Dura Global Technologies, Inc.

Atwood Mobile Products, Inc.

Excel Industries, Inc.

Excel Indusries, Inc.

Darren M Grumm

Todd E Cripe

Michael D Kobrehel

Daryl F Dankert

Mark L Smith

Leroy C Schmuck

Raymond S Butler

Roger E Schamanek

Natvar H Soni

Dennis John Buening

John M Kloster

Clayton E Flanagan

James A Molitor

Bruce A Griepenstroh

Eric Wong

Robert Carl Eckstein

Mark Mackenzie

Bruce Bostian

Bruce L Drudge

James M Deren

A multi-pane flush closing window assembly for a vehicle that has a body enclosing a passenger compartment is secured in an opening in the vehicle body by a clamp ring fastened to the interior wall of the vehicle body. The improved window assembly includes at least one fixed sub-assembly and at least one sliding sub-assembly supported by a frame. The fixed sub-assembly has a sash, and removable fasteners extend through the peripheral edge of the sash into the interior side of the frame so that the fixed sub-assembly can be independently disassembled from the interior of the vehicle without removing the frame or the clamp ring. The sliding sub-assembly is removably secured to the frame by an improved multi-piece guide track and slide pin assembly that allows removal of the sliding sub-assembly without removing the frame. The slide pins are removably secured to opposite sides of the sliding sub-assembly.

Flush-closing window for motor vehicles and method, guide track system and pin assembly therefor

A motor vehicle egress window comprises a circumferential outer frame forming an auxiliary egress opening for a motor vehicle passenger compartment and an inner frame unit. The outer frame has an outer frame member with an inner surface and at least a first striker pin. The inner frame unit is mounted to the outer frame for movement between closed and open positions has a circumferential inner frame, a glazing pane mounted to the inner frame, at least a first egress latch mounted to the inner frame, and a release mechanism. The egress latch is operative to latch to the striker pin to hold the inner frame unit in the closed position. The release mechanism includes a manually operative release handle, preferably mounted at an elevated position on a vertical side portion of the inner frame, and release linkage comprising at least a first link from the release handle to the first latch. In certain embodiments the inner and outer frames overlap radially for improved functionality.

Motor vehicle egress window

Two burner range with oven

A transom window assembly is provided that comprises a windowpane and an openable transom pane, the windowpane and the transom pane being adjacent to each other. A transom hinge hingedly connecting the windowpane and the transom pane to each other comprises a first hinge portion attached to the interior surface of the transom pane along a lower edge, preferably directly attached, and a second hinge portion attached to the interior surface of the windowpane along the transom opening edge. The transom window is capable of being swung between a closed position and an open position. Certain embodiments of the window assemblies have a flush appearance. Also provided are vehicles comprising a vehicle window assembly in accordance with those just described.

Vehicle transom window assembly

An awning-type insulated glazing assembly includes an insulated glazing having a first glazing pane and a second glazing pane mounted parallel to and spaced from the first glazing pane. The first glazing pane has a marginal portion extending beyond the second glazing pane in at least a first direction in a plane of the first glazing pane. A mounting hinge defines a hinge axis and is secured to the insulated glazing for hingedly mounting the insulated glazing for awning-type movement about the hinge axis. A window regulator is secured to the insulated glazing for controlling the awning-type movement of the insulated glazing about the hinge axis.

Awning-type insulated glazing assembly

A door check for holding a door in an open position is disclosed, which is particularly useful for thin doors. The door check comprises a check body attached to the door and having an opening. The door check pivots with the door about a first axis. A main link is slidable through the door check opening as the door pivots. A second link is pivotably attached to the main link, and pivotably about a second axis with respect to a rigid member. As the check body pivots about the first axis, the second link pivots about the second axis and the main link translates through the opening in the check body. The main link may have an irregular surface so that a large force may be required to move the door back from the open position to a closed position.

Dual link door check

A motor vehicle door module, built as a preassembled unit, includes a windowpane movable between open and closed positions, an integrated window regulator assembly including a drive mechanism such as a drive motor or hand crank for moving the windowpane between the open and closed positions, a cable assembly, cable routers such as pulleys or sliders, a seal assembly, and a door frame assembly including run channels. The windowpane includes a bracket assembly which is slidably disposed within the run channels. The cable assembly includes a cable connected to the bracket assembly and the drive mechanism for transferring a force of the drive mechanism to the bracket assembly to move the windowpane between the open and closed positions. The cable routers are attached to fore and aft door frames of the door frame assembly and route the cable between the drive mechanism and the bracket assembly. The seal assembly forms a seal between the windowpane and the door frames and between the windowpane and the motor vehicle body. The windowpane may be positioned so that in the closed position, the windowpane is generally flush with an exterior surface of the motor vehicle body. The brackets of the bracket assembly and the run channels may be T, U, J and I shaped in cross section. The cable can be attached to the bracket assembly by a snap fit carrier.

