US2914315A - Window lift assembly - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1959 RvH. WISE wmnow LIFT ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1953 INVENTOR. RALPH H. WISE BY A M frzi;

Nov. 24, 1959 R. H. WISE 2,914,315

WINDOW LIFT ASSEMBLY Original Filed Nov. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RA L PH H. WI 5 E ATTORNEY NOV. 24, R. H. WISE WINDOW LIFT ASSEMBLY Original Filed Nov. 13. 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 II l Q 3 JNVENTOR. RALPH H. WISE ATTORNEY United States Patent WINDOW LIFT ASSEMBLY Continuation of application Serial No. 391,851, November 13, 1953. This application March 12, 1958, Serial No. 721,043

11 Claims. (Cl. 268-124) This invention relates generally to what is known in the trade as window lifts and more particularly is directed to an improved powered lifting apparatus for raising and lowering a window in the door of an automotive vehicle.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 391,851, filed November 13, 1953, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 354,191, now Patent No. 2,714,004.

The majority of conventional window-lifting devices now currently being used by the automotive industry comprises a lift arm assembly and a control assembly operatively connected to the lift arm assembly. The lift arm assembly includes one or more lift arms, a plurality of channel guides therefor, and a bracket for attaching the assembly to the inner panel of a vehicle door. The control assembly, among other things, includes a sector gear and pinion, a counterba'lancing spring, a clutched drive shaft provided with a crank, and a bracket for supporting the assembly on the door.

This conventional type of lifting device, and those having a power unit such as an electric motor for opcrating the arm assembly, is mounted adjacent the central portion or area of the inner panel. This disposition or central point location of the operating means has a disadvantage in that the weight and thrust of such means is not properly distributed, and as a consequence the inner panel will buckle or breathe when the operating means is actuated.

Window-lifting devices or apparatus of the above character are relatively heavy, cumbersome and require considerable space for their operation. Devices of this type are also expensive to manufacture and assemble and difficult to install.

Window-lifting devices now in general use require precision in installation to minimize misalignment offunctional components. Such misalignment is difficult to prevent because surrounding structure of the door, on which the apparatus must be mounted, is not precisely constructed. As a result, misalignment of "component parts of well-known types of window lifts creates a great deal of malfunction requiring adjustment, repairs, and replacements. Often the excessive load caused by misalignment creates damage to electric motors used to drive the mechanism. Misalignment creates binding and cramping which produces not only excessive loads on the power unit but also creates excessive wear on functioning parts and often stalls the mechanism to the very considerable embarrassment of the driver of the vehicle.

One of the problems prevalent in the window lift mechanisms presently generally employed is that, since the movement of the window, particularly to top position, is stopped abruptly upon impact with the upper,

abutment carried by the door, the shock to the conventional-type mechanism is heavy due to the momentum of the armature of the motor and to the rigidity of the connecting parts. In the present invention the driving is accomplished through thedriving means, each of which has some torque resilience. Therefore, when either the upper or lower abutment which limits window travel is reached, the shockupon the motor and the balance of the mechanism is cushioned and reduced by the torque of the driving members.

With the foregoing in mind, one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a window lift assembly embodying entirely new and improved principles of de- Sign and construction which overcomes practically all of the disadvantages inherent in conventional apparatus of the kind above referred to.

More particularly an important object of the invention is to provide a lift assembly comprising, among other things, a pair of corresponding threaded shafts, actuated means preferably in the form of roller assemblies respectively carried by the shafts, connection means operatively connecting the actuated means to a window, a pair of corresponding flexible elements or cables connected to the shafts, power means preferably in the form of a reversible electric motor connected to the elements, a control for reversing the flow of current through the motor, and switch means for operating the control. The shafts and cables may be referred to as driving'means.

An object of the invention is to provide roller assemblies, each of which is preferably comprised of a pair of retainer members and three rotatable elements pivotally mounted between the members for cooperation with one or more threads of a threaded shaft or screw. The invention contemplates the utilization of different forms or modifications of roller bearings for various installations and load requirements.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an assembly in which the rotatable elements or roller bearings are preferably equally spaced apart circumferentially and longitudinally with their axes inparallel relation. The assembly may be used with a shaft provided with one or more threads but is preferably used with a shaft having a double thread so that two of the bearings will cooperate with one thread and the other hearings will cooperate with the other thread in a manner whereby to afford a stabilized connection between the assembly and shaft. This arrangement has proven very satisfactory in use and provides a thrust of considerable force or power unit with increased speed of operation as compared to a setup in which the assembly is associated with a single threaded screw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller which is preferably formed with toroidal bearing surfaces which straddle a portion of the thread of a shaft for engagement with such portion at points between its base and crest. Otherwise expressed, the multiple points of contact between each roller and a threaded portion are preferably located between the crests of the threads and the-root diameter'of the threads.

