Method and a device for removing vehicle windows

Abstract

A method for the non-destructive removal of very small fixed window elements ( 40 ) from vehicles uses a cutting wire that is threaded through the adhesive bonding a window element to a vehicle, that is placed in a loop around the perimeter of the window element and that is pulled by wire wind-up elements ( 3 ) of a window element removal device. The device ( 1 ) is fitted to a window element frame ( 41 ), is expanded into firm clamping engagement with the window element frame ( 41 ) and is locked in the position firmly engaging the window element frame ( 41 ). The wire wind-up elements ( 3 ) are then operated until the wire cuts through the adhesive at the edge of the side window element around the entire perimeter thereof.

1 . A method of removing a fixed side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) from a vehicle, said side window element having a first side and a second side and having an edge area ( 40 A) being bonded to a receiving frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ) of the vehicle with an adhesive, by means of a device( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ) having wire wind-up means ( 3 ) for pulling a cutting wire ( 42 ) through said adhesive and attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 , 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) for fixing said device relative to the window element, characterized by; 
 fitting said device ( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ) to the window element frame( 41 );    expanding the device(l;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) to place the attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 , 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) in firm engagement with the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 );    locking the device in said position firmly engaging the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ); and    arranging a cutting wire ( 42 ) in a loop around the window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) and pulling the wire ( 42 ) by means of the wire wind-up means ( 3 ) until the wire cuts through the adhesive at the edge of the side window element around the entire perimeter thereof.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized by; 
 inserting first and second ends ( 42 A,  42 D) of the wire ( 42 ) from the first side of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) through the adhesive to the second side of the side window element to form a loop of the wire on said first side thereof, and applying the loop of the wire along the edge of the side window element between the side window element and the frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 );    attaching the first end ( 42 A) of the wire to a first wire wind-up mechanism ( 7 ) of the tool ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) secured to the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ) and pulling the first end of the wire ( 42 ) with the first wire wind-up mechanism ( 7 ) to tension the wire;    attaching the second end ( 42 D) of the wire to a second wire wind-up mechanism ( 8 ) of said tool; and    pulling the first and second ends of the wire until the wire cuts through the adhesive at the edge of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) around the entire perimeter thereof.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tool ( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ) is maintained in its initial position on the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ) during the entire process of cutting loose the window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) from the frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ).  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the first and second ends ( 42 A,  42 D) of the wire are pulled one at a time by the associated wind-up mechanisms ( 7 , 8 ) until associated wire sections ( 42 B-C,  42 E-F) reach a meeting point (MP) where the wire ( 42 ) has cut through the adhesive at the edge ( 40 A) of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) around the entire perimeter thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the first end ( 42 A) of the wire ( 42 ) is pulled by its associated wind-up mechanism ( 7 ) until a corresponding section ( 42 B,  42 C) of the wire has cut through the adhesive at the edge ( 40 A) of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) up to a meeting point(MP), before the second end ( 42 D) of the wire is pulled by its associated wind-up mechanism ( 8 ).  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the first and second ends ( 42 A,  42 D) of the wire arealternatingly pulled by the associated wind-up mechanisms ( 7 , 8 ) until associated wire sections ( 42 B-C,  42 E-F) reach a meeting point (MP) where the wire ( 42 ) has cut through the adhesive at the edge ( 40 A) of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) around the entire perimeter thereof.  
   
   
       7 . A device ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) for removing a side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) fixed to a window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ) of a vehicle, having wire wind-up means ( 3 ) and spaced first and second attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 , and  6 ;  106 ;  206  respectively) that are supported at respective ends ( 2 A and  2 B, respectively) of a common handle ( 2 ;  402 ), characterized in that said first and second attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 , and  6 ;  106 ;  206  respectively) each comprise at least one engagement member ( 12 ; and  13 , 14 ;  12 ;  214  respectively) for engaging the window element frame and by adjustment means ( 16 , 17 ;  416 , 417 ) for allowing adjustment of the mutual distance between the engagement members of the first and second attachment means and for locking the attachment means in a position engaging said window element frame to thereby mechanically clamp the device to the frame.  
   
   
       8 . A device ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the engagement member or members ( 12 ) of said first attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 ) is/are provided with a circumferential channel ( 15 ) for receiving a section of the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ).  
   
   
       9 . A device( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the engagement member or members ( 12 ) of at least said first attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 ) is/are provided with a rotating wire guide member ( 19 ) having an outer circumferential guide groove ( 20 ) for receiving a cutting wire ( 42 ).  
   
   
       10 . A device ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) according to  claim 9 , characterized by a recess ( 18 ) formed in a bottom surface of the engagement member ( 12 ), in that the wire guide member ( 19 ) is accommodated in said recess and is maintained therein by a biasing force and in that the wire guide member is axially displaceable out from the recess, against the biasing force, to expose said wire guide groove ( 20 ).  
   
   
       11 . A device ( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ;  401 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the engagement member or members ( 13 , 14 ;  12 ;  214 ) of said second attachment means ( 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) is/are each provided with a circumferential channel ( 35 ;  15 ) for receiving a section of the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ).  
   
   
       12 . A device ( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the frame receiving channel ( 35 ;  15 ) of the engagement member or members ( 13 , 14 ;  12 ;  214 ) of said second attachment means ( 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) has a width sufficient for receiving not only the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ) but also a cutting wire ( 42 ).  
   
   
       13 . A device( 1 ;  401 ) according to  claim 7 , specifically intended for side window elements ( 40 ) having a generally triangular shape, characterized in that the first attachment means ( 5 ;  405 ) comprises one single first engagement member ( 12 ) and in that the second attachment means ( 6 ) comprises two second engagement members ( 13 , 14 ).  
   
   
       14 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized by two wire wind-up mechanisms ( 7 , 8 ) supported by the handle ( 2 ) at a distance from each other.  
   
   
       15 . A device( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ;  301 ;  401 ) according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the engagement member or members ( 12 ) of at least said first attachment means ( 5 ;  305 ;  405 ) is/are provided with a rotating wire guide member ( 19 ) having an outer circumferential guide groove ( 20 ) for receiving a cutting wire ( 42 ).  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the tool ( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ) is maintained in its initial position on the window element frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ) during the entire process of cutting loose the window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) from the frame ( 41 ;  141 ;  341 ).  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the first and second ends ( 42 A,  42 D) of the wire are pulled one at a time by the associated wind-up mechanisms ( 7 , 8 ) until associated wire sections ( 42 B-C,  42 E-F) reach a meeting point (MP) where the wire ( 42 ) has cut through the adhesive at the edge ( 40 A) of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) around the entire perimeter thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the first end ( 42 A) of the wire ( 42 ) is pulled by its associated wind-up mechanism ( 7 ) until a corresponding section ( 42 B,  42 C) of the wire has cut through the adhesive at the edge ( 40 A) of the side window element ( 40 ;  140 ;  340 ) up to a meeting point(MP), before the second end ( 42 D) of the wire is pulled by its associated wind-up mechanism ( 8 ).