Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02234270 1998-04-08
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Window unit for windows in motor vehicl s and the like
Glass windows in motor vehicles and the like are often
provided with a plastic frame of a specific
cross-sectional profile. This window unit is inserted
into a predetermined opening of the motor vehicle, and
fastened therein, with the aid of its frame. It is
generally the case that the frame also serves, at the
same time, for sealing the window unit with respect to
the adjoining structural part.
The conventional window units are attached to the
structural part by two methods. In one method, the frame
is adhesively bonded to the edge region of the opening of
the structural part. In the other method, the frame has
profile sections which butt against the edge region of
the opening of the structural part, on two sides which
are directed away from one another, and secure the window
unit on the structural part by positive locking.
One method has the disadvantage that the window unit
cannot be separated from the structural part at all, or
can only be separated therefrom with great difficulty and
with corresponding outlay. This applies both for the case
where the window unit is to be replaced and for the case
where the motor vehicle and the window unit are to be
disposed of separately, and in particular are to be fed
to recycling. The other method of connecting the window
unit and the structural part has the disadvantage that,
for the purpose of producing the positive locking between
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the frame and the structural part, at least part of each
of the profile sections of the frame have [sic] to be
sufficiently compliant if the two parts are to be
attached at al.l. This compliance of the relevant profile
sections results in a severe limitationto the retaining
force of said profile sections with respect to the
structural part. Correspondingly low forces are thus
sufficient in order to separate the window unit from the
structural part.
The two methods of attaching the window unit to the
structural part also have a further disadvantage in
common. The frame, which is connected durably to the
glass window, is generally produced from a thermoplastic
polymer and, in a corresponding injection mold, is
integrally formed directly on the glass window by
injection molding. For this purpose, the glass window has
to be provided beforehand with the bonding agent in the
region of the frame. The frame is then connected durably
to the glass window to such an extent that it is no
longer possible for them to be separated from one another
or they can only be separated from one another with
untenably high outlay, and it is thus not possible for
the glass window and the frame to be disposed of and fed
to recycling separately from one another even if the
window unit could be easily released from the structural
part.
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The outlined method of producing the window unit has the
additional disadvantage that the bonding agent has to be
heated to a temperature of approximately 120°C in order
to be activated, on the one hand, with respect to the
glass window and, on the other hand, with respect to the
material of th.e frame. The plastic for the frame needs to
be heated to approximately 200°C in order to be
sufficiently free-flowing, and to fill the injection mold
completely, without a very high molding pressure being
necessary for this purpose. The glass window is subjected
to this elevated temperature in the mold during the
periods of time which the injected plastic requires in
order to cool and thus solidify to the extent where the
glass window can be removed, with the frame integrally
formed thereon, from the mold without the frame being
permanently deformed in the process.
In the case of laminated-glass windows for motor
vehicles, there are provided two glass windows of the
same shape which are attached purely mechanically to one
another, with the interposition of a film, to form the
laminated-glass window. This film consists of a
thermoplastic polymer. The latter can only withstand a
temperature of approximately 70° to 80°C. Under higher
temperatures, it changes and becomes cloudy, with the
result that, in the relevant surface regions, a
laminated-glass window becomes opaque and unsightly. It
is thus not possible for laminated-glass windows to be
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provided with a frame by injection molding. The only
alternative is the separate production of the frame,
which is subsequently attached to the laminated-glass
window by means of profile sections of corresponding
configuration. This severely limits the retaining force
between the frame and the laminated-glass window,
irrespective of whether the frame and the structural part
are connected durably by adhesive bonding or are attached
by way of positive locking by means of compliant profile
sections, likewise with only a limited retaining force.
The object of the invention is to provide a window unit
in which the frame and the glass window, on the one hand,
are attached t~o one another with a high retaining force
and, on the other hand, can be easily released again from
one another. This object is achieved by a window unit
having the features specified in Claim 1.
Since the frame is formed from two profile parts, of
which the primary profile part encloses the edge region
of the glass window on three sides in a positively
locking manner, it is possible to dispense with the use
of a bonding agent, as a result of which, at a later
stage, the frame can be released again from the glass
window in order, for example, for the two parts to be
disposed of separately from one another. Since the glass
window is no longer provided with a bonding agent, it is
not necessary for it to be heated to the activation
CA 02234270 1998-04-08
temperature of said agent either. Rather, it can be
positioned in the injection mold in the cold state. When
the plastic far the primary profile part is injected, it
only acts on the glass window briefly at the
injection-molding temperature, because it immediately
cools and sets on the cold glass window. The high
dimensional stability of the primary profile part, on the
one hand, ensures a high retaining force between the
glass window and the frame, and the different way of
encapsulating the edge of the glass window by injection
molding, on the other hand, considerably reduces the
thermal loading to which said window is subjected. As a
result, even laminated-glass windows may be provided with
such a frame. It is possible to provide on the secondary
profile part such profile sections which, on account of
the lower dimensional stability of their material, are
sufficiently compliant and can thus form snug-fitting
sealing strips. The two profile parts can be connected to
one another by positive locking. However, it is more
straightforward and expedient for the secondary profile
part to be integrally formed on the primary profile part.
