Window construction for passenger vehicles

Claim 2

A window construction for passenger vehicles having improved aerodynamic characteristics in combination with a closed passenger body having a front windshield, a roof, and a pair of side passenger doors, comprising: a. said front windshield having a pair of side edges with a curved section adjacent each of said side edges; b. a pair of side window assemblies, each of said side window assemblies being disposed in an associated one of said side passenger doors; c. said side window assemblies each having a front segment and a rear segment, said front segment having a forward edge, and at least one of said segments being movable; d. said side window assemblies each having a generally convex surface; e. a pair of "A" posts, each of said "A" posts being disposed between one of said side edges and said forward edge of an associated one of said side window assemblies and each of said "A" posts having a pair of associated edges; f. said front windshield assembly, said "A" posts, and said side window assemblies each having an external surface; g. each side edge abutting one edge of said pair of associated edges of each of said "A" posts whereby said front windshield external surface is aligned with each external surface of said pair of "A" posts; and, h. said forward edge of each side window assembly abutting said other one edge of said pair of associated edges whereby each "A" post external surface is aligned with said associated side window assembly external surface for providing an integral unitary aerodynamic surface.

Claim 3

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 1, wherein: (a) each movable window segment has means connected thereto to retract it into and associated passenger door.

Claim 4

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 1, wherein: (a) a pivot is disposed in said associated passenger door on which said moveable window segment is pivotably supported at a rear lower corner thereof, and (b) each moveable window segment having an opposite forward periphery with an arcuate periphery radially centered at said pivot.

Claim 5

A window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 1 wherein: (a) each moveable window segment having guide means for holding said moveable window segment in alignment with said associated side window assembly.

Claim 6

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 4, wherein: (a) said guide means includes an interior noninterferring flange cooperating with said moveable window segment and an abutting fixed member.

Claim 7

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claims 1 or 3, wherein: (a) each side window assembly includes a small generally triangular piece in fixed engagement with an associated "A" post and being immediately forward of said movable window segment.

Claim 8

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 1, wherein: (a) said exterior surfaces of adjacent abutting elements very closely approaches a tangential line along their line of abutment.

Claim 9

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 1, wherein: (a) said roof having a contour above each of said side assemblies and said contour being a convex shaped section immediately above a lower side edge of said roof, and (b) said side window assemblies each having an upper portion with an inwardly sloping exterior surface which terminates along an upper edge and forms a line of abutment with an exterior surface of said lower side edge of said roof.

Claim 10

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 2, wherein: a. each moveable window segment being angularly pivotable.

Claim 11

A window construction for passenger vehicles having improved aerodynamic characteristics in combination with a closed passenger body having a front windshield, a roof, and a pair of side passenger doors, comprising: a. said front windshield having a pair of side edges with a curved section adjacent each of said side edges; b. a pair of side window assemblies, each of said side window assemblies being disposed in an associated one of said passenger doors; c. said side window assemblies each having a front segment and a rear segment, said front segment having a forward edge, and at least one of said segments being moveable; d. said side window assemblies each having a generally convex surface; e. a pair of "A" posts being disposed between one of said side edges and said forward edge of an associated one of said side window assemblies and each of said "A" posts having a pair of associated edges; f. said front windshield assembly, said "A" posts, and said side window assemblies each having an external surface; g. each side edge abutting one edge of said pair of associated edges of each of said "A" posts whereby said front windshield external surface is aligned with each external surface of said pair of "A" posts; h. said forward edge of each side window assembly abutting said other one edge of said pair of associated edges whereby each "A" posts external surface is aligned with said associated side window assembly external surface for providing an integral unitary aerodynamic surface; and, i. means connected to each of said moveable window segments for retracting each moveable window segment into an associated side passenger door.

Claim 12

A window construction for passenger vehicles having improved aerodynamic characteristics in combination with a closed passenger body having a front windshield, a roof, and a pair of side passenger doors, comprising: a. said front windshield having a pair of side edges with a curved section adjacent each of said side edges; b. a pair of side window assemblies, each of said side window assemblies being disposed in an associated one of said passenger doors; c. said side window assemblies each having a front segment and a rear segment, said front segment having a forward edge, and at least one of said segments being moveable; d. said side window assemblies each having a generally convex surface; e. a pair of "A" posts being disposed between one of said side edges and said forward edge of an associated one of said side window assemblies and each of said "A" posts having a pair of associated edges; f. said front windshield assembly, said "A" posts, and said side window assemblies each having an external surface; g. each side edge abutting one edge of said pair of associated edges of each of said "A" posts whereby said front windshield external surface is aligned with each external surface of said pair of "A" posts; h. said forward edge of each side window assembly abutting said other one edge of said pair of associated edges whereby each "A" posts external surface is aligned with said associated side window assembly external surface for providing an integral unitary aerodynamic surface; and, i. means connected to each of said moveable window segments for retracting each moveable window segment into an associated side passenger door.

Claim 13

The window construction for the passenger verhicle of claim 10, wherein: (a) a pivot being disposed in each passenger door and on which said movable window segment is pivotally supported at a lower corner thereof.

Claim 14

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 11, wherein: (a) said means connected to said movable window segment includes a manually operable nonparallel crank linkage connected to said pivot.

Claim 15

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 11, wherein: (a) said pivot having a pivot axis perpendicular to an outer surface of said associated passenger door.

Claim 16

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 11, wherein: (a) a control linkage is connected to said pivot for the moveable window segment, and (b) said control linkage providing a lock arrangement for said moveable window segment when said moveable window segment reaches an upright position.

Claim 17

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 12 or 14, wherein: (a) spring means being connected to said control linkage and to said passenger door for providing a spring bias tending to hold said movable window segment in an upright closed position.

Claim 18

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claim 1 or 10, wherein: (a) said windshield having an arcuate curve from a centerline of said passenger vehicle to each of said side edges and being approximately 45°.

Claim 19

The window construction for the passenger vehicle of claims 11 or 15, wherein: (a) said moveable window segment of each of said side window assemblies having a forward and upper periphery and tapering inwardly toward said forward and upper periphery.