DEVICE FOR ATTACHING RAIN SHIELDS TO MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOWS

DISPOSITIF POUR ADAPTER DES ABAT-PLUIE AUX VITRES D'UN VEHICULE

English Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure
Some new truck and van weather seals have a cross-
sectional shape like an inverted U, with inwardly upturned,
flexible feet. These feet seal against the opposite sides of
the window glass when the window is closed. Special retainer
means are disclosed for holding rain shields in the upper
horizontal casings of motor vehicle windows that are fitted
with this type of resilient seal. The retainer means comprises
a combination of (a) a substantially U-shaped plastic channel
member that fits inside the seal, and which is held by the
seal's upturned feet, and (b) a substantially U-shaped steel
clip that is held inside the channel member, and which clamps
and holds the top edge of the rain shield in the casing.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are as follows:
1. Retainer means for holding the top edge of a
removable rain shield in the upper horizontal casing of an
automobile window, wherein the casing is lined with a resilient
seal which, in cross-section, is substantially shaped like an
inverted U with inwardly upturned, flexible feet that seal
against the opposite sides of the window glass when the window
is closed, said means comprising the combination of
a) a length of substantially U-shaped channel
member having a ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom
edge, and an opposite, outside wall also ending in a bottom
edge; said channel member being of a size to be insertable,
ceiling-first, in said casing, so that the channel member's
bottom edges are tucked behind the respective upturned feet of
the seal, thereby holding the channel member from falling out
of the window casing; the outside wall of the channel member
having at least one longitudinal ledge section on its interior
surface; and
b) a substantially U-shaped clip having a
ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom edge, and an oppo-
site, outside wall also ending in a bottom edge; said clip
being of a size to be insertable, ceiling-first, in said chan-
nel member; the bottom edge of the clip's outside wall being
bent outwardly and upwardly so as to be capable of gripping the
top edge of the rain shield between said outside wall and the
adjacent upturned foot of the resilient seal; said clip's out-
side wall having an outwardly projecting barb member adapted to
hook over the interior ledge section on the channel member's
outside wall, thereby preventing the clip from falling out of
the window casing.
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2. The retainer means of claim 1 wherein the clip,
when in its relaxed position, is wider from wall to wall than
the inside width of the channel member, so that the clip is
partially compressed when inserted in the channel, thereby
causing the clip's outside wall to exert a clamping pressure
against the top edge of the rain shield.
3. The retainer means of claim 2 wherein said channel
member's inside wall also has a longitudinal ledge section on
its interior surface, and said clip's inside wall also has an
outwardly projecting barb member, said barb member being
adapted to hook over the interior ledge section on the channel
member's inside wall, thereby aiding in preventing the clip
from falling out of the window casing.
4. The retainer means of claim 2 wherein at least one
of the walls of the channel member has at least two longi-
tudinal ledge sections on its interior surface, said ledge
sections being parallel and spaced apart.
5. The retainer means of claim 2 wherein the channel
member is made of extruded plastic.
6. The retainer means of claim 4 wherein the clip is
made of spring steel.
7. The retainer means of claim 2 wherein the channel
member is made of extruded plastic and the clip is made of
spring steel.
8. Retainer means for holding the top edge of a
removable rain shield in the upper horizontal casing of an
automobile window, wherein the casing is lined with a resilient
seal which, in cross-section, is substantially shaped like an
inverted U with inwardly upturned, flexible feet that seal
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against the opposite sides of the window glass when the window
is closed, said means comprising the combination of
a) a length of substantially U-shaped channel
member having a ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom
edge, and an opposite, outside wall also ending in a bottom
edge; said channel member being of a size to be insertable,
ceiling-first, in said casing, so that the channel member's
bottom edges are tucked behind the respective upturned feet of
the seal, thereby holding the channel member from falling out
of the window casing; each wall of the channel member having at
least one longitudinal ledge section on its interior surface;
and
b) a substantially U-shaped clip having a
ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom edge, and an oppo-
site, outside wall also ending in a bottom edge; said clip
being of a size to be insertable, ceiling-first, in said chan-
nel member; the bottom edge of the clip's outside wall being
bent outwardly and upwardly so as to be capable of gripping the
top edge of the rain shield between said outside wall and the
adjacent upturned foot of the resilient seal; said clip's out-
side wall having an outwardly projecting barb member adapted to
hook over the interior ledge section on the channel member's
outside wall; the bottom edge of said clip's inside wall being
adapted to hook over the interior ledge section on the channel
member's inside wall; said barb member, clip's inside wall, and
ledge sections thereby cooperating to prevent the clip from
falling out of the window casing.
9. The retainer means of claim 8 wherein the clip,
when in its relaxed position, is wider from wall to wall than
the inside width of the channel member, so that the clip is
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partially compressed when inserted in the channel, thereby
causing the clip's outside wall to exert a clamping pressure
against the top edge of the rain shield.
10. The retainer means of claim 9 wherein at least one
of the walls of the channel member has at least two longi-
tudinal ledge sections on its interior surface, said ledge
sections being parallel and spaced apart.
11. The retainer means of claim 10 wherein the channel
member is made of extruded plastic.
12. The retainer means of claim 11 wherein the clip is
