Window Support Means Patents (Class 296/201)
  • Patent number: 11554648
    Abstract: A device or system for use in vehicles, such as jeeps, having soft tops. The device or system may include a bow top clip which is configured to engage with, mount on, or secure to a portion of the vehicle, such as the roll bar cage. To help prevent the vehicle soft top from flapping, the vehicle bow top clip is configured to receive and hold a crossbar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Arcus Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Demming
  • Patent number: 11380982
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are provided of molding designs and methods for helical antennas. In an exemplary embodiment, a method generally includes placing an antenna element between a top mold core and a first bottom mold core, and injecting molding material into a first mold cavity defined by at least the top mold core, thereby forming a top portion of a helical antenna housing and two opposite side portions of the helical antenna housing. The method also includes removing the first bottom mold core and placing a second bottom mold core about the antenna element, and injecting molding material into a second mold cavity defined by at least the second bottom mold core, thereby forming a bottom portion of the helical antenna housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Molex CVS Grand Blanc, LLC
    Inventors: Chit Yong Hang, Azlan Shah Md Desah, Kok Min Ong, Hasan Yasin, Joseph Michael Combi
  • Patent number: 11225128
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a vehicle door includes a first section having a first void, a second section having a first projection, a first intermediate member received within the first void and having an inner surface that defines an interior, wherein the first projection is received within the interior, and a first coupler coupled to the first projection. The interior of the first intermediate member has at least a portion that is larger than the portion of the first projection received within that portion of the interior to permit movement of the first projection relative to the intermediate member. The first coupler is coupled to the intermediate member to maintain the position of the first projection relative to the first section. In this way, the position of the second section may be adjusted relative to the first section and the adjusted position can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jason E Schultz, Robert J Reagle
  • Patent number: 11173852
    Abstract: The subject invention includes a fixed window assembly for a vehicle comprising a fixed glass, a trim portion having a polymeric base and a decorative member bonded to the polymeric base. An encapsulation is coupled to the fixed glass and the polymeric base to mount the trim portion in a spaced and adjacent position relative to the fixed glass. A method of manufacturing is also provided using first and second molding apparatuses. Polymeric material is injected into a first mold cavity of the first molding apparatus to form the polymeric base bonded to the decorative member. Polymeric material is injected into a second mold cavity of the second molding apparatus to form the encapsulation coupled to the fixed glass and simultaneously coupled to the polymeric base to mount the trim portion in an adjacent position to the fixed glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Henniges Automotive Sealing Systems North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Husek, Daniel Slavik, Achim Grüter
  • Patent number: 11124246
    Abstract: A roof-attachment system and method for attaching a glass roof to the bodyshell of a motor vehicle, having a foam surround and having an adhesive, which, for the purpose of fastening the glass roof on the bodyshell in a materially bonded manner, is connected firstly to the glass roof, secondly to the foam surround and thirdly to the bodyshell. At an interface between the glass roof, the foam surround, and the adhesive, a step between the adhesive and the foam surround is provided with a chamfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Mirko Floreck, Reiner Armbruster
  • Patent number: 10723050
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a seal assembly for attachment to a vehicle having a securing point spaced from a vehicle point at a distance with an apparatus having first and second receptacles defining a cavity, and a bracket apparatus defining a bracket cavity, including: forming a first strip having a first body with first ends; forming a second strip having a second body with second ends; positioning one first end into the first receptacle with the first body adjacent to the bracket cavity; positioning one second end into the second receptacle; forming a molding bonding the strips together to define a mold point; forming a bracket with a receiver at a receiver point, and an interface bonded to the first body spaced such that a distance between the receiver point of the bonded bracket and the mold point is equal to the distance between the securing and vehicle points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Henniges Automotive Sealing Systems North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Thomson, Stephen J. Murree, Tom Groters, Robert Krueger, Marko Josten
  • Patent number: 10703178
