EP1092075B1 - Vehicle door window-lift with automatic fixing to the window slider supporting the window - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle door window regulator, type comprising a guide rail for a glass support slider which can be driven by a cable, as well as means for fixing the cursor to the window.

It is well known from the state of the art of automatic window positioning systems by "clipping" for window regulators of the cable and drum type, these systems being based on the "clipping" of a pin fixed to the glass in the cursor, or of a plastic tongue forming part of the cursor in a hole of the window. These devices involve a significant deformation of a part in plastic to make the connection with the glass, which is not fully satisfactory.

The object of the invention is to propose a device for fixing the cursor to the window which avoids having to deform a piece of material significantly plastic and intervene in the door.

According to the invention, the means of fixing the slider to the window include a pin adapted to be able to slide transversely in a hole in the slider and in a hole in the glass, as well as means to slide the pin automatically from a first position of delivery in which it is not inserted into the hole, up to a position of use in which it enters the glass hole and locks the cursor on the glass.

This automatic passage of the pin from its delivery position to its delivery position to its position of use or operation takes place during the first operation of the window regulator.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for making slide the pin have at least one ramp inclined relative to the pin and its sliding direction, formed on the guide rail of so that a movement of the cursor on the rail causes a push of the pin by the ramp from its delivery position to its position use.

The incline and length of the ramp are adjusted so that the sliding from one end of the pin to the other end of the ramp causes a translation of the pin on the stroke corresponding to the passage from one position to another.

Thus this solution avoids any deformation of a part in material plastic for the benefit of a simple translation of a part which can be metallic.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during of the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment by way of nonlimiting example.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a window regulator device the guide rail and the slider are arranged in accordance with a mode of realization of the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal sectional view of the window lifter device of figure 1, showing the locking pin of the slider in its delivery position, before locking.

Figure 3 is a simplified side elevational view of the rail guiding the cursor of Figures 1 and 2 arranged in a door frame of vehicle.

Figure 4 is a partial elevational view similar to Figure 2 showing the pin in the cursor lock position on the rail.

The vehicle door window regulator, partially shown in drawings, includes rail 1 as part of an equipment module functional placed inside a frame 2 of a vehicle door (figure 3) to which it is fixed in a manner known per se, for example by bolts 3 crossing stamped areas 4 of rail 1 and associated with nuts 5.

The window regulator also includes a slider 6 for supporting the window 7 can be driven by a cable 10 and having a profiled slot 8 in which comes to introduce a conjugate part 9 of the rail 1, on which the cursor 6 can slide. In a manner known per se, the cursor 6 is consisting of a body 11 in which the profiled slot 8 is arranged, and two legs 12 projecting laterally from the body 11 and spaced apart from one another appropriate spacing, the bottom of the window 7 being positioned between the legs 12 and the body 11, bearing on the connector 13.

In the body 11 is provided a transverse bore 14, facing a corresponding hole 15 arranged in the glass. The bore 14 and the slot 8 are laterally offset so that the bore cannot open into the slot. The slider 6 is equipped with a pin 16 which can slide in the bore 14 and in the glass hole 15, to pass from a first delivery position, shown in Figure 2, in which the pin 16 does not enter the glass hole 15, up to a second position of use (visible in the figure 4), in which the nose of the pin 16 is introduced into the window hole 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, the means for sliding automatically the pin 16 from its first to its second position include two ramps 17, 18 inclined with respect to the pin 16 and its sliding direction F. The ramps 17, 18 are arranged respectively on either side of the stamped 4 itself arranged in the lower area of rail 1 just above a cable return pulley 19 10. The ramps 17, 18 are symmetrical with respect to the pressed 4, the ramp upper 17 with an inclination upwards and the lower ramp 18 with a downward inclination so that it forms a profile divergent, flared towards cursor 6. The lengths and inclinations of the ramps 17, 18 are adjusted so that the end of the pin 16 furthest from the glass hole 15 being practically in contact with the bottom of ramp 17 (or the top of lower ramp 18) in position delivery, a movement of the cursor 6, driven by the cable 10, either towards the top or the bottom, automatically causes a sliding of the end of the pin 16 on the ramp 17 or 18 and therefore its. sliding in direction F, in bore 14. At the end of the sliding of pin 16 on ramp 17 or 18 (Figure 4), said pin has penetrated in the window hole 15 and thus locked the cursor 6 on the window 7. In its delivery position, the pin 16 projects further outside of the bore 14 towards the ramps 17, 18, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In order to allow the possible expulsion of the pin 16 between the two legs 12, the latter are offset laterally on the cursor 6, each side of the bore 14. The introduction of the pin 16 in the cursor 6 can be made by means of a hole 21 drilled in the deep-drawn 4, by example between nut 5 and upper ramp 17.

