Window guide having a plurality of contact members attached at only one end for guiding an automobile door window

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6305125
  • Patent Number
    6,305,125
  • Date Filed
    Monday, December 28, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 23, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A window guide assembly for an automobile window includes at least one guide portion provided in the main body of an automobile door for guiding movement of the window, and also includes a plurality of contact members provided on opposing portions of the guide portion. The contact members are arranged to oppose the window so that the contact members slidably contact the inner and outer surfaces of the side edge of the window. The guide portion is constituted by a lower sash provided in the main body of the door. The contact members, provided on at least one side of the opposing portions, are elastic. The contact members are claw-shaped, in approximately the form of a C-shaped cross-section, and only one end of the C-shaped cross section of each of the claw-shaped members is fixed to the lower sash. Further, the contact members may be removably fixed by mounting the contact members in mounting portions of the lower sash.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a window guide structure, or sash such as in an automobile door for any type of sliding window. More particularly, in the present invention the sash guides movement of the window, including the ascent and descent of the window, in the main body of the door or any other location of a window so that the window can slide along the sash.




2. Description of the Related Art




As shown in

FIG. 14

, sashes


103


are respectively provided at front and rear positions of door panel


101


of an automobile. Each of the sashes


103


is interposed between the inner and outer panels of the main body of the door panel


101


. The sashes


103


guide the front and rear ends of a door window


102


when the door window


102


ascends or descends. These sashes


103


are disposed below the belt line of the door and are referred to as lower sashes. Following the glass run of the upper portion of the door panel


101


, the lower sashes guide the front and rear ends of the window


102


when the window


102


is opened or closed.




Metal sashes have hitherto been employed and a glass run has been mounted on the metal sash. Sashes made of synthetic resin consisting of polyamide or polyacetal also have recently been employed to reduce the weight of the automobile and reduce costs.




For sashes made of synthetic resin, in order to omit the glass run, ensure the sliding property of the ascending or descending window


102


, and prevent rattling of the window


102


, protrusions


104


are provided, as shown in FIG.


15


. The protrusions


104


extend from inner opposing surfaces


131


of the sash


103


and have U-shaped cross-sections. The protrusions


104


are positioned in opposing relationship at the opposing surfaces


131


(see FIG.


15


), or can be positioned in alternating relationship in the longitudinal direction of the sash


103


, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 59-102867. However, because synthetic resin is greater in thermal expansion and shrinkage than metal, there is the need to provide sufficient space between the window surface and the protrusion


104


, and consequently, rattling of the window


102


cannot be prevented sufficiently.




The lower sash according to prior art has a guide portion such as the one shown in a perspective view in FIG.


16


. The guide portion


100


of this lower sash is provided with a resin base


112


and a plurality of guide pieces


114


extending outwardly from the resin base


112


. The guide pieces


114


are spaced in two rows by a distance slightly wider than the thickness of the window


102


, and the window


102


slides between the spaced guide pieces


114


.




In the above guide portion


100


, however, vibration of the window


102


, such as when travelling on a rough road, sometimes causes striking sounds to occur between the window


100


and the guide pieces


114


. Also, sliding of the window


102


along the guide pieces


114


also sometimes produces sounds between the window


102


and the guide pieces


114


.




Another conventional lower sash is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 7-257510.

FIG. 17

is a perspective view showing this lower sash


120


. The lower sash


120


is provided with a metallic lower sash main body


122


in the form of a U-shaped cross-section and lip portions


124


mounted on the top ends of the sidewalls


122




a


of the lower sash main body


122


. The lip portions


124


are formed over the overall length of the main body


122


of the lower sash. The lip portions


124


are bonded to the main body


122


by using an adhesive or are fixed by a clamp. In this lower sash


120


the window


102


slides between both lip portions


124


.




In the lower sash


120


, however, because the main body


122


thereof is formed of metal material, the attachment of the lip portions


124


to the main body


122


must be performed with an adhesive or the like and therefore the operation is troublesome. In addition, there has been the demand for reducing the quantity of material, such as rubber or resin, in the lip portions


124


themselves to reduce production cost.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has been made in order to solve the aforementioned problems found in the prior art, and accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a window guide structure that prevents rattling of the window in spite of temperature change or road conditions.




