WINDOW GLASS FOR VEHICLE WINDOW

To provide a window glass for a vehicle window, capable of suppressing generation of sink marks in a resin molding while securing the design property of a design member. A window glass for a vehicle window according to the present disclosure includes a glass plate; and a resin molding provided in a peripheral edge portion of the glass plate. The glass plate and the resin molding constitute an integrated article. The window glass for a vehicle window further includes a design member that covers a corner of the resin molding. The design member is arranged at a vehicle outside of the resin molding when the window glass for a vehicle window is attached to a vehicle. The corner has a sharp angle. An insert member or a gas bubble portion is provided inside the corner of the resin molding.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a window glass for a vehicle window.

A plate-shaped body for a vehicle window having a frame body, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-091362, includes a plate-shaped body for a window that is installed to a vehicle window frame, a frame body made of synthetic resin that is attached to a peripheral edge portion of the plate-shaped body for a window, and a decorative member attached to the frame body. The frame body includes at least one sharp-shaped corner portion in a plan view. The sharp-shaped corner portion includes a sharp-shaped portion that is in contact with sharp-shaped end surfaces of at least two decorative members.

SUMMARY

Inventors of the present invention found a following issue.

In order to secure a design property, the inventors of the present invention devised and examined a window glass for a vehicle window including a corner that was formed by using one design member and a resin molding. However, when one design member was formed by processing one material, cracking or distortion occurs due to the shape of the corner, which compromises the design property of the design member.

For example, a resin molding92is arranged in a corner91aof a glass plate91of a window glass for a vehicle window90shown inFIGS.6and7. Part of the resin molding92is covered with one design member93. The corner91ahas a sharp angle. The one design member93is shaped into the shape according to the angle of the corner91a. However, the shaping causes cracking or distortion in an inner edge portion93aof the design member93, which compromises the design property of the design member93.

On the other hand, when one design member was formed by processing a single material with the inner edge portion of the corner being shortened, occurrence of such cracking and distortion could be suppressed, though undesirable recesses (sink marks) were sometimes generated on the surface of the resin molding due to shrinkage of the resin molding during hardening in the resin molding.

For example, there is a window glass for a vehicle window190shown inFIG.8. The window glass for a vehicle window190includes the same configuration as the window glass for a vehicle window90except for the design member193. An inner edge portion193aof the design member193is shorter than the inner edge portion93aof the design member93shown inFIG.7. Therefore, when the design member193is shaped, cracking or distortion rarely occur at the inner edge portion193a. However, sink marks were sometimes generated in the resin molding92and more specifically on the surface of a region92ain the vicinity of the inner edge portion193a.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-stated issue and is intended to provide a window glass for a vehicle window, capable of suppressing generation of sink marks in a resin molding while securing the design property of a design member.

A window glass for a vehicle window according to the present disclosure, including: a glass plate; and a resin molding provided in a peripheral edge portion of the glass plate, the glass plate and the resin molding constituting an integrated article, the window glass for a vehicle window further including a design member that covers a corner of the resin molding, in which the design member is arranged at a vehicle outside of the resin molding when the window glass for a vehicle window is attached to a vehicle, the corner has a sharp angle, and an insert member or a gas bubble portion is provided inside the corner of the resin molding.

The design member may include an inner edge portion extending toward the glass plate and inserted into the resin molding, the resin molding may include a main body that is arranged more outside of the corner of the resin molding than the inner edge portion and is covered with the design member, and an exposed portion that is arranged more inside of the corner of the resin molding than the inner edge portion and is exposed, and a thickness of the insert member or a diameter of the gas bubble portion may be larger than a distance from the glass plate to the inner edge portion of the design member.

The thickness of the insert member or the diameter of the gas bubble portion may be larger than a thickness of the exposed portion.

The glass plate may include a first straight portion, a second straight portion, and a corner formed by intersection of the first straight portion and the second straight portion, the exposed portion of the resin molding may include a first extension portion extending from one end of the corner of the glass plate toward the first straight portion, and a second extension portion extending from another end of the corner of the glass plate toward the second straight portion, and a length of the first extension portion extending from the one end of the corner of the glass plate toward the first straight portion and a length of the second extension portion extending from the another end of the corner of the glass plate toward the second straight portion may be 20 mm to 40 mm.

