Abstract:
A sliding panel assembly is provided, including a stationary panel, a movable panel, a guide rail slidably receiving the movable panel, and an integrated end cap. The integrated end cap includes an end body, which includes an end stop, a drain, and a locator. The end stop defines an end point of the path of the movable panel. The drain diverts moisture away from the sliding panel assembly. The locator properly positions the sliding panel assembly with respect to a mounting surface during the mounting process. The mounting surface may include a notch, allowing the locator and the mounting surface to mate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/429,815 filed on Nov. 27, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention generally relates to a sliding panel assembly. More specifically, the invention relates to an end cap in a sliding glass window assembly.  
           [0004]    2. Related Technology  
           [0005]    Windows and doors (hereafter just “windows”) often acquire condensation on the glass surfaces, which can lead to unwanted dampness accumulating at the base of the window. Additionally, a channeled structure, such as a rail for a sliding window, can concentrate the accumulation, especially if exposed to rain, snow, condensation, or other moisture.  
           [0006]    Automobiles, particularly pick-up trucks, often have sliding window assemblies (backlight windows) to control the automobile passengers&#39; exposure to ambient air and to allow access to the cargo box of the pick-up truck. These window assemblies often include at least one rail, which can accumulate a great deal of moisture regardless whether it is located on the interior or the exterior of the automobile cabin. Interior and exterior rails alike are exposed to condensation moisture. Exterior rails are usually exposed to moisture from weather elements, and interior rails are occasionally exposed to such elements. Therefore, for sliding window assemblies, such as those in automotive applications, it is advantageous to provide a way to minimize moisture accumulation.  
           [0007]    Sliding window assemblies typically include an end stop to limit the transverse motion of the movable window and prevent the movable window from disengaging from the rail. In automotive applications, sliding window assemblies typically include a movable window and a stationary window having an opening. The movable window is movable along the rail between a “closed position” and an “open position.” In the closed position, the movable window covers the stationary window opening and prevents airflow through the sliding window assembly. In the open position, the movable window fails to cover at least some portion of the opening, and permits airflow through the sliding window assembly. In order to prevent the movable window from disengaging from the rail mechanism and/or to limit the portion of the opening that is exposed, it is advantageous to provide an end stop structure to the rail.  
           [0008]    As with all manufacturing, it is advantageous to include features that improve installation, quality, and cost. Means that readily and properly position a sliding window assembly with respect to a mounting surface of the motor vehicle would therefore be advantageous.  
           [0009]    All of the above limitations present problems in construction, manufacturing, and installation of sliding window assemblies, such as those found in the rear windows of pick-up trucks.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0010]    In overcoming the disadvantages and drawbacks of the known technology, the current invention provides a sliding window assembly providing for the minimization of moisture accumulation, while at the same time limiting the extent of movement of the movable window, and increasing the ease and accuracy with which the assembly is installed. The sliding window assembly is provided with a stationary window having portions defining an opening, at least one movable window being selectively movable between a position covering the opening (the closed position) and a position uncovering the opening (the open position), at least one guide rail for slidably receiving the movable window, and at least one end cap coupled with the guide rail. The movable window is adjustable between the open position and the closed position in order to control the airflow through the opening defined by the stationary window. The sliding window assembly may also include a handle to more easily move the movable panel, and a latch mechanism to lock the movable window in a closed position.  
           [0011]    The end cap forms an end stop that defines the end point of travel for the movable window. Also within the end cap is formed a drain that diverts moisture away from the sliding window assembly. The drain is preferably formed in the bottom of the end cap so as to allow drainage of accumulated moisture from the end cap. Also within the end cap is provided a locator that properly positions the sliding window assembly, with respect to the vehicle mounting surface, during the installation process. In another aspect, the drain and the locator are not directly connected to each other. In another aspect, the vehicle mounting surface may include a receptacle, allowing the locator and the mounting surface to mate. Once the sliding window assembly is properly aligned with the vehicle mounting surface, an adhesive layer may connect the mounting surface and the sliding window assembly.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sliding window assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an end cap and a section of a guide rail used in the sliding window assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the end cap generally taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connection between a stationary window and a motor vehicle flange generally taken along the line  4 - 4  in FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a connection between the end cap and the motor vehicle flange generally shown by the line  5 - 5  in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 shows a sliding window assembly  10  for a motor vehicle  40  according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the interior of the motor vehicle  40 . The window assembly  10  includes, as its primary components, a stationary window  12 , a movable window  14 , and guide rails  16 ,  18  that permit translational movement of the movable window  14  with respect to the stationary window  12 .  
         [0018]    The stationary window  12  includes an opening  15  that provides access into and out of the interior cabin of the motor vehicle  40 . The movable window  14  is configured to cover the opening  15  in one position, the “closed position,” and to not cover the opening  15  in another position, the “open position.” The movable window  14  may also be moved to partially cover the opening as desired by the motor vehicle  40  occupants. In one embodiment, the movable window  14  includes a handle  22  to aid movement of the movable window  14  and a latching mechanism  24  to lock the movable window  14  and the stationary window  12  together. The handle  22  and latching mechanism  24  are preferably constructed of a polycarbonate material (such as lexan), glass reinforced nylon or plastic.  
         [0019]    The sliding window assembly  10  also may include an upper guide rail  16  and a lower guide rail  18 , each rail  16 ,  18  including rail inner side walls  31  configured to permit the movable window  14  to move laterally (parallel with the guide rails  16 ,  18 ) but not transversely (perpendicular to the guide rails  16 ,  18 ). If the movable window  14  is located within a frame (not shown), the guide rails  16 ,  18  preferably slidably receive the frame as well. The guide rails  16 ,  18  are preferably composed of polypropylene, anodized aluminum, or other appropriate materials, and are mounted to the stationary window  12  by an adhesive (not shown). The adhesive may be any adhesive material commonly used for mounting to a glass surface. One such material is Scotch® permanent double-sided tape, but other appropriate materials may be used. Alternatively, the guide rails  16 ,  18  may also be mounted to the stationary window  12  by using other appropriate methods.  
