Slider window assembly with movable panel drive system

Abstract

A vehicular slider window assembly includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail, a fixed window panel, and a movable window panel that is movable along the rails between an opened position and a closed position. A drive system is operable to move the movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position. The drive system includes a single flexible drive element that, when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in one direction, the flexible drive element pulls the movable window panel along the rails, and when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in the opposite direction, the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails. The lower rail includes guide structure that limits flexing of the flexible drive element when the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails.

1 . A vehicular slider window assembly, said vehicular slider window assembly comprising:
 a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;   a fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said fixed window panel at least in part defining an opening;   a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially along said fixed window panel;   a drive system operable to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, wherein said drive system comprises a single flexible drive element that, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel in one direction, said flexible drive element pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail, and when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel in the opposite direction, said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail; and   wherein said lower rail of said frame portion comprises guide structure that receives said flexible drive element and that limits flexing or bending of said flexible drive element when said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible drive element, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the opened position, pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail, and wherein said flexible drive element, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the closed position, pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a helical cable, and wherein said drive system comprises a toothed drive gear that engages said helical cable, and wherein rotational driving of said toothed drive gear causes movement of said helical cable to move said movable window panel along said lower rail. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said drive system comprises a guide element disposed along said lower rail to guide said helical cable along said lower rail. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a flexible cable and wherein said guide structure defines a passageway along said lower rail, and wherein said flexible cable is received in the passageway along said lower rail, and wherein said guide structure limits flexing or bending of said flexible cable as said flexible cable is moved along said passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said flexible cable is, when moved to pull said movable window panel, coiled around a spool, and wherein said flexible cable is, when moved to push said movable window panel, uncoiled from said spool. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said flexible cable comprises a cylindrical cable and wherein said passageway comprises a cylindrical passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said cylindrical passageway is formed partially along a lower region of said lower rail, and wherein said guide structure that defines said passageway includes a slot along an upper region thereof, and wherein connection between said flexible cable and said movable window panel is made via an element that passes through and is movable along said slot. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said flexible cable comprises a thin U-shaped cable, and wherein said guide structure defines a correspondingly formed passageway that limits flexing or bending of said thin U-shaped cable. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a flexible tape that is received in a first passageway defined by said guide structure along said lower rail, and wherein said guide structure of said first passageway limits flexing or bending of said flexible tape as it is moved along said first passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 10 , wherein one end region of said flexible tape is attached at said movable window panel, and wherein an opposite end region of said flexible tape is disposed in and is movable along a second passageway of said lower rail, and wherein a toothed wheel is disposed at an end region of said lower rail and engages notches at said flexible tape, and wherein said toothed wheel rotates about a vertical axis of rotation to move said flexible tape along both of said first and second passageways. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 11 , wherein, when said toothed wheel is rotated in a first direction, the end region of said flexible tape that is attached at said movable window panel moves in a first direction along said first passageway and the opposite end region of said flexible tape moves in a second direction along said second passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said flexible tape is oriented in a vertical plane, and wherein said first and second passageways comprise vertically oriented passageways with vertical structure that limits flexing of said flexible tape at least in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said lower rail comprises a slot along said first passageway, and wherein connection between the end region of said flexible tape and said movable window panel is made via an element that passes through and is movable along said slot. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a flexible cable that is received in a telescoping support tube at said lower rail. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said flexible cable is, when moved to pull said movable window panel, coiled around a spool to retract said telescoping support tube, and wherein said flexible cable is, when moved to push said movable window panel, uncoiled from said spool so as to extend said telescoping support tube partially along said lower rail. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said drive system comprises a drive motor that rotates a drive element to move said single flexible drive element. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said drive motor is disposed at an end region of said lower rail. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . A vehicular slider window assembly, said vehicular slider window assembly comprising:
 a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;   a fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said fixed window panel at least in part defining an opening;   a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially along said fixed window panel;   a drive system operable to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, wherein said drive system comprises a drive motor and a single flexible drive element;   wherein said drive motor is disposed at an end region of said lower rail and is operable to move said flexible drive element to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position;   wherein, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel in one direction, said flexible drive element pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail toward said drive motor, and when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel in the opposite direction, said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail away from said drive motor; and   wherein said lower rail of said frame portion comprises guide structure that defines a passageway at least partially along said lower rail, and wherein said flexible drive element is received in said passageway such that said guide structure limits flexing or bending of said flexible drive element when said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail.   
     
     
         21 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said flexible drive element, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the opened position, pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail, and wherein said flexible drive element, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the closed position, pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail. 
     
     
         22 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said drive motor rotatably drives a spool, and wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives said spool in a first direction, said flexible drive element is coiled around said spool to pull said movable window panel, and wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives said spool in a second direction opposite the first direction, said flexible drive element is uncoiled from said spool to push said movable window panel. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said guide structure that defines said passageway includes a slot at least partially therealong, and wherein connection between said flexible drive element and said movable window panel is made via an element that passes through and is movable along said slot via movement of said flexible drive element. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a cylindrical cable, and wherein said passageway comprises a cylindrical passageway. 
     
     
         25 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a thin U-shaped cable, and wherein said guide structure defines a correspondingly formed passageway that limits flexing or bending of said thin U-shaped cable. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible drive element is received in a telescoping support tube at said lower rail, and wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives the spool in the first direction to coil said flexible drive element around the spool, said flexible drive element retracts said telescoping support tube to pull said movable window panel, and wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives the spool in the second direction to uncoil said flexible drive element from the spool, said flexible drive element extends said telescoping support tube partially along said lower rail to push said movable window panel. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said flexible drive element comprises a flexible tape that is received in a first passageway defined by said guide structure along said lower rail, and wherein said guide structure of said first passageway limits flexing or bending of said flexible tape as it is moved along said first passageway, and wherein one end region of said flexible tape is attached at said movable window panel, and wherein an opposite end region of said flexible tape is disposed in and is movable along a second passageway of said lower rail, and wherein a toothed wheel that is rotatably driven by said drive motor engages notches at said flexible tape, and wherein said toothed wheel rotates to move said flexible tape along both of said first and second passageways, and wherein, when said toothed wheel is rotated in a first direction, the end region of said flexible tape that is attached at said movable window panel moves in a first direction along said first passageway and the opposite end region of said flexible tape moves in a second direction along said second passageway. 
     
     
         28 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said lower rail comprises a slot along said first passageway, and wherein connection between the end region of said flexible tape and said movable window panel is made via an element that passes through and is movable along said slot. 
     
     
         29 . The vehicular slider window assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening therethrough.