FR2885381A1 - Window for use in vehicle, has support rail cooperating with link unit for adapting link unit in position, in which mobile panel is placed above fixed panel, and another position, in which mobile panel is placed relative to fixed panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The window has a link unit arranged between a support unit and a guiding unit (20) that has a guide rail (22) presenting a rectilinear groove (26) in which the link unit slides to slide a mobile panel (14) between opening and closing positions. The guiding unit includes a support rail (24) cooperating with the link unit for adapting the link unit in a position in which the panel is placed above a fixed panel in the closed position and another position in which the mobile panel is placed relative to the fixed panel in the opening position.

Description

2885381 1

  The invention relates to a window comprising a first panel and a movable panel, said movable panel being adapted to adopt a closed position, in which said movable panel masks an opening, and an open position, in which said movable panel discovers at least a portion of said opening, said window further comprising means for supporting the movable panel and guiding means for guiding said movable panel between the closed and open positions.

  Such windows allow to slide the movable panel between the closed position and the open position and vice versa.

  Such windows are known of which a movable panel slides relative to a first panel which can be fixed (in most cases) or can also be mobile.

  Some known windows have a movable panel which slides in a straight groove to move between the closed and open positions.

  However, in this case, the movable panel is set back from the fixed panel even in the closed position. As a result, the window is unattractive and dirt can accumulate on the periphery of the movable panel.

  The problem posed by the invention is to provide a window whose movable panel is flush with the fixed panel in the closed position, whose opening surface is as large as possible relative to that of the movable panel, and whose the movable panel can adopt several intermediate positions between the closed and open positions.

  This problem is solved by the fact that the window further comprises a connecting element between the support means and the guide means, in that the guide means comprise a guide rail having a rectilinear groove in which said element of junction can slide to allow the movable panel to slide between the closed and open positions, and in that the guide means comprise a support element which cooperates with the connecting element to allow the latter to adopt a first position, in which the movable panel is flush with the fixed panel in the closed position, and a second position, in which the movable panel is facing at least a portion of said fixed panel in the position opening.

  Separating the means in which the movable panel slides, means that allow it to change position, reduces the manufacturing costs.

  Advantageously, the joining element comprises a first pivot-sliding end intended to slide in the rectilinear groove when the movable panel is moved between the closing and opening positions and a second end forming a joint between the connecting element and means of support.

  It is understood that, depending on the position of the connecting element, the movable panel is located flush with the fixed panel or recessed relative thereto. It is in this latter position that the movable panel is able to move towards the open position.

  In order to facilitate this change of position of the connecting element, the window preferably also comprises elastic means for biasing the movable panel from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

  The window comprises at least one guide rail and a connecting element preferably located in the upper part of the movable panel. However, depending on the size of the window, it may be advantageous for the window to comprise, in the upper part of the window, an upper guide rail, two upper connecting elements intended to slide in the groove of the upper guide rail and an element of the window. upper support which cooperates with said upper connecting elements, and in the lower part of the window, a lower guide rail, two connecting elements intended to slide in said groove of the lower guide rail and a lower bearing element which cooperates with said lower joining elements.

  Thus, the window has four separate junction elements, which are generally identical to reduce their manufacturing costs and which allow the movable panel to be easily moved between the closed and open positions.

  The change of position of the movable panel may be preferably done using upper and lower bearing elements which respectively comprise an upper and lower bearing rail 2885381 3 each having three rectilinear portions connected by two ramps, said two ramps being located in the vicinity of the upper and lower junction elements when the movable panel is in the closed position. Each ramp allows the corresponding junction element to move from the first position to the second position.

  To avoid the intervention of a user, the change of position of the mobile panel can be done automatically. It can therefore be expected that the window further comprises control means for controlling the moving means, so that the movable panel moves automatically between the closed and open positions.

  In this case, the control means preferably comprise a motor and a transmission cable which is connected to the connecting element and which is actuated by said motor, said transmission cable being located in the straight groove.

  In order to facilitate the assembly of the constituent elements of the window, the window is preferably arranged on a frame.

  The frame preferentially supports the fixed panel and the upper and lower guide rails, so that the window forms an assembly that can be made prior to its final placement.

