VEHICLE LIFTGATE WINDOW ASSEMBLY WITH HEATER GRID

• US 20180079379A1
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Darin J., Guillozet, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,843,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1884 about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2094 Protective means for window, e.g. additional panel or foil, against vandalism, dirt, wear, shattered glass, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/115 Electric wiring; Electric connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes
• 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 liftgate window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass window panel configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an opened position. A heater grid includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at the inner surface of the glass window panel. A pair of busbars are established at the inner surface of the glass window panel and extend outboard of at least one side region of the inner surface of the window panel that contacts a seal at the vehicle when the glass window panel is in the closed position. Electrical connectors are electrically connected to the busbars outboard of the side region. The electrical connectors are configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle when the rear liftgate window assembly is mounted at the vehicle.

Claims

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

a glass window panel configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a closed position, where said glass window panel is disposed at a rear opening of the vehicle and against a seal that circumscribes the rear opening of the vehicle, and an opened position, where said glass window panel is raised to a generally horizontal orientation;

a heater grid disposed at an inner surface of said glass window panel, said heater grid comprising a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at said inner surface of said glass window panel;

a pair of busbars established at said inner surface of said glass window panel, wherein said busbars extend outboard of at least one side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel that contacts the seal at the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position;

electrical connectors electrically connected to said busbars outboard of said at least one side region; and

wherein said electrical connectors are configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle.

2. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 1, comprising a protective covering element disposed at each of said busbars to limit or preclude the seal contacting said busbars when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position.

3. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 2, wherein said protective covering element comprises protective tape adhered to said inner surface of said glass window panel and over a portion of each of said busbars.

4. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 1, wherein said busbars comprise (i) a first busbar established at said inner surface of said glass window panel outboard of a first side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel that contacts the seal at the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position, and (ii) a second busbar established at said inner surface of said glass window panel outboard of a second side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel that contacts the seal at the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position.

5. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 4, wherein said first side region is opposite said second side region and said electrically conductive traces of said heater grid are established between said first side region and said second side region.

6. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 5, wherein said electrical connectors comprise a positive connector at said first side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel and a negative connector at said second side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel.

7. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 5, wherein said first busbar is established outboard of said first side region and extends upward toward an upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel, and wherein said second busbar is established outboard of said second side region and extends upward toward said upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel, and wherein said electrical connectors are electrically connected to said first and second busbars at said upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel.

8. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 1, wherein said busbars are established at said inner surface of said glass window panel and extend upward toward an upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel, and wherein said electrical connectors are electrically connected to said busbars at said upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel.

9. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connectors are soldered to a connector portion of said busbars.

10. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connectors comprise tab-type connectors or snap-type connectors.

11. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 1, wherein said busbars are established at a region of said glass window panel that has a non-light-transmitting coating established thereat.

12. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 11, wherein said non-light-transmitting coating circumscribes a transparent region of said glass window panel, and wherein said electrically conductive traces of said heater grid are established at said inner surface of said glass window panel at said transparent region.

13. A rear liftgate window assembly for a vehicle, said rear liftgate window assembly comprising:

a glass window panel configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a closed position, where said glass window panel is disposed at a rear opening of the vehicle and against a seal that circumscribes the rear opening of the vehicle, and an opened position, where said glass window panel is raised to a generally horizontal orientation;

a heater grid disposed at an inner surface of said glass window panel, said heater grid comprising a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at said inner surface of said glass window panel;

a first busbar established at said inner surface of said glass window panel outboard of a first side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel that contacts the seal at the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position, wherein a portion of said first busbar spans said first side region so as to electrically conductively connect said first busbar to said heater grid;

a second busbar established at said inner surface of said glass window panel outboard of a second side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel that contacts the seal at the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position, wherein a portion of said second busbar spans said second side region so as to electrically conductively connect said second busbar to said heater grid;

a first protective covering element disposed at said portion of said first busbar to limit or preclude the seal contacting said portion of said first busbar when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position;

a second protective covering element disposed at said portion of said second busbar to limit or preclude the seal contacting said portion of said second busbar when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle and when said glass window panel is in the closed position;

a positive connector electrically conductively connected to said first busbar outboard said first side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel;

a negative connector electrically conductively connected to said second busbar outboard said second side region of said inner surface of said glass window panel; and

wherein said positive and negative electrical connectors are configured to electrically connect to a respective wire of the vehicle when said glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle.

14. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second protective covering elements comprise protective tape adhered to said inner surface of said glass window panel and over said portion of the respective busbar.

15. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 13, wherein said first side region is opposite said second side region and said electrically conductive traces of said heater grid are established between said first side region and said second side region.

16. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 13, wherein said first busbar is established outboard of said first side region and extends upward toward an upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel, and wherein said second busbar is established outboard of said second side region and extends upward toward said upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel, and wherein said positive electrical connector is electrically connected to said first busbar at said upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel, and wherein said negative electrical connector is electrically connected to said second busbar at said upper region of said inner surface of said glass window panel.

17. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 13, wherein said positive and negative electrical connectors are soldered to a connector portion of the respective busbar.

18. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 13, wherein said positive and negative electrical connectors comprise tab-type connectors or snap-type connectors.

19. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second busbars are established at a region of said glass window panel that has a non-light-transmitting coating established thereat.

20. The rear liftgate window assembly of claim 19, wherein said non-light-transmitting coating circumscribes a transparent region of said glass window panel, and wherein said electrically conductive traces of said heater grid are established at said inner surface of said glass window panel at said transparent region.