The invention relates generally to a closure panel assembly in which a movable or “sliding” panel is urged against a stationary or “fixed” panel to thereby compress an air or moisture seal disposed between opposed surfaces on the sliding panel and the fixed panel.
A closure panel assembly, as is typically employed to define a rearward-facing window or “backlite” for a passenger compartment of a light truck, generally includes a fixed glass panel in which an opening is defined, and a sliding glass panel that moves along a pair of support or guide rails between a closed position and an open position relative to the opening. A compression seal is disposed between the fixed and sliding panels, for example, by mounting the seal about the periphery of the opening in the fixed panel. A lateral force, exerted on the sliding panel by the guide rails, ensures that the seal is compressed sufficiently to resist leakage of air and/or water between the fixed panel and the sliding panel when the sliding panel is moved to the closed position. Unfortunately, the lateral force exerted on the sliding panel by the guide rails typically generates a friction drag that resists free and easy movement of the sliding panel across the surface of the seal, thereby making it more difficult for a vehicle passenger to move the sliding panel between the closed and open positions.
What is needed is a means to incorporate a feature into the sliding panel and/or a guide rail to effect a desired compression of the seal disposed between the sliding panel and the fixed panel when the sliding panel is in the closed position, yet allow for sufficient unloading of the seal when the sliding panel is in the open position such that relatively free and easy sliding motion is effected.
According to the invention, a closure panel assembly, for example, for closing a window opening defined in a motor vehicle or other enclosure, includes a sliding panel that is selectively movable, along a pair of panel guide rails disposed on generally opposite sides of the opening, between a closed position and an open position relative to the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening is defined in a fixed panel, and the guide rails are affixed in a suitable manner to a face of the fixed panel such that the rails are disposed on opposite sides of the opening. A compression seal is provided on one of the sliding panel and the periphery of the opening, by which to achieve an air and/or moisture seal when the sliding panel is in the closed position.
Each guide rail generally includes an engagement portion that overlies a respective portion of the outer face of the sliding panel when the sliding panel is in or near the closed position relative to the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the engagement portion is conveniently defined by a leg of a U-shaped or L-shaped guide rail that continuously overlies the respective portion of the sliding panel's outer face, i.e., whether the sliding panel is in the closed position, in the fully-open position, or in any intermediate partially-open position.
The engagement portion of at least one guide rail includes at least one and, preferably, a pair of first surface features projecting laterally in the general direction of the opening defined in the fixed panel. The portion of the outer face of the sliding panel further includes at least one and, preferably, a pair of second surface features that project laterally toward the engagement portion of the at least one guide rail. The first and second surface features engage each other when the sliding panel is moved into the closed position relative to the opening, whereupon the surface features operate to displace the sliding panel laterally toward the fixed panel to compress the seal.
In accordance with the invention, one of the first surface features on at least one guide rail is preferably positioned relative to the opening such that the one of the first surface features also engages a different one of the second surface features on the sliding panel as the sliding panel is moved into the fully-open position, whereupon the sliding panel is again displaced toward the fixed panel to thereby at least partially compress a portion of the seal. In this manner, the sliding panel is maintained in the fully-open position by the resilient partial compression of the seal while advantageously reducing noise that might otherwise result from relative lateral movement of the fully-open sliding panel within the guide rail.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, in an exemplary embodiment, an additional, third surface feature is defined on one of the sliding panel and a guide rail, such that the third surface feature cooperates with one of the first and second surface features to displace the sliding panel towards the fixed panel when the sliding panel is in a partially-open position, whereby the seal is at least partially compressed to thereby maintain the sliding panel in the partially-open position, again, by increasing the frictional resistance to further relative movement of the sliding panel.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated upon a review of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying Drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the Drawings:
Referring to
The assembly 10 includes a pair of support or guide rails 16, 18 affixed to the fixed panel 12 on generally opposite sides of the opening 14. While the invention contemplates affixing or attaching the guide rails 16, 18 to the fixed panel 12 in any suitable manner, in the assembly 10 illustrated in the Drawings, the guide rails 16, 18 are conveniently affixed to a first face 20 of the fixed panel 12 with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as structural bonding tape (not shown). Where desired, the longitudinal ends 24 of each guide rail 16,18 is advantageously extended to the edges of the assembly 10, for example, such that the ends 24 are captured in a peripheral injection-molded urethane gasket (not shown), whereby the guide rails 16,18 are further secured to the vehicle.
Referring again to
As best illustrated in
Also as seen in
As best seen in the enlarged view shown in
Preferably, because the guide rails 16,18 are more difficult to replace than the sliding panel 26, the surface features 46 on the assembly's lower guide rail 18 preferably exhibit a greater wear-resistance than the surface features 48 defined on the outer face 42 of the sliding panel 26. And, while the invention contemplates defining the surface features 46,48 in any suitable manner, as by forming the surface features integrally with the guide rail 18 or the sliding panel 26, in the exemplary assembly 10, the surface features 46,48 are conveniently defined by separate elements that are secured as with a suitable adhesive to the respective portions 38,40 of the guide rail 18 and sliding panel 26.
In the case of the exemplary assembly 10, the separate elements defining the first and second surface features 46,48 are conveniently formed of 6/6 Nylon, which further ensures that the first surface features 46 on the lower guide rail 18 will not mar the glass material of the sliding panel 26 in use. It will also be appreciated that, while the surface features 46,48 of the exemplary assembly 10 are generally semi-spherical, other shapes or combinations of shapes may be used, including “ramps,” or a “hills and valley” configuration by which to define a self-centering “detent” position. Other locations for the surface features are likewise contemplated by the invention, for example, a single pair of surface features 46,48 centered along the bottom edge 36 of the sliding panel 16 when the sliding panel 26 is in the closed position.
As seen in the enlarged view of
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the surface features 46,48 are preferably positioned on the engagement portion 38 of the lower guide rail 18, and on the opposed portion 40 of the sliding panel 26, such that one of the first surface features 46 engages another of the second surface features 48 as the sliding panel 26 is moved into the fully-open position. The sliding panel 26 is again displaced by such surface feature engagement toward the fixed panel 12 to thereby at least partially compress a portion of the bulb seal 44. In this manner, the sliding panel 26 is advantageously maintained in the fully-open position by resilient seal compression while further reducing noise that might otherwise result from relative lateral movement of the fully-open sliding panel 26 within the lower guide rail 18.
As best illustrated in
While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the subjoined claims. For example, while the guide rails 16,18 of the exemplary closure panel assembly 10 described above are disposed above and below the opening 14 in the fixed panel 12, respectively, it will be appreciated that, where the sliding panel is to be deployed vertically, for example, as might be preferably in the case of a bus window or a closure panel assembly on a fixed structure such as a house, the invention contemplates placement of the guide rails on the laterally opposite sides of the opening. Similarly, while the surface features 46,48,54 of the exemplary assembly 10 are provided on the lower guide rail 18 and the lower edge 36 of the sliding panel 26 to ensure engagement (as gravity will ensure that the sliding panel 26 remains seated within the lower guide rail 18), the invention contemplates providing surface features 44,46,54 along the top edge 34 of the sliding panel 26.
A handle and latch (not shown) may also be secured to one of the sliding panel and the fixed panel, wherein the latch is operative to secure the sliding panel against relative movement when the sliding panel is in the closed position, and, perhaps, one or more additional relative positions of the sliding panel other than the closed position.
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/429,805, filed Nov. 27, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040098919 A1 | May 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60429805 | Nov 2002 | US |