Window panel support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925850-B2
Application number	US-201414893718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2014
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A window panel support structure includes a fixed panel, and a movable panel. The movable panel opens and closes a window by moving up and down. A front-side guide member is provided on an interior-side face of a rear edge part of the fixed panel which is adjacent to the movable panel. The front-side guide member includes a front-side guide groove provided along the rear edge part. The front-side guide groove is opened toward a front edge part. A front-side slide member is provided on an interior-side face of a front edge part of the movable panel which is adjacent to the fixed panel. The front-side slide member includes a front slider provided along the front edge part and is bent toward a rear edge part. The front slider is fitted to the front-side guide groove.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A window panel support structure comprising:
a window frame;
a fixed panel fixed to the window frame;
a movable panel placed in the window frame so as to be planarly adjacent to the fixed panel, and configured to move up and down in the window frame along a sliding direction;
a guide member provided on an interior-side face of a first edge part of the fixed panel and including a guide groove provided along the first edge part of the fixed panel, the first edge part of the fixed panel being adjacent to the movable panel, and the guide groove being opened toward a second edge part of the fixed panel; and
a slide member provided on an interior-side face of a first edge part of the movable panel and including a fitting part provided along the first edge part of the movable panel, and the fitting part including an opening, the first edge part of the movable panel being adjacent to the fixed panel, and the slide member being bent toward a second edge part of the movable panel and positioned within the guide groove, wherein:
the fitting part positioned within the guide groove and an end portion of the slide member is positioned within, and covered by, the opening of the fitting part so that the movable panel is supported by the guide member so as to be movable up and down;
the first edge part of the fixed panel and the second edge part of the fixed panel are opposite ends of the fixed panel in a front-rear direction of the window panel support structure; and
the first edge part of the movable panel and the second edge part of the movable panel are opposite ends of the movable panel in the front-rear direction of the window panel support structure, wherein:
the guide member includes a base part that is provided on the interior-side face of the fixed panel and projects in a direction away from the interior-side face of the fixed panel and a cover part that projects from the base part toward the movable panel so as to form a space portion between the cover part and an interior-side face of the movable panel, a folded back rib of the cover part overlaps with the interior-side face of the movable panel in the space portion and overlaps the end portion of the slide member positioned in, and covered by, the fitting part, the folded-back rib projects inwardly from a projecting end of the cover part of the guide member toward the second edge part of the fixed panel, and at least a portion of one side of the fitting part contacts a surface of the folded back rib, and at least a portion of another side of the fitting part contacts a surface of the cover part of the guide member;
the slide member is bent so as to be placed over the space portion and the guide groove; when a window opening is closed by the movable panel, an end face of the fixed panel and an end face of the movable panel face each other; and
the space portion is a space formed between the guide member and the interior-side face of the movable panel and wherein:
the guide member includes a notch on a side close to the second edge part of the fixed panel; and
the notch extends along the first edge part of the fixed panel.

2. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the guide member includes an extending part which extends below a lower edge part of the fixed panel; and
the notch is provided in the extending part.

3. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the fitting part includes a spring portion configured to exert force on an inner wall surface of the guide groove.

4. The window panel support structure according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a second slide member provided on the interior-side face of the second edge part of the movable panel, along the second edge part of the movable panel; and
a second guide member provided in the window frame and that engages with the second slide member, wherein:
the second slide member is engaged with the second guide member so that the movable panel is supported by the second guide member so as to be movable up and down;
the second slide member includes a second fitting part;
the second fitting part projects from the second edge part of the movable panel and faces the window frame;
the second guide member includes a second guide groove that is opened toward the second edge part of the movable panel;
the second fitting part is positioned within the second guide groove; and
an opening part of the second guide groove is provided with an engaging part configured to engage with the second fitting part.

5. The window panel support structure according to claim 4 , wherein:
the second fitting part integrally includes a second spring portion and a third spring portion;
the second spring portion is configured to exert force on an inner wall surface of the second guide groove; and
the third spring portion is configured to exert force on the engaging part.

6. The window panel support structure according to claim 4 , wherein
a recessed part extending along the sliding direction of the movable panel is formed on an inner wall surface of the second guide groove.

7. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the movable panel is a sheet of reinforced glass; and
a lower edge part of the sheet of the reinforced glass is held by a bracket with a bolt.

8. The window panel support structure according to claim 7 , further comprising
a regulator that is configured to move the movable panel up and down, wherein
the bracket is connected to the regulator.

9. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the movable panel is a sheet of laminated glass including an interlayer;
a lower edge part of the sheet of the laminated glass is held by a bracket with an adhesive;
an insertion pin is provided in the bracket;
a locking hole is formed in the lower edge part of the movable panel; and
the insertion pin is inserted into the bracket without contacting the bracket.

10. The window panel support structure according to claim 9 , further comprising
a regulator that is configured to move the movable panel up and down, wherein
the bracket is connected to the regulator.

11. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the guide member further includes a folded-back rib;
the base part is provided on the interior-side face of the first edge part of the fixed panel, projects toward a vehicle-body inner side in a vehicle-width direction, and has a recessed part that is recessed toward the movable panel;
the folded-back rib projects toward the fixed panel from a projecting end of the cover part; and
the notch is constituted by the recessed part of the base part.

12. The window panel support structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the base part, the cover part, and the folded-back rib are integrally formed.

13. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the notch is configured such that, when the slide member is engaged with the guide member, the notch guides the slide member from an outside of the guide member so that that the slide member is placed over the space portion and the guide groove.

14. The window panel support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the notch is expanded toward the second edge part of the fixed panel.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoshida Minoru
• Toyota Masaru
• Okubo Takayuki
• Yamanaka Yoshiharu

Classifications

• B60J1/006

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

• B60J1/10

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

• B60J10/79

  for flush-glass windows, i.e. for windows flush with the vehicle body or the window frame · CPC title

• B60J1/004 Primary

  Mounting of windows · CPC title

• B60J1/007

  received in frames to be attached to vehicle · CPC title