Bonded vehicular glass assemblies utilizing two-component urethanes, and related methods of bonding
DCFirst Claim
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1. A vehicular window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
- a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a load-bearing attachment member selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; and
said glass panel and said load-bearinig attachment member joined by an adhesive layer;
said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said first surface of said glass panel and said attachment member, said layer of adhesive cured to form a joint suitable for use on the vehicle;
wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive between said glass panel and said attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set;
said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load bearing attachment member on said second surface of said panel.
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Abstract
Bonded vehicular glass assemblies utilizing two-component urethane adhesives to attach dynamic load-bearing attachment members to glass substrates to form a joint suitable for use on a vehicle, and related methods of forming are described herein. In addition, methods of attaching components to glass by use of these adhesives are disclosed. The two-component urethane adhesives utilized in this invention have been found to provide surprisingly strong bonds between glass and other materials which meet or exceed OEM requirements, and be particularly well suited for use in vehicles.
171 Citations
125 Claims
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1. A vehicular window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a load-bearing attachment member selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; and said glass panel and said load-bearinig attachment member joined by an adhesive layer; said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said first surface of said glass panel and said attachment member, said layer of adhesive cured to form a joint suitable for use on the vehicle; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive between said glass panel and said attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load bearing attachment member on said second surface of said panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A bonded vehicular assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a glass substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a load-bearing attachment member comprising a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and combinations thereof, said attachment member being selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; and said glass substrate and said load-bearings attachment member joined by an adhesive layer; said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between and bonding said first surface of said glass substrate to said attachment member, and wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive between said glass substrate and said attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set, and wherein upon curing of said adhesive layer, a joint suitable for use on the vehicle is formed; said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass substrate prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load bearing attachment member on said second surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A vehicular panel assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a glass substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface; at least one load-bearing attachment member affixed to said glass substrate and selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; and said glass substrate and said load-bearing attachment member joined by an adhesive layer; said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a two-component urethane adhesive disposed between and bonding said at least one attachment member to said first surface of said glass substrate, said layer of adhesive cured to form a joint suitable for use on the vehicle, wherein said adhesive comprises an isocyanate component and a polyol component wherein said adhesive further includes an amine-based catalyst and achieves a set within about 3 minutes; said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass substrate prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load bearing attachment member on said second surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of forming a bonded vehicular assembly by adhering a load-bearing attachment member to a glass surface, said method comprising:
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providing a substrate having a first glass surface and an opposing second surface; providing an attachment member to be adhered to said first glass surface, said attachment member having a mounting surface; selecting said attachment member from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; depositing a layer of an adhesive on at least one of said attachment member mounting surface and said first glass surface, said layer of adhesive consisting essentially of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive; positioning said attachment member and said substrate such that said adhesive layer is disposed between and contacting said attachment member mounting surface and at least a portion of said first glass surface of said substrate without exposure of said attachment member on said opposing second surface of said substrate; said positioning being achieved within about 3 minutes after said depositing step; and curing said adhesive layer, said cured adhesive layer bonding said attachment member to said first glass surface prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of forming a bonded vehicular assembly by adhering an attachment member to a glass substrate, said method comprising:
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providing a glass substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; providing a load-bearing attachment member to be adhered to said first surface of said glass substrate, said attachment member having a mounting surface; selecting said attachment member from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; forming a frit layer on said first surface of said glass substrate; depositing a layer of an adhesive on at least one of said attachment member mounting surface and said frit layer, said layer of adhesive consisting essentially of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive; positioning said attachment member and said substrate such that said adhesive layer is disposed between and contacting said attachment member and at least a portion of said frit layer formed on said substrate without exposure of said attachment member on said second surface of said substrate, said positioning step being performed within about 3 minutes of said depositing step; and curing said adhesive layer, said cured adhesive layer bonding said attachment member to said first glass surface prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle.
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51. A moveable vehicular window assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface an opposing second surface and comprising a layer of frit disposed on said first surface; a load-bearing attachment member comprising a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and combinations thereof, said attachment member being selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, hinge members, brake lights, gaskets and rearview mirrors; and said glass panel and said load-bearing attachment member joined by an adhesive layer; said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said layer of frit and said attachment member, wherein said adhesive comprises an isocyanate component and a polyol component, said layer of adhesive cured to form a joint suitable for use on a vehicle; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive layer between said layer of frit and said attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load bearing attachment member to said layer of frit on said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said load bearing attachment member on said second surface of said panel. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a load-bearing attachment member adapted for attachment to said first surface of said glass panel and selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; and said glass panel and said load-bearing attachment member joined by an adhesive layer; said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said first surface of said glass panel and said attachment member, wherein said adhesive comprises an isocyanate component and a polyol component, and wherein said adhesive is capable, upon curing, to form a bond that can withstand a tensile force of at least 5 lbs/in2, wherein said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less, and includes an amine catalyst, said layer of adhesive bonding said load-bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load-bearing attachment member on said second surface of said panel.
