Patent ID: 8887445
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: E05F,E05Y,G03G

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: an outer shell having an opening at least partly bounded by a seal; a cover for the opening in the outer shell, the cover comprising a housing, a window piece slideably engaged with the housing and a motor operable to retract and extend the window piece under the control of a motor management unit; wherein the seal comprises: a lower outer edge; and an upper region that is of higher stiffness than the lower outer edge and asymmetrically shaped in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane generally defined by the window piece; wherein the housing is adapted to be releasably engaged with the opening; wherein the motor management unit is configured to store three predetermined positions of the window piece relative to the housing such that, when the housing is engaged with the opening: in the first predetermined position the window piece is resiliently retained within the seal along at least part of an edge of the window piece in such a way that the cover can be released from the opening without damage to the cover whilst the window piece is in the first predetermined position, and at least part of the lower outer edge of the seal overlaps said edge of the window piece; in the second predetermined position the window piece does not engage with the seal; and in the third predetermined position the window piece extends into the seal such that the window piece is prevented from being released from the seal by the asymmetrically shaped upper region without the window piece first being retracted to the first or second positions; and wherein the motor management unit is configured to cause the motor to extend the window piece to the third predetermined position when the vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed.