Abstract: Automotive glazing has long been a factor which has frustrated and limited the freedom of automotive designers to embody their vision. The idealized initial design often must be changed and sometimes even radically altered due to the limitations on the shapes of glazing that can be produced due to the methods used to form the glazing. While sheet metal can be formed to just about any conceivable shape, glass is limited to relatively simple large radii cylindrical/spherical shapes. By means of a multi-stage forming method, it is possible to produce glazing with complex curvature, comprising small compound radii with excellent optical quality, that exceed the forming limits and dimensional accuracy of what has previously been possible.

Abstract: A vehicle glazing with improved stiffness having a modified structure which comprises at least one stiffening portion, wherein each portion is a recessed portion and/or a raised portion, and wherein each portion has at least a portion of its contour being sharply curved.