Patent ID: 8474186

Claim:
A motor vehicle comprising, in combination: at least one body panel forming a panel opening; a slider window assembly positioned within the panel opening to close the panel opening and secured to the at least one body panel; wherein the slider window assembly comprises: at least one fixed panel located adjacent a window opening; a slider panel movable between a closed position wherein the slider panel covers the window opening and an open position wherein the slider panel does not entirely close the window opening; and a drive assembly operably connected to the slider panel to selectively move the slider panel between the closed and open positions; wherein the drive assembly includes a rack secured to the slider panel and having a row of teeth, an electric motor secured to a fixed position on the slider window assembly, and a gear operably connected to the motor and directly engaging the rack so that operation of the motor in opposite directions moves the slider panel in opposite directions between the closed and open positions; wherein the gear rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a face of the at least one fixed panel, and a gear assembly operably connects the motor to the gear to reduce speed and increase torque; wherein a mounting bracket is secured to the at least one fixed panel, the gear assembly is secured to and supported by the mounting bracket, and the electric motor is secured to and supported by the gear assembly so that the mounting bracket, the gear assembly, the gear, and the electric motor are supported by the at least one fixed panel; and wherein the mounting bracket, the electric motor, the gear assembly, and the gear are each located entirely within an outer periphery of the fixed panel and spaced inwardly from the periphery of the fixed panel and the body panel.