Method for making an articulatable vehicular window assembly

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in an unencapsulated peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including unencapsulated top and bottom edges and unencapsulated first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated at least on a mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said light absorbing coating comprising a dark colored frit, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing at least one mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about four square inches and an aspect ratio greater than one, said at least one mounting member comprising a hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle, wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;
• applying at least one layer of primer to at least said mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• allowing said applied layer of primer to at least partially dry;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween;
• maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;
• wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member and said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said offset distance being greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm;
• and
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portion of said mounting member bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet.

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including top and bottom edges and first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated at least on a mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said light absorbing coating comprising a dark colored ceramic frit fused to said inner surface of said glass sheet, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing at least one mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about two square inches and an aspect ratio of at least one, said at least one mounting member comprising a hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle, wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle and wherein said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member has a surface area bonded to said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet no greater than about 1.6 percent of said outer surface area of said tempered glass sheet;
• applying at least one layer of primer to at least said mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• allowing said applied layer of primer to at least partially dry;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween;
• wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet after immersion of said joint in water at 80 degrees Celsius for 240 hours;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member and said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said offset distance being of the order of 1 mm;
• wherein said adhesive comprises a urethane adhesive and wherein said at least one layer of primer comprises at least one of a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent and a zirconium coupling agent;
• and
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portion of said mounting member bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet.

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in an unencapsulated peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including unencapsulated top and bottom edges and unencapsulated first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a first hinge mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a second hinge mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a third latch mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, each said light absorbing coating comprising a frit coating, said light absorbing coatings spaced apart on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing a first mounting member and a second mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, each said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said respective mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said respective mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about four square inches and an aspect ratio greater than one, said first mounting member comprising a first hinge member and said second mounting member comprising a second hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle;
• providing a third mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said third mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said third mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said third mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange, said third mounting member comprising a latch member for a latch of said articulatable window assembly;
• wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;
• applying at least one layer of primer to said first, second and third mounting member attachment portions of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• allowing said respective applied layers of primer to at least partially dry;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween;
• maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;
• wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said respective mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said respective mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member and said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said respective offset distance being greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm;
• and
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portions of said mounting members bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet.

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including top and bottom edges and first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated at least on a mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said light absorbing coating comprising a dark colored frit, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing at least one mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about two square inches and an aspect ratio of at least one, said at least one mounting member comprising a hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle, wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;
• applying at least one layer of primer to at least said member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween;
• maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member and said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said offset distance being greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm;
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portion of said mounting member bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• and
• wherein at least one of (a) said at least one layer of primer is applied by wiping, (b) said viscous adhesive is disposed via a robotic applicator, (c) said at least one layer of primer is applied with an applicator selected from the group consisting of a dauber, a wipe and a spray, and (d) said viscous adhesive is disposed via at least one of a glue gun, a caulking gun, a robotic applicator and a conveyor applicator.

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including top and bottom edges and first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a first hinge mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a second hinge mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a third latch mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, each said light absorbing coating comprising a frit coating, said light absorbing coatings spaced apart on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing a first mounting member and a second mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, each said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said respective mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said respective mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about four square inches and an aspect ratio greater than one, said first mounting member comprising a first hinge member and said second mounting member comprising a second hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle;
• providing a third mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said third mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said third mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said third mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange, said third mounting member comprising a latch member for a latch of said articulatable window assembly;
• wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;
• applying at least one layer of primer to said first, second and third mounting member attachment portions of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• allowing said respective applied layers of primer to at least partially dry;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween, and wherein said viscous adhesive is disposed via at least one of a glue gun, a caulking gun, a robotic applicator and a conveyor applicator;
• maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;
• wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said respective mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet after immersion of said joint in water at 80 degrees Celsius for 240 hours;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member and said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said respective offset distance being greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm;
• and
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portions of said mounting members bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet.

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in an unencapsulated peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including unencapsulated top and bottom edges and unencapsulated first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated at least on a mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing at least one mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet, wherein said attachment portion for mounting said mounting member on said glass sheet comprises a flange having an area of at least about 2 square inches;
• wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;
• applying at least one layer of primer to at least said mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween;
• maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member offset from said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said mounting member and said primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said offset distance being greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm;
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portion of said mounting member bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• and
• wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said respective mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet after immersion of said joint in water at 80 degrees Celsius for 240 hours.

A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as one of a side window and a rear lift gate window of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a curved tempered glass sheet having inner and outer surfaces terminating in an unencapsulated peripheral edge defining a shape adapted to fit within an opening of the vehicle, said sheet also including unencapsulated top and bottom edges and unencapsulated first and second end edges, said edges together defining said peripheral edge, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a first hinge mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a second hinge mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said tempered glass sheet comprising a light absorbing coating coated on a third latch mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, each said light absorbing coating comprising a frit coating, said light absorbing coatings spaced apart on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, said outer surface of said curved tempered glass sheet being generally convex curved and said inner surface being generally concave curved;
• providing a first mounting member and a second mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, each said mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said respective mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said respective mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange having an area of at least about four square inches and an aspect ratio greater than one, said first mounting member comprising a first hinge member and said second mounting member comprising a second hinge member for hingedly securing said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet in an opening of a vehicle;
• providing a third mounting member for attachment to said glass sheet, said third mounting member having an attachment portion for mounting said third mounting member on said glass sheet, said attachment portion for mounting said third mounting member on said glass sheet comprising a flange, said third mounting member comprising a latch member for a latch of said articulatable window assembly;
• wherein said articulatable window assembly comprising said glass sheet is configured to be oriented generally vertically when mounted in the opening in the vehicle;
• applying at least one layer of primer to said first, second and third mounting member attachment portions of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet;
• allowing said respective applied layers of primer to at least partially dry;
• providing a viscous adhesive having a viscosity at 25 degrees Celsius of greater than 5 Poise;
• positioning said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet and with said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween, and wherein said viscous adhesive is disposed via at least one of a glue gun, a caulking gun, a robotic applicator and a conveyor applicator;
• maintaining said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet for at least a time period sufficient for said viscous adhesive disposed therebetween to achieve an at least partial cure;
• wherein said adhesive, when cured, forms a joint bonding said respective mounting member to said tempered glass sheet that is capable of withstanding a straight tensional load of 250 pounds applied to said mounting member joined to said tempered glass sheet after immersion of said joint in water at 80 degrees Celsius for 240 hours;
• wherein said positioning of said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member offset from said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet comprises establishing an offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of said respective mounting member and said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet, wherein said offset distance between said flange of said attachment portion of at least one of said mounting members and said respective primed mounting member attachment portion of said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet is on the order of 1 mm;
• and
• wherein there is no exposure on said outer surface of said tempered glass sheet of said attachment portions of said mounting members bonded on said inner surface of said tempered glass sheet.