Sliding laminated glass window with recess and method for manufacturing such a glass window

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle glass window (1'), comprising a curved laminated glass (2'), wherein: in the visible part (VP) of the entire glass: the recess (9) on the side (51) of the inner glass plate (5) has a width (W) comprised between 0.8 mm and 5.0 mm, and in the hidden part (HP) of the glass: both the side (51) of the inner glass plate (5) and the side (41) of the adhesive material plate (4) in at least one hidden alignment zone (HAZ1) are in the lateral extensions of the side (31) of the outer glass plate (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle glass windows, and in particular to glass windows of motor vehicles, which include glass and means for enabling the glass to have vertical movement mobility relative to the vehicle door. The glass is curved, laminated, and includes at least an outer glass plate, an inner glass plate, and an adhesive material plate located between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate. Each plate has a peripheral side and a thickness. Background Art

[0002] International Patent Application No. WO2013 / 04473 proposes that for the lamination operation, what is commonly called cold bending, or "cold-bending" in English, can be implemented by using a curved thick glass plate, an adhesive material plate, and a thin glass plate that is initially flat or hardly curved and whose thickness is not greater than one-third of the thickness of the curved thick glass plate.

[0003] International Patent Application No. WO2014 / 029605 discloses a glass that generally has a line of sight. When observing the glass window vertically, the line of sight divides the glass into a hidden part of the glass and a visible part of the glass. Regardless of the position of the glass relative to the door, the hidden part of the glass is located below the line of sight and is intended to be hidden inside the door, while the visible part of the glass is located above the line of sight. And it is proposed that it is important that the sides of the three-layer plate of the laminated glass in the visible part of the glass are laterally continuous with each other, while the hidden part may include an area where there is only an outer thick glass plate, and the glass is fixed in this area.

[0004] In the prior art, European Patent Application EP 3395777 is also known, a laminated movable glass window, in which the sides of the inner glass plate and the sides of the glass adhesive material plate are located below the sides of the outer glass plate, thereby forming a recess with a very small specific width, about 1 mm, and preferably even smaller.

[0005] In practice, when the structure of the finished laminated glass is complex, assembling the three-layer plate to form a laminate can be particularly troublesome. In fact, for complex curves, it is difficult to obtain a thin inner glass plate that perfectly fits the curve of the thick outer glass plate over its entire surface and at the same time the contour of the thin inner glass plate perfectly fits the contour of the thick outer glass plate.

[0006] During the lamination operation, which is usually carried out in an autoclave, sometimes for some of the glass in a batch, the contour of the thin inner glass plate shifts in the centripetal or centrifugal direction towards the corners or an area around the thick outer glass plate, or sometimes even towards several areas. Such glass does not have a peripheral with a consistent appearance and must be scrapped because they will be rejected by automobile manufacturers.

[0007] Such a local lateral misalignment may also result in a fragile area of the laminated glass. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a movable laminated glass window arrangement that can be manufactured correctly and quickly and has an acceptable aesthetic configuration, particularly with a consistent appearance of the periphery in the visible part of the glass.

[0009] The present invention is based on the finding that instead of locally forming recesses or protrusions in the inner glass plate, it is preferably designed and implemented by lamination so that after lamination, the laminated glass naturally presents small and visible inner recesses, while being consistent in the visible part of the glass.

[0010] However, such inner recesses, if they are entirely on the periphery, will complicate the positioning of the laminates relative to each other before lamination and will likely reduce the reliability of the lamination operation. Therefore, the present invention also proposes, based on the fact, to provide at least one area without such recesses, and proposes that this area is located in the hidden part of the glass, and regardless of the position of the glass relative to the vehicle door (open or closed), this area is always hidden inside the door pillar.

[0011] In addition, the area without such recesses is a fragile area of the laminated glass, but by being arranged to particularly have no recesses in the hidden area of the glass, this fragile area will always be protected inside the door pillar, regardless of the position of the glass window relative to the vehicle door (open or closed).

[0012] Accordingly, the present invention relates most generally to a glass window of a vehicle. The glass window includes a glass and means for allowing vertical movement mobility of the glass relative to a vehicle door. The glass is curved, laminated, and includes at least an outer glass plate, an inner glass plate, and an adhesive material plate located between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate. Each plate has a peripheral side surface. The side surface of the inner glass plate and the side surface of the adhesive material plate are located below the side surface of the outer glass plate, thereby forming an inner recess having a width. The glass has a line of sight, and when observing the glass window vertically, this line of sight divides the glass into a hidden part of the glass and a visible part of the glass. Regardless of the position of the glass relative to the vehicle door, the hidden part of the glass is located below the line of sight and is intended to be hidden inside the vehicle door, while the visible part of the glass is located above the line of sight. The glass window is characterized in that:

[0013] - The sides of both the inner glass plate and the adhesive material plate are within the lateral extensions of the sides of the outer glass plate in at least one, and even in a plurality of, hidden alignment regions, each of the hidden alignment regions or the plurality of hidden alignment regions being located in the hidden part of the glass, and

[0014] - The recess has a width between 0.8 mm and 5.0 mm, preferably between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm, and even more preferably between 1.2 mm and 3.8 mm, and is present in the entire visible part of the glass.

