Modular window assembly

A modular window assembly includes a glass panel with a peripheral molded PVC frame having an undersurface engageable with a pinchweld flange defining a window opening in a vehicle. A plurality of cylindrical, finned PVC studs are integrally molded to the PVC frame undersurface and are alignable with slots through the pinchweld. A central passage extends axially through each stud, most of the way, but not all the way therethrough. The diameter of each stud is slightly larger than each pinchweld slot. A pin in each central passage, when pushed, stretches the studs, decreases their diameter so that they pass through the pinchweld slots. Releasing the pins lets the studs resiliently return to their original shape to retain the window assembly to the vehicle.

This invention relates to window assemblies in general and specifically to 
a modular window assembly for a vehicle or the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Modular or unitary vehicle windows, that is, window assemblies in which the 
window glass, gasket or frame, and at least part of the fastening means 
are molded or otherwise held together as a separately handled unit, are 
old in the art. The British patent specification No. 678,891 shows a 
window unit made up of a glass panel and a peripheral rubber gasket with 
an embedded peripheral metal frame therein that includes threaded holes. 
The unit is set into a window opening defined by a pinchweld and screws 
are threaded by an operator inside the vehicle through holes in the 
pinchweld into the threaded holes in the frame to retain the unit to the 
vehicle. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,072,340 and 4,139,234 show various 
embodiments of a modular window assembly which essentially reverses the 
structure of the British specification by molding studs into the gasket, 
inserting the studs through matching holes in the pinchweld, and threading 
nuts on the studs from inside the vehicle. The disadvantage of all these 
structures is the necessity for an operator inside the vehicle to do the 
final installation. With modern, robot assembly methods it is desirable to 
have an assembly that can be installed from outside the vehicle entirely. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a modular window assembly which can be installed 
entirely from the exterior of the vehicle, as well as providing other 
advantages. 
In the preferred embodiment, the modular window assembly of the invention 
includes a glass window panel with a frame of resilient plastic material, 
such as PVC, molded around and to the peripheral edge thereof, sized to 
fit within a conventionally defined pinchweld flange window opening in a 
vehicle body. The molded frame has an outer surface accessible from 
outside the vehicle and an undersurface that is engageable with the 
pinchweld flange. The flange includes a plurality of localized openings, 
such as slots or holes, therethrough. 
The undersurface of the molded frame also includes, at spaced locations 
corresponding to the location of the pinchweld slots, integrally molded 
resilient cylindrical studs having a series of axially spaced flexible 
ribs or fins. The outer diameter of the fins is larger than that of the 
pinchweld openings. Each stud also includes an axial passage which extends 
from the outer surface of the frame to an inner closed end wall of the 
stud. Each passage receives a separable push pin which engages the inner 
closed end wall of the stud. Each pin has a head which is recessed within 
a molding receiving channel in the outer surface of the molded frame. 
When the window assembly is placed into the vehicle body window opening, 
the tapered inner ends of the studs are aligned with the pinchweld 
openings but cannot pass through the openings because of their larger 
diameter. When the pins are pushed into their passages from outside the 
vehicle, they act against the inner closed end wall of the passages and 
stretch or elongate the studs. This decreases the stud diameter and allows 
the stud and one or more fins to pass through the pinchweld openings. When 
the frame undersurface has engaged the pinchweld, installation of the 
assembly is complete and the pins are released. This allows the inherent 
resiliency of the studs to retract the studs to their original length and 
engage one of the fins with the inner surface of the pinchweld to retain 
the window assembly to the vehicle. 
The structure of the invention provides other advantages, as well. The 
resilience of the stud provides a rattle free attachment tolerance or play 
in the stud-slot alignment. With proper stud-slot sizing the assembly may 
be made easily removable, especially if a bead of adhesive, rather than 
just sealant, is used. In that case, the mechanical attachment provided by 
the studs need be only temporary, only enough to allow the adhesive to 
set. Even if a totally mechanical attachment is used with the stud-slot 
interengagement being tight and difficult to remove, the pin is removable, 
which would leave the stud easy to cut, as by a wire. 
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a modular window 
assembly which may be installed entirely from the exterior of the vehicle. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a modular window 
assembly in which the fastening means is comprised of resilient studs 
molded from the same material as the molded frame of the assembly with no 
separate members or fasteners molded into or embedded in the molded frame. 
It is another object of the invention to provide such a modular window 
assembly in which the resilient studs may, with access only from the 
exterior of the vehicle, be stretched and elongated to fit through aligned 
slots in a flange of a vehicle body opening to retain the window assembly 
to the flange.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a vehicle body designated generally at 10 has a 
window opening 12 defined by a peripheral pinchweld flange 14 which 
includes, at spaced locations therealong, a plurality of circular openings 
or slots 16. As disclosed, window opening 12 is a rear quarter, although 
the invention may be embodied in any fixed window. Window opening 12 is 
closed by a modular rear quarter window assembly 18 of the type having a 
glass window panel 20 which has a molded frame 22 formed around its 
peripheral edge. 
