US 4,139,234 A · Window assembly

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.

Claims34

Dependent claims

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.

3 more elements

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.

3 more elements

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.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Window assembly

Life of this patent

Window assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34