Automobile-window

Application filed June 2,

To dll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John P. Thommen, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara ₅ and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Windows, of which the following is a specification.

In providing an automobile top with slid₁₀ ing windows it is necessary that they be held in position without rattling and accurately and firmly seated in either an open or a closed position.

To effect the accurate and satisfactory ₁₅ seating of the window when closed it is customary to hang the same from overhead tracks by suitable hangers, the track being provided with suitably placed recesses to receive the hangers when the window is closed, 20 thereby permitting the window to drop into engagement with the sill and at the same time firmly holding the same against accidental displacement.

In one form of construction now in use 25 these recesses are made in different lengths as are also the hanger shoes so that in moving forward the larger forward shoe passes over the first and smaller recess but readily drops into the last or larger recess at the 30 same time that the second and smaller shoe drops into the first and smaller recess.

The construction above referred to has several very material faults when put into practical use. It is necessary that the hanger 35 shoes be of sufficient length to ride the track easily, that requirement fixing the length ' of the shorter shoe. Since the other or forward shoe must be longer it follows that its length is greater than required for easy 40 movement in the track. Now, the side of an automobile top in which these windows are used is curved from back to front as is also the track referred to; therefore in the construction described the shoes,, especially the 45 longer one, are inclined to bind. Also the forward shoe in passing over the first recess makes a noise and a slight jar which is highly objectionable. Furthermore, the expense of providing and fitting members of 50 unequal size is also objectionable. Furthermore, in known forms of construction additional means must be provided for preventing the rear shoe from jumping the track when forced suddenly out of its recess.

Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

1920. Serial No. 385,929.

It is the object of my invention to provide 55 a construction in which the hanger shoes may be easily, smoothly and positively moved into their respective recesses, and in which the necessity of providing shoes and sockets of different sizes is entirely elimi- 60 nated, thereby simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of the same. Also to provide a construction in which the means for preventing the entering of the forward shoe into the rear recess is combined with 65 means for preventing the rear shoe from jumping the track.

In the drawing:—

Figure 1 is an interior elevation of a portion of an automobile top showing a window 7 0 in position on a track embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2—2 of

Fig· 1-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the 7 5 part “B” in Fig. 1 with the forward window shoe passing thereover.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4—4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail illustration of another embodiment of a portion of my invention. ‘ 80

Fig. 6 is a detail side illustration of part “B” in Fig. 1 with the rear window shoe therein.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a portion of the side 85 of an automobile top, over the windows 2 and 3 of which is secured a track 4 that is U shaped in transverse cross-section as shown. The sliding window 3 is fitted at a point near each end thereof with shoes 5 and 90 6, each shoe being made sufficiently thin to slide easily in track 4 and preferably rhomboidal in elevation as shown. The shoes are joined at 5^a—6^a to plates 5^b—6” secured to window 3. ⁹⁵

At spaced points in track 4 are formed recesses 7 and 8 the same being spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of shoes 5 and 6 and of uniform size to receive said shoes whereby the whole window may be 100 dropped uniformly from its raised withdrawn position 9^a into engagement with sill 9 when moved forward.

On the upper edge of the forward shoe 6 is formed a hook 10 provided with a 105 rounded friction surface 11. At 13 is shown a short track substantially U shaped m transverse cross - section secured to auto1,363,376 mobile body 1 directly over recess 7 and pro- operatively mounted with relation to said vided with a slightly curved bottom as at door and track and adjacent one of said re14 and having, a shoulder 14^a in its under ' ’ ’ ’ surface, rearwardly directed.

When the construction is effected as above set forth and window 3 is moved forwardly the curved edge 11 of hook 10 engages the curved surface 14 of track 13 and carries shoe 6 over recess 7 where it continues to > move forward in track 4 until it reaches recess 8, the dimension X of said shoe beingsuch that it will readily pass under the said track. At this time both shoes 5 and 6 drop into their respective recesses 7 and 8 as shoe ¹ 5 does not carry a hook to engage the supplementary track 13, but is of such a width at X that it contacts with shoulder 14^a and a positive engagement with said recess is effected. In reversing the direction of movement of the window the shoe is again carried over recess 7 in a similar manner. Ordinarily there is a tendency for shoe 5 not to catch in recess 7 as promptly as required but by providing shoulder 14^a above the same and slightly in advance of the forward recess edge the engagement is rendered positive. Furthermore, when the door is opened there is a tendency for shoe 5 to fly upward upon its. discharge from recess 7 and thereby to leave the track 4. By positioning and constructing track section 13 as shown it not only performs the functions hereinbefore set forth but also acts as a stop to prevent the shoe 5 from leaving the track 4.

The bottom 14 of track 13 is curved gently and so positioned with relation to the shoe 6 that the said shoe barely deviates from a straight line when moving forward, the front and rear ends of track 13 being positioned well beyond the edges of recess 7.

It is of course clear that the hook 10 does not necessarily have to be formed as a part of shoe 6 but may be a separate part attached to window 3 as shown in Fig. 5 at 15.

In addition to the particular advantages above referred to I effect a material saving in the cost of construction since the shoes and recess are all made the same size and interchangeable, thereby obviating the necessity of selecting and fitting particular parts in particular places, and reducing the cost of producing the finished parts.

It is to be understood of course that while I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be confined to the exact construction shown. I desire to include all changes in construction, proportion and method of operation that may be made within the scope of the appended claims.