[0015] The recess is called an "inner recess" because it makes the inner glass plate smaller than the outer glass plate; in other words, only the outer glass plate fully reaches the nominal dimensions (the dimensions of the window to be closed).

[0016] The width of the inner recess is the distance between the normal planes of the edges of the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate.

[0017] For ease of implementation of lamination, it is preferred that the inner recess of the inner glass plate is applied in the same manner as the adhesive material plate located between the two glass plates.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the means for making the glass movable may include one or more holes that partially or completely pass through the glass (that is, through part or the entire thickness of its constituent elements, or through part of the thickness at a location where the glass includes multiple elements, or even through the entire thickness of the glass), one or more attachment slots (referred to as "holders" in English), one or more tracks or slides.

[0019] The inner recess also preferably extends in the hidden part of the glass, below the line of sight, at a height of at least 5.0 mm, and preferably at a height of at least 10.0 mm, so as to ensure that the recess presents a consistent appearance and even slightly extends beyond its visible area.

[0020] The inner recess preferably exists along the entire first side, top side, and second side of the glass.

[0021] The inner recess has a width that is preferably constant along the visible part of the first side of the glass and / or along the visible part of the top side of the glass and / or along the visible part of the second side of the glass, and preferably, the inner recess has a constant width along its entire length in the visible part of the glass.

[0022] The inner recess is intended to be guided in the guiding and sealing elements fixed to the vehicle.

[0023] The outer glass plate and the inner glass plate are preferably such that the thickness of the inner glass plate is less than the thickness of the outer glass plate.

[0024] In a variant, the side surface of the inner glass plate is located below the side surface of the outer glass plate:

[0025] - Over at least part of the length or even the entire length of the first side edge, and / or

[0026] - Over at least part of the length or even the entire length of the second side edge of the glass, and / or - over at least part of the length or even the entire length of the top edge of the glass,

[0027] - Over at least part of the length or even the entire length of the bottom edge of the glass, it is not located below the side surface of the outer glass plate.

[0028] Therefore, the glass is easier to manufacture because part of the side surface of the inner glass plate, which does not extend beyond the side surface of the adhesive material plate and the side surface of the outer glass plate, can thus make the side surface of the inner glass plate continuous with the side surface of the adhesive material plate and the side surface of the outer glass plate; these parts can be used as reference areas during the glass manufacturing process (i.e., during the lamination process) for the positioning of the inner glass plate and the positioning of the adhesive material plate relative to the curved inner glass plate.

[0029] In a variant, the hidden alignment area is integrally formed along the bottom edge of the glass. Therefore, the entire bottom edge of the inner glass plate can be used as a reference for one (or more) reference stoppers for the positioning of the inner glass plate and the adhesive material plate before lamination. In particular, there are three reference areas in the hidden alignment area, and the alignment reference is particularly reliable.

[0030] In another variant, the bottom edge of the glass includes three hidden alignment areas and two non-laminated fixing areas, and each non-laminated fixing area is sandwiched between two consecutive hidden alignment areas. Therefore, the three hidden alignment areas can be used as references for reference stoppers for the positioning of the inner glass plate and the adhesive material plate before lamination. Therefore, the glass can be fixed through the fixing areas where only the outer glass plate exists; this simplifies the fixing. In addition, with these three hidden alignment areas, the alignment reference is particularly reliable.

[0031] There are no gas voids or vacuum voids between the plates constituting the glass. In this sense, the glass is laminated glass.

[0032] Advantageously, the thickness of the outer glass plate is between 2.85 mm and 4.85 mm.

[0033] Advantageously, the thickness of the inner glass plate is between 0.30 mm and 2.60 mm.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the inner glass plate is included between 1.00 mm and 1.20 mm.

[0035] Advantageously, for thicknesses of the inner glass plate of approximately 1.1 mm, approximately 1.6 mm, and approximately 2.1 mm, the inner glass plate has maximum surface stresses of 20 MPa, 30 MPa, and 40 MPa, respectively. The term "approximately" herein refers to a value that a person skilled in the art would regard as a standard value, even though locally that value may vary within a range of plus or minus 10%.