An important feature of the invention resides in providing means assisting to automatically hold a means to be moved, such as a window, in any position to which it has been moved after the means for actuating the shaft is rendered inoperative. 3

Another feature resides in providing improved means.

for yieldably or resiliently supporting the lower extremities of the shafts and the upper extremities of the cables attached to the shafts so as to facilitate installation of the structure and reduce noise or vibration to a minimum. More specifically in this respect, the shafts and'flexible elements are detachably secured together by couplings and these couplings are respectively carried by the yieldable extremities of an elongated support, which is'preferably detachably connected to-the door' by a bracket. The bracket is attached to the door substantially midway between the shafts and to the center of the support so that the extremities of the support may yield or float.

This support ofiers advantages with respect to installations that cannot be obtained when, for example, the couplings are more or less rigidly mounted on the door by a pair-of separate brackets as in the assembly de scribed in the earlier application. A resilient abutment or stop is carried-by the bracket tosupportthe window in its lowermost position.

An important object of the inventionis to provide a lift assembly in which provision is made to compensate for any structural variations or misalignments of the components constituting the door and particularly with respect to any variations in the distancebetween the window and driving means therefor.

An important object of the invention is to provide a new lift assembly which is preferably adapted to be mounted onone of the panels of a vehicle door so that the'supporting means for the driving means are located at appropriate locations adjacent the vertical rigid edges of the door so as to distribute the weight of the driving means and at the same time completely alleviate any tendency of the panel to buckle. The power means forthe driving means is preferably carried by the lower horizontal edge flange of the inner panel of the door at a point substantially midway between'the planes formed by the vertical edges of the window to provide a wellbalanced assembly.

. A significant object of the invention is to provide a unique lift assembly comprised of a minimum number of components which can be economically manufactured and assembled on a production basis and which can be easily and quickly installed.

A particular object of the invention is to. provide a lift assembly of a size and arrangement which will permit its installation in a much smaller space or area than any of the conventional lifts, and thereby provide additional space which might be utilized for other equipment or put to other use. In fact, use of the invention will permit a reduction in the thickness of a car door at or adjacent its central area so as to provide additional space or room in the car.

Also, an object of the invention is to provide a lift assembly which is relatively light in weight and substantially noiseless in operation.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a lift assembly having novel tubular means associated with the cables whereby to assist in guiding and alleviating any whipping action and noise produced by their operation.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in-conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the inner side of a vehicle door showing the application of the invention vto the window structure thereof; I v

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1 illustrating, among other things, the relative positions of certain components of the operating assembly;

Figure 3 is an-enlarged partial section taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 1, showing the manner of supporting the upper ends of the shafts or screws to the door and the window to such shafts;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial section-showing one of a pair of unique couplings connecting the lower ends of the shafts and the flexible cables;

Figure 5 is a top view of one of a pair of roller assemblies as applied to a shaft shown in cross section;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of one of the roller assemblies;

Figure 7 is an elevational view -of a roller assembly connected to a shaft and the connection means employed for attaching, the assembly to a :window;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken through an appropriate-part of the structure disclosed 'in Figure 7 to illustrate certain details;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view showing the operative relationship between a roller and the thread of a shaft;

Figure 10 is a view showing the mode of supporting the upper ends of the shafts;

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of a component shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an elevational view showing the manner of supporting the couplings on the. yieldable support above referred to; and

Figure 13'is a view, partially in section, of one of the couplings that is utilized to detachably secure the shafts and cables together and detachably secure thecablesto the motor.

