Safety captain window for trucks

A safety captain window for a truck, which comprises: a captain window housing comprising inner, middle, and outer channel members, wherein the inner channel member comprises at least one slidable glass window member slidably movable within the inner channel member, the middle channel member comprises first and second fixed glass plate members fixedly mounted within the middle channel member so as to define an opening therein between the first and second fixed glass plate members, and the outer channel member comprises first and second channel sections separated by a safety screen means, whereby the safety screen means prevents the influx of solid matter through an opening formed when the at least one slidable glass window member is moved in a lateral direction within the inner channel member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to window structures, and particularly to a 
safety captain window structure for trucks, such as pickup trucks, which 
prevents debris and similar solid matter located on the truck bed from 
ingressing into the passenger cab of the vehicle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Trucks, such as flatbed or pickup trucks, have for many years been 
optionally provided with captain windows. A captain window is located at 
the rear of the truck's passenger cab, directly behind the heads of the 
driver and passenger. Typically, a captain window opens by means of one or 
two laterally sliding glass window members, which when opened allow 
ventilation of the cab with air from the rear of the truck. 
When flatbed or pickup trucks are equipped with conventional captain 
windows, however, a serious problem arises when the truck is driven with 
the captain window in the open position. Specifically, when the truck is 
driven as such, light weight solid matter or debris located on the bed of 
the truck is literally sucked into the cab of the truck, frequently 
striking the heads of the occupants and otherwise interfering with safe 
operation of the vehicle. Aluminum cans, hay, dirt, paper and other 
lightweight sold materials often present on the beds of such trucks are 
forced into the truck cab at great speeds, when a truck carrying these 
materials is driven with its captain window in the open position. Also, 
rainwater enters through an open captain window of conventional design. 
The above-described aerodynamic phenomenon was apparently not contemplated 
by the original designers and manufacturers of captain windows, and to 
date there remains no acceptable solution to this problem. In fact, a 
large number of truck owners simply never use their captain windows as a 
result of the inconvenience and danger caused by the entry of lightweight 
materials and rainwater into the cab of their truck during operation of 
the same. In addition, conventional captain windows tend to greatly 
increase the noise within the truck cab, which further reduces use of 
conventional captain windows by truck owners. 
In the past, automobiles have been provided with screens in order to keep 
out insects and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,619,168, Leverence, 
discloses a foldable and packagable window screen for a motor vehicle 
which is said to prevent the admission of insects and dust into the 
vehicle interior. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, screen material 1 is 
mounted on the adjacent sides of automobile door 3 or the body wall by 
means of a sheet-like fabric or flexible and foldable composition frame 4, 
which is permanently joined to the screen material and is provided with 
adhesive sides 5 that are disposed outwardly and laterally of the marginal 
portions of the screen material. In this fashion, the screen window is 
said to be easily removable from the window opening. 
U.S Pat. No. 2,625,217, Spiller et al., relates to window screens, and 
particularly, to a screen for automobile windows. One disclosed function 
of the screen is to exclude insects from the interior of the automobile. 
The screen includes a deformable plastic frame 30 which allows the screen 
to be inserted into the window opening in order to be secured thereto. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,711, Smith, illustrates a flexible screen adapted to be 
removable and conveniently mounted in the window openings of an automobile 
in order to close such openings against the ingress of flies and other 
pests, while providing ventilation to the interior of the vehicle. The 
disclosed structure includes spring coils 20 and 22 which connect the top 
of the device to the side members and bias these members against the 
window channel to secure the screen to the vehicle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,702,596, Morrow, illustrates an automobile window screen 
which is said to be capable of fitting window openings of different sizes 
and shapes. As shown in FIG. 2, the window screen 14 is formed of a 
continuous resilient metal strip which is transversely curved. Adjacent to 
one end of the strip which comprises border frame 20 is secured an open 
loop 24, having space therein to permit the opposite end 26 of the strip 
20 to be inserted through the loop as shown. By drawing more or less of 
end 26 of the strip 20 through this loop, the area enclosed by the loop 
may be varied. An adjustable abutment 27 is secured adjacent to the end 26 
of the strip by a set-screw 28. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,121, Maidhof et al., discloses a sliding screen for an 
automobile window that is also said to be adapted to fit different 
automobiles and different shaped window openings. Modification for windows 
having various forward contours or inclinations is provided by cutting or 
trimming the end of one of the slide screens, or by the pivotal adjustment 
of an auxiliary sheet to give the screen an inclined attaching edge beyond 
its regular straight edge. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,036, Harris, discloses an automobile window screen for 
keeping out mosquitos and other insects which consists of a flexible 
mosquito netting 16 having a flexible elastic cord 17 hemmed into the 
upper edge 18 and the side edges (19, 20) of the screen. Four magnets 
(22-25) are provided near the juncture of the bottom and sides, and near 
the center of the screen, for purposes of securing the screen to the 
automobile. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,135, Sutton, illustrates a screen for an automobile 
window that is designed to remain stable whether the car is stationary or 
in operation, and which is said to be capable of being folded and rolled 
into a small package of such size that it may be stored in the glove 
compartment of the automobile. The screen appears to be secured in 
position by means of a plurality of clips (6a-6g). 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,458, Lazarek, is directed to a demountable car window 
screen which is secured to the automobile by means of Velcro strips 
mounted around the periphery of the screen. 
