# US 5,345,718 A · Glass run guide for slidable vehicle window > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,345,718 A - Document ID: US5345718A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/067,197 - Filed: 1993-05-25 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1993-05-25 - Assignees: GenCorp Inc. - Inventors: Ronald E. Dupuy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345718A ## CPC - E05F 11/385: {Fixing of window glass to the carrier of the operating mechanism} - B60J 10/17: provided with a low-friction material on the surface - B60J 10/235: the parts being joined along their longitudinal direction - B60J 10/74: for sliding window panes, e.g. sash guides - E05Y 2201/684: Rails; Tracks - E05Y 2600/10: Adjustable - E05Y 2900/55: Windows - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A one-piece glass run guide for retaining and smoothly guiding a slidable vehicle window includes a molded polymeric strip having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross section including a base, an inboard leg having a projecting lip portion which engages an interior surface of a slidable vehicle window, and an outboard leg having a projecting lip portion which engages an exterior surface of the slidable vehicle window. The one-piece glass run guide of the invention is formed of a fiber reinforced polymer having sufficient strength and rigidity to counter forces exerted by the sliding vehicle window to prevent undesirable inboard, outboard, forward and rearward movement of the window, while at least the surfaces of the lip portions which contact the surfaces of the slidable vehicle window are low friction, non-abrasive surfaces which facilitate smooth movement of the window as it is raised or lowered. The invention, therefore, performs, with a one-piece guide, two different functions which are conventionally performed by separate components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A one-piece glass run guide for a slidable vehicle window, comprising an elongate molded polymeric strip having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross section including a base, an inboard leg and an outboard leg, each of the legs having a projecting lip portion which engages interior and exterior surfaces, respectively, of a slidable vehicle window said glass run guide being substantially vertically disposed below a beltline within a vehicle door cavity such that said interior and exterior surfaces adjacent lateral edges of said slidable vehicle window are substantially continuously engaged by said lip portions below said beltline. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one-piece guide is an assembly of a molded inboard guide element and a molded outboard guide elements which are joined to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 2, wherein the guide elements are adhesively joined to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 3, wherein the interlocking means are a groove formed on one of the elements and a cooperating interlocking tongue formed on the other element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 2, wherein the guide elements each include interlocking means integrally formed during molding of the guide elements, said elements being joined to each other by said interlocking means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 5, wherein the guide elements are adhesively joined to each other by a combination of an adhesive composition and interlocking means integrally formed during molding of the guide elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 1, further comprising mounting means integrally formed during molding of the guide means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 7, wherein the mounting means consists essentially of a clip and a fastening lug having a hole through which a fastener can be passed for securing the glass run guide to a vehicle door frame, whereby said glass run guide is installed with a single fastener. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 1, which has sufficient strength and rigidity to counter forces exerted by a sliding vehicle window during normal operation thereof to prevent undesirable inboard, outboard, forward and rearward movement of the window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least the surfaces of the lip portions which contact the surfaces of the slidable vehicle window are low friction, non-abrasive surfaces which provide for smooth movement of the window along the guide during raising or lowering of the window. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 10, wherein a low friction coating is applied to the surfaces of the lip portions which contact the surfaces of the slidable vehicle window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 10, wherein flocking is applied to the surfaces of the lip portions which contact the surfaces of the slidable vehicle window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 9, which is formed from a fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 13, wherein the fiber reinforcement is glass fiber, and wherein the thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of EPDM, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, polyacetal, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile, fluoro polymers, and other typical thermoplastics or alloys thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 9, which is formed from a fiber reinforced thermosetting polymer composition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 15, wherein the fiber reinforcement is glass fiber, and wherein the thermosetting polymer is selected from the group consisting of unsaturated polyesters, crosslinked polyurethane, high modulus elastomers, and epoxy resins. ### Claim 17 A one-piece glass run guide for a slidable vehicle window, comprising an elongate molded polymeric strip having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross section including a base, an inboard leg having a projecting lip portion which engages an interior surface of a slidable vehicle window, an outboard leg having a projecting lip portion which engages an exterior surface of the slidable vehicle window said glass run guide being substantially vertically disposed below a beltline within a vehicle door cavity such that said interior and said exterior surfaces adjacent lateral edges of said slidable vehicle window are substantially continuously engaged by said lip portions below said beltline; the surfaces of the lip portions which contact the surfaces of the slidable vehicle window being low friction, non-abrasive surfaces to provide for smooth movement of the window along the guide during raising or lowering of the window; the guide being formed of a fiber reinforced polymer having sufficient strength and rigidity to counter forces exerted by the sliding vehicle window to prevent undesirable inboard, outboard, forward and rearward movement of the window; and integral mounting means for fastening the guide to a vehicle door frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 17, which is formed from a glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition, and wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of EPDM, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, polyacetal, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile, fluoro polymers, and other typical thermoplastics or alloys thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A glass run guide as set forth in claim 17, which is formed from a glass fiber reinforced thermosetting polymer composition, and wherein the thermosetting polymer is crosslinked polyurethane, high modulus elastomers, or epoxy resin.