WO2001008913A1

WO2001008913A1 - Additional element for motorcar windows

Info

Publication number: WO2001008913A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/001058
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Mazzoni; Barbara Belvedere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 2000-07-31
Publication date: 2001-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2002-01-30
Also published as: IT1310284B1; AU5841100A; ITBO990435A0; ITBO990435A1

Abstract

An element (40) includes a transparent band (44) fastened to a frame (4) of a car window (3) inside the glass (6) and extending along a portion of the window in the region of a windscreen side upright (20) and a roof panel (21) of the car (1). The band (44) carries a seal (48) aimed at sealing a gap resulting between the lower edge (44b) of the band and the glass (6). The band (44) has slits (49), made in the region of the windscreen side upright, which set the inside of the driver and passenger compartment (A) in communication with the outside (E), when the glass (6) is lowered to a position (P), so as to allow to evacuate directly foul air present in the driver and passenger compartment in the area of the windscreen side upright (20).

Description

ADDITIONAL ELEMENT FOR MOTORCAR WINDOWS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to additional elements for motorcars, in particular for automobiles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Nowadays, it is less frequent to ventilate the driver and passenger compartment by opening the lateral front windows of modern automobiles, because of more and more used air condition systems; in practice, the front windows are opened only in transitory situations, very often when the automobile is motionless (at toll-booths, during asking for information, etc.) . The window opening, even partial, while the automobile is moving, makes the air-condition system work worse, and breaks the acoustic comfort.

After the openable front baffles had disappeared from the market, the fixed outer baffles, made of transparent synthetic material and applied to the windows frames, have been popular for some time.

The dimensions of the outer baffles were getting smaller and smaller together with the increasing efficiency of the automobile bodywork aerodynamic profile. The unexpected presence of these additional structures, which were not considered in the design process, could provoke serious problems .

The whole of these circumstances, i.e. the air-condition systems, refined aerodynamics and consumers increased aesthetic taste, which does not like artificial elements disfiguring the automobile line, has provoked a rapid, almost complete disappearance of the above mentioned outer fixed baffles.

However, there are some situations in which it is needed to change the air in the driver and passenger compartment more rapidly and directly than by the automobile rear air vents .

The typical situation occurs in case one or both, driver and passenger on front seat, is/are smoker/s. When the windows are closed, before going out through the rear air vents, the smoke passes through the whole compartment, carried by the air going out of the air- condition outlet, annoying the passengers on rear seats and remaining in the compartment for a period of time long enough to make the air quality worse.

The last mentioned disadvantage is worsened if the air- condition system is in re-circulation mode, i.e. when a given quantity of air present in the automobile compartment circulates as a closed circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose an additional element for motorcar fore door windows, which allows to obtain direct evacuation of such quantity of the air present in the area of the driver and passenger compartment situated near the windscreen-side uprights, that does not interfere with the correct operation of the air-condition system.

Another object of the present invention is to propose an element, which does not constitute an outer complicated structure and which allows to maintain the motorcar original aerodynamic and aesthetic efficiency.

A further object of the present invention is to maintain extremely reduced the undesired effects on the acoustic comfort inside the driver and passenger compartment during the above mentioned evacuation of the air.

The above mentioned objects are attained, in accordance with the claims, by means of an additional element for a window of motorcars, the window having a glass, that can be lowered to open, and being outlined by a frame with an inner profile, said additional element being characterized in that it includes: a band, having an upper edge with a shape complementary to a portion of said inner profile of the frame of said window, situated in the region of a windscreen side upright and a roof panel of said motorcar; hooking means for fastening said band to said frame in a position adjacent to a glass of said window, from a side facing the inside of the driver and passenger compartment; a seal, joined to a lower edge of said band, so as to act as abutment and seal for said glass along a predetermined part of the glass lowering displacement included between a closing position and a partial opening position; at least one slit made in said band and aimed at setting in communication the inside of said driver and passenger compartment with the outside, due to lowering of said glass to said partial opening position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The characteristic features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not only embodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are lateral views of the fore door of a motorcar, to which the proposed element has been applied, in rest and use situations, respectively;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail K of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view taken along the plane IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section view taken along the plane V-V of Figure 2 ; - Figure 6 is an enlarged section view taken along the plane VI-VI of Figure 3.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the above described figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a motorcar, not shown in the whole, and the numeral 2 indicates one of the fore doors.

The figures show the left fore door, but it is understood that the proposed element, applied to this door, can be also applied to the right one, in its right version, symmetrically identical with the one described in the following.

The door 2 includes a window 3 , outlined by a frame 4 integral with the door 2. The inside of the frame 4 is equipped with a seat 5, which receives the edge of the glass 6 of the window 3 , when in a closed position.

The seat 5 is defined, in known way, by a section bar 50 made of a material assuring necessary tightness.

The proposed element is indicated with 40 and includes a transparent band 44, made e.g. of synthetic material of polycarbonate type .

The shape of the upper edge 44a of the band 44 is complementary with the inner profile of the frame 4 in its portion, which is situated in the region of the windscreen side upright 20 and the roof panel 21 of the motorcar 1.

The band 44 is fastened to the frame 4 from the side facing the inside of the driver and passenger compartment A, by hooking means 45.