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a driver side pillar extending between a door and a roof. The pillar forms a face having an outer edge adjacent the driver side door and an inner edge. Similarly, a passenger side pillar extends between a door and the roof and forms a face having an outer edge adjacent the door and inner edge. A windshield supported by a cowl and the roof has a driver side edge that extends beyond the inner edge of the driver side face and substantially covers the driver side pillar and a passenger side edge that extends beyond the inner edge of the passenger side face and substantially covers the passenger side pillar. The vehicle further includes a frit bonded around a periphery of the windshield. The frit substantially covers and is bonded to the driver and passenger side pillars making them appear to be a dark or black color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. Boettger, Michael A. Musleh, Patrick Reed, Jennifer Ann Gauthier, David C. Allen
  • Patent number: 10654204
    Abstract: A method for forming an encapsulation assembly, and a vehicle window are provided. The method includes: providing a reinforcement component; forming a primer layer covering a surface of the reinforcement component; performing a heating treatment on the reinforcement component after the primer layer is formed, to elevate a temperature of the reinforcement component; and injecting a gasket material in a mold onto the surface of the reinforcement component with elevated temperature to form a gasket. The vehicle window includes a glass; and the encapsulation assembly formed by the above method. The gasket may bind with the primer layer more closely. That is to say, binding force between the reinforcement component and the gasket may be increased. In this way, the gasket may not easily detach from the reinforcement component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Yang Sun, Ce Shi, Xiaohui Guo
  • Patent number: 10639980
    Abstract: A window glass with a seal member mounted to an opening of a vehicle includes a laminated glass including a vehicle outside glass plate, a vehicle inside glass plate, and an intermediate film; and a seal member arranged in a peripheral portion of the laminated glass. A plate thickness of the vehicle inside glass plate is less than that of the vehicle outside glass plate, and 1.0 mm or less. The vehicle outside glass plate has a shielding layer in a peripheral portion of a vehicle inside surface. In a cross section of the laminated glass perpendicular to an outer peripheral edge, an end of the vehicle inside glass plate is located inward in an in-plane direction with respect to an end of the vehicle outside glass plate. The seal member has a first fixing part that is bonded to the vehicle outside glass plate via the shielding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: AGC INC.
    Inventors: Toshimi Yajima, Kiyoshi Nobuoka
  • Patent number: 10639978
    Abstract: A panel structure 30 includes a panel 40 having a first insertion hole 42, a reinforcement 50 having a second insertion hole 52, and a fixing member 70 having a shaft 71 inserted in the first and second insertion holes 42 and 52, and sandwiching and fixing the panel 40 and the reinforcement 50 in their thickness direction. The panel 40 has a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the reinforcement 50. A diameter of the second insertion hole 52 in a direction of thermal expansion of the panel 40 is larger than a diameter of the first insertion hole 42 in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Osamu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10532779
    Abstract: A vehicle rear structure has an upper back panel, and a first closed sectional part that is coupled to a front end part of the upper back panel in a vehicle forward-rearward direction and serves as a closed sectional part having a closed section structure. The first closed sectional part is constituted of a first panel and a second panel that are panel members different from the upper back panel. The thickness of the first panel and the thickness of the second panel are larger than the thickness of the upper back panel, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 10286766
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly for an associated vehicle body includes a tailgate body movable between a closed condition and an open condition with respect to the associated vehicle body. A spoiler is secured to the tailgate body and includes an upper portion configured to overhang in a cantilever fashion from the tailgate body and opposed side portions. A seal molding is adhered to one of the side portions and extends along a side edge of the one side portion. The seal molding has an extension portion that in the closed condition of the tailgate body is located in a gap between the one side portion and an adjacent body member of the associated vehicle body. The extension portion together with the one side portion defines a water channel that opens outwardly with respect to the associated vehicle body for directing water away from the tailgate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shalette M. Farmer, Michael N. Peterson, Austin B. Kimbrell
  • Patent number: 10219640
    Abstract: An enclosure for displaying artwork, historical documents, and artifacts that require controlled atmospheric conditions is provided that is low cost and less cumbersome compared to existing microclimate enclosures. The enclosure has a frame construction that is easy to set up, maintain, and monitor with a hypoxic/anoxic microclimate that protects against, oxidation of its contents, pests, and bacterial growth. The enclosure is suitable for: paintings, works on paper, ephemera, textiles, mineral specimens, archeological metallic artifacts, animal skins and other organic items, rubber and polymers, and items susceptible to insect damage. A method of testing and servicing one or more enclosures is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventor: Jerome Feig