[0036] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a vehicle window glass, the window glass including glass and means for allowing vertical movement mobility of the glass relative to a vehicle door, the glass being curved, laminated, and including at least an outer glass plate, an inner glass plate, and an adhesive material plate located between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate, each plate having a peripheral side, the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate being located below the side of the outer glass plate, thereby forming an inner recess having a width, the glass having a line of sight that, when the window glass is observed vertically, divides the glass into a hidden part of the glass and a visible part of the glass, regardless of the position of the glass relative to the vehicle door, the hidden part of the glass being located below the line of sight and intended to be hidden inside the vehicle door, and the visible part of the glass being located above the line of sight, the method being characterized in that:

[0037] - For the manufacturing operation of the glass by lamination, both the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate are within the lateral extension of the side of the outer glass plate in at least one hidden alignment region, even in a plurality of hidden alignment regions, each of the hidden alignment region or the plurality of hidden alignment regions being located in the hidden part of the glass, and both the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate are positioned such that,

[0038] - After lamination, the inner recess has a width included between 0.8 mm and 5.0 mm, and preferably included between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm, even included between 1.2 mm and 3.8 mm, and is present throughout the visible part of the entire glass.

[0039] In the present context, for the ranges mentioned, the boundaries of the ranges are included within the ranges.

[0040] "Side" or "edge" refers to the narrow side of a plate, which is generally located transversely between the two main faces of the plate. The "lateral extension" of a side refers to this transverse direction between the main faces of the plate.

[0041] Thus, the glass is easier to manufacture because the (or each) part of the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate does not extend below the side of the outer glass plate, so that the side of the inner glass plate can be made continuous with the side of the adhesive material plate and the side of the outer glass plate; these (this) parts can be used as reference parts for positioning the inner glass plate and positioning the adhesive material plate relative to the outer glass plate during the glass manufacturing process (i.e., during the lamination process).

[0042] Furthermore, these (this) parts can be located opposite the device (i.e., the glass bracket or brackets) that enables the glass to have vertical mobility relative to the vehicle door, thereby enhancing the mechanical strength of the glass at this location.

[0043] The present invention has been developed for incorporation into a window glass within a vehicle door, the vehicle door having side pillars and an upper pillar at the location of the window glass when the window glass is raised (closed).

[0044] Particularly advantageously, the present invention allows for the manufacture of a window glass with a single inner border (débord) that will be visible to the vehicle user, but which is not truly noticed because it is unobtrusive and preferably remains constant throughout the entire visible portion of the glass. Description of the Drawings

[0045] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of non - limiting embodiments and the drawings:

[0046] Figure 1 An internal front view of a movable front window glass of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, the movable front window glass having a partially peripheral recess and a glass bracket;

[0047] Figure 2 An internal front view of another movable front window glass of a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, the movable front window glass having a partially peripheral recess but no glass bracket;

[0048] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A partial cross - sectional view of the glass bracket in

[0049] Figure 4 A partial cross - sectional view of a side door pillar with glass according to the present invention in the closed position is shown.

[0050] For ease of reading, the elements shown in the drawings are not strictly to scale. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0051] Figure 1 And 2The figure shows, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the left side glass windows 1, 1' of the vehicle as observed from the interior of the vehicle.

[0052] In particular, this is the side glass window of a motor vehicle door (not visible in Figure 1 and Figure 2 ), which is movable relative to the door substantially vertically between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the glass window is entirely or almost entirely located inside the door, and in the closed position, the glass window closes the window of the door.

[0053] Thus, in the closed position, the glass window achieves a vertical separation between the interior space I inside the vehicle and the exterior space E outside the vehicle.

[0054] Therefore, "external" and "internal" are relative to the exterior space E and the interior space I respectively in this text.

[0055] Since it is a side glass window, it extends substantially along an axis generally referred to as the "X-axis" of the vehicle, which is the longitudinal central axis along which the vehicle moves forward. The vehicle is equipped with the glass window according to the present invention as the side glass window on the left side of the vehicle and corresponds to the horizontal axis in the Figure 1 and Figure 2 mid-plate plane.

[0056] In this text, the concepts of "centripetal" and "centrifugal" are observed in the plate plan view in Figure 1 or Figure 2 , or when the glass window is laid flat and observed, in the overall plane of the glass window, and are expressed along the X-axis and the Z-axis relative to the center of the glass window; the centripetal direction is the direction towards the center of the glass window, and the centrifugal direction is the direction away from the center of the glass window.

[0057] The mobility of the glass window relative to the door is substantially vertical, and in this direction, this mobility is along the Z-axis and may have a small component along the transverse Y-axis not shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0058] In the embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the glass windows 1, 1' are integrally formed.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the glass windows 1, 1' include laminated curved (i.e., non-planar) glasses 2, 2'. However, for greater simplicity, the glasses 2, 2' are considered planar in the figures.