The window lift assembly as exemplified-in Figures 1 and 2 comprises,- among othenthings, a resiliently mounted reversible electric motor 1, a pair of corresponding threaded shafts or screws 2 and 3, a pair of roller assemblies 4 and 5 carried and actuated by the shafts, a pairv of connection means 6 operatively connecting the roller assemblies with a window 7, a pair of flexible elements or cables 8 and 9 having ends connected to the shafts and ends connected to the motor; a control 10 connected to the motor, and switch means 11 for actuating the control to rotate the armature of the motor and shafts and cables to cause the roller assemblies to move lengthwise of the shafts and thereby raise or lower the window.

The manner. of supporting the upper ends of the shafts 2 and 3 which carry the window will be described first. As clearly exemplified in Figures 2, 3, l0 and 11, the upper extremity of, an inner panel 12 of the door which constitutes a support or mounting is provided with an upper horizontal portion 13 and a depending flange which form a channel. A pair of upper corresponding supporting means are provided for the shafts, and each means, amongv other things, includes a block of rubber 14 or the equivalent seated in the channel, and a cup 15 having ball bearings therein. Screws 16 extend through clearance openings in the horizontal portion 13 of the inner panel, through the rubber block 14 and threadedly connect with ears on each cup. A member 17 is interposed between each of the rubber blocks and each cup and as shown in Figure 10 this member is provided with curved resilient end portions which are adapted to engage the threads of the screws to lock the screws against accidental displacement. Each of the members is further provided with an indent formingan abutment which the upper end of a shaft may engage to reduce friction when there isan upward thrust on the shaft. Each of the shafts extend through a hole in the bottom wall of each cup and is provided with a portion having a circumferential groove 18 therein within which ball bearings are confined so that the shafts may freely rotate substantially about vertical axes.

.-.As clearly shown in Figures 2,4, 12 and 13 the lower end of each shaft is preferably detachably connected with the upper .end of a. flexible element by couplings each having a connector 19. The connectors are respectively rotatably mountedin housings 20 carried by the extremities of .an elongated support 21 detachably mounted by bolts on a bracket 22 secured to the inner panel of the doorbetween the shafts as shown in Figure 1 and thereby locate the shafts in a vertical plane parallel to the plane .of the window and the, channel guides for the window. The extremities of the support are yieldable and thus yieldably support the couplings. As more or less shownin Figures 1 and 2, resilient members are carriedby the bolts and interposed between the bracket and supportto resiliently mount the support on the bracket. The bracket 22 is also provided with a bumper or stop as illustrated to resiliently support the window 7 in its lowermost position. The connectors 19. are preferably anchored or permanently fixed to the lower, ends of the shaftsand? the. upperend of each. flexible element, as shown in Figure 4, is provided with a squared portion 23 which detachably fits in a socket of corresponding configuration in the lower extremity of the connector. In order to assist in reducing noise and alleviate the tendency of the flexible elements to produce a whipping action when the motor is operated the elements are preferably encased in a tube of rubber or suitable resilient or pliable material 24. The upper extremities of the connectors extend through clearance holes provided in horizontal legs of the brackets- 21. Within each of the housings there is disposed a rubber bushing and a pair of corresponding rings 26 located within an internal groove provided in the bushing. The rings engage one another and cooperate to provide a race or retainer for ball bearings 27 which ride in a circumferential groove 28 provided in the connector, when the connector, flexible element and shaft are rotated as a unit. The connector and bearings therefor are thus'resiliently supported by the rubber bushing. The upper end of each of the tubes 24 surrounding an element is provided with a rabbeted enlargement so that portions of the end extend into and against the lower part of the housing 20 and are held in place by a spring clip 29 shown in Figures 4, l2 and 13. Each clip is of a form to encircle the tube and has ends which project into apertures provided in ears 30 on the housing. Each clip serves to hold the bushing, rings, bearings, connector and tube to the housing, as well as maintain the flexible element in interlocking relation with the connector. With this novel coupling arrangement each connector and associated flexible element and shaft is mounted for free and silent rotation. The connectors 19 and supporting means therefor are located to promote balance and afford stability for the flexible elements and shafts and position them in spaced relation to the inner and outer panels of the door. It will also be noted that the flexible elements are more or less curved with slack or play to afford suflicient maneuverability in operation as well as locate their upper ends in axial relationship to the shafts. It is of course desirable to locate the various components in a balanced operative relationship, but due to the character of the flexible elements, connectors and resilient supporting means therefor the motor can be mounted in an off-center or angular position with respect to the supporting means and the inner and outer panels of the door, without affecting the efliciency of the assembly. Further, the lengths of the flexible elements and the positions of the supporting means may be varied to some extent without interfering with the operation of the components. Since these variations are possible it is apparent that the components of the lift assembly may be located to compensate for any misalignments of those portions or parts of the door to which the components are attached. The coupling means of the character illustrated in Figures 4, l2 and 13 are also utilized to connect the lower ends of the flexible elements and the ends of the shaft of the motor 1 as mentioned above. More particularly in this regard, each end of the motor shaft is provided with a squared socket similar to the socket 23 in each of the connectors 19 so that the lower squared ends of the cables 8 and 9 will fit into the sockets. Thus, installation of the assembly is simplified and facilitated.

