Slider window assembly

• US 9,242,533 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• 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:
  US14/528,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 493/80, 494/13, 219/202, 219/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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, wherein said fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening through a generally central region of 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;

wherein said movable window panel is disposed at said opening when in said closed position;

wherein said movable window panel has a heater grid disposed at said movable window panel;

wherein said fixed window panel has first and second heater grids disposed at said fixed window panel, and wherein said first heater grid is disposed at said fixed window panel at a first side of said opening and said second heater grid is disposed at said fixed window panel at a second side of said opening;

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 first and second heater grids disposed at said fixed window panel;

wherein said first and second busbars extend at least partially across said fixed window panel above or below said opening and between said first and second heater grids; and

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

2. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second busbars are disposed along one of an upper region of said fixed window panel and a lower region of said fixed window panel and wherein said first and second busbars comprise respective end regions that extend at least partially along opposite side regions of said fixed window panel, and wherein said first and second heater grids disposed at said fixed window panel comprise generally horizontal electrically conductive traces electrically connected at a respective one of said end regions of said first or second busbars and at a respective generally vertical busbar disposed at said fixed window panel at or near said opening.

3. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, 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 first and second heater grids disposed at said fixed window panel comprise generally vertical electrically conductive traces electrically conductively connected to said first and second busbars.

4. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector provides electrical power to said heater grid disposed at said movable window panel from one of (a) said first and second busbars, (b) said first heater grid disposed at said fixed window panel and (c) said second heater grid disposed at said fixed window panel.

5. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said heater grid disposed 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.

6. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said heater grid disposed 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 one of said first and second heater grids disposed 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 disposed at said movable window panel.

7. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said fixed window panel comprises two electrical connectors in electrically conductive connection with one of said first and second heater grids, and wherein said first and second heater grids electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle via said two electrical connectors at said fixed window panel, and wherein said two electrical connectors comprise a first electrical connector at said first heater grid and a second electrical connector at said second heater grid.

8. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said fixed window panel comprises two electrical connectors in electrically conductive connection with one of said first and second heater grids, and wherein said first and second heater grids electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle via said two electrical connectors at said fixed window panel, and wherein said two electrical connectors comprise a first electrical connector at said first heater grid and a second electrical connector at said first heater grid, and wherein power is provided to said second heater grid via said first and second busbars.

9. The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second heater grids comprise a plurality of electrically conductive traces disposed at a surface of said fixed window panel, and wherein said first and second busbars comprise electrically conductive traces disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel.

10. 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 a surface of 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 said 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 surface of said fixed window panel and extending at least partially across said first and second panel portions of said fixed window panel for electrically conductively connecting said first and second heater grids;

a second busbar disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel and extending at least partially across said first and second panel portions of said fixed window panel for electrically conductively connecting said first and second heater grids;

wherein said first and second busbars comprise electrically conductive traces disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel; and

wherein said rear slider window assembly comprises an electrical connector for electrically conductively connecting to said third heater grid disposed at said movable window panel.

11. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said first busbar is disposed along said surface of said fixed window panel at one of said upper panel portion and said lower panel portion, and wherein said second busbar is disposed along said surface of said fixed window panel at one of said upper panel portion and said lower panel portion.

12. The rear slider window assembly of claim 11, 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.

13. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second busbars are disposed along said surface of said fixed window panel at said upper panel portion.

14. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, 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, and wherein said first and second heater grids comprise generally vertical conductive traces electrically conductively connected to said first and second busbars.

15. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said electrical connector provides electrical power to said third heater grid from one of (a) said first and second busbars, (b) said first heater grid disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel and (c) said second heater grid disposed at said surface of said fixed window panel.

16. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein 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.

17. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said third heater grid 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 terminal at one of said first and second heater grids and that has its other end secured to and electrically connected to a second electrical terminal at said third heater grid.

18. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, 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.

19. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said fixed window panel comprises two electrical terminals in electrically conductive connection with one of said first and second heater grids, and wherein 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 said first heater grid and a second electrical terminal at said second heater grid.

20. The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said fixed window panel comprises two electrical terminals in electrically conductive connection with one of said first and second heater grids, and wherein 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 said first heater grid and a second electrical terminal at said first heater grid, and wherein power is provided to said second heater grid via said first and second busbars.