  The frame is for example intended to be arranged on a vehicle. The window being previously assembled on the frame, it is understood that it is then simply necessary to set up the frame on the vehicle so that the window is properly arranged on the latter.

  The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of an embodiment of the invention shown by way of non-limiting example.

  The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1A shows a schematic view of a window according to the invention in the closed position, - Figure 1B shows a schematic view of a window according to the invention in position d 1C shows a schematic view of a window 35 according to the invention in the open position, FIG. 2A shows a sectional view of FIG. 1A along the line IIA-IIA, FIG. FIG. 2B shows a sectional view of FIG. 1A along line IIB-IIB, FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the bearing element, FIG. 4 represents a sectional view of FIG. 5A to 5C show diagrammatically in plan view, the movable panel in the closing, opening and in-between positions; FIG. 6A is a sectional view of FIG. 1A according to FIG. the VIA-VIA line, and Figure 6B represents a bird's eye view e of Figure 1A along line VIB-VIB.

  Fig. 1A shows a window 10 having a first panel 12 and a movable panel 14 flush with the fixed panel 12, so that in the closed position the two panels are aligned and form a substantially continuous surface.

  For the rest of the description, the panel 12 is fixed, but it must be understood that it could also be mobile, so as to have a window that has two movable panels.

  Figure 1B shows the window 10 in the intermediate open position. In fact, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the movable panel 14 has been moved so as to discover at least part of an opening, which is masked, in the closed position, by the movable panel 14. This partial opening 15 may be more or less important depending on the position of the movable panel 14 relative to the fixed panel 12.

  Figure 1C illustrates the window 10 when the movable panel 14 is at the end of the stroke, in the open position; the opening 16 is then total. This total opening 16 substantially corresponds to the size of the movable panel 14, since it substantially corresponds to the space occupied by the latter, in the closed position.

  In the example illustrated in the figures, the movable panel 14 is able to move towards the open position by being set back relative to the fixed panel 12, but it is understood that it could very well be in front of the fixed panel 12.

  The window 10 is preferably arranged on a frame 18 to form a substantially rigid assembly which is adapted to be arranged, for example on a vehicle 11 shown schematically in Figure 1A. In this case, the frame 18 is preferably fixed by gluing on the vehicle 11 by means of dots or beads of glue 19, but it is understood that any other fixing means of known type can be used to fix this frame 18 on a vehicle 11.

  It is understood that the materials 13 forming the fixed panels 12 and movable 14 may be of different natures depending on the desired use of the window 10. The fixed panels 12 and / or movable 14 may be of transparent material 13, translucent and / or opaque , for example in the same material as the body, depending on whether or not it is possible to see inside the vehicle 11. In addition, the window 10 can have two roles, depending on its size and its layout. Indeed, the window 10 according to the invention can form a glazing unit or a door.

  We will now describe in detail the support means of the movable panel 14 and the guide means 20 which guide the movable panel 14 between the closed and open positions.

  The guide means 20 comprise a rail of the guide 22 and a support element 24 fixed to the latter, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B. The guide rail 22 has a rectilinear groove 26 in which a first free end 28A of a connecting element 28 is slidable and forms a support for the support element 24 which is in the form of a rail longitudinal support.

  The movable panel 14 is assembled on the window 10 by support means 30 forming a hook in which the second free end 28B of the connecting element 28 is inserted.

  In this case, the hook 30 has a spherical housing 32 opening, wherein the second end 28B forming a joint can be inserted. In fact, the second end 28B forms a ball joint which allows the connecting element 28 to have three degrees of freedom in rotation with respect to the hook 30.

  The joining element 28 has an intermediate portion 28C between the first end 28A and the second end 28B, of which at least 2885381 6 a portion 28C1 has a substantially flat upper face 38A intended to cooperate by sliding against a bearing face 24A of the support rail 24.

  In order to slide without bending, the first end 28A of the connecting element 28 forms a pivot-sliding; in this case, the first end 28A is in the form of a cylinder whose outer diameter D28 is chosen so that the connecting element 28 can slide easily in the rectilinear groove 26. For this purpose, the straight groove 26 is at least in the active zone substantially corresponding to the sliding zone of the panel, in the form of a cylinder opening longitudinally, whose axis is parallel to the fixed panel 12. In fact, the straight groove 26 has a diameter inside D26 slightly greater than the outside diameter D28 and a longitudinal opening 34 whose width 134 is greater than the thickness e28 of the connecting element 28, in particular at the upper face 38A.

