Removable rear window assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12011977-B2
Application number	US-202017124772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2020
Priority date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle includes a body having a wall extending cross-vehicle and having an upper edge defining a roller surface with at least one locator aperture, a structural frame at least partially defining a rear window opening with the wall, and a removable rear window assembly configured for removable coupling with the vehicle. The removable rear window assembly includes at least one rolling locator assembly configured to roll across the roller surface to support at least a portion of a weight of the rear window assembly to facilitate assisting a user with installing and/or removing the rear window assembly into or out of the rear window opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a body including a wall extending cross-vehicle and having an upper edge defining a roller surface with at least one locator aperture;
a structural frame at least partially defining a rear window opening with the wall; and
a removable rear window assembly configured for removable coupling with the vehicle, the removable rear window assembly including at least one rolling locator assembly configured to roll across the roller surface to support at least a portion of a weight of the rear window assembly to facilitate assisting a user with installing and/or removing the rear window assembly into or out of the rear window opening.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a pickup and the wall is a dividing wall between a truck bed cargo area and an interior of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear window assembly further includes a glass window supported by a perimeter window frame.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the window frame includes a support bracket extending from a window frame interior surface, and
wherein the at least one rolling locator assembly is coupled to the support bracket.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each rolling locator assembly of the at least one rolling locator assembly includes:
a base member;
a roller support coupled to the base member; and
a roller rotatably supported by the roller support.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the roller support includes a pair of flanges extending from a main body that is coupled to the base member, the pair of flanges rotatably supporting the roller therebetween.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the roller support is oriented at an angle relative to a vertical axis such that while the at least one rolling locator assembly rolls along the roller surface, the rear window assembly is oriented at an angle away from structural frame.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the rolling locator assembly further includes a guide arm coupled to and extending from the base member, the guide arm configured to selectively engage an interior surface of the wall to facilitate guiding the rolling locator assembly as it rolls along the roller surface.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the guide arm includes a first portion extending from the base member and a second portion extending from the first portion.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first portion is oriented at an angle relative to a vertical axis, and the second portion is oriented substantially along the vertical axis.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator aperture is configured to receive the at least one rolling locator assembly to facilitate securing the rear window assembly to the wall.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the rear window assembly further includes at least one lock configured to selectively engage the structural frame to further secure the rear window assembly to the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least one lock is an L-shaped lock rotatably coupled to a window frame of the rear window assembly.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the structural frame is part of a hard top assembly configured to be removably coupled to the vehicle body.

Assignees

• Boyle Michael S
• Schultz Jason E
• Chakilam Sahas
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Boyle Michael S
• Schultz Jason E
• Chakilam Sahas

Classifications

• B62D33/04

  Enclosed load compartments {; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains (side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04)} · CPC title

• B60J7/0076

  separately collapsible C-pillars, e.g. by folding inwardly or sliding (B60J7/126 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60J1/183

  slidable · CPC title

• B60J7/11 Primary

  Removable panels, e.g. sunroofs · CPC title

• B60J7/106

  readily detachable hard-tops (storage compartment for collapsible flexible tops B60J7/20) · CPC title