The roller assemblies 4 and 5 respectively connected to the shafts 2 and 3 may be constructed in various ways and, as shown most clearly in Figures 5 through 8, each assembly preferably includes a pair of retainer members 31 and 32 which are secured together by any suitable means, such as by rivets 33 to provide a support, housing or cage for three roller bearings 34, 35 and 36. The retainer member 32 will be referred to as the inner member and member 31 as the outer member because they are assembled in a nesting relationship. The inner member includes a base 37 and side walls 38 and the outer member similarly includes a base 39 and side walls 40. When the members are secured together as shown in Figures 6 and 7 their bases are engaged and the sameis true of their side walls. The bases of the retainer members are provided with suitable clearance openings for the shaft. With this setup the members are positively held against displacement to provide what can be termed a supporting means, carriage or housing. As depicted in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the base 39 of the outer member is provided with three offset formations 41, 42 and 43 and the base 37 of the inner member is provided with three similar formations. The base portions of the formations on the inner member are arranged in opposed predetermined space parallel relationship with the base portions of the formations on the other member to provide pockets for the roller bearings. The base portion of each of the formations is provided with a concave seat 44.

Each roller or rotatable element preferably includes a pair of corresponding bead formations or units 45. and 46 and a pair of corresponding axle or pivot portions 47 extending therefrom which register with the seats 44. The design or shape of the formations may be varied to suit different requirements, but as herein illustrated each formation is preferably constructed to provide an annular convex bearing portion having opposed corresponding toroidal contact or bearing surfaces as clearly exemplified. More particularly in this regard, the rotatable elements each have one or more thread-contacting units, which have, normal to their axes, cross-sectional areas circular in form and diminishing progressively in either direction from the cross-section medial thereto said units having parallel vertical cross-sectional areas elliptical in form and diminishing progressively in area in either directon from the cross-sectional area taken through the axis of said unit; whereby to provide, inward from the crest of the threads, substantially a point or points of contact between the rotatable elements and portions of the threads. It will be noted that when the rotatable elements are secured in the retainer members that they are preferably equally spaced longitudinally and circumferentially. More specifically, the rotatable elements are preferably arranged in a stepped or generally axially spaced relationship so that they will rotate in equally spaced-apart planes disposed transverse to the longitudinal axes of the carriage formed by the retainer members.

The threaded shafts 2 and 3 shown in the drawing are preferably of the multiple-thread type. More particularly, each shaft includes double threads 48 and 49, preferably formed by a well-known rolling method. As depicted in Figure 1, the flexible elements 8 and 9 are operatively connected with the shafts and the motor 1 in a manner whereby the shafts 2 and 3 will be respectively simultaneously rotated clockwise and counterclockwise to force the roller assemblies upwardly to raise the window. When operated in another way the shafts will be rotated in reversed directions to cause the roller assemblies to travel downwardly and lower the window. The arrange-. ment as illustrated in Figures 5 and 7 is preferably such that the rollers such as 34 and 35 are disposed to engage the thread 48 and the roller 36 is disposed for engaging the thread 49 on the shaft 3. The rollers on the assembly 4 are arranged to similarly engage the right-hand threads on the shaft 2.

Rollers of multiple-contact form add stability to the roller assembly; increase the resistance to deformation of the assembly and functional parts thereof under higher loads; reduce frictional resistance of the assembly; give longer life to the drive screw and all other functional parts of the assembly; retard the development of noise in operation; minimize cramping or bending of the screw through misalignment of the screw with the roller assembly; and also tend to minimize whipping of the screw at high speeds.

