Abstract:
A vehicle closure system includes a first track portion rigidly connected with respect to a vehicle body and a second track portion rigidly connected with respect to a closure panel. The closure panel is selectively movable between open and closed positions. The first and second track portions align when the closure panel is in the closed position. The track portions facilitate movement of a window between a closed position and a stowed position, while allowing independent movement of the closure panel with respect to the window.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to vehicle closure systems having a closure panel and a window member.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Certain vehicles include vehicle body openings, such as between passenger spaces and cargo spaces, or between a vehicle interior space and the vehicle exterior. Vehicle tailgates and midgates often include a lower panel that is a metal or composite material, and a transparent window connected to the lower panel. The lower panel and the window cooperate to selectively obstruct the body opening. Typically, the lower panel is pivotable to an open position and the window is retractable into a cavity formed by the lower panel when the lower panel is moved to the open position.  
         [0003]     An exemplary midgate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,863, issued Feb. 4, 2003 to Renke et al., and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. An exemplary tailgate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,043, issued Apr. 8, 2003 to Smith, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a body opening. A first track member defines a first track segment and is rigidly connected with respect to the vehicle body. A closure system for selectively obstructing the body opening includes a closure panel movably connected with respect to the vehicle body, a second track member defining a second track segment and rigidly connected with respect to the closure panel for movement therewith, a window member, and a window guide member rigidly connected with respect to the window member.  
         [0005]     The closure system is selectively movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the closure panel is in a generally vertically oriented closed position to partially obstruct the body opening, the window member is generally vertically oriented to further obstruct the body opening, and the window guide member is at least partially in the first track segment. In the second configuration, the window guide is at least partially in the second track segment and not in the first track segment such that the window member is movable with the closure panel.  
         [0006]     The vehicle provided enables independent movement of the closure panel and the window member. That is, when the closure system is in the first configuration, the window guide member is in the first track segment, which is rigidly connected with respect to the vehicle body. Accordingly, the closure panel is movable to its open position independently of the window member such that the window member remains in place and obstructs a portion of the body opening. The vehicle provided also enables the window member to be connected to the closure panel for movement therewith to a stowed position. That is, in the second configuration, the window guide member is in the second track segment, which is rigidly connected with respect to the closure panel. In a preferred embodiment, the window member is generally parallel to, and in juxtaposition with, the closure panel in the second configuration for compact stowage and movement with the closure panel to its closed position.  
         [0007]     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a vehicle body defining an opening;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a track member on the vehicle body of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a closure panel;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of a track member on the closure panel of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a window assembly;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of a window guide member on the window assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of the closure panel and window assembly forming a closure system in a first configuration;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic, sectional view of the track member of  FIG. 4 , the track member of  FIG. 2 , and the window guide member of  FIG. 6  when the closure system is in the first configuration;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a schematic perspective view of the closure system of  FIG. 7  with the closure panel in an open position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a schematic, sectional view of the track member of  FIG. 4 , the track member of  FIG. 2 , and the window guide member of  FIG. 6  when the closure system is in a second configuration; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a schematic perspective view of the closure system with the window member in a stowed position with respect to the closure member. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  includes a vehicle body  14 . In the embodiment depicted, the vehicle body  14  has a pickup truck style, and includes two pickup truck cargo box sidewalls  18  and a pivotable tailgate  22  that cooperate to at least partially define a cargo area  26 . The vehicle body  14  also defines a passenger compartment  30  forward of the cargo area  26 . The body  14  includes a midgate frame  34  that defines a midgate opening  38  that, when unobstructed, provides access between the passenger compartment  30  and the cargo area  26 . The frame  34  is characterized by two generally vertically oriented segments  40  that at least partially define the lateral edges of the midgate opening  38 . Each of the segments  40  has a track member  42  rigidly mounted thereto.