GB2151680A

GB2151680A - Vehicle door window stabilizer

Info

Publication number: GB2151680A
Application number: GB08334036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael P Alexander
Original assignee: American Sunroof Corp
Current assignee: American Sunroof Corp
Priority date: 1959-05-26
Filing date: 1983-12-21
Publication date: 1985-07-24
Also published as: GB8334036D0; DE3400626A1

Abstract

A stabilizer (10) for a vehicle door window (28) comprises first and second upwardly extending, spaced support members (40, 42) which extend from the inner surface of the door (14) to the windshield frame (22) and are disposed on opposite sides of the window. Preferably, resilient members (44, 46) allow upwards and downward sliding movement of the window (28) but prevent lateral movement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle Door Window Stabilizer This invention relates to door window structures.

Prior to the 1960's, it was common for the front door of a vehicle to be provided with a large vertically movable main window and a smaller, triangular vent window or quarterlight which was pivotally mounted on the doorforward of the main window. A rigid post was mounted on the door to separate the main window and the quarterlight and to provide stability for both windows, particularly the larger main window when in the fully or partially raised position, as the side edges of the main window constantly engaged tracks formed in the post and the surrounding door frame. However, due to changes in the design of the vehicle windshield and the viewing difficulty posed by the rigid post, the quarterlight was gradually eliminated in favour of a larger, single piece door window.

The increased popularity of hard top vehicles resulted in the single piece door window becoming unframed, that is, the window slid along guide tracks mounted within the lower portion of the door, but was without support above the upper edge of the door. Sealing strips were mounted on the side edges of the roof and the windshield pillar to provide sealing for the door window in the fully raised position.

While the hardtop construction with a single size door window provided an appealing appearance and an effective seal around the window, difficulties were encountered when such a window construction was used on a vehicle having a convertible top. The convertible top, which carried the window sealing strips at its outer edges, provided an effective seal and lateral support for the window when the convertible top was in the fully raised position. However, when the convertible top was lowered, the upper portion of the door window remained unsupported which enabled the window to move laterally and resulted in noise and eventual wear and misalignment of the window movement regulating mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided, in a vehicle having a pivotally mounted door, a windshield frame including an upwardly extending side frame member, the side frame member and the door at least partially defining a window opening, and a single pane window mounted within the door for sliding movement between raised and lowered positions, a vehicle door window stabilizer comprising first and second spaced support members each joined to the door at one end and to the windshield frame at the other end, the support members being disposed on opposite sides of the window, the window slidingly engaging the support members for upwards and downwards movement.

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention thus provides a stabilizer for a vehicle door window which prevents lateral movement of the door window when in the full or partially raised positions.

Preferably, resilient members formed of rubber or felt are mounted on the first and second support members on the surfaces facing the window and are engaged by the window to allow vertical sliding movement of the window but prevent lateral movement thereof.

A window stabilizer in accordance with the present invention overcomes many of the problems associated with previously devised door constructions since undesired lateral movement of the door window is eliminated. A stabilizer in accordance with the present invention is particularly suited for use on vehicles without a window frame mounted on the door, including hard top vehicles, but more particularly on vehicles having a convertible top.

By providing spaced support members which extend upward between the door and the windshield frame and which the window slidingly engages, the window is free to move vertically and yet is prevented from moving in a sideways or lateral direction when in the full or partially raised positions. This eliminates the noise previously encountered in vehicles having a convertible top when the top is down since the window lacks any lateral support and, further, eliminates the wear and subsequent misalignment of the window movement regulating mechanism caused by such undesired lateral movement of the window.Finally, a vehicle window door stabilizer in accordance with the present invention serves a decorative function in that it separates the window panel into a large main window and a simulated vent window or quarterlight even though the door window comprises only a single large size window panel.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle; and Figure 2 is a sectional view, generally taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Throughout the following description and drawing, identical reference numbers are used to refer to the same component shown in multiple figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a vehicle door window stabilizer 10 for stabilizing the door window of a vehicle 12 from lateral movement when in the full or partially raised position. The stabilizer 10 is suited for use on vehicles having a hard top construction and, more particularly, vehicles having a convertible top, since both types of vehicle constructions may lack a window frame completely surrounding the door window.

As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle door window stabilizer 10 is mounted on a vehicle 12, such as an automobile. As is conventional the vehicle 12 includes side doors 14 which are pivotally mounted to the body of the vehicle, each door 14 comprising a door body constructed from inner and outer connected panels 16 and 18, respectively. The inner and outer panels 16 and 18 define an interior space within the body of the door 14 in which various mechanical hardware, such as a latch mechanism, hinges, a window guide assembly, and a window regulator mechanism, is mounted.

The vehicle 12 is also provided with a front windshield 20 which is mounted in a windshield frame assembly 22 formed by an upper header 24 and opposed side frame members or pillars 26. The windshield side frame members or pillars 26 and the door 14 cooperate to define partly a window opening in which a single panel door window 28 is disposed for sliding upward and downward movement.

Although the vehicle door window stabilizer 10 of the present invention finds advantageous use on vehicles having a hard top construction, greater advantages can be realized by employing the stabilizer 10 on a vehicle having a convertible top 30 which may be raised or lowered to cover or uncover the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

As noted above, the vehicle 12 is provided with a single pane window panel 28, preferably formed of transparent glass, which is slidingly movable between a raised position, shown in Figure 1, to a lowered position wherein the window 28 is disposed within the interior of the door 14 between the inner and outer panels 16 and 18. As is conventional, the window 28 slides within guide tracks, such as guide track 36 shown in Figure 2, which are mounted within the interior of the door 14 and is driven by a window regulating mechanism, not shown, which controls the vertical sliding movement of the window 28.

Various window sealing members, not shown, are mounted on the inner surface of the windshield pillar 26 and on the side edges of the roof 30 and function to provide a watertight seal around the edges of the window 28 when the window 28 is moved to the fully raised position and the roof 30 is in the raised position.

As shown in Figure 1, and in greater detail in Figure 2, the stabilizer 10 comprises first and second spaced support members 40 and 42 which extend in a substantially upward direction. Preferably, the first and second support members 40 and 42 are in the form of elongate strips and are joined at one end to the inner surfaces of the door 14 and at the other end to the windshield pillar 26 by suitable means, such as by welding or by the use of fasteners.

The first and second support members 40 and 42 are disposed on opposite sides of the window 28 and are slidingly engaged by the window 28. Thus, the first and second support members 40 and 42 trap the window 28 therebetween to prevent lateral movement of the window and, yet, allow sliding upward and downward movement of the window between raised and lowered positions.

Preferably, resilient members 44 and 46, in the form of elongate strips of rubber, felt, etc., are mounted on those surfaces of the support members 40 and 42 which face the window 28. The resilient members 44 and 46 loosely abut the window 28 to allow sliding vertical movement thereof but securely retain the window 28 in an upwardly extending plane so as to prevent undesired lateral movement of the window 28 when the window 28 is in the raised or partially raised position.

Thus, there has been disclosed a unique vehicle door window stabilizer which uniquely functions to prevent undesired lateral movement of the door window when in the raised or partially raised position. The stabilizer of the present invention is advantageously used in vehicles having a convertible top which lacks any type of window frame surrounding the window. In this manner, the stabilizer functions to provide lateral support for the door window when the convertible top is in the lowered or down position so as to prevent lateral movement of the window which has previously resulted in noise, rattles and unnecessary wear on the window regulating mechanisms.

The vehicle door window stabilizer of the present invention also serves a decorative function in that the stabilizer divides the large single door window into a main section and a simulated, triangular shaped vent window or quarterlight.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a pivotally mounted door, a windshield frame including an upwardly extending side frame member, the side frame member and the door at least partially defining a window opening, and a single pane window mounted within the door for sliding movement between raised and lowered positions, a vehicle door window stabilizer comprising first and second spaced support members each joined to the door at one end and to the windshield frame at the other end, the support members being disposed on opposite sides of the window, the window slidingly engaging the support members for upwards and downwards movement.

2. A vehicle door window stabilizer in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which resilient members are mounted on the support members on the surface facing the window, the resilient members slidingly engaging the window to prevent lateral movement of the window.

3. A vehicle door window stabilizer in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the support members engage the window at a position to the rear of the front edge of the window.

4. A vehicle door window stabilizer in a vehicle, the stabilizer being substantially as described herein with. reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

5. A vehicle including a vehicle door window stabilizer in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claim 1 above has been deleted or textually amended.

New ortextually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. In a vehicle having a pivotally mounted door, a windshield frame including an upwardly extending side frame member, the side frame member and the door at least partially defining a window opening, and a single pane window mounted within the door for sliding vertical movement between a raised position filling the window opening and a lowered position, a vehicle door window stabilizer comprising first and second spaced support members each joined to the door at one end at a point spaced rearward of the forward edge of the door and to the windshield frame at the other end, the support members being disposed on opposite sides of the window, the window slidingly engaging the support members for upwards and downwards movement.