The insert member may be arranged on the glass plate and wrap a tip of the corner of the glass plate.

The gas bubble portion may be provided inside the main body of the resin molding.

The insert member may include polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene.

The gas bubble portion may include nitrogen gas.

The glass plate, the resin molding, and the insert member may constitute an integrated article, or the glass plate, the resin molding, and the gas bubble portion may constitute an integrated article.

The glass plate, the resin molding, the design member, and the insert member may constitute an integrated article, or the glass plate, the resin molding, the design member, and the gas bubble portion may constitute an integrated article.

The present disclosure can provide a window glass for a vehicle window, capable of suppressing generation of sink marks in a resin molding while securing the design property of the design member.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied are described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For clear understanding, following descriptions and drawings are simplified as appropriate.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment is described with reference toFIGS.1to4.FIG.1is a front view of one configuration example of a window glass for a vehicle window according to the first embodiment.FIG.2is a rear view of primary components in the one configuration example of the window glass for a vehicle window shown inFIG.1.FIG.3is a perspective view of a corner in the one configuration example of the window glass for a vehicle window shown inFIG.1.FIG.4is a sectional view of the corner taken along a cut line IV-IV in the one configuration example of the window glass for a vehicle window shown inFIG.3.

It is naturally understood that right-handed xyz coordinates shown inFIG.1and other drawings are for convenience of describing the positional relationship of component members. In general, an x-axis positive direction is inside the corner of a vehicle window glass, a z-axis positive direction is outside the vehicle, and an xy plane is a horizontal plane, which are common among the drawings.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, a window glass for a vehicle window10includes a glass plate1and a resin molding2. The glass plate1and the resin molding2constitute an integrated article. Such a window glass for a vehicle window is also called Module Assy Window (MAW: registered trademark). The window glass for a vehicle window10according to the first embodiment is a window glass for a vehicle window used for a fixed window of a vehicle, and is suitably used, for example, for the fixed window, such as a vehicle front quarter glass and a vehicle rear quarter glass. The window glass for a vehicle window10further includes a design member3and an insert member4. The design member3is arranged at a vehicle outside of the resin molding2(in the z-axis positive direction in this case) when the window glass for a vehicle window10is attached to the vehicle.

In the window glass for a vehicle window10shown inFIG.1, the glass plate1is formed into a substantially rectangular shape (trapezoidal shape) in a plan view. However, the shape of the glass plate1is not limited to the substantially rectangular shape and may be a substantially triangular shape, as long as a corner1ais provided. The corner1ahas a sharp angle of more than 0 (zero)° and less than 90°. The glass plate1may be inorganic glass or organic glass. Examples of the inorganic glass include soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, alkali-free glass, and quartz glass, which are used without particular restrictions. Among these, the soda-lime glass is particularly preferable in terms of production cost and easiness of shaping. The shaping method of the glass plate1is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of the inorganic glass, glass plates shaped by a float process or the like are preferable.

When the glass plate1is the inorganic glass, the glass plate1may be any one of untempered glass and tempered glass. The untempered glass is molten glass shaped into a plate shape and cooled down slowly. The tempered glass, which is made by forming a compressive stress layer on the surface of untempered glass, may be any one of air-cooled tempered glass or chemical tempered glass.

When the tempered glass is a physical tempered glass (for example, air-cooled tempered glass), the glass surface may be tempered by causing a compressive stress layer to be generated on the glass surface due to a temperature difference between the glass surface and the glass inside, through operations, other than slow cooling, such as the glass plate heated uniformly in bending being rapidly cooled from the temperature around a softening point. When the tempered glass is the chemical tempered glass, the glass surface may be tempered by causing compressive stress to be generated on the glass surface by ion exchange or other methods after bending. As the glass plate1, glass that absorbs ultraviolet or infrared light may be used. While the glass plate1is preferably transparent, a glass plate colored to such an extent that the transparency is not damaged may also be adopted.

