Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/429,813 filed Nov. 27, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     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. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is plan view of a window assembly embodying the principles of the present invention and illustrating the sliding window in a closed position and the vent screen in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the window assembly seen in  FIG. 1  with the slideable window moved into an open position and the vent screen being extended to a position over the opening in the window assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vent screen seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and shown in its extended position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a partial view of the vent screen with portions broken away to illustrate some of the details of the internal construction of the vent screen. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, a sliding window assembly embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and generally designated at  10 . As its primary components, the window assembly  10  includes a pair of stationary windows  12 ,  14 , a pair of guide rails  16 ,  18 , a moveable window  20  and a screen assembly  22 . The entire window assembly  10 , 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 windows  12 ,  14  are supported within a frame  24  or other structure utilized to mount the assembly  10  in window frame of the pick-up truck. In general, the stationary windows  12 ,  14  are spaced apart and located on opposing ends of the window assembly  10  so as to include portions defining an opening  26  centrally therebetween. While the stationary windows  12 ,  14  may be formed as individual panes of glass, or other transparent material, the stationary windows  12 ,  14  can be formed as a unitary structure, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the opening  26  centrally formed therein. 
     The moveable window  20  is mounted with respect to the stationary windows  12 ,  14  such that the moveable window  20  can selectively cover or uncover the opening  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the moveable window  20  is in a “closed” position covering the opening  26 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the moveable window  20  is in an “open” position where the opening  26  is uncovered. 
     In order to mount the moveable window  20  and to permit the desired movement between the closed and open positions, the moveable window  20  is supported by the guide rails  16 ,  18 . The guide rails  16 ,  18  are each permanently affixed to the stationary windows  12 ,  14  by means of adhesive or other conventional fastening techniques. Generally, the guide rails  16 ,  18  are mounted horizontally with respect to the window assembly  10  and are oriented parallel to one another. 
     The guide rails  16 ,  18  are each three walled structures, having side walls  19  connected by a base wall  21  so as to define a channel  28  into which the moveable window  20  is slidingly received. Accordingly, the mounting of the guide rails  16 ,  18  to the stationary windows  12 ,  14  is such that the channels  28  of each guide rail  16 ,  18  are counter-facing one another. 
     When moved into the open position, the moveable window  20  engages stops  30  fixedly received in the end of the guide rails  16 ,  18  so as to prohibit further movement of the moveable window  20 . In this position, the trailing edge  32  of the moveable window  20  is located at a position beyond or outside of the opening  26 . 
     In order to prevent debris from entering into the occupant compartment of the vehicle through the opening  26  when the moveable window  20  is in its open position, the vent screen  22  is provided in such a manner that a screen panel  34  is moved over the opening  26  as the moveable window  20  is moved to its uncovered or open position. Conversely the screen panel  34  is automatically retracted or spooled when the moveable window  20  is moved to its covered or closed position over the opening  26 . 
     To accomplish the above, the vent screen  22  includes a roller shaft  36  to which one end  38  of the screen panel  34  is permanently mounted. The roller shaft  36  is supported in a housing  40  so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing  40 . Also located within the housing  40  is a biasing member  42 . The biasing member  42  provides a rotational biasing force between the housing  40  and roller shaft  36  causing the roller shaft  36  to rotate relative to the housing  40 . Support of the roller shaft  36  within the housing  40  can be achieved in any manner that will permit and enable rotation of the roller shaft  36  relative to the housing  40 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the biasing member  42  is a coil spring, the inner end  44  of which is secured to the roller shaft  36  and the outer end  46  of which is secured to the housing  40 . Under the influence of the biasing member  42 , the screen panel  34  is accordingly spooled or wound onto the roller shaft  36 . To enable entrance of the screen panel  34  into the housing  40 , a slot  48  is provided in the housing  40 . 
     The vent screen  22  may be supported in various ways with respect to the moveable window  20 . In one embodiment, the vent screen  22  may be fixedly mounted or removeably mounted to the stationary window  12  at a location adjacent to the opening  26 . In another embodiment, and as illustrated in the figures, the vent screen  22  is removeably mounted between the guide rails  16 ,  18 . 
     In mounting the screen assembly  22  to the guide rails  16 ,  18 , the ends of the guide rails  16 ,  18  adjacent to the opening  26  are provided with apertures  50  in the sidewall  19  thereof. The vent screen  22  is provided, on opposing ends thereof, with an end block  52 . The end blocks  52  are mounted to the housing  40  and are profiled so as to enable them to be received within the channels  28  of the guide rails  16 ,  18 . The retaining of the end blocks  52  within the channels  28 , the end blocks  52  are further provided with spring biased plungers  54 . The spring biased plungers  54  are of a conventional construction and are located on the end blocks  52  so as to correspond with the apertures  50  in the guide rails  16 ,  18  and so as to be biased into engagement therewith as the end blocks  52  are slid into the channels  28 . When located in the guide rails  16 ,  18 , the end blocks  52  also operate as end stops limiting movement of the moveable window  20  in the direction thereof. Obviously, to remove the vent screen  22  from the remainder of the window assembly  10 , the plungers  54  are depressed and the vent screen  22  is slid in a lateral direction (to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) out of the ends of the guide rails  16 ,  18 . 
     As previously stated, one end  38  of the screen panel  34  is secured to the roller shaft  36 . The opposing end  56  of the screen panel  34  is attached to the moveable window  20 , adjacent to the trailing edge  32 . This end  56  of the screen panel  34  can be secured to the moveable window  20  in a variety of ways, including permanently adhering this end  56  to the moveable window  20 . In a preferred construction, however, this end  56  of the screen panel  34  is removeably attached to the moveable window  20 . 
     One such possible construction for the removable attachment of the screen panel  34  to the moveable window  20  is seen in  FIG. 3 . As seen therein, the end  56  of the screen panel  34  is provided with a stay  58  or other reinforcing member. The stay may be constructed in a number of ways, including two pieces of plastic snap-fit together with the end  56  of the screen panel  34  impinged and retained therebetween. In order to mount the stay  56  to the moveable window  20 , corresponding portions of snaps  60 , or any other releasable fasteners, are respectively provided on the stay  58  and on the moveable window  20 . 
     In this manner, when it is desired to have access through the opening  26  of the window assembly  10 , the screen panel  34  may be disconnected from the moveable window  20  by disengaging the corresponding portions of the snaps  60  located on the stay  58  and the moveable window  20 . With the snaps  60  disconnected, the screen panel  34 , under the influence of the biasing member  42 , will be spooled into the housing  40  and onto the roller shaft  36 . Preferably, the stay  58  is sized such that upon full winding of the screen panel  34  onto the roller shaft  37 , the stay will engage the housing  40  adjacent to the slot  48 , being too large to pass through the slot  48 . 
     As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of implementation of the principles this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.