  • Patent number: 10150405
    Abstract: A trim strip arrangement is provided. The trim strip arrangement includes a profiled strip which partially covers a sealing profile and an end portion uniform lighting of a light gap without negatively affecting the external appearance of the trim strip arrangement. Provision is made for an external surface of the end portion to be configured as a visible surface which is optically matched to the external appearance of the adjoining sealing profile, and for an internal surface to be configured at least partially as a reflection surface which has a reflectivity which is increased with respect to the visible surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: DURA AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS, U.K., LTD
    Inventors: Torsten Hundt, Antje Krehmer, Oliver Deuscher, Markus Fisch, Joaquin Rodrigo Pastor
  • Patent number: 10046806
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure for an automobile includes a damper base connected to an outer wall of a rear side frame in a vehicle width direction on a rear side of a cross member and including a first bead projecting inward in the vehicle width direction and extending in an up-down direction and a damper support portion projecting outward in the vehicle width direction disposed on both sides of the first bead in a front-rear direction, a rear wheel house having a second bead extending in the up-down direction to overlap with an inner surface of of the first bead in the vehicle width direction, and a gusset having a third bead extending in the up-down direction to overlap with the inner surface of the first bead in the vehicle width direction and connected to an upper wall of the rear side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shohei Kabayama
  • Patent number: 10012249
    Abstract: An assembly of a first and second constructional part is provided, wherein the first constructional part has a first end and an opposite second end connected by a central part extending substantially perpendicularly to a surface of the second constructional part. The first end of the first constructional part is connected to said surface of the second constructional part with an encapsulating material at least partly surrounding said first end and adhering to said surface of the second constructional part. The first constructional part between its first and second ends is provided with at least one protruding part. The first constructional part in contact the encapsulating material is provided with a flange of which the vertical projection on said surface of the second constructive part completely covers the vertical projection of the protruding part on said surface. A method for making the assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventor: Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs
  • Patent number: 9969250
    Abstract: When an insertion groove, into which various parts are inserted, is formed on a sealing member, the present disclosure may maintain a width of an opening of the insertion groove greater than or equal to a predetermined width, facilitating the insertion. A sealing member 30 includes an insertion groove S into which a trim strip 45 is inserted. The insertion groove S has a side face S1 provided with a protruding portion 41c. The protruding portion 41c protrudes toward another side face S2 and abuts on the other side face S2 to set an opening width of the insertion groove S to a predetermined opening width or wider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Takeda, Atushi Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9862253
    Abstract: Automotive window glass to which a molding for sealing space between a car body and the window glass is to be attached, the window glass including, an attachment starting point mark indicating an attachment starting point of the molding, and at least one of a termination starting point mark and a termination last point mark in a specification range in which a termination of the molding, of which an attachment to the window glass being started from the attachment starting point, is to be placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Central Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fujii, Takao Horie
  • Patent number: 9840207
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a profile section molded by the multi-injection molding of thermoplastic materials having different hardnesses, and forming a seal or a molding for the body of a motor vehicle, as well as to a method for manufacturing said profile section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventor: Olivier Blottiau
  • Patent number: 9776479
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a window area and a hollow door body underneath the window area. A web divides the window area into a front and rear window, and extends into the door body. At least one of the windows has a movable pane, one edge of which engages into a groove of the web. A web holder is anchored on a wall of the door body, and plug connected with a lower end of the web in the longitudinal direction of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alhof
  • Patent number: 9630567