The roller assemblies may be operatively connected with a window or other device to be actuated in any manner desired, but, as illustrated in Figures 3, 8 and 7, each assembly is preferably supported on and between the lower extremities of a pair of corresponding side portions 50 of a hanger by a pair of rivets 51. The upper extremities of the portions 50.are preferably connected to depending arms.52 of.a bracket 53 by-rivets 54. The bracket-.53 is preferably permanently secured. to the lower part.of.a-window.frame member 55.as shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8. Asshown in. Figures 7 and 8, a resilient means.56, preferably in the form of a rectangular piece of rubber, is interposed between the. bracket and the bridgeportion of the hanger. The resilient means 56 is preferably held between thebracket and the hanger by providing .the hanger with an opening and the resilient means with, a projection disposed in the opening. The sideportionsSO of the hanger are provided. with corresponding offset portions 57 which are located adjacent to the depending arms. 52 of the bracket so as to control, withinpractical limits,.the.pivotal movement between the hanger and thebracket. Thelower extremities of the side portions50 arefurther-provided with inturned end portions 58,which serve to control pivotal movementof the roller assembly with respect to thehanger. These controlledmovements serve to stabilize the operative connection between thescrew and the window or a device to be actuated and the resilient means 56 functions to reduce noise and otherwise cushion the movement between the hanger and the bracket. The connection illustrated alsoaifords an improvedarrangement for automatically holding the window in any position to which it has been moved after the means for rotating thescrew is rendered inoperative. Moreparticularlyinthis regard, the construction of each connection and its operative relationship with the window anda screw is such that the rollers will cramp onthe screw and automatically hold. the window in any vertical position to which it has been moved after the means for actuating the shafts are rendered inoperative In view of the foregoing,it will be manifest that by merely manipulating the switch means 11, the control will be actuated to control the flow of current through the motor to rotate the shaft thereof in either direction desired so that it will in turn simultaneously rotate the shafts 2 and 3 and cables 8 and 9 to raise or lower the window. It will also be evident that the lift assembly offers many advantages over prior conventional lifts with respect to costs, manufacture and assembly, and installation. The lift assembly embodying the invention has actually proven to be durable, positive and efficient in action under all conditions of use.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various other modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

I claim:

1. A window actuator adapted to be carried by aframe and comprising a pair of double-threaded shafts, means for supporting the shafts in the frame including an elongated support secured to the frame at a medial part of the support and having flexible ends disposed respectively toward the threaded shafts, and means resiliently supporting the shafts on said flexible ends to permit the shafts to assume a skewed relation with respect to each other without interfering with the operation of the actuator, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by the shafts, each of said means having three elements rotatable about fixed axes and arranged so that one element of each actuated means will engage one thread of each shaft and two elements of each actuated means will engage the other thread of each shaft, means for connecting the actuated means to a window, an electric power unit, means connecting the power unit and shafts for simultaneously rotating the shafts, and switch means for controlling the operation of the power unit.

2. A window actuator assembly comprising a pair of threaded shafts spaced from one another and having upper and lower ends, bearing means rotatably supporting the upper ends of the shafts, an elongated mounting disposed between the shafts and provided with flexible extremities adjacent the shafts, means respectively carriedby the extremities of the mounting for rotatably and resiliently supporting the lower ends of the shafts to permit misalignment of the shafts without interfering with the, operation of the actuator assembly, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by and engaging 'the threads of the shafts for actuation thereby, means connected to the actuated means for attachment to a window, flexible elements connected tothe shafts, and means connected to the flexible elements for simultaneously rotating the shafts and flexible elements.

3. An actuator as claimed inclaim 2 wherein a stop for limiting the movement of the window is operatively associated with the elongated mounting.

4. In combination: a door having an outer wall and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall to define a space therebetween, a window disposed for substantially vertical movement in the space, a pair of threaded shafts having upper and lower ends, separate means within and carried by the door for rotatably supporting the upper ends of the shafts, an elongatedmounting provided with resilient portions, means rotatably supporting the lower ends on the resilient portions of the mounting to permit misalignment between the threaded shafts without interfering with the rotation of the shafts, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by the shafts and having elements rotatable about fixed axes engaging the threads of the shafts, means for respectively operatively connecting the actuatedmeans and window, a pair of flexible means having upper ends respectively connected to the lower ends of the shafts for rotation with the shafts, a reversible electric motor for rotating the shafts and flexible means, said flexible means having lower ends operatively connected to the shaft of the motor, and switch means for controlling the motor.

