Abstract:
A rear window module is designed for the rear window of a truck passenger cab. The rear window module is pre-assembled as a single unit having a housing attaching rigidly to a frame. The housing inserts into the cab from a rear opening. The frame attaches to a peripheral edge of the cab which defines the rear opening. The housing supports a motor actuated pane movement mechanism capable of moving a central pane positioned within the frame in a vertical direction. The rear window module may also include side vents capable of pivoting to an open position.

Description:
This Application claim benefit to provisional Application No. 60/160,600 Oct. 20, 1999. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a window drop glass module and more particularly to a rear window drop glass module for the passenger cab of a pick-up truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The rear window of a pick-up truck is known to open manually for access between the passenger cab and the rear bed of the truck. The glass or pane typically slides horizontally within the confines of the window glass perimeter. Often, two panes are utilized, sliding in opposing horizontal directions when opening and engaging along the center of the window when fully closed. When the pane, or panes are fully open, the resultant opening amounts to approximately one third of the total window glass area therefore limiting ingress and egress between the pick-up bed and the cab. Furthermore, because the sliding action is manual, the occupant must park the vehicle prior to turning about within the cab to operate the sliding pane(s). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a rear window module preferably for use in the passenger cab of a pick-up truck. The window module comprises a frame attached rigidly to a housing. The cab comprises a typical rear panel having a peripheral edge defining an opening. The housing after passing through the opening secures to an inward side of the rear panel of the cab and the frame attaches to the peripheral edge of the rear panel opening. Mounting within the frame is at least one window. Preferably, this one window has a central pane which moves up and down upon remote control and activation of a pane movement mechanism supported by the frame. The pane movement mechanism comprises a motor, a gear box, and push pull cables interconnecting the central pane to the gear box. 
     Thus a feature of the invention is a one piece rear window module capable of installation through a standard rear opening of a pick-up truck, thereby simplifying automotive assembly and reducing costs. 
     Another feature of the invention is the ability to pass larger objects through the open rear window of the cab. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the following description and in accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear window module of the present invention being inserted through an opening of a pick-up truck cab; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the installed rear window module viewed from the inside of the cab with a seatback support reinforcement detached; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rear window module; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear window module having a central pane, a left pivoting pane, and a right pivoting pane all shown partially open; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the rear window module having a bisected central pane sliding horizontally and powered electrically; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the rear window module having a stationary central window and left and right pivoting panes powered electrically; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the rear window module illustrating an outside view of a protective encasement; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the rear window module illustrating an inside view of the protective encasement; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the rear window module in the cab, viewed along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows; and 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the rear window module in the cab viewed along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 8 in direction of the arrows. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, inserting into a passenger cab  22  of a pick-up truck is a one piece rear window module  20 . A rear panel  24  of the cab  22  has a periphery edge  26  which defines an opening  28 . Housing  30  of the rear window module  20  inserts through the opening  28  and nests between the seat and the rear panel  24 . The housing  30  connects to a frame  32  from beneath. The frame  32  supports at least one window  34  which may be any array of different window options described herein. Pre-attached to the housing  30  is an elongated belt line reinforcement  36  and a pane movement mechanism  37 . The belt line reinforcement  36  is substantially horizontal and locates slightly below frame  32  inward to cab  22 . The pane movement mechanism  37  enables movement of the at least one window  34  either manually or electrically. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, when the window module  20  is fully inserted into the cab  22 , the housing  30  of the rear window module  20  attaches to the inward side of the rear panel  24 . The frame  32  engages the outward side of the peripheral edge  26  of the rear panel  24 . Expanding horizontally across the rear window module  20  is an elongated seat back support reinforcement  38 . Seat back support reinforcement  38  has a first end  40  and a second end  42 . First and second ends  40 ,  42  attach to the rear panel  24  at either side of the rear window module  20 . Seat back support reinforcement  38  is generally horizontal and attaches to the rear panel  24  beneath the belt line reinforcement  36 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame  32  has a top portion  44  and a bottom portion  46 . Top portion  44  has a top left end  48  and a top right end  50 . Bottom portion  46  has a bottom left end  52  and a bottom right end  54 . A left portion  56  extends between and connects to the top left end  48  and the bottom left end  52 . A right portion  58  extends between the top right end  50  and the bottom right end  54 . Also connecting to the top left end  48  and extending through the bottom left end  52  is a left frame member  60 . A right frame member  62  connects to the top right end  50  and extends to the bottom right end  54 . The left and right frame members  60 ,  62  are substantially vertical and perpendicular to the top and bottom portions  44 ,  46 . 