  In order to ensure good guidance of the movable panel 14, there is provided a rail of the upper guide in the upper part 10A of the window 10 and a rail of the lower guide in the lower part 10B of the window 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C . In this case, there are provided four connecting elements 28 (two upper connecting elements intended to slide in the groove of the upper guide rail and two lower connecting elements intended to slide in the groove of the lower guide rail). The support means may be longitudinal, in which case they may be reduced to the number of two (one in the upper part and one in the lower part), or may be reduced in size, in which case they form four distinct hooks in which the four elements of junction 28 are put in place.

  The support rail 24 being longitudinal, a rail at the top and a rail at the bottom of the window are sufficient. However, so as to allow the change of position of the movable panel 14 between the open and closed positions (and vice versa), each of the upper and lower support rails 24 has a progressive form.

  The bearing face 24A of the support rail 24 has inclinations which have different angles with respect to the vertical, to allow the connecting element 28 to adopt different inclinations, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this case, the top of the bearing face 24A has three longitudinal rectilinear portions 40A, 40B and 40C along which the inclination does not vary. These three rectilinear longitudinal portions 40A, 40B and 40C are respectively connected by two ramps 42A and 42B which make it possible to make the connection between the angular positions of the bearing face 24A. Along the first straight portion 40A, the bearing face 24A has an inclination angle α relative to the vertical V, along the second straight portion 40B, the bearing face 24A has a tilting angle 13 with respect to the vertical V and along the third straight portion 40C, the bearing face 24A has an angle inclination y with respect to the vertical V. The difference between the angle a and the angle R is preferably equal to the difference between the angle p and the angle y, so that the movable panel 14 is parallel to the fixed panel 12 in the closed position and in the open position.

  When the movable panel 14 is in the closed position, the two ramps 42A and 42B are located in the vicinity of the upper junction elements 28, respectively lower. In fact, each ramp 42A and 42B allows the corresponding connecting element 28 to pass from a first position, in which the movable panel 14 is flush with the fixed panel in said closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. at a second position, wherein the movable panel 14 is facing at least a portion of said fixed panel 12 in the open position, as illustrated in Figure 4.

  The support rail 24 has the role of imposing the orientation of the connecting element 28 in the first or the second position, by cooperation of the bearing face 24A against the face 38A of the connecting element 28 In fact, according to the position of the connecting element 28 with respect to the ramps 42A and 42B, because of the different inclinations of the bearing face 24A, the connecting element 28 is more or less inclined with respect to the rail This mobility is authorized by the first sliding pivot end 28A of the connecting element 28. As previously described, the second end 28B of the connecting element 28 forming a ball joint in the hook 30, allows the movable panel 14 to adopt the closed position or opening according to the inclination of the connecting element 28. It is understood that the connecting element 28 is able to tilt relative to the axis of the throat rectilinear 26 and that in fact 2885381 8 of the arrangement of the support rail 24, the ball 28B, and the groove 26, the movable panel 14 is parallel to the fixed panel 12 in the closed position and in the open position.

  Indeed, in the closed position, shown schematically in plan view in Figure 5A, the fixed panels 12 and movable 14 are flush and the connecting elements 28 are opposite the first straight portion 40A and the second ramp 42B . As soon as the opening begins, as illustrated schematically in plan view in FIG. 5B, the connecting element 28 facing the second ramp 42B inclines by passing the ramp to come into contact with the third straight portion 40C ; it follows that the movable panel 14 disengages rearwardly (towards the inside of the vehicle 11) to be able to slide behind the fixed panel 12. After a slight sliding, the connecting element 28 facing the first straight portion 40A passes the first ramp 42A to come into contact with the second straight portion 40B. At this time, the movable panel 14 is again parallel to the fixed panel 12 and is slidable behind the latter in a parallel manner by sliding in the straight groove 26, as shown in Figure 5C.

