Patent Application
20130312334
The invention relates to improvements in latching mechanisms for passenger vehicle transit window assemblies.
Transit window assemblies may be used on various vehicles including buses, trains, recreational vehicles, as well as other vehicles. Transit windows are utilized in harsh use environments such as public transportation and other environments where the windows are exposed to environmental as well as physical abuse from passengers. Such transit windows require an efficient latching mechanism that securely retains the window and is easily opened and closed and does not cause damage to the latching mechanism. There is therefore a need in the art for a transit window that is easily latched and unlatched without repeated stress placed on the latching mechanism. There is also a need in the art for a transit window that retains the window securely and requires lower efforts by a user to close the window. There is also a need in the art for a transit window that includes components that may be easily coupled together and separated to allow for servicing of various components within the window assembly.
In one aspect, there is disclosed a transit window assembly for a vehicle that includes a panel. A support frame is attached to the panel. An egress frame is removably attached to the support frame. A mounting frame is attached to the vehicle. The egress frame is linked to the mounting frame. A release actuator is attached to the egress frame. A latching mechanism is coupled to the release actuator latching and unlatching the panel relative to the mounting frame for movement of the panel relative to the mounting frame between open and closed positions. The latching mechanism is attached to the egress frame and mounting frame and retains the panel in two directions.
In another aspect, there is disclosed a transit window assembly for a vehicle that includes a panel. An egress frame is coupled to the panel. A mounting frame is attached to the vehicle. The egress frame is linked to the mounting frame. A latching mechanism between the egress frame and the mounting frame latching and unlatching the panel relative to the mounting frame for movement of the panel relative to the mounting frame between open and closed positions. The latching mechanism retains the panel in two directions.
In a further aspect there is disclosed a transit window assembly for a vehicle that includes a panel. An egress frame is coupled to the panel. A mounting frame is attached to the vehicle. The egress frame is linked to the mounting frame. A latching mechanism between the egress frame and the mounting frame latching and unlatching the panel relative to the mounting frame for movement of the panel relative to the mounting frame between open and closed positions. The latching mechanism includes a release bolt linkage disposed within the egress frame and two or more shoulder bolts attached to the release bolt linkage. The latching mechanism includes two or more retainers attached to the mounting frame with the retainer including a slot formed therein for receiving the shoulder bolt. The head of the shoulder bolt is retained on a lower surface of the retainer wherein the panel is retained in two directions.
In another aspect, there is disclosed a transit window assembly for a vehicle that includes a panel. An egress frame is coupled to the panel. A latching mechanism between the egress frame and the vehicle latching and unlatching the panel relative to the vehicle for movement of the panel relative to the vehicle between open and closed positions. The latching mechanism retains the panel in two directions.
Referring to the various figures, there is shown a transit window assembly 12 for a vehicle 13. The transit window assembly 12 includes a panel 14. The panel 14 may include various structures such as a glass sheet, plastic or other acrylic sheet, or a metal panel or other material. In the depicted embodiment a support frame 16 is attached to the panel 14. An egress frame 18 is removably attached to the support frame 16. A mounting frame 20 is attached to the vehicle. The egress frame 18 is linked to the mounting frame 20.
In one aspect, the panel 14 may be permanently affixed to the egress frame 18 to form a bonded window. Alternatively, the panel 14 may be inserted within the egress frame 18 to form a framed window. Various window structures may be utilized with the depicted embodiment showing one version of a window that may separated easily from an egress frame 18 for servicing.
In one aspect, a rigid linkage 22 removably connects the egress frame 18 to the support frame 16. The rigid linkage 22 includes a u-shaped body 24 having a first leg 26 that is removably attached to the egress frame 18 and a second leg 28 that is received in a slot 30 defined in the support frame 16. As can be seen in
In one aspect, the support frame 16 includes a positioning datum 40 aligning a glazing attaching the panel 14 to the support frame 16. In one aspect, the second leg portion 36 includes a third leg portion 42 that extends at an angle from the second leg portion 36. The third leg portion 42 contacts the egress frame 18 and rigid linkage 22 aligning the panel 14 to the support frame 16 and providing a datum as described above.