In the shown example, the hooking means 45 include a series of tangs 46, integral with the section bar 50 of the window seat 5 and removably fastened to the band 44 by known means, e.g. screws.

When the assembling is completed, the upper edge 44a of the band 44 must adhere to the inner profile of the corresponding portion of the frame 4.

A lip seal 47 put on the upper edge 44a improves its adherence to the frame 4.

The inner side of the band 44 adheres to the glass 6 of the window, practically parallel thereto.

The lower edge 44b has a seal 48, against which the glass 6 abuts and which seals the gap between the lower edge 44b and the glass 6. In the shown example, the seal 48 is of multi-lip type, but obviously, it is possible to use other solutions, normally accessible on the market.

The seal 48 is engaged with the glass 6 along a predetermined part of the latter, included between the closing position C (Figures 1 and 4) and a partial opening position P (Figures 2 and 5) . Naturally, the width of this part depends on the band 44 height.

At least one long and narrow slit 49, substantially parallel to the upper edge 44a and the lower edge 44b of the band 44, is made in the part of the band 44 situated in the region of the windscreen side upright 20, so as to set in communication the inside of the driver and passenger compartment A with the outside E, due to the lowering of the glass 6 to the partial opening position P.

The number, dimensions and positioning of the slits 49 are fixed each time in relation to the specific aerodynamic behavior of the motorcar 1, in particular in the area of the windscreen sides uprights 20, so as to obtain the best result .

According to the illustrated embodiment, which is not limitative, there are two slits 49, made in the region of a cap 440, obtained by pressing in the band 44 and turned toward the inside of the driver and passenger compartment A.

In practice, when the glass is lowered to the above mentioned position P, the slits 49 are the only apertures by which the driver and passenger compartment A communicates with the outside E, due to the seal 48 and, possibly, also the seal 47. This allows to evacuate directly the air from the area of the driver and passenger compartment near the windscreen side upright 20.

The air evacuation is facilitated by the motorcar movement, due to the aerodynamic effect, but the quantity of the evacuated air is deliberately reduced, so as not to undermine the efficiency of a possible air-condition system.

Likewise, the acoustic discomfort, which is inevitable during the direct communication between the driver and passenger compartment and the outside E, is extremely limited.

Therefore, the so shaped element 40 is particularly indicated for assuring the rapid evacuation of foul air, e.g. when the driver and/or the passenger are smokers.

The slits 49 are advantageously placed in the region of the windscreen side upright, i.e. approximately in an area, in which a cigarette kept between fingers is situated. The band 44 can be in colored version, so as to act also as sunshade, yet keeping its transparency.

The production costs can be reduced by breaking pre- notches, which allow to adapt a single band 44 to a certain range of profiles, by removing predetermined portions of the exceeding material.

According to a possible option, the described element 40 can be equipped with a device, which automatically adjusts the partial opening P of the glass 6, acting on the power window by known means, such as timers, stops, sensors or the like. The user can operate the partial opening P by suitable modifications of the original button or by a separate button.

One of the advantages of the proposed element 40 derives from the fact that it maintains the motorcar original characteristics, specially aerodynamic efficiency when the glasses are closed, or even improving it when the glass is lowered to the position P, because the band 44 restores the glass 6 continuity, except for a small area of the slit 49.

Likewise, the motorcar aesthetic aspect is not worsened, because the band 44 is fastened inside the automobile and not seen from outside.

It is understood that what above i has been described as a pure, not limitative example, therefore, possible variants of the invention remain within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as described above and claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. An additional element for a window of motorcars, the window having a glass, that can be lowered to open, and being outlined by a frame (4) with an inner profile, said additional element being characterized in that it includes : a band (44) , having an upper edge (44a) with a shape complementary to a portion of said inner profile of the frame (4) of said window (3), situated in the region of a windscreen side upright (20) and a roof panel (21) of said motorcar (1) ; hooking means (45) for fastening said band (44) to said frame (4) in a position adjacent to the glass (6) of said window (3) , from a side facing the inside of the driver and passenger compartment (A) ; a seal (48) , joined to a lower edge (44a) of said band (44) , so as to act as abutment and seal for said glass (6) along a predetermined part of the lowering displacement included between a closing position (C) and a partial opening position (P) ; at least one slit (49) made in said band (44) and aimed at setting in communication the inside of said driver and passenger compartment (A) with the outside (E) , due to lowering of said glass (6) to said partial opening position (P) .

2. An element, according to claim 1, wherein said band (44) is made of a transparent material.

3. An element, according to claim 1, including a lip seal (47) put on said upper edge (44a) of the band (44) and adhering to the portion of said inner profile of the frame (4) corresponding to the area of mutual contact with the band (44) .

4. An element, according to claim 1, wherein said hooking means (45) include a series of tangs (46) , integral with said frame (4) and aimed at supporting said band (44) by removable fastening means .

5. An element, according to claim 1, wherein said slit (49) is made in a part of said band (44) situated in the region of said windscreen side upright (20) .

6. An element, according to claim 1, wherein said slit (49) is made in the region of a cap (440) , formed by said band (44) and turned toward the inside of the driver and passenger compartment (A) .