Abstract: A bellows (44) for a front loading washing machine (10) having a front panel (13) providing a first channel (46) having opposed sidewalls (50), an opening (19) and a door (20) carried thereby, and further carrying a stationary drum (25), providing a second channel (48), having opposed sidewalls (52) and a rotatable drum (30), the bellows comprising an annular body portion (45) terminating in first and second fastening means (54, 56); the first fastening means (54) provided an axially extending rib (65) having opposed first and second surfaces (66, 68) and engagable with one of the sidewalls of the first channel; and the second fastening means (56) provided an axially extending rib (70) having opposed first and second surfaces (74, 75) and engagable with one of the sidewalls of the second channel and a radially extending lip (80) engagable with the door; whereby the stationary drum is sealed to the front panel of the washing machine.

Abstract: An improved seal for a sliding window pane in a vehicular backlite. The improved seal has a mounting base secured within a receiving recess presented from a fixed member in a window frame. A hinge is supported from the mounting block, and the mounting base, in turn, supports a pair of sealing lips that are preferably formed integrally with the mounting base. The sealing lips are adapted to engage the exterior surface of a sliding window pane. Opening the sliding window pane permits the hinge to pivot the sealing lips to an open position wherein the first lip is disposed out of engagement with the exterior surface of the window pane, and the second sealing lip is moved into the displacement axis of the sliding window pane. Upon closure, the sliding window pane engages the second sealing lip to pivot the hinge and drive the first sealing lip into engagement with the exterior surface of the sliding window pane.

Abstract: A window frame assembly for vehicular backlites having one or more sliding panes. The assembly has a frame portion with an inner and an outer periphery including channels which open through each periphery. The channel formed in the outer periphery houses the body portion of an elastomeric supporting strip which provides a flexible centering and protective support for the frame assembly when it is being installed in an opening in a vehicle body panel. A first and a second channel opens continuously through the inner periphery of the frame, and those channels, respectively, support sliding windows and fixed windows. The sliding windows are adapted to close the central portion of the frame and are slidable relative to the adjacent fixed windows. Lip seals are received in that channel which supports the fixed windows to provide a sealing interface with the sliding windows, at least when they are in the closed position.

Abstract: A latching mechanism (10) for automatically locking, and selectively unlocking, opposed first and second sliding members (11A and 11B). The latching mechanism (10) has first and second latch subassemblies (45 and 50). The first latch subassembly (45) is adapted to be secured to one sliding member (11A), and the second latch subassembly (50) is adapted to be secured to a second sliding member (11B). A catch block (75) is presented from the first latch subassembly (45). The catch block (70) has a cam portion (76) and a locking portion (80). The first latch subassembly (45) has a pivotally mounted first release lever (65), and the second latch subassembly (50) has a pivotally mounted second release lever (95). A latch arm (106) is presented from the second release lever (95) to engage a cam portion (76) when the sliding members (11A and 11B) are closing and to engage the locking portion ( 80) to lock with sliding members (11A and 11B) in their closed position.