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US 5,867,942 AGranted
Removable door cassette for a vehicle and method of assembly
AssigneeTrim Trends, Inc.
InventorDaniel J. Kowalski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable door cassette has a cross member having a lower door frame fixed thereto. The lower door frame has a first frame member fixed to the cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive the first frame member. The first frame member is separable from the second frame member. A pivot connection pivotally connects the second frame member to a door housing. A fastener fixedly secures the second frame member in relation to the door housing. A deformable button is preferably used to provide a mechanism to hold the lower door frame into the lower door frame channel and provide a release and locking mechanism between the first and second frame members.
Claims52
A removable door cassette for insertion into an automotive vehicle door housing said door housing having a cassette opening, said cassette comprising:
- a window;
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame insertable into the door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a coaxial second frame member defining a channel to slidably receive said first frame member, said first frame member being slidably separable from said second frame member;
- and
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to the door housing to allow said first frame member to be slidably removed from the second frame member.
2 more elements
A removable door cassette for insertion into an automotive vehicle door housing, the door housing having a cassette opening, said cassette comprising:
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame insertable into the door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member being separable from said second frame member;
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to the door housing;
- said fastener comprises a releasable fastener which secures said first frame member within said second frame member;
- said releasable fastener comprises a deformable button secured to said first frame member, said second frame member having a button opening sized to receive said button, said button operable to allow said first frame member to move relative to said second frame member unless said button is aligned with said button opening.
2 more elements
A removable door cassette for insertion into an automotive vehicle door housing, the door housing having a cassette opening, said cassette comprising:
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame insertable into the door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member being separable from said second frame member;
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to the door housing;
- said fastener comprises a releasable fastener which secures said first frame member within said second frame member;
- a second fastener for adjustably fastening said second frame member in relation to the door housing;
- said second fastener comprises a fine adjustment for adjusting said second frame member to a final position;
- said fine adjustment comprises a second bracket, said second bracket receiving a threaded fastener, said threaded fastener engaging said lower door frame and moving relative to said second bracket when rotated so that said lower door frame moves as said threaded fasteners rotates.
4 more elements
A removable door cassette for insertion into an automotive vehicle door housing, said door housing having a cassette opening, said cassette comprising A door cassette for mounting in a cassette opening of a door housing of an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame insertable into the door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to slidingly receive said first frame member, said first frame member being slidingly separable from said second frame member;
- and
- pivot means for pivotally joining said door frame to the door housing;
- and
- attachment means for securing said second frame member in relation to the door housing.
3 more elements
A removable door cassette for insertion into an automotive vehicle door housing, said door housing having a cassette opening, said cassette comprising:
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame insertable into the door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member separable from said second frame member;
- pivot means for pivotally joining said door frame to the door housing;
- attachment means for securing said second frame member in relation to said lower door frame;
- said attachment means comprises a releasable fastener which secures said first frame member within said second frame member;
- said releasable fastener comprises a deformable button secured to said first frame member, said second frame member having a button opening sized to receive said button, said button operable to allow said first frame member to move relative to said second frame member unless said button is aligned with said button opening.
3 more elements
A removable door cassette for insertion into an automotive vehicle door housing, said door housing having a cassette opening, said cassette comprising:
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame insertable into the door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member separable from said second frame member;
- and
- pivot means for pivotally joining said door frame to the door housing;
- attachment means for securing said second frame member in relation to said lower door frame;
- said attachment means comprises a first means for adjusting said second frame member into a first position and a second means for adjusting said second frame to a final position.
3 more elements
An automobile comprising:
- a vehicle body having one or more body openings;
- a door housing in at least one of said body openings, each door housing having an end;
- and
- a door cassette coupled to said door housing, each door cassette having
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame extending into said door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to slidably receive said first frame member, said first frame member being slidably separable from said second frame member;
- and
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to said door housing to allow said first frame member to be slidably removed from the first frame member.
5 more elements
An automobile comprising:
- a vehicle body having one or more body openings;
- a door housing in at least one of said body openings, each door housing having an end;
- a door cassette coupled to said door housing, each door cassette having,
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame extending into said door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member being separable from said second frame member;
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to said door housing;
- said fastener comprises a releasable fastener which secures said first frame member within said second frame member;
- said releasable fastener comprises a deformable button secured to said first frame member, said second frame member having a button opening sized to receive said button, said button operable to allow said first frame member to move relative to said second frame member unless said button is aligned with said button opening.
5 more elements
An automobile comprising:
- a vehicle body having one or more body openings;
- a door housing in at least one of said body openings, each door housing having an end;
- a door cassette coupled to said door housing, each door cassette having
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame extending into said door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member being separable from said second frame member;
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to said door housing;
- said fastener comprises a coarse adjustment for adjusting said second frame member into a first position;
- said coarse adjustment comprises a first bracket affixed to said door housing, said first bracket having a slot, and an adjustable fastener received through said slot for connecting said first bracket to said second frame member.
5 more elements
An automobile comprising:
- a vehicle body having one or more body openings;
- a door housing in at least one of said body openings, each door housing having an end;
- a door cassette coupled to said door housing, each door cassette having
- a cross member;
- a door frame having a lower door frame, said lower door frame extending into said door housing, said lower door frame having a first frame member fixed to said cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive said first frame member, said first frame member being separable from said second frame member;
- a fastener for securing said second frame member in relation to said door housing;
- a second fastener adjustably fastening said second frame member in relation to said door housing;
- said second fastener comprises a fine adjustment for adjusting said second frame member to a final position;
- said fine adjustment comprises a second bracket, said second bracket receiving a threaded fastener, said threaded fastener engaging said lower door frame and moving relative to said second bracket when rotated so that said lower door frame moves as said threaded fastener rotates.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.