Patent Application
20170130503
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for securing a case or case assembly to a component. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an apparatus and method for securing a clutch case assembly to a bracket of a window regulator.
In a vehicle side door manual window regulator, there is a clutch case assembly to prevent reversal of the window, which is attached to the supporting structure. In the case of a plastic support, the current state of the art is to engage and retain the clutch case to the supporting plastic bracket. In some instances separate secondary components are used to secure the case to the bracket. This adds complexity and thus cost to the assembly as well as a potential failure point.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved apparatus and/or method for securing a case to a bracket.
In one embodiment, a bracket of a window regulator is provided. The bracket having: a first securement feature integrally formed with the bracket for securing a clutch housing to the bracket; and a second securement feature for locking the first securement feature in engagement with the clutch housing, wherein the second securement feature is integrally formed with the bracket.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the bracket may be formed from plastic.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first securement feature may include a pair of arm members integrally formed with the bracket via a living hinge and wherein the second securement feature is a pair of locking members that are integrally formed with bracket via a living hinge.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the bracket may further include a plurality of locating features that are received within complementary openings of clutch housing when the clutch housing is secured to the bracket.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the clutch housing secures a clutch assembly to the bracket.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first securement feature engages a peripheral edge portion of the clutch housing when it is secured to bracket and wherein the second securement feature engages the first securement feature when the clutch housing is secured to the bracket by the first securement feature.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first securement feature may include a pair of arm members integrally formed with the bracket via a living hinge and wherein the second securement feature is a pair of locking members that are integrally formed with bracket via a living hinge and wherein each arm member has a feature with an inclined surface that terminates at a first ledge portion that is configured to engage a peripheral edge portion of the clutch housing when it is secured to bracket.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, each arm member may further include a second inclined surface that terminates at a second ledge portion that is configured to engage a distal end of the pair of locking members.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the second inclined surface and the second ledge portion may be located on an opposite side of the arm members with respect to the first inclined surface and the first ledge portion.
In yet another embodiment, a method of securing a housing to a bracket is provided. The method including the steps of: sliding a peripheral edge portion of the housing past a first securement feature integrally formed with the bracket; and engaging the first securement feature with a second securement feature when the first securement feature has engaged the peripheral edge portion.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the bracket may be formed from plastic.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first securement feature may further include a pair of arm members integrally formed with the bracket via a living hinge and wherein the second securement feature is a pair of locking members that are integrally formed with bracket via a living hinge.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the bracket may further include a plurality of locating features that are received within complementary openings of clutch housing when the clutch housing is secured to the bracket.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first securement feature may further include a pair of arm members integrally formed with the bracket via a living hinge and wherein the second securement feature is a pair of locking members that are integrally formed with bracket via a living hinge and wherein each arm member has a feature with an inclined surface that terminates at a first ledge portion that is configured to engage a peripheral edge portion of the clutch housing when it is secured to bracket.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, each arm member may further include a second inclined surface that terminates at a second ledge portion that is configured to engage a distal end of the pair of locking members.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the second inclined surface and the second ledge portion are located on an opposite side of the arm members with respect to the first inclined surface and the first ledge portion.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the clutch housing may be secured to the bracket via a single stroke of the bracket with respect to a fixture.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the fixture may have a movable member slidably received within an opening of the fixture.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the movable member may be spring biased away from the fixture.
In yet another embodiment, a window regulator for a vehicle is provided, the window regulator having: a clutch assembly, the clutch assembly having a clutch housing; and a plastic bracket having a first securement feature integrally formed with the plastic bracket and a second securement feature integrally formed with the plastic bracket, wherein the first securement feature and the second securement feature are configured to secure the clutch housing to the bracket via a single assembly step.
