Vehicle glazing panel cut out

#This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB0822316.6, filed on Dec. 8, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a vehicle glazing panel cut out technique.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a winder unit of an exemplary cut out system in accordance with the invention;

#FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic representations in sequence of a cut out technique in accordance with the invention;

#Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown a cut out system particularly for use in cut out of bonded vehicle glazing panels such as windscreens. The cut out system comprises a winder unit 1 and a wire dispenser unit 2.

#The winder unit 1 comprises a pair of releasable suction cup mounts 10, 11 enabling the winder unit to be releasably secured to the windscreen. The suction cup mounts comprise a rigid plastics cup 12 and underlaying flexible rubber skirt membrane 13. Respective actuation/release levers 14 enable consistent suction to be applied and released. Such suction mounts are commonly employed in windscreen replacement and repair technology. The suction cup mounts 10, 11 are pivotably/tiltably mounted to the support bracket 15 of the winder unit to ensure that both mounts 10, 11 can locate in good engagement with the windscreen despite the curvature of the windscreen. The main body of the support bracket 15 carries a pair of underslung winding spools 4, 5 in side by side relationship. The spools are connected to axial winding shafts which are supported in bearings 16, 17 provided on the winder unit. The spools 4, 5 are driven axially rotationally either manually via a hand winder or by means of a mechanical actuator such as a motorised winding or winching tool.

#Drive bosses 18 are provided with female sockets 19 (square bores) for receiving the male driving tool. Positioned outwardly of the winding spools are respective wire guide pulley wheels 8, 9 of low friction plastics material. The pulley wheels are mounted to be rotatable about respective rotational axes. The guide pulleys rotate as the cutting wire is drawn tangentially across the pulleys as will be described. The winder spools 4, 5 are held to rotate in one direction only (each in opposite senses) by respective ratchet mechanisms. Each mechanism includes ratchet override permitting prior tightened wire to be slackened, or unwound (reverse wound).