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Window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle

DC
  • US 7,360,338 B2
  • Filed: 05/18/2006
  • Issued: 04/22/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A window assembly for an articulatable vehicular side window, said window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle and comprising:

  • a glass panel having inner and outer surfaces and a peripheral edge region, said glass panel having a shape configured to fit within a side window opening of a vehicle body, said glass panel including top and bottom perimeter regions and first and second perimeter end regions, said outer surface of said glass panel having a surface area of at least 250 square inches;

    wherein said glass panel comprises a curved tempered glass panel, said outer surface being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved, wherein said window assembly, when mounted to the vehicle body, has said outer surface of said glass panel generally flush with adjoining panels;

    wherein said first perimeter end region is toward a leading edge region of said glass panel with respect to a forward direction of travel of the vehicle when said window assembly is mounted in the side window opening of a vehicle, said glass panel being articulatable about a generally vertical axis proximate said leading edge region of said glass panel when said window assembly is mounted in the side window opening;

    a pair of metallic first mounting members adhesively bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said first mounting members on said outer surface of said glass panel, said first mounting members being disposed at and spaced along said first perimeter end region of said glass panel, each of said first mounting members comprising an element for a hinge, said first mounting members comprising E-coated steel;

    wherein each of said first mounting members comprises a generally U-shaped portion having an arcuate U-shaped bend, each of said first mounting members having a mounting flange and a tab portion, an arcuate leg portion interconnecting said mounting flange and said tab portion;

    wherein said tab portion is spaced from and overlying generally parallel to said mounting flange, said tab portion overlying said mounting flange at least to generally about a centerline of said mounting flange, said mounting flanges being adhesively bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel, each of said first mounting members including a stud extending from said tab portion and away from said mounting flange;

    wherein each said first mounting members has a longitudinal axis running generally along a length dimension thereof and wherein said axes of said first mounting members are generally coaxially aligned along said first perimeter end region;

    each of said U-shaped portions being open toward said second perimeter end region of said glass panel;

    a second mounting member adhesively bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said second mounting member on said outer surface of said glass panel, said second mounting member being disposed at said second perimeter end region;

    wherein said second mounting member comprises a disk-shaped flange, said disk-shaped flange being adhesively bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel, said second mounting member comprising a stud extending from said disk-shaped flange and away from said inner surface of said glass panel;

    said stud of said second mounting member configured for fitting with at least part of a latching mechanism which is used to move said glass panel between window open and window closed positions when said window assembly is mounted in the side window opening; and

    wherein said leading edge region of said glass panel comprises a substantially linear shape at least for a portion of said leading edge region between said spaced apart first mounting members, and wherein said trailing edge region of said glass panel comprises a substantially curved shape at least at a portion of said trailing edge region proximate said second mounting member.

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