Window assembly for a vehicle

Abstract

A window assembly for use in a vehicle comprises a glass panel having inner and outer sides. A latch element having a latch attachment portion and at least one hinge element having a hinge attachment portion are joined via a substantially cured adhesive at the inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of the latch element and the hinge element on the outer side of the glass panel. The substantially cured adhesive is selected from the group consisting of a moisture-activated adhesive, a thermally-activated adhesive, a chemically-activated adhesive, an aerobically-cured adhesive, an anaerobically-cured adhesive, and a radiation-cured adhesive. The window assembly is adapted for mounting on the vehicle such that when fitted within a generally vertical window opening of the vehicle, the glass panel will be generally vertically mounted, and the window assembly preferably comprises one of a side window, rear window, and lift gate window of the vehicle.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A window assembly for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising: 
 a glass panel having inner~and outer sides;    a latch element having a latch attachment portion;    at least one hinge element having a hinge attachment portion;    an adhesive joint joining said latch attachment portion of said latch element at a portion of said inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said latch element on said outer side of said glass panel;    an adhesive joint joining said hinge attachment portion of said hinge element at a portion of said inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said hinge element on said outer side of said glass panel;    wherein said adhesive joints comprise a substantially cured adhesive selected from the group consisting of a moisture-activated adhesive, a thermally-activated adhesive, a chemically-activated adhesive, an aerobically-cured adhesive, an anaerobically-cured adhesive, and a radiation-cured adhesive;    wherein said window assembly is adapted for mounting on the vehicle such that when fitted within a generally vertical window opening of the vehicle, said glass panel will be generally vertically mounted; and    wherein said window assembly comprises one of a side window, a rear window, and a lift gate window of the vehicle.    
   
   
       3 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein a substantially opaque coating is disposed at said portions of said inner side of said glass panel.  
   
   
       4 . The window assembly of  claim 3  including an adhesion promoting compound between said substantially opaque coating and at least one of said latch element and said hinge element.  
   
   
       5 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises a urethane adhesive.  
   
   
       6 . The window assembly of  claim 5  wherein said urethane adhesive comprises a moisture-activated urethane adhesive.  
   
   
       7 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises a silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       8 . The window assembly of  claim 7  wherein said silicone adhesive comprises a moisture-activated silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       9 . The window assembly of  claim 7  wherein said silicone adhesive comprises a thermally-activated silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said joint joining said latch element to said inner side of said panel withstands a pull of about 150 pounds.  
   
   
       11 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises a nitrile-phenolic adhesive.  
   
   
       12 . The window assembly of  claim 11  wherein said nitrile-phenolic adhesive comprises a thermally-activated nitrile-phenolic adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said latch element and said hinge element has at least one projection for spacing from said glass panel.  
   
   
       14 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said joint joining said hinge element to said inner side of said panel withstands a pull of about 150 pounds.  
   
   
       15 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises an acrylate adhesive.  
   
   
       16 . The window assembly of  claim 15  wherein said acrylate adhesive comprises a chemically-activated acrylate adhesive.  
   
   
       17 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       18 . The window assembly of  claim 17  wherein said epoxy adhesive comprises a thermally-activated epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       19 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises a chemically-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       20 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises a thermally-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       21 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive comprises a moisture-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       22 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said latch element is formed from one of a metal material, a plastic material, and composite material.  
   
   
       23 . The window assembly of  claim 2  wherein said vehicle comprises one of a van, a station wagon, a utility vehicle, and a truck.  
   
   
       24 . A window assembly for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising: 
 a glass panel having inner and outer sides;    a latch element having a latch attachment portion;    at least one hinge element having a hinge attachment portion;    an adhesive joint joining said latch attachment portion of said latch element at a portion of said inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said latch element on said outer side of said glass panel;    an adhesive joint joining said hinge attachment portion of said hinge element at a portion of said inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said hinge element on said outer side of said glass panel;    wherein said adhesive joints comprise a substantially cured adhesive selected from the group consisting of a) a urethane adhesive, b) a silicone adhesive, c) an epoxy adhesive, d) an acrylate adhesive, and e) a nitrile-phenolic adhesive;    wherein said window assembly is adapted for mounting on the vehicle such that when fitted within a generally vertical window opening of the vehicle, said glass panel will be generally vertically mounted; and    wherein said window assembly comprises one of a side window, a rear window, and a lift gate window of the vehicle.    
   
   
       25 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein a substantially opaque coating is disposed at said portions of said inner side of said glass panel.  
   
   
       26 . The window assembly of  claim 25  including an adhesion promoting compound between said substantially opaque coating and at least one of said latch element and said hinge element.  
   