To achieve the above object, a guide structure according to the present invention includes a guide portion, provided in the main body of an automobile door, for guiding movement of the window. The guide structure also includes a plurality of control members provided on opposing surfaces of the guide portion so that each such member is in contact with the window. The contact members, provided on at least one of the surfaces, are formed so as to have elasticity.




Because thermal expansion and shrinkage can be absorbed by these elastic contact members, a plurality of contact members can preferably be brought into contact against opposite sides of the window so that no rattling of the window occurs.




The elastic contact members may be protrusions provided on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the guide portion. The contact members also may be formed as a plurality of claw-shaped members having approximately C-shaped cross-sections, so that a proximal end is coupled to a guide portion surface and the distal end is laterally spaced from the guide portion surface to allow flexible movement of the distal end of the contact member. The claw-shaped members may be disposed at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the sash.




In addition, the contacting portion of the claw-shaped member in sliding contact with the window may have a protruding portion designed to reduce the contact area between the contact member and the window and thereby reduce the sliding resistance.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a guide structure which is easily attached to the door glass and which is capable of reducing the quantity of material, such as rubber or resin, used in the contact member.




To achieve the above objects, the guide structure of an automobile window includes a sash with a groove. The sash is disposed inside a door panel of an automobile door and below a belt line so as to receive a sliding window. The sash includes a sash main body having a base portion and laterally spaced side wall portions extending from both sides of the base portion. The base portion and the side wall portions form the groove. The sash further includes a plurality of mounting portions formed in the side wall portions of the sash main body and a plurality of contact members mounted in the plurality of mounting portions. Each contact member has a surface for contacting the sliding the door glass, and the sliding surface is directed toward the groove to permit smooth sliding of the window. Therefore, no vibrating sound occurs and no sound occurs while sliding the window. In addition, a plurality of contact members are individually mounted in the mounting portion and are not provided over the overall length of the main body of the sash, so that the quantity of material can be reduced.




Furthermore, in a modified embodiment, a tapered surface is provided on the upper end portion of each contact member. This tapered surface alleviates the contact force between the contact member and the lower end portion of the window when the window descends. Therefore, when the contact member is attached to the mounting portion, the strength of attachment does not need to be increased and therefore the attaching operation becomes easy.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The above and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1A

is a perspective, partial sectional view of a window guide structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 1B

is a sectioned longitudinal view taken substantially along line


1


B—


1


B of

FIG. 1A

;





FIG. 2

is a sectioned longitudinal view of the essential part of a guide structure of a window according to a second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3A

is a perspective partial sectional view of a window guide sash according to a third embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3B

is a side elevation view taken from the opening of the sash of

FIG. 3A

;





FIG. 4A

is a sectioned view showing a variation of the claw-shaped protrusion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4B

is a sectioned view showing another variation of the claw-shaped protrusion according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a side elevation view of an automobile door where a sash structure according to the present invention is employed;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a window guide structure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view showing the state where the guide piece is mounted in the mounting portion of the main body of the guide structure of

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of the guide structure in the state before it is assembled as shown in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of the guide piece of the guide structure shown in

FIG. 6

;





FIGS. 10A and 10B

are diagrams used for explaining how an automobile door window is operated when the window ascends or descends,

FIG. 10A

showing how the window ascends from its descended position and

FIG. 10B

showing how the window descends from its ascended position;





FIGS. 11A and 11B

are diagrams used for explaining a variation of the guide piece of the guide structure shown in FIG.


6


.

FIG. 11A

shows an extrusion molding before the molding is cut into guide pieces, and

FIG. 11B

shows the guide pieces after cutting;





FIG. 12

is a perspective view showing a variation of the guide structure shown in

FIG. 6

;





FIGS. 13A and 13B

are perspective views of a guide structure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13A

is a perspective view of the sash main body and

FIG. 13B

is a perspective view of the guide piece;





FIG. 14

is a side elevation view of an automobile provided with a prior art window guide sash;





FIG. 15

is a sectioned longitudinal view of a conventional automobile door window guide sash;





FIG. 16

is a perspective view of the guide portion of the conventional sash;





FIG. 17

is a perspective view of another conventional guide structure;





FIG. 18A

is a perspective view of a window guide structure for an automobile door window according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 18B

is a sectioned longitudinal view taken substantially along line


18


B—


18


B of

FIG. 18A

;





FIG. 18C

is an enlarged perspective view of one of the contact members shown in

FIG. 18A

; and





FIG. 18D

is a sectioned view taken substantially along line


18


D—


18


D of FIG.


18


C.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings.




Shown in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

is a window guide structure, or sash, of an automobile in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The sash is generally designated by reference numeral


3


, has inner opposing surfaces


31


and base wall


32


, and is made of a synthetic resin. The sash


3


formed from a synthetic resin is provided in the main body of the door. A plurality of contact members in the form of claw-shaped members


5


are formed from a synthetic resin and are spaced at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the sash


3


.




In such a structure, the claw-shaped members


5


contact both surfaces of the window


2


. The members


5


absorb thermal expansion or shrinkage by their flexibility, thereby preventing rattling of the window


2


.




In addition, as shown in

FIGS. 3A and 3B

, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, a small protrusion


7


is formed on each of the window contacting portions of the claw-shaped members


6


. The claw-shaped members


6


are in the form of the letter L where one end only is coupled to the inner opposing surface


31


of the sash


3


.




With such a structure, the contact area between the window


2


and the sash


3


becomes small and the sliding friction of the window


2


is therefore reduced.




As shown in

FIG. 14

, in the main body


1


of the automobile door, front and rear sashes are installed in the longitudinal direction to guide the movement of the front and rear edges of the window, respectively.




The front and rear sashes


3


are approximately symmetrical in shape, and each sash is formed by injection molding and is made of synthetic resin. As an example, the front sash


3


has approximately a U-shaped cross-section as shown in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

. The front sash


3


is provided with a bracket


50


at the outer surface of one of the side walls. The front sash


3


is fixed to the inner panel of the door's main body


101


via the bracket


50


.




On the inner opposing surfaces


31


of the sash


3


the plurality of claw-shaped members


5


are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the sash, and the claw-shaped members


5


on both opposed surfaces


31


are alternately disposed, in an offset manner. Each claw-shaped member


5


has a substantially C-shaped cross-section. The upper end of the member


5


is coupled integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the surface


31


, and the lower end is laterally spaced from the surface


31


. The member


5


is flexible and is thinner in thickness than the side wall of the sash. Thus, the member


5


is formed into a shape having elasticity.




The spacing in the width direction between the top faces of the claw-shaped members


5


on both surfaces


31


is set so that the top faces can make contact with both surfaces of the window


2


when the window moves up and down therebetween. Holes


60


existing in the bottom surface


32


of the sash


3


at positions corresponding to the members


5


are holes through which sliding pins for forming the members


5


are removed when the sash


3


is injection-molded.




In the sash


3


constructed as described above, the window


2


moves up and down while opposite surfaces of the front edge of the window


2


slide on the curved top faces of the claw-shaped members


5


on respective surfaces


31


. Therefore, no rattling of the window


2


occurs. The sash


3


, including the contact members or claw-shaped members


5


, expands or shrinks in response to temperature. However-, because the expansion or shrinkage is absorbed by the deflection of the claw-shaped members


5


, the claw-shaped members


5


always contact the window


2


. Accordingly, interruption in the upward and downward movements of the window


2


, even at low temperatures or high temperatures, is avoided.




While the claw-shaped members


5


on both sides have been disposed alternately in the illustrated example, they may be disposed in opposing manner. In addition, as shown in

FIG. 2

, the claw-shaped members


5


may be formed only on a first inner opposed surface


31




a


, and protrusions


4


may be formed on the second inner opposed surface


31




b


as in prior art. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the claw-shaped members


5


have a proximal end


5




a


connected to the first inner surface


31




a


and a distal end Sb facing away from the second surface


31




b


and laterally spaced inwardly from the first surface


31




a.







FIGS. 3A and 3B

show a third embodiment of the present invention. On the inner opposing surfaces


31


of the sash


3


there are formed contact members in the form of claw-shaped members


6


, each provided with a small-sized protrusion


7


.