made of spring steel.
13. The retainer means of claim 12 wherein the clip is
made of extruded plastic and the clip is made of metal.
14. A rain shield assembly for attachment to the upper
horizontal casing of an automobile window, wherein the casing
is lined with a resilient seal which, in cross-section, is sub-
stantially shaped like an inverted U with inwardly upturned,
flexible feet that seal against the opposite sides of the
window glass when the window is closed, said assembly com-
prising the combination of
a) a rain shield having a top edge that is thin
enough to fit inside the window's upper horizontal casing when
the window is closed, the shield serving to overhang the space
above the window glass when the window is partially open,
thereby deflecting rain from entering the space,
b) a length of substantially U-shaped channel
member having a ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom
edge, and an opposite, outside wall also ending in a bottom
edge; said channel member being of a size to be insertable,
ceiling-first, in said casing, so that the channel member's
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bottom edges are tucked behind the respective upturned feet of
the seal, thereby holding the channel member from falling out
of the window casing; the outside wall of the channel member
having at least one longitudinal ledge section on its interior
surface; and
c) a substantially U-shaped clip having a
ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom edge, and an oppo-
site, outside wall also ending in a bottom edge; said clip
being of a size to be insertable, ceiling first, in said
channel member; the bottom edge of the clip's outside wall
being bent outwardly and upwardly so as to be capable of grip-
ping the top edge of the rain shield between said outside wall
and the adjacent upturned foot of the resilient seal; said
clip's outside wall having an outwardly projecting barb member
adapted to hook over the interior ledge section on the channel
member's outside wall, thereby preventing the clip from falling
out of the window casing.
15. The retainer means of claim 14 wherein the clip,
when in its relaxed position, is wider from wall to wall than
the inside width of the channel member, so that the clip is
partially compressed when inserted in the channel, thereby
causing the clip's outside wall to exert a clamping pressure
against the top edge of the rain shield.
16. The rain shield assembly of claim 15 wherein said
channel member's inside wall also has a longitudinal ledge
section on its interior surface, and said clip's inside wall
also has an outwardly projecting barb member, said barb member
being adapted to hook over the interior ledge section on the
channel member's inside wall, thereby aiding in preventing the
clip from falling out of the window casing.
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17. The rain shield assembly of claim 16 wherein at
least one of the walls of the channel member has at least two
longitudinal ledge sections on its interior surface, said ledge
sections being parallel and spaced apart.
18. The rain shield assembly of claim 16 wherein the
channel member is made of extruded plastic.
19. The rain shield assembly of claim 18 wherein the
clip is made of spring steel.
20. The rain shield assembly of claim 17 wherein the
channel member is made of extruded plastic and the clip is made
of spring steel.
21. A rain shield assembly for attachment to the upper
horizontal casing of an automobile window, wherein the casing
is lined with a resilient seal which, in cross-section, is
substantially shaped like an inverted U with inwardly upturned,
flexible feet that seal against the opposite sides of the
window glass when the window is closed, said assembly com-
prising the combination of
a) a rain shield having a top edge that is thin
enough to fit inside the window's upper horizontal casing when
the window is closed, the shield serving to overhang the space
above the window glass when the window is partially open,
thereby deflecting rain from entering the space,
b) a length of substantially U-shaped channel
member having a ceiling, an inside wall ending in a bottom
edge, and an opposite, outside wall also ending in a bottom
edge; said channel member being of a size to be insertable,
ceiling-first, in said casing, so that the channel member's
bottom edges are tucked behind the respective upturned feet of
the seal, thereby holding the channel member from falling out
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of the window casing; each wall of the channel member having at
least one longitudinal ledge section on its interior surface;
and
c) a substantially U-shaped clip having a
ceiling an inside wall ending in a bottom edge, and an oppo-
site, outside wall also ending in a bottom edge; said clip
being of a size to be insertable, ceiling-first, in said
channel member; the bottom edge of the clip's outside wall
being bent outwardly and upwardly so as to be capable of grip-
ping the top edge of the rain shield between said outside wall
and the adjacent upturned foot of the resilient seal; said
clip's outside wall having an outwardly projecting barb member
adapted to hook over the interior ledge section on the channel
member's outside wall; the bottom edge of said clip's inside
wall being adapted to hook over the interior ledge section on
the channel member's inside wall; said barb member, clip's
inside wall, and ledge sections thereby cooperating to prevent
the clip from falling out of the window casing.
22. The rain shield assembly of claim 21 wherein
the clip, when in its relaxed position, is wider from
wall to wall than the inside width of the channel member,
so that the clip is partially compressed when inserted in
the channel, thereby causing the clip's outside walls to
exert a clamping pressure against the top edge of the
rain shield.
23. The rain shield assembly of claim 22 wherein at
least one of the walls of the member has at least two longi-
tudinal ledge sections on its interior surface, said ledge
sections being parallel and spaced apart.
24. The rain shield assembly of claim 22 wherein the
channel member is made of extruded plastic.
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25. The rain shield assembly of claim 24 wherein the
clip is made of spring steel.
26. The rain shield assembly of claim 23 wherein the
channel member is made of extruded plastic and the clip is made
of spring steel.
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Description