[0060] The glasses 2, 2' of the glass windows 1, 1' are laminated glasses, which at least include, from the outside to the inside, in the following order: an outer glass plate 3, an adhesive material splint 4, and an inner glass plate 5; however, at least one other plate may be inserted between the outer glass plate 3 and the adhesive material splint 4 or between the adhesive material splint 4 and the inner glass plate 5. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 due to transparency, the adhesive material splint 4 and the outer glass plate 3 can be seen through the inner glass plate 5. As a variant, the glasses 2, 2' may be composed of the outer glass plate 3, the adhesive material splint 4, and the inner layer glass plate 5, without any other plates.

[0061] In addition, the glasses 2, 2' have a first side edge 23, a second side edge 24, a top edge 25, and a bottom edge 26. The first side edge 23 and the second side edge 24 of the glass are respectively arranged in the part of the glass facing the front of the vehicle and the part of the glass facing the rear of the vehicle. The top edge 25 and the bottom edge 26 of the glass are respectively arranged in the part of the glass facing the roof of the vehicle and the part of the glass facing the ground on which the vehicle is placed.

[0062] The outer glass plate 3 has an outer surface 30 facing the external space E, an intermediate surface 32 facing the adhesive material splint 4, and a peripheral side surface 31 located between these two surfaces. In addition, the outer glass plate 3 has a first side edge 33, a second side edge 34, a top edge 35, and a bottom edge 36. The first side edge 33 and the second side edge 34 of the outer glass plate 3 are respectively arranged in the part of the outer glass plate 3 facing the front of the vehicle and the part of the outer glass plate 3 facing the rear of the vehicle. The top edge 35 and the bottom edge 36 of the outer glass plate 3 are respectively arranged in the part of the outer glass plate 3 facing the roof of the vehicle and the part of the outer glass plate 3 facing the vehicle chassis.

[0063] The inner glass plate 5 has an intermediate surface 50 facing the adhesive material splint 4, an inner surface 52 facing the internal space I, and a peripheral side surface 51 located between these two surfaces. In addition, the inner glass plate 5 has a first side edge 53, a second side edge 54, a top edge 55, and a bottom edge 56. The first side edge 53 and the second side edge 54 of the inner glass plate 5 are respectively arranged in the part of the inner glass plate 5 facing the front of the vehicle and the part of the inner glass plate 5 facing the rear of the vehicle. The top edge 55 and the bottom edge 56 of the inner glass plate 5 are respectively arranged in the part of the inner glass plate 5 facing the roof of the vehicle and the part of the inner glass plate 5 facing the vehicle chassis.

[0064] The adhesive material laminate 4 has an outer intermediate surface 40 facing and in contact with the intermediate surface 32 here, an inner intermediate surface 42 facing and in contact with the intermediate surface 50 here, and a peripheral side surface 41 located between these two intermediate surfaces 40, 42. In addition, the adhesive material laminate 4 has a first side edge 43, a second side edge 44, a top edge 45, and a bottom edge 46. The first side edge 43 and the second side edge 44 of the adhesive material laminate 4 are respectively provided in the portion of the adhesive material laminate 4 facing the front of the vehicle and in the portion of the adhesive material laminate 4 facing the rear of the vehicle. The top edge 45 and the bottom edge 46 of the adhesive material laminate 4 are respectively provided in the portion of the adhesive material laminate 4 facing the roof of the vehicle and in the portion of the adhesive material laminate 4 facing the vehicle chassis.

[0065] The outer glass plate 3 is a glass plate that has undergone a hot bending operation before manufacturing the laminated glass 2, 2', and has a thickness e3 including between 2.85 and 4.85 mm, for example 3.50 mm. The outer glass plate 3 can have a surface stress of at least 80 Mpa and less than 200 Mpa.

[0066] The inner glass plate 5 can be a glass plate that has undergone a thermal hardening or semi-hardening operation, and has a thickness e5 including between 0.70 mm and 2.60 mm, even including between 0.70 and 2.50 mm, even including between 0.70 and 2.30 mm, even including between 0.70 mm and 2.10 mm, for example 1.10 mm or 1.60 mm. The hardening or semi-hardening operation has the advantage of a very fast manufacturing speed. In fact, on average, about 20 glass plates can be produced in one minute. In addition, the hardening or semi-hardening operation causes surface stresses of about 20 MPa, 30 MPa, and 40 MPa to be generated on glass plates with thicknesses of about 1.10 mm, about 1.60 mm, and about 2.10 mm respectively.

[0067] As a variant, the inner glass plate 5 can be a glass plate that has undergone chemical hardening, and has a thickness e5 including between 0.30 mm and 1.60 mm, even including between 0.50 mm and 1.50 mm, even including between 0.70 mm and 1.20 mm, for example 1.10. The chemical hardening operation allows the generation of a surface stress of at least 200 Mpa.

[0068] The adhesive material laminate 4 is, for example, a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plate, which has a thickness e4 including between 0.30 and 1.50 mm, for example 0.78 mm. The adhesive material plate 4 preferably has the same dimensions as the inner glass plate 5, that is, the length along the X-axis and the height along the Z-axis.

