FR2525677A1 - GLASS OPENING ARRANGEMENT WHOSE GLASS IS IN THE EXTENSION OF THE OPENING CHASSIS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device for window panes, for example for motor vehicles. The window pane (8) consists of laminated glass with glass layers (8A and 8B), and an intermediate layer (8C). The outer glass layer (8A) and the intermediate layer (8C) are partially removed and form a gap (66). The edge of the glass pane (8B) projects into a channel (52) made of plastic or rubber and with a fabric (62), the channel (52) being arranged in a fastening channel (34). The channel (52) for guiding the window pane (8) is of asymmetric design and has a bottom (54) and a sealing lip (58) which bears against the glass layer (8B). The arrangement makes it possible for the outside (8D) of the window pane (8) to lie essentially in a plane with the outer surface of the metal frame (32) of the door (5) of the vehicle.

Description

 The invention relates to glazed openings, and more particularly to panes as well as to the support channels for the latter, as they can be used for equipping motor vehicles.

 The glazed opening arrangement according to the present invention comprises a window and an opening frame receiving an edge of the window, and is characterized in that the edge of window which is received in the frame is of a thickness reduced compared to the immediately adjacent part of the pane, so that this immediately adjacent part of pane is substantially in line with a surface of the opening frame.

 The present invention also relates to a glazed opening arrangement comprising a window made of laminated glass comprising at least two laminated sheets of glass7 and an opening frame having in section the shape of a channel, one of the laminated sheets of glass being entirely removed along a border strip of the glass in order to delimit a rebate which extends along said border a laminated sheet of glass not cut at the level of said border extending in the shaped part channel of the opening frame and being mounted in this part so that the edge of the first laminated sheet 7 from which an edge strip has been removed, bears on a part adjacent to an edge of a wall of the shaped part channel so that the surface of the first laminated sheet which is immediately adjacent to the opening frame is substantially in line with an external surface of the opening frame.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow of several exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a side view of one of the glass openings;
Figure 2 is a section along the line. 2--2 of Figure 1, showing one of the arrangements of glass opening frames
Figure 3 is an alternative arrangement of glass opening frame
Figure 4 is a section of another alternative arrangement of glass opening frame; and
Figure 5 is a section through yet another variant of such an arrangement.

 FIG. 1 represents a schematic side view of a door 5 of a motor vehicle body, the door having a window opening 6, which is closed by a window 8 movable up and down in the usual manner, The window 8 is guided in channels, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 2, and which extend along the rear 10 and front 12 edges of the door and, when the window is closed, the latter rests in a similar window channel which extends along the upper part 14 of the door. A part of the bodywork 16 of the motor vehicle is shown, and this part comprises, in particular, the upright 16A, called the upright B, which, on sedans, separates the front doors from the rear doors.

 As shown in FIG. 2, the upright 16A, against which the door 5 closes, is constructed so as to produce a metal gasket with flange 20 which is enclosed in a work flange 22, which can be of any known shape. For example, and as shown in FIG. 2, the flange cover 22 can be constituted by an element 24 made of plastic or rubber, having the shape of a channel, and in which is embedded a metal support 26 for the reinforcement of any suitable form. The plastic or rubber element 24 can be extruded in one piece with internal hooking lips 28, which serve to retain the flange cover 22 on the flange seal 20 and to provide an improved seal to the severe weather.

 An outer longitudinal wall of the flange cover 22 can carry a felt wadding or a fabric 30.

 Part of the internal trim of the bodywork is shown at 31.

 The door, in the part of the latter which is represented in FIG. 2, is presented as a sheet metal frame 32 which comprises a first part folded in order to delimit a relatively deep channel 34, and a second part shaped in order to delimit a relatively shallow channel 36. The metal which delimits the relatively deep channel 34 is extended so as to constitute a hollow part 38. The relatively shallow channel 36 supports a seal 40 made of soft rubber which can moreover be held in position by means of an adhesive material. When the door is moved to the closed position (the position shown in FIG. 2) the seal 40 bears against a shoulder 42 of the upright 16A in order to produce a seal that is airtight and weatherproof. The flock 30 fills the gap between the metal extension 38 and the flange cover 22.

