Safari glass

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760173-B2
Application number	US-202117448497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2021
Priority date	Sep 22, 2020
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Top side view windows are canted between a vehicle cabin roof and sides along a length of the vehicle, truncating a corner between the roof and sides. The top side view windows may open outwardly from an interior of the cabin, and may open outwardly and upwardly similar to a safari windshield. Hinges and a latch allow movement of the top side view windows, with the latch securing the respective window in an open or closed position. The latch may include a strap with a flexible end wrapping around interior trim, optionally with a magnet at the tip to hold the flexible end in position when wrapped. A rigid portion of the strap holds the window when in the open position, and may include openings receiving protrusions from the interior trim or teeth engaging with a tip of a rachet cam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cabin assembly, comprising:
a cabin having a cabin roof and cabin sides, the cabin roof extending for a portion of a length between a front and a rear of a vehicle;
cabin sides extending for a portion of the length between the front and the rear of the vehicle;
one or more windows canted between the cabin roof and the cabin sides along a portion of the length between the front and the rear of the vehicle, the one or more windows each configured to open outwardly from an interior of the vehicle and to be secured in an open position and in a closed position; and
for each of the one or more windows:
two spaced apart hinges attaching the respective window to a portion of the cabin in a manner allowing rotation of the respective window, each of the two spaced apart hinges secured to a rail of a vehicle body including the cabin, and
a latch securing the respective window in the open position or the closed position, wherein the latch is secured at one end to the respective window and at an opposite end to a rail of the vehicle body, and wherein the respective window is movable between the open position and the closed position by an occupant.

2. The cabin of claim 1 , wherein the one or more windows comprise two windows on each side of the vehicle, each window aligned with a passenger door in one of the cabin sides.

3. The cabin of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more windows comprises:
a transparent material; and
a window frame to which the transparent material is secured, the window frame having an opening therethrough.

4. The cabin of claim 1 , wherein the two spaced apart hinges are each spring-biased to inhibit movement of the respective window from one of the open position or the closed position.

5. The cabin of claim 3 , wherein the transparent material is glass.

6. The cabin of claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises:
a strap having an elongated body with a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to the respective window and the second end extends opposite the first end and is positioned such that the elongated body of the strap rests within a latch housing,
wherein the elongated body of the strap includes engagement teeth disposed along a portion of the elongated body, and
wherein the latch housing comprises a lever resiliently connected to an opposing engagement tooth configured to cooperatively engage with the engagement teeth of the strap and to allow movement of the strap within the latch housing.

7. The cabin of claim 6 , wherein the strap includes a flexible end configured to be wrapped around interior trim over a rail within the cabin.

8. The cabin of claim 7 , wherein a tip of the flexible end is magnetic to secure the flexible end when wrapped around the interior trim.

9. The cabin of claim 6 , wherein the strap includes a rigid segment holding the respective window in the open position.

10. The cabin of claim 9 , wherein the rigid segment includes an encasement providing tactile engagement for an occupant.

11. A method, comprising:
providing a cabin having a cabin roof and cabin sides, the cabin roof extending for a portion of a length between a front and a rear of a vehicle;
providing cabin sides extending for a portion of the length between the front and the rear of the vehicle;
providing one or more windows canted between the cabin roof and the cabin sides along a portion of the length between the front and the rear of the vehicle, the one or more windows each configured to open outwardly from an interior of the vehicle and to be secured in an open position and in a closed position; and
providing, for each of the one or more windows:
two spaced apart hinges attaching the respective window to a portion of the cabin in a manner allowing rotation of the respective window, each of the two spaced apart hinges secured to a rail of a vehicle body including the cabin, and
a latch securing the respective window in the open position or the closed position, wherein the latch is secured at one end to the respective window and at an opposite end to a rail of the vehicle body, and wherein the respective window is movable between the open position and the closed position by an occupant.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more windows comprise two windows on each side of the vehicle, each window aligned with a passenger door in one of the cabin sides.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more windows comprises:
a transparent material; and
a window frame to which the transparent material is secured, the window frame having an opening therethrough.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising
spring-biasing each of the two spaced apart hinges to inhibit movement of the respective window from one of the open position or the closed position.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the transparent material is glass.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the latch comprises:
a strap having an elongated body with a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to the respective window and the second end extends opposite the first end and is positioned such that the elongated body of the strap rests within a latch housing,
wherein the elongated body of the strap includes engagement teeth disposed along a portion of the elongated body, and
wherein the latch housing comprises a lever resiliently connected to an opposing engagement tooth configured to cooperatively engage with the engagement teeth of the strap and to allow movement of the strap within the latch housing.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the strap includes a flexible end configured to be wrapped around interior trim over a rail within the cabin.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein a tip of the flexible end is magnetic to secure the flexible end when wrapped around the interior trim.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the strap includes a rigid segment holding the respective window in the open position.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the rigid segment includes an encasement providing tactile engagement for an occupant.

Assignees

• Canoo Tech Inc

Inventors

• Kadlec Jenna
• Brogan Cian John Francis
• Duncan Nathaniel B

Classifications

• B60J1/14 Primary

  with pivotal or rotary movement · CPC title

• B60J1/008 Primary

  of special shape, e.g. beveled edges, holes for attachment, bent windows, peculiar curvatures such as when being integrally formed with roof, door, etc. · CPC title

• B60J1/007

  received in frames to be attached to vehicle · CPC title

• B60J1/10

  fixedly mounted {(B60J1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60J1/006

  characterised by fixation means such as clips, adhesive, etc. (incorporated in seal B60J10/70) · CPC title