The main body portion of the claw-shaped member


6


is formed into a letter C shape or a letter L shape, and the proximal end is coupled integrally, i.e., monolithically to the upper end portion of the surface


31


and extends toward the bottom surface


32


and the distal end is laterally spaced inwardly from the surface


31


. On the center of the upper surface of the main body portion, there is formed a thin protrusion


7


which forms a circular arc-shaped protruding surface in the width direction of the main body portion, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the sash


3


. In the illustrated example, the claw-shaped members


6


on both sides are alternately disposed in an offset manner; however, the claw-shaped members


6


may also be disposed at opposed positions. Reference numeral


60


denotes a hole which is used for removing a sliding pin from the sash when the sash is injection-molded.




The claw-shaped member


5


can have a cross section other than the C-shaped cross-section shown in

FIG. 2

or the L-shaped cross-section shown in FIG.


3


. For example, a claw-shaped member


5


A having a triangular cross-section as shown in

FIG. 4A

according to a fourth embodiment and a claw-shaped member


5


B having a trapezoidal cross-section as shown in

FIG. 4B

according to a fifth embodiment can be used.




With the aforementioned structure, thermal expansion or contraction can be absorbed in the aforementioned way by the flexible property of the claw-shaped protrusion


6


. In addition, the formation of the small protrusion


7


makes the contact area between the protrusion and the surface of the window


2


small, thereby reducing the sliding friction of the window when it ascends or descends.




In accordance with the aforementioned structure, the window guiding surface of the synthetic resin sash can contact with the window surface, while the sliding property of the window is maintained independent of the thermal expansion and shrinkage of the sash. As a result, rattling of the window can be prevented.




An automobile door provided with a window guide structure according to sixth and seventh embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.


5


.

FIG. 5

is a side elevation view of the automobile door. In the figure, an automobile door panel


10


is provided with a sash consisting of an upper sash


12


and lower sashes


14


. The upper sash


12


is disposed above a belt line BL and has a window run (not shown) mounted thereon for enhancing the sliding and sealing properties between the sash and a window


2


. Also, the lower sashes


14


are fixed to respectively inner surfaces of the front and rear ends of the door panel


10


located lower than the belt line BL.





FIG. 6

is a perspective view showing the lower sash


14


of a sixth embodiment. The lower sash


14


is provided with a lower sash main body


30


and a plurality of guide pieces


40


mounted in the lower sash main body


30


as sliding members. The main body


30


of the lower sash is fixed to the door panel


10


through an attaching portion (not shown).




The lower sash main body


30


is constituted by a long frame in the form of a U-shaped cross-section molded by resin injection molding. The main body


30


is provided with a base portion


32


which is a bottom wall portion and side wall portions


33


extending upright from opposite sides of the base portion


32


. The base portion


32


and the side wall portions


33


form a groove


34


along which the window


2


slides. The resin selected to make the main body


30


of the lower sash may be any material, as long as the resin has strength enough to support the sliding motion of the window


2


. For example, polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA) having strong strength enhanced by glass fibers can be employed.




On both outer sides of the side wall portions


33


of the lower sash main body


30


a plurality of mounting portions


35


are formed at approximately equal intervals. The mounting portions


35


are preferably symmetrical in shape.

FIG. 7

is a perspective view showing the state where the guide piece


40


is mounted in the mounting portion


35


.

FIG. 8

is a perspective view showing the state before the guide piece


40


is mounted in the mounting portion


35


.




Each mounting portion


35


is provided with a hold arm portion


35




a


and an antislip-out protrusion


35




b


protruding from the outer surface of the side wall portion


33


. The hold arm portion


35




a


is held in a cantilevered state where one end is fixed to the side surface of the side wall portion


33


and the other end is a free end. The space, enclosed by the inner side of the hold arm portion


35




a


and the side wall portion


33


, is used as a mounting space


35




c


for holding the guide piece


40


. Also, the space between the free end of the hold arm portion


35




a


and the antislip-out protrusion


35




b


is used as an insertion space


35




d


through which the guide piece


40


is inserted.