 A guide channel 52, such as made of plastic or rubber, is mounted inside the metal channel 34. The guide channel 52 has an asymmetrical section. It has a base 54, a side wall 56 on one side, which carries a lip 58, and a thinner wall 60 on the opposite side. The external surfaces of the base 54, the lip 58 and the side wall 60 can be covered with a wad 62. The mounting channel 52 can be mounted inside the metal channel 34 in any suitable manner, for example by friction or by adhesion. It can also be partly or entirely held in position by means of a metallic, rigid and elastic reinforcing member 64, embedded in the base 54.

 Instead of the wad 62, polytetrafluoroethylene can be used.

 The window 8 is made of laminated glass of the type comprising two sheets of glass 8A and 8B between which a laminated sheet 8C is sandwiched. As shown in FIG. 2, the external glass sheet 8A and the laminated sheet 8C are cut so as to form a rebate 66 which is released from the edge 68 while keeping closest to the metal channel 34. The glass sheet 8B s' extends into channel 2 and rests against the base 54 filled with a wad. Lip 58 provides an effective weather seal. The wall 60 of the guide channel 52 is advantageously extended; in order to form a bead and a flexible joint (not shown) which be, tlDlit the rebate 66.

 the arrangement described is advantageous because it allows the external surface 8D of the window 8 to be substantially in the extension of the external surface of the frame or frame 32, and also of the external surface of the door.

This dramatically reduces wind whistling and wind resistance, and meets modern style requirements.

 The arrangement is not limited to the use of laminated glass. If the glass is not laminated, the rebate 66 can be produced by grinding. The ground glass in the rebate area can be given a dark color.

 It will be understood that the various details of the door construction shown in FIG. 2 are given only by way of example.

 FIG. 3 represents a schematic section of a motor vehicle roof equipped with a sunroof.

 As shown, the roof 70 is folded in order to form a flange seal 72 all around the opening made for the sunroof 74. The latter is of the type constituted by a window and can be mounted only sliding, only tilting, or according to a combined configuration that slides and tilts and / or can be fully removable. It comprises a window which, in this example again, is of a laminated structure and has an outer sheet 8A, an inner sheet 8B and a laminated sheet 8C. The outer sheet 8A and the laminated sheet 8C are partially cut to form a rebate 7, similar to the rebate 66 shown in FIG. 2.

The rebate extends all around the window 8 and a sealing member 80 as made for example of plastic or rubber, is fixed by hooking by the rebate 78. This member 80 is shaped so as to delimit a part in the form of a channel which encloses the projecting edge of the sheet 8B of the window, in the region of the rebate. A metallic support 82, rigid and elastic, which serves to hold the seal 80 on the edge of the glass, can be embedded inside the plastic or rubber which constitutes this seal 80. If desired, the walls internal of the channel may have one or more attachment lips in order to achieve an improved seal and to provide improved attachment to the glass.

 The seal 80 also delimits a hollow interior portion 84, and the external wall of this seal can carry a flock 86.

 When the sunroof is closed (as shown in Figure 3), the seal 80 constitutes an effective weather seal in cooperation with the bodywork 70 of the vehicle.

 In this example also, the arrangement described is advantageous because it allows the external surface 8D of the window 8 to be substantially in line with the external surface of the adjacent body 70.

 Figure 4 shows a section of the bodywork of a motor vehicle along the upper edge (or along the side edge) of the opening of a windshield.

 As shown, the bodywork 90 delimits a flange gasket 92 on which is fixed by hooking a strip 94 for mounting and sealing, such as a strip made of plastic or rubber. In the strip 94 is embedded an elastic and rigid metallic support 96 which ensures a firm attachment of the strip 94 on the flange joint 92. The material of the strip 94 constitutes sealing and sealing lips 98 which improve the weatherproof properties of the strip.

The seal 94 has an external book 100 ous which is taken the interior trim 102 of the motor vehicle.

 In addition, the strip 94 also delimits a groove 103 intended to receive a reinforcing member 104, as well as a channel 105 which extends around the opening of the windscreen, being generally aligned with the plane of the latter. The window 8 of the windshield is generally of the same constitution as that described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, insofar as it comprises an external glass sheet 8Ay an internal glass sheet 83, and a sheet laminated 8C. The outer sheet SA and the laminated sheet 8C are partially cut to form a rebate 106, and the edge of the inner glass sheet 8B is disposed inside the channel 105.

