Door glass cassette for vehicles

Claim 2

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicular door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly comprising two laterally spaced curvilinear side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for raising and lowering the glass pane, a curvilinear top channel extending between the side channels at the top of each said side channel, and lateral guide means comprising transversely spaced lateral guides secured between said side channels, said lateral guide means being a Z-shape inside channel and a short vertical height I-shape outside channel, said channels and guide means collectively defining a glass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and said guide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior seal adapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glass opening.

Claim 3

A door glass cassette according to claim 1, wherein said curvilinear side channels are U-shape channels having said open U-shape structure facing toward the glass opening, and wherein the curvilinear top channel is an inverted U-channel having said open U-shape structure facing downward.

Claim 4

A door glass cassette according to claim 2, wherein said U-shape structures of said side channels and said top channel comprises an inside extension, an intermediate base, and an outside extension, wherein said interior seal is secured to said inside extension and wherein said exterior seal is secured to said outside extension of said channel.

Claim 5

A door glass cassette according to claim 3, wherein said exterior seal comprises a base section secured to said inside extension of said U-channel, wherein said base section of said exterior seal extends outwardly from said inside extension into a tapered stem member orientated toward and adapted to seal the outside surface of the glass pane.

Claim 6

A door glass cassette according to claim 4, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 7

A door glass cassette according to claim 3, wherein said interior seal comprises a solid member secured to said inside extension and a flexible member secured to said solid member, wherein said flexible member comprises a hollow bulb-like structure, said rigid member having a higher durometer than said flexible member, and wherein said flexible member is orientated toward and adapted to engage the inside surface of the glass pane in the raised position.

Claim 8

A door glass cassette according to claim 6, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 9

A door glass cassette according to claim 3, wherein said inside Z-channel has an upwardly directed extension, wherein said interior seal is secured to said Z-channel upward extension, and wherein said transversely spaced I-channel has said exterior seal secured thereto.

Claim 10

A door glass cassette according to claim 8, wherein said exterior seal secured to said I-channel comprises a base section secured to the upper end of said I-channel, wherein said base section extends upwardly from said base section into a tapered stem member orientated toward and adapted to seal the outside surface of the glass pane.

Claim 11

A door glass cassette according to claim 9, wherein said interior seal secured to said upward extension of said Z-channel comprises a solid member secured to said upward extension and a flexible member secured to said solid member orientated toward and adapted to engage the inside surface of the glass pane, said rigid member having a higher durometer than said flexible member.

Claim 12

A door glass cassette according to claim 10, wherein said flexible member comprises a hollow bulb-like structure.

Claim 13

A door glass cassette according to claim 11, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 14

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicular door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly comprising two laterally spaced side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for raising and lowering the glass pane, a top channel extending between the side channels at the top of each said side channel, and lateral guide means comprising transversely spaced lateral guides secured between said side channels, said channels and guide means collectively defining a glass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and said guide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior seal adapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glass opening, said channels being curvilinear-shape channels having said open curvilinear-shape structure facing the glass opening, said curvilinear-shape structures of said side channels and said top channel comprising an inside extension, an intermediate base, and an outside extension, said interior seal being secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal being secured to said outside extension of said channel, and wherein said exterior seal contains a C-shape glass run channel located between said inside extension and said outside extension and within said curvilinear-shape channel.

Claim 15

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicular door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly comprising two laterally spaced side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for raising and lowering the glass pane, a top channel extending between the side channels at the top of each said side channel, and lateral guide means comprising transversely spaced lateral guides secured between said side channels, said channels and guide means collectively defining a glass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and said guide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior seal adapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glass opening, said channels being curvilinear-shape channels having said open curvilinear-shape structure facing the glass opening, said curvilinear-shape structures of said side channels and said top channel comprising an inside extension, an intermediate base, and an outside extension, said interior seal being secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal being secured to said outside extension of said channel, and wherein said exterior seal contains a C-shape glass run channel located between said inside extension and said outside extension and within said curvilinear-shape channel.

Claim 16

A door glass cassette according to claim 13, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 17

A door glass cassette according to claim 14, wherein said means for raising and lowering said glass pane is a glass regulator assembly; and wherein said means for connecting said glass regulator assembly to said frame and seal assembly is a mounting plate.

Claim 18

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicular door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly comprising two laterally spaced side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for raising and lowering the glass pane, a top channel extending between the side channels at the top of each said side channel, and lateral guide means comprising transversely spaced lateral guides secured between said side channels, said channels and guide means collectively defining a glass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and said guide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior seal adapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glass opening, said side channels being curvilinear-shape channels having said open curvilinear-shape structure facing toward the glass opening, said top channel being an inverted curvilinear channel and having said open curvilinear-shape structure facing downward, said curvilinear-shape structures of said side channels and said top channels comprising an inside extension, an intermediate base, and an outside extension, said interior seal being secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal being secured to said outside extension of said channel, and said frame and seal assembly including an external perimeter surface defined by said curvilinear side channels and said curvilinear top channel, and said external perimeter surface being encased by an elastomeric material to provide a seamless, generally annular-shaped peripheral gasket.

