GB2132673A

GB2132673A - Window guide

Info

Publication number: GB2132673A
Application number: GB08329438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Corrado Tavella
Original assignee: Comind SpA
Current assignee: Comind SpA
Priority date: 1982-11-09
Filing date: 1983-11-03
Publication date: 1984-07-11
Also published as: DE3339600A1; IT8268308A0; FR2535776A1; NL8303756A; GB8329438D0; IT1156549B; BE898181A

Abstract

A motor vehicle window pane (K) is guided by a peripheral frame (10) having an offset projecting portion (12) adapted to slidably engage a guide provided on the vehicle body (S). The offset portion may be L, T, V or spherical in shape and engage a corresponding guide. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Glass mount arrangement for motor vehicle glass panes, in particular movable glass panes, effective to increase the interior accommodation volume The present invention relates to a glass mount arrangementfor motor vehicle glass panes, in particular movable glass panes, effective to increase the interior accommodation volume.

In the design of a motorvehicle, in particulara motor car, considerable importance is attached to the ratio of its accommodation volumetothe overall volume ofthevehicle. In particular, of great import is the ratio ofthe passengercompartmentavailable cross-dimension, as measured along the backs ofthe passengers therein, and the vehicle outside crossdimension.

An important object ofthis invention isto provide a glass mount particularlyforthe movable side window panes ofthe so-called sliding type, which can afford through the utilisation of glass guiding and holding means of conventional design - a significant increase of the inside cross-space available for a given outside dimension of the vehicle, or viceversa, which can afford a significant reduction in the vehicle outside dimensionsfora given inside cross-space available.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a glass mount arrangement which can allow an easily carried out correction of any curvature and/or planarity errors in the glass panes to provide a more accurate fitting of the glass panes in the vehicle body, with attendant improvement ofthe glass pane motion relatively to said vehicle body.

Afurther object of thins invention is to provide a glass mountarrangementwhich can also provide, where required, a means of longitudinally securing the glass pane for improved driving conditions and fitting of the glass pane to the vehicle bodyatthe intermediate positions of glass opening.

According to one aspect ofthe invention there is provided a glass mount arrangement for motor vehicle glass panes, characterized in that a glass pane is provided with at least one length of a peripheral framing insert ending in an outer portion adapted to slidablyengagewith a guiding and/or retaining seat provided on the vehicle body, the outer portion extending on a different plane from the glass plane.

The invention will be next described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given here bywayof example and notof limitation, andwhere: Figure lisa fragmentary sectional view of a glass pane incorporating the mount arrangement according to one embodiment ofthe invention; Figure2isasectionalviewsimilartotheformer, illustrating a modified construction for said mount arrangement; and Figures 3 to 5 are like sectional views showing corresponding embodiments wherein the glass pane is also secured against longitudinal movement as well as crosswise movement.

With initial reference to Figure 1,the reference character K designates a movable side glass pane of a vehicle window, and S the body of that same vehicle.

According to the invention, the glass pane K is provided with at least a length of a peripheral frame 10, either of metal or otherwise, which is fashioned with a channel-like seat 11 for enclosing the edge of the glass pane. The frame further comprises a continuous or discontinuous projecting portion or lug 12 adapted for engagement with a guiding and retention raceway 13 provided on the vehicle body S.

The raceway 13 accommodates a sealing gasket 14, e.g. formed from a tufted material or soft elastomer.

As clearly shown in the view, the plane of lay ofthe continuous lug 12 is differentfromthe plane of layof the glass, and in particular is further inboard, such that the inside flCofthe glass pane and the plane of lay of the lug delimit a space Z therebetween whose volume is a useful addition to interior room. The lug 12 is, therefore, substantially L-like in shape with the frame 10 surrounding the glass pane and the cross-dimension H of the useful space Z may be selected at will, contingent on the maximum cross-dimension ofthe motor vehicle.

It is advantageous that the plane of lay ofthe face fl < ofthe glass pane be selected in relation with that of the lug 12 such that the glass pane has its outside flush with the outer surfaces of the vehicle body. Thus, in addition to gaining the useful space Z, the aerodynamics of the vehicle outer surface is improved thanks to the substantial elimination of projecting or recessed discontinuities from the contour ofthe window gtass panes.