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67. A hinged vehicular window assembly for a vehicle suitable for use in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface and comprising a layer of glass frit disposed on said first surface; a hinged mounting member having a first portion bonded to said glass frit layer on said first surface of said glass panel by an adhesive layer consisting essentially of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said glass flit layer on said first surface of said glass panel and said first portion, said adhesive having a cure time within about 60 minutes or less, and said adhesive layer cured to form a joint suitable for use on the vehicle, said hinged mounting member further having a second portion adapted to be affixed to a mounting surface, said urethane adhesive layer bonding said first portion of said hinged mounting member to said glass frit layer on said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said hinged mounting member on said second surface of said glass panel. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A movable window assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and a load-bearing attachment member bonded to first surface of said glass panel by a layer of adhesive consisting essentially of a rapid-set, rapid cure, two-component adhesive disposed between said attachment member and said first surface of said glass panel, said adhesive layer comprising an isocyanate component and a polyol component, said attachment member being selected from the group consisting of mounting components, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, brake lights, power-mounting hardware, rails, gaskets, antennas, wiper mounts, cosmetic articles and rearview mirrors; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive layer between said glass panel and said attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said adhesive layer bonding said load-bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load-bearing attachment member on said second surface of said glass panel. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. A positionable sunroof adapted and suitable for use in a vehicle, said sunroof comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; at least one load-bearing hinge attachment component having a first portion bonded directly to said first surface of said glass panel by a layer of adhesive and a second portion being adapted for attachment to a vehicle mounting surface; and said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between a portion of said first surface of said glass panel and said first portion of said hinge attachment component, wherein said adhesive layer is cured thereby bonding said first portion of said hinge attachment component directly to said glass panel; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive layer between said glass panel and said hinge attachment component, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said layer of adhesive bonding said hinge attachment component to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said hinge attachment component on said second surface of said glass panel.
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96. A movable door lift window assembly adapted and suitable for use in a vehicle, said door lift window assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; at least one load-bearing lift bracket attachment member bonded directly to said first surface of said glass panel by a layer of adhesive consisting essentially of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said first surface of said glass panel and said at least one lift bracket attachment member; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive layer between said glass panel and said lift bracket attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said adhesive layer bonding said load-bearing lift bracket attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said lift bracket attachment member on said second surface of said glass panel.
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97. A liftgate window assembly adapted and suitable for use in a vehicle, said liftgate comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and at least one load-bearing hinge attachment member having a first member bonded directly to said first surface of said glass panel by a layer of adhesive consisting essentially of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component adhesive disposed between a portion of said first surface of said glass panel and said first member, said hinge further having a second member positionably movable with respect to said first member and adapted for attachment to a vehicle; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive layer between said first surface of said glass panel and said hinge attachment member, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said adhesive layer bonding said load-bearing hinge attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said hinge attachment member on said second surface of said glass panel.
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98. A sliding window assembly adapted and suitable for use in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a first glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; at least one guide track bonded directly to said first surface of said first glass panel by a layer of adhesive consisting essentially of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive, said guide track having a channel configured to slidably receive a glass panel; and a second glass panel slidably disposed in said channel of said guide track; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that said adhesive achieves a set within a time period of about 3 minutes or less from the time of initial disposition of said adhesive layer between said glass panel and said channel, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said adhesive layer bonding said guide track to said first surface of said first glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said guide track on said second surface of said first glass panel. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102)
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103. A vehicular window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a load-bearing attachment member selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components, and hinge members; and said glass panel and said load-bearing attachment member joined by an adhesive layer; said adhesive layer consisting essentially of a layer of a rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said first surface of said glass panel and said attachment member, said adhesive comprising a mixture of an isocyanate component and a polyol component mixed prior to disposition on said glass panel, said layer of adhesive being cured such that said layer of cured adhesive bonds said load bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel; wherein said rapid set characteristic is such that after mixing said isocyanate and polyol components, and after promptly contacting said attachment member with said layer of adhesive and said first surface of said glass panel, said adhesive sets whereby said attachment member and said glass panel are held by said adhesive against movement resulting from the weight of said attachment member on said panel, and wherein said rapid cure characteristic is such that said adhesive cures to bond said attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel in a time period of less than about 60 minutes from the time of adhesive set; said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load bearing attachment member to said first surface of said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said attachment member on said second surface of said panel. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119)
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120. A vehicular window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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a glass panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface and comprising a layer of glass frit disposed on said first surface; a load-bearing attachment member selected from the group consisting of mounting members, hinges, clevises, latches, lift brackets, division bars, positionable members, guide tracks, handles, guide pins, strut-mounting hardware, strikers, struts, power-mounting hardware, track members, rails, latch members, antennas, wiper mounts, sealing members, cosmetic articles, pin components and hinge members; and said load-bearing attachment member bonded to said layer of glass frit by a layer of adhesive consisting essentially of rapid set, rapid cure, two-component urethane adhesive disposed between said glass frit layer and said attachment member, said layer of adhesive being cured to form a joint suitable for use on a vehicle, said urethane adhesive being formed from an isocyanate component and a polyol component which are combined by mixing prior to disposition between said glass frit layer and said attachment member; said layer of cured adhesive bonding said load-bearing attachment member to said layer of glass frit on said glass panel prior to installation of said assembly in the vehicle and without exposure of said bonded load-bearing attachment member on said second surface of said panel; said glass panel having a weight of at least about 3 kilograms and an area of at least about 250 square inches. - View Dependent Claims (121, 122, 123, 124, 125)
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Specification