   
       27 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises a urethane adhesive.  
   
   
       28 . The window assembly of  claim 27  wherein said urethane adhesive comprises a moisture-activated urethane adhesive.  
   
   
       29 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises a silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       30 . The window assembly of  claim 29  wherein said silicone adhesive comprises a moisture-activated silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       31 . The window assembly of  claim 29  wherein said silicone adhesive comprises a thermally-activated silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       32 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said joint joining said latch element to said inner side of said panel withstands a pull of about 150 pounds.  
   
   
       33 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises a nitrile-phenolic adhesive.  
   
   
       34 . The window assembly of  claim 33  wherein said nitrile-phenolic adhesive comprises a thermally-activated nitrile-phenolic adhesive.  
   
   
       35 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein at least one of said latch element and said hinge element has at least one projection for spacing from said glass panel.  
   
   
       36 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said joint joining said hinge element to said inner side of said panel withstands a pull of about 150 pounds.  
   
   
       37 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises an acrylate adhesive.  
   
   
       38 . The window assembly of  claim 37  wherein said acrylate adhesive comprises a chemically-activated acrylate adhesive.  
   
   
       39 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       40 . The window assembly of  claim 39  wherein said epoxy adhesive comprises a thermally-activated epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       41 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises a chemically-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       42 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises a thermally-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       43 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said adhesive comprises a moisture-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       44 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said latch element is formed from one of a metal material, a plastic material, and composite material.  
   
   
       45 . The window assembly of  claim 24  wherein said vehicle comprises one of a van, a station wagon, a utility vehicle, and a truck.  
   
   
       46 . A window assembly for use in a vehicle, said window assembly comprising: 
 a glass panel having inner and outer sides;    a latch element having a latch attachment portion;    at least one hinge element having a hinge attachment portion;    an adhesive joint joining said latch attachment portion of said latch element at a portion of said inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said latch element on said outer side of said glass panel;    an adhesive joint joining said hinge attachment portion of said hinge element at a portion of said inner side of said glass panel such that there is no exposure of said hinge element on said outer side of said glass panel;    wherein said adhesive joints comprise a substantially cured adhesive selected from the group consisting of a moisture-activated adhesive, a thermally-activated adhesive, a chemically-activated adhesive, an aerobically-cured adhesive, an anaerobically-cured adhesive, and a radiation-cured adhesive;    a substantially opaque coating disposed at said portions of said inner side of said glass panel;    an adhesion promoting compound disposed between said substantially opaque coating and at least one of said latch element and said hinge element;    wherein said window assembly is adapted for mounting on the vehicle such that when fitted within a generally vertical window opening of the vehicle, said glass panel will be generally vertically mounted; and    wherein said window assembly comprises one of a side window, a rear window, and a lift gate window of the vehicle.    
   
   
       47 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said substantially opaque coating comprises a frit coating.  
   
   
       48 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises a urethane adhesive.  
   
   
       49 . The window assembly of  claim 48  wherein said urethane adhesive comprises a moisture-activated urethane adhesive.  
   
   
       50 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesion promoting compound comprises one of a silicon compound, a titanium compound and zirconium compound.  
   
   
       51 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises a silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       52 . The window assembly of  claim 51  wherein said silicone adhesive comprises a moisture-activated silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       53 . The window assembly of  claim 51  wherein said silicone adhesive comprises a thermally-activated silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       54 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said joint joining said latch element to said inner side of said panel withstands a pull of about 150 pounds.  
   
   
       55 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises a nitrile-phenolic adhesive.  
   
   
       56 . The window assembly of  claim 55  wherein said nitrile-phenolic adhesive comprises a thermally-activated nitrile-phenolic adhesive.  
   
   
       57 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein at least one of said latch element and said hinge element has at least one projection for spacing from said glass panel.  
   
   
       58 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said joint joining said hinge element to said inner side of said panel withstands a pull of about 150 pounds.  
   
   
       59 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises an acrylate adhesive.  
   
   
       60 . The window assembly of  claim 59  wherein said acrylate adhesive comprises a chemically-activated acrylate adhesive.  
   
   
       61 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       62 . The window assembly of  claim 61  wherein said epoxy adhesive comprises a thermally-activated epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       63 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises a chemically-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       64 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises a thermally-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       65 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said adhesive comprises a moisture-activated adhesive.  
   
   
       66 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said latch element is formed from one of a metal material, a plastic material, and composite material.  
   
   
       67 . The window assembly of  claim 46  wherein said vehicle comprises one of a van, a station wagon, a utility vehicle, and a truck.