12~ 6
DEVICE FOR ATTACHING RAIN SHIELDS TO MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOWS
This invention relates to removable rain shields that
are mounted on the outside of motor vehicle windows. More par-
tic~llarly, it concerns a device for holding rain shields in the
casings of certain newer model automobiles, trucks, and vans.
Motor vehicle rain shields are automotive accessories
that are installed outside the openable side windows in a car,
truck, or van, along the top edge of the window. They overhang
the space above the window glass when it is partially lowered.
The shield deflects rain from entering the passenger compart-
ment; this allows for better air circulation without getting
the passengers or the interior of the vehicle wet.
~ ain shields that are sold for the motor vehicle after-
market normally have a top edge that is inserted in the window
casing and held there by a plurality of retainer clips. The
window casing typically is lined with a strip of rubber weather
seal that is pressure fitted into the casing. In most automo-
biles, trucks, and vans this weather seal strip can be tempo-
rarily pulled out of the casing and the retainer clip for the
rain shield can be inserted behind the strip. See, for ex-
amplel U.S. Patent No. 3,29g,g39. In some of the recent model
trucks and vans, however, the seal wraps around the outside of
the casing, making it necessary to slit a hole in the seal to
allow the retainer clip to stick through. Also, in some
vehicles the weather seal is bonded to the casing and cannot
readily be extracted so as to insert a retainer clip behind it.
Some better means are needed for installing and retaining rain
shields in automotive window casings of either type.

