Slidable window assembly with vent screen

A window assembly for a motor vehicle includes an opening defined by a pair of spaced apart stationary windows. Above and below the opening are a pair of opposing horizontal guide rails within which a moveable window slides allowing the opening to be selectively covered or uncovered. Attached to the moveable window is a vent screen, the other end of which is attached to a retraction device mounted adjacent to the opening. When the moveable window is opened, the vent screen uncoils from the retraction device, covering the opening. When the window is closed, the retraction device automatically spools and stores the screen.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to window assemblies for motor vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a window and vent screen assembly for a sliding window, such as those commonly found as the back light or rear window of pick-up trucks and other vehicles.

2. Description of Related Art

Various types of motor vehicles include window assemblies of the sliding window variety. Such rear window assemblies open by means of one or two laterally moveable windows (hereinafter just “window”). The moveable window is moveable such that it can selectively cover an opening defined within a single stationary window or between a pair of stationary windows. When the rear window assembly is in the open position, however, debris located in the bed of the truck can be drawn into the passenger compartment. Such debris may include items such as dirt, leaves, sticks, paper, and insects.

Several screen assemblies for the rear window of a pick-up truck are known. These screen assemblies typically include a frame that is mountable within the opening of the rear window assembly. As such, the screen assembly may include a frame having a bias means associated therewith to allow the frame to compress slightly and assist in the installation or removal of the screen from the window opening.

Window screens of the above varieties have numerous disadvantages. For example, when installed such screen assemblies are fixedly mounted and prevent an occupant in the passenger compartment of the truck from conveniently accessing items stored in the cargo box through the window. Further, when use of the screen is desired or when use of the screen is not desired, it cannot be conveniently installed.

In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved window assembly and vent screen for the sliding windows of vehicles, such as pick-up trucks.

SUMMARY

In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides a sliding window assembly with a vent screen for a motor vehicle such as a pick-up truck. In particular, a sliding window assembly is provided with a retractable vent screen. In the closed position of the sliding window, the screen panel is retracted within a housing by a retraction device. When spooled within the housing, the screen panel is concealed and the vent screen is small enough that it does not inhibit the rear view through the sliding window. Upon movement of the sliding window to uncover and open the window assembly, the screen panel is automatically drawn out of the housing and extended over the opening of the window assembly. This screen panel is permeable and allows air to readily flow into the passenger compartment of the vehicle while at the same time providing a barrier to the introduction of debris from the cargo box.

In providing a window assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the window assembly is seen as including as its primary components a pair of stationary windows, a pair of spaced apart track members, a moveable window and a retractable vent screen.

The stationary windows, which may be portions of a single fixed window, are spaced apart and define an opening therebetween. The opening itself provides for communication and access between the interior passenger compartment of the vehicle and the exterior of the vehicle specifically the cargo box or bed of the vehicle when the vehicle is a pick-up truck.

The spaced apart track members are generally horizontally oriented and positioned such that they extend across the opening defined between the stationary windows. Each of the track members is of a three walled construction and defines a channel, the channel of each track member counter-facing the channel of the other track member.

Slidingly received within the channels of the track members is a moveable window. The moveable window is moveable in a lateral direction, relative to the vehicle, in the channels so as to selectively cover or uncover the opening defined by the stationary windows.

The vent screen includes, in addition to the housing and screen panel mentioned above, a retraction device. One end of the screen panel is attached to the moveable window while the opposing end of the screen panel is connected to the retraction device. The retraction device is provided in such a manner that the screen panel will be automatically spooled or wound up thereby.

In operation, displacement of the moveable window from a closed position to an open position causes the screen panel to be drawn out of the housing and over the opening between the stationary windows. Displacement of the moveable window from this open position to a closed position covering the opening allows the screen panel to be automatically spooled by the retraction device into a stored position within the housing.

In addition to forming an obstruction to the entry of debris into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the screen panel also operates as a sun shade. In so doing, the screen panel offers protection from the potential adverse effects of sunlight to the interior seating/trim and the occupants of the vehicle.

In an alternative embodiment, the vent screen is removable mounted to the remainder of the window assembly. This allows for the vent screen to be readily removed from the window assembly in situations where it is so desired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, a sliding window assembly embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1and generally designated at10. As its primary components, the window assembly10includes a pair of stationary windows12,14, a pair of guide rails16,18, a moveable window20and a screen assembly22. The entire window assembly10, is mounted as the rear window, i.e. as a back light window, in a pick-up truck or other vehicle (not shown).

The stationary windows12,14are supported within a frame24or other structure utilized to mount the assembly10in window frame of the pick-up truck. In general, the stationary windows12,14are spaced apart and located on opposing ends of the window assembly10so as to include portions defining an opening26centrally therebetween. While the stationary windows12,14may be formed as individual panes of glass, or other transparent material, the stationary windows12,14can be formed as a unitary structure, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, with the opening26centrally formed therein.

