peripheral edge of said casing and against said inside casing surface whereby said strip is held on said casing.

22. A vehicular window assembly formed as a complete unit prior to installation and adapted for installation from the exterior of a vehicle body to provide an assembly for closing an opening in a vehicle body, said window assembly comprising a casing constructed of a molded plastic material approximating the shape and size of the opening in said vehicle;

a transparent window having a peripheral edge with said casing molded around and secured to only one portion of said peripheral edge;

said casing which is molded around said one portion of said peripheral edge forming a flexible, resilient hinge allowing said window to be pivoted away from said casing between closed and open positions, said casing having second portions which tightly, sealingly engage the remainder of said peripheral window edge when said window is closed;

attachment means for attaching said casing to said vehicle body, said casing being molded around at least a first portion of said attachment means so as to embed said first portion within the casing;

said casing having an inner surface arranged to face in a direction toward the inside of the vehicle body and an outer surface arranged to face in a direction toward the outside of said vehicle body;

said attachment means having second portions spaced along the casing, extending in a direction toward the inside of said vehicle body, and constituting affixing means for affixing said composite casing and transparent window over said opening in the vehicle body;

said casing and attachment means structure providing a finished trim around said window and the periphery of the opening in the vehicle body by which at least said second, affixing portions of said attachment means are concealed from view outside of the vehicle body.

23. The vehicular window assembly of claim 22 wherein said attachment means include at least one elongated, rigid attaching strip embedded within said casing along said second casing portions and concealed from view from outside the vehicle body, said strip providing support for said casing when said window is opened and moved away from said remainder of said casing.

24. The vehicular window assembly of claim 23 wherein said second, affixing portions of said attaching means include elongated studs extending from said attaching strip inwardly of said casing inner surface, said studs adapted to receive fastening means for fastening said assembly to a vehicle body.

25. The vehicular window assembly of claim 24 wherein said attaching strip includes a hook-shaped flange extending along an edge thereof and embedded in said casing to help retain said strip within said casing.

26. The vehicular window assembly of claim 22 including a decorative strip extending over at least a portion of said outside casing surface.

27. The vehicular window assembly of claim 22 including latch means secured between said window and said casing for holding said window in an open or closed position as desired.

28. The vehicular window assembly of claim 22 including a second transparent window having a peripheral edge with portions of said casing molded around the entirety thereof and retaining said second window in a permanently closed position with respect to said casing.

29. The vehicular window assembly of claim 28 wherein said one casing portion extends between opposing edges of the first of said transparent windows and said second window.

30. The vehicular window assembly of claim 28 wherein said attachment means include at least one elongated, rigid attaching strip embedded within said casing along said second casing portions and concealed from view from outside the vehicle body, said strip providing support for said casing when said window is opened and moved away from said remainder of said casing;

said attachment means also including a plurality of rigid, separate attaching members embedded within said casing at spaced locations along the portions of said casing which are molded around said second window, said separate attaching members also being concealed from view from outside the vehicle body;

said second, affixing portions of said attaching means including elongated studs extending from said attaching strip and each of said attaching members inwardly of said casing inner surface, said studs adapted to receive fastening means for fastening said assembly to a vehicle body.

31. The vehicular window assembly of claim 22 wherein said attachment means includes a rigid, frame bezel extending along said outside of said casing, said casing extending between said frame bezel and said window;

said frame including at least one projection extending inwardly of said casing in a direction toward the inside of the vehicle body, said casing encompassing said projection for retention of said frame bezel and casing together.

32. The vehicular window assembly of claim 31 including a stiffening strip extending through and along at least a portion of said casing and embedded within said casing at a position spaced from said frame bezel.

33. The vehicular window assembly of claim 32 wherein said stiffening strip is an elongated rod including bent portions at spaced locations therealong to enhance the stiffness and resiliency of said rod.

34. The vehicular window assembly of claim 22 wherein said second portions of said casing include a recess extending therealong for receiving and sealingly engaging the peripheral edge of the remainder of said window when said window is closed.