# US 10,501,977 B2 · Dual slider window assembly

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- Number: US 10,501,977 B2
- Document ID: US10501977B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/617,215
- Filed: 2017-06-08
- Published: 2017-12-14
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-09
- Assignees: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
- Applicants: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
- Inventors: Darin J. Snider; Peggy L. Gustafson; R. Scott Repp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501977B2

## CPC

- B62D 33/02: Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)}
- B60J 1/1853: {horizontally in direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis}
- E05F 15/635: operated by push-pull mechanisms, e.g. flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements (E05F15/652 takes precedence)
- E05F 15/652: operated by screw-and-nut mechanisms
- E05F 15/655: specially adapted for vehicle wings
- E05Y 2900/55: Windows
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle includes an upper rail and a lower rail, with a fixed window panel having at least one glass panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening between opposite side panel portions of the fixed window panel. The upper rail is attached at the inner surface of the fixed window panel at an upper region of the fixed window panel and above the opening. The lower rail is attached at the inner surface of the fixed window panel at a lower region of the fixed window panel and below the opening. First and second movable window panels are movable along the upper and lower rails between a closed position, where the movable window panels cooperate to close the opening, and an opened position, where both movable panels move away from one another to open the opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle, said rear slider window assembly comprising:
an upper rail and a lower rail;
a fixed window panel comprising at least one glass panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening between opposite side panel portions of said fixed window panel;
wherein said upper rail is attached at said inner surface of said fixed window panel at an upper region of said fixed window panel and above said opening;
wherein said lower rail is attached at said inner surface of said fixed window panel at a lower region of said fixed window panel and below said opening;
first and second movable window panels that are movable along said upper and lower rails, wherein said movable window panels are movable between a closed position, where said first and second movable window panels cooperate to close the opening, and an opened position, where said first and second movable panels move away from one another to open the opening;
wherein said first and second movable window panels are movable via a drive system;
wherein said drive system comprises a drive motor that moves said first and second movable window panels in tandem;
wherein said drive motor rotatably drives a gear element that engages first and second drive elements that are connected to said first and second movable window panels, respectively, and wherein rotation of said gear element imparts movement of said first and second drive elements and said first and second movable window panels;
wherein said first drive element is routed through a first guide element at a first end of said lower rail and an end of said first drive element is attached at an outer end of a carrier of said first movable window panel, and wherein said second drive element is routed through a second guide element at a second end of said lower rail and an end of said second drive element is attached at an outer end of a carrier of said second movable window panel; and
wherein said carrier of said first movable window panel is movable along a channel portion of said lower rail, and wherein said first drive element is received in a receiving element disposed along said channel portion, and wherein said carrier of said second movable window panel is movable along said channel portion of said lower rail, and wherein said second drive element is received in said receiving element disposed along said channel portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said first guide element comprises a passageway through which said first drive element passes so as to be aligned with said receiving element of said channel portion, and wherein said second guide element comprises a passageway through which said second drive element passes so as to be aligned with said receiving element of said channel portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said carrier of said first movable window panel includes at least one protrusion that is received in said receiving element of said channel portion, and wherein said carrier of said second movable window panel includes at least one protrusion that is received in said receiving element of said channel portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second drive elements comprise first and second helical drive elements having a respective helical groove established therealong.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, comprising a perimeter sealing element that is attached at said fixed window panel and that circumscribes said opening, said perimeter sealing element sealing against a surface of said first and second movable window panels.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 5, wherein said perimeter sealing element comprises horizontal lip seals and vertical Y-shaped seals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, comprising a center sealing element attached at an inner edge of said first movable window panel that opposes an inner edge of said second movable window panel, wherein said center sealing element is configured to receive an inner edge of said second movable window panel to seal said first and second movable window panels relative to one another when said first and second movable window panels are in the closed position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said fixed window panel comprises a single glass panel having said opening therethrough that is between said opposite side panel portions of said single glass panel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said fixed window panel comprises a pair of opposite side panels that are spaced apart so that said opening is between said side panels.

### Claim 10

A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle, said rear slider window assembly comprising:
an upper rail and a lower rail;
a fixed window panel comprising a glass panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening between opposite side panel portions of said fixed window panel;
a perimeter sealing element that is attached at said inner surface of said fixed window panel and that circumscribes said opening;
wherein said upper rail is attached at said inner surface of said fixed window panel at an upper region of said fixed window panel and above said opening;
wherein said lower rail is attached at said inner surface of said fixed window panel at a lower region of said fixed window panel and below said opening;
first and second movable window panels that are movable along said upper and lower rails, wherein said movable window panels are movable between a closed position, where said first and second movable window panels cooperate to close the opening, and an opened position, where said first and second movable panels move away from one another to open the opening;
wherein said perimeter sealing element sealing against an outer surface of said first and second movable window panels;
wherein said first and second movable window panels are movable via a drive system, and wherein said drive system comprises a drive motor that moves said first and second movable window panels in tandem;
wherein said drive motor rotatably drives a gear element that engages first and second drive elements that are connected to said first and second movable window panels, respectively, and wherein rotation of said gear element imparts movement of said first and second drive elements and said first and second movable window panels;
wherein, responsive to said drive motor driving said gear element in a first direction, said first and second drive elements are moved so as to pull at said first and second movable window panels, respectively, to open the opening, and wherein, responsive to said drive motor driving said gear element in a second direction opposite the first direction, said first and second drive elements are moved to push at said first and second movable window panels, respectively, to close the opening;
wherein said first drive element is routed through a first guide element at a first end of said lower rail and an end of said first drive element is attached at an outer end of a carrier of said first movable window panel, and wherein said second drive element is routed through a second guide element at a second end of said lower rail and an end of said second drive element is attached at an outer end of a carrier of said second movable window panel; and
wherein said carrier of said first movable window panel is movable along a channel portion of said lower rail, and wherein said first drive element is received in a receiving element disposed along said channel portion, and wherein said carrier of said second movable window panel is movable along said channel portion of said lower rail, and wherein said second drive element is received in said receiving element disposed along said channel portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said first guide element comprises a passageway through which said first drive element passes so as to be aligned with said receiving element of said channel portion, and wherein said second guide element comprises a passageway through which said second drive element passes so as to be aligned with said receiving element of said channel portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said carrier of said first movable window panel includes at least one protrusion that is received in said receiving element of said channel portion, and wherein said carrier of said second movable window panel includes at least one protrusion that is received in said receiving element of said channel portion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second drive elements comprise first and second helical drive elements having a respective helical groove established therealong.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said perimeter sealing element comprises horizontal lip seals and vertical Y-shaped seals.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The rear slider window assembly of claim 10, comprising a center sealing element attached at an inner edge of said first movable window panel that opposes an inner edge of said second movable window panel, wherein said center sealing element is configured to receive an inner edge of said second movable window panel to seal said first and second movable window panels relative to one another when said first and second movable window panels are in the closed position.