The aforementioned guide pieces or contact members


40


are mounted in a plurality of mounting portions


35


, respectively, and guides the window


2


so that the window


2


can smoothly slide. The guide pieces


40


preferably have the same cross-section. Further, these injection-molded guide pieces are at a predetermined length.




The guide piece


40


is provided with an attaching base


42


and a lip portion


44


formed integrally with the attaching base


42


. The attaching base


42


is sized to the width of the mounting space


35




c


, and on one end thereof an antislip-out portion


42




a


is formed. The antislip-out portion


42




a


is brought into contact with the lower surface of the hold arm portion


35




a


so that the guide portion


40


is prevented from slipping out in a direction indicated by an arrow “a” (FIG.


7


).




The lip portion


44


is disposed directed toward the center of the window sliding groove


34


along which the window


2


slides. The part of the lip portion


44


which is in contact with the window


2


is coated with a surface smoothing material


46


for enhancing the sliding property between the lip portion and the window


2


. As the surface smoothing material


46


, urethane or silicon can be employed. Implanted fibers may be used instead of the surface smoothing material


46


, if they serve as a means of enhancing the sliding property between the lip portion


44


and the window


2


. Furthermore, as shown in

FIG. 9

, a taper portion


44




a


is formed on the upper end surface of the lip portion


44


by cutting an injection molding at a predetermined length and then cutting the upper end surface of the lip portion


44


in a post process. This taper portion


44




a


is used for preventing detachment of the guide piece


40


when the guide piece makes contact with the lower end portion of the window


2


. Material that is generally used as a weather strip, that is, rubber or soft resin can be employed as material of the guide piece


40


. For instance, ethylene propylene diene ternary-system rubber (EPDM) can be applied.




When the guide piece


40


is mounted in the mounting portion


35


of the lower sash main body


30


, the insertion space


35




d


between the free end of the hold arm portion


35




a


and the antislip-out protrusion


35




b


of the mounting portion


35


is expanded, and then the attaching base


42


is pushed in through the expanded insertion space


35




d


. With this operation, the attaching base


42


of the guide piece


40


is clamped in the mounting space


35




c


of the mounting portion


35


by the hold arm portion


35




a


. At this time, the antislip-out portion


42




a


of the guide piece


40


is brought into contact with the lower surface of the hold arm portion


35




a


, thereby preventing the guide piece


40


from slipping out in the direction indicated by an arrow a. In addition, a slip in an arrow-indicated direction b is prevented due to the narrow insertion space


35




d


between the hold arm portion


35




a


and the antislip-out protrusion


35




b.






The lower sash structures of the aforementioned embodiments provide the following advantages:




(1) Because the door window


2


ascends or descends while the window


2


is being guided by the guide pieces


40


mounted in the lower sash main body


30


, the window


2


itself does not make contact with the inner wall surface of the lower sash main body


30


. Therefore, no sound is generated when the window


2


ascends or descends.




(2) The guide pieces


40


are firmly supported so as to clamp the window


2


. Therefore, even while travelling in a bad condition, such as bumpy roads, the window


2


does not vibrate so as to make contact with the lower sash main body


30


. Accordingly, no accompanying noise will occur.




(3) The guide pieces


40


are not provided over the overall length of the lower sash main body


30


but are mounted only at regions necessary for supporting the ascent and descent of the window


2


. Therefore, the quantity of material such as rubber can be reduced as compared to a sealing member of the prior art that is provided over the entire length. Partial disposal of the guide pieces


40


will not cause any problems on a sealing operation, because the main body


30


of the lower sash is disposed inside the door panel


10


and is not exposed to the outside of the automobile.




(4) If the attaching base


42


of the guide piece


40


is pushed into the mounting space


35




c


of the mounting portion


35


, the attaching base


42


will be clamped by the hold arm portion


35




a


. Therefore, the operation of mounting the guide pieces


40


in the lower sash main body


30


does not require an adhesive or caulking as utilized in the prior art and, in addition, attaching operability is facilitated. Particularly, when EPDM rubber with a poor adhesive property is employed as material of the guide piece


40


, there is no need for taking adhesive property into consideration, so that an ability to mount the guide pieces in the lower sash main body


30


can be enhanced.




