US 11,746,582 B2
Slider window assembly with movable panel drive system
Darin J. Snider, Holland, MI (US); and Kyle S. Bowman, Holland, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/443,975.
Application 17/443,975 is a division of application No. 16/438,513, filed on Jun. 12, 2019, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/684,948, filed on Jun. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0355737 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. E05F 15/655 (2015.01); B60J 1/18 (2006.01); E05D 15/06 (2006.01)
CPC E05F 15/655 (2015.01) [B60J 1/1853 (2013.01); E05D 15/0621 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/55 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 moved from the closed position away from the opening and 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 a first 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 a second direction opposite the first direction, said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail;
wherein said single flexible drive element comprises a flexible tape;
wherein said lower rail of said frame portion comprises a guide structure along said lower rail that receives said flexible tape;
wherein an end region of said flexible tape connects to said movable window panel along said guide structure of said lower rail, and wherein said flexible tape, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, is moved along said guide structure of said lower rail; and
wherein said guide structure of said lower rail limits flexing or bending of said flexible tape when said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail.