Zipper less removable windows for a folding suv soft top

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021045-B2
Application number	US-201916428340-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2019
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A zipper less removable window system having removable windows for use with a foldable, stowable roof for a vehicle. A plurality of attachment devices of the zipper less removable window system connect the windows to the foldable, stowable roof and to the vehicle without the use of zippers. The operator zipper effort caused by traditional windows is thereby eliminated and misalignment issues present with traditional zippered windows is eliminated or reduced. The stress placed on the portions of the windows connectable to the foldable roof during installation and removal, including around curved portions of the removable window, is eliminated or reduced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle, comprising
a rear window that is removable;
at least two rear side windows that are removable;
a deck side strip connected to a top deck portion of a roof of said vehicle;
a rear deck strip connected to said top deck portion;
a first retainer connected to said deck side strip;
a second retainer connected to said rear deck strip;
a rear side window carrier selectively connected to said first retainer to connect said rear side windows to said deck side strip;
a rear window carrier selectively connected to said second retainer for connecting said rear window to said rear deck strip;
a third retainer connected to said rear window; and
a tailgate bar adapted to selectively connect at a rear opening of said vehicle, said tailgate bar connected to said third retainer adapted to connect said rear window to the vehicle body.

2. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window carrier further comprises,
a recess, each of said rear side windows connected to a respective rear side window carrier within said recess by adhesive and/or sewing;
a channel portion, said channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a top deck retainer that is connected to said top deck further connecting said top deck to said rear side windows.

3. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear window carrier further comprises,
a recess, said rear window connected to said rear window carrier within said recess; and
a channel portion, said channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a rear deck retainer that is connected to a rear valance top deck, wherein said rear valance top deck is connected to said rear top deck, further connecting said rear top deck to said rear window.

4. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said tailgate bar further comprises,
a swing gate weatherstrip adapted to provide a sealing function between said tailgate bar and a panel swing gate outer of said vehicle body; and
a tailgate clip adapted to connect to said body of the vehicle, said tailgate bar selectively connected to said tailgate clip adapted for connecting said tailgate bar to said vehicle.

5. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said rear window further comprises
a rear window glass;
a rear window side carrier having a notch, said rear window side carrier connected to said rear window glass;
a channel portion formed in said rear window side carrier, said channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a respective rear side window retainer connected to each of said rear side windows to vertically connect said rear side windows to said rear window.

6. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each of said rear side windows further comprises
a rear side window panel;
a rear side window retainer connected to said rear side window panel;
wherein said rear side window retainer is selectively connected within a channel formed in a removable door rail adapted to connect an edge of said rear side windows to said vehicle.

7. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a rear side window retainer adapted to be received and retained between a rear side panel outward and belt rail on said vehicle body to provide a connection along an edge of the rear side windows to said body of the vehicle.

8. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said deck side strip and rear side strip are fabric and wrap around a bulb portion of said first retainer and second retainer, said rear side window carrier and rear window carrier in sliding engagement with said bulb portions, respectively.

9. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said rear side window carrier includes a channel portion open on at least one end and retains a bulb portion of said first retainer longitudinally within said channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said first retainer out of said channel portion, including, moving laterally out of said channel portion.

10. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said rear window carrier includes a channel portion open on at least one end and retains a bulb portion of said second retainer longitudinally within said channel portion while preventing undesirable lateral movement of said second retainer out of said channel portion, including, moving laterally out of said channel portion.

11. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said removable rear window and rear side windows have no zippers.

12. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said rear window and at least two rear side windows include polyvinyl chloride window panels.

13. A zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle, comprising
a rear window that is removable;
at least two rear side windows that are removable;
a top deck connected to a deck side strip, said top deck adapted to connect to a roof of said vehicle;
a rear top deck connected to a rear side strip and to a rear valance top deck, said rear top deck adapted to connect to the roof;
a rear deck retainer connected to said rear valance top deck;
a first retainer connected to the deck side strip;
a second retainer connected to the rear side deck strip;
a rear side window carrier selectively connected to said first retainer to connect said rear side windows to said top deck;
a rear window carrier selectively connected to said second retainer for connecting said rear window to said rear top deck;
a fourth channel portion formed in said rear window carrier, said fourth channel portion selectively receiving and retaining said rear deck retainer further connecting said rear top deck to said rear window;
a third retainer connected to said rear window;
a tailgate bar adapted to selectively connect at a rear opening of said vehicle, said tailgate bar connected to said third retainer to adapted to connect said rear window to the vehicle body; and
a rear side window retainer connected to said rear side windows adapted to selectively connect said rear side windows to the vehicle body.

14. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein said tailgate bar further comprises,
a swing gate weatherstrip adapted to provide a sealing function between said tailgate bar and a panel swing gate outer of said vehicle body; and
a tailgate clip adapted to connect to said body of the vehicle, said tailgate bar selectively connected to said tailgate clip adapted for connecting said tailgate bar to said vehicle.

15. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein said rear window further comprises
a rear window glass;
a rear window side carrier having a notch, said rear window side carrier connected to said rear window glass;
a channel portion formed in said rear window side carrier, said channel portion selectively receiving and retaining a respective rear side window retainer connected to each of said rear side windows to connect said rear side windows to said rear window.

16. The zipper less removable window assembly for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each of said rear side windows further comprises
a rear side window panel;
a front rear side window retainer connected to said rear side window panel;
wherein s

Assignees

• Bestop Inc

Inventors

• Hanson Eric John

Classifications

• B60J1/1807 Primary

  movable for vehicles with convertible top · CPC title

• B60J7/10

  readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins (covering of loads on vehicles by tarpaulins B60P7/04) · CPC title

• B60J1/085

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B60J1/004

  Mounting of windows · CPC title