In yet another embodiment, a component is provided. The component having: a first securement feature integrally formed with the component for securing a housing to the component; and a second securement feature for locking the first securement feature in engagement with the housing, wherein the second securement feature is integrally formed with the component.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following description of embodiments, the description referring to the drawings in which:
Although the drawings represent varied embodiments and features of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to illustrate and explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The exemplification set forth herein illustrates several aspects of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein to the extent possible like reference numerals are utilized to designate like components throughout the various views, in
In order to secure the clutch assembly 12 to the bracket 18 the clutch housing 20 is secured to bracket 18 via a unique assembly and retention process in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Referring now to
In addition, a first securement feature 26 engages a peripheral edge portion 28 of the clutch housing when it is secured to bracket 18. In one embodiment, the first securement feature 26 is a pair of arm members 30 that are integrally formed with bracket 18 such that distal end portions thereof are biased in the direction of arrows 32 into the position illustrated in the attached FIGS. In one embodiment, each arm member 30 has a feature 34 with an inclined surface 36 that terminates at a first ledge portion 38 which is configured to engage peripheral edge portion 28 of the clutch housing 20 when it is secured to bracket 18. In addition, feature 34 is also configured to have a second inclined surface 40 that terminates at a second ledge portion 42 which provides portions of a second securement feature 44 for securing the clutch housing 20 to the bracket 18. The second inclined surface 40 and the second ledge portion 42 are located on an opposite side of the arm members 30 with respect to the first inclined surface 36 and the first ledge portion 38. In another non-limiting embodiment, a protrusion or feature 37 is provided to be received in an opening or slot 39 in order to orientate the housing 20 in a desired location when it is placed on or secured to bracket 18.
The second securement feature 44 includes a pair of locking members 46 that are integrally formed with bracket 18 and secured thereto via a living hinge 48 such that locking members 46 may be used to provide a locking feature or second securement feature 44 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the first securement feature(s) 26 provide a means for retaining clutch housing 20 to bracket 18 while the second securement feature(s) 44 provide a means for locking the first securement feature(s) 26 in their engaged position with respect to clutch housing 20. Still further and as will be discussed herein, the first and second securement features 26, 44 are engaged with a single stroke of movement of the clutch housing 20 with respect to the bracket 18.
The pair of arm members 30 are also secured to bracket 18 via a living hinge 49 such that as the clutch housing 20 is secured to the bracket 18 when the peripheral edge portion 28 of the clutch housing slides along inclined surface 36 and biases the pair of arm members 30 outwardly in a direction opposite to the biasing force in the direction of arrows 32 such that peripheral edge portion 28 can pass by ledge 38 and thus be engaged by the pair of arm members 30 after they are returned to their first or initial position illustrated in the attached FIGS., wherein ledge 38 engages a portion of peripheral edge portion 28.
Thereafter, the locking members 46 are pushed downwardly towards the bracket 18 such that a distal end 50 of the locking members 46 slides along angled surface 40 until it passes ledge 42 and is thus retained therein via ledge 42. It being understood that the living hinge 48 provides a biasing force in the direction of arrows 52 such that the locking members 46 are biased into a first position illustrated in at least
Referring now to
Movable member 56 also has an inner opening 84 configured to slidably receive a portion of spindle 16. Also shown is that fixture 54 as a plurality of ledges 86, 88 and 90 which extend peripherally outwardly from an inner opening 92 of fixture 54. Accordingly and as bracket or housing 18 is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow 80, clutch housing 20 rests on a surface 73 of movable member 56, resulting in engagement of locating features 22 of bracket 18 into complementary openings 24 of clutch housing 20, thus guiding a further motion downwardly wherein the biasing force of spring 70 translates into deflection of arm members 30 of bracket 18, until ledges 38 engage peripheral edge portion 28. In a further movement downwardly in the direction of arrow 80, spring 70 is compressed until the ledge 76 of movable member 56 contacts ledge 78, which is illustrated in at least
Accordingly in accordance with various environments of the present invention, a quick and efficient means for securing a clutch housing 20 to a bracket 18 of the window regulator 10 is provided. Moreover and through the use of integrally formed plastic arm members 30 as well as locking members 46, clutch housing 20 is fixedly secured to bracket 18 without requiring separate secondary components that add to part complexity and manufacturing costs. Still further, various embodiments of the present invention provide a unique means for securing the clutch housing 20 to bracket 18 with snap fitting engagement features with a living hinge design that allows the part to be easily molded with simple tooling and which is robustly retained in the final assembly.
