Patent Publication Number: US-2005121936-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for installing windshields

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional application No. 60/528,149, filed Dec. 9, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for supporting a windshield during installation of the windshield. In one aspect, the present invention relates to windshield support assemblies for supporting a windshield during installation, and to a method for using such windshield support assemblies when installing a windshield.  
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR DEVELOPMENTS  
      Vehicle windshields often become cracked or damaged and when such occurs it is necessary to replace the windshield. The windshield is typically bonded to a window frame of a vehicle with a urethane bonding agent. Because the urethane bonding agent often requires several hours to set up and cure, various types of supports have heretofore been proposed for assisting in the setting of windshields, such as the windshield spacer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,208 B1.  
      In addition, problems have been encountered in positioning the windshield in the window frame of a vehicle due to the weight and bulkiness of the windshield. Thus, the windshield is subject to being broken during handling and installation.  
      Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method and apparatus for installing windshields which substantially eliminates breakage of the windshield during installation and which properly positions the windshield relative to the window frame of the vehicle. It is to such a method and apparatus that the present invention is directed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a fragmental, pictorial representation of a vehicle having a windshield thereof removed and showing two windshield support assemblies of the present invention connected to a portion of a frame of the vehicle.  
       FIG. 2  is a fragmental, pictorial representation of a portion of a vehicle illustrating a person installing a windshield wherein the windshield is supported on two of the windshield support assemblies of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the windshield support assemblies constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, of the windshield support assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown therein is a window frame  10  of a vehicle  12  having two windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  connected to the vehicle  12 . The windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are provided with support members  18  and  20 , respectively, which are connected to a portion of a frame  22  located in the pinch weld of the vehicle  10  prior to removal of the damaged windshield so that the support members  18  and  22  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  18  are properly positioned relative to the window frame  10  for supporting a windshield  24  during installation of the windshield  24 .  
      The windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are connected to the portion of the frame  22  such that upper surfaces  26  and  28  of the support members  18  and  20 , respectively, are disposed substantially adjacent a lower edge (not shown) of a damaged windshield. By positioning the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  such that their respective support members  18  and  20  are disposed substantially adjacent a lower edge of the damaged windshield, the support members  18  and  20  are in a proper position for supporting the replacement windshield  24 , both horizontally and vertically, during placement of the replacement windshield  24  in the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 . By positioning the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  substantially adjacent a portion of the window frame  10 , the support members  18  and  20  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  prevent the replacement windshield  24  from sliding or moving in a downward direction as the replacement windshield  24  is bonded to the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 , while at the same time preventing the weight of the replacement windshield  24  from extruding urethane or other sealants or bonding agents from between the replacement windshield  24  and the window frame  10 . Thus, the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  not only assist one in positioning the replacement windshield  24  in a proper position within the window frame  10 , but also stabilizes the replacement windshield  24  in a desired position during curing of the urethane or sealant or bonding agent so that a substantially water-tight seal is formed between the replacement windshield  24  and the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 .  
      The windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are substantially identical in construction and function. Thus, only the windshield support assembly  14  will be described in detail herein after with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
      The windshield support assembly  14  includes the support member  18  and a self-tapping or sheet metal screw  30 . The self-tapping screw  30  is driven into a portion of the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  located in the pinch weld of the vehicle  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) such that the support member  18  of the windshield support assembly  14  is disposed adjacent and below the old windshield (not shown). Thus, the windshield support assembly  14  is positioned relative to the window frame  10  so as to support the replacement windshield  24  during installation of the replacement windshield  24 .  
      The support member  18  of the windshield support assembly  14  is provided with a first or upper end  32 , a second or lower end  34  and a passageway  36  extending there between. The support member  18  of the windshield support assembly  14  is fabricated of a substantially non-resilient material so as to provide stability to the replacement windshield  24  when the replacement windshield  24  is positioned thereon and disposed within the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 .  
      Any suitable material can be employed to fabricate the support member  18  of the windshield support assembly  14  provided that the material from which such support member  18  is fabricated of any material which is substantially non-resilient. Examples of materials from which the support member  18  can be fabricated includes “nylon {fraction (6/6)}”, “Teflon” or polyolefins such as high density polypropylene and high density polyethylene, wood, metal and the like.  
      The cross sectional configuration of the support member  18  can be cylindrical, square shaped, rectangular, hexagonal shape or any other shape as long as the support member  18  is capable of supporting the replacement windshield  24  thereon during positioning of the replacement windshield  24  in the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 , and supporting the replacement windshield during curing of the urethane or other bonding material employed to secure the replacement windshield  24  within the window frame  10 . However, desirable results have been obtained wherein the support member  18  is a cylindrical-shaped member having a circular cross-section.  
      The overall dimensions of the support member  18  can vary widely as long as the support member  18  is capable of supporting the replacement windshield  24  thereon. When the support member  18  is a cylindrical shaped member, desirable results have been obtained wherein the support member  18  is provided with a circular cross section having a diameter of about {fraction (3/8)} inch, a length of about {fraction (3/4)} inch and wherein the passageway  36  extending between the first end  32  and the second end  34  thereof is provided with a diameter of about ⅛ inch.  