In the modified embodiment of Figure 2, there is shown a frame length 100 in which, instead ofthe lug 12,thereisformed a continuous or discontinuous raceway seat 120which is set astride, with the interposition of a tufted or elastomer gasket 14, to engage with a continuous blade orwing 130 of the vehcile body S. Also in this case, the frame 100 may be of metal construction or otherwise, in particular formed from a polymeric or elastomeric material. The midplane ofthe careway 120 has been moved to the inside ofthe glass pane Kto delimit said useful space Hforincreased roominess.

In the modified embodiment of Figure 3, there is shown a length of frame 200 with which a wing 220 is associated which has an end edge 221 bent to a right angle and engaged by a corresponding slideway 230 with the interposition of gaskets 12.

As may be seen in the view, the slideway 230 also comprises a right angle lip 231 adapted to cooperate with the lug 221 ofthewing 220 to securethe glass pane K parallel to its own plane of lay.

Inthe modified embodimentof Figure4,the constraint along a parallel direction to the glass pane plane of lay is accomplished by providing a cylindrical rib321 atthe end ofthe right-angle lug 320 ofthe frame length 300 and by engaging said rib, with the interposition of a gasket 14, in a corresponding semicylindrical raceway 330 provided on the vehicle body S.

Figure 5 shows a further modified construction also directed to provide a constraintforthe glass pane K, also in a parallel directiontotheplaneoflaythereof.

That constraint is achieved by providing, on a right-angle lug 420 oftheframe length 400, a widened-outT-like headpiece 421 which engages with a corresponding slideway 430 provided with right angle lips 431-432 cooperating with the rig ht-a ng [e wings of said headpiece.

Of course, within the same inventive principle, the construction details and embodiments may deviate considerably from what has been described and illustrated by way of non-restrictive example, without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. Ag lass mount arrangement for motor vehicle glass panes, in particular movable glass panes, characterized in that each glass pane is provided with at least one length of a peripheral framing insert ending in an outer portion adapted to slidablyengage with a guiding and/or retaining seat provided on the vehicle body, the outer portion extending on a different plane from the glass plane, in particular on a plane extending parallel to and inboard ofthe glass pane.

2. A glass mount arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein said outer portion of said peripheral framing insert consists of a constraint lug bentto an L-like shape to slidably engage with a guiding and retaining raceway provided on the vehicle body furtherto the rear witch respect to the plane of lay of the glass pane.

3. Aglass mountarrangementaccordingto Claims 1 and 2, wherein between the glass pane plane of lay and that of said constraint lug carried on the frame length surrounding the glass pane, there is delimited a space effective to increase the vehicle interiors volume.

4. A glass mount arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein each glass pane is surrounded by a length of a peripheral frame having a racewayformedtherein which sets astride a continuous blade or wing on the vehicle body, and wherein the midplane of the raceway extendsto the rear inside the glass pane to delimit said useful space as far as accommodation capacity is concerned.

5. A glass mount arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said costraint lug associated with said glass pane frame length comprises an end region with undercut profiles to engage with a corresponding undercut region ofthe guiding and retaining seatforthepurposeofproviding a constraint componentforthe glass pane in a parallel direction to the glass pane plane of lay.

6. A g lass mount arrangement to Claim 5, wherein the undercut region of said costraint lug is formed by one end being bentto an L-like shape.

7. A glass mount arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the undercut region of the costraint lug comprises a T-like headpiece.

8. A glass mount arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the undercut region ofthe costraint lug comprises a cylindrical rib.

9. A glass mount arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,wherein theft between the costraint lug carried on the frame and related retaining seat in the vehicle body is obtained with the interposition of a sealing gasket of a tufted or elastomer material.

10. A glass mount arrangement according to any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the plane of lay of the glass pane and the plane of lay of the costraint lug guide in the seat on the vehicle body are parallel to each other and selected such thatthe outside of the glass pane is flush with the outer surface ofthevehicle body.

11. A glass mount arrangement for motorvehicle glass panes, according to the preceding claims, substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.