[0069] In the case where the glass 2, 2' includes one or more other plates in addition to the above three plates, the outer glass plate 3 is the outermost plate of the laminated glass.

[0070] In one variant, the inner glass pane 5 is not bent before manufacturing the laminated glass 2, 2'; it is this lamination that gives it the bent shape that conforms to the shape of the outer glass pane 3. This is made possible due to the small thickness of the inner glass pane 5 relative to the outer glass pane 3.

[0071] In another variant, the inner glass pane 5 is bent to the final shape of the glasses 2, 2' before manufacturing the laminated glass 2.

[0072] In an intermediate variant, the inner glass pane 5 is bent before manufacturing the laminated glass 2, 2' according to a shape that is flatter than the shape it will ultimately have in the finished laminated glass 2, 2'.

[0073] Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows that the glasses 2, 2' have an outer surface 20 formed by the outer surface 30 of the outer glass pane 3, an inner surface 22 formed by the inner surface 52 of the inner glass pane 5, and a peripheral side 21 located between these two surfaces, corresponding to the peripheral side 31 of the outer glass pane 3, the peripheral side 41 of the adhesive material sheet 4, and the peripheral side 51 of the inner glass pane 5.

[0074] In Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the dashed line VL, referred to as the "line of sight" or "line of sight boundary", represents the top of the door frame in which the window panes 1, 1' slide inside. When observing the window pane vertically, this line of sight VL divides the glass into a hidden part HP of the glass and a visible part VP of the glass. Regardless of the position of the glass relative to the door, the hidden part of the glass is located below the line of sight VL and is intended to be hidden inside the door, while the visible part of the glass is located above the line of sight VL.

[0075] In the hidden part of the window pane, below the line of sight LV, the window panes 1, 1' have one, preferably two fixed regions F, F' here, where the glass brackets 6 are fixed to the glasses 2, 2' ( Figure 1 only the glass brackets of the glass are shown).

[0076] Thus, in addition to the glasses 2, 2', Figure 1 and Figure 2 the window panes 1, 1' of also include at least one glass bracket along at least a part of at least one bottom edge 26, which is intended to allow the accommodation of a connecting component (not shown), the purpose of which is to be able to connect the glass bracket to a moving system for raising and lowering the window pane. Some documents refer to this as a "regulator" system.

[0077] Thus, the window panes 1, 1' preferably include two glass brackets in their use configuration.

[0078] InFigure 1 In a variant, the device for imparting translatory mobility to the glass 2 relative to the vehicle door includes at least one and preferably at least two glass supports 6, 6', which are, for example, substantially inverted h-shaped in cross section.

[0079] Figure 3 A detail view of such a glass support 6 is shown for a glass having no recesses at all in the fixed area F. Thus, such a glass support 6 has:

[0080] - a first part, which consists of two parallel walls 63, 64 that are connected at their bottom and form a longitudinal groove, that is, a U-shaped cross section, and

[0081] - a second part, which consists of a tail 65 that extends opposite the parallel walls 63, 64 relative to the bottom connecting these walls.

[0082] In the longitudinal groove of the glass supports 6, 6', the side surface 51 of the inner glass plate and the side surface 41 of the adhesive material plate are both in the lateral extension of the side surface 31 of the outer glass plate.

[0083] In the version shown, the assembly is carried out such that the parallel walls 63, 64 of the h-shape enclose the glass 2 in its lower part, and the tail 65 is then substantially in the extension of the glass 2.

[0084] This h-shape of the glass support is particularly advantageous because it allows the transfer of forces between the glass support and the glass along a larger surface area corresponding to the sum of the inner surface areas of the parallel walls 63, 64; however, it is perfectly possible to use a single plate, which has, for example, at least two parts: a first part for cooperating with the glass and a second part for cooperating with the drive mechanism (raising / lowering) of the glass.

[0085] In Figure 3 the glass 2 is shown as flat, and the parallel walls 63, 64 and the tail 65 are planar, but the glass 2 can be curved, and the parallel walls 63, 64 and / or the tail 65 can be curved. The tail 65 extends from approximately half of the bottom connecting the parallel walls 63, 64, but it is also possible to position the tail 65 in the extension of either of the parallel walls 63, 64.

[0086] In Figure 3 the tail 65 is not parallel to the walls 63, 64. The axis A shows the median plane of the window glass at its lower end when the window glass 1 is correctly positioned relative to the glass support 6. The tail 65 is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the T-axis and this angle depends on the curvature of the glass 2.

[0087] The tail 65 is used to connect a motor drive system (not shown) to allow the window glass 1 to be raised and lowered in the vehicle door.

[0088] The assembly of the glass supports 6, 6' onto the laminated glass 2 is carried out on a jig which allows the tolerances on the glass support 6, 6' / glass 2 assembly to be controlled.

