US 4,575,967 AGranted

Flush glass window regulator

AssigneeFerro Manufacturing Corporation

InventorDavid J. Bickerstaff

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Abstract

The window glass closure for a vehicle window opening occupies a closed position in which its outer surface is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the door or other body portion in which the opening is provided. This is accomplished by guiding the upper edge of the window along a path inclined slightly outwardly of the vehicle as the window completes its upward movement from its lowered open position. It further comprises guiding the lower edge of the window along a path which is inclined substantially outwardly from the vertical as the window reaches upper position. Preferably this is effected by a generally vertical main guide track which receives a follower carried adjacent the upper edge of the window constrained to follow the main guide track. An abruptly inclined diversion track is connected with the main guide track which receives a follower carried adjacent the lower edge of the window and is adapted to depart from the main track and to enter the inclined diversion track portion.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A vehicle window construction comprising a generally continuous outer panel having a window opening therein defined by top, side and bottom edges, said panel forming the outer wall of a cavity for receiving a window glass movable into and out of said cavity through the bottom edge of said window opening, sealing means surrounding the window opening including a bottom seal having an inwardly facing sealing surface, guide means for guiding the upper edge of said window glass continuously upward into engagement with the sealing means at the upper edge of said window opening and for guiding the lower edge portion of said glass first upwardly into substantially closed position and then upwardly and laterally outwardly into sealing engagement with the inwardly facing sealing surface of said bottom seal to position the outer surface of the lower portion of said glass substantially flush with the outer panel surface beneath said window opening, said guide means comprising a main guide portion continuous from adjacent an upper corner of said window opening to a point within said cavity adjacent a lower corner of said glass when in fully lower position, said guide means having a separate short diversion guide portion connected to said guide portion intermediate its ends and angled upwardly and outwardly therefrom adjacent the lower edge of said opening, an upper follower carried by said glass adjacent an upper corner thereof and movable along said main guide portion and including means which prevents said upper follower from following said short diversion guide portion, a lower follower movable along said main guide portion below said short diversion guide portion and adapted to follow said short diversion guide portion, means connected to the lower edge of said window glass and adapted to raise said glass and to bias the lower edge of said glass outwardly to cause said lower follower to enter and follow said short diversion guide portions, said short diversion guide portion being shaped to move the lower edge of said glass outwardly into engagement with the inwardly facing sealing surface and to position the outer surface of said glass as a continuation of the outer surface of said panel beneath said window opening.

Vehicle window regulating mechanism comprising separate means for determining the instantaneous position of a window with respect to a window opening as the window is raised and lowered comprising a first guide structure including a generally vertical guide, a slide on said guide, a bracket rigidly fixed on the lower edge of said window, a pivot plate having pivots at upper and lower edges thereof connecting said slide to said bracket and to limit relative movement between said slide and window to pivot movement about the axes of said pivots to determine the orientation and instantaneous position of said window longitudinally of the vehicle as said window is raised and lowered, a second guide structure for determining the orientation and instantaneous position of different portions of said window laterally of said vehicle as said window is raised and lowered, said second guide structure comprising generally vertical guides and followers adapted to provide positive guidance between portions of said window laterally of the vehicle but providing relative motion between said guides and followers longitudinally of vehicle to provide for operation of said first guide structure without interference by said second guide structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.