Motor Driven Patents (Class 49/349)
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Patent number: 6427386Abstract: Motor/gear unit for adjustment devices in motor vehicles with a base plate 2 supporting the motor/gear unit and able to fit in an opening 10 of a wall 1 separating a wet space A from a dry space B. The output 5 of gear is mounted on the wet space side A and at least the elements for the electrical contact of the electric motor 6 and where applicable a switch and/or an electronic control device 7 are mounted on the dry space side B. A seal 3 enclosing the opening 10 is mounted between the wall 1 and the base plate 2. The base plate 2 forms one unit at least with a part of the gear housing 20 and is mounted on the wall 1 from the wet space side A.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1999Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, CoburgInventors: Roland Kalb, Henry Perschke, Bernd Münekhoff, Manfred Sünkel, Thomas Fröhlich
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Patent number: 6425205Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle roof and connected to the liftgate for opening and closing the liftgate. Each drive unit includes a housing having a curved track and a curved gear rack that is bodily movable endwise in the housing and guided by the curved track, the rack also serving as the drive link between the housing and the liftgate. The combined rack and drive link is extended and retracted by a pinion gear that is journalled interiorly in the housing and engages the teeth of the curved gear rack. The pinion gear is rotated by the output shaft of the motor, which in turn is fastened to the side of the housing. The motor is a reversible electric motor and is adapted to be operably coupled to the vehicle ECU unit and preferably includes an internal transmission and electrically operated clutch controlled by the ECU unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael G Wygle, Ian Martin, Douglas Dombrowski, Howard Warren Kuhlman
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Patent number: 6425207Abstract: A motor vehicle window regulator includes a helically wound wire coil on a flexible lubricating core to form a flexible cable, and the cable is confined within an elongated guide tube having a longitudinally extending slot. The coil is moved longitudinally within the tube by a helical drive gear, and a lower end portion of the cable carries a window lifting bracket or T-bracket having laterally projecting wings. A clamp unit is mounted on each wing and includes a U-shaped clamp body defining a recess which receives a pressure block and a U-shaped gasket for receiving an edge portion of a glass window panel. Set screws thread through the clamp bodies and extend through holes in the wings for engaging the pressure blocks to clamp the edge portion of the window panel to the clamp bodies. Each clamp body comprises a short section of an aluminum extrusion and defines slots or grooves receiving edge portions of the gasket and the T-bracket wing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2000Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Muncy CorporationInventor: Stephen H. Davis
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Publication number: 20020092239Abstract: A window lift mechanism is provided that includes a mounting member and one or more guides which may be integrally formed with the mounting member. The guide includes a cross-sectional shape and defines a path along which the window panel moves. A glass bar assembly is supported on the guide and is movable relative thereto along the path. The glass bar assembly includes a glass bar that supports the glass panel and a drive block that moves relative to the glass bar in a direction transverse to the guide path. A drive mechanism, which preferably includes a worm gear and a drive motor, is supported on the mounting member. The drive motor and the worm gear are supported by a support and a bracket, which are integrally formed with the mounting member. The worm gear is received within a threaded aperture in the drive block. The drive motor rotatingly drives the worm gear to move the glass bar assembly along the path defined by the guides.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Applicant: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLCInventor: Enrico Fin
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Patent number: 6415550Abstract: A window lift mechanism including a rail, cursor and motor for moving a window. The rail provides a guide for the path of the window, when it is attached to the cursor, and houses a stator circuit associated with the motor. The motor also includes a moving element with suitable magnetic elements for generating a magnetic field perpendicular to the stator circuit. When the stator is engaged the magnetic field is cut thereby generating a directional force.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems, Inc.Inventor: Enrico Fin
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Publication number: 20020083647Abstract: A structural window lift module is provided that comprises a door frame, a windowpane movable between a closed position and an open position, drive means for generating a force to move the windowpane, and a cable assembly operatively connecting the drive means to the windowpane. The door frame has a fore section, an aft section, and a header section. The fore section of the door frame slidably guides a fore edge of the windowpane and the aft section of the door frame slidably guides an aft edge of the windowpane. The cable assembly comprises at least one cable attachment bracket connected to the windowpane, at least one cable operatively connecting the drive means to the at least one cable attachment bracket, and at least one cable guide attached to the door frame and routing the at least one cable between the cable attachment bracket or brackets and the drive means.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2000Publication date: July 4, 2002Inventors: Bruce R. Bostian, William T. Dufour, Larry J. Olivieri, Robert Michael Sutherland
