초록 ▼

A vehicular sliding window assembly of the present invention includes first and second spaced apart fixed window panes and a polymeric member provided on perimeter portions of the fixed window panes. The polymeric member forms a gasket and includes at least one lower guide track molded in the polyme

A vehicular sliding window assembly of the present invention includes first and second spaced apart fixed window panes and a polymeric member provided on perimeter portions of the fixed window panes. The polymeric member forms a gasket and includes at least one lower guide track molded in the polymeric member. At least one sliding window pane is positioned in the guide track and is positionable between a closed position and at least one open position. The window assembly further includes a support rail, which supports the sliding window pane above a lower surface of the lower guide track whereby the weight of the sliding window pane is borne by the support rail and not the lower guide track to reduce the friction between the guide track and the sliding window pane to provide a smooth sliding action when the sliding window pane is moved along the guide track between its closed and open positions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly comprising:first and second fixed window panes, each fixed window pane having a perimeter portion, said first fixed window pane being spaced apart from said second fixed window pane to define an opening therebetween;at least one guide element;at leas

1. A vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly comprising:first and second fixed window panes, each fixed window pane having a perimeter portion, said first fixed window pane being spaced apart from said second fixed window pane to define an opening therebetween;at least one guide element;at least one sliding window pane positionable along a plane between a closed position and a plurality of open positions, said guide element guiding said sliding window pane between said open and closed positions, and said sliding window pane closing said opening when in said closed position;a drive assembly coupling to a motor and drive element, said drive assembly selectively moving said sliding pane between said open and closed positions when driven by said motor and drive element and having a cable section;a support rail supporting said sliding window pane in said guide element, said support rail further substantially laterally retaining said sliding pane in said plane to thereby enhance the retention of the sliding pane in said window assembly, and said cable section of said drive assembly substantially contained within said support rail; anda support member fixedly mounted to said sliding pane, said support member including a first flange portion fixedly mounted to said sliding pane and a second flange portion fixedly coupled with said first flange portion and supported by said supported rail, said support rail comprising a channel-shaped support rail having spaced upper and lower flanges, said second flange portion extending between and being guided by said upper and lower flanges to thereby support said sliding pane, wherein said support member is substantially contained within said support rail, and said first flange portion is positioned between said support rail and said sliding pane.2. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 1, wherein said drive assembly includes a cable system, said cable system including said cable section, said cable system drivingly coupled to said sliding window pane and said motor and drive element.3. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cable system includes of plurality of cable sections and cable guides for guiding said cable sections.4. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a second sliding pane, said cable system coupled to said second sliding pane.5. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 4, wherein said cable section coupled to said first and second sliding window panes.6. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 4, wherein said cable section comprises a first cable section, said cable system includes at least one cable guide and second and third cable sections, said first cable section being drivingly coupled to said second sliding window pane and extending around said cable guide to drivingly coupled to said first sliding window pane, said second cable section being adapted to drivingly couple to said motor and drive element and being drivingly coupled to said second sliding window pane, said third cable section being adapted to drivingly couple to said motor and drive element and being drivingly coupled to said first sliding window pane such that when said second cable section is pulled by said motor and drive element, said second cable section pulls said second sliding window pane to said closed position and said first cable section pulls said first sliding window pane to said closed position, and said third cable section pulls said first sliding window pane to said open position and said first cable section pulls said second sliding window pane to said open position when said motor and drive element pulls said third cable section.7. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a polymeric member contacting at least a portion of said perimeter portions of said first and second fixed window panes.8. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 7, wherein said support rail is mounted to said polymeric member.9. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support member is attached to said sliding window pane by one of an adhesive and a mechanical fastener.10. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second flange portion of said support member is contained within said support rail.11. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first flange portion is guided by said upper flange of said support rail to provide a lateral restraint for said support member to thereby laterally retain said sliding pane in said plane.12. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second flange portion of said support member contacts said upper and lower flanges of said support rail.13. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 12, wherein said support member includes at least two ribs at said second flange portion contacting said lower flange of said support rail.14. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 13, wherein said support member includes at least two ribs at said second flange portion contacting said upper flange of said support rail.15. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support member comprises one of a plastic carrier and a metal carrier.16. A vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly comprising:first and second fixed window panes, each of said fixed panes having a perimeter portion, said first fixed pane being spaced apart from said second fixed pane to define an opening therebetween;at least one guide element, said guide element having a groove, and said groove having a lower surface;first and second sliding window panes positionable between a closed position and a plurality of open positions, said guide element guiding said sliding window panes between said open and closed positions, and said sliding window panes closing said opening when in said closed position;a drive assembly, said drive assembly selectively moving said sliding panes along said guide element between said open and closed positions;a support rail supported by said fixed window panes, said support rail supporting said sliding window panes and suspending said sliding panes above said lower surface of said groove in said guide element whereby the weight of said sliding window panes is borne by said support rail and not by said guide element; anda support member fixedly mounted to each of said sliding panes, said support members being aligned along a horizontal axis, each of said support members being positioned between said support rail and said sliding panes, and said support members being substantially contained within said support rail and laterally supported by said support rail.17. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 16, wherein said drive assembly is drivingly coupled to a motor, said drive assembly moving said sliding pane when driven by said motor.18. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 17, wherein said drive assembly is coupled to a drive drum, said motor driving said drive drum to drive assemblies.19. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 18, wherein said drive assembly includes a cable section substantially contained within said support rail.20. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 16, wherein said a support rail provides a lateral restraint for said support member to thereby laterally retain said sliding pane in said plane.21. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 20, wherein said support rail comprises a channel-shaped support rail having spaced flanges, said support member supported between and contacting said spaced flanges.22. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 21, wherein a lower flange of said spaced flanges has an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange providing said lateral restraint for said support member to thereby laterally retain said sliding pane in said plane.23. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly comprising:first and second fixed window panes, each of said fixed panes having a perimeter portion, said first fixed pane being spaced apart from said second fixed pane to define an opening therebetween;at least one guide element;at least one sliding window pane positionable along a plane between a closed position and a plurality of open positions, said guide element guiding said sliding window pane between said open and closed positions, and said sliding window pane closing said opening when in said closed position;a support rail mounted to said fixed panes, said support rail supporting said sliding window pane and suspending said sliding pane in said guide element whereby the weight of said sliding window pane is borne by said support rail and not by said guide element, and said support rail substantially laterally retaining said sliding pane in said plane; andan elongate support member fixedly mounted to said sliding pane, said elongate support member substantially contained in said support rail and positioned between said support rail and said sliding pane, said elongated member contacting and being guided by upper and lower flanges of said support rail to thereby guide said sliding pane along said plane.24. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 23, wherein said a support member includes ribs for contacting said flanges of said support rail.25. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 23, wherein said guide track comprises a channel-shaped member with a groove, said groove including a lower surface, and said support member suspending said sliding pane above said lower surface.26. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 25, further comprising a seal in said guide element for sealing against a lower portion of said sliding pane.27. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 26, wherein said seal comprises a generally u-shaped seal, said sliding pane extending into said u-shaped seal.28. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 26, wherein said u-shaped seal includes a lower web portion, said support member suspending said sliding pane above said web portion.29. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 25, wherein said support rail comprises a channel-shaped support rail.30. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 23, wherein said lower flange has an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange providing said lateral restraint for said support member to thereby substantially laterally retain said sliding pane in said plane.31. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 23, further comprising a drive assembly selectively moving said sliding pane between said open and closed positions.32. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 31, wherein said drive assembly is drivingly coupled to a motor, said drive assembly moving said sliding pane when driven by said motor.33. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 32, wherein said drive assembly is coupled to a drive drum, said motor driving said drive drum to drive said drive assembly.34. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 33, wherein a cable section of said drive assembly is substantially contained within said support rail.35. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 23, wherein said sliding pane comprises a first sliding pane, said window assembly further comprising a second sliding pane, each of said sliding panes having an elongate support member fixedly mounted thereto.36. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 35, wherein said support members are aligned along a horizontal axis wherein said support members are mounted to said panes at approximately the same elevation.37. The vehicular horizontal sliding window assembly according to claim 36, further comprising a drive assembly, said drive assembly including cable sections, said cable sections secured to opposed ends of said elongate support members to thereby move said sliding panes.