Abstract:
A channel assembly for a vehicle window comprises an upper channel, a lower channel, and a retention member connected to the upper channel. The retention member detachably connects the lower channel to the upper channel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/728,354, filed Oct. 19, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a door assembly for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a door assembly having a channel assembly for a vehicle window.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In many vehicles, entry regions such as doors include a movable window that may be opened and closed. When opened, the window is retracted into the door panel assembly of the door. A remaining aperture in the door then allows air to flow freely throughout the cabin of the vehicle or other ingress and egress as may be desired by a vehicle occupant. When closed, the window is moved from its retracted position in the door panel assembly to a sealing position with the perimeter of the aperture. A window guide system is commonly provided that helps facilitate movement of the window between the open and closed position through a series of channels that guide window movement and seal the window in its closed position.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A channel assembly for a vehicle window comprises an upper channel, a lower channel, and a retention member connected to the upper channel. The retention member detachably connects the lower channel to the upper channel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a door assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective cross-sectional view along the line II-II of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a channel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a channel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a channel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI in  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along the line VII-VII in  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a channel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention is shown and described. In  FIG. 1 , a door  10  is shown having a window aperture  20  that allows ingress or egress from one side to the other side of the door  10 . A window  21  is movable between a retracted or open position in the body of the door (as shown) to a closed position where the window fills the window aperture  20 . An upper channel assembly, is provided that includes upper channel  14 , sealing portions  15 , guiding portions  17  and reinforcement bracket  16 . A lower channel  18  is also provided. The upper channel assembly and lower channel  18  guide the window  21  between the open and closed positions and help seal the window  21  when in the closed position.  
         [0014]     The upper channel assembly generally includes upper channel  14  positioned at the periphery of the window aperture  20  and a reinforcement bracket  16  that is attached to portions of the door  10  as will be described. Sealing portions  15  seal the window  21  when in the closed position and guiding portions  17  guide the window  21  between the closed and open positions as well as help seal the window  21  when in the closed position.  
         [0015]     In an embodiment, lower channel  18  extends substantially vertical with respect to a normal orientation of the door  10 . The lower channel  18  can be connected to the door  10  by a connector, such as lower connector  60 , and can be connected to upper channel  14 , for example by reinforcement bracket  16 . Guiding portion  17  and upper channel  14  can cooperate with the lower channel  18  to facilitate and guide movement of the window  21  between its closed and open positions.  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective cross-sectional view take along line II-II in  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the upper channel  14  in greater detail. It will be understood that, in embodiments, the associated guiding portion  17 , sealing portions  15  and lower channel  18  may have substantially the same configuration as that described with respect to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0017]     The upper channel  14  includes window guide  22  and window seal  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the window guide  22 , includes opposing walls  23  and  25 . The window seal  24  has a slot or formation that is adapted to receive an edge of window  21  to seal the window  21  when it is positioned in connection therewith. One skilled in the art will understand that modifications and variations may exist with respect to the window seal  24 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a portion of an upper channel assembly  12  is described in greater detail. A reinforcement bracket  16  is connected to a lower frame member  34  of the door  10  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1 ) and to upper channel  14 . The reinforcement bracket  16  can include a mirror support  30  that, may extend from the door  10  to support a rearview mirror. The upper channel  14  can be connected to the lower channel  18  at or about a connection area  32  as will be described.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an exploded perspective view of the upper channel of upper channel assembly and lower channel  18  is shown and described. It will be understood that the illustration shown in  FIG. 4  is simply one embodiment of the upper channel  14  and lower channel  18  before assembly.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an upper channel  14  and lower channel  18  in an unconnected state. In  FIG. 4 , reinforcement bracket  16  generally includes a first reinforcement portion  26  and a second reinforcement portion  28 . The first reinforcement portion  26  includes an encapsulating region  27  that encompasses a portion of the outer surface of the upper channel  14 . In an embodiment, the first reinforcement portion  26  is connected to the second reinforcement portion  28 , for example, by welding or other known means for connection. Similarly, the first reinforcement portion  26  and the second reinforcement portion  28  may be connected to the lower frame member  34  (see e.g.,  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) through welding or other known means for connection.  