    Abstract: A package tray assembly of a vehicle includes a package tray panel and a Z-member. The package tray panel may be located adjacent a rear window cutout and defines a speaker cutout in a substantially central region of the panel, a first edge, and a second edge. The Z-member may be mounted to the panel adjacent the speaker cutout and spans across the panel from the first edge to the second edge, or from substantially the first edge to the second edge, to structurally reinforce the package tray panel and reduce vibration therein. The Z-member may be mounted to an under surface of the package tray panel and proximate a sunshade to reduce vibration within the sunshade resulting from activation of a speaker at least partially extending through the speaker cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Behrooz Shahidi, Tofiqul Islam, Madhusudhan Deme, Rezaul Choudhury, Wilson T. Ang
  • Patent number: 9505447
    Abstract: A hydro-formed body side rail is assembled by a bracket to a front header. The front header is an extruded cross-car structural support that is joined to the body side rail by a framed joint. A gap is defined between the body side outer panel and the hydro-formed side rail relative to a lateral end of a front header. Side impact test loads are applied initially to the body side rail and compress the bracket. Compression of the bracket closes the gap and the impact loads are applied to the cross-car structural support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher John May, Duncan Whipps, Darrin Neil Wagner, Fubang Wu, John Joyce
  • Patent number: 9481320
    Abstract: A vehicle body assembly includes a front pillar extending at an incline rearwards and upwards to form a part of a door opening. The front pillar includes a tubular structural member. The structural member defines a vehicle exterior-side wall section and a passenger compartment-side wall section. A windshield is adhered to the vehicle exterior-side wall section of the structural member. A pillar outer cover is disposed outwardly of the front pillar and is secured to the exterior-side wall section of the structural member. The pillar outer cover includes an edge section overlapping and sealingly engaged to the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward Bach, Kurtis Ray Horner, Adam J. Rompage, Anthony Ordonio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9475524
    Abstract: A vehicle roof frame includes an adhering structure having an adhesive carrier and an expanding structural adhesive coupled to at least a portion of an outer surface of the adhesive carrier. The expanding structural adhesive includes an installation state and a structural state, and the structural state has a larger volume than the installation state. The vehicle roof frame also includes a plurality of vehicle frame members that cooperate to form a frame joint and a joint cavity defined within the frame joint. The adhering structure is disposed within the joint cavity and the adhesive carrier and the expanding structural adhesive in the structural state substantially occupies the joint cavity and fixably couples the plurality of framing members such that the frame joint is free of supplemental mechanical connections proximate the joint cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edgar Edward Donabedian, Darrin Neil Wagner, Mark Keller, Bruno M. Barthelemy
  • Patent number: 9399393
    Abstract: A molding element for joining a part to a vehicle window pane includes a molding body having a first section configured to be secured to an edge of the window pane and a second section including a latching recess being configured to receive, in an insertion direction, a rib of the part through an engagement opening so as to detachably fasten the part to the molding element. A closure element is formed on the molding body. The closure element bridges the engagement opening in a first functional position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: ELKAMET KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Deussen, Lutz Bergmann, Wolfgang Platt, Michael Ortmueller, Hartmut Roth
  • Patent number: 9090146
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a body and a glazing, wherein the body is adapted to receive the glazing and have the glazing secured to the body. The glazing has at least one electrical component and at least one soldered electrical connector located thereon. The soldered electrical connector is arranged to be clamped between the glazing and a vehicle component upon securing the glazing to the body. This is achieved by including a resilient member, a protrusion, a flange or a lip on the vehicle to engage the soldered connection. The resilient member may be of an elastomeric material to provide a biasing force and thereby provide additional retaining support. The resilient member may be held in place by bonding. The soldered connection may be a lead free solder composition. Insulation of the soldered connection may be included. The arrangement reduces likelihood of damage to the soldered connection due to vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael Lyon
  • Patent number: 9027985
    Abstract: A vehicle having a body structure defining a window opening, the window opening at least partially framed by a window sash defining a sash channel in communication with the window opening; a laminated window panel movable within the window opening along a plane of the window opening; and a retaining structure located between the window sash and the window panel and configured to retentively engage the window panel in the presence of a transverse force on the window panel even if the window panel has become slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kovie