Even if this requires a higher processing temperature,
the thermal loading to which the glass window is
subjected is considerably lower since said window is
screened by the material of the primary profile part,
which material in any case only butts closely against,
but is not bonded to, the glass window.
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In the first-mentioned case of the connection of the two profile
parts, a configuration according to the following is expedient:
the secondary profile part (15) is produced from a plastic
material not bonding with the material of the primary profile
part (14), the secondary profile part (15) encloses the primary
profile part (14), at least in certain sections, to an extent
where there is positive locking between the two profile parts
(14; 15) .
In the last-mentioned case, a configuration according to the
following is expedient: the primary profile part and the
secondary profile part (34; 35) are produced from same type of
plastic, the plastic for the primary profile part (34) and the
secondary profile part (35) is polypropylene, polyurethane,
polyamide or polyvinyl chloride.
In the case of a configuration according to the following:
there is provided a further profile part (81) , which is designed
and arranged such that during elastic deformation of this
profile part (81), or at least of a profile section (82), it is
possible to produce positive locking with a structural part
( 76 ) , the window unit can be connected to the structural part by
elastic deformation of a section of its frame profile. Such a
window unit is thus suitable for replacing conventional window
units in which the frame and the glass window are adhesively
bonded to one another.
A configuration according to the following: provided on the
primary profile part (54) are selected from the group consisting
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of fastening elements (57), anchoring elements (58), and
combinations thereof, by means of which a frame (52) can be
connected to a structural part (56) achieves a comparatively
high retaining force between the window unit and the structural
part. In the case of such a development, the fastening elements
or anchoring elements may be produced together with the frame.
The window unit may be connected to the structural part on the
structural part [sic], for example, by plastic deformation of
the fastening elements, if appropriate under the action of heat.
A configuration according to the following: there are provided
further fastening elements (38), made of a same material or a
different material, which, can be connected to the fastening
elements present on the primary profile part (54) by positive
looking or by a bond of materials or anchoring members (36) or
by both of them connects the window unit to the structural part
with the use of additional fastening elements, which interact
with the fastening elements integrally formed on the frame and
which may be designed, for example, as self-cutting nuts or as
locking plates.
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The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with
reference to a number of exemplary embodiments illustrated in
the drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional detail of a window unit
with a first exemplary embodiment of the frame;
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional detail of a window unit with
a further exemplary embodiment of the frame together
with a structural part;
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional detail of a window unit with
a third exemplary embodiment of the frame together
with a structural part; and
Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional detail of a window unit with
a fourth exemplary embodiment of the frame together
with a structural part.
The window unit 10, which can be seen from Figure 1, is formed
by a glass window 11 and a frame 12, which extends along the
edge 13 of the glass window 11 and forms a continuous ring. The
glass window can be made of silicate glass or of acrylic glass.
The frame 12 is designed as a compression molding. It is formed
by two profile parts, to be precise the primary profile part 14
and the secondary profile part 15.
The primary profile part 14 has three profile sections, which
together give an at least approximately U-shaped overall
profile. The first profile section 16 is adjacent to the edge
13 of the glass window 11. The second profile
CA 02234270 1998-04-08
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section 17 and the third profile section 18 each adjoin
one side of the first profile section 16 and are closely
adjacent to that surface region of the glass window 11
which borders the edge 13.
Possible materials for the primary profile part 14 are
polypropylene, polyurethane, polyamide or polyvinyl
chloride. For the primary profile part 14, these plastics
are used in a quality with a sufficiently high flexural
modules, of at least 1,000 N/mma for the primary profile
part 14 to be of a sufficiently high dimensional
stability and to ensure, between the glass window 11 and
the frame 12, positive locking which is only overcome by
the primary profile part 14, or at least one of its
lateral profile sections, being destroyed.
The primary profile part 14 is produced in an injection
mold by the edge region of the glass window 11 being
encapsulated by injection molding. No bonding agent is
used in this process, with the result that the primary
profile part 14 does butt against the edge region of the
glass window 11, but is not firmly bonded thereto.