Claim 19

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicular door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly comprising two laterally spaced side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for raising and lowering the glass pane, a top channel extending between the side channels at the top of each said side channel, and lateral guide means comprising transversely spaced lateral guides secured between said side channels, said channels and guide means collectively defining a glass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and said guide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior seal adapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glass opening, said side channels being curvilinear-shape channels having said open curvilinear-shape structure facing toward the glass opening, said top channel being an inverted curvilinear channel and having said open curvilinear-shape structure facing downward, said curvilinear-shape structures of said side channels and said top channels comprising an inside extension, an intermediate base, and an outside extension, said interior seal being secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal being secured to said outside extension of said channel, and said frame and seal assembly including an external perimeter surface defined by said curvilinear side channels and said curvilinear top channel, and said external perimeter surface being encased by an elastomeric material to provide a seamless, generally annular-shaped peripheral gasket.

Claim 20

A door glass cassette according to claim 16, wherein said seamless peripheral gasket is secured to said external perimeter surface of the upper section of said frame and seal assembly, and wherein said upper section of the frame structure is approximately above said lateral guide.

Claim 21

A door glass cassette according to claim 17, wherein said interior seal is secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal is secured to said outside extension, and wherein at least a portion of said interior seal and said exterior seal are encased within said seamless elastomeric gasket.

Claim 22

A door glass cassette according to claim 18, wherein said seamless elastomeric gasket comprises an enlarged base section secured to the intermediate base of said curvilinear-channel; and wherein said base section is formed with a flange extending generally co-linearly with said exterior seal and away from the glass opening for sealing against said vehicular door structure.

Claim 23

A door glass cassette according to claim 19, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 24

A door glass cassette according to claim 18, wherein said seamless elastomeric gasket comprises an enlarged base section secured to said intermediate base of said curvilinear-channel, an enlarged inside section secured to said inside extension of said curvilinear-channel and covering portions of said interior seal secured to said curvilinear-channel, and a narrow outside section secured to said outside extension of said U-channel and covering only a distal end of said exterior seal secured to said outside extension; and wherein said base section is formed with a flange generally aligned with and extending opposite from said exterior seal for sealing against said vehicular door structure.

Claim 25

A door glass cassette according to claim 21, wherein said elastomeric material comprising said peripheral gasket is a polyurethane elastomer.

Claim 26

A door glass cassette according to claim 22, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 27

A door glass cassette adapted to matingly engage a vehicle door structure, comprising: an integral frame and seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter curvilinear-shape channel, said perimeter curvilinear channel comprising two side channels and a top channel therebetween, said perimeter curvilinear channel having an inside extension and an outside extension, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted on said perimeter channel inside extension and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeter channel outside extension, said interior seal and said exterior seal being secured to said frame and seal assembly adjacent to the glass opening and being capable of engaging said glass pane and effecting a weather seal.

Claim 28

A door glass cassette adapted to matingly engage a vehicle door structure, comprising: an integral frame and seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter curvilinear-shape channel, said perimeter curvilinear channel comprising two side channels and a top channel therebetween, said perimeter curvilinear channel having an inside extension and an outside extension, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted on said perimeter channel inside extension and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeter channel outside extension, said interior seal and said exterior seal being secured to said frame and seal assembly adjacent to the glass opening and being capable of engaging said glass pane and effecting a weather seal.

Claim 29

A door glass cassette according to claim 24, wherein said seal assembly has a glass run channel seal, said glass run channel seal located between said exterior seal and said interior seal.

Claim 30

A door glass cassette according to claim 25, including a lateral channel guide providing an opening through which a glass pane can be raised and lowered, said lateral channel guide extending between said two side channels and secured thereto, said channel guide and said perimeter channel defining a glass opening.

Claim 31

A door glass cassette according to claim 26, including means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicle door structure.

Claim 32

A door glass cassette according to claim 27, wherein said means for raising and lowering said glass pane is a glass regulator assembly; and wherein said means for connecting said glass regulator assembly to said frame and seal assembly is a mounting plate.

Claim 33

A door glass cassette adapted to matingly engage a vehicle door structure comprising: an integral frame and seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter curvilinear-shape channel, said perimeter channel comprising two side channels and a top channel therebetween, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted on said perimeter channel and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeter channel, said internal seal and said exterior seal being capable of engaging a glass pane and effecting a weather seal, a continuous generally annular-shaped one-piece gasket, said gasket existing on the base of said perimeter channel and partially encapsulating said exterior seal and said interior seal and forming said integral frame and seal assembly.

Claim 34

A door glass cassette adapted to matingly engage a vehicle door structure comprising: an integral frame and seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter curvilinear-shape channel, said perimeter channel comprising two side channels and a top channel therebetween, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted on said perimeter channel and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeter channel, said internal seal and said exterior seal being capable of engaging a glass pane and effecting a weather seal, a continuous generally annular-shaped one-piece gasket, said gasket existing on the base of said perimeter channel and partially encapsulating said exterior seal and said interior seal and forming said integral frame and seal assembly.