     Window  34  is preferably trifurcated and includes a central window  64 , a left window  66  and a right window  68 . Central window  64  spans between and peripherally contacts the top portion  44 , the bottom portion  46  and the left and right frame members  60 ,  62 . Left window  66  spans between and contacts peripherally the left portion  56  and the left frame member  60 . Right window  68  spans between and peripherally contacts the right frame member  62  and the right portion  58  of the frame  32 . Any one or more of the central, left and right windows  64 ,  66 ,  68  may move from a close position  70  (see FIGS. 1 and 9) to an open position  72  (see FIG. 10) or any intermediate position therebetween. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the central window  64  preferably is a central pane  74  which moves generally up and down via the pane movement mechanism  37 , sliding along the left and right frame members  60 ,  62 . When compared to a fixed central window  64 , the closed central pane  74  positions further into the cab  22 . The realigned positioning of the central pane  74  to that of a fixed pane is required so that the central pane  74  can extend downward beyond the peripheral edge  26  inward of the rear panel  24  within the cab  22 . Interior and exterior belt weather strips  76 ,  78  mount to the bottom portion  46  of the frame  32  and slideably contact the respective interior and exterior sides of central pane  74  thereby minimizing ingress of dirt and water into the housing  30  and cab  22 . A continuous glass run channel seal  80  engages along the left and right frame members  60 ,  62  and the top portion  44 . Glass run channel seal  80  receives the leading edges of the central pane  74  above the weather strips  76 , 78  when the central pane  74  is in the closed position  70 . When incorporating weather strips  76 ,  78 , a means to collect water leaking through the weather strip  78  and central pane  74  is required. This water collection or management means is separate from the rear window module  20  and may comprise holes within the rear panel  24  and a typical flexible plastic sheet having an adhesive around the sheet perimeter. The adhesive adheres to the inside of the rear panel  24  forming a watertight seal. The sheet separates the holes of the rear panel  24  from the remainder of cab  22 . Water collecting through the weather strip  78  into cab  22  is channeled by the watertight sheet back out of the cab  22  through the holes in the rear panel  24 . 
     Whether the central window  64  is a moveable central pane  74  or not, the left and right windows  66 ,  68  may be left and right pivoting panes  82 ,  84  respectively. Both the left and right pivoting panes  82 ,  84  manually pivot about respective, substantially vertical, pivoting axes  86 . 
     Pushing and pulling the central pane  74  is a left and right push pull cable  90 ,  92  of the pane movement mechanism  37 . The left and right push-pull cables  90 ,  92  interconnect to left and right sides of the central pane  74  via glass pads. The left and right push pull cables  90 ,  92  extend through cable guide tubes  94  and connect to a gearbox  96  of the pane movement mechanism  37 . The gearbox  96  rotates manually via a hand lever (not shown) or may be electrically driven by a motor  98 . The motor  98  is controlled through a wire harness  100  connected to a remote control switch. 
     After pre-assembly and installation of the rear window module  20 , a reveal molding  102  engages to the exterior side of the frame  32 . As is standard with many truck applications, a brake light  104  may be attached to the reveal molding  102 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the rear window module  220  is shown wherein the central pane  274  is bisected vertically into horizontally sliding panes  275  and  277 . The trifurcated window  34  of the previous embodiment, now becomes a window  234  having two sliding panes and two fixed or pivoting panes. The height of housing  230  of the second embodiment is less than the height of housing  30  since housing  230  does not store the central pane  274 . The bisected panes of central pane  274  store within the confines of the at least one window  234  or peripheral edge  226 . The housing  230  must still support the pane movement mechanism  237  which now has two additional pulleys  269  required to change the pane movement from a vertical direction to an opposing horizontal direction. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the rear window module  320  is shown wherein the central window  364  is fixed and the left and right pivoting panes  382 ,  384  are powered. The downward displacement or height of window module  320  is minimal. The pane movement mechanism  337  actuates along a horizontal linear track or housing  330 . Housing  330  is substantially parallel to and engages the bottom portion  346 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-10, a fourth embodiment of the rear window module  420  is shown having a window configuration similar to that of the rear window module  20  of FIGS. 1-3. In the fourth embodiment, the housing  430  takes the form of the protective encasement. When the central pane  474  is in the open position  72  the central pane  474  is disposed between the protective encasement  430  and the rear panel  424  of the cab  22 . The belt line reinforcement  436  is preferably integral and unitary to the protective encasement  430 . Furthermore, the belt line reinforcement  436  may be horizontal and flush with the bottom portion  446  of the frame  432 . The interior belt weather strip  476  can be mounted directly to the integral belt line reinforcement  436 . The seat back reinforcement  38  spans across the protective encasement  430 . The first and second ends  40 ,  42  of the seat back support reinforcement  28  are engaged as before to the rear panel  424  of the cab  22 . 
     With the central pane  474  in the closed position  70  the protective encasement  430  is disposed between the seat back support reinforcement  38  and the rear panel  424 . When the central pane  474  is in the open position  72  the protective encasement  430  protects the glass along with the left and right push pull cables  490 ,  492  of the pane movement mechanism  437 . The motor  498  and the gearbox  496  are preferably mounted to the exterior or that side facing into the cab  22  of the protective encasement  430  and are therefore visually apparent to an occupant of the cab  22  when the seat back is pivoted forward. 
     The continuous panel feature of the protective encasement  430  provides two additional or inherent functions: first, the encasement  430  channels water, entering into the cab  22  through the outer belt weather strip seal  478 , back out through the rear panel  424 ; and second, the protective encasement  430  assures that the moving central pane  474  is not blocked from shifting cargo or rubbish stored behind the occupant seat. To channel water, a continuous seal  479  is disposed between a peripheral edge  477  of the protective encasement  430  and the rear panel  424 . The peripheral edge  477  engages to the rear panel  424  and thereby compresses the seal  479  forming a watertight or water management compartment defined by the protective encasement  430  and the rear panel  424 . The rear panel  424  has at least one drain hole  481  communicating with the water management compartment. The drain holes  481  assure that water collecting within the water management compartment drains back out through the rear panel  424 . 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, various changes and modifications may be made thereto by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in appended claims. It is also understood that the terms used here are merely descriptive rather than limiting in that various changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.