Provided on the primary profile part 14 are a number of
fastening elements 19 which are distributed along the
edge region of the glass window 11 in accordance with a
predetermined distribution pattern. They are formed, for
example as cylindrical pegs, on the inside of the window
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unit 10 , i . a . on the side which is directed toward the
structural part (not illustrated), and, as such, are
aligned parallel to one another. They adjoin the profile
section 18 of the primary profile part 14, to be precise
they are integrally formed thereon. These fastening
elements 19 serve the purpose, when the window unit 10 is
installed in the structural part, of being fitted into
and/or through recesses in the structural part which are
adapted to said elements. Provided that these recesses
have not already been configured so as to provide
sufficient frictional locking once the fastening elements
19 have been introduced, it is expedient to use
additional fastening elements, e.g. in the form of
self-cutting nuts or in the form of securing plates,
which are screwed or fitted onto the peg-like fastening
elements 19 and thus produce positive locking.
The secondary profile part 15 has a function which
differs from that of the primary profile part 14. It
serves, in particular, for the close abutment of the
frame 12 against the associated structural part and also
for sealing the window unit 10 with respect to the
structural part, with the result that it is not possible
for any water and/or dirt to penetrate, between the
structural part and the frame 12 of the window unit 10,
into the interior of the structural part. For this
purpose, the secondary profile part 15 is produced from
a thermoplastic polymer which has a hardness of less than
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90 Shore A.
Provided on the secondary profile part 15 are profile
sections 21 and 22 which are shaped such that, in the
initial state or rest state, they project into a profile
region which, once the window unit 10 has been installed,
is at least partly taken up by the structural part, with
the result that said profile sections are elastically
deformed in parts in the process and, on account of the
compliance of their material, fit snugly against the
structural part and, in this way, provide good sealing.
If such a profile section, for example the profile
section 21, projects to a comparatively great extent, it
is expedient for the root region of the profile section
21, which acts as sealing strip, to be reinforced and
stiffened by a profile section 23 which projects into the
cross-sectional region of the profile section 21 and
belongs to the primary profile part 14.
For the reasons explained, use is made, for the secondary
profile part 15, of a plastic which has greater
compliance than the material of the primary profile part
14, and thus generally is also of lower dimensional
stability. It is possible, in principle, to use the same
type of plastic as that used for the primary profile part
14, the material properties being adapted
correspondingly. In this case, the secondary profile part
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15 may be produced, and at the same time connected
durably to the primary profile part 14, in that the glass
window, with the primary profile part 14 which has been
fitted thereon beforehand, is positioned in a
correspondingly configured injection mold, and the
remaining injection-mold cavity which is adapted for the
secondary profile part 15 is filled with the material for
said secondary profile part 15. In this case, intimate
bonding of the materials of the primary profile part and
the secondary profile part takes place at the contact
surfaces between the two profile parts. The latter are,
as it were, welded to one another.
In the case of-- this method of producing and connecting
the two profile parts, it is sufficient if the secondary
profile part 15 adjoins the primary profile part 14 at
least over a part of the periphery line of the latter. If
the plastics of the two profile parts do not bond with
one another, it should be ensured that the secondary
profile part encloses, or engages around, the primary
profile part to the extent where, at least in certain
sections, there is positive locking between the secondary
profile part and the primary profile part along the
linear extent of the frame. The normal profile shape of
the primary profile part can be used for this purpose.
However, it is also possible for individual anchoring
elements to be integrally formed on the primary profile
part, these later being enclosed by the secondary profile
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part.
In the case of the frame 12 which can be seen from Figure
1, the secondary profile part 15 is configured such that,
with the exception of those profile regions in which the
glass window 11 and the peg-like fastening elements 19
are located, it fully encloses the primary profile part
14. In the surface regions in which the secondary profile
part 15 extends as far as the glass window 11, no bonding
agent is used, so that it is also the case that this
profile part only butts against the glass window 11, but
is not connected thereto.
In the case of the profile configuration which can be
seen from Figure 1, use may be made, for the two profile
parts, of plastics which bond with one another and of
plastics which do not bond with one another.
The window unit 30, which can be seen from Figure 2, is
formed by the glass window 31 and the frame 32. In the
region of its edge 33, the glass window 31 is enclosed on
three sides by the primary profile part 34, which butts
closely against the glass window 31, but is not firmly
connected thereto. The primary profile part 34 is
enclosed, over a part of its profile periphery, by the
secondary profile part 35. The plastics for the two
profile parts 34 and 35 are of the same type, with the
result that, when it is produced, the secondary profile
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part 35 bonds with the plastic of the primary profile
part 34.
Once again, th.e primary profile part 34 is provided with
a number of peg-like fastening elements 36. They are each
fitted through. a recess of a structural part 37 on which
the window unit 30 is provided. In each case one locking
plate 38 is fitted onto the peg-like fastening elements
36, and the retaining tongues thereof clamp firmly on the
fastening element 36. Instead of such metal locking
plates, it is also possible to use plastic plug-on caps,
which are adhesively bonded or welded to the peg-like
fastening elements 36.
