Molded Sliding Window Assembly

A modular sliding window assembly comprising:

• at least one fixed vision panel having a peripheral portion with at least one opening defined therein having an upper and a lower edge defined therein;
• a frame member extending around at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the fixed vision panel;
• and
• first and second guide members disposed on the fixed vision panel and being in a parallel relationship to one another, the first guide member being positioned above the upper edge of the opening in the fixed vision panel and the second guide member being positioned below the lower edge of the opening located in the fixed vision panel with the upper and lower edges of the at least one opening such that a sliding vision panel is movable between an open and a closed position relative to the opening defined by the fixed vision panel;
• wherein the fixed vision panel, the frame member, and the two guide members are integrally molded from a thermoplastic material, the resulting window assembly being adapted to be installed as a modular unit in an opening in a vehicle body.

A method of making a modular sliding window assembly comprising:

• providing a mold having at least two mold portions;
• at least one mold portion containing shaped portions coinciding with the configuration of at least one fixed vision area and at least a portion of a non-transparent frame portion of the modular sliding window assembly;
• bringing the at least two mold portions into intimate, molding contact to form a mold cavity;
• injecting at least two liquid thermoplastic materials into the mold in predetermined locations so that at least one liquid thermoplastic material fills the portions of the mold cavity forming the at least one transparent fixed vision area, and at least one liquid thermoplastic material fills the portions of the mold cavity forming the portion of a non-transparent frame portion of the modular sliding window assembly.