Vent window system for vehicle body structure

Claim 2

A vehicle body structure having a window opening, a window panel vertically divided into a ventilation section and a visibility section, and a window regulator mechanism for vertically raising and lowering the window panel sections into and out of the window opening, the window regulator mechanism comprising a first drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section and a second drive arm means coupled to the visibility section, operating means coupled to the first and second drive arm means operable to move the latter sequentially to first lower the ventilation section a predetermined distance independently of the visibility section and then upon continued operation to lower the ventilation and visibility sections together to a fully lowered position of the latter, and latch means holding the second drive arm means coupled to the visibility section against movement until released by the first drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section upon the latter being lowered the predetermined distance, the sequence of movement of the ventilation and visibility sections being reversed upon the window panel being raised from a lowered position with the latch means becoming operative to hold the visibility panel against movement beyond its fully raised position as the ventilation section continues its upward movement.

Claim 3

A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which: the ventilation section is guided for vertical movement relative to the visibility section on a guide channel secured to the front edge of the latter section.

Claim 4

A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which: the drive arm means are swingable about a common pivot axis in counter directions.

Claim 5

A vehicle body structure according to claim 3, in which: the operating means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupled thereto, the drive link being pivotally connected to the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section and having a lost motion connection with the drive arm means coupled to the visibility section.

Claim 6

A vehicle body structure according to claim 4, in which: the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drive arm pivotally supported intermedIate its ends on a vehicle body structural member, a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end of the drive arm, and a control link pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle body structural member and at its other end to one end of the support arm, the other end of the support arm being coupled to the ventilation section, the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end of the support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance in which the ventilation section moves independently of the visibility section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the visibility section to overtake and move past the ventilation section to a fully lowered position.

Claim 7

A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which: the operating means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupled thereto, the drive link being pivotally connected to the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section and having a lost motion connection with the drive arm means coupled to the visibility section.

Claim 8

A vehicle body structure according to claim 6, in which: the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drive arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a vehicle body structural member, a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end of the drive arm, and a control link pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle body structural member and at its other end to one end of the support arm, the other end of the support arm being coupled to the ventilation section, the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end of the support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance in which the ventilation section moves independently of the visibility section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the visibility section to overtake and move past the ventilation section to a fully lowered position.

Claim 9

A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which: the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drive arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a vehicle body structural member, a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end of the drive arm, and a control link pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle body structural member and at its other end to one end of the support arm, the other end of the support arm being coupled to the ventilation section, the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end of the support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance in which the ventilation section moves independently of the visibility section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the visibility section to overtake and move past the ventilation section to a fully lowered position.

Claim 10

A vehicle body structure having a window opening, a window panel vertically divided into two sections, the window panel section toward the front end of the vehicle body structure being substantially smaller than the section rearwardly thereof, and a window regulator mechanism for raising and lowering the window panel sections into and out of the window opening, wherein the improvement comprises: the window regulator mechanism having a pair of pivoted drive arms one of which pivotally carries a support arm coupled to the smaller panel section and the other of which is coupled directly to the larger panel section, drive means coupled to the drive arms to swing the latter in window panel section raising and lowering direction, the drive means being directly coupled to the one drive arm and being coupled to the other drive arm through a lost motion connection means whereby upon operation of the drive means to lower the window panel from a raised position the smaller panel section will be lowered a predetermined distance without corresponding movement of the larger panel section until the lost motion is taken up at which time the larger panel section also will be lowered, the window regulator mechanism including a latch means effective to hold the other of the drive arms and therefore the larger panel section against movement while the smaller panel section moves within the range of the lost motion movement, the latch means being released by a part of the lost motion connection means as the latter initiates downward movement of the larger panel section, the sequence of movement of the larger and smaller panel sections being reversed upon the window panel being raised from a lowered position with the latch means becoming operative to hold the other of the drive arms as soon as the larger panel section reaches fully raised position as the one arm continues its movement to raise the smaller panel section to fully raised position.

Claim 11

A vehicle body structure having a window opening, a window panel vertically divided into two sections, the window panel section toward the front end of the vehicle body structure being substantially smaller than the section rearwardly thereof, and a window regulator mechanism for raising and lowering the window panel sections into and out of the window opening, wherein the improvement comprises: the window regulator mechanism having a pair of pivoted drive arms one of which pivotally carries a support arm coupled to the smaller panel section and the other of which is coupled directly to the larger panel section, drive means coupled to the drive arms to swing the latter in window panel section raising and lowering direction, the drive means being directly coupled to the one drive arm and being coupled to the other drive arm through a lost motion connection means whereby upon operation of the drive means to lower the window panel from a raised position the smaller panel section will be lowered a predetermined distance without corresponding movement of the larger panel section until the lost motion is taken up at which time the larger panel section also will be lowered, the window regulator mechanism including a latch means effective to hold the other of the drive arms and therefore the larger panel section against movement while the smaller panel section moves within the range of the lost motion movement, the latch means being released by a part of the lost motion connection means as the latter initiates downward movement of the larger panel section, the sequence of movement of the larger and smaller panel sections being reversed upon the window panel being raised from a lowered position with the latch means becoming operative to hold the other of the drive arms as soon as the larger panel section reaches fully raised position as the one arm continues its movement to raise the smaller panel section to fully raised position.

Claim 12

A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which: the pair of pivoted drive arms are swingable about a common pivot axis in counter directions.

Claim 13

A vehicle body structure according to claim 10, in which: the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupled thereto, the drive link being a component of the drive means that is directly coupled to the one drive arm carrying the smaller panel section and that has the lost motion connection with the other drive arm coupled to the larger panel section.

