Abstract:
In an aspect, the invention is directed to a backlite assembly for a vehicle such as a pickup truck. The backlite assembly incorporates a motor assembly and a motor driven belt engaged with a guide rail that can be mounted to a structural support that is bonded to the fixed windows of the backlite assembly. A motor driven belt is used to actuate a movable window between closed and open positions. The lower support can also integrate the rail directly therein. The lower support can additionally integrate a housing for the motor assembly.
Abstract:
The invention is a window regulator for moving a closure panel between a first and a second position in a door for a vehicle. The window regulator includes at least one rail with a lift plate slidably mounted to the at least one rail that retains the closure panel. An adjustable mounting structure pivotally attaches the at least one rail to a surface in the door so that the closure panel is operable to pivot around a fixed instantaneous center that is displaced away from the at least one rail. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting structure includes a jackscrew mounted to one end of the rail and a four bar hinge located at the other end.
Abstract:
A door assembly is provided that includes integral impact regions that obviate the need for a separate impact beam. The door assembly includes an outer panel and an inner panel, operably connected to the outer panel so that a compartment is formed therebetween. At least one hardware-mounting surface is integrally formed from the inner panel and extends towards the outer panel. Each of the hardware mounting surfaces is operable to mount a hardware component between the inner and outer panels. At least one integrally-formed impact region is provided on the inner panel that is operable to strengthen the door assembly and increase its intrusion resistance of the vehicle door during a collision. The inner panel has substantially no large access openings that would be deleterious to impact resistance and substantially seals the vehicle passenger compartment from the external environment. The at least one impact region is also displaced at least as far away from the outer panel as the at least one hardware mounting surface.
Abstract:
A method is provided for molding an integral joint including a stationary member and an enclosure rotatable about the stationary member. The method utilizes a joint formation assembly defining an inner cavity, a first passageway connected to the inner cavity, an outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity, and a second passageway connected to the outer cavity. The method includes the steps of: introducing moldable material into the inner cavity from the first passageway to form the stationary member; introducing moldable material into the outer cavity from the second passageway to form the enclosure; and divorcing the inner cavity from the outer cavity for separately and independently forming the enclosure around the stationary member to allow rotatable movement of the enclosure about the stationary member.
Abstract:
A method is provided for molding an integral joint including a stationary member and an enclosure rotatable about the stationary member. The method u tilizes a joint formation assembly defining an inner cavity, a first passage way connected to the inner cavity, an outer cavity surrounding the inner cav ity, and a second passageway connected to the outer cavity. The method inclu des the steps of: introducing moldable material into the inner cavity from t he first passageway to form the stationary member; introducing moldable mate rial into the outer cavity from the second passageway to form the enclosure; and divorcing the inner cavity from the outer cavity for separately and ind ependently forming the enclosure around the stationary member to allow rotat able movement of the enclosure about the stationary member.
Abstract:
A door assembly is provided that includes integral impact regions that ob viate the need for a separate impact beam. The door assembly includes an out er panel and an inner panel, operably connected to the outer panel so that a compartment is formed therebetween. At least one hardware-mounting surface is integrally formed from the inner panel and extends towards the outer pane l. Each of the hardware mounting surfaces is operable to mount a hardware co mponent between the inner and outer panels. At least one integrally-formed i mpact region is provided on the inner panel that is operable to strengthen t he door assembly and increase its intrusion resistance of the vehicle door d uring a collision. The inner panel has substantially no large access opening s that would be deleterious to impact resistance and substantially seals the vehicle passenger compartment from the external environment. The at least o ne impact region is also displaced at least as far away from the outer panel as the at least one hardware mounting surface.
Abstract:
In an aspect, the invention is directed to a window regulator assembly that includes a carrier, a set of lifter plates, a drive motor and drive cables for operatively connecting the drive motor to the lifter plates. At least one rail may be integral with the carrier. The carrier has a carrier seal that is co-molded therewith. The carrier has a pulley assembly thereon that includes a pulley and a pulley bearing member that has a pulley bending load bearing surface that is conical and that mates with a carrier bending load bearing surface that is inner-conical. The lifter plate is capable of a relatively strong connection to a vehicle window. The lifter plate has a window pass-through member that passes through a locking aperture in the vehicle window. The window pass-through member has two ends and is supported at both ends against vertical withdrawal of the vehicle window. The lifter plate also has a reduced tendency to bind when in use. The lifter plate has lateral engagement surfaces that are for engagement with lateral guide surfaces and has cable mounts for receiving drive cables. The cable mounts are positioned laterally between the lateral engagement surfaces. Additionally, the vehicle window lifter plate has lateral engagement surfaces that are for engagement with lateral guide surfaces. The lateral engagement surfaces are biased against the lateral guide surfaces, thereby giving the lifter plate the capability to accommodate lateral forces with a reduced tendency to bind. A wiring harness clip for holding wiring harnes ses to the carrier is provided. The wiring harness clip has two clip elements that together define a wiring harness retaining aperture in a longitudinal direction and an inlet thereto. The wiring harness inlet is canted to a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal direction. The perpendicular spacing between the two clip elements is larger than the distance between them in the transverse direction.