The glass plate1may have a curved shape so that the vehicle outside (in the z-axis positive direction in this case) of the glass plate1becomes convex when the glass plate1is attached to the vehicle. The glass plate1may have a single-curved shape formed by bending in a single direction, or may have a double-curved shape formed by bending in two directions (for example, a prescribed direction and a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction). For bending the glass plate1, gravity bending, press bending, roller bending, or the like, is used. When the glass plate1is bent with a prescribed curvature, the curvature radius of the glass plate1may be 1000 mm to 100000 mm.

Although the glass plate1may be a single glass plate, the glass plate1may be a glass laminate formed by bonding two or more glass plates with an interlayer interposed therebetween. A specific example of the glass plate1shown inFIG.4is a glass laminate formed by bonding a glass plate11and a glass plate12with an interlayer13interposed therebetween. For the interlayer13, a well-known thermoplastic resin film, such as a resin film made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), is used as an example. The interlayer13may be transparent or colored. There may be two or more interlayers13.

When the glass plate1is a glass laminate, the thickness of the glass plate11positioned outside and the thickness of the glass plate12positioned inside when the glass plate1is attached to the vehicle may be the same or different. The thickness of the glass plate11positioned outside when the glass plate1is attached to the vehicle is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less. When the thickness of the glass plate11positioned outside is 1.0 mm or more, the glass plate1has a sufficient strength, such as tolerance to stone chips, whereas when the thickness is 3.0 mm or less, the mass of the glass laminate does not become too large, which is preferable in terms of vehicle fuel efficiency. The thickness of the glass plate12arranged inside is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 2.3 mm or less. When the thickness of the glass plate12positioned at the vehicle inside is 0.3 mm or more, sufficient handling performance is provided, and when the thickness is 2.3 mm or less, the mass does not become too large. When the thickness of the glass plate11positioned outside and the thickness of the glass plate12positioned inside are both 1.8 mm or less, both weight reduction and sound insulation of the glass plate1can preferably be achieved. Here, when the thickness of the glass plate12positioned inside is 1.0 mm or less, the glass plate12positioned inside may be a chemical tempered glass. When the glass plate12positioned inside may be a chemical tempered glass, it is preferable that the compressive stress value on the glass surface is 300 MPa or more and the depth of the compressive stress layer is 2 m or more.

When the glass plate1is a single glass plate, the glass plate1is preferably an air-cooled tempered glass and in this case, the thickness of the glass plate1is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

When the glass plate1is an organic glass, the organic glass material may include transparent resins, such as polycarbonate or acrylic resins (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate).

The glass plate1may include a shielding layer at a peripheral edge of the surface at the vehicle inside. The shielding layer is formed, for example, by applying a ceramic color paste including a meltable glass frit that contains black pigment, and calcining the paste. It is possible to prevent adhesives or the like applied to the glass plate1from deteriorating due to ultraviolet light. For the glass plate1, various appropriate films may be formed on a primary surface of the glass plate1from the viewpoint of improving weather resistance or enhancing functions such as hydrophilicity and water repellency.

The resin molding2is provided in a peripheral edge portion of the glass plate1. One example of the resin molding2shown inFIG.1is provided so as to surround the periphery of the glass plate1. Examples of the material of the resin molding2may include synthetic resins, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The resin molding2may be provided around the glass plate1by mounting the glass plate1and the insert member4to a mold having a cavity corresponding to the shape of the resin molding2and injecting the above synthetic resin (melted synthetic resin) into the cavity. The resin molding2and the insert member4, which are integrally formed separately from the glass plate1, may be fitted to the outer periphery of the glass plate1.

When the resin molding2is obtained as an integrated article by injection molding performed around a peripheral edge portion of the glass plate1, the window glass for a vehicle window10may be an integrated article made by integrally molding the glass plate1, the resin molding2, the design member3, and the insert member4. A separately prepared design member3may also be attached to the window glass for a vehicle window10.

Here, the shape of the window glass for a vehicle window10shown inFIG.1is exemplary, and the shapes other than the window glass for a vehicle window10shown inFIG.1are also applicable in the first embodiment. The window glass for a vehicle window10may include a fixing member that fixes the window glass for a vehicle window10to the vehicle body as appropriate.

One configuration example of the window glass for a vehicle window10is further described in detail.

One example of the glass plate1shown inFIG.1includes a first straight portion1b, a second straight portion1c, and a third straight portion1d. The corner1ais formed by intersection of the first straight portion1band the second straight portion1c. The first straight portion1bcorresponds to a right side of the glass plate1formed into a substantially rectangular shape. The second straight portion1ccorresponds to a lower side of the glass plate1formed into the substantially rectangular shape. The third straight portion1dcorresponds to an upper side of the glass plate1formed into the substantially rectangular shape. One example of the resin molding2includes a corner21a. The corner21aof the resin molding2is arranged at the corner1aof the glass plate1.

The design member3covers the corner21aof the resin molding2. One example of the design member3shown inFIG.1further covers a region of the resin molding2that covers the corner1a, the first straight portion1b, the second straight portion1c, and the third straight portion1d. The design member3is made of a metal material molded by pressing, extruding, drawing or the like. Examples of the metal material may include iron, aluminum, or alloys thereof. Examples of the iron alloy may include steel and more specifically, stainless steel. The design member3may be a member that demonstrates the design property, and may have a wide variety of shapes, patterns, colors, or combinations of these.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, the design member3includes a main body3aand an inner edge portion3b. The main body3acovers at least part of the outside of the corner21aof the resin molding2. The inner edge portion3bextends from the main body3atoward the glass plate1and is inserted into the resin molding2. A distance L3between the design member3and the glass plate1is 3 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and is preferably 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

Here, description is given of a method for setting a length L3bfrom the outside to the inside of the corner1aat the inner edge portion3bshown inFIG.4.

When the design member3is shaped, and cracking or distortion occurs at the inner edge portion3b, the cracking or distortion may affect the design property of the design member3. When the angle of the corner1ais low or the length L3bis prolonged, cracking or distortion is more likely to occur at the inner edge portion3b. Therefore, the length L3bmay be set to be short as appropriate so that the design member3secures the design property required as the window glass for a vehicle window10. On the other hand, when the length of L3bis 1.5 mm or more, the inner edge portion3bis sufficiently embedded in the resin molding2, which makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of warpage in the design member3. The length L3bis preferably 1.5 mm or more and 7 mm or less, and is more preferably 2 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

The resin molding2includes a main body2aand an exposed portion2b. The main body2ais arranged more outside of the corner21aof the resin molding2(in the x-axis negative direction in this case) than the inner edge portion3bof the design member3. The main body2ais covered with the design member3. The exposed portion2bis continuous to the main body2a. The exposed portion2bis arranged more inside of the corner21aof the resin molding2(in the x-axis positive direction in this case) than the inner edge portion3bof the design member3. The exposed portion2bis exposed to the outside of the vehicle from the design member3.

As shown inFIG.3, the exposed portion2baccording to the first embodiment includes a first extension portion2cand a second extension portion2d. The first extension portion2cextends from one end of the corner1aof the glass plate1toward the first straight portion1b. The second extension portion2dextends from another end of the corner1aof the glass plate1toward the second straight portion1c. A length L1of the first extension portion2cextending from one end of the corner1aof the glass plate1toward the first straight portion1b, and a length L2of the second extension portion2dextending from the another end of the corner1aof the glass plate1toward the second straight portion1care, for example, 20 mm or more and 40 mm or less, and preferably 25 mm or more and 35 mm or less.

The insert member4is provided inside the corner21aof the resin molding2. As shown inFIG.2, the insert member4according to the first embodiment may curve and extend along the corner1aof the glass plate1and be arranged at at least part of the corner1aof the glass plate1. Example of the material of the insert member4may include polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene (PP). In addition, a thickness t4of the insert member4according to the first embodiment is larger than a distance L13from the glass plate1to the inner edge portion3bof the design member3. The thickness t4of the insert member4according to the first embodiment may also be larger than a thickness t2bof the exposed portion2b. The insert member4according to the first embodiment is arranged on the glass plate1to wrap a tip1aaof the corner1aof the glass plate1.

Thus, according to the configuration of the window glass for a vehicle window10, the length L3bof the inner edge portion3bof the design member3from the outside to the inside of the corner1ais so set that the design member3secures the design property required as the window glass for a vehicle window10. In addition, the insert member4is provided inside the resin molding2. This makes it possible to suppress generation of sink marks in the resin molding2while securing the design property of the design member3.

