Acoustical window assembly for vehicle

Abstract

A window assembly for a vehicle includes a window panel, a frame portion and an actuating assembly. The frame portion is disposed partially around a perimeter of the window panel and not disposed at a free perimeter portion of the window panel. The actuating assembly is positioned at or near the free perimeter portion of the window panel and is operable to vibrate the window panel. The frame portion may fixedly secure a fixed perimeter portion of the window panel at the vehicle, and the fixed perimeter portion may be substantially opposite from the free perimeter portion. The window assembly is configured to allow flexing along other perimeter portions of the window panel between the fixed perimeter portion and the free perimeter portion.

1 . A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
 a window panel;   a frame portion disposed partially around a perimeter of said window panel and not disposed at a free perimeter portion of said window panel; and   an actuating assembly, said actuating assembly being positioned at or near said free perimeter portion of said window panel, said actuating assembly being operable to vibrate said window panel.   
     
     
         2 . The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said frame portion fixedly secures a fixed perimeter portion of said window panel at the vehicle, and wherein said window assembly is configured to allow flexing along other perimeter portions of said window panel between said fixed perimeter portion and said free perimeter portion. 
     
     
         3 . The window assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said fixed perimeter portion is substantially opposite from said free perimeter portion. 
     
     
         4 . The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said window panel comprises one of a rear window of a vehicle, a rear liftgate window of a vehicle, a windshield of a vehicle, a side window of a vehicle, and a side door window of a vehicle, and wherein said free perimeter portion of said window panel comprises a lower perimeter region of said window panel. 
     
     
         5 . The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said actuating assembly comprises a piezoelectrical actuator that is operable to vibrate at or near said free perimeter portion of said window panel. 
     
     
         6 . The window assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said piezoelectrical actuator is operable to excite an exciter device that converts the vibration of said piezoelectrical actuator to a desired vibration or movement at said window panel. 
     
     
         7 . The window assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said desired vibration comprises movement of said exciter device toward and away from said window panel to impart an inward movement and an outward movement of said window panel at said free perimeter portion of said window panel, 
     
     
         8 . The window assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said piezoelectrical actuator is oriented to impart movement in a direction generally along said window panel and said exciter device imparts movement in a direction generally normal to said window panel in response to said piezoelectrical actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The window assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said exciter device includes (i) a mounting plate for attaching to the vehicle, (ii) a window attaching plate for attaching to said window panel, and (iii) an exciter element that imparts movement of said window attaching plate toward and away from said mounting plate in response to said piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The window assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a seal is disposed along said free perimeter portion of said window panel and substantially seals said window panel at the vehicle during the movement or vibration of said window panel. 
     
     
         11 . The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said frame portion comprises a window frame portion attached at said perimeter of said window panel and a vehicle frame portion attached at the vehicle, and wherein said window frame portion is movable relative to said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         12 . The window assembly of  claim 11  including a limiting element that limits outward movement of said window panel relative to said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         13 . The window assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said limiting element is substantially fixedly attached at an interior surface of said window panel and is configured to be movably attached to said vehicle frame portion with a frame engaging portion that limits outward movement of said window panel relative to said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         14 . The window assembly of  claim 11 , comprising a mounting portion for mounting a perimeter portion of said window panel to said vehicle frame portion, said mounting portion including a flexible element to allow for movement of said perimeter portion of said window panel toward and away from said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         15 . The window assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said flexible element comprises at least one elongated generally U-shaped flexible element disposed between said window panel and said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         16 . The window assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said flexible element is configured to allow movement of said window panel in a direction toward and away from said vehicle frame portion while limiting movement in a direction along said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         17 . A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
 a window panel;   a frame portion disposed partially around a perimeter of said window panel and not disposed at a free perimeter portion of said window panel;   wherein said frame portion fixedly secures a fixed perimeter portion of said window panel at the vehicle, and wherein said fixed perimeter portion is substantially opposite from said free perimeter portion, and wherein said window assembly is configured to allow flexing along other perimeter portions of said window panel between said fixed perimeter portion and said free perimeter portion;   wherein said window panel comprises a rear window of a vehicle, and wherein said free perimeter portion of said window panel comprises a lower portion of said window panel and said fixed perimeter portion of said window panel comprises an upper portion of said window panel; and   an actuating assembly, said actuating assembly being positioned at or near said free perimeter portion of said window panel, said actuating assembly being operable to vibrate said window panel.   
     
     
         18 . The window assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said actuating assembly comprises a piezoelectrical actuator that is operable to vibrate at or near said free perimeter portion of said window panel, and wherein said piezoelectrical actuator is operable to excite an exciter device that converts the vibration of said piezoelectrical actuator to a desired vibration or movement at said window panel. 
     
     
         19 . The window assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said piezoelectrical actuator is oriented to impart movement in a direction generally along said window panel and said exciter device imparts movement in a direction generally normal to said window panel in response to said piezoelectrical actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The window assembly of  claim 17 , comprising a mounting portion for mounting a perimeter portion of said window panel to a vehicle frame portion that is attached at the vehicle, said mounting portion including a flexible element to allow for movement of said perimeter portion of said window panel toward and away from said vehicle frame portion, and wherein said flexible element comprises at least one elongated generally U-shaped flexible element disposed between said window panel and said vehicle frame portion. 
     
     
         21 . A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
 a window panel;   a frame portion disposed partially around a perimeter of said window panel and not disposed at a free perimeter portion of said window panel;   wherein said frame portion fixedly secures a fixed perimeter portion of said window panel at the vehicle, and wherein said fixed perimeter portion is substantially opposite from said free perimeter portion, and wherein said window assembly is configured to allow flexing along other perimeter portions of said window panel between said fixed perimeter portion and said free perimeter portion;   wherein said window panel comprises a rear window of a vehicle, and wherein said free perimeter portion of said window panel comprises a lower portion of said window panel and said fixed perimeter portion of said window panel comprises an upper portion of said window panel;   an actuating assembly, said actuating assembly being positioned at or near said free perimeter portion of said window panel, said actuating assembly being operable to vibrate said window panel; and   a seal along said free perimeter portion to substantially seal said window panel relative to the vehicle while allowing movement of said window panel in response to said actuating assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The window assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said actuating assembly comprises a piezoelectrical actuator that is operable to vibrate at or near said free perimeter portion of said window panel, and wherein said piezoelectrical actuator is operable to excite an exciter device that converts the vibration of said piezoelectrical actuator to a desired vibration or movement at said window panel, and wherein said piezoelectrical actuator is oriented to impart movement in a direction generally along said window panel and said exciter device imparts movement in a direction generally normal to said window panel in response to said piezoelectrical actuator. 
     
     
         23 . The window assembly of  claim 21 , comprising a mounting portion for mounting a perimeter portion of said window panel to a vehicle frame portion that is attached at the vehicle, said mounting portion including a flexible element to allow for movement of said perimeter portion of said window panel toward and away from said vehicle frame portion, and wherein said flexible element comprises at least one elongated generally U-shaped flexible element disposed between said window panel and said vehicle frame portion.