US 12,103,366 B2
Vehicular liftgate window assembly with heater grid electrical connection through glass window panel
Troy F. Tooker, Holland, MI (US); David L Guillozet, Hamilton, MI (US); and Ashley D. Step, Zeeland, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,299.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/002,496, filed on Mar. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0300159 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. B60J 1/18 (2006.01); H05B 3/84 (2006.01)
CPC B60J 1/1884 (2013.01) [H05B 3/84 (2013.01); H05B 2203/011 (2013.01); H05B 2203/016 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rear liftgate window assembly, the rear liftgate window assembly comprising:
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 circumscribing the rear opening of the vehicle, and an opened position, where the glass window panel is raised at least partially away from the rear opening of the vehicle;
wherein the glass window panel comprises an interior side and an exterior side, and wherein the exterior side of the glass window panel is opposite the interior side of the glass window panel, and wherein, with the glass window panel pivotally mounted at the rear portion of the vehicle, the interior side is exposed at an interior of the vehicle and the exterior side is exposed exterior the vehicle;
a heater grid disposed at the interior side of the glass window panel, the heater grid comprising a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at the interior side of the glass window panel;
a pair of busbars established at the interior side of the glass window panel at opposite side regions of the electrically conductive traces of the heater grid;
wherein an aperture is established through the glass window panel at or near an upper region of each busbar, and wherein the aperture extends through the glass window panel from the interior side of the glass window panel to the exterior side of the glass window panel;
electrical connectors electrically connected at the upper regions of the busbars; and
wherein a respective electrical wire is routed from the exterior side of the glass window panel and through a respective one of the electrical connectors and through the respective aperture of the glass window panel for electrical connection to the respective busbar at the interior side of the glass window panel, and wherein, with the glass window panel pivotally mounted at the rear portion of the vehicle, the respective electrical wires are electrically connected to a power source of the vehicle.