         [0021]     A clip  50  may extend from first reinforcement portion  26  along the upper channel  14 . The clip  50  may include an entrance  54  and a resilient or spring-loaded region  58 . The entrance  54  helps facilitate entry of an edge portion of the lower channel  18 , and the resilient or spring-loaded region  58  permits the clip  52  to flex and permits the edge of the lower channel  18  to pass between the clip  50  and the upper channel  14 . It will be understood that clip  50  may be any retention formation or member that engages the lower channel  18  and is not limited to the embodiments discussed herein. In the illustrated embodiment, clip  50  is integrally formed with the first reinforcement portion  26 . However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize and appreciate that other means for connecting the clip  50  to the first reinforcement portion  26  are contemplated.  
         [0022]     It will be noted that, although one clip  50  is shown, multiple clips may be used in connection with the embodiments of the invention. For example, another clip may be positioned on an opposite side of the upper channel  14  from the clip  50  shown. Such a configuration may assist in the reduction of rattle or vibration. Additionally, clips may be positioned on all sides of the upper channel  14 . The clip  50  may also be formed on the lower channel  18 . One skilled in the art will readily understand additional configurations for the clip  50 .  
         [0023]     In an embodiment, an aperture  52  is positioned in the upper channel  14  at a location adjacent to the clip  50 . In an embodiment, the aperture  52  allows drainage of paint or other coatings that may be applied to the clip  50 . Such drainage can assist in preventing solidified material from forming between the clip  50  and the upper channel  14 .  
         [0024]     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , the lower channel  18  can include an expanded region  36  generally positioned at an end of the lower channel  18  proximate to the upper channel  14  and reinforcement bracket  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the expanded region  36  includes expanded region opposing walls  40  and  42  having a width therebetween that is greater than a distance between the opposing walls  23  and  25  of the upper channel  14 . Similarly, an edgewise length  47  of the expanded region opposing walls  40  and  42  is greater than and edgewise length of the upper channel  14  that, in connection with the increased width of the opposing walls  23  and  25 , allows the expanded region  36  to slide over and encompass a portion of the upper channel  14 .  
         [0025]     In an embodiment, each of the expanded region opposing walls  40  and  42  includes a respective upper detent  46  and lower detent  44 . Each of the detents  46  and  44  extended from the respective expanded region opposing wall  40  or  42  toward an interior of the expanded region  36 . The operation of the detents  46  and  44  for the exemplary embodiment will be described in greater detail below. As illustrated, two detents may be included on each wall  40  or  42 . The use of two detents assists in limiting rotation of the lower channel  18  with respect to the upper channel  14 . However, one skilled in the art will understand that any number of detents or no detents at all may be used in connection with embodiments of the invention.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , an embodiment of the assembly of lower channel  18  to upper channel  14  is shown and described. During assembly, the lower channel  18  is moved from the position shown in  FIG. 4  to that shown in  FIG. 5 . At the start of this operation, a formation, such as a chamfer  48  (see e.g.,  FIG. 7 ), is started over an edge  51  of the upper channel  14 . During this operation, the expanded region  36  is slid over the lower channel  14  to allow the edge  56  of the lower channel  18  to be pressed against the entrance  54  of the clip  50 . This pressing action deflects the clip  50  away from the upper channel  14  to allow the bottom  45  to slide between the clip  50  and the upper channel  14 . Also during this operation, upper detents  46  and lower detents  44  pass over opposing walls  23  and  25 . The expanded region  36  is slid over the upper channel  14  until upper channel  14  abuts against the channel region  38  (See e.g.,  FIG. 7 ) of the lower channel  14 . As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , the clip  50  frictionally presses the bottom  45  against the upper channel  14 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , upper detents  46  and lower detents  44  frictionally engage opposing walls  23  and  25 .  
         [0027]     The expanded region  36  provides an increased dimensioned area to allow connection of the upper channel  14  and lower channel  18 . Additionally, as only the expanded region  36  includes such increased dimensions, the remainder of the lower channel  18  can, if desired, retain substantially the same dimensions as the upper channel  14 . (such as distance between opposing walls  23  and  25 ). Accordingly, one continuous window seal  24  (see e.g.,  FIG. 2 ) may pass from the upper channel  14  to the lower channel  18  without the need for breaking or otherwise separating the seal to accommodate for variations in the dimensions of the upper channel  14  or lower channel  18 .  
         [0028]     When the lower channel  18  is engaged with the upper channel  14 , lower connector  60  may then be attached to the door  10  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0029]     The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.