 During assembly of the window 8 in the channel 105, the reinforcing member 104 is not in position and this allows to flex freely upwards and outwards (if we refer to the figure the material which constitutes the outer wall of the channel 105, so as to facilitate entry of the edge of the glass sheet 8B into the channel.

When this operation is completed, the bent material is allowed to return elastically to the position, and the reinforcing member 104 is then introduced into the groove 103 so as to be held in position by its lips forming a step, so that it thus maintains the strip 94. in the configuration shown
As previously, the arrangement described is advantageous because it allows the external surface 8D of the window 8 to be substantially in the extension of the adjacent external surface 108 of the strip 94 and of the adjacent bodywork 90.

 FIG. 5 represents an alternative arrangement of a windshield mount which has similarities to that shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the metal body 109 which constitutes the exterior part of the vehicle body, is folded so forming a flange seal 110 with a metal sheet inside the body. A strip 114 of plastic or rubber, in which a member 116 of metal reinforcement is embedded, is held in position by means of a series of bolts 118 (only one of which is shown in the figure) which are screwed through the plastic or rubber 114 and the reinforcing member 116, and pass into a hole 120 drilled in the metal sheet or sheet 112. The strip 114 has a lip 122 which projects and behind which is taken and maintained the interior trim 124 of the body of the motor vehicle.

 The window 8 of the windshield has the same embodiment as above, and comprises an outer glass sheet 8A, an inner glass sheet 8B, and a laminated sheet 8C. As before, the outer glass sheet 8A and the laminated sheet 8C are cut to form a rebate 126, which extends all around the windshield, and the edge of the glass sheet 8B enters the channel delimited strip 114 of plastic or rubber and the folded surface of the metal sheet or sheet 109, so that the edge of the glass sheet 8B is received in this channel. Of course, during assembly, the window of the windshield will be brought into position before the strip 114, the latter then being brought into position and fixed by means of the bolts 118.

 The surface of the folded part of the metal sheet 109 which is adjacent to the glass sheet 8B can be covered with a wadding or polytetrafluoroethylene or any other suitable coating, such as a mastic or an adhesive material, so as to make a good seal against the glass surface.

 Consequently, and in this example also, the arrangement described is advantageous because it allows the external surface 8D of the window 8 of the flange guard to be substantially in line with the external surface of the body 109 of the vehicle.

 Like the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the arrangements shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 can also be made with non-laminated glass which is ground to form a rebate on one edge.

 The windshield mount arrangements shown in Figures 4 and 5 are only examples of a large number of different embodiments that can be used.

 Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the arrangements which have just been described only by way of nonlimiting examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Glazed opening arrangement, comprising a window (8) and an opening frame (52, 80, 94, 109, 110, 114) in which an edge of the window (8) is received, characterized in that said glass edge (8) received in the chassis is of a reduced thickness compared to the immediately adjacent part of the glass (8), so that said immediately adjacent glass part (8) is substantially in the extension d '' a surface of the chassis (52, 80, 94, 109, 110, 114). 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the window (8) is made of glass. 3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the pane (8) is made of laminated glass, a sheet (8B) being removed along said edge in order to reduce the thickness of the pane at this point, at least of which another sheet (8A, 8C) rests by its edge in said frame (52, 80, 94, 109, 110, 114). 4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the frame comprises a part (52, 80, 105) in the form of a channel, made of a flexible material in order to grip said glass edge (8) received in said chassis. 5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the channel-shaped part (105) is a part of a strip (94) of flexible material, delimiting a longitudinal slot (103) which allows to flex outwards of the channel a wall of the part (105) in the form of a channel, so that said glass edge (8) can be received in this part (105), which can receive a removable reinforcing member (104) in order to resist a such outward bending. 6. Arrangement according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the flexible material is fixed inside a rigid mounting channel (34). 7. Arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the flexible material (52) in the form of a channel is asymmetrical in section, and has a relatively thin wall (60) in contact with a surface bordering a delimited rebate by the glass edge (8) received in the frame with respect to the immediately adjacent part of the glass (8), the opposite wall (56) of the cana being relatively thicker. 8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that said opposite wall (56) carries a lip of flexible softness (58) intended to come into sealing contact with the surface of the glass (8).