         [0020]    The guide rails  16 ,  18  respectively include upper end caps  28  and lower end caps  30 . The end caps  28 ,  30  include a rail insert portion  32  having end cap inner side walls  33  with substantially similar dimensions as the rail inner side walls  31  to allow an uninterrupted sliding movement from the guide rails  16 ,  18  into the end caps  28 ,  30 . The end caps  28 ,  30  are preferably connected to the guide rails  16 , 18  by a press-fit or snap-fit connection where the ends of the guide rails  16 ,  18  form female connectors  50  that slidably receive male connectors  48 . Along with the rails, the end caps  28 ,  30  may be mounted to the stationary window  12  by an adhesive material such as double-sided tape  35 , located between the end caps  28 ,  30  and the stationary window  12 .  
         [0021]    As shown in FIG. 2, at least one of the lower end caps  30  is constructed having an end cap body  37 , formed with an end stop  34 , end cap inner side walls  33 , a bottom wall  45 , a drain  38 , and a locator  36 . While many different materials may be used, the end caps  28 ,  30  are preferably constructed of a polycarbonate material, such as lexan, or of glass reinforced nylon or plastic.  
         [0022]    The end stop  34  defines a wall transverse to the rail inner side walls  31  and prevents the movable window  14  from disengaging from the guide rails  16 ,  18  when the movable window  14  slides toward the ends of the guide rails  16 ,  18 . The end stop  34  is configured to contact the movable window  14  and define an end point of the travel of the movable window  14 . Preferably, the end stop  34  is perpendicular to the travel path of the movable window  14 .  
         [0023]    As moisture accumulates in the guide rails  16 ,  18  and the end cap  28 ,  30 , the drain  38  directs moisture away from the sliding window assembly  10 . In order to promote drainage, the drain  38  is preferably formed as an opening in the bottom wall  45  of the end cap body  37 . As the movable window  14  slides down the guide rails  16 ,  18  toward the end cap  30 , moisture will accumulate at the leading edge of the movable window  14  and be directed towards an end cap  30  and the drain  38 . Upon reaching the drain  38 , the moisture will flow down into the opening of the drain  38 , being directed away from the end cap  30  by a spout  39 .  
         [0024]    The sliding window assembly  10  is preferably mounted to a motor vehicle  40 , and more preferably a pick-up truck. To readily and properly position the sliding window assembly  10  with respect to the motor vehicle  40  during installation a locator  36  and a flange  42  are provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the flange  42  is preferably formed by the motor vehicle exterior wall  41  and interior wall  43 . The locator  36  preferably extends substantially perpendicularly from the outer side wall  52  of the end cap body  37 .  
         [0025]    During installation of the sliding window assembly  10  into the motor vehicle  40 , the locator  36  is positioned such as to be received within a receptacle, such as a notch  46  or groove on the flange  42 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The locator  36  and the notch  46  are configured so the sliding window assembly  10  is properly positioned with respect to the motor vehicle  40  for installation when the locator  36  and the notch  46  are in contact with one another. In order to facilitate contact between the locator  36  and the notch  46 , the locator  36  and notch  46  preferably have surfaces that mate with each other, such as the locator  36  including a protuberance with a rounded, convex bottom surface  47 , and the notch  46  being a rounded concave groove. The notch  46  can be of other appropriate shapes and sizes that mate with a correspondingly shaped locator  36 , such as a square slot or a hole.  
         [0026]    The sliding window assembly  10  is preferably attached to the motor vehicle  40  via a water-tight seal. More specifically, an adhesive layer  44  is located between the stationary window  12  and the window flange  42  of the motor vehicle  40  to form a water-tight seal. The adhesive layer  44  may be any adhesive commonly used for the mounting of windows in vehicles. One such material is 3M product PT 1500 , but other appropriate materials may be used. The adhesive layer  44  is preferably located on the side of the stationary window  12  that faces interiorly of the motor vehicle  40 , located along the periphery of the stationary window  12 , and located along the lower guide rail  18 , as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and  4 . The adhesive layer  44  is also preferably located on the same face of the stationary window  12  as the guide rails  16 ,  18  such that the guide rails  16 ,  18  and the movable window  14  are oriented toward the interior of the motor vehicle  40  passenger compartment. Under this embodiment, the drain(s)  38  primarily drain away condensation formed on the inside face of the sliding window assembly  10 .  
         [0027]    In order to form a flush attachment between the motor vehicle  40  and the sliding window assembly  10 , the adhesive layer  44  is preferably provided in a thicker layer along the stationary window  12  (as shown in FIG. 4) than along the guide rails  16 ,  18  (as shown in FIG. 3). In other words, the adhesive layer  44  in contact with the stationary window  12  in FIG. 4 has approximately the same thickness as the combination of the end cap  30  and the adhesive layer  44  in FIG. 3. For convenience, gaps may be formed in the adhesive layer  44  at locations there along and/or corresponding to lower end cap(s)  30  in order to prevent the adhesive layer  44  from overlapping onto the motor vehicle exterior  41  and blocking the drain  38 . The bottom of the lower end cap(s)  30  may also be tapered to be parallel with the motor vehicle exterior wall  41  and to  44  to prevent the drain  38  from becoming obstructed by the adhesive layer  44 .  
         [0028]    The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventors for practicing the invention. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to practice the instant invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby but rather should be construed to include such aforementioned obvious variations and be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.