[0089] Before the positioning and fixing of the glass supports, the glass 2 is first correctly positioned ("focused") in a mounting jig having a plurality of positioning stops.

[0090] One of the positioning stops is designated as point Y3 and is preferably positioned on the line of sight VL which shows the position of the lower gasket which comes into contact with the vehicle door when the window is closed.

[0091] The glass supports 6, 6' are bonded by means of an adhesive such as polyurethane, for example, and then "mounted" onto the glass 2, that is to say, it is positioned in such a way that, by inserting a plastic (for example polypropylene) insert material 66 between the parallel walls 63, 64 and the glass 2, the glass is made to assume a stopped or non-stopped U shape.

[0092] In a variant, it is proposed to inject the bonding material in situ to form the insert material 66 which is a thermoplastic hot melt resin based on polyamide, for example.

[0093] When the glass and the glass supports are correctly positioned relative to one another, the positioning of the insert material 66 thus ensures the position of the glass supports, regardless of the profile of the glass.

[0094] The hot melt resin used has an elastic limit of approximately 5.5 N / mm 2 and a breaking strength of 11 N / mm 2 calculated according to the DIN 53455 standard. It must be used at a temperature of around 220 °C and has a viscosity of approximately 5000 mPa.s at this temperature, measured according to the ASTM D 3236 standard.

[0095] The glass supports used are preferably made of aluminium alloy. For example, with an aluminium alloy of grade 6060 (AGS), a vertical pressure of 30 to 50 tons is sufficient, that is to say, relative to the dimensions of the glass support, a force of approximately 150 GPa for an h-shaped glass support with overall dimensions of approximately 40 x 30 mm and a force of approximately 450 GPa for an h-shaped glass support with overall dimensions of approximately 60 x 60 mm.

[0096] In Figure 2 the variant, in two fixing zones F, F', the glass 2' is not laminated: not all three elements constituting the minimum lamination are present over the entire surface of the fixing zones F, F', as will be described in detail below.

[0097] Two fixing methods are combined here:

[0098] - At the front, the fixing area F does not include any holes, and thus the glass support also does not have any holes.

[0099] - At the rear, the fixing area F’ has fixing holes 33; thus the glass support also has fixing holes.

[0100] Although not shown, Figure 2 it is entirely possible that the two fixing areas F, F’ of the window glass 1’ include holes, or that the two fixing areas F, F’ of the window glass 1’ do not include any holes.

[0101] In Figure 2 the version shown, the bottom edge 56 of the inner glass plate 5 and the bottom edge 46 of the adhesive material plate 4 are much higher than the bottom edge 36 of the outer glass plate 3. The bottom edge 56 of the inner glass plate 5 and the bottom edge 46 are located at approximately the mid - distance between the line of sight VL and the bottom edge 36 of the outer glass plate 3 in the vertical direction.

[0102] In Figure 2 the version shown, in the fixing area F’, the outer glass plate 3 includes a tubular hole 33 which leads to the two surfaces of the outer glass plate 3, the outer surface 30 and the inner surface 32. The hole 33 has an axis and has a circular inner cross - section; it does not lead to the side surface 31 of the outer glass sheet 3: it is completely circular in cross - section and it is not a notch.

[0103] In the two fixing areas F, F’, there is no adhesive material plate 4 and inner glass plate 5; only the outer glass plate 3.

[0104] According to the invention, the side surface 51 of the inner glass plate 5 and the side surface 41 of the adhesive material plate 4 are located below the side surface 31 of the outer glass plate 3, thereby forming an inwardly concave portion 9 extending in the centripetal direction with a width W, and this inwardly concave portion is special because it is not entirely peripheral; it does not extend along the entire periphery of the glass; in at least one hidden alignment area HAZ1, HAZ2, HAZ3, there is no inwardly concave portion, and the side surface 51 of the inner glass plate 5 and the side surface 41 of the adhesive material plate 4 are both in the lateral extension of the side surface 31 of the outer glass plate 3; this hidden alignment area is located in the hidden part HP of the glass, so that it is always hidden inside the car door, regardless of the position of the window glass relative to the car door (the window glass is open or closed or in an intermediate position between the two).

[0105] This inwardly concave portion 9 is unique in the visible part VP of the glass, and has a relatively narrow width, and is included between 0.8 mm and 5.0 mm, preferably included between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm, or even included between 1.2 mm and 3.8 mm, and exists in the entire visible part VP of the glass.

[0106] The recess 9 may not extend below the first side edge 23 and / or the second edge 24, but only extend in the visible part of the glass, at least up to the line of sight VL, and preferably, starting from the line of sight VL in the hidden part HP of the glass, extend downward below the line of sight VL at a height of at least 5.0 mm, and preferably at a height of at least 10.0 mm. Thus, a hidden alignment area can be realized at the bottom of the first side edge 23 and / or the bottom of the second side edge 24, in particular to allow the realization of a reference only along the X-axis.

