The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 1991
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1990
Barbra D Rhoads, Troy, MI (US);
Michael A DeBolt, Dearborn, MI (US);
Ray A Dickie, Northville Township, Wayne County, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A hinge and a weather seal are provided for connecting together two adjacent panes in a rear window of an automobile having a fold-down convertible top. The hinge comprises a bonded flexible material, overlapping each adjacent peripheral edge portion of the two panes, on each interior of the rear window surface. The flexible material is preferably bonded to a ceramic frit trim coating located on each adjacent edge portion of the panes so as to screen the flexible material from degradative ultraviolet radiation. The bonded flexible material may comprise a silicone-coated glass fiber cloth having a silicone adhesive thereon for bonding the cloth to the panes. Alternatively, the bonded flexible material may comprise a vinyl-backed cotton fabric dielectrically bonded to the panes. A weather seal, flush with the two panes, is included within a gap located between opposing end portions of the panes. The weather seal may comprise a fluoropolymer resin strip bonded with a silicone adhesive to the end portions of the panes. The weather seal serves to protect the bonded flexible material from environmental degradation.