Motor vehicle door with two windows and independent window drive system

Abstract

A motor vehicle door includes a door body and first and second windows carried on that door body. A window drive system independently displaces the first and second windows between closed and opened positions. A related method is also provided.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A motor vehicle door, comprising:
 a door body;   a first window carried on said door body;   a second window carried on a pivot pin on said door body; and   a window drive system independently displacing said first window and said second window between a closed position and an opened position wherein said window drive system includes a first drive motor connected to said first window and a second drive motor connected to said second window.   
     
     
         2 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 1 , wherein said first window and said second window are frameless. 
     
     
         3 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 1 , wherein said first window and said second window are fully concealed within said door body when in said opened position. 
     
     
         4 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 1 , wherein said window drive system includes a first drive motor and a first actuator connected to said first window and a second drive motor and a second actuator connected to said second window. 
     
     
         5 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 4 , wherein said first window is a side window and said second window is a quarter window located adjacent to and vehicle rearward of said side window. 
     
     
         6 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 1 , wherein said second drive motor is directly connected to said pivot pin. 
     
     
         7 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 1 , including a linkage between said second drive motor and said pivot pin. 
     
     
         8 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 7 , wherein said linkage includes a gear drive. 
     
     
         9 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 7 , wherein said linkage includes a slider crank connected between said second drive motor and a slot carried on said second window. 
     
     
         10 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 7 , wherein said linkage includes a flexible drive element selected from a group consisting of a cable, a belt and a chain. 
     
     
         11 . The motor vehicle door of  claim 1 , wherein said window drive system further includes a first guide track and follower subsystem for said first window, said first guide track and follower subsystem guiding said first window while said first window is being displaced by said first drive motor between said closed position and said opened position. 
     
     
         12 . A method of improving rear seat ventilation in a motor vehicle, comprising:
 equipping a rear door of said motor vehicle with a side window and a quarter window; and   providing a window drive system for independently opening and closing said side window with a first drive motor and said quarter window with a second drive motor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , including opening said side window while maintaining said quarter window closed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , including opening said quarter window while maintaining said side window closed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , including fully concealing said quarter window within a body of said rear door when in a fully opened position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , including fully concealing said side window within said body of said rear door when in a fully opened position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , including directly connecting said second drive motor to a pivot pin for said quarter window. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , including connecting said second drive motor to a pivot pin for said quarter window by a linkage. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , including connecting said second drive motor to a pivot pin for said quarter window by a linkage including a gear drive.