U.S. patent application number 16/949965 was filed with the patent office on 2021-03-11 for method for electrically connecting to window heater of vehicular liftgate window assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.. Invention is credited to David Guillozet, Darin J. Snider.
Application Number | 20210070241 16/949965 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005234541 |
Filed Date | 2021-03-11 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210070241 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snider; Darin J. ; et
al. |
March 11, 2021 |
METHOD FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING TO WINDOW HEATER OF VEHICULAR
LIFTGATE WINDOW ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A method for providing electrical connection to a heater grid
outside of a sealing area of a vehicular rear liftgate window
assembly includes providing a glass window panel configured to be
pivotally mounted at a vehicle and (i) establishing a heater grid
at a central region of an inner surface of the glass window panel,
(ii) establishing busbars at the inner surface inboard of a
perimeter region and at terminal ends of the electrically
conductive traces, and (iii) establishing busbar connecting
portions at the inner surface that electrically connect to and
extend from the respective busbars across the perimeter region to
an outboard region of the inner surface of the glass window panel.
The perimeter region includes a sealing region that contacts a seal
at the vehicle when the glass window panel is pivotally mounted at
the vehicle and when the glass window panel is in the closed
position.
Inventors: |
Snider; Darin J.; (Holland,
MI) ; Guillozet; David; (Hamilton, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC. |
Holland |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005234541 |
Appl. No.: |
16/949965 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15702802 |
Sep 13, 2017 |
10843644 |
|
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16949965 |
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62395582 |
Sep 16, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 16/03 20130101;
B60J 1/1884 20130101; H05B 2203/016 20130101; B60S 1/026 20130101;
B60J 1/2094 20130101; B60J 10/70 20160201; B60Y 2410/115 20130101;
H05B 3/84 20130101; H05B 2203/011 20130101; H05B 3/03 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 16/03 20060101
B60R016/03; H05B 3/03 20060101 H05B003/03; H05B 3/84 20060101
H05B003/84; B60J 1/18 20060101 B60J001/18; B60J 10/70 20060101
B60J010/70; B60S 1/02 20060101 B60S001/02; B60J 1/20 20060101
B60J001/20 |
Claims
1. A method for providing electrical connection to a window heater
outside of a sealing area of a vehicular rear liftgate window
assembly, the method comprising: providing a glass window panel
configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle
so as to be pivotable between a closed position, where the glass
window panel is disposed at a rear opening of the vehicle and
against a seal that circumscribes the rear opening of the vehicle,
and an opened position, where the glass window panel is raised to a
generally horizontal orientation; establishing a window heater at a
central region of an inner surface of the glass window panel, the
window heater comprising a plurality of electrically conductive
traces established at the central region of the inner surface of
the glass window panel inboard of a perimeter region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel; establishing busbars at the
inner surface of the glass window panel inboard of the perimeter
region and at respective terminal ends of the plurality of
electrically conductive traces; establishing a pair of busbar
connecting portions at the inner surface of the glass window panel,
wherein the busbar connecting portions electrically connect to and
extend from the respective busbars across the perimeter region of
the inner surface of the glass window panel to an outboard region
of the inner surface of the glass window panel that is outboard of
the perimeter region of the inner surface of the glass window
panel; electrically connecting electrical connectors to the busbar
connecting portions at the outboard region of the inner surface of
the glass window panel, wherein the electrical connectors are
configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle
when the glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle;
and wherein the perimeter region of the inner surface of the glass
window panel comprises a sealing region that contacts a seal at the
vehicle when the glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the
vehicle and when the glass window panel is in the closed
position.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a protective
covering element at each of the busbar connecting portions at the
perimeter region to limit the seal contacting the busbar connecting
portions when the glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the
vehicle and when the glass window panel is in the closed
position.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein disposing the protective covering
element comprises adhesively attaching a protective tape to the
inner surface of the glass window panel and over a portion of each
of the busbar connecting portions at the perimeter region of the
inner surface of the glass window panel.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the pair of busbar
connecting portions comprises establishing first and second busbar
connecting portions, and wherein establishing the first and second
busbar connecting portions comprises (i) establishing an outboard
portion of the first busbar connecting portion at a first outboard
region of the inner surface of the glass window panel outboard of
the perimeter region of the inner surface of the glass window
panel, and (ii) establishing an outboard portion of the second
busbar connecting portion at a second outboard region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel outboard of the perimeter region
of the inner surface of the glass window panel.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first outboard region of the
inner surface of the glass window panel is at an opposite side of
glass window panel from the second outboard region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel, and wherein the busbars and the
plurality of electrically conductive traces of the window heater
are established at the central region of the inner surface of the
glass window panel between the first outboard region and the second
outboard region.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein electrically connecting
electrical connectors to the busbar connecting portions comprises
(i) electrically connecting a positive electrical connector at the
first busbar connecting portion at the first outboard region of the
inner surface of the glass window panel and (ii) electrically
connecting a negative electrical connector at the second busbar
connecting portion at the second outboard region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the outboard portion of the first
busbar connecting portion extends upward toward an upper region of
the inner surface of the glass window panel, and wherein the
outboard portion of the second busbar connecting portion extends
upward toward the upper region of the inner surface of the glass
window panel, and wherein the electrical connectors are
electrically connected to the first and second busbar connecting
portions at the upper region of the inner surface of the glass
window panel.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the busbar connecting portions
are established at the inner surface of the glass window panel and
extend upward toward an upper region of the outboard region of the
inner surface of the glass window panel, and wherein the electrical
connectors are electrically connected to the busbar connecting
portions at the upper region of the outboard region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein electrically connecting
electrical connectors to the busbar connecting portions comprises
soldering the electrical connectors to the busbar connecting
portions.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical connectors
comprise tab-type connectors.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical connectors
comprise snap-type connectors.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the glass window panel has a
non-light-transmitting coating established at the outboard region
at least where the busbar connecting portions are established.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-light-transmitting
coating circumscribes a transparent region of the glass window
panel, and wherein the plurality of electrically conductive traces
of the window heater are established at the central region of the
inner surface of the glass window panel at the transparent
region.