Door module having a windowpane which includes brackets for attaching

A rotationally biasing window regulator for controlling the motion of a windowpane, such as a windowpane in a motor vehicle door or door module, comprises a motor or hand crank to produce a force to move the windowpane, drive arm and a sector gear to transmit the force, an attachment assembly attached to the windowpane and a slider assembly slidingly attached to the attachment assembly and mounted over the drive arm, and a counterbalance spring positioned between the attachment assembly and the drive arm placing rotational force on the slider assembly, which directly biases the attachment assembly to force the windowpane in a lateral direction towards a glass run channel. The slider assembly can slide in a stamped metal bracket or in a C-channel. A clip connecting the attachment assembly to the drive arm may be used to releasably secure the regulator in a said position. In alternative preferred embodiment, a pre-assembled door module for installation into a motor vehicle door is provided with a biasing window regulator placing rotational force on a windowpane. The windowpane may optionally be attached to the door module as a complete unit prior to final assembly, and may be installed into the vehicle door through a door module opening below the beltline.

Door with biasing window regulator

A modular sliding window assembly in a motor vehicle has two glazing panes, typically a sliding subassembly incorporating two vertically mounted transparent panes, which are slidably mounted in a circumferential frame slightly to the interior of, substantially parallel to and between two fixed panes. The sliding panes are mounted for sliding laterally back and forth between their open and closed positions. A motor and drive drum apparatus for powered operation of the window assembly is mounted to the vehicle body at a location remote from the frame. First and second cable fasteners are mounted to first and second sliding panes, respectively, and first and second cable guides are provided to guide a drive cable. The drive cable extends from the drive drum to the second cable fastener through the first cable guide, from the second cable fastener to the first cable fastener through the second cable guide, and from the first cable fastener to the drive drum through the first cable guide.

Power drive system for modular dual pane rear-mounted window assembly

A motor vehicle window construction has a pull-pull closed loop cable drive system for opening and closing a glazing pane slidably mounted in a frame. A motor and drive drum apparatus for powered operation of the window construction is mounted to the vehicle body at a location remote from the frame. The cable system includes drive cable wrapped around the drive drum. A first drive cable segment extends laterally from the glazing pane or from a slidably mounted subassembly incorporating the glazing pane, toward one side of the frame member. A second drive cable segment extends from the glazing pane or subassembly toward the opposite side of the frame. The glazing pane and drive cable together form a closed loop from the drive drum. Rotating of the drive drum in a first rotational direction by actuation of the drive motor pulls the slidably mounted transparent pane toward its open position. Rotating the drive drum in the opposite rotational direction pulls the glazing pane toward its closed position. A method also is provided for retrofitting a manual-slide window construction preinstalled in a motor vehicle body to be a powered slide window as just described. A retrofitting kit is provided for carrying out such retrofitting method.

Motor vehicle window construction with pull-pull cable system

An improved torque window assembly for motor vehicles has a peripheral frame defining an opening, and a moveable glazing pane pivotally mounted to the frame for movement about a pivot axis between an open and closed position. A torque handle is operatively connected to the glazing pane by a linkage assembly, including a torque bar which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A mounting assembly for the moveable glazing pane includes a hinge rail along a peripheral edge of the glazing pane. The hinge rail provides a U-shaped glazing channel to receive the peripheral edge of the glazing pane with a biased interference fit. The linkage from the torque bar to the hinge rail includes a one-piece hinge link having a substantially planar link section perpendicular to the hinge rail and two or more tabs received, one each, into U-shaped hinge channels extending axially along the hinge rail. In certain preferred embodiments, one or both ends of the torque bar carries a one-piece torque bar bushing having an end cap portion covering the end of the torque bar and a unitary link portion extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the torque bar. The end cap portion of the one-piece torque bar bushing may be rotatably received in a bore of a torque bar support member mounted directly or indirectly to the frame. In certain preferred embodiments In certain preferred embodiments the torque handle forms a clutch assembly in which an inner disc is mounted for rotation in registry or synchrony with the torque bar and an outer hand-rotatable disc overlies the inner disc. The inner disc is rotatable in response to rotation of the outer disc up to a preselected torque level, after which the outer disc overruns the inner disc in either rotational direction.

Growing community of inventors

Cassopolis, MI, United States of America

Darren M Grumm