Patent Publication Number: US-2022219511-A1

Title: Vehicular rear slider window assembly with retaining element

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/199,615, filed Jan. 13, 2021, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a rear slider window assembly for a vehicle and, more particularly, a rear slider window assembly for a pickup truck or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a rear slider window assembly for an opening of a vehicle, such as a rear slider window assembly for a rear opening of a pickup truck. Conventional slider window assemblies for rear openings of trucks or the like typically include three or more panels, such as two fixed window panels and a slidable window panel. The slidable window panel is supported by rails and may be moved along the rails to open and close the window. The slidable window panel may be driven or moved by a cable drive system, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,151,519, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A rear slider window assembly includes a fixed window panel and a movable window panel that moves relative to the fixed window panel and along upper and lower rails at the fixed window panel. The movable window panel moves between an opened position and a closed position (where the movable window panel is positioned over an aperture of the fixed window panel). The rear slider window assembly includes a guide/retaining element that retains and guides the movable window panel in the upper and/or lower channels of the upper and/or lower rails. The element is attached at the upper rail or the lower rail after the movable window panel is positioned with its upper edge region in the upper rail and its lower edge region in the lower rail. The element extends at least partially along the upper/lower rail (such as along a portion of the rail along which the movable panel moves when moving between the opened and closed positions) and limits or precludes removal of the movable window panel from the rails. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck having a rear slider window assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the rear slider window assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rear slider window assembly, showing lower guide elements for retaining the movable window panel within the lower channel; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views of one of the lower guide elements; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the lower guide element of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a lower portion of the rear slider window assembly, with the lower guide element of  FIGS. 4-6  attached at the lower rail; 
         FIG. 8  is another sectional view of the lower portion of the rear slider window assembly, showing a lower guide element with a cable guide portion for guiding a flexible electrical connector for providing power to a heater grid of the movable window panel; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective views of the lower guide element with the guide portion; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the upper portion of the rear slider window assembly, with an upper seal element disposed within the upper channel of the upper rail; 
         FIG. 12  is another sectional view of the upper portion of the rear slider window assembly, without an upper seal element disposed within the upper channel; 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of another rear slider window assembly, with an upper guide element disposed along the upper rail; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the rear slider window assembly of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are perspective views of the upper guide element; 
         FIG. 17  is an end view of the upper guide element; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view of an upper portion of the rear slider window assembly, showing the upper guide element attached at the upper rail; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the rear slider window assembly of  FIG. 14 , with the upper guide element removed; and 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the rear slider window assembly of  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a rear slider window assembly  10  of a vehicle  12  (such as a pickup truck or the like) includes a window frame  14 , a fixed window panel  16  having an aperture that separates side window portions and a movable window panel  18  that is movable relative to frame  14  and fixed window panel between an opened position and a closed position. The frame  14  includes a lower frame portion or rail  20  and an upper frame portion or rail  22 , each providing a respective channel along which the movable window panel moves. The window assembly  10  may include a heater grid established at the fixed window panel and at the movable window panel, with electrical current provided to the heater grid of the movable window panel via a flexible electrical connector or cable. As shown in  FIGS. 2-10 , the window assembly  10  includes a lower guide element  24  that is attached at the lower frame  20  to limit chucking of the movable window panel as it is moved between its opened and closed positions, as discussed below. 
     The window assembly may comprise a hole-in-glass window configuration, where a single fixed glass panel has an aperture or hole or opening established therethrough to define separate spaced apart fixed window panels or panel portions, such as in a similar manner as the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,458, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Optionally, the window assembly may include two fixed window panels that are spaced apart so as to define an opening therebetween, with upper and lower appliqués or trim or filler panels or elements (see trim panels  25  and  125  in  FIGS. 7 and 18 , respectively) disposed at the upper and lower regions of the opening and between the fixed window panels. In such a configuration, the upper and lower rails attach along an inner surface of each of the two spaced apart fixed window panels and along an inner surface of the respective upper/lower trim panel. 