The foregoing efforts do not provide an acceptable solution to the 
difficulties encountered with the use of captain windows. For example, the 
above-described screens which use magnets as a securing means cannot be 
satisfactorily secured to captain windows, and as such are easily jarred 
out of place. The detachable automobile screen structures discussed above 
do not satisfactorily prevent the ingress of lightweight materials, nor 
are such structures adapted for modification depending upon the type of 
materials to be transported in the truck bed. In addition, many of the 
automobile screen designs disclosed in the prior art are too complex 
and/or aesthetically unattractive to present a commercially viable 
solution to the problems associated with truck captain windows. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, Applicants have developed a captain window for trucks which 
overcomes the shortcomings of conventional captain window configurations. 
Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, Applicants provide a 
safety captain window for a truck, which comprises: a captain window 
housing comprising inner, middle, and outer channel members, wherein said 
inner channel member comprises at least one slidable glass window member 
slidably movable within said inner channel member, said middle channel 
member comprises first and second fixed glass plate members fixedly 
mounted within said middle channel member so as to define an opening 
therein between said first and second fixed glass plate members, and said 
outer channel member comprises first and second channel sections separated 
by a safety screen means, whereby said safety screen means prevents the 
influx of solid matter through an opening formed when said at least one 
slidable glass window member is moved in a lateral direction within said 
inner channel member. 
According to a second aspect of the invention, Applicants provide a safety 
captain window for a truck, which comprises: a captain window housing 
comprising inner, middle, and outer channel members, wherein said inner 
channel member comprises at least one slidable glass window member 
slidably movable within said inner channel member, said middle channel 
member comprises first and second fixed glass plate members fixedly 
mounted on opposite sides of a safety screen means located within said 
middle channel member, and said outer channel member comprises first and 
second channel sections defining an opening therebetween, whereby said 
safety screen means prevents the influx of solid matter through an opening 
formed when said at least one slidable glass window member is moved in 
lateral direction within said inner channel member. 
According to a third aspect of the invention, Applicants provide a safety 
captain window for a truck, which comprises: a captain window housing 
comprising inner, middle, and outer channel members, wherein said inner 
channel member comprises a safety screen means secured in place within 
said inner channel member by at least one slidable glass window member, 
said at least one slidable glass window member being slidably movable 
within said inner channel member, said middle channel member comprises 
first and second fixed glass plate members fixedly mounted within said 
middle channel member and defining an opening therebetween, and said outer 
channel member comprises first and second channel sections defining an 
opening therebetween, whereby said safety screen means prevents the influx 
of solid matter through said safety captain window. 
The present invention therefore contemplates that the safety screen means 
may be situated in either the inner, middle or outer channel members of 
the captain window housing. In addition, a second and/or third safety 
screen means may be provided in the inner, middle or outer channel 
members. The concurrent use of two or more safety screen means has been 
found to provide further improved results, particularly when screens 
having different mesh sizes are employed. In this regard, the channel 
members of the captain window housing may be formed having the same 
channel width, such that the one or more safety screen means may be 
interchanged in various locations within the captain window housing. 
The safety screen means which forms an integral part of the present 
invention may be constructed of any suitable material known in the art. 
For example, the screen may be made of metals such as aluminum or 
stainless steel, or polymeric materials such as plastics. Screen mesh 
sizes of from about 10 to about 400 U.S. standard sieve size have been 
found to provide preferred results, depending upon the type of lightweight 
solid materials carried in the truck bed. The screen means may be painted 
with various colors or designs to provide an aesthetically pleasing 
commercial product 
The captain window housing is preferably configured so that the safety 
screen means may be easily removed therefrom. In this regard, providing 
the safety screen means with handles on the lateral sides of the screen 
has been found to facilitate installation and removal of the safety screen 
means from the subject captain window. 
The present invention also provides a method of preventing the influx of 
solid matter into the interior of a truck, which comprises outfitting said 
truck with a safety captain window which comprises: a captain window 
housing comprising inner, middle, and outer channel members, wherein said 
inner channel member comprises at least one slidable glass window member 
slidably movable within said inner channel member and being capable of 
forming an opening therein, said middle channel member comprises first and 
second fixed glass plate members defining an opening therebetween, and 
said outer channel member comprises first and second channel sections 
defining an opening therebetween, wherein at least one safety screen means 
is located in at least one of said openings defined in said inner, middle, 
and outer channel members so as to prevent the influx of solid matter into 
the interior of said truck. 
