AUTOMOBILE HAVING RETRACTABLE REAR QUARTER WINDOWS
An automobile includes a body side panel including: a first pillar disposed rearward of a door of the automobile; a second pillar disposed rearward of the first pillar; an interior panel connecting the first pillar and the second pillar; a rear quarter panel attached to the exterior of the body side panel and forming a cavity between the rear quarter panel and the interior panel; and a retractable window disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar; wherein the retractable window is configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being defined by a roof of the automobile, the first pillar, and the second pillar, and the second position being inside the cavity.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . An automobile comprising:
a body side panel comprising:
a first pillar disposed rearward of a door of the automobile; a second pillar disposed rearward of the first pillar; and an interior panel connecting the first pillar and the second pillar; a rear quarter panel attached to an exterior of the body side panel and forming a cavity between the rear quarter panel and the interior panel, wherein the cavity is a wet area and the interior panel is configured to prevent water from passing from the wet area to a dry area within the interior panel; and
a retractable window disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar, the retractable window being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being bounded by a roof of the automobile, the first pillar, and the second pillar, and the second position being inside the cavity; one or more additional windows.
22 . The automobile of claim 21 , wherein the first pillar is a C-pillar, and the second pillar is a D-pillar.
23 . The automobile of claim 21 , wherein the first pillar is a b-pillar and the second pillar is a C-pillar.
24 . The automobile of claim 21 , further comprising:
a seal between the body side panel and the retractable window.
25 . The automobile of claim 21 , further comprising:
a passenger door window;
a tailgate window; and
a sunroof.
26 . The automobile of claim 25 , further comprising:
a control system that performs a global opening operation, the global opening operation comprising retracting each of the passenger door window, the tailgate window, the sunroof, and the retractable window disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar.
27 . The automobile of claim 26 , wherein the control system performs the global opening operation when a user engages a button.
28 . The automobile of claim 27 , wherein the button is disposed on a remote key fob.
29 . The automobile of claim 21 , further comprising a motor disposed in the cavity and powering movement of the retractable window between the first position and the second position.
30 . An automobile comprising:
a body side panel comprising:
a first pillar disposed rearward of a door of the automobile; a second pillar disposed rearward of the first pillar; and an interior panel connecting the first pillar and the second pillar; a rear quarter panel attached to an exterior of the body side panel and forming a cavity between the rear quarter panel and the interior panel, wherein the cavity comprises an outside surface exterior to a sealed area of the vehicle; and
a retractable window disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar, the retractable window being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being bounded by a roof of the automobile, the first pillar, and the second pillar, and the second position being inside the cavity; one or more additional windows.
31 . The automobile of claim 30 , wherein the first pillar is a C-pillar, and the second pillar is a D-pillar.
32 . The automobile of claim 30 , wherein the first pillar is a b-pillar and the second pillar is a C-pillar.
33 . The automobile of claim 30 , further comprising:
a seal between the body side panel and the retractable window.
34 . The automobile of claim 30 , further comprising:
a passenger door window;
a tailgate window; and
a sunroof.
35 . The automobile of claim 34 , further comprising:
a control system that performs a global opening operation, the global opening operation comprising retracting each of the passenger door window, the tailgate window, the sunroof, and the retractable window disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar.
36 . The automobile of claim 35 , wherein the control system performs the global opening operation when a user engages a button.
37 . The automobile of claim 36 , wherein the button is disposed on a remote key fob.
38 . The automobile of claim 30 , further comprising a motor disposed in the cavity and powering movement of the retractable window between the first position and the second position.
39 . An automobile comprising:
a body side panel comprising:
a first pillar disposed rearward of a door of the automobile; a second pillar disposed rearward of the first pillar; and an interior panel connecting the first pillar and the second pillar and providing structural support to the automobile; a rear quarter panel forming an exterior of the body side panel and forming a cavity between the rear quarter panel and the interior panel, wherein the cavity is a wet area and the interior panel is configured to prevent water from passing from the wet area to a dry area within the interior panel; and
a retractable window disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar, the retractable window being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being bounded by a roof of the automobile, the first pillar, and the second pillar, and the second position being inside the cavity; one or more additional windows.
40 . The automobile of claim 39 , further comprising:
a seal between the body side panel and the retractable window.