Patent Document

[0001]     The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/529,674 filed Jun. 19, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     DE 195 04 828.8 A1 discloses a window unit in which a secondary frame part is integrally formed on the glass window and is subsequently combined with a primary frame part, which has been produced separately. The disadvantage with this window unit is that the secondary frame part is integrally formed on the window in a rigid injection mold. This means that it is not possible for the frame to be adjusted to the glass windows. There may be deviations of up to 3 mm.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The object of the invention is to provide a window unit whose frame can be easily adjusted to the dimensions of the glass window.  
         [0004]     Since the frame is of two-part design and is made up of a basic frame and of an additional frame, which are each produced individually as separate moldings, both the basic frame and the additional frame may be produced from a material whose properties are geared precisely to the requirements of the relevant frame part. Since the basic frame has an abutment surface by means of which it is positioned at least against one side of the window and can be permanently connected thereto, it is possible for at least the basic frame to be aligned with the border of the window or with an equidistant line. Since both frame parts each have a connection surface, said connection surfaces being coordinated with one another, the additional frame may be connected in a releasable or non-releasable manner to the basic frame, in which case it is then likewise aligned with the border of the glass window or with an equidistant line.  
         [0005]     A configuration according to subsequently disclosed structures achieves particularly favorable properties for the basic frame and the additional frame, respectively.  
         [0006]     A configuration according to subsequently disclosed structures allows the additional frame to be configured as a decorative trim.  
         [0007]     In a configuration according to subsequently disclosed embodiments, it is possible for the additional frame to be aligned in a different position relative to the basic frame as far as the distance from the window is concerned.  
         [0008]     By virtue of a configuration according to subsequently disclosed structural arrangements, the additional frame is permanently and captively connected to the basic frame. By virtue of a configuration according to subsequently disclosed arrangements, the additional frame is connected in a releasable manner to the basic frame, with the result that, if required, it may be exchanged for an additional frame of the same profile but made of a different plastic. However, it may just as well be exchanged for an additional frame of a different profile.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a cross section, illustrated in detail form, of a window unit comprising window and two-part frame, together with a vehicle-body part;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section, illustrated in detail form, of a first embodiment of the two-part frame; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section, illustrated in detail form, of a second embodiment of the two-part frame. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     The window unit  10  which can be seen from  FIG. 1  has a window  11  and a frame  12 .  
         [0014]     The window  11  is designed as a laminated-glass window which is made up of an outer window part  11 . 1  and of an inner window part  11 . 2 , these being permanently connected to one another by means of an intermediate layer  11 . 3 . The frame  12  is connected to the window  11  along the border region of the latter. The window unit  10  is connected to a vehicle-body part  14  by means of a bead of adhesive  13 .  
         [0015]     In that exemplary embodiment of the window unit  10  which can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the frame  11  is of two-part design and is made up of a basic frame  15  and of an additional frame  16 .  
         [0016]     On its side which is directed toward the window  11 , the basic frame  15  has an abutment surface  17  by means of which it butts against the inside  18  of the window  11 , in the border region thereof, and is permanently connected to said window by means of an application of adhesive  19 . On its outside, which is located on the right in  FIG. 2 , the basic frame  15  has a connection surface  21 . This serves for connection to the additional frame  16 . The connection surface  21  is aligned at least more or less normal to the surface of the window  11 .  
         [0017]     The additional frame  16  forms a transition from the window  11  to the vehicle-body part  14  ( FIG. 1 ). It thus has a profile section  22  with two abutment lips  23  and  24 . The abutment lip  23  butts against the peripheral surface of the window  11 . The abutment lip  24  butts against an opposite surface section of the vehicle-body part  14  ( FIG. 1 ). The profile section  22  is configured such that, with the window unit  10  in the installed position, the two abutment lips butt against the respectively adjacent part with a certain amount of prestressing. If the window  11  is designed as a laminated-glass window, as is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is expedient for the abutment lip  23  to butt against the outer window part  11 . 1  of the laminated-glass window.  
         [0018]     In the case of the additional frame  16 , the profile section  22  is adjoined by a second profile section  25 , which extends at least more or less as far as the plane of the underside of the basic frame  15 . On the side which is directed toward the basic frame  15 , said profile section  25  has a connection surface  26  which is coordinated with the connection surface  21  of the basic frame  15 .  
         [0019]     The basic frame  15  is arranged on the window  11  such that its connection surface  21  is at least more or less flush with the border of the window  11 , in particular with the border of the outer window part  11 . 1 . Depending on the given features of the window  11  and/or of the vehicle-body part  14 , it may also be expedient, however, for the basic frame to be aligned with an equidistant line in relation to the border of the window  11 .  
         [0020]     The additional frame  16  is permanently connected to the basic frame  15  by means of an application of adhesive  27 , which has been provided either on the connection surface  21  or on the connection surface  26  or else on both connection surfaces. The additional frame  16  is arranged on the basic frame  15  such that its abutment lip  23  is located at least more or less level with the border of the outer window part  11 . 1 . In this way, it is easily possible to compensate, on the one hand, for window-size tolerances and, on the other hand, for tolerances relating to the course taken by the border of the window. However, it is also possible for the additional frame  16  to be aligned relative to the basic frame  15  on the basis of other aspects.  
         [0021]     The window unit  30 , which can be seen from  FIG. 3 , has the window  31  and the frame  32 . The window  31  is, once again, designed as a laminated-glass window, which has the outer window part  31 . 1  and the inner window part  31 . 2  which are permanently connected to one another by means of the intermediate layer  31 . 3 . The frame  32 , once again, is of two-part design and is made up of the basic frame  35  and the additional frame  36 . The basic frame  35  has the abutment surface  37  which is directed toward the window  31  and is permanently connected to the underside  38  of the window  31  by means of the application of adhesive  39 . On the side which is directed toward the additional frame  36 , the basic frame  35  has the at least more or less planar connection surface  41 . The connection surface  42  of the additional frame  36  butts against said connection surface  41 . Provided for the purpose of connecting the two frame parts  35  and  36  are connecting elements which are formed by coordinated profile sections, on the one hand, of the basic frame  35  and, on the other hand, of the additional frame  36 .  
         [0022]     On the basic frame  35 , this profile section is formed by a recess  43  which has a mushroom-shaped outline and is open in the direction of the additional frame  36 . On the additional frame  36 , the corresponding profile section is formed by a protrusion  44  which likewise has a mushroom-shaped outline, which is coordinated with the outline of the recess  43 . The profile sections  43  and  44  are provided at least in certain regions along the longitudinal extent of the frame parts  35  and  36 . They generally extend over the entire length of the periphery of the frame parts.  
         [0023]     The basic frame  35  is arranged on the window  31  such that its connection surface  41  is flush with the border of the window  31 , in particular with the border of the outer window part  31 . 1 . On account of the interengagement of the profile sections  43  and  44 , the additional frame  36  is fixed in its position relative to the basic frame  35  and the window  11 . However, if required, the additional frame  36  may be exchanged, e.g. for a frame part of a different material or else for a frame part of a different profile, in particular of different dimensions coordinated with differing dimensions of the window  11  and/or of the vehicle-body part  14 .

Technology Category: 7