Patent ID: 8516749

Claim:
An encapsulated vehicle window assembly comprising: a glass substrate having at least one major surface and a peripheral edge surface therearound; and a self-conforming, non-engaging seal molded onto at least a peripheral portion of the substrate, the seal comprising: a base portion having at least one bonding surface in intimate bonding contact with one or more surfaces of the glass substrate; and an open lip portion extending from the base portion in a curved configuration and capable of sealing a gap between the peripheral edge surface of the encapsulated window assembly and of a peripheral edge of sheet metal forming a vehicle body opening into which the encapsulated window assembly is installed, wherein the lip portion has a length at least 200% greater than the size of the gap between the edge surface of the encapsulated window assembly and the vehicle body opening, and further wherein the seal is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a durometer of 60-90 Shore A and the lip portion is configured to exert a sealing force of between 0.50 lb/100 mm (2.2N/100 mm) and 6 lb/100 mm (26.6N/100 mm) on the peripheral edge of the sheet metal of the vehicle body opening.