(5) The window


2


moves between its descended position and its ascended position as shown in

FIGS. 10A and 10B

. In

FIG. 10A

, when the window


2


ascends from the descended position, the guide pieces


40


do not undergo a detaching force from the window


2


, because the guide pieces


40


are in contact with the window


2


at all times. However, when the window


2


descends from the ascended position, as shown in

FIG. 10B

, the lower end of the window


2


strikes against the upper end portion of the guide piece


40


and is subject to a great detaching force. However, in the embodiments of the present invention, the guide piece


40


does not undergo a great detaching force from the lower sash main body


30


, because the upper end portion of the guide piece


40


is formed into a tapered portion


44




a


, as shown in FIG.


9


.




(6) Because, as shown in

FIG. 6

, the insertion space


35




d


of the hold arm portion


35




a


is directed upwardly, the guide piece


40


is firmly held by the mounting portion


35


. Therefore, even if the guide piece


40


underwent a detaching force (in a direction indicated by an arrow C) from the window


2


, there would be no possibility of the guide piece


40


detaching from the lower sash main body


30


.





FIGS. 11A and 11B

are diagrams used for explaining a variation of the guide piece


40


B according to the aforementioned embodiment. As shown in

FIG. 11A

, an extrusion molding B is obliquely cut into guide pieces


40


B each having a predetermined length. With an obliquely cutting method, a taper portion


44


B


a


for preventing detachment is formed at the same time as the cutting of the extrusion molding B. Therefore, the post processing for forming the taper portion


44


B


a


after the cutting of the extrusion molding as in the aforementioned embodiment becomes unnecessary.





FIG. 12

is a perspective view used for explaining a variation of the lower sash main body


30


C. As shown in the figure, the mounting portion


35


C of the lower sash main body


30


C is formed by a looped hold arm portion


35


C


a


having a mounting space


35


C


c


. The mounting space


35


C


c


is formed to approximately the same size as the attaching base


42


C of the guide piece


40


C. When the guide piece


40


C is mounted, the attaching base


42


C is elastically deformed and pushed into the mounting space


35


C


c


. With this operation, the attaching base


42


C is held with the hold arm portion


35


C


a


. In this variation, as compared with the embodiment of

FIG. 8

, the holding force of the guide piece


40


C can be further enhanced, because there is no insertion space


35




d.







FIGS. 13A and 13B

are perspective views showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, a lower sash main body


30


D is provided with a base portion


32


D, side wall portions


33


D, and mounting portions


35


D protruded inwardly from both side wall portions


33


D. The mounting portion


35


D is provided with L-shaped mounting protrusions


35


D


a


in the form of a rail. Between the mounting protrusions a mounting space


35


D


c


is formed.




Guide pieces


40


D are members with the same sectional area formed by cutting at a predetermined length an extrusion molding formed from rubber or soft resin. The guide piece


40


D, as shown in

FIG. 13B

, is provided with a plate-shaped attaching base portion


42


D which is mounted in the mounting space


35


D


c


and first and second hollow portions


44


D


a


and


44


D


b


protruded from the attaching base portion


42


D. The first and second hollow portions


44


D


a


and


44


D


b


are coated on the top faces with surface smoothing materials


46


D for enhancing sliding property with respect to the window


2


.




The guide piece


40


D is mounted in the lower sash main body


30


D merely by sliding the attaching base portion


42


D of the guide piece


40


D into the mounting space


35


D


c


from the top of the illustration. Therefore, the mounting operation becomes easier.




In addition, with respect to both of the ascent and descent of the window


2


, the first and second hollow portions


44


D


a


and


44


D


b


do not undergo a great force, such when detaching the guide piece


40


D, because the cross-section of each is formed into a flat cylindrical shape. Therefore, the guide piece


40


D is excellent in attaching property, because it does not need to be held by the mounting portion


35


D with strong force such as press fitting.




Furthermore, a single guide piece


40


D guides the window


2


using a plurality of first and second hollow portions


44


D


a


and


44


D


b


for each guide piece


40


D, so that the number of guide pieces


40


D can be reduced.




Also, the first and second hollow portions


44


D


a


and


44


D


b


can enhance performance to support the window


2


, because the contact area between the hollow portions and the window


2


becomes larger by forming the cross-section into a flat shape.