Claim 35

A door glass cassette according to claim 29, wherein said glass run channel is integral with said exterior seal.

Claim 36

A door glass cassette according to claim 30, wherein said interior seal comprises a rigid base member secured to said perimeter channel and a flexible hollow portion capable of matingly engaging the glass pane.

Claim 37

A door glass cassette according to claim 31, wherein the interior portion of said exterior seal is made of polypropylene.

Claim 38

A door glass cassette according to claim 32, wherein said gasket material is made from a thermoplastic polyurethane.

Claim 39

A door glass cassette according to claim 33, including means for raising and lowering glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicle door structure.

Claim 40

A door glass cassette according to claim 31, wherein said interior seal is made from a dual durometer EPDM.

Claim 41

A door glass cassette according to claim 35, including means for raising and lowering glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicle door structure.

Claim 42

A door glass cassette according to claim 31, wherein said perimeter curvilinear channel is a U-shape channel, wherein said interior seal engages one leg of said U-shape channel, and wherein said exterior seal engages the remaining leg of said U-shape channel.

Claim 43

A door glass cassette according to claim 37, including means for raising and lowering glass pane; and further including means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicle door structure.

Claim 44

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted in a vehicular door structure comprising: a door glass; a frame and seal assembly for said door glass, comprising: two laterally-spaced curvilinear-shape side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for said door glass, a curvilinear-shape top channel extending between the tops of said side channels, transversely-spaced lateral guide means between and secured to said side channels, each of said curvilinear side channels and said curvilinear top channel having an inside extension and an outside extension, said interior seal secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal secured to said outside extension, said seals being adapted to operatively engage said door glass, said side channels, top channel and lateral guide means collectively defining a door glass opening; means for raising and lowering said door glass; and means for raising and lowering said door glass; and means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 45

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted in a vehicular door structure comprising: a door glass; a frame and seal assembly for said door glass, comprising: two laterally-spaced curvilinear-shape side channels adapted to provide vertical runs for said door glass, a curvilinear-shape top channel extending between the tops of said side channels, transversely-spaced lateral guide means between and secured to said side channels, each of said curvilinear side channels and said curvilinear top channel having an inside extension and an outside extension, said interior seal secured to said inside extension and said exterior seal secured to said outside extension, said seals being adapted to operatively engage said door glass, said side channels, top channel and lateral guide means collectively defining a door glass opening; means for raising and lowering said door glass; and means for raising and lowering said door glass; and means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicular door structure.

Claim 46

A door glass cassette according to claim 39, wherein said rigid member has a durometer hardness of from about 80 to about 90 and wherein said flexible member has a durometer hardness of from about 50 to about 70.

Claim 47

A door glass cassette according to claim 39, wherein said means for raising and lowering said door glass is a glass regulator assembly.

Claim 48

A door glass cassette according to claim 41, wherein said means for connecting said glass regulator assembly to said frame and seal assembly is a mounting plate.

Claim 49

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicle door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly including an interior seal and an exterior seal secured to said frame and seal assembly adjacent to a glass opening formed in said door glass cassette, and adapted to engage said glass pane and effect a weather-tight seal; means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicle door structure.

Claim 50

A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicle door structure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette comprising: a frame and seal assembly including an interior seal and an exterior seal secured to said frame and seal assembly adjacent to a glass opening formed in said door glass cassette, and adapted to engage said glass pane and effect a weather-tight seal; means for raising and lowering said glass pane; and means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said frame and seal assembly to form the door glass cassette as an integral member for fitting in the vehicle door structure.

Claim 51

A door glass cassette according to claim 43, wherein said means for raising and lowering said glass pane is a glass regulator assembly.

Claim 52

A door glass cassette according to claim 44, wherein said means for connecting said glass regulator assembly to said frame and seal assembly is a mounting plate.

Claim 53

A door glass cassette adapted to matingly engage a vehicle door structure, comprising: an integral frame and seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter channel, said perimeter channel comprising two side curvilinear channels and a top curvilinear channel therebetween, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted on said perimeter channel and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeter channel, said internal seal and said exterior seal being capable of engaging a glass pane and effecting a weather seal, a seamless gasket, said seamless gasket existing on the base of said perimeter channel and partially encapsulated said exterior seal and said interior seal and forming said integral frame and seal assembly.

Claim 54

A door glass cassette adapted to matingly engage a vehicle door structure, comprising: an integral frame and seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter channel, said perimeter channel comprising two side curvilinear channels and a top curvilinear channel therebetween, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted on said perimeter channel and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeter channel, said internal seal and said exterior seal being capable of engaging a glass pane and effecting a weather seal, a seamless gasket, said seamless gasket existing on the base of said perimeter channel and partially encapsulated said exterior seal and said interior seal and forming said integral frame and seal assembly.

Claim 55

A door glass cassette according to claim 46, wherein said seamless gasket contains a flange generally aligned with said exterior seal.

Claim 56

A door glass cassette according to claim 47, wherein said seamless gasket extends 360° and provides a continuous seal.