14. A method for providing electrical connection to a window heater
outside of a sealing area of a vehicular rear liftgate window
assembly, the method comprising: providing a glass window panel
configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle
so as to be pivotable between a closed position, where the glass
window panel is disposed at a rear opening of the vehicle and
against a seal that circumscribes the rear opening of the vehicle,
and an opened position, where the glass window panel is raised to a
generally horizontal orientation; establishing a window heater at a
central region of an inner surface of the glass window panel, the
window heater comprising a plurality of electrically conductive
traces established at the central region of the inner surface of
the glass window panel inboard of a perimeter region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel; establishing a first busbar at
the inner surface of the glass window panel inboard of the
perimeter region and at first terminal ends of the plurality of
electrically conductive traces; establishing a second busbar at the
inner surface of the glass window panel inboard of the perimeter
region and at second terminal ends of the plurality of electrically
conductive traces; establishing a first busbar connecting portion
at the inner surface of the glass window panel, wherein the first
busbar connecting portion electrically connects to and extends from
the first busbar across the perimeter region of the inner surface
of the glass window panel to a first outboard region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel that is outboard of the perimeter
region of the inner surface of the glass window panel; establishing
a second busbar connecting portion at the inner surface of the
glass window panel, wherein the second busbar connecting portion
electrically connects to and extends from the second busbar across
the perimeter region of the inner surface of the glass window panel
to a second outboard region of the inner surface of the glass
window panel that is outboard of the perimeter region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel; electrically connecting a
positive electrical connector at the first busbar connecting
portion at the first outboard region of the inner surface of the
glass window panel; electrically connecting a negative electrical
connector at the second busbar connecting portion at the second
outboard region of the inner surface of the glass window panel;
wherein the glass window panel has a non-light-transmitting coating
established at the first and second outboard regions at least where
the first and second busbar connecting portions are established;
wherein the positive and negative electrical connectors are
configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle
when the glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the vehicle;
and wherein the perimeter region of the inner surface of the glass
window panel comprises a sealing region that contacts a seal at the
vehicle when the glass window panel is pivotally mounted at the
vehicle and when the glass window panel is in the closed
position.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising disposing a first
protective covering element at the first busbar connecting portion
at the perimeter region and disposing a second protective covering
element at the second busbar connecting portion at the perimeter
region to limit the seal contacting the first and second busbar
connecting portions when the glass window panel is pivotally
mounted at the vehicle and when the glass window panel is in the
closed position.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein disposing the first and second
protective covering elements comprises (i) adhesively attaching a
first protective tape to the inner surface of the glass window
panel and over a portion of the first busbar connecting portion at
the perimeter region of the inner surface of the glass window panel
and (ii) adhesively attaching a second protective tape to the inner
surface of the glass window panel and over a portion of the second
busbar connecting portion at the perimeter region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first outboard region of
the inner surface of the glass window panel is at an opposite side
of glass window panel from the second outboard region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel, and wherein the first and second
busbars and the plurality of electrically conductive traces of the
window heater are established at the central region of the inner
surface of the glass window panel between the first outboard region
and the second outboard region.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first busbar connecting
portion extends upward toward an upper region of the first outboard
region of the inner surface of the glass window panel, and wherein
the positive electrical connector is electrically connected to the
first busbar connecting portion at the upper region of the first
outboard region of the inner surface of the glass window panel, and
wherein the second busbar connecting portion extends upward toward
an upper region of the second outboard region of the inner surface
of the glass window panel, and wherein the negative electrical
connector is electrically connected to the second busbar connecting
portion at the upper region of the second outboard region of the
inner surface of the glass window panel.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein electrically connecting the
positive electrical connector to the first busbar connecting
portion comprises soldering the positive electrical connector to
the first busbar connecting portion, and wherein electrically
connecting the negative electrical connector to the second busbar
connecting portion comprises soldering the negative electrical
connector to the second busbar connecting portion.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-light-transmitting
