The present invention relates to automotive window regulators. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved snap-in lifter plate
Motor vehicles side doors are typically equipped with a window regulator in order to raise or lower the side door window glass. The window glass must be securely mounted to the lifter plate on the window regulator in order to withstand the rigors of daily use. In addition, the window glass should be easy to mount to the lifter plate, requiring a minimal amount of labor and parts to install. Also preferably, the window glass should be convenient to remove from the window regulator should it need replacing. Thus, snap-in window plates have become a popular and economic method of window glass retention.
Snap-in lifter plates typically consist of a main body portion that can be attached to a cable and/or mounted to a rail, a flange jaw spaced apart from the main body portion to provide a channel for the window glass, a flange hook extending from the flange jaw and adapted to catch an aperture in the window glass, and a hinge that interconnects the body and the flange jaw. When the glass is partially inserted, the flange jaw is pivoted out of the way along the hinge. When the window glass is fully inserted, the flange jaw pivots back into place and the flange hook extends through an aperture in the window glass for a positive snap. Current industry standards typically require that the window glass be able to withstand a force of greater than 667 N in the vertical plane at all ambient temperatures. In addition, the window glass should be easy to mount to the lifter plate, requiring no more than 67 N of force in the vertical plane at all ambient temperatures. The problem is that decreasing the thickness of the joint at the base of the flange, while decreasing the force required for glass insertion also decreases the vertical retention strength of the window glass as well.
Another problem that occurs in prior art snap-in lifter plates is that the flange jaw around the flange hook needs to be structurally reinforced due to the need for a “windowed” cut-out region beneath the flange hook in order to manufacture the hook using conventional molding techniques.
What is desired is a snap-in lifter plate which meets or exceeds the requirements for structural strength while still providing for easy insertion of the window glass. It is also desired to provide a snap-in lifter plate that is easy and economical to manufacture.
It is an object of the invention to provide a snap-in lifter plate that meets or exceeds the requirements for structural strength while still providing for easy insertion of the window glass. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lifter plate for a window regulator adapted for the insertion of a window glass. The lift plate includes a main body portion adapted for translational movement by the window regulator. A flange jaw is provided, spaced apart from the main body portion. A flexible joint, integrally formed as part of the lifter plate, interconnects the body portion and the flange jaw.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Referring now to
Window regulator 20 includes a pair of parallel rails 26, aligned in the direction of glass travel. A lifter plate 28 is slidably mounted along an edge of each rail 26, and is described in greater detail below. Pulleys 30 are rotatably mounted adjacent the ends of the two rails 26. Those skilled in the art will understand that pulleys 30 could be replaced by arcuate non-rotating sliding surfaces. A pair of cables 32 is attached at one end to each of the two lifter plates 28 and routed around a pair of pulleys 30. The other end of cables 32 is attached to a cable drum 34. A reversible motor (not shown) is operably attached to cable drum 34 in order to drive it, thereby raising or lowering lift plates 28. Alternatively, cable drum 34 could be attached to the output of a hand crank (also not shown). A follower cable 36 is attached to the two lifter plates 28 and routed around the other two pulleys 30. The configuration of window regulator 20 is not particularly limited and other configurations and arrangements of rails, pulleys and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Referring now to
A flange hook 56 is provided on flange jaw 46 that extends across channel 50 and abuts against wall surface 44. When the window glass 22 is inserted into lifter plate 28, the leading edge of the window glass abuts against a ramp surface 58 on flange hook 56 pivoting flange jaw 46 along integral hinge 54 away from wall surface 44. Once the window glass is completely inserted into channel 50 (i.e., the leading edge of window glass rests against base portion 48), an aperture in the window glass (not shown) is aligned with flange hook 56 allowing flange jaw 46 to pivot back into parallel alignment with wall portion 46, and providing a positive snap-in lock. Flange jaw 46 and wall surface 44 abut against the window glass in a tight frictional fit and flange hook 56 now extends through the window glass aperture to retain the window glass in place. A window 58 is provided in flange jaw 46 to assist in the forming of flange jaw 46 during the molding process. Structural reinforcement ridges 60 are provided along the surface of flange jaw 46 and are arranged in a radial web-shaped pattern to improves the rigidity of the sidewall under a glass pull-out loading scenario.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CA2007/001000 | 6/6/2007 | WO | 00 | 12/4/2008 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60811272 | Jun 2006 | US |