     The frame  14  comprises the upper rail  22  and the lower rail  20 , with the upper and lower edge regions of movable window panel  18  movably or slidably received in and along the respective upper and lower rails. Thus, the movable window panel  18  includes a lower perimeter edge region or portion  18   a  that, with the movable window panel  18  disposed at the window assembly  10 , is disposed or received in the lower rail  20 , and an upper perimeter edge region or portion  18   b  that, with the movable panel  18  disposed at the window assembly  10 , is disposed or received in the upper rail  22 . 
     The slider or movable window panel  18  is movable along the lower rail and upper rail of the frame portion  14  to open and close the aperture or opening, such as in a manner similar to known slider window assemblies. The slider window panel  18  may be disposed at a lower carrier  19  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), which may receive the lower perimeter edge region  18   a  of the slider window panel  18  therein and may be slidably or movably received in the channel portion of the lower rail  20  of the frame portion  14 . The upper rail  22  may comprise any suitable channel or rail element configured to slidably receive the upper perimeter edge region  18   b  of the movable window panel  18 , and the upper rail  22  may comprise a unitarily formed upper rail or channel. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the lower guide element  24  comprises a first lower guide element  26  and a second lower guide element  28  disposed along the lower frame  20 . However, it is envisioned that the lower guide element  24  may comprise a single unitary guide element having a first portion  26  and a second portion  28  formed as part of the single guide element  24 . The guide element or elements may comprise extruded or molded plastic or polymeric elements. The first and second guide elements  26 ,  28  each have a respective attaching portion  26   a ,  28   a  that is configured for adhesive attachment to an outer portion of the lower frame  20  and a respective guide portion  26   b ,  28   b  that, with the respective attaching portions  26   a ,  28   a  attached at the lower frame  20 , extends partially across the lower channel of the lower frame  20  in which the movable window panel  18  is disposed, so as to limit movement of the movable window panel  18  toward the outer part of the lower rail or upward out of the lower channel. Thus, with the lower rail  20  attached along an inner surface of the fixed window panel  16  (and optionally along a lower trim panel), the respective guide portions  26   b ,  28   b  extend toward and optionally engage the inner surface of the movable window panel  18 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6-8 , each of the attaching portions  26   a ,  28   a  include a respective channel or recess  26   c ,  28   c  for receiving adhesive or tape for adhesively attaching the element  26 ,  28  to the lower rail  20 . As can also be seen with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lower rail  20  is configured to attach to the trim panel  25  at the center region of the window assembly and to the fixed window panel (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) at the side region of the window assembly. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 , the first lower guide element  26  may be positioned along the lower rail  20  at a central region of the window assembly (i.e., the region corresponding to the aperture in the fixed window panel  16 ) so that, with the movable window panel in the closed position, the guide portion  26   b  of the first lower guide element  26  engages the movable window panel  18  at the lower perimeter edge region  18   a  above the lower rail  20  to limit or preclude movement of the movable window panel  18  away from the fixed window panel  16 . The guide portion  26   b  extends over the channel of the lower rail  20  to limit or preclude movement of the carrier  19  (and therefore movable window panel) upward and outward of the lower rail  20 . 
     The second lower guide element  28  may be positioned along the lower rail  20  and at least partially along the fixed window panel  16  at the side of the fixed window panel along which the movable window panel  18  moves when moving toward and into the opened position. The guide portion  28   b  of the second lower guide element  28 , similar to the guide portion  26   b  of the first lower guide element  28 , may extend over the channel of the lower rail  20  toward the movable window panel  18  to limit or preclude movement of the movable window panel away from the fixed window panel and upward and outward of the channel. The first lower guide element  26  and the second lower guide element  28  may overlap or be positioned directly adjacent one another, or comprise a unitary guide element, to provide a continuous guide portion  26   b ,  28   b  along a range of movement of the movable window panel  18  along the lower rail  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , the lower guide element  28  includes an upper guide portion  28   c  that extends upward from the guide portion  28   b , with an upper lip  28   d  at its upper end so as to form an upper channel. The upper channel formed by the guide portions  28   b ,  28   c , and the upper lip  28   d  is disposed along the fixed window panel (and along the movable window panel when the movable window panel is opened) for receiving and guiding a flexible electrical connector or cable that provides electrical current to the heater grid