coating circumscribes a transparent region of the glass window
panel, and wherein the plurality of electrically conductive traces
of the window heater are established at the inner surface of the
glass window panel at the transparent region.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/702,802, filed Sep. 13, 2017, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,843,644, which claims the filing benefits of U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 62/395,582, filed Sep. 16, 2016,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a rear window assembly for
a vehicle and, more particularly, a rear liftgate window assembly
for a SUV or crossover vehicle or station wagon or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known to provide a rear liftgate window assembly for a
rear opening of a vehicle. Such liftgate window assemblies are
pivotable between a closed state and an opened state. The glass
window panel of the liftgate often has a heater grid established
thereat, with electrical wire connections made to the heater grid
at the window panel (see FIG. 1). In order to avoid rubbing of the
seal against the heater grid, the wiring and busbars of the heater
grid are inboard or inside the region of the window where the seal
of the vehicle will contact the window panel when the liftgate is
closed, which results in the connectors and wiring being visible to
a person viewing the window from inside the vehicle when the
liftgate is closed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a rear liftgate window
assembly that includes a heater grid with the electrical
connections established outboard of where a seal of the vehicle
will contact the window panel when the liftgate is closed. Thus,
the electrical connectors and wiring are disposed outboard of the
vehicle seal (such as at a black-out area or ceramic frit area of
the window panel) and thus are hidden from view by the interior
vehicle trim panels when the liftgate is closed. A busbar tab is
disposed at the window panel outboard of the heater grid busbar and
spans the area or region where the vehicle seal contacts the window
panel when the liftgate is closed (which is the area or region
between the heater grid busbar and the electrical connector or
contact at the window panel). A protective strip or tape may be
applied at the busbar tab so that the seal does not contact and rub
against the busbar tab when the liftgate is closed.
[0005] These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features
of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the
following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a rear liftgate window
assembly having known electrical connections for a heater grid;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an interior elevation of a liftgate window
assembly of the present invention, having electrical connection to
the heater grid outboard of a sealing region;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical
connection of FIG. 2, showing an outboard electrical busbar with a
protective tape at the busbar to limit the busbar from contacting
the seal when the liftgate is closed;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the electrical
connection of FIG. 2, showing the seal contacting the protective
tape at the busbar; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is an interior elevation of another liftgate window
assembly of the present invention, shown with busbars extending
upward from the outboard region for electrical connection to wiring
or circuitry of the vehicle at an upper region of the liftgate
window assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative
embodiments depicted therein, a rear liftgate window assembly 10
for a vehicle (such as a SUV or the like) is pivotally mounted at
the vehicle and is pivotable between an opened position, where the
window panel is pivoted or lifted upward to open a rear portion of
the vehicle, and a closed position, where the window panel is
pivoted or lowered to close the rear portion of the vehicle. The
rear liftgate window assembly 10 includes a window panel 12 (which
may cooperate with a fixed or movable lower rear panel or door or
liftgate of the vehicle to close the rear portion of the vehicle).
The window assembly 10 includes a heater grid 14 disposed at the
interior surface of the glass window panel 12. The heater grid 14
comprises conductive traces 14a and busbars 14b that are
electrically powered via an electrical connector 16 at opposite
side regions of the window panel 12, with the electrical connectors
16 being laterally outboard of where a seal 18 (FIG. 4) of the
vehicle contacts the inner surface of the window panel 12 when the
liftgate is closed, as discussed below.
[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, the heater grid 14 comprises
a plurality of electrically conductive horizontal traces 14a
disposed at the glass window panel between vertical busbars 14b.
The electrical terminals or connectors 16 are disposed at or
attached at busbars or busbar tabs 20, which are disposed at the
window panel outboard from vertical busbars 14b. Electrical power
is provided to the heater grid traces (and associated busbars) when
the connectors 16 are electrically connected to vehicle wiring and
powered. The electrically conductive heater grid or heating element
thus is established at the window panel (such as at or on an
interior surface of the window panel) and is electrically
conductively connected to (or is otherwise in electrical conductive
continuity with) a power source of the vehicle and may be powered
(such as responsive to a user actuatable input or switch or button
of the vehicle or responsive to a sensor or accessory of the
vehicle) to heat or defrost or defog the window panel. In the
illustrated embodiment, the plurality of electrically conductive
traces extend across the window panel between the vertical busbars
to provide enhanced and more uniform heating and
defrosting/defogging of the window panel.
