Patent Application
20050062297
This invention relates generally to latching mechanisms for vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) having rear windows that open and close with a latch and, in particular, to a device that extends to latch to keep the rear window in a partially opened condition for ventilation purposes.
Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) such as the Ford Explorer have sold in large numbers over the past several years. These types of vehicles include a generally horizontal back door with a window that opens and closes with a latch.
Lower door portion 46 is operable from the closed position to a substantially-horizontal open position to aid in access to the rear portion of the vehicle. When enclosing or securing the rear of the vehicle, lower portion 46 is first raised to a substantially vertical position where it lockingly engages the frame of the vehicle. The upper window portion 42 is then manually lowered such that hasp 54 positioned on the lower portion of the frame of upper portion 42 engages locking mechanism 56 within lower portion 46, thus securing the rear of the vehicle.
A problem oftentimes arises with respect to the operation of the aforesaid vehicles in that it is not possible to obtain any cross ventilation while operating the vehicle since the rear window is in a locked position. It is not advisable to operate the vehicle with the rear window in a totally upright position in that airflow around the vehicle and bumps encountered by the vehicle may damage the window supports. Additionally, operating the vehicle with the window in its upright open position could lead to the loss of luggage, equipment or the like stored in the storage area. Operating the vehicle with the passenger side window or driver's side window slightly open will provide some ventilation, but is not sufficient to remove cigarette smoke or the like, and oftentimes disrupts or interferes with the desired temperature that the operator wishes to maintain within the vehicle.
The '742 patent referenced above is directed to a mechanism which easily mounted on the existing latch of the rear window of such a vehicle which allows the rear window to be lowered and engaged, with the locking mechanism of the lower portion of the door to secure the window in a locked mode yet still provide for a passageway between the upper window portion of the rear door and the lower solid portion of the rear door such that airflow and ventilation within the vehicle will flow rearwardly and exit through this passageway, the passageway being of such a dimension that luggage, equipment or the like stored behind the rear seat cannot exit the vehicle.
If an individual wishes to create cross ventilation within the vehicle, the individual would engage lower door portion 46 in its closed position and open upper window portion 42. Body member 16 of window latch extender 10 and facing plate 26 would then be positioned about window hasp 54 such that wing bolt 28 would pass through aperture 27 in facing plate 26 and threadedly engage aperture 24 in body member 16. Window hasp 54 is thus positioned in channel 30 between recessed surface 22 and facing plate 26, in locking engagement with window latch extender 10 such that lock engaging hasp member 12 of window latch extender 10 is positioned to engage locking mechanism 56 in door 46 when window 42 is pivoted towards a closed, locked position.
Window 42 therefore becomes locked in engagement with door 46, however, a gap exists between window 42 and door 46, such gap approximately equal to the length of lock engaging hasp member 12 of window latch extender 10 as illustrated in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,738 discloses a different system configured to hold a pivotable hatch of a vehicle in a partially open position and to close a switch indicating that the pivotable hatch is open. The system includes a one piece latch extender including a base configured to engage a locking mechanism of the vehicle and coupling member formed on the latch extender. The coupling member is configured to apply a spring force to a hasp on the hatch of the vehicle to couple the latch extender to the hasp and to position the base a predetermined distance from the hasp so that the pivotable hatch remains in a partially open position upon engagement of the base with the locking mechanism. The system also includes an auxiliary post configured to be attached to a post coupled to the hatch of the vehicle to engage and close the switch when the pivotable hatch is in the partially open position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,045 also teaches an extender for the U-shaped striker found on the pivotally opening rear window of a motor vehicle to engage the rear door locking mechanism of the vehicle and maintain the rear window in a partially opened yet securely locked position for Ventilation of the interior of the vehicle. The striker extender being U-shaped and pivotally affixed to the striker so that it can easily be moved into a first or parallel position for use and a second or perpendicular position for storage. The striker extender does not have to be removed and is always ready for use and easily placed in the desired position without the need for any tools or special skills. Once the window is locked in the partially opened position, the striker extender cannot be removed from outside the vehicle and therefore unauthorized access to the vehicle's interior is not possible.
This invention improves upon the prior art by providing a latch extender with a quick-release mechanism. In a vehicle of the type with a window having a U-shaped hasp that engages with a hasp-locking mechanism on the vehicle when the window is closed, the device is configured to mount between the hasp and the locking mechanism to keep the window in a partially opened condition for ventilation purposes.
The device preferably includes a body having first and second ends, the first end of the body including a substitute hasp for engaging with the hasp-locking mechanism on the vehicle, and the second end of the body including an opening for receiving the U-shaped hasp of the window. In contrast to existing devices, the body further includes a quick-release mechanism for engaging the U-shaped hasp of the window, the quick-release mechanism including a manually operated control on the body for releasing the U-shaped hasp of the window.
In the preferred embodiment the manually operated control is a spring-biased pushbutton. The substitute hasp is also preferably generally U-shaped, and may be curved or bent to accommodate particular vehicle configurations.
Now turning to the drawings,
In contrast to existing devices, the unit 100 includes a quick-release mechanism such that, with hasp portion 108 inserted opening 106, activation of the quick-release mechanism disengages the hasp 108 from within the body 101, enabling the device to be removed. This is an improvement over existing configurations that utilize more permanent coupling mechanisms such as threaded fasteners. With these existing, prior-art devices, a user must have a screwdriver available, causing considerable inconvenience when the window must be temporarily closed for weather conditions, security purposes, and so forth.
In the preferred embodiment, a quick-release mechanism is similar to that used on existing seat belts, in that it includes a manually operated button 110 coupled with a spring-biased capture mechanism (not shown) within the 101 of the device 100. Slipping the hasp 108 into the opening 106 causes the capture hasp 108, whereas pressing down on the button 110 releases it, again, much like that used for existing seatbelts. However, those of the skill in the mechanism art will appreciate that other types of release mechanisms may be used, including multiple opposing buttons on each side or on the top and button of the release mechanisms that rotate instead of being pushed, and so forth.
Hasp 102 is preferably in the form of a plate welded or otherwise connected to the body 101. In the preferred configuration, the plate 102 is bent to better align with certain vehicles, as perhaps better seen in the installed diagram of