5. A window actuator assembly comprising a pair of threaded shafts spaced from one another and having upper and lower ends, bearing means rotatably supporting the upper ends of the shafts, an elongated mounting disposed between the shafts and provided with flexible extremities adjacent the shafts, means respectively carried by the extremities of the mounting for rotatably and resiliently supporting the lower ends of the shafts to permit misalignment of the shafts without interfering with the operation of the actuator assembly, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by and engaging the threads of the shafts for actuation thereby, means connected to the actuated means for attachment to a window, and

means for simultaneously rotating the shafts.

6. In combination: a door having an outer wall and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall to define a space therebetween, a window disposed for substantially vertical movement in the space, a pair of threaded shafts having upper and lower ends, separate means within and carried by the door for rotatably supporting the upper ends of the shafts, an elongated mounting provided with resilient portions, means rotatably supporting the lower ends on the resilient portions of the mounting to permit misalignment between the threaded shafts without interfering with the rotation of the shafts, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by the shafts and having elements rotatable about fixed axes engaging the threads of the shafts, means for respectively operatively connecting the actuated means and window, a pair of flexible means having ends respectively connected to the lower ends of the shafts for rotation therewith, and power means for rotating the shafts through the flexible means.

7. A window actuator assembly comprising a pair of threaded shafts spaced from one another and having upper and lower ends, bearing means rotatably supporting the upper ends of the shafts, mounting means disposed between the shafts, means respectively carried by the mounting means for rotatably and resiliently supporting the lower ends of the shafts to permit misalignment of the shafts without interfering with the operation of the actuation assembly, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by and engaging the threads of the shafts for actuation thereby, means connected to the actuated means for attachment to a window, and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts.

8. A window actuator adapted to be carried by a frame and comprising a pair of threaded shafts, an elongated support secured to the frame and having means resiliently supporting the shafts on the end portions thereof to permit the shafts to assume a skewed relation with respect to each other, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by the shafts, each of said actuated means having three elements rotatable about fixed axes and arranged so that one element of each actuated means will engage a thread of one shaft and two elements of each actuated means will engage another thread of the same shaft, means for connecting the actuated means to a window, and means for connecting a power unit to the shafts for simultaneously rotating the shafts.

9. A window actuator assembly comprising a pair of threaded shafts spaced from one another and having upper and lower ends, bearing means rotatably supporting the upper ends of the shafts, an elongated mounting disposed between the shafts and having means for rotatably and resiliently supporting the lower ends of the shafts to permit misalignment of the shafts, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by and engaging the threads of the shafts for actuation thereby, means connected to the actuated means for attachment to a window, flexible elements connected to the shafts, and means connected to the flexible elements for simultaneously rotating the shafts.

10. A window actuator assembly comprising a pair of rotatably mounted threaded shafts spaced from one another, an elongated mounting disposed between the shafts and having means for rotatably and resiliently supporting the lower ends of the shafts to permit misalignment of the shafts, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by and engaging the threads of the shafts for actuation thereby, means connected to the actuated means for attachment to a window, and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts.

11. In combination: a door having an outer wall and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall to define a space therebetween, a window disposed for substantially vertical movement in the space, a pair of threaded shafts having rotatably supported upper and lower ends, means for mounting the lower ends of the shafts to permit misalignment between the threaded shafts, a pair of actuated means respectively carried by the shafts and having elements rotatable about fixed axes engaging the threads of the shafts, means for operatively connecting the actuated means and the window, flexible means connected to the lower ends of the shafts, and means for rotating the shafts through the flexible means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,197 OBrien Oct. 8, 1918 1,495,426 Myers May 27, 1924 1,835,341 Scharpenberg et al. Dec. 8, 1931 1,907,028 Ackerman et a1. May 2, 1933 2,046,725 Carr July 7, 1936 2,124,037 Lavigne July 19, 1938 2,131,151 Smith Sept. 27, 1938 2,166,106 Gormley July 18, 1939 2,337,867 Brotman et a1. Dec. 28, 1943 2,366,734 Lear Ian. 9, 1945 2,455,368 Hotfar Dec. 7, 1948 2,714,005 Wise July 26, 1955 2,731,261 Drum Jan. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,798 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1937 454,201 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1937 693,155 Great Britain June 24, 1953

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