Slider window assembly

• US 9,642,187 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Darin J., Hulst, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US14/997,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 49380, 49413
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/002 with means for clear vision, e.g. anti-frost or defog panes, rain shields window heating in H05B3/84, H05B3/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/007 received in frames to be attached to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1853 horizontally in direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/00 Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle locks specially adapted for bicycles E05B71/00; locking arrangements for non-fixed vehicle roofs B60J7/185; latching means for sideboards or tailgates of open load compartments B62D33/037
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/08 with latching action
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/042 with pins engaging slots
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0608 caused by track lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/4618 the sliding wing being arranged beside a fixed wing E06B3/4627 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields

Abstract

A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a fixed window panel, a frame portion and a movable window panel that is movable along the frame between a closed position and an opened position relative to an opening of the fixed window panel. A first heater grid is disposed at the first panel portion, a second heater grid is disposed at the second panel portion, and a third heater grid is disposed at the movable window panel. A first busbar is disposed at the fixed window panel and extends at least partially across an upper or lower panel portion of the fixed window panel. The rear slider window assembly includes an electrical connector for electrically conductively connecting the third heater grid to one of (i) the first heater grid, (ii) the second heater grid and (iii) the first busbar.

Claims

1. A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle, said rear slider window assembly comprising:

a fixed window panel, wherein said fixed window panel has an opening through a generally central region of said single fixed window panel, and wherein said fixed window panel comprises (i) a first panel portion at one side of said opening, (ii) a second panel portion at an opposite side of said opening, (iii) an upper panel portion above said opening and (iv) a lower panel portion below said opening;

a frame portion comprising an upper rail and a lower rail fixedly attached at said fixed window panel;

a movable window panel that is movable along said upper and lower rails, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position and an opened position relative to said opening of said fixed window panel, and wherein said movable window panel is disposed at said opening when in said closed position;

a first heater grid disposed at a surface of said fixed window panel at said first panel portion;

a second heater grid disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel at said second panel portion;

a third heater grid disposed at a surface of said movable window panel;

a first busbar disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel and extending at least partially across one of said upper panel portion and said lower panel portion of said fixed window panel;

wherein said first busbar comprises an electrically conductive trace disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel; and

wherein said rear slider window assembly comprises an electrical connector for electrically conductively connecting said third heater grid to one of (i) said first heater grid, (ii) said second heater grid and (iii) said first busbar.

2. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, comprising a second busbar disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel and extending at least partially across one of said upper panel portion and said lower panel portion of said fixed window panel.

3. The rear slider window assembly of claim 2, wherein said first busbar is configured to electrically connect to a positive electrical connector of the vehicle when said rear slider window assembly is mounted at the vehicle, and wherein said second busbar is configured to electrically connect to a negative electrical connector of the vehicle when said rear slider window assembly is mounted at the vehicle.

4. The rear slider window assembly of claim 2, wherein said first busbar comprises an end region that extends at least partially along an outboard side region of said first panel portion, and wherein said first heater grid comprises generally horizontal electrically conductive traces electrically connected at said end region of said first busbar and at a generally vertical busbar disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel at an inboard side region of said first panel portion at or near said opening.

5. The rear slider window assembly of claim 2, wherein said first and second busbars are disposed along said surface of said fixed window panel at said upper panel portion.

6. The rear slider window assembly of claim 2, wherein said first busbar is disposed along said surface of said fixed window panel at said upper panel portion and said second busbar is disposed along said surface of said fixed window panel at said lower panel portion.

7. The rear slider window assembly of claim 6, wherein said first and second heater grids comprise generally vertical conductive traces electrically conductively connected to said first and second busbars.

8. The rear slider window assembly of claim 2, wherein said fixed window panel comprises two electrical terminals in electrically conductive connection with said first and second heater grids, and wherein, when said rear slider window assembly is mounted at the vehicle, said first and second heater grids electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle via said two electrical terminals at said fixed window panel, and wherein said two electrical terminals comprise a first electrical terminal at an electrically conductive trace portion of said first busbar and a second electrical terminal at an electrically conductive trace portion of said second busbar.

9. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said first busbar comprises an end region that is disposed generally vertically at least partially along a side region of said first panel portion, and wherein said first heater grid comprises generally horizontal electrically conductive traces electrically connected at said end region of said first busbar and at another generally vertical busbar disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel at an opposite side region of said first panel portion.

10. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said fixed window panel comprises no more than two electrical terminals for electrically connecting said first, second and third heater grids to a power source of the vehicle when said rear slider window assembly is mounted at the vehicle.

11. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said rear slider window assembly is mounted at the vehicle, said third heater grid is in electrical connection with a power source of the vehicle and remains in electrical connection with the power source of the vehicle irrespective of whether said movable window panel is in said opened position or said closed position.

12. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said third heater grid is in electrical connection with one of (i) said first heater grid, (ii) said second heater grid and (iii) said first busbar via a flexible cable.

13. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said first heater grid comprises a plurality of electrically conductive traces disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel at said first panel portion, and wherein said second heater grid comprises a plurality of electrically conductive traces disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel at said second panel portion, and wherein said third heater grid comprises a plurality of electrically conductive traces disposed at said surface of said movable window panel.