Patent ID: 6871450

Claim:
An articulated window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said window assembly adapted to be mounted in a window opening in a vehicle body of the vehicle, said assembly comprising: a glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge defining a shape to fit within the window opening, said sheet also including top and bottom edges and first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge; a first substantially opaque coating on a predetermined portion of said inner sheet surface, said first opaque coating extending inwardly generally from said peripheral edge along at least portions thereof; a first area adjacent one edge portion of said peripheral edge, said first opaque coating being included on said first area; a first mounting member on said first opaque coating for hingedly securing said glass sheet in the window opening for movement between open and closed positions, said first mounting member including a non-elastomeric first portion bonded to said first opaque coating on said first area, a non-elastomeric second portion for mounting said window assembly when secured to a vehicle, and a non-elastomeric connecting section between said first and second portions, said non-elastomeric first and second portions and connecting section comprising at least one of non-elastomeric metal or non-elastomeric plastic, said first portion being bonded to said first area on said first opaque coating at a bond line between said first opaque coating on said first area and said first portion by a joint comprising a layer of cured adhesive having a bond line thickness of at least one micron; a second area at a location spaced from said first area, and a second substantially opaque coating included on said inner sheet surface on said second area; a second mounting member on said second opaque coating adapted for moving said glass sheet between said open and closed positions, said second mounting member including a base portion bonded to said second opaque coating on said second area and a receiving portion for engaging a latch when attached to the vehicle to open and close said window assembly when mounted in the vehicle window opening; both said first mounting member and said second mounting member, when mounted, respectively, on said first area and said second area, being substantially hidden from view from the outer surface of said glass sheet by, respectively, said first opaque coating and said second opaque coating; wherein said glass sheet outer surface has a surface area of at least 250 square inches; and wherein said first mounting member and said second mounting member are bonded to said inner surface of said sheet such that there is no exposure of said first mounting member and said second mounting member on said outer surface of said sheet.