Again referring to the figures, the transit window assembly 12 may include a release actuator 44 attached to the egress frame 18. The release actuator 44 may be a release handle, as shown in
The latching mechanism 48 latches and unlatches the panel 14 relative to the mounting frame 20 for movement of the panel 14 relative to the mounting frame 20 between open and closed positions as shown in
The latching mechanism 48 includes a release bolt linkage 50 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7-10. The release bolt linkage 50 is connected to the release cable 46 at one end of the release bolt linkage 50 and is connected to a biasing member 52 at another end of the release bolt linkage 50. The biasing member 52 may be attached to the egress frame 18 at an opposing end of the biasing member 52 relative to the end attached to the release bolt linkage 50. The biasing member 52 applies a force to the release bolt linkage 50 to facilitate latching of the latching mechanism 48, as will be discussed in more detail below. In one aspect, the release bolt linkage 50 may include multiple sections that are joined to define the linkage but may alternatively be one piece. In another aspect, there release bolt linkage 50 may be modified such that the release bolt 53 and shoulder bolt 54 are attached to the release cable 46. In this embodiment, the release bolt 53 may be attached to the extended release cable 46 using an appropriate connection such as a loop, eyelet or other linking structure. As with the above described release bolt linkage 50, a biasing member 52 may be connected to the release cable 46.
At least one release bolt 53 and shoulder bolt 54 is connected to the release bolt linkage 50. In one aspect two or more release bolts 53 and shoulder bolts 54 may be utilized with three being shown in the figures. As shown in
The latching mechanism 48 also includes at least one retainer 62 attached to the mounting frame 20. In one aspect two or more retainers 62 may be utilized with three being shown in the figures. The retainer 62 includes a slot 64 formed therein receiving the shank 56 of the shoulder bolt 54 when the panel 14 is in the closed position. The slot 64 includes separated sidewalls 66 connected by a radiused section 68. One of the side walls 66 may be angled toward a centerline of the slot 64 for retaining the shoulder bolt 54 within the slot 64 in the closed position. Positioning of the shank 56 within the slot 64 defines a first direction of retention of the latching mechanism 48. The retainer 62 includes upper and lower surfaces 70, 72 and an angled peripheral edge 74. The shank 56 of the shoulder bolt 54 travels on the angled edge 74 when the panel 14 is moved from the open to the closed position. The head 58 of the shoulder bolt 54 has a diameter greater than the width of the slot 64 and is positioned to contact and be retained on the lower surface 72 of the retainer 62 defining a second direction of retention of the latching mechanism 48. Alternatively, the retainer 62 may be moved by the actuator 44 while the shoulder bolt is attached to the mounting frame 20, reversing the structure as shown in the depicted embodiment.
Again referring to
Referring to the figures operation of the transit window assembly 12 is described where the panel 14 may be moved from the closed position to the open position as shown in
Movement of the panel 14 from the open position to the closed position will be discussed with reference to
The shank 56 of the shoulder bolt 54 is positioned within the slot 64 and the head 58 of the shoulder bolt 54 is retained on the lower surface 72 of the retainer 62 preventing upward pull out of the shoulder bolt 54. The shank 56 positioned within the slot 64 of the retainer 62 prevents outward movement of the panel 14 relative to the mounting frame 20 and the head 58 positioned and retained on the lower surface 72 of the retainer 62 prevents upward movement of the panel 14 relative to the mounting frame 20 such that the latching mechanism 48 retains the panel 14 in two directions.
Alternatively as shown in
In the depicted embodiment of
Alternatively, as described above, the panel 14 may be attached directly to the egress frame 18 as described above without a support frame 16.
The latching mechanism 48 includes a release bolt linkage 50. The release bolt linkage 50 is connected to the release cable 46 at one end of the release bolt linkage 50 and is connected to a biasing member 52 at another end of the release bolt linkage 50. The biasing member 52 may be attached to the egress frame 18 at an opposing end of the biasing member 52 relative to the end attached to the release bolt linkage 50. The biasing member 52 applies a force to the release bolt linkage 50 to facilitate latching of the latching mechanism 48. In one aspect, the release bolt linkage 50 may include multiple sections that are joined to define the linkage but may alternatively be one piece. In another aspect, there release bolt linkage 50 may be modified such that the release bolt 53 and shoulder bolt 54 are attached to the release cable 46. In this embodiment, the release bolt 53 may be attached to the extended release cable 46 using an appropriate connection such as a loop, eyelet or other linking structure. As with the above described release bolt linkage 50, a biasing member 52 may be connected to the release cable 46.
At least one release bolt 53 and shoulder bolt 54 is connected to the release bolt linkage 50. In one aspect two or more release bolts 53 and shoulder bolts 54 may be utilized. The release bolt 53 may be attached to the release bolt linkage 50 using a threaded fastener 60 or any other type of fastening member. The shoulder bolt 54 may be attached to the release bolt 53 and includes a shank 56 that extends and terminates at a head 58.
The operation of the transit window assembly 112 including latching and unlatching of the transit window assembly 112 is the same as that described above with the previous embodiments. The open and closed positions of the transit window assembly 112 are shown in
Additionally, the positions of the retainer 62 and shoulder bolt 54 may be switched such that retainer 62 moved by the actuator 44 and the shoulder bolt 54 is attached to the vehicle 13.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
