Sliding vent window
AssigneeDonnelly Corporation
InventorsJohn F. Thomas, Jr., Cleon C. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The specification discloses a vehicle window assembly including a slidable window glass supported by and guided along only one edge of the glass. More specifically, the assembly comprises a window glass, a molded guide bonded to one edge of the glass, and a pillar defining a channel in which the guide is slidingly received. The pillar and guide cooperate to permit the guide to move axially within the channel and to prevent the guide from passing transversely out of the channel so that the window glass must travel in a linear path. Also disclosed is a latch supported by the glass and extending through the guide. The latch includes an actuating portion located outside the pillar and a catch portion located and hidden within the pillar.
Claims36
A sliding panel assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a panel including an edge;
- an elongated molded guide member bonded directly to said panel edge, said guide member extending generally the full length of said panel edge and being generally uniform in cross section throughout its length;
- and
- a pillar to be supported by the vehicle, said pillar defining a channel having a restricted opening, said guide member being slidably received within said channel for axial movement therein, said guide member including a weather shield positioned within said channel, said weather shield being wider than said restricted opening whereby said guide member and said pillar cooperate to permit said guide member to slide axially within said pillar and to prevent said guide member from significantly shifting transversely of said pillar, the length of said guide member facilitating ease of movement within said channel so that said panel travels in a predetermined path as said guide member slides within said pillar channel, and further whereby said guide member and said channel cooperate to form a substantially weatherproof seal extending generally the length of said panel edge.
A vehicle panel assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said latch means comprises an actuator portion outside of said channel, a catch portion located inside of said channel, and a connector portion extending through said guide member between said actuator portion and said catch portion.
A sliding panel assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- an elongated pillar supported by the vehicle, said pillar defining a channel having a restricted opening;
- a panel including an edge;
- and
- an elongated guide fixedly secured directly to said panel edge, said guide being slidably received within said pillar channel for axial movement therein, said guide member being generally uniform in cross section throughout its length, said guide including a slide portion positioned within said channel, said slide portion being wider than said restricted opening, whereby said slide portion cannot pass through said restricted opening, whereby said pillar and said guide cooperate to prevent said guide from moving transversely of said pillar, wherein the angular orientation of said window with respect to said pillar remains relatively constant during movement of said window glass as said guide slides within said channel, and further whereby said cooperating guide member and channel form a weather shield between said panel and said pillar.
A latchable sliding panel assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a pillar supported by the vehicle, said pillar defining a channel;
- a panel including an edge;
- an elongated molded guide member bonded to said panel edge, said guide member being closely and slidably received within said pillar channel;
- and
- a latching mechanism supported by said panel, said latching mechanism extending through said guide member and including catch means hidden within said channel for engaging said pillar and actuating means outside of said channel for actuating said catch means, whereby said catch means is substantially hidden within said pillar and can be actuated from outside of said pillar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.