      The self-tapping screw  30  employed to secure the support member  18  to the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  will vary in length and size depending upon the length of the support member  18 , as well as the diameter of the passageway  36  extending between the first end  32  and the second end  34  of the support member  18 . Desirably the self-tapping screw  30  is capable of cutting it&#39;s own hole in the frame  22 , have a cylindrical shaft  40  which can be threadably disposed through the passageway  36  extending between the first and second ends  32 ,  34  of the support member  18 , and has a length such that a distal end  42  of the self-tapping screw  30  is spaced a distance  44  from the second end  34  of the support member  18 . Preferably, the self-tapping screw  30  is provided with a head portion  46  which has a diameter  48  greater than a diameter  50  of the support member  18  so that a support ledge  52  is formed between the head portion  46  of the self-tapping screw  30  and the first end  32  of the support member  18  when the self-tapping screw  30  is threadably disposed through the passageway  36  of the support member  18 . For example, when the support member  18  is a cylindrical shaped member having a length of about {fraction (3/4)} inch, a diameter of about {fraction (3/8)} inch and the passageway extending therethrough is substantially centrally disposed and has a diameter of about {fraction (1/8)} inch, the self-tapping screw  38  employed to connect the support member  18  to the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  desirably has a length of about {fraction (1/4)} inch, and the head portion  46  of the self-tapping screw  30  has a diameter of about {fraction (7/16)} inch.  
      While the self-tapping screw  30  has been shown and described as the connector for connecting the support member  18  of the windshield support assembly  14  to the frame  22  of the vehicle  12 , it should be understood that any type of connector capable of connecting the support member  18  to the vehicle can be employed as long as the connector permits the support member  18  to be mechanically connected to the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  and subsequently removed therefrom after installation of the replacement windshield  24  has been completed and the urethane or bonding agent has set and cured to provide a fluid-tight seal around the replacement windshield  24 .  
      Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the method of installing the replacement windshield  24  in the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12  will now be described. Initially, wiper blades (not shown) of the vehicle  12  are removed and thereafter cowling (also not shown) which is disposed substantially adjacent a lower edge of a damaged windshield is removed. The windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are then secured in position below the damaged windshield by screwing the self-tapping screws, such as a self-tapping screw  38 , into the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  such that the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are disposed in the pinch weld of the frame  22  and the support member  18  and  20  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are positionable adjacent a lower edge (not shown) of the damaged windshield. Thereafter, the damaged windshield is removed and the window frame  10  cleaned of any remaining debris from the previous sealant used to secure the damaged windshield in the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 . Once the residual sealant has been cleaned from the window frame  10  of the vehicle, an effective amount of sealant, such as a bead of urethane, is applied to one of a perimeter portion of a lower side  54  of the replacement windshield  24  or the window frame  10 . Alternately, the sealant can be applied to both the perimeter of the lower side  54  of the windshield  24  and the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12 .  
      Once the effective amount of urethane has been applied, the replacement windshield  24  is then positioned on at least one support assembly, and preferably both of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16 . Thereafter, the replacement windshield  24  is moved into engagement with the window frame  10  while the replacement windshield  24  remains supported on the support assemblies  14  and  16 . The replacement windshield  24  is maintained in a supported position on the support members  18  and  20  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  for a period of time effective to permit the urethane to cure and thereby provide a fluid-tight seal between the replacement windshield  24  and the window frame  10 .  
      After the windshield  24  has been properly set within the window frame  10 , and the urethane has cured, the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are removed from the portion of the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  located in the pinch weld of the vehicle  12  by backing off the self-tapping screws, such as a self-tapping screw  38 . Once the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  have been removed, the cowling is replaced, and thereafter the wiper blades are installed.  
      While it has been shown as utilizing the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  for installing the replacement windshield  24 , it should be understood that one could employ only one of the windshield support assemblies, such as the windshield support assembly  14 , if desired, without departing from the concept of the present invention. Further, when employing both of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  for installing the replacement windshield  24 , it is desirable that the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  by spatially disposed so as to enhance stabilization of the replacement windshield  24  thereon.  
      It should be noted that the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  of the present invention permit an individual to properly position the replacement windshield  24  within the window frame  10  of the vehicle  12  while substantially reducing the likely-hood of breaking the replacement windshield  24 . In addition, the ledge  52  formed between the head portion of the self-tapping screws, such as the head portion  46  of the self-tapping screw  30 , and the first ends of the support members, such as the first end  32  or the support member  18 , cooperate to prevent the replacement windshield  24  from inadvertently slipping off of the support members  18  and  20  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  when the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  are properly attached to the frame  22  of the vehicle  12  and the replacement windshield  24  is positioned thereon.  
      While the head portions of the self-tapping screws, such as the head portion  46  of the self-tapping screw  30 , have been shown as having a diameter greater than the diameter of the support members  18  and  20  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16 , it should understood that the diameter of the head portions of the self-tapping screws of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16  can be less than the diameter of the support members  18  and  20  of the windshield support assemblies  14  and  16 .  
      It should understood that while the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art would appreciate that other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention after studying the specification and the drawings.