The assembly process is also facilitated by being able to press the clutch case or housing 20 past the primary retainers for our members 30 and also engage the secondary locking features or locking members 46 with one continuous motion of the bracket or housing 18. Accordingly, the first and second securement features 26, 44 allow for a single stroke assembly process in one arbor press.
Referring now to
The frame or guide rail 105 has a plurality of complimentary members 130 each having a surface 138 configured to cooperate with and contact a surface 128 of feature 107 when the housing portion 103 is secured to the frame or guide rail 105. In one embodiment, surface 138 is located in an opening 139 of member 130. In addition, members 130 are integrally formed with the frame or guide rail 105. For example, member 130 may have a pair of vertical arms 171 integrally formed with the guide rail or frame 105 at one end and an integral top portion 173 extending between the arms 171 such that opening 139 is defined by arms 171 and top portion 173.
In one embodiment, the members 130 may be formed from a resilient material such as plastic or metal or equivalents thereof such that members 130 may be moved in the directions of arrows 141 between a first position and a second position as housing portion 103 is inserted into a “snap fit” engagement with respect to the frame or guide rail 105. This is achieved by inserting the housing in the direction of arrow 143 with respect to frame or guide rail 105 until features 107 engage members 130. During this process, an angled surface 145 of the feature 107 slides along a surface 147 of the member 130 causing it to deflect outwardly in the direction of arrow 149 until surface 128 engages surface 138 of opening 139 (e.g., surface 128 or a portion thereof is received in opening 139). At this point, the member deflects back to its first unbiased position and surface 128 engages surface 138. The cooperation or engagement of member 130 with portion 107 may be referred to as a first securement feature(s) 126.
In order to prevent member 130 from being inadvertently deflected in the direction of arrow 149 after feature 107 has engaged member 130, a locking member 146 is provided. Locking members 146 are integrally formed with frame or rail 105 and are secured thereto via a living hinge 148 such that locking members 146 may be used to provide a locking feature or second securement feature 144 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
Once surface 128 of feature 107 engages surface 138 of member 130, the associated locking member 146 is pushed downwardly from a first position 151 towards the frame or guide rail 105 such that a distal end 150 of the locking member 146 slides along angled surface 140 of a feature or protrusion 177 until it passes a ledge 142 of feature or protrusion 177 and is thus retained therein via ledge 142. At this point, the locking member 146 is in a second position 153. It being understood that the living hinge 148 provides a biasing force in the direction of arrows 152 such that the locking members 146 are biased into the first position 151 illustrated in at least
Also shown is that members 130 may be configured to further comprise a stop feature 155 located below ledge 142 and spaced therefrom such that movement of the distal end 150 of locking member 146 in the direction of arrow 143 is limited. In addition, distal end 150 may be configured to have an inclined surface 157 and feature 140 may also have an inclined surface 159 allowing distal end 150 to slide past feature 140 and engage ledge 142.
Accordingly, the first securement feature(s) 126 provide a means for retaining the housing 103 to the frame or guide rail or component 105 while the second securement feature(s) 144 provide a means for locking the first securement feature(s) 126 in their engaged position with respect to housing 103. Still further and as previously discussed herein, the first and second securement features 126, 144 may be engaged with a single stroke of movement of the housing 103 with respect to the guide rail or frame 105.
Although,
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. In addition, it is noted that the terms “bottom” and “top” are used herein, unless otherwise noted, merely for convenience of description, and are not limited to any one position or spatial orientation.
The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.