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIG. 1 , one of the track members  42  is schematically depicted. The track member  42  depicted in  FIG. 2  is representative of both the track members shown in  FIG. 1 . Track member  42  extends inboard from the surrounding surface  44  of frame segment  40  and includes a pin  46  that partially defines a cylinder. In the embodiment depicted, pin  46  is semi-cylindrical and includes a mating surface  48  facing generally downward and a curved surface  50 . Track member  42  also includes a semi-annular protrusion  52  characterized by a semiannular inner surface  54  that opposes, or is in juxtaposition with, curved surface  50 . Surfaces  50  and  54  cooperate to define a semi-annular slot  55  which functions as a first track segment. The track member  42  defines two slot openings  57 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a closure panel  56  is schematically depicted. The closure panel  56  includes two track members  60  at the lateral edges of the upper surface  62  of the panel  56 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIG. 3 , the track member  60  is representative of both track members shown in  FIG. 3 . Track member  60  extends upward from surface  62  and includes a pin  64  forming a portion of a cylinder. In the embodiment depicted, pin  64  is semicylindrical. Pin  64  includes curved surface  66  and mating surface  68 . Track member  60  also includes a portion  70  that defines a semi-annular surface  74  that opposes, or is in juxtaposition with, surface  66 . Surfaces  66  and  74  cooperate to define a semi-annular slot  76  which functions as a second track segment. Track member  60  defines two slot openings  79 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a glass window assembly  77  is schematically depicted. Glass window assembly  77  includes a glass window  78  and a support member, such as rod  82 , that is affixed to the lower edge of the window  78 . Although the support member in the embodiment depicted is cylindrical, it may be desirable for the support member to provide a flat surface to press against a seal (not shown) between the window assembly  77  and the closure panel (shown at  56  in  FIG. 3 ). Window guides  86  are located at opposite ends of rod  82 .  FIG. 6 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIG. 5 , schematically depicts a window guide  86  that is representative of both window guides shown in  FIG. 5 . Window guide  86  includes semi-annular protrusion  90 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-6 , a closure system  94  includes the midgate frame  34 , the closure panel  56 , and the window assembly  77 . Closure panel  56  is rotatably or pivotably mounted with respect to the frame  34  via hinges  98 . The closure panel  56  is shown in a closed position in which it is generally vertically oriented and obstructs the lower portion of the midgate opening  38 . The window assembly  77  is shown in a closed position in which it is generally vertically oriented and obstructs the upper portion of the midgate opening  38 . The closure panel  56  and the window assembly  77  cooperate to substantially entirely obstruct the midgate opening  38  in their respective closed positions. Those skilled in the art will recognize that weather strips and seals are preferably employed around the periphery of the body opening  38 . Panel  56  defines surface  102 , which faces the passenger compartment, shown at  30  in  FIG. 1 , when panel  56  is in its closed position. Window  78  defines surface  106 , which also faces the passenger compartment when the window is in its closed position.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-7 , when the closure panel and the window assembly are in their respective closed positions as shown in  FIG. 7 , the track members  60  on the closure panel  56  align with respective track members  42  on the midgate frame  34  such that pin  46  and pin  64  align to form a cylinder. More specifically, in the embodiment depicted, the mating surface  68  opposes or abuts mating surface  48 , and semi-annular slot  76  cooperates with semi-annular slot  55  to form an annular track. When the window is in the closed position, window guide protrusion  90  is at least partially located within slot  55  and no part of window guide protrusion  90  is within slot  76 . Pins  46  support the window assembly including the rod and the window glass. Ancillary fastening devices (not shown) such as latches are employed to further retain the glass and the panel  56  in their respective closed positions.  
         [0025]     Mating surfaces  48  and  68  are depicted as being flat; however, it may be desirable for the surfaces  48 ,  68  to be curved if necessary to avoid interference during relative movement of the closure panel  56  with respect to the frame  34 . For example, it may be desirable for surface  68  to be concave and surface  48  to be convex, each having a radius approximately equal to the distance from the hinge pivot to the mating surfaces.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-8 , the closure panel  56  is pivotable about the hinges to an open position wherein the panel  56  is generally horizontally oriented and surface  102  faces downward. Substantially all of the lower portion of the opening  38  is unobstructed to accommodate cargo that may extend through the opening  38 . The window assembly  77  is in the closed position, supported by the pins shown at  46  in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-9 , when closure panel  56  is in the closed position, the rod and window are rotatable approximately 180 degrees from the closed position to an open position. More specifically, window guide protrusion  90  is rotated about pins  46  and  64  through the annular track defined by slots  55  and  76  so that the window guide protrusion  90  is at least partially within semi-annular slot  76  and no part of the window guide protrusion  90  is in semi-annular slot  55 . Slot openings  57  and  79  align to enable movement of the window guide  90  from slot  55  to slot  76 . The rod and window glass are supported by portion  70  via window guide  90  in the open position so that the window assembly is movable with the closure panel  56 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-10 , the glass window  78  is in a stowage position with respect to the panel  56 , wherein the window  78  is juxtaposed with the closure panel  56 , and is movable with the closure panel to the closure panel&#39;s open position. More specifically, surface  106  and  102  oppose one another. Clips or other fastening devices (not shown) are employed to prevent rotation of window  78  with respect to panel  56 .  
         [0029]     Although the closure system shown and described is a vehicle midgate, the closure system may be a tailgate for the rear opening of a van, sport-utility vehicle, etc., within the scope of the claimed invention.  
         [0030]     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.