[0013] The seal 18 is disposed at the vehicle rear opening and
circumscribes the vehicle opening. As shown in FIG. 4, when the
liftgate is closed, the seal 18 contacts the inner surface of the
window panel 14 to seal against the inner surface to limit air and
water intrusion when the liftgate is closed. The seal contacts the
inner surface of the closed window panel along upper and lower
regions above and below the heater grid and busbars and side
regions outboard of the heater grid 14. The upper, lower and side
regions of the window panel where the seal contacts the window
panel are preferably regions of the window panel that include a
dark or opaque or non-light-transmitting coating or frit layer 24
that circumscribes a transparent (or tinted) portion of the window
panel through which the driver of the vehicle can view to see
rearward of the vehicle. The busbars or busbar tabs 20 are in
electrical conductive continuity with the busbars 14b of the heater
grid 14 and extend outboard from the respective busbar 14b and span
the region where the seal contacts the window panel, whereby the
electrical connector 16 is disposed at or near an outboard end of
each busbar 20 (outboard of the seal region). As can be seen with
reference to FIG. 4, the seal 18 contacts the inner surface of the
closed window panel at the busbar 20 and outboard of the heater
grid busbar 14b and inboard of the connector 16.
[0014] Optionally, and desirably, a protective element or tape or
strip or patch 22 may be provided at the busbars 20. The protective
tape 22 is disposed over the busbars at the inner surface of the
window panel at the region where the seal 18 contacts the inner
surface of the window panel when the liftgate is closed. The
electrical connectors 16 and busbars 20 and protective tape 22 are
preferably disposed at a region of the window pane where the dark
or opaque or non-light-transmitting coating or frit layer 24 is
disposed, such that the electrical connectors and protective tape
are not viewable to a person viewing the rear window panel from
exterior of the vehicle when the window panel is closed. The
protective tape 22 may comprise an adhesive tape or strip that may
be adhered at the inner surface of window panel over the frit layer
24 and busbar tab 20.
[0015] Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 5, a liftgate window
assembly 110 includes a heater grid 114 having heater traces 114a
and vertical busbars 114b, with busbars or busbar tabs 120 disposed
at the inner surface of the window panel 112 and extending outboard
of the busbars 114b and spanning the region of the window panel
that contacts the seal (when the window is closed) and extending
upward along the window panel, such that electrical connection to
the busbars 120 may be made at an upper region of the window panel,
such that the electrical wiring of the vehicle (that electrically
connects to the busbars 120) is not visible or is at least
partially hidden from view when the liftgate is opened or closed.
The liftgate window assembly 110 includes protective tape or strips
122 (that may be adhered or otherwise attached at the inner surface
of the window panel) at the busbars 120 at the region of the
busbars that would otherwise contact the vehicle seal when the
liftgate is closed. The liftgate window assembly 110 may otherwise
be similar to the liftgate window assembly 10, discussed above,
such that a detailed discussion of the assemblies need not be
repeated herein.
[0016] The electrical connection to the busbars 20, 120 may
comprise any suitable electrical connection, such as a tab or snap
that is attached or soldered at the busbars (where a wire connector
may receive the connection or press-fit or snap or otherwise attach
to the connection). Clearly, other means for electrically
connecting the electrical connectors to a wiring harness or
circuitry of the vehicle may be implemented while remaining within
the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the
heater grid and conductive traces and electrical connections may
utilize aspects of the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
8,881,458; 8,402,695; 7,274,501; 7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the liftgate window assembly
comprises a separately openable window panel assembly, where the
liftgate window may be opened separately from the lower rear panel
or door of the vehicle. Optionally, the liftgate window assembly
may open and close with the rear panel or door, while remaining
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0018] The liftgate may include hinge supports, strut supports
(that may hold or attach an end of a gas-assist spring or strut at
the window panel) and a latch element, which may be bonded to the
inner surface of the glass window panel (such as at regions where
the opaque frit layer is disposed), such that the liftgate window
assembly does not require any frame portions or trim elements or
the like. The hinge supports and/or strut supports and/or latch
elements may be adhesively bonded at the glass window panel by
utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,853,895 and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties.
[0019] Therefore, the rear liftgate window assembly of the present
invention provides a heater grid at the glass window panel that is
electrically connected to one or more electrical connectors of the
vehicle at a location outboard of where the seal of the vehicle
will contact the inner surface of the window panel when the
liftgate is closed. A protective element or strip or tape may be
disposed at the busbars that span between the connectors and the
heater grid to electrically connect the heater grid to the
electrical connectors, with the tape being disposed at the location
where the vehicle seal would otherwise contact the busbars when the
liftgate is closed.
[0020] Changes and modifications to the specifically described
embodiments may be carried out without departing from the
principles of the present invention, which is intended to be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted
according to the principles of patent law.
* * * * *