Abstract:
The present invention is directed to mounting frame assembly for mounting one or more window and/or doors in an cut-out portion formed in a body panel of a vehicle, such as a truck or camper cap. The window mounting frame is shaped to fit around an edge of an opening formed in the cap. The window mounting frame has a clamping surface formed thereon. A clamping element is engaged with the clamping surface to hold the window mounting frame securely within the cut-out portion. The clamping element holds the window frame to the cap by frictional engagement of the cap wall between the inner face of the outer periphery of the cut-out portion and the clamping surface. The frictional engagement provides a secure and weather tight fit of the window mounting frame in the cap

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a frame assembly for mounting windows, doors, and the like in a cutout section of a truck or camper cap. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a frame assembly having a clamping device or element that allows for the rapid installation of the frame assembly in a cutout in a cap for mounting windows, doors, and the like with minimized use of parts and labor.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention provides a frame assembly that can be easily mounted in a window or door cutout of a truck or camper cap by a single individual.  
           [0003]    Truck and camper caps are generally preformed pieces of substantially thin fiberglass or sheet metal that are affixed over the cargo bed area of a pickup truck. Generally, these caps after being formed and shaped are fitted with windows and/or doors placed in cutout areas. The cut-out areas of the cap can be preformed by various methods such as sawing, laser or water jet cutting or the like. A frame is usually inserted into each cutout portion of the cap. The frame is adapted to hold one or more window panes and/or a door. The frame is usually formed of extruded aluminum and when used as a window frame, has several tracks that carry window panes. The extruded aluminum frame is measured to a length proportionate to the periphery of the cut-out, and is bent into a predetermined shape, such as rectangular with radius corners, circular, square, etc., by a bending or braking machine.  
           [0004]    Presently, shaped window and/or door frames are usually mounted on the cap in a manual fashion. It generally takes two individuals to assemble the window or door frame onto the cap. One individual positioned at an area outside of the cap, picks up a designated frame and positions it in the cut-out. A second individual positioned inside the cap then places a clamp ring around the periphery of the frame from the inside area of the cap, and fixes the frame in place as it is being held by the other individual by inserting a series of screws through the clamp ring around the periphery of the frame. Several screws are required to securely fasten the clamp ring to the frame and the frame to the cap. In order to ensure a weather-tight fit between the cap and frame, weather strips are usually included in the mounting process.  
           [0005]    The presently used manual process is labor intensive and requires the efforts of multiple individuals to complete the task of installing the frame. This process is also time-consuming and can result in punctures of the frame by the screws being inserted, thereby causing leaks between the frame and the cap. Screw punctures also create an unsightly appearance to the outside of the frame, as do the presence of multiple screws on the interior of the frame. When adhesives are used in place of screws as is sometimes the practice, substantial time is still required to complete the installation.  
           [0006]    What is desired and thus becomes the principal object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly adapted for mounting a window, door or the like that can be easily mounted in a cap by at the most two, and preferably one individual, and in a manner, which obviates the need for screws in order to both reduce the time necessary to install the frame assembly and reduce the unsightly presence of screws. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    To achieve the foregoing object, the invention while applicable to mounting a window, door or the like, is illustrated and described, by way of example, as providing a window mounting frame assembly for mounting one or more window panes in an opening formed in a substantially thin body panel of a vehicle, such as a truck or camper cap. The window mounting frame assembly mounts and is installed within an opening formed in the typically thin wall of the cap. A substantially rigid mounting frame forming part of the assembly conforms to and mounts within a peripheral edge area of the opening. A flexible clamping element engages a clamping surface on the frame and holds the frame to the cap by frictional engagement. The frictional engagement provides a secure and weather tight fit of the frame in the cap. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    In order that the invention will become more clearly understood it will be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pickup truck having a cap positioned thereon and showing a set of windows installed in a window frame according to the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a window frame according to the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged assembled cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of a window frame according to the present invention taken along section line A-A in FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a window frame according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an enlarged assembled cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of a window frame according to the present invention taken along section line A-A in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a window frame according to the present invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is an enlarged assembled cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of a window frame according to the present invention taken along section line A-A in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates a pickup truck with a bed  9  having a cap  10  assembled thereon. Cap  10  is illustrated with a side window  11 , made up in the example used for illustration of two window panes, as later referred to, that includes a window frame assembly  15  that is mounted in a similarly shaped hole cut out of cap  10 . While illustrated in a parallelogram orientation, window  11  could be of any size or shape in cap  10 . In addition, similar door may be present at the rear R of the cap or window on the far side or front of the cap, not seen in FIG. 1. The present invention is directed to any such window frame which is used by way of example and as previously mentioned may also be applied to use as a frame for a door or the like.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded view of window frame assembly  15  for side window  11  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Window frame assembly  15  can include many different features that are not illustrated here. However, for ease of describing the invention, only those features of window frame assembly  15  that are relevant to the present invention are illustrated. Window frame assembly  15  includes mounting frame  15   a  as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0018]    Mounting frame  15   a  includes an outer surface  18  that has an outer face  18   a  opposite an inner face  18   b . Outer surface  18  and outer face  18   a  are visible on the outside of cap  10  when window frame assembly  15  is mounted on cap  10 . Mounting frame  15   a  also includes an inner peripheral surface  20 . As illustrated, inner peripheral surface  20  includes a screen jam  19  in which a screen (not shown) can be mounted. A connecting section  24  extends between the screen jam  19  and clamping surface  16 . On the underside of connecting section  24 , are receiving slots  23  and  25  in which are held window panes  21  and  22 . Receiving slots  23  and  25  and window panes  21  and  22  are shown for illustrative purposes only, and may take several different forms. For example there could be a single window pane and receiving slot or be a plurality of receiving slots and panes. Mounting frame  15   a  is rigid and is usually made of aluminum. It can be formed in any known manner, such as through an extrusion process.  
         [0019]    The present invention also includes a clamping arrangement, shown generally as those elements in the broken line box C of FIG. 2. The clamping arrangement includes the previously referred to clamping surface  16  integrally formed on the upper side of connecting section  24 . In this embodiment, clamping surface  16  is in the form of a post formed relatively close to inner face  18   b.    
         [0020]    The clamping arrangement further comprises a generally flexible clamping element  13  adapted to come into frictional contact with clamping surface  16 . Clamping element  13  includes two slots  13   a  and  13   b . Slot  13   a  is designed to engage with clamping surface  16  on mounting frame  15   a . Clamping element  13  can be made of a wide variety of materials, either rigid or pliable, but is preferably made of a pliable material such as plastic, rubber, neoprene, or Santoprene™. Clamping element  13  can come in a preformed shape with a slot  13   b  complimentary to the shape of the peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10 . Alternatively, clamping element  13  can be made of a single length of material that is rolled onto a spool or otherwise stored in some other fashion prior to use. When used in this fashion, a length of clamping element  13  can be measured to compliment the peripheral edge area  12  of the cutout portion of cap  10 .  
         [0021]    To install window frame assembly  15  according to this first embodiment of the invention, clamping element  13  is first positioned on mounting frame  15   a  such that clamping surface  16  is positioned within slot  13   a . Here it should be noted that frame  15   a  will have been first bent to a form which conforms to the shape of the cut-out portion in cap  10  and the window panes  21 ,  22  would have been placed in the respective slots  23 ,  25 . Prior to this operation, it should also be noted that there will have been placed in slot  13   b  a rope  14  whose use is later referred to and whose diameter at least slightly exceeds the slot space adjacent edge  13   c . Window frame assembly  15  once so assembled is then placed in position in the cutout portion of cap  10  so as to engage the entire peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10 . When the window frame assembly  15  is in place, the installer presses the window frame assembly  15  against peripheral edge area  12  and begins removing the rope  14  or other removable material positioned in slot  13   b . As the rope  14  is removed from slot  13   b  the slat sides depending from edge  13   c  of clamping element  13  are separated so that peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10  can be positioned within slot  13   b . This procedure is followed around the entire periphery of the cutout portion of cap  10  to thereby install window frame assembly  15  in cap  10  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention in which parts similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same numerals but with a prime mark added. As shown in FIG. 4, mounting frame  15   a ′ is essentially the same as that in FIG. 2. The clamping arrangement C′ (shown in the broken line box) in this embodiment depends upon the presence of a clamping surface  33  that has an inwardly facing tooth  34 . Clamping surface  33  and tooth  34  are again integrally formed on mounting frame  15   a′.    
