초록 ▼

An improved molded hinge assembly is disclosed and is particularly adapted for pivoted vehicle window applications. The assembly allows for the pivotal mounting of a vehicle window in a window opening in a vehicle body panel while requiring little or no bonding or other affixation of the window gask

An improved molded hinge assembly is disclosed and is particularly adapted for pivoted vehicle window applications. The assembly allows for the pivotal mounting of a vehicle window in a window opening in a vehicle body panel while requiring little or no bonding or other affixation of the window gasket or hinge assembly to the outer surface of the window panel. Futhermore, the present invention provides a molded hinge assembly that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and to install in a vehicle window application. Such a hinge assembly can also be manufactured by reaction injection molding techniques from multi-constituent materials, such as urethane, for example, which allows molding at relatively low pressures to prevent or minimize glass breakage and provides for secure bonding and sealing between the window gasket and the window panel.

대표청구항 ▼

In a window assembly having at least one window panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being adapted to be disposed in a window opening in a vehicle body panel, and a hinge assembly for interconnecting the window panel with the vehicle body panel for pivotal movement generally inward

In a window assembly having at least one window panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being adapted to be disposed in a window opening in a vehicle body panel, and a hinge assembly for interconnecting the window panel with the vehicle body panel for pivotal movement generally inwardly toward and outwardly away from the window opening in a direction transverse to the window panel, said hinge assembly comprising: a mounting stud having inner and outer ends; mounting means for fixedly interconnecting said inner end of said mounting stud with the vehicle body panel; a flexible elastomeric hinge member secured to said outer end of said mounting stud between said mounting stud and the window panel; said outer end of said mounting stud having an enlarged flange portion thereon, said elastomeric hinge member generally surrounding said enlarged flange portion of said mounting stud; and means for securing said elastomeric hinge member to the window panel, at least a fist outer portion of said elastomeric hinge member being resiliently elongated outwardly between said enlarged flange portion of said mounting stud and the window panel and at least a second outer portion of said elastomeric hinge member being resiliently compressed inwardly between said enlarged flange portion of said mounting stud and the window panel when the window panel is pivotally moved outwardly away from the window opening, said first and second outer portions of said elastomeric hinge member being generally adjacent said window panel, said elastomeric hinge member including an outer flange portion secured to the window panel, said window panel being secured to said outer flange portion outwardly and directly over said mounting stud so as to interpose said flange portion between the outer surface of the mounting stud and the inner surface of the window panel, said outer flange portion of said hinge member including said first and second portions, and said first and second portions being disposed outward of said enlarged flange portion of said mounting stud and inward of the window panel between said enlarged flange portion of said mounting stud and the window panel.