of the movable window panel  18 . The guide portions  28   b ,  28   c , and the upper lip  28   d  and the flexible electrical connector or cable may utilize aspects of the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,881,458 and/or 8,402,695, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Thus, during assembly of the window, the upper edge  18   b  of the movable window panel  18  may be inserted upward into the channel of the upper rail  22  a sufficient amount to provide clearance of the lower edge  18   a  of the movable window panel  18  (which may have the guiding portion or seal or carrier element  19  disposed thereat) to be positioned above the lower channel of the lower rail  20 , whereby the movable window panel  18  is lowered into the lower channel of the lower rail  20 . When so positioned, the respective attaching portions  26   a ,  28   a  of the first and second guide elements  26 ,  28  are attached at the lower rail  20  and the respective guide portions  26   b ,  28   b  extend partially across the lower channel toward the inner surface of the movable window panel  18  (as best shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). With the movable window panel and carrier element  19  disposed in the lower channel of the lower rail  20  and the guide elements  26 ,  28  attached at the lower rail  20 , the respective guide portions  26   b ,  28   b  may engage the inner surface of the movable window panel and provide a barrier preventing the carrier element  19  from moving upwards within the lower channel or pulling out of the lower channel. The guide portions  26   b ,  28   b  thus limit or preclude upward movement of the movable window panel and limit or preclude chucking of the movable window panel during opening and closing of the window. The attaching portions  26   a ,  28   a  and the guide portions  26   b ,  28   b  are similar for both the first and second lower guide elements  26 ,  28 , with the second lower guide element  28  further including the upper guide portion  28   c  along the fixed window panel (at the side toward which the movable panel moves to open) for receiving and guiding the electrical connector of the heater grid. 
     Optionally, the window assembly may include an upper seal  30  ( FIG. 11 ) that allows for insertion of the upper perimeter edge  18   b  of the movable window panel  18  into the upper rail  22  a sufficient amount for the lower perimeter edge  18   a  to clear the lower rail  20  during the assembly process. For example, the upper rail  22  may receive an upper seal or filler  30  ( FIG. 11 ) therein that is flexible/compressible to allow for the upper perimeter edge  18   b  of the movable window panel  18  to be inserted substantially into the upper rail  22 . As shown, the upper seal  30  is disposed along the channel of the upper rail  22  and includes one or more flexible members or arms  30   a  that extend across the channel of the upper rail. The flexible arms  30   a  may flex (i.e., the biasing force may be overcome) when the movable window panel  18  is moved upward into the channel of the upper rail during installation of the movable window panel and may seal against the upper perimeter edge of the movable window panel  18  during sideways movement of the movable window panel (between the opened and closed positions). Engagement of the flexible arms  30   a  at the upper perimeter edge of the movable window panel  18  may further limit or preclude water and contaminants from getting around the window panel. The window assembly and upper seal may comprise aspects of the window assemblies and seals and fillers described in U.S. Publication No. US-2020-0079198 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/457,265, filed Dec. 2, 2021 (Attorney Docket DON02 P4363), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Optionally, and such as shown in  FIG. 12 , the upper rail  22  may not include the upper seal, whereby the upper perimeter edge  18   b  of the movable window panel  18  is guided within and along the upper rail via a seal  31  on the movable window panel  18  and a seal  33  of the upper rail that engages an outer surface of the window panel. For example, the seal  31  on the movable window panel  18  may be disposed on the inner surface of the panel at the upper perimeter edge region  18   b  of the movable window panel so that, with the movable window panel installed at the window assembly, the seal  31  is at least partially disposed in the channel of the upper rail  22 . 
     Optionally, the rear slider window assembly may include an upper guide element or anti-chucking element disposed at and along the upper guide rail. For example, and with reference to  FIGS. 13-20 , the rear slider window assembly  110  includes an upper guide element  132  disposed along the upper rail  122 . In the illustrated embodiment, the upper guide element  132  includes an attaching portion  132   a  and a guide portion  132   b  that, with the attaching portion  132   a  attached at the upper rail  122 , extends at least partially across the upper channel of the upper rail  122  to limit or preclude upward movement of the movable window panel  118 . The upper guide element  132  includes a lower lip  132   c  that extends downward from the guide portion  132   b  to limit outward movement of the movable window panel. As can be seen with reference to  FIGS. 18-20 , the upper rail  122  is cut away or notched (see notch or recess  122   a  in  FIGS. 19 and 20 ) to receive the guide portion  132   b  therein, with the lower lip  132   b  effectively replacing the removed or cutaway wall of the upper rail. 
