Spacer for vehicle windshield

A spacer for installation along the upper or lower horizontal edge of a vehicle windshield. The spacer is used to maintain the support bracket at a predetermined distance and perpendicular to the surface of the windshield. The spacer includes a first surface for contact with the windshield edge, a second surface for contact with the bracket, and a support surface which works a support element fastened to the bracket for maintaining the bracket substantially perpendicular to the edge of the windshield. The windshield, equipped with the spacer, can thus be positioned by itself by simple alignment of the spacer on the bracket support element while an adhesive is applied between the windshield and bracket and cures without further support.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a vehicle window comprising a window opening on 
one side with a peripheral sheet of metal parallel to the glazing and onto 
which the glazing is mounted by gluing by means of an adhesive bead, with 
the glazing being equipped with a plastic spacer which is extruded or 
shaped as a frame. The spacer is provided with at least one peripheral 
portion or wing perpendicular to the surface of the glazing for engaging a 
corresponding support element of the sheet of metal. 
BACKGROUND ART 
The technique of mounting automobile glazings onto a sheet metal bracket by 
gluing, without intermediary components, is often called "direct gluing". 
Automobile glazings which are intended for direct gluing are generally 
equipped with a coating of a hot paint or an enamel which is opaque to 
light and ultraviolet rays. This coating is applied on the edge of the 
windshield on the glazing surface directed towards the sheet metal bracket 
and serves to protect the bead of glue from the action of ultraviolet rays 
and to prevent the bead from being visible through the glazing from the 
outside. 
Further, instead of the coating or, in addition to it, there are automobile 
glazings used for direct gluing which utilize a plastic component placed 
in advance on the marginal portions of the glazing. Alternatively, there 
are glazings used for direct gluing which are equipped on their periphery 
with a plastic component having a wing directed toward the sheet metal 
bracket and perpendicular to the surface of the glazing (see, for example, 
EP No. 121,481). This wing is always located on the margin of the 
component toward the inside of the windshield and thus serves only to 
limit the lateral overflow of the adhesive compound or glue used during 
the installation of the glazing in the window opening or bay of a vehicle. 
With direct gluing, the glazings must be positioned precisely relative to 
the rabbet of the window opening of the vehicle body. The space remaining 
between the edge of the glazing and the edge of the rabbet should be 
constant since the imposed minimal requirement makes it necessary to have 
an upper horizontal groove which has a constant given width. In many 
cases, the lower edge of the glazing of both the windshield and the rear 
window is hidden behind the elements of the body and only the upper groove 
is visible. In direct gluing, it is necessary to hold the glazing 
mechanically in the window opening until the bead of glue sets and is hard 
enough to resist deformation under the weight of the glazing. Otherwise, 
the glazing would move so that the upper horizontal groove would not meet 
the acceptable tolerances. 
Several methods are known for temporarily fastening the glazing during the 
setting time of the glue; for example, it is possible to glue bendable 
metal straps to the periphery of the glazing. After gluing of the glazing, 
these straps are bent back into the rabbet. This method requires a precise 
positioning of the glazing in the rabbet and further demands additional 
manual work to bend all the straps at the end of the operation, and is 
illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,159. 
The object of the invention is a labor-saving solution for positioning and 
fastening an automobile windshield to a support bracket by the direct 
gluing method. This solution guarantees, at a minimum, that the upper 
and/or lower horizontal groove between the edge of the glazing and the 
edge of the rabbet has a definite and uniform width and that the glazing 
and bracket are immobilized in the bay in the appropriate position. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, this object is achieved by positioning a spacer 
along the upper and/or lower edge of the glazing at a given constant 
distance from the edge of the rabbet of the window opening and by 
providing the spacer with a peripheral portion having a support surface 
intended to support the weight of the glazing directed in the plane of the 
window opening. The support surface is working in combination with a 
support element of the upper and/or lower sheet metal bracket, the ends of 
which are directed approximately perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle 
window opening. 
According to the invention, the spacer, which is securely bonded to the 
edge of the glazing, is provided with a peripheral portion of specific 
dimensions and a section which has a predetermined configuration such that 
it can perform the support function without separate external or combined 
supporting means. Instead of being positioned relative to the edge of the 
glazing, the peripheral portion of this spacer is positioned at a 
determined distance relative to the rabbet of the window opening which is 
opposite to it. Thus, it is seen that, unlike the known methods, this 
spacer equipped with its peripheral portion makes it possible to position 
the glazing relative to the upper and/or lower horizontal part of the 
window opening. Further, according to the invention, the rabbet acts 
directly or indirectly as support for the peripheral portion of the 
spacer. Therefore, a device is achieved which makes it possible to 
position and fasten the glazing in a particularly simple and effective 
manner using minimal labor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In its simplest embodiment, the glazings is equipped with the spacer which 
has a peripheral portion making it possible to position and fasten the 
glazing only along its upper or lower edge. After deposit of the bead of 
glue on the edge of the glazing or on the rabbet of the window opening, 
the glazing is suspended in the window opening, that is, the peripheral 
portion of the spacer first comes in contact with the support surface of 
the rabbet. Next, the glazing is symmetrically adjusted in the window 
opening, that is, moved until its two lateral grooves have the same width. 
