Quarter-Panel Window Assembly for Rear Interior Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rear quarter-panel windows in sports utility vehicles are typically smaller due to space constraints, limiting access to the vehicle's interior and requiring users to open the rear door for access, which can be inconvenient when carrying equipment like bikes or trailers.
Innovation Solution
A rear quarter-panel window assembly that includes a window pane, latch, and mount, allowing the window pane to be rotated from a closed position to at least 45 degrees, providing access to the interior without opening the rear door, and can be removed for unrestricted access and airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the rear quarter-panel window is kept small due to space constraints, then the vehicle structure is compact, but access to the vehicle interior is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The window assembly incorporates a mounting system that allows the window to rotate between a closed position and an open position at an angle of at least 45 degrees. This dynamic positioning capability transforms the static small window into a functional access point, resolving the contradiction by enabling interior access through controlled movement rather than increasing window size.
Solution Approach 2:
The window assembly is divided into separable components including the window pane, mounting system, and fastening mechanisms. This segmentation allows the window to be removed entirely from the vehicle, providing unrestricted access to the interior while maintaining a compact window opening when installed. The modular design resolves the access limitation without requiring a larger permanent opening.
2Ease of operation
If the rear door is opened for access to the interior, then full access is achieved, but equipment like bikes or trailers cannot be retained at the rear
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable window assembly provides an alternative access route through the quarter-panel that does not require opening the rear door. Users can rotate the window open to access the interior while keeping the rear door closed and equipment secured at the back. This dynamic access solution resolves the contradiction by creating a separate access pathway independent of the door system.
3Ease of operation
If the window pane is made removable, then unrestricted access and airflow are achieved, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall complexity. The same mounting structure that enables the window to rotate and be removed also serves as an attachment point for various equipment when the window is taken off. This universal mounting design resolves the contradiction by making the mounting structure an asset rather than just a complexity factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The window pane is designed to be completely extractable from the mounting system, providing unrestricted access and airflow when removed. The mounting structure includes features like quick-release fasteners and attachment points that simplify the removal process, reducing the operational complexity despite the enhanced functionality. This extraction capability resolves the contradiction by enabling full access while keeping the mounting system manageable through intelligent design.
Data Source
AI summary
Particular embodiments may provide a vehicle window assembly that includes a window pane, a latch, and a mount. The window pane is, in some embodiments, moveable to a closed position, a vented position, and an open position. The latch is, in some embodiments, coupled to a first edge of the window pane. In some embodiments, the mount is rotatably coupled to a second edge of the window pane. The mount and window pane are, in some embodiments, relatively rotatable by at least 45 degrees. In the open position, the mount and the window pane are relatively rotatable to a first angle of at least 45 degrees; in the vented position, the latch is configured to hold the window at a second angle less than 45 degrees; and in the closed position, the latch is configured to hold the window pane against a window seal.