Claim 14

A vehicle body structure according to claim 11, in which: the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingable about a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end to the smaller panel section, and a control link is pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle body structure and at its other end to the other end of the support arm, the geometrical relationship of the one drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end of the support arm to the smaller panel section moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance the smaller panel section moves without corresponding movement of the larger panel section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the larger panel section to overtake and move past the smaller panel section to a fully lowered position.

Claim 15

A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which: the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupled thereto, the drive link being a component of the drive means that is directly coupled to the one drive arm carrying the smaller panel section and that has the lost motion connection with the other drive arm coupled to the larger panel section.

Claim 16

A vehicle body structure according to claim 13, in which: the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingable about a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end to the smaller panel section, and a control link is pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle body structure and at its other end to the other end of the support arm, the geometrical relationship of the one drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point of connectiOn of the end of the support arm to the smaller panel section moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance the smaller panel section moves without corresponding movement of the larger panel section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the larger panel section to overtake and move past the smaller panel section to a fully lowered position.

Claim 17

A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which: the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingable about a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end to the smaller panel section, and a control link is pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle body structure and at its other end to the other end of the support arm, the geometrical relationship of the one drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end of the support arm to the smaller panel section moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance the smaller panel section moves without corresponding movement of the larger panel section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the larger panel section to overtake and move past the smaller panel section to a fully lowered position.

Claim 18

A window regulator mechanism for moving a plurisectional window panel into and out of a window opening in a vehicle body structure having a mechanism support panel subjacent the window opening, the window regulator mechanism comprising: a mounting plate secured to the support panel, a gear sector rotatably supported on the mounting plate, a first drive arm pivotally supported on a mounting plate for pivotal movement about a pivot axis paralleling the pivot axis of the gear sector, the pivot axis of the first drive arm being located intermediate the ends of the latter and each end projecting beyond the mounting plate, a drive link pivotally connected at one end to the gear sector and at its other end to one end of the first drive arm to translate rotational movement of the gear sector into swinging movement of the first drive arm, a first window panel section support arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the other end of the first drive arm, one end of the support arm being adapted to be operatively connected to the first window panel section and the other end being pivotally connected to one end of a control link the other end of which is pivotally connected to the support panel, the geometrical relationship of the gear sector, the first drive arm, the drive link connecting the gear sector to the first drive arm, the first window panel section support arm and the control link being such that rotation of the gear sector from a window panel up position results in downward substantially vertical movement of the window panel connected end to a predetermined point following which the end movement follows a downwardly curved path; a second drive arm superimposed over the first drive arm for pivotal movement about the pivot axis of the latter, the drive link having at one end a pin and slot connection with the end of the drive link connected to the first drive arm and at its other end being adapted to be operatively connected to a second window panel section, the pin and slot connection between the drive link and the second drive arm preventing translation of gear sector movement to the second drive arm until the substantially vertical downward movement of the end of the support arm connected to the first window panel section reaches the predetermined point at which the end movement begins to follow the curved path, the drive link then picking up the second drive arm and swinging the latter so that its end connected to the second window panel section drives the latter to a lowered position, latch means carried by said second drive arm to hold the latter against movement except through the drive link, the latching action of the latch means being controlled by the pin of the pin and slot connection between the drive link and second drive arm with the latch means being released by the pin as the drive link picks up the second drive arm, and operating means for driving the gear sector in window raising and lowering direction.

Claim 19

A window regulator mechanism for moving a plurisectional window panel into and out of a window opening in a vehicle body structure having a mechanism support panel subjacent the window opening, the window regulator mechanism comprising: a mounting plate secured to the support panel, a gear sector rotatably supported on the mounting plate, a first drive arm pivotally supported on a mounting plate for pivotal movement about a pivot axis paralleling the pivot axis of the gear sector, the pivot axis of the first drive arm being located intermediate the ends of the latter and each end projecting beyond the mounting plate, a drive link pivotally connected at one end to the gear sector and at its other end to one end of the first drive arm to translate rotational movement of the gear sector into swinging movement of the first drive arm, a first window panel section support arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the other end of the first drive arm, one end of the support arm being adapted to be operatively connected to the first window panel section and the other end being pivotally connected to one end of a control link the other end of which is pivotally connected to the support panel, the geometrical relationship of the gear sector, the first drive arm, the drive link connecting the gear sector to the first drive arm, the first window panel section support arm and the control link being such that rotation of the gear sector from a window panel up position results in downward substantially vertical movement of the window panel connected end to a predetermined point following which the end movement follows a downwardly curved path; a second drive arm superimposed over the first drive arm for pivotal movement about the pivot axis of the latter, the drive link having at one end a pin and slot connection with the end of the drive link connected to the first drive arm and at its other end being adapted to be operatively connected to a second window panel section, the pin and slot connection between the drive link and the second drive arm preventing translation of gear sector movement to the second drive arm until the substantially vertical downward movement of the end of the support arm connected to the first window panel section reaches the predetermined point at which the end movement begins to follow the curved path, the drive link then picking up the second drive arm and swinging the latter so that its end connected to the second window panel section drives the latter to a lowered position, latch means carried by said second drive arm to hold the latter against movement except through the drive link, the latching action of the latch means being controlled by the pin of the pin and slot connection between the drive link and second drive arm with the latch means being released by the pin as the drive link picks up the second drive arm, and operating means for driving the gear sector in window raising and lowering direction.