Patent ID: 8720973

Claim:
An encapsulated window assembly comprising a transparent glass substrate having first and second major surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge with an interlockable seal molded onto a peripheral portion of substrate, the window assembly being fixed in a vehicle body opening defined by a metal bonding flange, the seal comprising: a base portion being in molded bonding contact with each of the first and second major surfaces and the peripheral edge of the glass substrate; the base portion further comprising: an exterior profile portion proximate the first major surface of the substrate; an interior profile portion proximate the second major surface of the substrate including a female locking portion; a connecting portion proximate the peripheral edge of the glass substrate connecting the exterior and interior profile portions of the base portion; a lip portion extending substantially laterally for a predetermined length from the exterior profile portion of the base portion, the lip portion comprising: a deformable profile portion; a distal locking portion including a male locking portion for interlocking with the female locking portion of the interior profile portion of the base portion, wherein the glass substrate comprises a first supporting member of the seal when in an interlocked configuration; and an elbow portion flexibly connecting the deformable profile portion and the distal locking portion; wherein the distal locking portion is adhesively bonded to the metal bonding flange to fix the window assembly in the vehicle body opening and such metal bonding flange comprises a second supporting member of the seal when the seal is in an interlocked configuration.