[0107] In Figure 1 and Figure 2 the recess 9 is present along the entire first side edge 23, the entire top edge 25 and the entire second side edge 24 of the glass. Thus, the hidden alignment area is located along the bottom edge 26 of the glass 2 or at the corner between the first side edge 23 and the bottom edge 26 and / or the second side edge 24 and the bottom edge 26.

[0108] In Figure 1 variant, there is only one hidden alignment area HAZ1 and it is formed entirely along the bottom edge 26 of the glass 2. This means that one (or more) positioning marks of the adhesive material plate 4 and the inner glass plate 5 can be obtained along the bottom edge 26 in order to correctly position these laminates at least along the Z-axis before lamination.

[0109] In Figure 2 variant, there are three hidden alignment areas HAZ1, HAZ2, HAZ3 distributed along the bottom edge 26 of the glass 2':

[0110] - The hidden alignment area HAZ1 is at the rear, near the corner between the first side edge 23 and the bottom edge 26,

[0111] - The hidden alignment area HAZ3 is at the front, near the corner between the second side edge 24 and the bottom edge 26,

[0112] - The central hidden alignment area HAZ2, approximately near the middle of the bottom edge 26.

[0113] Thus, each unlaminated fixed area F, F' is respectively inserted between two consecutive hidden alignment areas:

[0114] - Between the hidden alignment area HAZ2 and the hidden alignment area HAZ3, and

[0115] - Between the hidden alignment area HAZ1 and the hidden alignment area HAZ2.

[0116] Figure 2 Each of the three hidden alignment areas HAZ1, HAZ2, HAZ3 in

[0117] Although not shown, two hidden alignment regions and one or two fixed regions may be provided; or even four hidden alignment regions may be provided.

[0118] The recess 9 has a constant width W along the visible part of the first side edge 23 of the glass and / or along the visible part of the top edge 25 of the glass and / or along the visible part of the second side edge 24 of the glass; however, preferably, the recess 9 has a constant thickness W along the entire length in the visible part VP of the glass. If it is present in the hidden part HP of the glass, it does not need to have the same width W as the hidden part HP of the glass.

[0119] The width W of the recess 9 measured on the finished laminated glass has a higher accuracy since it is obtained before lamination:

[0120] - First, the outer glass plate is correctly positioned ("focused") in a mounting jig having a plurality of positioning stoppers (such as stoppers X1, Y1, Y2, Z1, Z2), and then

[0121] - The adhesive material plate 4 and the inner glass plate 5 are correctly positioned into the same mounting jig by means of the same positioning stoppers.

[0122] There is at least one stopper, here Figure 1 the stopper Z1 in, is located in the hidden alignment region.

[0123] Thus, generally, the entire part of the glass window below the visual field boundary VL may not include a recess: In this part below the visual field boundary VL, when the glass window is closed, inside the door frame, the side surface 31 of the outer glass plate 3 may form a continuity with the side surface 51 of the inner glass plate 5 in one (or several) part of its length, or even over its entire length, and even the side surface 31 of the outer glass plate 3 may extend further in the centrifugal direction than the side surface 51 of the inner glass plate 5 in one (or several) part of its length, or even over its entire length.

[0124] For example, the side surface 51 of the inner glass plate 5 and the side surface 31 of the outer glass plate 3 may form a continuity only at the device or those devices that allow the mobility of the glass 2 relative to the car door.

[0125] In Figure 1 and Figure 2 by forming a single recess 9, or a centripetal offset, each of the edges 53, 54, 55 of the inner glass plate 5 is thus located below the side surface 31 (and the side surface 41 of the adhesive material plate 4) of the outer glass plate 3 in the centripetal direction.

[0126] Each plate 3, 4, 5 has a peripheral contour P3, P4, P5: in the entire visible part VP of the glass, the contour P5 of the inner glass plate 5 and the contour P4 of the adhesive material plate 4 extend below the contour P3 of the outer glass plate 3.

[0127] Below the line of sight boundary VL, the vehicle door may have at least one pillarless portion. Thus, the vehicle door can be made to: - not include the side front pillar, which is part of the body adjacent thereto and is also referred to as the "A-pillar" or in English as the "A-pillar", which guides the window glass, and / or

[0128] - not include the side rear pillar, which is part of the body adjacent thereto and is also referred to as the "B-pillar" or in English as the "B-pillar", which guides the window glass.

[0129] Figure 4 The edges of the window glasses 1, 1' are shown being guided in the guiding and sealing element 71 fixed to the vehicle.

[0130] More specifically, Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional view of the first edge 23 of the glasses 2, 2' is shown, and one of the vertical guiding elements of the window glasses 1, 1' fixed to the front part of the vehicle door is shown. The guiding element particularly includes a first guiding and sealing element 71 and a first covering member 70. The first guiding and sealing element 71 allows the glasses 2, 2' to be guided in the Z-axis direction, and the function of the first covering member 70 is to shield the guiding and sealing element 71.