The moveable window20is mounted with respect to the stationary windows12,14such that the moveable window20can selectively cover or uncover the opening26. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the moveable window20is in a “closed” position covering the opening26. As seen inFIG. 2, the moveable window20is in an “open” position where the opening26is uncovered.

In order to mount the moveable window20and to permit the desired movement between the closed and open positions, the moveable window20is supported by the guide rails16,18. The guide rails16,18are each permanently affixed to the stationary windows12,14by means of adhesive or other conventional fastening techniques. Generally, the guide rails16,18are mounted horizontally with respect to the window assembly10and are oriented parallel to one another.

The guide rails16,18are each three walled structures, having side walls19connected by a base wall21so as to define a channel28into which the moveable window20is slidingly received. Accordingly, the mounting of the guide rails16,18to the stationary windows12,14is such that the channels28of each guide rail16,18are counter-facing one another.

When moved into the open position, the moveable window20engages stops30fixedly received in the end of the guide rails16,18so as to prohibit further movement of the moveable window20. In this position, the trailing edge32of the moveable window20is located at a position beyond or outside of the opening26.

In order to prevent debris from entering into the occupant compartment of the vehicle through the opening26when the moveable window20is in its open position, the vent screen22is provided in such a manner that a screen panel34is moved over the opening26as the moveable window20is moved to its uncovered or open position. Conversely the screen panel34is automatically retracted or spooled when the moveable window20is moved to its covered or closed position over the opening26.

To accomplish the above, the vent screen22includes a roller shaft36to which one end38of the screen panel34is permanently mounted. The roller shaft36is supported in a housing40so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing40. Also located within the housing40is a biasing member42. The biasing member42provides a rotational biasing force between the housing40and roller shaft36causing the roller shaft36to rotate relative to the housing40. Support of the roller shaft36within the housing40can be achieved in any manner that will permit and enable rotation of the roller shaft36relative to the housing40.

As seen inFIG. 4, the biasing member42is a coil spring, the inner end44of which is secured to the roller shaft36and the outer end46of which is secured to the housing40. Under the influence of the biasing member42, the screen panel34is accordingly spooled or wound onto the roller shaft36. To enable entrance of the screen panel34into the housing40, a slot48is provided in the housing40.

The vent screen22may be supported in various ways with respect to the moveable window20. In one embodiment, the vent screen22may be fixedly mounted or removeably mounted to the stationary window12at a location adjacent to the opening26. In another embodiment, and as illustrated in the figures, the vent screen22is removeably mounted between the guide rails16,18.

In mounting the screen assembly22to the guide rails16,18, the ends of the guide rails16,18adjacent to the opening26are provided with apertures50in the sidewall19thereof. The vent screen22is provided, on opposing ends thereof, with an end block52. The end blocks52are mounted to the housing40and are profiled so as to enable them to be received within the channels28of the guide rails16,18. The retaining of the end blocks52within the channels28, the end blocks52are further provided with spring biased plungers54. The spring biased plungers54are of a conventional construction and are located on the end blocks52so as to correspond with the apertures50in the guide rails16,18and so as to be biased into engagement therewith as the end blocks52are slid into the channels28. When located in the guide rails16,18, the end blocks52also operate as end stops limiting movement of the moveable window20in the direction thereof. Obviously, to remove the vent screen22from the remainder of the window assembly10, the plungers54are depressed and the vent screen22is slid in a lateral direction (to the left inFIGS. 1 and 2) out of the ends of the guide rails16,18.

As previously stated, one end38of the screen panel34is secured to the roller shaft36. The opposing end56of the screen panel34is attached to the moveable window20, adjacent to the trailing edge32. This end56of the screen panel34can be secured to the moveable window20in a variety of ways, including permanently adhering this end56to the moveable window20. In a preferred construction, however, this end56of the screen panel34is removeably attached to the moveable window20.

One such possible construction for the removable attachment of the screen panel34to the moveable window20is seen inFIG. 3. As seen therein, the end56of the screen panel34is provided with a stay58or other reinforcing member. The stay may be constructed in a number of ways, including two pieces of plastic snap-fit together with the end56of the screen panel34impinged and retained therebetween. In order to mount the stay56to the moveable window20, corresponding portions of snaps60, or any other releasable fasteners, are respectively provided on the stay58and on the moveable window20.

In this manner, when it is desired to have access through the opening26of the window assembly10, the screen panel34may be disconnected from the moveable window20by disengaging the corresponding portions of the snaps60located on the stay58and the moveable window20. With the snaps60disconnected, the screen panel34, under the influence of the biasing member42, will be spooled into the housing40and onto the roller shaft36. Preferably, the stay58is sized such that upon full winding of the screen panel34onto the roller shaft37, the stay will engage the housing40adjacent to the slot48, being too large to pass through the slot48.