         [0023]    Clamping element  31  is wedge-shaped and is preferably made of a pliable material such as plastic, rubber, neoprene or Santoprene™. Clamping element  31  can come as a preformed shape complimentary to the shape of peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10 . Alternatively, clamping element  31  can be made of a single length of material that is rolled onto a spool or stored in some other fashion. When used as described, a length of clamping element  31  can be measured to compliment the peripheral edge area  12  of the cutout portion of cap  10 . Clamping element  31  has a locking surface, illustrated as a lip  32  formed along its length.  
         [0024]    To install window frame assembly  15 ′ according to this second embodiment of the invention, mounting frame  15   a ′ is placed in position in the cutout portion of cap  10  so as to engage the entire peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10 . Here it should again be noted that mounting frame  15   a ′ will have been first bent to a form which conforms to the shape of the cut-out portion in cap  10  and the window panes  21 ,  22  would have been placed in the respective slots  23 ,  25 . When mounting window frame assembly  15 ′ in place, the installer positions clamping element  31  around mounting frame  15   a ′ so that peripheral edge area  12  is positioned between inner face  18   b ′ and clamping element  31 . Clamping element  31  is then wedged into the space between peripheral edge area  12  and clamping surface  33  until lip  32  engages with tooth  34  on clamping surface  33 . This procedure is followed around the entire periphery of the cutout portion of cap  10  to thereby install window frame assembly  15 ′ in cap  10  as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention in which parts similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same numerals but with a double prime mark added. As shown in FIG. 6, mounting frame  15   a ″ is essentially the same as that in FIGS. 2 and 4. The clamping arrangement C″ (in the broken line box) in this embodiment includes a clamping surface  44  integrally formed in mounting frame  15   a ″. Clamping surface  44  is illustrated as a series of teeth formed on mounting frame  15   a ″. The specific number and shape of teeth can vary as long as there are a sufficient number to provide a secure fit to cap  10 .  
         [0026]    Clamping element  41  comprises a U-shaped insert and is preferably made of a flexible material such as plastic, rubber, neoprene or Santoprene™. Clamping element  41  includes a series of pliable teeth  42  that are adapted to engage with teeth of the clamping surface  44  on mounting frame  15   a ″. Clamping element  41  can come as a preformed shape complimentary to the shape of peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10 . Alternatively, clamping element  41  can be made of a single length of material that is rolled onto a spool or stored in some other fashion. When used as described, a length of clamping element  41  can be measured to compliment the peripheral edge area  12  of the cutout portion of cap  10 .  
         [0027]    To install window frame assembly  15 ″ according to this third embodiment of the invention, clamping element  41  is positioned around the peripheral edge area  12  of cap  10 . Here it should again be noted that mounting frame  15   a ″ will have been first bent to a form which conforms to the shape of the cut-out portion in cap  10  and the window panes  21 ,  22  would have been placed in the respective slots  23 , 25 . Clamping element  41  can be frictionally fitted or otherwise adhered to the peripheral edge area  12 . Once clamping element  41  is in place, mounting frame  15   a ″ is positioned in the cutout portion of cap  10  and pressed into the opening. As the rigid teeth of clamping surface  44  engages with the somewhat flexible teeth  42 , teeth  42  initially yield and then rebound back so as to provide a mesh-type locking connection  45 . This procedure is followed around the entire periphery of the cutout portion of cap  10  to thereby install window frame assembly  15 ″ in cap  10  as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0028]    The above detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention sets forth the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention at the time of filing this application and is provided by way of example and not as a limitation. Accordingly, various modifications and variations obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to which it pertains are deemed to lie within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.