  Each hook 30 has a tongue 42 for fixing resilient means 44 for biasing the movable panel 14 from the closed position to the open position. In this case, the elastic means 44 comprise four springs which cooperate respectively with the connecting elements 28 upper and lower. Each spring 44 has a first end 44A fixed to the corresponding tongue 42, while the other end 44B presses a second portion 28C2 of the intermediate portion of the corresponding connecting element 28. The conformation of the spring 44 is such that, in the closed position illustrated in Figure 2A, the spring 44 is compressed, while in the open position illustrated in Figure 4, the spring 44 is decompressed. Thus, when the movable panel 14 is in the closed position, the spring 44 is compressed and stores energy that it will release during the passage of the movable panel 14 in the open position, making this passage all the easier.

  The lower guide rail 22 extends longitudinally along the lower side 10B of the fixed and movable panels 14 substantially parallel to the panels, so that the rectilinear groove 26 allows the movable panel 14 to slide parallel to the fixed panel 12. The same applies to the upper guide rail which is arranged in the upper part 10A of the window 10.

  As illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, each guide rail 22 has a first 22A and a second profile 22B which respectively extend opposite the fixed panels 12 and movable 14 when the latter is in the closed position, as shown in the Figure 1A.

  It is understood that the guide rail 22 may be formed of a single element whose profile evolves along the guide rail, to present the first and second profiles 22A and 22B above or be formed of two elements each of which would have one first and second profiles 22A and 22B.

  These profiles 22A and 22B are shaped to support an overmoulded portion 46 called overmolding, for the rest; the overmolding 46 being intended to mask the guide rail 22. Moreover, for aesthetic reasons, the lower edge 12A of the fixed panel 12 generally has a screen printing 48.

  It follows that the overmolding 46 has a first portion 46A formed on the first profile 22A and a second portion 46B formed on the second profile 226, so that the overmolding 46 of the guide rail 22 forms with the lower edge 12A of the panel fixed 12 a band 50 substantially parallelepiped HSO height and similar appearance. In fact, the height HSO at the first portion of this band 50 preferably corresponds to the corresponding sum of the heights H46A of the first portion 46A formed on the first profile 22A and H52 of the overmolding 52, while the height HSO at the level of the second portion of this band 50, corresponds to the height H48 of the screen printing 48. In addition, this first portion 46A is located on the outside of the window 10, while the second portion 46B is located behind the fixed panel 12. Thus, the overmolding of the first profile 22A is flush with the fixed panel 12.

  When the window forms a glazing, overmoulding and screen printing are reduced to a minimum size, so that the visibility from the window is of a maximum area.

  The movable panel 14 also has an overmoulded portion 52. This overmolding 52 forms a seal for the movable panel, particularly in the closed position. For this purpose, the overmoulding 52 has a lip 52A forming a seal, intended to crash against the guide rail 22 and the overmoulding portion 46A of the first profile 22A, when the movable panel 14 is in the closed position, as illustrated. in Figure 2A. When the movable panel 14 is in the open position, as shown in Figure 4, the lip 52A overmolding 52 of the movable panel 14 is no longer in contact.

  The overmoulding 52 of the movable panel 14 is preferably peripheral all around the movable panel 14. In the closed position the overmolding 52 again plays a role of sealing between the movable panel 14 and the fixed panel 12.

  In addition, in the central part of the window, a profile 53 held by the overmoulding 52 collapses against the fixed panel 12, in FIG. 6A in solid lines, whereas in the open position, the profile 53 adopts the form illustrated in dashed lines. It is the same in the vicinity of the lateral side 10C of the window 10, where overmoulding 52 comes crashing against the frame 18 or possibly overmoulding formed on the frame. This type of profile 53 is described in detail in the document FR 2 770 463.

  The opening and closing can be controlled automatically since the window 10 further comprises control means 54 for controlling displacement means 56 so that the movable panel 14 moves automatically, that is to say without intervention of a user, between the closing and opening positions.

  The control means preferably comprise a motor 58, and the displacement means 56, cable transmission means 56 which are connected to the connecting element and which are actuated by said motor 58. It is understood that when the window includes lower and upper connecting elements 28, it is necessary to have a lower and upper transmission cable. However, it is not necessarily necessary to have a transmission cable 56 for each of the four connecting elements. Similarly, a single motor 58 can actuate all of the cable transmission means 56.

  The first pivot-sliding end 28A of the connecting element 28 can be hollow as illustrated in FIG. 2A, so that the transmission cable 56 can be housed in the rectilinear groove 26 and fixed by means known to FIG. junction element 28 to act on the latter.

Claims (2)

12 CLAIMS   A window comprising a first panel (12) and a second panel (14), said second panel being a movable panel (14), said movable panel (14) being adapted to adopt a closed position, wherein said movable panel ( 14) masks an opening (15, 16), and an open position, wherein said movable panel (14) discovers at least a portion (15) of said opening (16), said window (10) further comprising support means (30) for the movable panel (14) and guide means (20, 22, 24) for guiding said movable panel (14) between the closed and the open positions, characterized in that it comprises in in addition to a connecting element (28) between said support means (30) and said guide means (20, 22, 24), in that said guide means (20, 22, 24) comprise a guide rail ( 22) having a rectilinear groove (26) in which said connecting member (28) is slidable to allow the movable panel (14) sliding between the closed and open positions, and in that said guide means (20, 22, 24) comprise a support element (24) which cooperates with the connecting element (28) to enable the latter (28) adopting a first position, wherein said movable panel (14) is flush with the first panel (12) in said closed position, and a second position, wherein the movable panel (14) is in viewing at least a portion of said fixed panel (12) in the open position.   2. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connecting element (28) has a first end pivoting pivot (28A) for sliding in the straight groove (26) when the movable panel (14) is moved between the closing and opening positions and a second articulation end (28B) between the joining element (28) and the support means (30).   3. Window according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises resilient means (44) for biasing the movable panel (14) from its closed position to its open position.   4. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic means (44) are fixed on the support means (30).   5. Window according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises in the upper part (10A) of the window (10), an upper guide rail (22), two connecting elements (28) upper intended sliding in the rectilinear groove (26) of the upper guide rail (22) and an upper support element (24) which cooperates with said upper connecting elements (28) and in the lower part (10B) of the window ( 10), a lower guide rail (22), two connecting elements (28) for sliding in said straight groove (26) of the lower guide rail (22) and a lower bearing element (24) which cooperates with said connecting elements (28) lower.   6. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each support element (24) upper and lower respectively comprises a support rail (24A) upper and lower which has three straight portions (40A, 40B, 40C) connected by two ramps (42A, 42B), said two ramps (42A, 42B) being located in the vicinity of the upper, respectively lower, connecting elements (28), when the movable panel (14) is in the closed position, each ramp (42A) , 42B) allowing the corresponding connecting element (28) to move from the first position to the second position.   7. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper and lower guide rails (22) respectively support the upper and lower bearing rails (24).   8. Window according to claim 3 or 4 and any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the elastic means (44) comprise four springs (44) which cooperate respectively with the connecting elements (28) upper and lower .   9. Window according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises control means (54) for controlling the displacement means so that the movable panel (14) moves between the closed positions. and opening.   10. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control means comprise a motor (58) and a transmission cable (56) which is connected to the connecting element (28) and which is 2885381 14 actuated by said motor (58), said transmission cable (56) being located in the rectilinear groove (26).   11. Window according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable panel (14) and each guide rail 5 (22) each have an overmoulding (46, 52).   12. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the guide rail (22) extends along the lower side of the first panel (12) and the movable panel (14), in that the guide rail (22) ) has a first (22A) and a second (22B) profile respectively extending opposite the panel (12) and the movable panel (14) when the latter is in the closed position, in that the overmolding (46, 46A, 46B) is formed on said profiles (22A, 22B), and in that said first and second profiles (22A, 22B) are shaped such that overmolding (46, 46A, 46B) of the guide rail (22) forms with the lower edge of the first panel (12) a strip (50) substantially parallelepipedic, overmolding (46A) of the first profile being flush with the first panel (12).   13. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the overmolding (52, 52A) of the movable panel (14) forms a seal (52A) and allows the latter to be flush with the first panel (12). in the closed position.   14. Window according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first panel (12) and the movable panel (14) are made of transparent material (13).   15. Window according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged on a frame (18).   16. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the frame (18) supports the first panel (12) and the guide rails (22) upper and lower.   17. Window according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that said frame (18) is intended to be arranged on a vehicle (11).   18. Window according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the frame (18) is fixed by gluing (19) on the vehicle (11).