Referring next to FIG. 3, an enlarged sectional view of part of molded 
frame 22 and the peripheral edge of window panel 20 are shown with window 
assembly 18 being aligned with window opening 12 prior to its installation 
adjacent the opening. Molded frame 22 is formed of PVC or similar material 
and has an outer surface 24 which is accessible from outside vehicle body 
10 and an undersurface 26 which faces the interior of vehicle 10. A 
peripheral groove 28 formed along the outer edge of undersurface 26 
receives a bead of sealant or adhesive 30. This much is typical of a 
modular window assembly. What is desired is a way of fastening window 
assembly 18 to the pinchweld flange 14 without an operator on the inside 
of vehicle body 10. This is provided by the fastening system of the 
invention which is combined therewith, described below. 
Molded integrally with the undersurface 26 of molded frame 22 are a 
plurality of resilient studs designated generally at 32 equal to the 
number of slots 16 in the pinchweld and alignable therewith. Each stud 32 
is generally cylindrical in shape, having an elongated body 34 and a 
series of axially spaced flexible or resilient integral fins 36 on the 
outer surface thereof. The diameter of body 34 is slightly larger than the 
diameter of slot 16. The distance from undersurface 26 to the first fin 36 
is slightly less than the thickness of pinchweld flange 14. Passing into 
the center of body 34 from the outer surface 24 of frame 22 is a 
cylindrical passage 38. Passage 38 runs through most of the length of body 
34, but not entirely therethrough so that the stud has a closed end. An 
outer peripheral groove 40 intersects the passages 38, for a reason to be 
described below, but is not strictly necessary to the practice of the 
invention. Insertable in each passage 38 is a separable, rigid push pin 42 
of metal or other suitable material which fits snugly, but movably, within 
passage 38. Pin 42 is of a length such that, when it is inserted all the 
way to the closed end of the stud at the bottom of passage 38, its head 44 
is spaced from the bottom of outer groove 40 by a predetermined amount to 
be described below. Pin 42 may be inserted in passage 38 after the process 
of molding frame 22, or, with a suitable release agent, it may be placed 
in the mold with frame 22 and stud 32 formed around it. The release agent 
will assure that pin 42 is completely removable, that is, not permanently 
embedded within or molded within frame 22. 
Referring next to FIG. 4, a pressing force has been applied to head 44 of 
the pin 42 by any suitable tool, not shown. Such force presses head 44 
into contact with the bottom of outer groove 40 to stretch and elongate 
body 34. Consequently this force in the preferred embodiment effectively 
decreases the diameter of body 34 and fins 36 to allow the stud and fins 
to be inserted through slot 16 in the pinchweld so that the inner surface 
of the frame can engage the outer surface of the pinchweld flange and one 
of the fins of the stud can engage the inner surface of the pinchweld 
flange to retain the window assembly thereto. The spacing of head 44 from 
the bottom of outer groove 40 is sufficient to allow enough elongation of 
body 34 to cause this decrease in body diameter. 
Referring next to FIG. 2, body 34 has continued to move through slot 16 as 
pin 42 is pushed until the undersurface 26 has engaged the outside of 
flange 14 along with bead 30. Once this positive stop has engaged, the 
pressure is released from pin 42, and body 34 returns substantially to its 
original shape. The resilient engagement of body 34 with the edges of slot 
16 may retain window 18 to peripheral flange 14. This retention is 
assisted by the engagement of the first fin 36 with the inside of flange 
14. Fins 36 provide a backup measure of attachment surety in the event 
that the interference engagement of stud body 34 and peripheral flange 14 
fails to retain the window assembly and flange closely together. It will 
also be noted in FIG. 2 that a decorative molding 46 has been added to the 
heads of pins 42. This is, of course, not necessary to the practice of the 
invention, but may be aesthetically desirable. Pins 42 could, if desired, 
be entirely removed after insertion of the studs is complete. In this 
event molding 46 would conceal passages 38 from view. 
The structure of the invention provides advantages other than the ease of 
attachment described above. A stud molded integrally from the same 
material as the molded frame is less expensive than a separate clip or 
metal stud molded thereto. Such a fastener avoids metal to metal contact 
and is rattle free. The resilience of the PVC material also provides a 
certain amount of play or tolerance in the alignment of studs with 
pinchweld slots. It will also be understood that should it be necessary to 
remove the window assembly, a PVC stud would be easier to sever or 
otherwise remove by a service operator than would a metal clip, nut or 
other fastener. The passages left in the frame by the removal of the push 
pins could be used for the insertion of a separate fastener, such as a 
threaded screw or bolt, for reattachment of the window assembly. 
Furthermore, pins 42 could be incorporated in a tool, such as a programmed 
robot, and removed from passages 38, after the window assembly has been 
installed. As before the passages 38 may be concealed by a decorative 
molding. 
It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact 
embodiment disclosed and that certain variations thereof may be made 
without departing from the spirit of the invention.