[0131] The first side edge 23 contacts and slides between the spherical protrusion 72 and a gasket including two lips 73, 73'. The gasket 73 may include one lip or more than two lips.

[0132] Another guiding element (not visible) of the window glasses 1, 1' is fixed to the rear part of the vehicle door, thereby allowing the second side edge 24 of the glasses 2, 2' to be guided in the Z-axis direction.

[0133] In this Figure 4 the inner glass plate 5 contacts all the inner sealing elements of the guiding and sealing element 71. The recess 9 thus has a rather large width, however this width does not necessarily provide a specific internal seal.

[0134] The present invention has been described above by way of example. Note that various modifications of the present invention can also be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the patent, for example, as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle window glass, comprising glass and means for allowing vertical movement mobility of the glass relative to a vehicle door, the glass being curved, laminated, and comprising at least an outer glass plate, an inner glass plate, and an adhesive material plate located between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate, each plate having a peripheral side, the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate being located below the side of the outer glass plate, thereby forming a recess having a width, the glass having a line of sight, when vertically observing the window glass, the line of sight dividing the glass into a hidden part of the glass and a visible part of the glass, regardless of the position of the glass relative to the door, the hidden part of the glass being located below the line of sight and intended to be hidden inside the door, while the visible part of the glass is located above the line of sight, characterized in that: - Both the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate are in the lateral extension of the side of the outer glass plate in at least one hidden alignment region, each of the at least one hidden alignment region is located in the hidden part of the glass, and - The inner recess has a width between 0.8 mm and 5.0 mm and is present in the visible part of the entire glass.

2. The window glass according to claim 1, wherein the recess extends in the hidden part of the glass, below the line of sight, over a height of at least 5.0 mm.

3. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess is present along the entire first side edge, the entire top edge, and the entire second side edge of the glass.

4. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess has a constant width along the visible part of the first side edge of the glass and / or along the visible part of the top edge of the glass and / or along the visible part of the second side edge of the glass.

5. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein for thicknesses of the outer glass plate of 1.1 mm, 1.6 mm, and 2.1 mm, the inner glass plate has maximum surface stresses of 20 MPa, 30 MPa, and 40 MPa, respectively.

6. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner glass plate has a surface stress of at least 200 MPa.

7. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hidden alignment area is integrally formed along the bottom edge of the glass.

8. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom edge of the glass comprises three hidden alignment areas and two non-laminated fixing areas, each non-laminated fixing area being sandwiched between two consecutive hidden alignment areas.

9. The window glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess is intended to be guided in a guiding and sealing element fixed to the vehicle.

10. The window glass according to claim 1, wherein both the side surface of the inner glass plate and the side surface of the adhesive material plate are in the lateral extension of the side surface of the outer glass plate in a plurality of hidden alignment regions.

11. The window glass according to claim 1, wherein the inner recess has a width included between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm.

12. The window glass according to claim 11, wherein the inner recess has a width included between 1.2 mm and 3.8 mm.

13. The window glass according to claim 2, wherein the inner recess is in the hidden part of the glass, below the line of sight, and extends at a height of at least 10.0 mm.

14. The window glass according to claim 4, wherein the inner recess has a constant width along its entire length in the visible part of the glass.

15. A method of manufacturing a window glass for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the window glass comprising glass and means for allowing vertical movement mobility of the glass relative to a vehicle door, the glass being curved, laminated, and comprising at least an outer glass plate, an inner glass plate, and an adhesive material plate located between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate, each plate having a peripheral side surface, the side surface of the inner glass plate and the side surface of the adhesive material plate being located below the side surface of the outer glass plate, thereby forming an inner recess having a width, the glass having a line of sight, when observing the window glass vertically, the line of sight divides the glass into a hidden part of the glass and a visible part of the glass, regardless of the position of the glass relative to the vehicle door, the hidden part of the glass is located below the line of sight and is intended to be hidden inside the vehicle door, while the visible part of the glass is located above the line of sight, characterized in that: - For the manufacturing operation of the glass by lamination, both the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate are in the lateral extension of the side of the outer glass plate in at least one hidden alignment region, each of the at least one hidden alignment region is located in the hidden part of the glass, and both the side of the inner glass plate and the side of the adhesive material plate are positioned such that, - After lamination, the inner recess has a width between 0.8 mm and 5.0 mm and is present in the visible part of the entire glass.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein for the manufacturing operation of the glass by lamination, both the side surface of the inner glass plate and the side surface of the adhesive material plate are in the lateral extension of the side surface of the outer glass plate in a plurality of hidden alignment regions.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the inner recess has a width included between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the inner recess has a width included between 1.2 mm and 3.8 mm.

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