All of the captain window configurations provided by the instant invention 
enable the sliding glass window portion thereof to be opened during 
operation of the truck without the ingress of solid matter, such as 
lightweight debris or rainwater, into the truck cab. When a truck having a 
captain window of the invention is driven with the captain window in the 
open position, solid materials which are propelled by aerodynamic forces 
towards the truck cab are simply deflected by the captain window's safety 
screen means and thereby prevented from entering the passenger cab. After 
deflection, these airborne materials fall harmlessly back into the truck 
bed where they remain during operation of the vehicle. In addition, the 
captain window of the invention provides an unexpected significant 
reduction of noise within the truck cab, when the window is opened during 
operation of the vehicle. 
As previously described, the truck operator may select and interchange 
safety screen means having different screen mesh sizes depending upon the 
type of material to be carried in the bed of the truck. Also, combinations 
of two or more safety screens may be employed in the captain window of the 
invention to maximize the efficiency of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a 
preferred embodiment, which is merely intended to further illustrate the 
subject invention and is not deemed to be limiting thereof. 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a front elevation view of safety 
captain window as provided by the instant invention. The FIG. 1 
perspective is taken from the inside of the passenger cab of a truck 
equipped with the inventive captain window. As shown in FIG. I, the safety 
captain window 2 includes a captain window housing 4 which houses tracks 
(6,8) as well as fixed window frames (10,12). 
Housing 4 supports first and second fixed glass plate members (14,16), and 
first and second slidable glass window members (18,20) which allow the 
captain window to be opened and closed by means of lateral displacement of 
handles (22,24) affixed to the front of slidable glass window members 
(18,20). 
Optionally, a single slidable glass window (not shown) may be substituted 
for the double window configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, a top cross-sectional of the captain window of the 
invention is shown. Captain window housing 4 supports slidable glass 
window members (18,20) and fixed glass plate members (14,16) as described 
and illustrated above with regard to FIG. 1. In addition, housing 4 
supports first and second channel sections (26,28) and safety screen means 
30. Channel sections (26,28) may comprise rubber-filled J-channels or 
similar structures well-known in the art. 
As further shown in FIG. 2, captain window housing 4 includes an inner 
channel member 32, middle channel member 34, and outer channel member 36. 
The channel members are disposed in parallel relation within housing 4. 
Inner channel member 32 is proximate the truck cab and outer channel 
member 36 is nearest the truck bed, when the captain window of the 
invention is installed into a truck. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, inner channel member 32 houses first and second 
slidable glass window members (18,20); middle channel 34 houses first and 
second fixed glass plate members (14,16); and outer channel member 36 
houses first and second channel sections (26,28) as well as safety screen 
means 30. An opening is defined between first and second fixed glass plate 
members (14,16). In addition, an opening is defined between first and 
second slidable glass window members (18,20) when these window members are 
separated from each other in opposite lateral directions. When window 
members (18,20) are separated as far as possible, the opening defined 
therebetween corresponds with the width of the opening between first and 
second immovable glass plate members (14,16) in middle channel member 34, 
as well as corresponding to the width of safety screen means 30. It will 
therefore be understood that opening of first and second slidable glass 
window members (18,20) creates an opening through which air from the back 
of the truck may pass through safety screen means 30 and into the truck 
interior. First and second slidable glass window members (18,20) may 
include a suitable lock 38 to prevent undesired opening of the window 
members. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a bottom cross-sectional view 
of the captain window housing 4 provided by the invention. Inner, middle 
and outer channel members (32,34,36) described previously may be 
constructed so as to have the same channel width, thereby enabling safety 
screen means 30 to be easily interchanged between inner, middle, and outer 
channel locations. Also, as described above, multiple screen means may be 
employed, with different mesh sizes if desired, in order to further 
enhance the utility of the subject captain window under varying payload 
and operating conditions. For example, when dirt, sand or the like is 
being transported in the bed of the truck, one or more safety screens 
having a mesh size of 250-350 U.S. standard sieve size has been found to 
provide acceptable results. This size screen is also suitable for 
preventing the ingress of rainwater into the truck cab. For straw or hay, 
a mesh size of about 150 U.S. standard sieve size is suitable. For larger 
objects, such as aluminum cans and the like, a single safety screen having 
a mesh size of about 25-100 U.S. standard may be employed. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a typical safety screen means 30 having handles (40,42) 
to facilitate installation and removal of the safety screen from the 
inventive captain window structure. The safety screen means is vertically 
removable from captain window housing 4 by simply reaching into the 
housing and pulling up on handles (40,42) to release the safety screen 
means 30 from the captain window; the safety screen 30 is lifted out 
through the top of the captain window housing. 
As further depicted in FIG. 4, safety screen means 30 includes a screen 
portion 44, which is held in place on frame 48 by rubber welting 46. As 
indicated previously, screen portion 44 may be constructed of metal, 
polymeric compounds such as plastic, or any other suitable materials 
well-known in the art. 
The invention being this described, it will be obvious that the same may be 
varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure 
from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are 
intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.