Carrier and clamp assembly for a vehicle window

Claim 2

A carrier and clamp assembly for use in a vehicle body having a support structure providing a first wall portion defining a receiving opening and a second wall portion at right angle to the first wall portion defining a window opening, the first wall portion having at least one aperture therethrough and a glass panel positioned within the receiving opening in abutment against the second wall portion with a seal sandwiched therebetween, said carrier and clamp assembly including a carrier of rectangular configuration and having a top surface with parallel, laterally extending, inclined serrations thereon, a base with a retainer stud extending therefrom for insertion into the aperture in the first wall portion whereby said carrier is secured to said first wall portion at right angle to the second wall portion in position to support an edge of the glass panel on the top surface of said carrier, said carrier further having longitudinal sides, each said side having a groove therein extending the length of said side and, a clamp slidably positioned on said carrier, said clamp including a body portion having a longitudinal channel therethrough and extending from one surface thereof whereby said clamp is slidably received on said carrier, said channel defining spaced apart side walls with inwardly extending flanges of a configuration complementary to said grooves to slidably interlock therewith, said side walls being interconnected by a wall having parallel laterally extending serrations thereon to interlock with said serrations on said carrier whereby said clamp is movable in only one direction relative to said carrier and is locked to said carrier by said serrations against movement in the opposite direction.

Claim 3

A carrier and clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said clamp has an enlarged portion at one end of said body to provide a lateral end surface that extends upward relative to said carrier whereby said clamp is operable as a glass fastener to effect retention of the glass panel upon movement of said clamp in said one direction on said carrier to effect abutment of said lateral end surface against the glass panel.

Claim 4

A carrier and clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said clamp further includes integral flexible cantilever extension means facing outwardly in opposite directions relative to said body portion, the free ends of said cantilever extension means terminating in lips adapted to receive the return bent flanges of a garnish molding.

Claim 5

A window assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising a support structure providing a first wall portion defining a window receiving opening and a second wall portion at right angle to the first wall portion defining a window opening, the first wall portion having at least one aperture therethrough, a glass panel positioned within said receiving opening in abutment against said second wall portion with a seal sandwiched therebetween, a carrier, said carrier being of rectangular configuration and having a top surface with parallel laterally extending inclined serrations thereon, a base with a retainer stud extending therefrom, said stud extending into said aperture in said first wall portion to retain said carrier to said first wall portion, said carrier being positioned at substantially right angle to said second wall portion whereby to support an edge of said glass panel on said top surface of said carrier, said carrier further having longitudinal sides with each said side having a groove therein extending the length of each said side and, a clamp means slidably positioned on said carrier, said clamp means including a body portion having a longitudinal channel therethrough and extending from one surface thereof whereby said clamp means is slidably received on said carrier, said channel defining spaced apart side walls, each with an inwardly extending flange of a configuration complementary to said grooves to slidably interlock therewith, said side walls of said clamp means being interconnected by a wall having parallel laterally extending serrations thereon of complementary configuration to said serrations of said carrier whereby said clamp means can interlock with said carrier, said serrations permitting movement of said clamp means on said carrier in one direction only with said interlocked serrations preventing movement of said clamp means on said carrier in an opposite direction, said carrier means including an enlarged portion at one end thereof to provide a lateral end surface that extends upward relative to said carrier for abutment against a surface of said glass panel opposite said seal to effect retention of said glass panel in abutment against said seal.

Claim 6

A window assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising a support structure providing a first wall portion defining a window receiving opening and a second wall portion at right angle to the first wall portion defining a window opening, the first wall portion having at least one aperture therethrough, a glass panel positioned within said receiving opening in abutment against said second wall portion with a seal sandwiched therebetween, a carrier, said carrier being of rectangular configuration and having a top surface with parallel laterally extending inclined serrations thereon, a base with a retainer stud extending therefrom, said stud extending into said aperture in said first wall portion to retain said carrier to said first wall portion, said carrier being positioned at substantially right angle to said second wall portion whereby to support an edge of said glass panel on said top surface of said carrier, said carrier further having longitudinal sides with each said side having a groove therein extending the length of each said side and, a clamp means slidably positioned on said carrier, said clamp means including a body portion having a longitudinal channel therethrough and extending from one surface thereof whereby said clamp means is slidably received on said carrier, said channel defining spaced apart side walls, each with an inwardly extending flange of a configuration complementary to said grooves to slidably interlock therewith, said side walls of said clamp means being interconnected by a wall having parallel laterally extending serrations thereon of complementary configuration to said serrations of said carrier whereby said clamp means can interlock with said carrier, said serrations permitting movement of said clamp means on said carrier in one direction only with said interlocked serrations preventing movement of said clamp means on said carrier in an opposite direction, said carrier means including an enlarged portion at one end thereof to provide a lateral end surface that extends upward relative to said carrier for abutment against a surface of said glass panel opposite said seal to effect retention of said glass panel in abutment against said seal.

Claim 7

A window assembly according to claim 4 wherein said clamp means further includes integral, flexible, cantilever extension means on the opposite end of said clamp means from said lateral end surface, the free ends of said cantilever extension means terminating in lips and, a molding means having return bent flanges at opposite sides thereof secured to said clamp means by said lips.