~Z83~
Some of the new weather seals have a cross-sectional
shape like an inverted U, with inwardly upturned, flexible
feet. These feet seal against the opposite sides of the window
glass when the window is closed~ We have invented special
retainer means for holding rain shields in the upper horizontal
casings of motor vehicle windows that are fitted with this type
of resilient seal. Our retainer means comprises a combination
o~ (a) a substantially U-shaped channel member that fits inside
the seal, and which is held by the seal's upturned Eeet, and
(b) a substantially U-shaped clip that is held inside the
channel member, and which clamps and holds the top edge of the
rain shield in the casing.
The U-shaped channel member has a ceiling, an inside
wall ending in a bottom edge, and an opposite, outside wall
also ending in a bottom edge. The "inside wall" of the channel
member refers to the wall toward the inside of the automobile
when the channel member is installed in the window casing. The
channel member is of a size to be insertable, ceiling-first, in
the upper horizontal casing of the automobile window, so that
the channel member's bottom edges are tucked behind the respec-
tive upturned feet of the seal. The upturned feet hold the
channel member and keep it from falling out of the casing. It
i9 also desirable that the channel member be wi~e enough that
its walls will press against the sides of the casing, to help
keep it in place.
The interior surface of the outside wall of the channel
member has at least one longitudinal ledge section, the purpose
of which will be discussed in the following paragraphs.
The clip has a ceiling, an inside wall ending in a
bottom edge, and an outside wall also ending in a bottom edge.
The clip is of a size to be insertable, ceiling-first, in the

~L~83~L~6
channel rnember. Again, the "inside wall" refers to the wall of
the clip that is towards the interior of the automobile. The
bottom edge of the clip's outside wall is bent outwardly and
upwardly, so as to be capable of gripping the top edge of the
rain shield between the outside wall and the adjacent upturned
foot of the resilient seal.
To prevent the clip rom falling out of the window
casing, it~ outside wall also has an outwardly projecting barb
member that is adapted to hook on the interior ledge section on
the channel member's outside wall. In a preferred embodiment,
each wall of the channel member has at least one longitudinal
ledge section on its interior surface and the inside wall of
the clip also hooks onto the inside wall ledge of the channel
member. This can be accomplished in either of two ways.
Either the inside wall of the clip can have an outwardly
projecting barb member, like the opposite wall has, or the
clip's inside wall can be short, ending in a bottom edge that
is adapted to rest on the interior ledge on the channel mem-
ber's inside wall.
In an optional embodiment, the interior surface of each
of the walls of the channel member may have at least two longi-
tudinal ledge sections which are parallel and spaced apart.
This makes the retainer means more adaptable in case a varia-
tion in dirnensions prevents the clip from being fully inserted
in the channel member. If the clip cannot be inserted far
enough to hook on the upper ledge, it still rnight be able to
reach and hook on the lower ledge.
The channel member preferably is made of extruded plas-
tic, e.g., polyvinyl chloride or polycarbonate, and preferably
has a length of abou~ 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches.

3~G
The clip preferably is made of spring steel. Also, the
clip, when in its relaxed position, preferably is wider from
wall to wall than the inside width of the channel member. Thus
the clip is partially compressed when inserted in the channel
member. This causes the clip's outside wall to exert a clamp
ing pressure against the top edge of the rain shield, helping
to hold it in place.
The present invention will work with any rain shield
that has a top edge that is thin enough to fit inside the
window's upper hori~ontal casing when the window is closed.
The invention will be better understood by considering
the accompanying drawings. Referring ~o those drawings,
Figure 1 is an environmental perspective view showing
the window on the driver's side of a pickup truck fitted with a
removable rain shield of the type to which the present inven-
tion is directed.
Pigure 2 is a schematic side view of an automobile
door, showing the location oE five sets of retaining means for
holding a rain shield in place.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of
an embodiment of the invention that can be u~ed on a Chevrolet
S-10 pickup truck (model years 82-B6). It shows the relation-
ship of the resilient seal, the channel member, the clip, and
the top edge oE the rain shield.
Figure 3a is an end view of an alternative form of the
channel member shown in Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Figure
1, showing one set of the retainer means of Figure 3, holding
the top e~ge of the rain shield in place.

