Patent Application
20070169415
The subject invention relates to a non-circular rivet configuration that is used for mounting a bracket to a window rail.
Window lifting mechanisms are mounted within vehicle doors to control movement of a window between open and closed positions. Window lifting mechanisms include various components including rails that guide the movement of the window. Traditionally, round rivets are used to attach brackets to the rails. Round openings in the bracket and rail are aligned and the rivet is inserted through the holes and riveted into place.
One disadvantage with this current configuration is that a separate fixture is required to hold the bracket in a proper orientation relative to the rail. If a fixture is not used, the bracket can rotate on the round rivet relative to the rail. If such rotation occurs, the bracket is misaligned, which presents various assembly problems. The use of a separate fixture to hold the bracket increases cost and assembly time.
Thus, there is a need for a mounting interface that does not require a separate fixture, but which reliably holds the bracket in a desired mounting position.
A rail bracket is attached to a window rail with a rivet. The rivet is shaped such that rotation of the rail bracket relative to the window rail is prevented without requiring a separate fixture to hold the rail bracket in place. The rivet preferably has a non-circular cross sectional shape, such as an oval shape for example.
The rivet is received within an opening formed in the rail bracket. The opening has a shape that corresponds to that of the rivet, i.e. the opening is non-circular. The rivet cooperates with the opening to prevent the rail bracket from rotating relative to the window rail during riveting.
In one example embodiment, the rivet includes first and second rounded end portions. A pair of straight or flat edges interconnects the first and second rounded end portions. The opening in the rail bracket includes first and second rounded edges that cooperate with the first and second rounded end portions of the rivet, respectively. The opening also includes a pair of straight edges that cooperate with the straight/flat edges of the rivet. This rivet configuration prevents rotation of the rail bracket relative to the window rail.
The subject invention provides an improved method and apparatus for securing a rail bracket to a window rail that eliminates the need for a separate fixture to hold the rail bracket in place relative to the window rail. This reduces cost and assembly time. These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
A mounting interface between a rail 10 and a bracket 12, is shown generally at 14 in
The mounting interface 14 comprises a rivet 20 that is used to secure the bracket 12 to the rail 10. The rivet 20 is shaped such that the bracket 12 can be held fixed relative to the rail 10 during riveting without requiring any additional tooling fixtures.
As shown in
In the examples shown in
The oval shape of the opening 22 is defined by a first rounded edge portion 40, a second rounded edge portion 42 opposite from the first rounded edge portion 40, and a pair of straight edges 44 that interconnect the first 40 and second 42 rounded edge portions. The first 30 and second 32 rounded end portions of the rivet 20 are received within the first 40 and second 42 rounded edge portions of the opening 22, respectively.
As shown in
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
