Patent ID: 8186103

Claim:
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle comprising: a fixed window panel including an opening; a sliding window panel configured to be received within the opening; at least one guide rail mounted proximate to the opening; a first frame secured to a periphery of the sliding window panel, the first frame having an upper flange portion extending away from an upper edge of the sliding window panel in a first direction and a lower flange portion extending away from a lower edge of the sliding window panel in the first direction; a pair of guide pins extending away from the upper flange portion; a pair of guide pins extending away from the lower flange portion; a second frame configured to slidably receive the first frame therein, the second frame having an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion, wherein the upper flange portion of the second frame has a pair of guide slots configured to slidably receive the pair of guide pins of the upper flange portion of the first frame therein and wherein the lower flange portion of the second frame has a pair of guide slots configured to slidably received the pair of guide pins of the lower flange portion of the first frame therein; a pair of guide pins extending away from the lower flange portion of the second frame, wherein the pair of guide pins of the lower flange portion of the first frame and the pair of guide pins of the lower flange portion of the second frame are each slidably received within a pair of guide grooves of the at least one guide rail, wherein the pair of guide slots of the upper flange portion and the lower flange portion of the second frame are configured to allow for slidable movement of the first frame within the second frame and wherein the pair of guide grooves of the at least one guide rail are configured to allow for slidable movement of the second frame and the first frame away from the opening in the fixed window panel; and a locking mechanism that cooperates with at least one of said first and said second frames to selectively lock said sliding window panel to said at least one guide rail.