In a latter phase the glazing is applied over its entire margin to the 
sheet metal bracket. The weight of the glazing supplies pressure to the 
sheet metal bracket to maintain the bead of glue between the glazing and 
the sheet metal bracket in its pressed position. 
In a development of the invention, the spacer, equipped with a peripheral 
portion, is also placed along the lateral edges of the glazing. The 
lateral sections of the spacer serve to automatically, laterally adjust 
the position of the glazing. In this case, the peripheral portions of the 
spacer are dimensioned and placed so that they can rest on a part of the 
rabbet which is perpendicular to the sheet metal bracket, for example, at 
the periphery of the rabbet. Here, the lateral peripheral portion of the 
spacer should be placed so that it can rest in the rabbet without any 
motion. Preferably, the lateral peripheral portions of the spacer are 
flexible so that when the glazing is placed in the window opening, they 
can deform laterally. 
In another embodiment, besides an adjustment in the plane of the glazing, 
an adjustment can be made in the perpendicular direction. This is 
particularly advantageous when it is desired to obtain, for streamlining 
the vehicle, a continuity between the glazing and the surface of the body 
which surrounds it. To allow an automatic depth adjustment, the spacer is 
equipped with wedges and slots which, during mounting, work with 
complementary slots or wedges placed on the sheet metal bracket to create 
a continuity between the glazing and body. Obviously, it is necessary to 
have placed these wedges or slots relative to the part of the body which 
surrounds the window opening so that at the moment of assembly of the 
wedges in the slots there is obtained, by the very design of the unit, a 
continuity between the outside surfaces of the glazing and the body. 
In all of the cases shown, the glazings are equipped with a plastic spacer 
which is glued on the inside surface of the glazing opposite the sheet 
metal bracket. This spacer can be preformed as described in patent 
application DE- No. 3,536,806. A particularly advantageous manner for 
making this spacer consists of extruding it simultaneously with its 
deposit directly onto the surface of the glazing using a nozzle with an 
adapted cross-section. In this case, the material is an adhesive compound 
that sets. This extrusion technique and the corresponding adhesive 
compounds are known. The materials most suited for such an extrusion are 
single-component polyurethane prepolymers in paste form. Actual setting 
takes place under the action of the humidity of the air and generates 
high-modulus elastomers. Such polyurethane systems are described in the 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,794. Also, two-component polyurethane systems can be 
suitable; those presented in European patent application EP No. 83,797 or 
in European patent EP No. 24,501 are suitable. Depending on the nature of 
the adhesive compound, it is necessary to prepare the surface on which the 
spaced bead will be deposited in a known manner, optionally with a 
suitable adherence primer. 
To make the spacer on the glazing it is possible to use an extrusion head 
which is guided along the edge of the glazing at a defined distance. This 
can be done with a mechanical device which keeps the distance from the 
edge of the glazing constant. Guiding of the extrusion head along the 
periphery of the glazing, however, can be performed by a robot programmed 
accordingly or by another programmable machine without the necessity for 
it to be placed directly in reference to the edge of the glazing. This 
last method offers the advantage that the application of the spacer to the 
glazing is independent of the edge of the glazing and depends only on the 
shape and dimensions of the window opening and its own design. Thus, the 
distance between the spacer and the horizontal upper edge of the glazing 
can be different from the distance between the spacer and the lateral 
edges. 
The drawing portions show a laminated glazing of the type generally used in 
automobile windshields. It would also be possible to use a monolithic 
glazing or even a glazing consisting of another glass/plastic combination. 
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a vehicle window according to the 
invention. Glazing 1 is equipped along its edge on the face opposite sheet 
metal bracket 2 with an opaque coating 3 in the form of a frame. This 
coating 3 consists of a hot enamel. 
Along the upper edge a spacer 4, made by extrusion of an adhesive compound, 
has been placed on coating 3 and strongly adheres to it. The section of 
spacer 4 is approximately rectangular. On its lower edge 5, spacer 4 has a 
protuberance 6. Beneath this protuberance 6 is angle 7 of sheet metal 8. 
This angle, along with the sheet metal bracket 9, constitutes the edge of 
opening 2 of the window. The design of lower surface 5 of the spacer and 
the inclination of angle 7 of the sheet metal are such that, as the 
glazing is positioned, a force is introduced in the direction of the sheet 
metal bracket. This inclination is less than 90.degree. with respect to 
the bracket. In other areas of the periphery of the glazing there also 
exists a component of force that is directed toward the sheet metal 
bracket. This component results from the weight of the glazing. These 
components are sufficient, when glazing 1 is positioned, for a pressure to 
be exerted on the bead of glue 10. Spacer 4 and sheet metal angle 7 are 
placed relative to sheet metal bracket 2 and to glazing 1 such that the 
groove which exists between periphery 11 of glazing 1 and edge 12 of the 
rabbet of the window opening has a constant width B in the upper part of 
the periphery of the glazing. 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 consists of a spacer 4 placed on glazing 1 
and which has approximately the same form and same section as in the 
embodiment of FIG. 1. Sheet metal bracket 14 consists of two unit pieces 
of sheet metal 15 and 16 which are straight. Here the support surface for 
spacer 4 consists of sheet metal angle 17 which is obtained by stamping 
sheet metal 15 on three sides and then by bending. Opening 18 thus made in 
the section of sheet metal 15 is closed and made tight by penetration of 
adhesive compound 10. 