     Thus, the movable window panel  118  can be inserted upward into the upper rail  122  a sufficient amount to allow clearance of the lower perimeter edge of the window panel at the lower rail  120 , so as to position the lower perimeter edge within the lower channel of the lower rail  120 . When the movable panel is lowered into the lower rail, the attaching portion  132   a  of the upper guide element  132  is attached (such as via adhesive or tape) at the upper rail above the cutout region  122   a . When the attaching portion is attached at the upper rail, the guide portion  132   b  extends over the upper perimeter edge of the movable window panel  118 , thereby limiting or precluding upward movement of the movable window panel so the movable window panel is retained within the upper and lower rails (see  FIG. 18 ). As can be seen in  FIG. 16 , the guide portion  132   b  does not extend along the entire length of the guide element  132 , since it is not needed along the rail at the fixed window panel at the side of the window assembly that the movable window panel does not move toward when opening. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a guide element that is attached to the upper or lower rail after the movable window panel is positioned within the channels. By attaching the guide element after the movable window panel is disposed in the channels, assembly of the window is enhanced and special guide elements and seals within the rails are not needed. The movable window panel is positioned in the lower rail and the lower guide element is attached at the lower rail to limit upward movement of the lower portion or carrier of the movable window panel, and/or the upper guide element is attached at the upper rail to limit upward movement of the upper portion of the movable window panel. The guide element or elements are bonded or taped or otherwise adhesively attached along the upper or lower rail and retain and guide the movable window panel as it moves along the upper and lower rails between its opened and closed positions. 
     The movable or slider window panel may be movable such as via manual pushing or pulling at the window panel and preferably is movable in response to actuation of a drive motor of the drive motor assembly or system, which may move cables or wires of cable assemblies relative to the sheath of the cable assemblies to impart horizontal movement of the carrier and slider window panel along the upper and lower rails. Optionally, the drive motor assembly and rail configurations may utilize aspects of the drive assemblies of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,920,698; 4,995,195; 5,146,712; 5,531,046; 5,572,376; 6,955,009; 7,073,293 and/or 8,938,914, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2019-0383084; 2008-0127563 and/or 2004-0020131, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Optionally, the fixed window panel or panels may include an electrically conductive heater grid or other heating element or electrically operable element established at the window panel or panels (such as at or on an interior surface of the window panel) and the movable window panel may include an electrically conductive heater grid or other heating element or electrically operable element established at the movable window panel (such as at or on an interior surface of the movable window panel). Optionally, the heater grids may be laminated within the fixed window panel and/or the movable window panel, such as by utilizing aspects of the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,524,313, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The heater grids are electrically conductively connected to (or are otherwise in electrical conductive continuity with) a power source of the vehicle and may be powered (such as responsive to a user actuatable input or switch or button of the vehicle or responsive to a sensor or accessory of the vehicle) to heat or defrost or defog the fixed window panels. The movable panel heater grid is electrically connected to the power source (and may be electrically connected to electrical terminals or elements at one of the heater grids of the fixed window panels) and may be electrically powered to heat or defrost or defog the movable window panel. The heater grids comprise a plurality of electrically conductive traces that extend across the respective window panels between respective busbars to provide enhanced and more uniform heating and defrosting/defogging of the window panel. The heater grid of the movable window panel may be powered in a manner that allows for heating or defogging or defrosting of the movable window panel irrespective of whether the movable window panel is opened or partially opened or closed. For example, the electrical connections may be made via a flexible electrical connector or wire or cable or the like, such as by utilizing aspects of the rear slider window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,881,458 and/or 8,402,695, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the heater grid of the movable window panel may be powered only when in its closed position and/or via any suitable powering means. 
     Optionally, the window assembly or assemblies of the present invention may utilize aspects of the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,668,868; 10,501,008; 9,896,026; 8,915,018; 8,881,458; 8,402,695; 7,073,293; 7,003,916; 6,119,401; 6,026,611; 5,996,284; 5,799,444 and/or 6,691,464, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. 2014-0047772; 2008-0127563; 2006-0107600; 2004-0020131 and/or 2003-0213179, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.