  • Patent number: 8998297
    Abstract: Systems for mounting a windshield to a vehicle are described. In one example, an apparatus configured to a mount a windshield to a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a foam configured to be positioned between the windshield and a frame of the vehicle along at least three sides of an interior perimeter of the windshield. The apparatus also includes one or more rigid components configured to compress the foam when the windshield is deformed. The one or more rigid components may be positioned at least partially within the foam. The apparatus further includes an attachment component configured to attach the foam to the frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Khaykin, Thomas Daniel, Daniel Lynn Larner, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Robert Kim
  • Patent number: 8991893
    Abstract: A profile element for connecting a vehicle pane to a water draining chamber includes a U-shaped snap-in recess formed by a bearing rib and a resilient leg disposed below the bearing rib. At an entrance into the snap-in recess, the bearing rib protrudes downward towards the resilient leg and the resilient leg protrudes upward towards the bearing rib so as to define an engagement aperture into the snap-in recess between an upper-most part of the protrusion of the resilient leg and a lower-most part of the protrusion of the bearing rib. A detent element is disposed in the snap-in recess behind the engagement aperture in an insertion direction of a rib of the water draining chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Platt, Michael Ortmueller, Daniel Weller
  • Patent number: 8979166
    Abstract: A fender panel mounting structure for a vehicle is configured so that a fender panel can be removed without detaching the corner glass of a non-opening window. The fender panel mounting structure has the triangular non-opening window provided between a front pillar and an outside panel. A protrusion covering the upper frame member of the front pillar is formed at the upper edge of the fender panel covering the outer surface of the outside panel. A flange protruding to the inner surface side of the non-opening window from a side edge of the protrusion, the side edge facing the non-opening window, is provided on the protrusion. A clip having a slit extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is provided at the opening edge of the non-opening window at a position corresponding to the flange. The flange is engaged in a releasable manner with the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamanaka, Masashige Iseki, Kousuke Katsumata, Noriaki Masuta
  • Patent number: 8960777
    Abstract: A lower crossbeam for a window opening, the lower crossbeam to be installed between an edge of a windshield and a firewall. The lower crossbeam includes: a first portion having an attachment edge connected to a firewall and a receiving edge for receiving the windshield edge; and a second portion having a bearing edge and a connecting edge connected to the first portion while dividing the first portion into a receiving portion and an attachment portion. The bearing edge is connectable to the firewall so as to form a transverse hollow shell between the second portion and the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Olivier Bisror, Guillaume Camus
  • Patent number: 8931821
    Abstract: An adhesively bonded window and hardware assembly includes a window member (12) presenting a surface (12a), a hardware member (14) having a flange (14a) and a projecting portion (14b) contiguous with and projecting from the flange, an adhesive member (18) disposed between the flange and the surface of the window member and adhesively bonding the hardware member (14) to the window member (12), and a sealing member (20) that envelopes part of the flange, fully surrounds the adhesive member, and bonds to and seals against the surface of the window member. The sealing member (20) serves to protect the adhesive member (18) from heat and humidity in the surrounding environment. The sealing member (20) can comprise an overmolded member formed of a polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc., AGC Flat Glass North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Ackerman, Daniel Bennett
  • Publication number: 20150001889
    Abstract: A product comprising a front body hinge pillar adaptor component and a method for adding an adaptor component to a standard front body hinge pillar to accommodate various styles of windshields and A-pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Robert N. Saje, Keith J. Saari
  • Patent number: 8894256
    Abstract: A motor vehicle window includes a door frame having a U-shaped top portion defining a channel with outer and inner lips joined by a base wall, and at least one electrically powered light source attached to an outer surface of the inner lip and configured to project light through the window on to the outside of the door. The lights are electrically connected to the car's electrical system and can be illuminated to provide various signals, such as hazard warnings or directions signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Gold
  • Publication number: 20140197663
    Abstract: Disclosed is a molding having a window clamping portion clamped on a bottom edge of a vehicle side window. The molding is such that it is equipped with a molding backside member provided with a groove, on a side of a flange surface of a vehicle side window attachment portion of the molding, and that an opening surface of the groove is opposed to the flange surface of the vehicle side window attachment portion. This molding is a molding that can be constituted by a small number of parts and that can be prevented from falling off the side window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Takayama