~Z83~4~;
Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Figure
1, showing different retainer means for holding the side edge
of the rain shield in the vertical casing of the automobile
window.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the channel member
shown i.n Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the clip shown in
Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the retainer clip
shown in ~igure 5.
Figure 9 is an end view of a second embodiment of the
invention, designed for use in the window of a Dodge or Ply-
mouth Mini-Van for the model years '84 through '86.
Figure 10 is an end view of a third embodiment of the
invention, designed for use in the window of a GMC Astro Van
for the model years '85 and '86.
Figure 11 is an environmental perspective view of a
second style of rain shield, Eor use on passenger cars, that
also can be held in place by the retainer means of the present
invention.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, rubber weather seal 10 is
pressure fitted inside steel window casing 11. (~or clarity's
sake, in Figures 4 and 5 the parts are shown spaced apart,
rather than touching, as they would be in actual use.) Seal 10
has inwardly upturned feet 12 and 13 that seal against the
opposite sides of window 14 when it is closed, except in the
spaces where the seal is interrputed by outside wall 23 of clip
22 (Figure 4) or outside wall 31 of clip 29 ~Figure 5).
Plastic channel member 15 is wedged inside seal 10
(Figure 4). The bottom edge of the outside wall 16 of channel
member 15 is tucked behind upturned foot 13 of seal 10.

~ ~ 3 ~ ~ ~
Simiarly, the bottom edge o~ inside wall 17 of channel member
15 is tucked behind upturned foot 12 of seal 10. Channel
member 15 is approximately two inches long. Outside wall 16 of
channel member 15 has a longitudinal ledge 18 formed in its
interior surface. Similarly, longitudinal ledge 20 is formed
in the interior surface of inside wall 17.
Outside leg 19 of seal 10 widens at its base 21, ap-
parently to strëngthen the seal at this point of flexure, which
is exposed to the sun and weather. A dog-leg bend 67 is pro-
vided in wall 16 of channel member 15 to provide a close fitagainst protruding base 21. An identical dog-leg bend 68 is
provided in the opposite wall 17, so that channel member 15 can
be used with either of its walls turned to the outside of
w~ndow 14. Heel portions 69 and 70 of seal 10 wrap around the
bottom edges 71 and 72, respectively, of casing 11.
Clip 22, made of spring steel, is wedged inside channel
member 15. Outside wall 23 of clip 22 turns outward and upward
at the bottom, clamping the top edge 2~ of rain shield 25
between it and upturned foot 13. A pair of barb members 26 and
27 project outwardly from outside wall 23 of clip 22. Both
barb members 26 and 27 hook over interior ledge section 18 of
channel member 15. A single barb member 28 projects outwardly
from inside wall 73 of clip 22. Barb member 28 hooks on ledge
section 20 of inside wall 17. Ledges 18 and 20 and barb mem-
bers 26 and 28 cooperate to prevent clip 22 from falling out of
window casing 11.
In Figure 3a is shown an alternative version of the
channel member that can be used on the Chevy S-10 window.
Channel member 15a has two parallel, longitudinal ledges 18a
and 18b in the interior surface of its outside wall 16a;
-- 6 --

