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Method for making an articulatable vehicular window assembly

DC
  • US 7,588,652 B2
  • Filed: 01/07/2008
  • Issued: 09/15/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

  • providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in an unencapsulated peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including unencapsulated top and bottom edges and unencapsulated first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated at least on a mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said light absorbing coating comprising a dark colored frit, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;

    providing at least one mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about four square inches and an aspect ratio greater than one, said at least one mounting member comprising a hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle, wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;

    applying at least one layer of primer to at least said mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;

    allowing said applied layer of primer to at least partially dry;

    providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;

    positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween;

    maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;

    wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet;

    wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member and said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said offset distance being greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm; and

    wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portion of said mounting member bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet.

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