Advantageously, means for snapping the pin 16 onto the slider 6 in its position of use are also provided. In the embodiment shown, these latching means comprise a groove 22 formed on the periphery of the pin 16, in the vicinity of its end opposite the window hole 15, as well as an additional annular boss 23 of the slider 6, protruding into the bore 14. The boss 23 and the groove 22 are positioned so that the arrival of the pin 16 in the locking position of the cursor 6 on the glass 7 (FIG. 4) is accompanied by the latching of the boss 23 in the groove 22. After this snap-fastening, there remains a clearance j between the end face 16a of the pin 16 and the bottom of the rail 1. Thus, after automatic locking of the cursor 6 on the window 7, this arrangement avoids any friction the end 16a of the pin 16 of the rail 1.

Of course as a variant, the groove 22 could be formed in the cursor 6 and vice versa, the boss 23 could be formed on the pin 16.

It is understood that a first operation of the window regulator when it is put into service, involving a stroke of the cursor 6 on the rail 1, preferably upwards, automatically causes the pin 16 to slide from its delivery position to in its operating position as soon as its end 16 a comes into contact with the internal face of the ramp 17 (or 18).

These ramps can be fitted in other areas of rail 1 than its lower part, for example in a deep-drawn housing formed in the central area of the rail 1, or in its stamped 24 located at its part upper (Figure 3).

The invention is particularly advantageous for door modules waterproof, because it is no longer possible for operators to insert their hands into it after mounting them on the door. Therefore, if after mounting the operator wants perform an intervention inside the door, there is no other solution than making a hole in the support sheet and then filling it then. The invention avoids having to carry out such an operation, any intervention inside the door after mounting the waterproof module becoming practically useless because a simple pull on the cable automatically causes the pin 16 to slide on the ramp 17 or 18 and its introduction into the window 7, without any adjustment or correction additional is required later.

If you want to separate the window 7 from the cursor 6 after mounting the window regulator, simply place the cursor 6 on the rail 1 so that its pin 16 is located exactly opposite hole 21. The operator presses then with an appropriate tool on the end 16a of the pin 16, which can be easily chased outside the cursor 6, between the legs 12 (figure 3). Such an operation may be necessary as part of a service after sale.

The invention is susceptible of various variant embodiments; so a single ramp 17 or 18 made at any location on rail 1, would be sufficient to allow movement of the pin 16.

Claims (5)

1. Window-lift for a vehicle door, comprising a guide rail (1) for a slider (6) for supporting the window (7) capable of being driven by a cable (10) as well as means for fixing the slider to the window, characterised in that the said means comprise a pin (16) adapted to be able to slide transversely in a bore (14) of the slider and in a hole (15) of the window, as well as means (17, 18) to make the pin slide automatically from a first delivery position in which it is not introduced in the hole, to an operative position in which it penetrates the window hole and locks the slider on the window, the said means (17, 18) comprising at least one ramp (17 or 18) inclined relative to the pin and its sliding direction (F), formed on the guide rail (1) in such a way that movement of the slider on the rail causes the pin to be thrust by the ramp from its delivery position to its operative position.
2. Window-lift according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for making the pin (16) slide comprise a pressed region (4) of the rail (1) defining at its extremities ramps (17, 18) inclined respectively towards the top and bottom of the rail so that the pin may slide on one of these ramps by the slider being moved up or down.
3. Window-lift according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a hole (21) for introducing the pin (16) is arranged in the rail (1) near the inclined ramp (17 or 18), this hole also allowing the pin to be ejected from the slider (6).
4. Window-lift according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that it comprises means for ratcheting the pin (16) on to the slider (6) in its operative position.
5. Window-lift according to claim 4, characterised in that the said ratcheting means comprise a groove (22) formed on the pin (16) and a complementary boss (23) on the slider (6) or vice versa, and a play (j) between the end of the pin and the rail (1) is maintained during this ratcheting.

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