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which glazing 1 is equipped with a spacer 20, 
which by its interaction with sheet metal bracket 21, allows a positioning 
and fastening of glazing 1 in three dimensions. Spacer 20 has 
approximately the form of a U consisting of a central part 27, of a first 
outer peripheral portion 22 and an inner peripheral portion 23. Outer 
peripheral portion 22 has the same form and performs the same function as 
spacer 4 of the embodiments described above. 
The outer peripheral portion interacts along the entire upper edge of the 
glazing with the sheet metal piece 19 which has the form of an inverted 
angle or a hook. This inverted angle or hook 19 is a separate piece which 
is attached to the sheet metal bracket 21 by spot welds. The inner 
peripheral portion 23 of spacer 20 has a length L which is greater than 
the distance between the surface of the glazing and the sheet metal 
bracket 21. The outer face of the inner peripheral portion 23 is equipped 
with a lip 24 and a groove 25. The peripheral portion 23 acts like a 
spring which deforms elastically during the introduction of the glazing so 
that the edge of the sheet metal bracket 26 may be positioned into the 
groove 25 where it is then fastened. The use of this inner peripheral 
portion provides a symmetrical centering of the glazing. 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 also features a spacer 28 whose section is 
approximately in the form of a U. In this embodiment the weight of the 
glazing 1 is supported by the inner peripheral portion 29 of the spacer 
resting on the angle 30 of the sheet metal bracket 21. Instead of an angle 
30, it would also be possible to use a support element in the form of a 
hook or an inverted angle which would then be fastened to the sheet metal 
bracket 31. Spacer 28 also has an outer peripheral portion 32 which is 
approximately perpendicular to the surface of the glazing. This peripheral 
portion 32 has a section which is substantially triangular and acts as a 
support for the adhesive compound 10. 
FIG. 5 represents an embodiment in which the glazing 1 is equipped with key 
hole shaped spacer 34 along the upper edge. The bulbous portion 35 of the 
spacer 34 is enclosed within two metal angles 36 and 38 which are formed 
from the ends of sheet metal bracket 40. The enclosure of the bulbous 
portion 35 within these angles establishes an attachment of the glazing to 
the sheet metal bracket which may be defined along a portion of the 
periphery or over the entire periphery. The bead of glue 10 sets to 
provide a permanent attachment of the glazing 1 to the sheet metal bracket 
40. 
The embodiment represented in FIG. 6 shows the device for positioning and 
fastening the glazing 1 in a manner which is close to the preceding 
examples. In this case, the peripheral portion 34 comprises a bulbous 
portion 35 which works within a channel formed by the angles 36 and 38 of 
the sheet metal bracket 40. The peripheral portion 34 is the inner portion 
of a spacer 42 which is substantially a U section. The outer peripheral 
portion 43 comprises a groove 44 into which a cord having high tensile 
strength can be introduced. If necessary, the cord can be used to shear 
the bead of glue 10 and the inner peripheral portion 34 of the spacer to 
facilitate the dismounting of the glazing. 
FIG. 7 shows a section of an embodiment in the lower part of a window 
opening. Here the spacer 46 is placed along the lower edge of glazing 1 
and serves as a rigid support bonded to the glazing. The spacer 46 will 
rest on the upper edge 47 of sheet metal bracket 48. Also, spacer 46 is 
equipped along its lower face with a groove 49 in which the upper edge 47 
of sheet metal bracket 48 becomes engaged. The immobilization achieved by 
spacer 46 lasts at least as long as is necessary for the bead of glue 10 
to set. 
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which glazing 1 is equipped with a spacer 52, 
which, when placed over the entire periphery, achieves a positioning in 
three dimensions through its interaction with the sheet metal bracket 55. 
The edge 54 of sheet metal bracket 55 is inserted into the groove 56 of 
the inner peripheral portion 53 in such a way as to achieve precise 
positioning of the glazing within its plane. The outer peripheral portion 
57 has a height H which corresponds to the desired distance between the 
glazing and the sheet metal bracket 55. This peripheral portion functions 
as a stop during placement of the glazing into the window opening. Thus, 
the bead of glue 10 is pressed on by the glazing in the direction of the 
sheet metal bracket 55 to the limit established by the peripheral portion 
involved. Therefore, a precise positioning of the glazing in the direction 
perpendicular to its surface is also obtained. 
While it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is well calculated 
to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that numerous 
modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, 
and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications 
and embodiments as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present 
invention.