According to the configuration of the window glass for a vehicle window10in the first embodiment, the thickness t4of the insert member4is larger than the distance L13from the glass plate1to the inner edge portion3bof the design member3. The thickness t4of the insert member4is also larger than the thickness t2bof the exposed portion2b. As a result, since the thickness t4of the insert member4is sufficiently large, it is possible to further suppress the generation of sink marks in the resin molding2.

According to the configuration of the window glass for a vehicle window10in the first embodiment, the length L1of the first extension portion2cextending from one end of the corner1atoward the first straight portion1band the length L2of the second extension portion2dextending from another end of the corner1atoward the second straight portion1care 20 mm or more and 40 mm or less. Therefore, when the design member3is shaped, cracking or distortion hardly occurs at the inner edge portion3b. This makes it possible to further secure the design property by the design member3.

According to the configuration of the window glass for a vehicle window10in the first embodiment, the insert member4is arranged on the glass plate1to wrap the tip1aaof the corner1aof the glass plate1. Since the insert member4is firmly fixed to the corner1aof the glass plate1, the generation of the sink marks in the resin molding2can be more reliably suppressed.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment is described with reference toFIG.5.FIG.5is a front view of one configuration example of a window glass for a vehicle window according to the second embodiment.

A window glass for a vehicle window210shown inFIG.5includes the same configuration as the window glass for a vehicle window10shown inFIG.1except that a gas bubble portion5is provided.

The gas bubble portion5is provided inside the corner21aof the resin molding2. The gas bubble portion5is hollow space that spreads inside the resin molding2, and the space is filled with gas. Examples of the gas charged in the space may include nitrogen gas, and air. Although the shape of one example of the gas bubble portion5shown inFIG.5is substantially spherical, the shape of the gas bubble portion5is not limited to this, and may widely vary.

The gas bubble portion5according to the second embodiment has a diameter D5that is larger than the distance L13from the glass plate1to the inner edge portion3bof the design member3. The diameter D5of the gas bubble portion5according to the second embodiment is also larger than the thickness t2bof the exposed portion2b.

The resin molding2of the window glass for a vehicle window210may be provided around the glass plate1by mounting the glass plate1to a mold having a cavity corresponding to the shape of the resin molding2and injecting the above synthetic resin (melted synthetic resin) into the cavity. At the time of the injection or immediately after the injection, gas may be sprayed to the above-mentioned synthetic resin to form the gas bubble portion5. Specifically, the gas may be made to pass through a nozzle provided inside the mold and be sprayed into the above-mentioned synthetic resin. It is also possible to use gas-assisted molding. The resin molding2and the gas bubble portion5, which are integrally formed separately from the glass plate1, may be fitted to the outer periphery of the glass plate1.

When the resin molding2is obtained as an integrated article by injection molding performed around a peripheral edge portion of the glass plate1, the window glass for a vehicle window10may be an integrated article made by integrally molding the glass plate1, the resin molding2, the design member3, and the gas bubble portion5, or a separately prepared design member3may be attached to the window glass for a vehicle window10.

Thus, according to the configuration of the window glass for a vehicle window210, the length of the inner edge portion3bfrom the inner edge portion of the main body3ato the inside of the corner1ais so set that the design member3secures the design property required as the window glass for a vehicle window210, as in the case of the window glass for a vehicle window10. In addition, the gas bubble portion5is provided inside the resin molding2. This makes it possible to suppress generation of sink marks in the resin molding2while securing the design property of the design member3.

According to the configuration of the window glass for a vehicle window210in the second embodiment, the diameter D5of the gas bubble portion5is larger than the distance L13from the glass plate1to the inner edge portion3bof the design member3. The diameter D5of the gas bubble portion5according to the second embodiment is also larger than the thickness t2bof the exposed portion2b. As a result, since the diameter D5of the gas bubble portion5is sufficiently large, it is possible to further suppress the generation of sink marks in the resin molding2.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the first and the second embodiments, and appropriate modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the present invention may be implemented by appropriately combining the first and the second embodiments, or the examples thereof. For example, the window glass for a vehicle window210according to the second embodiment may be appropriately combined with each configuration member of the window glass for a vehicle window10.