Owners of Jeep Wranglers currently have the ability to detach their vehicles’ roofs and doors, but Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, is exploring a new innovation: a patent for removable windows designed to enhance open-air driving with reduced manual effort.
The patent application for a “removable window system” was officially published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on August 1, following its initial submission by Stellantis in early 2023. The application highlights the challenges of manually removing hard tops like those on the Wrangler, proposing an alternative that allows for increased airflow without the need to take off the roof entirely.
Stellantis removable window patent image
Stellantis seems to be focusing particularly on the rear window and quarter-panel windows, which typically cannot be lowered. The company believes that allowing for their removal could significantly improve the open-air driving experience when paired with lowering the side windows or removing the doors.
To facilitate the removal process, Stellantis proposes a design utilizing multiple latches. By rotating a handle associated with each latch, users can disengage retention clips, thereby allowing the window to be taken out.
Stellantis removable window patent image
Although this concept appears to align well with the Wrangler (which is also depicted in the accompanying images), there are no clear indications of which vehicle model might feature this innovation if it moves into production. During the reveal of the Jeep Recon in 2022, images displayed open rear-quarter windows, suggesting that this feature may be intended for that specific model.
At the time of its unveiling, Jeep announced that the Recon would arrive in the United States in 2024. However, the company has remained relatively silent about any further developments regarding this model. Meanwhile, The Wagoneer S, introduced alongside the Recon in 2022, is set to launch the brand’s electric offerings in the U.S. as it becomes available in showrooms this fall.
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