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similarly, it has twc ledges 20a and 20b on its inside wall
17a. This design is more forgiving of out-of-tolerance parts.
If the companion clip is too big to hook on ledges 18a and 20a,
it can be dropped a notch lower to hook on ledges 18b and 20b.
Referring to Figures 5 and 8, retainer clip 29 is
wedged inside the vertical section of window casing 11. The
bottom of the inside wall 30 of clip 29 i5 tucked behind
upturned foot 12 of seal lO. The outside wall 31 of clip 29
turns outwardly and upwardly at its bottom, thereby clamping
side edge 32 of rain shield 25 between wall 31 and upturned
foot 13. No channel member is needed in the side, or vertical,
section of window casing ll because clip 29 does no~ support
the full weight of the rain shield 25. It primarily holds the
shield aside to allow window 14 to clear when it i~ raised.
Referring to Figure 2, triangles 66 point to four
locations in the upper window c~sing of a Chevrolet S-lO pickup
truck where the retainer means illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 6,
and 7 may advantageously be installed. Triangle 67 points to a
side location in the casing where the retainer clip illustrated
in Figures 5 and 8 can be used.
I~ the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, for use on a
Dodge or Plymouth Mini Van, all of the parts are shown pressed
against one another, as they are in actual use. In this
embodiment, plastic channel member 33 has a single longitudinal
ledge in each wall. Clip 34 has a barb member 35 projecting
outwardly from its outside wall 36. Barb member 35 hooks on
ledge 37 of the outside wall 38 of channel member 33. Inside
wall 39 of clip 34 is short. Its bottom hooks on ledge 40 of
inside wall 41 of chan~el member 33. The bottom edge of out-
side wall 3~ of channel member 33 is tucked behind upturned

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foot 42 of rubber seal 43. The bottom edge of inside wall 41of channel member 33 is tucked behind upturned foot 44 of seal
43. The bottom edge of outside wall 36 of clip 34 turn~ out-
wardly and upwardly, gripping the top edge 45 of rain shield 46
between the clip and upturned foot 42. Upturned feet 42 and 44
seal against window 47 when it is closed, except where the seal
is interrupted by the presence of clip 33.
Figure 10 illustrates an arrangement similar to that
shown in Figure 9, but for use on a GMC Astro Van. In this
embodiment only one ledge section is used -- that on the
outside wall of the channel member.
Rubber seal 4g is pressure fitted inside window casing
64. Plastic channel member 48 is wedged inside rubber seal 49.
The bottom edge of outside wall 50 of channel member 48 is
tucked behind upturned foot 51 of seal 49. The bottom edge of
inside wall 52 of channel member 48 is tucked behind upturned
foot 53. Clip 54, which is made of spring steel, is wedged
inside channel member 48. When window 63 is closed, feet 51
and 53 seat against it, except in the locations where the
outside wall 55 of clip 54 is interposed between window 63 and
foot 51~
Outside wall 55 o clip 54 has an outwardly protruding
barb member 56. ~arb member 56 hooks on longitudinal ledge
section 57 on the interior surface of outside wall 50 of
channel member 48. ~he bottom edge of outside wall 55 of clip
54 turns outward and upward, so as to clamp the top edge 58 of
rain shield 59 between clip wall 55 and upturned foot 51.
Inside wall 52 also is provided with a longitudinal ledge 61.
Wall 62 presses sideways against ledge 61 and does not rest
upon it. This causes outside clip wall 55 to exert greater

~ZB3~46
pressure against rain shield edge 58 than if wall 62 were
shorter and rested on top of ledge 61. This embodiment has
been found to be preferred where the window casing is relative-
ly narrow, as shown in Figure 10. The support provided by out-
side ledge 57 and barb member 56 still will be sufficient to
prevent clip 54 from falling out of the window casing.
As shown in Figure 2, it will usually suffice to have
about five retainer clip assemblies to hold the rain shield in
a window. The rain shield 65 shown in Figure 11, however, may
require more of the retainer clip assemblies. since it extends
practically to the bottom of the A pillar 66 of the automobile.

Representative Drawing