SLIDER WINDOW ASSEMBLY

• US 20150052814A1
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,242,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/70
• 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 slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail, at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to the frame portion, and a movable window panel that is movable along the upper and lower rails. The movable window panel is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The movable window panel may include a panel portion and a carrier element integrally formed with the panel portion, with the carrier portion slidably received in the lower rail and movable along the lower rail as the movable window panel is moved between its closed and opened positions. The window assembly may include conductive heater grids that are electrically powered without use of jumper wires that electrically connect between heater grids of the fixed window panel at opposite sides of the movable window panel.

Claims

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

a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;

at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion;

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; and

wherein said movable window panel includes a panel portion and a carrier element integrally formed with said panel portion, wherein said carrier portion is slidably received in said lower rail and is movable along said lower rail as said movable window panel is moved between its closed and opened positions.

2. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said movable window panel comprises a polycarbonate material.

3. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one fixed window panel is integrally formed with said frame portion.

4. The slider window assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises a polycarbonate material.

5. The slider window assembly of claim 3, wherein a panel portion of said at least one fixed window panel is substantially transparent and said frame portion comprises a darkened color that is not transparent.

6. The slider window assembly of claim 5, wherein said darkened color is molded in said frame portion.

7. The slider window assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one fixed window panel is integrally formed with a latching element for engaging and latching said movable window panel when said movable window panel is moved to its closed position.

8. The slider window assembly of claim 7, wherein a panel portion of said at least one fixed window panel is substantially transparent and said latching element comprises a darkened color that is not transparent.

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

a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;

at least one fixed window panel that is integrally molded with said frame portion; and

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.

10. The slider window assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises a polycarbonate material.

11. The slider window assembly of claim 9, wherein a panel portion of said at least one fixed window panel is substantially transparent and said frame portion comprises a darkened color that is not transparent.

12. The slider window assembly of claim 11, wherein said darkened color is molded in said frame portion.

13. The slider window assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one fixed window panel is integrally formed with a latching element for engaging and latching said movable window panel when said movable window panel is moved to its closed position.

14. The slider window assembly of claim 13, wherein a panel portion of said at least one fixed window panel is substantially transparent and said latching element comprises a darkened color that is not transparent.

15. The slider window assembly of claim 9, wherein said movable window panel includes a panel portion and a carrier element integrally formed with said panel portion, wherein said carrier portion is slidably received in said lower rail and is movable along said lower rail as said movable window panel is moved between its closed and opened positions.

16. The slider window assembly of claim 15, wherein said movable window panel comprises a polycarbonate material.

17. The slider window assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises a pair of spaced apart fixed window panels having an opening therebetween and wherein said movable window panel spans and encompasses said opening when in its closed position.

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

a frame portion comprising an upper rail and a lower rail;

a fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion;

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 an opening at said fixed window panel;

wherein said fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening established therethrough, and wherein said movable window panel is disposed at said hole when in said closed position;

wherein said movable window panel has a heater grid established thereat;

wherein said fixed window panel has a heater grid established thereat;

wherein said fixed window panel has first and second busbars extending at least partially across said fixed window panel for providing electrical power to said heater grid established at said fixed window panel;

wherein said first and second busbars extend at least partially across said single fixed window panel to provide electrical power to said heater grid established at said fixed window panel at opposite sides of said opening; and

wherein said rear slider window assembly comprises an electrical connector for providing electrical power to said heater grid established at said movable window panel.

19. The rear slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said first and second busbars are disposed along one of an upper region and a lower region of said fixed window panel and comprise end regions that extend at least partially along opposite side regions of said fixed window panel, and wherein said heater grid established at said fixed window panel comprises generally horizontal conductive traces electrically connected at said end regions of said first or second busbars and at a generally vertical busbar at or near said opening.

20. The rear slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said first busbar is disposed along an upper region of said fixed window panel and said second busbar is disposed along a lower region of said fixed window panel, and wherein said heater grid established at said fixed window panel comprises generally vertical conductive traces electrically conductively connected to said first and second busbars.

21. The rear slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said electrical connector provides electrical power to said heater grid established at said movable window panel from one of (a) said first and second busbars and (b) said heater grid established at said at least one fixed window panel.

22. The rear slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said heater grid established at said movable window panel 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.

23. The rear slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said heater grid established at said movable window panel is in electrical connection with the power source of the vehicle via a flexible cable that has one end secured to and electrically connected to a first electrical connector at said heater grid established at said fixed window panel and that has its other end secured to and electrically connected to a second electrical connector at said heater grid established at said movable window panel.