FIGS. 18A

,


18


B,


18


C and


18


D show an eighth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in

FIG. 18A

, contact members


70


comprising a synthetic resin and having substantially C-shaped, or substantially L-shaped, cross-sections are provided on the inner surface


31


of the sash


3


. Similar to several of the other embodiments, each contact member


70


comprises a proximal end


72


integrally coupled to the inner surface


31


, a distal end


74


that is laterally spaced inwardly from its associated side wall, and a lip portion


76


extending therebetween.




This embodiment also provides smaller size protrusions


78


extending from the contact members


70


into the guide channel. More specifically, these protrusions


78


are formed as a substantially linear edge of reduced thickness (compared to the contact members


70


) along the exposed outer surface of the lip portion


76


ending adjacent the distal end


74


, as depicted in FIG.


18


C. The linear edges


80


can extend in the direction of window movement or at some angle thereto so as to minimize surface contact. When the window


2


is moved in the guide channel, the protrusions


78


with reduced thickness, flexibly contact and guide the window


2


as illustrated in

FIGS. 18B and 18D

. Because of the linear edge, the contact area between the window and the contact members is reduced.




Similar to the previously described embodiments, the flexibility of the contact members absorbs or accommodates any thermal expansion or contraction of the sash, thus keeping contact member


70


in contact with the window, thereby preventing rattling of the door window


2


due to thermal expansion or shrinkage of the sash. In addition, like the third embodiment, the reduction of the contact area between the window


2


and the contact member


70


due to the linear edge protrusions


78


reduces the sliding friction of the window


2


when the window


2


moves in the guide channel.




While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the following modifications are also possible.




(1) Various kinds of structures can be adopted as a structure of the mounting portion which attaches guide pieces to the main body of a lower sash. For example, the mounting portion


35


D, shown in

FIGS. 13A and 13B

, may be disposed on the outside side of the lower sash main body


30


.




(2) The guide pieces which are mounted to the lower sash main body are not limited particularly in number and disposition, as long as they do not interfere with guidance of the window. For example, they may be alternately disposed.