  • Patent number: 8757706
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cowl top positioning structure for determining the relative positions of a windshield and a front cowl top by means of a clip. The clip has: a cowl top mounting section to which the front cowl top is mounted; a windshield facing section facing the lower end surface of the windshield; and a reaction force generation section for generating a reaction force acting against a pushing force with which the lower end surface of the windshield pushes the windshield facing section toward the front of the vehicle body. The relative positions of the windshield and the front cowl top are determined by causing, by means of the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation section, the rear end surface of the front cowl top to abut against the lower end surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutada Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8651552
    Abstract: A support structure of a windshield of the present invention comprises a frame having an open section opening forward in a vehicle and a support member provided inside the frame and connecting an upper face portion and a lower face portion of the frame. The frame has a windshield support portion supporting a lower side portion of the windshield at part of the upper face portion. The support member includes a rear support portion attached to the upper face portion of the frame and a front support portion attached to a cowl panel at a specified location positioned in front of the rear support portion. The windshield support portion is positioned between the front and rear support portions in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shibutake, Toshiharu Ikeda, Yoshikazu Ide, Hiroshi Sogabe, Yasuhiko Nishida, Naoki Shibata, Kohji Hashida, Toshinori Toyohara, Nobuhiko Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8622465
    Abstract: A front pillar for an automobile includes an outer panel, an inner panel, and a hollow member disposed between the outer and inner panels. Outer flanges of the outer and inner panels are overlapped with each other to form a closed void section and a seal attachment section. The seal attachment section includes a rear section reinforcing member and a front section reinforcing member sandwiched between the outer flanges of the outer and inner panels in a rear end section and a front end section, respectively, of the front pillar, and a gap channel formed to communicate with the closed void section by partially separating the outer flanges of the outer and inner panels at a central section of the front pillar. The reinforcing members are joined to an outer wall section of the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 8596840
    Abstract: A luminant component, such as reflective tape or an electrically powered component, is applied to the window frame of a motor vehicle. The component is visible from both the outside of the window, through the window and the inside of the window to illuminate at least portions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Gold
  • Patent number: 8590960
    Abstract: Provided is a flush glass assembly for a vehicle. The flush glass assembly is constructed so that, when a moving glass is opened, a direction of the force which a user applies to a handle is the same horizontal direction as that in which the moving glass slides to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyung Soo Park, Gi Won Kim, Jae Sueng Lee, Chong Heon Kim
  • Publication number: 20130257104
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a body and a glazing, wherein the body is adapted to receive the glazing and have the glazing secured to the body. The glazing has at least one electrical component and at least one soldered electrical connector located thereon. The soldered electrical connector is arranged to be clamped between the glazing and a vehicle component upon securing the glazing to the body. This is achieved by including a resilient member, a protrusion, a flange or a lip on the vehicle to engage the soldered connection. The resilient member may be of an elastomeric material to provide a biasing force and thereby provide additional retaining support. The resilient member may be held in place by bonding. The soldered connection may be a lead free solder composition. Insulation of the soldered connection may be included. The arrangement reduces likelihood of damage to the soldered connection due to vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael Lyon
  • Publication number: 20130229031
    Abstract: A lower crossbeam for a window opening, the lower crossbeam to be installed between an edge of a windshield and a firewall. The lower crossbeam includes: a first portion having an attachment edge connected to a firewall and a receiving edge for receiving the windshield edge; and a second portion having a bearing edge and a connecting edge connected to the first portion while dividing the first portion into a receiving portion and an attachment portion. The bearing edge is connectable to the firewall so as to form a transverse hollow shell between the second portion and the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Olivier Bisror, Guillaume Camus
  • Patent number: 8523275
