Modular window assembly

Claim 2

A modular window assembly and combined fastening system for closing a window opening in a body, said body having a rigid peripheral flange integral with said body and defining said window opening, said peripheral flange having at least one flange opening therethrough that has a fixed dimension, said window assembly comprising in combination: a window panel, a molded frame of resilient plastic material substantially surrounding the peripheral edge of the window panel and having an outer surface accessible from outside the vehicle, and an undersurface engageable with at least a portion of the peripheral flange near the flange opening, said molded frame further including at least one substantially resilient stud molded integrally with its undersurface and having, in its original shape, an elongate configuration with a dimension slightly greater than the fixed dimension of the flange opening, said molded frame further including a passage therein passing from the outer surface substantially, but not completely, through the length of the molded stud to a closed end, and a push pin insertable into the passage and movable therewithin against said closed end, said pin having a head spaced from said molded frame outer surface by a predetermined amount, whereby the assembly may be positioned adjacent the window opening with the stud aligned with the flange opening and the stud elongated by pushing the pin head from outside the vehicle, said pin head then cooperating with said molded frame by contacting said molded frame outer surface after moving said predetermined amount, said predetermined amount being sufficient to further elongate the stud so as to decrease its stud dimension with respect to the fixed dimension of the flange opening so that the stud may pass through the flange opening until the frame undersurface engages the flange, the stud returning substantially to its original shape when it is not being elongated to grip the flange at the flange opening and thereby cooperate with the flange opening to hold the molded frame to the vehicle body.

Claim 3

A modular window assembly for closing an opening in a body, said body having a rigid pinchweld flange integral with said body and defining said window opening, said pinchweld flange having an outer and an inner surface and at least one flange opening therethrough that has a fixed dimension, comprising in combination: a window panel, a frame of resilient plastic material molded to the peripheral edge of the window panel and having an outer surface and an inner surface engageable with the outer surface of the pinchweld flange, said outer surface further including a peripheral groove having a bottom portion, said frame including a substantially cylindrical integral stud having, in its original shape, a diameter slightly greater than the fixed dimension of the flange opening, said stud extending inwardly from the inner surface of said frame, said stud including a passage therethrough extending to a closed inner end wall and through said peripheral groove bottom portion to the outer surface of said frame, said stud further including a series of axially spaced flexible integral fins on the outer surface thereof, a rigid member insertable into said passage, said rigid member having a head spaced from said bottom portion of said peripheral groove by a predetermined amount, said stud being elongated by forcing said rigid member in the passage thereof against said end wall, said rigid member head then cooperating with said peripheral groove bottom portion by contacting said bottom portion after moving said predetermined amount, said predetermined amount being sufficient to decrease the effective diameter of the stud and of the fins and allow the stud and fins to be inserted through the opening in the body pinchweld flange so that the inner surface of the frame can engage the outer surface of the pinchweld flange and one of the fins of the stud can engage the inner surface of the pinchweld flange, thereby cooperating with the pinchweld flange and flange opening to retain the window assembly thereto, said stud returning substantially to its original shape when it is not being elongated, and said rigid member head also returning to said predetermined spacing from said peripheral groove bottom portion, and, a peripheral molding sized to fit within said peripheral groove, said rigid member head also cooperatively providing a means to retain said molding in said peripheral groove.

Claim 4

A modular window assembly for closing an opening in a body, said body having a rigid pinchweld flange integral with said body and defining said window opening, said pinchweld flange having an outer and an inner surface and at least one flange opening therethrough that has a fixed dimension, comprising in combination: a window panel, a frame of resilient plastic material molded to the peripheral edge of the window panel and having an outer surface and an inner surface engageable with the outer surface of the pinchweld flange, said outer surface further including a peripheral groove having a bottom portion, said frame including a substantially cylindrical integral stud having, in its original shape, a diameter slightly greater than the fixed dimension of the flange opening, said stud extending inwardly from the inner surface of said frame, said stud including a passage therethrough extending to a closed inner end wall and through said peripheral groove bottom portion to the outer surface of said frame, said stud further including a series of axially spaced flexible integral fins on the outer surface thereof, a rigid member insertable into said passage, said rigid member having a head spaced from said bottom portion of said peripheral groove by a predetermined amount, said stud being elongated by forcing said rigid member in the passage thereof against said end wall, said rigid member head then cooperating with said peripheral groove bottom portion by contacting said bottom portion after moving said predetermined amount, said predetermined amount being sufficient to decrease the effective diameter of the stud and of the fins and allow the stud and fins to be inserted through the opening in the body pinchweld flange so that the inner surface of the frame can engage the outer surface of the pinchweld flange and one of the fins of the stud can engage the inner surface of the pinchweld flange, thereby cooperating with the pinchweld flange and flange opening to retain the window assembly thereto, said stud returning substantially to its original shape when it is not being elongated, and said rigid member head also returning to said predetermined spacing from said peripheral groove bottom portion, and, a peripheral molding sized to fit within said peripheral groove, said rigid member head also cooperatively providing a means to retain said molding in said peripheral groove.