Claims
  • 1. A window guide comprising:a body mountable in an automobile door, said body comprising a synthetic resin and including a base wall and opposing first and second side walls, each of said side walls forming a continuous wall surface, said opposing first and second side walls being laterally spaced from one another, said base wall and said opposing first and second side walls collectively forming a guide channel with a substantially U-shaped cross section, said guide channel being constructed and arranged for permitting movement of an edge of an automobile door window in said guide channel along a lengthwise direction of said base wall so that the edge faces said base wall as the automobile door window moves in said guide channel; and first and second pluralities of contact members respectively monolithically formed with and extending from said first and second side walls inwardly into said guide channel, each of said contact members of at least said first plurality of contact members having a respective proximal end connected to said first side wall and a respective distal end facing away from said second side wall yet laterally spaced inwardly from said first side wall to define a gap between said distal end and said first side wall so as to permit movement of said distal end in said gap towards and away from said first side wall, said contact members of said first and second pluralities being positioned for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 2. The window guide of claim 1, wherein said contact members associated with said first side wall are uniformly spaced from one another, wherein said contact members associated with said second side wall are uniformly spaced from one another, and wherein said contact members associated with said first side wall are vertically offset from said contact members of said second side wall.
  • 3. The window guide of claim 1, wherein each of said contact members of said first plurality comprises said synthetic resin and has a substantially C-shaped cross section with a respective lip portion positioned between said respective proximal and distal ends, each of said lip portions being constructed and arranged for guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 4. The window guide of claim 3, wherein each of said contact members of said second plurality of contact members comprises said synthetic resin and has said substantially C-shaped cross section with a respective proximal end connected with said second side wall, a respective distal end laterally spaced from said second side wall, and a respective lip portion extending between said respective proximal and distal ends.
  • 5. The window guide of claim 4, wherein each of said lip portions has one of a triangular and a trapezoidal shaped cross section.
  • 6. The window guide of claim 4, wherein said contact members associated with said first side wall are uniformly spaced from one another, wherein said contact members associated with said second side wall are uniformly spaced from one another, and wherein said contact members associated with said first side wall are vertically offset from said contact members of said second side wall.
  • 7. The window guide of claim 4, wherein each of said lip portions comprises a protrusion extending into said guide channel.
  • 8. The window guide of claim 7, wherein for said contact members of said first and second pluralities located at a lower portion of said body, said protrusions have respective substantially linear edges for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 9. The window guide of claim 3, wherein each of said contact members of said second plurality comprises a solid protrusion, and wherein said lip portions of said first plurality of contact members and said solid protrusions are constructed and arranged for guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 10. The window guide of claim 3, wherein each of said lip portions has one of a triangular and a trapezoidal shaped cross section.
  • 11. The window guide of claim 3, wherein each of said lip portions comprises a protrusion extending into said guide channel.
  • 12. The window guide of claim 11, wherein for said contact members of said first plurality located at a lower portion of said body, said protrusions have respective substantially linear edges for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 13. The window guide of claim 1, wherein each of said contact members of at least said first plurality further has respective inner and outer surfaces extending between said proximal and distal ends with said inner surface having a portion facing towards and parallel with said first side wall and said outer surface having a portion positioned for guiding the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 14. The window guide of claim 1, wherein said contact members of said first and second pluralities are flexibly connected to said body to permit flexible movement of the contact members towards said side walls and positioned for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 15. A window guide comprising:a body mountable in an automobile door, said body comprising a synthetic resin and including a base wall and opposing first and second side walls, said opposing first and second side walls being laterally spaced from one another, said base wall and opposing first and second side walls collectively forming a guide channel with a substantially U-shaped cross section, said guide channel being constructed and arranged for permitting movement of an edge of an automobile door window in said guide channel along a lengthwise direction of said base wall so that the edge faces said base wall as the automobile door window moves in said guide channel, said opposing first and second side walls having respective first and second pluralities of mounting portions; and first and second pluralities of contact members respectively associated with and detachably mountable to said first and second mounting portions so as to extend from said opposing first and second side walls downwardly and inwardly into said guide channel, each of said contact members of at least said first plurality of contact members having a respective proximal end detachably mountable to said first side wall and a respective distal end facing away from said second side wall yet laterally spaced inwardly from said first side wall to define a gap between said distal end and said first side wall so that said member is flexibly connected to said body to permit movement of said distal end along said gap and towards said first side wall, said contact members of said first and second pluralities being positioned for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 16. The window guide of claim 15, wherein said contact members associated with said first side wall are uniformly spaced from one another, wherein said contact members associated with said second side wall are uniformly spaced from one another, and wherein said contact members associated with said first side wall are offset from said contact members of said second side wall.
  • 17. The window guide of claim 15, wherein each of said contact members of said first plurality comprises one of a rubber and a soft resin and has a substantially C-shaped cross section with a respective lip portion extending between said respective proximal and distal ends, said lip portions being constructed and arranged for guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 18. The window guide of claim 17, wherein said contact members of said first plurality located at a lower portion of said body have respective edges for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 19. The window guide of claim 15, wherein each of said contact members of said second plurality comprises one of a rubber and a soft resin and has a substantially C-shaped cross section with a respective proximal end detachably mountable to said second side wall, a respective distal end laterally spaced from said second side wall, and a respective lip portion extending between said respective proximal and distal ends, said contact members of said first and second pluralities being flexibly connected to said body to permit flexible movement of the contact members towards said side walls and positioned for contacting and guiding movement of the automobile door window in said guide channel.
  • 20. The window guide of claim 19, wherein each of said contact members positioned at an uppermost location of said body further has a tapered surface so as to facilitate entry of the automobile door window into said guide channel.
  • 21. The window guide of claim 15, wherein each of said contact members of at least said first plurality further has respective inner and outer surfaces extending between said proximal and distal ends, said inner surface having a portion facing towards and parallel with said first side wall and said outer surface having a portion positioned for guiding the automobile door window in said guide channel.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
7-287910 Oct 1995 JP
7-345817 Dec 1995 JP
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/728,383 filed Oct. 9, 1996 (now abandoned), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

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Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/728383 Oct 1996 US
Child 09/221170 US