Automotive window having a masking border and process for producing an automotive window panel masking border

• US 6,432,332 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exatec, LLC (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Exatec, LLC (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Kusuma, David, Matsco, Mark M., Hoult, Barry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuhns, Allan R.
• Application Number:
  US09/687,304
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 264/39, 264/219, 264/299
• US Class Current: 264/39
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/424 Moulding surfaces provided with means for marking or patterning for injection moulding B29C45/372
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/372 provided with means for marking or patterning, e.g. numbering articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3052 Windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/778 Windows profiled elements for making window frames B29L2031/005, windscreens B29L2031/3052
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7782 Glazing

Abstract

A molded plastic window panel for automotive glazing in which texturized surfaces are molded into the perimeter of the panel to define a translucent masking border. A pattern of discrete texturized areas is adjacent a solid texturized band to provide a fade out effect. The window panel is molded from polycarbonate to block UV light transmission through the translucent masking border to protect an adhesive bond or seal used to seal the window panel in an automotive body window opening.

Claims

1. A process producing an automotive glazing window panel comprising the steps of:

molding a generally planar automotive window panel from a transparent UV blocking plastic resin;

creating a translucent masking border by texturizing a portion of a mold surface defining said automotive window panel in a band extending entirely about the perimeter of said automotive window panel so as to form a texturized perimeter band on said automotive window panel to distort light transmitted therethrough sufficiently so as to prevent observation of structural details behind said textured band while allowing transmission of light therethrough.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein in said molding step, a polycarbonate resin is used to mold said automotive window panel.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein a fade out is created by texturizing said automotive window panel surface in a pattern of discrete areas adjacent said texturized band, said discrete areas having intervening untexturized surface areas therebetween.

4. The process according to claim 1 further including the step of texturizing mold surface areas to create a texturized surface on said automotive window panel defining a legend masking on said automotive window panel.

5. The process according to claim 4 wherein said legend masking is located within said masking border.