    Abstract: A polycarbonate window system having an integrated ROPS that reduces the thickness of cab posts of machine such that the operator's visibility is increased. The polycarbonate window system also facilitates secure retention of the polycarbonate window without requiring holes to be formed near the periphery of the polycarbonate window, thereby increasing the structural integrity of the polycarbonate window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad K. Jorgensen, Greg D. Finnes
  • Patent number: 8516770
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of a fixed pane on a car body flange and to a fastening clip for mounting the fixed pane which has a molding arranged on the pane circumferential edge and wherein on the molding at least one retaining member facing towards the body flange is provided for accommodating said fastening clip before the fastening clip for mounting the pane to the body flange is fixed in an insertion through-hole of the body flange in an automatically locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Richard Fritz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Bissinger, Erich Herbst, Guido Knupfer, Joachim Scheufler
  • Patent number: 8506001
    Abstract: This application relates to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like in a low-E coating. In certain embodiments, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2) or zirconium silicon oxynitride (e.g., ZrSiOxNy). When a layer comprising zirconium oxide or zirconium silicon oxynitride is provided as the uppermost or overcoat layer of the coated article (e.g., over a silicon nitride based layer), this results in improved chemical and heat stability in certain example embodiments. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, or in other suitable applications such as monolithic window applications, laminated windows, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Guillermo Benito Gutiérrez, Javier Unquera Algorri, Angel Alvarez Rodriguez, Jose Marcos Renes
  • Patent number: 8491045
    Abstract: A vehicle body side structure includes an outer side panel and an inner side panel. The outer side panel has an outer window area and a window sash formed adjacent to and surrounding the outer window area. The outer window area includes a removable portion that spans the outer window area. The inner side panel has an inner window area and an attachment flange formed adjacent to and surrounding the inner window area. The attachment flange is rigidly attached to the window sash along a connection area to prevent movement of the inner side panel relative to the outer side panel. The removable portion of the outer window area is located adjacent to the connection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Ameloot, Jeff Pencak, Jeff Doyle
  • Patent number: 8449023
    Abstract: A vehicle emergency egress system. In one embodiment, an emergency egress system for providing an opening for egress from a vehicle includes a frame configured to be directly attached to the vehicle, the frame having a cavity formed therein and defined on a first side by a back surface facing an exterior of the vehicle, the back surface having an opening formed therethrough; a panel removably received in the cavity for covering the opening, the back surface retaining the panel in a first direction; and at least a bracket removably attached to the frame on the exterior of the vehicle and retaining the panel in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the bracket is detachable from the frame by an occupant inside the vehicle for removal of the panel to the exterior of the vehicle in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell W. Shellenberger, Carlo A. Scarinci, David R. Avitia
  • Patent number: 8449016
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for vehicle panes is presented. The sealing arrangement has a mounting rail, a pane, and a cover connected by a connection point to a latching rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Alwin Timmermann
  • Patent number: 8444205
    Abstract: A molded component to connect a motor vehicle window with a water box includes a first segment affixable to the vehicle window and a second segment having a detent cavity bounded by a resilient leg and configured to receive a rib of the water box in an insertion direction so as to detachably affix the water box in a frictionally and/or geometrically interlocking manner in the detent cavity. A detent element projects into the detent cavity at an acute angle relative to the insertion direction such that the resilient leg is elastically deformed to a greater extent during an extraction of the rib of the water box from the detent cavity than during an insertion of the rib of the water box into the detent cavity. This facilitates the insertion and presents a greater resistance to the extraction of the rib from the detent cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Flammer, Wolfgang Platt
  • Patent number: 8429865
    Abstract: A window assembly for a wall opening can have a center bar removably engaged to a window assembly frame; the center bar having at least one deep channel to receive an edge of at least a first window pane within a portion of a channel depth on a first side and having at least a second channel on a second side of the center bar to receive an edge of a second window pane; and the center bar lowerable over the first window pane edge when disconnected to the frame to a depth within the deep channel to allow the second window pane to be disengaged from the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Webasto SE
    Inventor: Adrian Nania