Provided, once again, on one side of the secondary
profile part 35 is a projecting profile section 39, which
is configured such that, when the window unit 30 is
installed in the structural part 37, it deforms
elastically to a slight extent and thus fits snugly
against the structural part 37 and acts as a sealing
strip.
The frame 32 is also provided with an additional seal in
the form of a peripheral sealing band 41 which is made of
foam rubber and, on that side of the primary profile part
34 which is directed toward the structural part 37, is
adhesively bonded on an abutment surface adapted thereto.
When the window unit 30 is installed in the structural
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part 37, the frame 32 is forced against the structural
part 37 to such an extent that the sealing band 41 is
elastically deformed in part. It is only after this that
the locking plates 38 are pushed onto the fastening
elements 36.
The window unit 50, which can be seen from Figure 3, is
formed by the glass window 51 and the frame 52. Once
again, the frame 52 is formed by the primary profile part
54 and the secondary profile part 55.
A number of fastening elements 57 and anchoring elements
58 are arranged on that side of the primary profile part
54 which is directed toward the structural part 56.
The fastening elements 57 are designed as cylindrical
hollow weld pegs which, once they have been fitted
through a recess of the structural part 56, are
plastically deformed under the action of heat such that,
just like a tubular rivet, they form a collar in the
vicinity of the recess of the structural part 56, and
thus produce positive locking between the fastening peg
57 and the structural part 56.
The anchoring elements 58 are likewise peg-like profile
sections, which are provided on one side with one or more
hook noses 59. In this case, the recesses in the
structural part 56 are adapted to the anchoring elements
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58 such that, when fitted into the recesses, the latter
can yield elastically by way of their hook noses 59, and
that, during the subsequent spring-back action, the hook
noses 59 engage behind the edge of the recess of the
structural part 56.
On the frame 52, it is possible to use either just the
fastening elements 57 or just the anchoring elements 58,
or, in individual sections of the frame 52, it is
possible to use the fastening elements in some cases and
the anchoring elements in other cases, in order thus to
make it easier to fulfill special requirements regarding
the connection of the window unit 50 to the structural
part 56.
A plurality of profile sections which serve for the
abutment of the frame 52 against the structural part 56
are provided on the secondary profile part 55. The
profile sections 61 and 62 are of relatively long length,
and thus have a greater elastic compliance, with the
result that they can act as sealing strips. The shorter
profile section 63 serves more for the abutment of the
frame 52 against the structural. part 56. As regards the
compliance of its material, or the capacity thereof for
providing a snug f it , said shorter profile section 63 may
also act as a seal.
The window unit 70, which can be seen from Figure 4, is
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formed by the glass window 71 and the frame 72.
The edge 73 and the adjoining surface regions of the
glass window 71 are enclosed by the primary profile part
74, which butts closely against said window, but is not
firmly connected thereto. With the exception of the
region of the glass window 71, the primary profile part
74 is enclosed all the way around by the secondary
profile part 75. In this case, a.t is possible to have
straightforward positive locking if the plastics of the
two profile parts do not bond with one another. With an
appropriate selection of materials, however, the two
profile parts may also be durably connected to one
another by virtue of the materials being welded.
There are no fastening and/or anchoring elements on the
primary profile part 74. Apart from this, said profile
part is designed largely in the same way as the primary
profile part 54 of the frame 52 (Figure 3) . It is also
the case that the secondary profile part 75 is designed
largely in the same way as the secondary profile part 55
of the frame 52 and, on the sides which are directed
toward the structural part 76, it has the profile section
[sic] 77, 78 and 79, which serve for sealing purposes
with respect to the structural part 76 or for abutment
against said structural part.
In the region of the edge of the opening of the
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a
, , _ 17 _
structural part 76, said opening being closed off by the
window unit 70, the secondary profile part 75 is adjoined
by a further profile part 81, which is made of the same
plastic and is produced together with the secondary
profile part 75.
The further profile part 81 has a profile section 82
which is spaced apart from the adjacent profile section
of the secondary profile part 75 by a small distance,
with the result that a narrow slit 83 is provided
therebetween, an edge section 84 of the structural part
76 engaging in said slit once the window unit 70 has been
installed. For this purpose, the profile section 82 of
the further profile part 81 is designed to be elastically
compliant to the extent where, in a known manner, it can
be drawn up, in certain sections, under the edge section
84 of the structural part 76, by means of a cord which
has previously been placed in the slit 83, whereupon, on
account of its elasticity, said profile section 82
positions itself against the outside of the edge section
84 and thus secures the window unit 70 against the
structural part 76.