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Publication number: 20020073621Abstract: A composite motor housing is used with a motor of a window regulator. A magnet is inserted within the housing to assist the motor in spinning. A ferrous magnet housing lines the interior surface of the body portion of the motor housing to prevent the magnetic field produced by the magnet from escaping from the motor housing and affecting other components of the vehicle door. A bearing is molded into the top portion of the motor housing. In an alternative embodiment, the motor housing is formed of a ferrous matrix composite material, eliminating the need for the ferrous magnet housing. In another alternative embodiment, the bearing is integrated into the top portion of the motor housing, eliminating the need for a molded in bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2000Publication date: June 20, 2002Applicant: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLCInventor: Nathan Allan Clark
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Publication number: 20020073622Abstract: A motor vehicle window regulator includes a helically wound wire coil on a flexible lubricating core to form a flexible cable, and the cable is confined within an elongated guide tube having a longitudinally extending slot. The coil is moved longitudinally within the tube by a helical drive gear, and a lower end portion of the cable carries a window lifting bracket or T-bracket having laterally projecting wings. A clamp unit is mounted on each wing and includes a C-shaped clamp body defining a recess which receives a pressure block and a U-shaped gasket for receiving an edge portion of a glass window panel. A set screw threads through the clamp body and extends through a hole in the corresponding T-bracket wing for engaging the pressure block to clamp the edge portion of the window panel to the clamp body. Each clamp body comprises a short section of an aluminum extrusion and defines slots or grooves receiving edge portions of the gasket and the T-bracket wing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2000Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventor: Stephen H. Davis
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Publication number: 20020069586Abstract: The invention pertains to a guide track for a movable windowpane, especially for a retractable windowpane of a motor vehicle, with at least one guide element for the windowpane displaceable along the guide track. In order to create a guide track with compact installation dimensions and at the same time a sufficient length for guiding the windowpane during its movement, it is proposed that the guide track for movement of the windowpane be retractable at least on one side.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Michael Nicolai, Andreas Schroeder, Daniel Drewniok
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Patent number: 6389753Abstract: A window lift mechanism for raising and lowering a window in a vehicle door includes a support bracket mounted to the window and a motor supported on the support bracket. A vertical rack is mounted to the door and is positioned immediately adjacent the window, and a vertical guide track is also mounted to the door parallel to the rack and immediately adjacent the window. A pinion gear driven by the motor is supported on the support bracket and engaged with the rack to permit vertical movement of the window. A slide is supported on the support bracket and engaged with the guide track to provide support as the window is raised or lowered. Alternatively, a second rack and pinion are used instead of the guide track and slide. A manual drive mechanism for raising and lowering the window is also disclosed including a drive cable which transfers rotary torque from a drive pulley to a driven pulley supported on the support bracket.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1997Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Inventor: Paul J. Fenelon
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Publication number: 20020046496Abstract: An actuator for operating a vehicle door includes a spring that is adapted to frictionally connect a wheel gear and an output gear upon actuation of an electric motor. The wheel gear and the output gear are operatively connected by the frictional contact of the spring relative to the wheel gear and the output gear upon actuation of the electric motor. The spring separates the wheel gear and the output gear to return the output gear to an initial position when operation of the electric motor is stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Inventor: Yoshihiro Shimizu
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Publication number: 20020020116Abstract: The window lifter of the invention comprises a window slider, a cable driving said window slider, a spring having a mobile cable tensioning portion and having a fixed cable return portion, both portions engaging the cable. This window lifter provides a simplified fabrication and a reduced number of parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Laurent Arquevaux, Yaun Le Gallo, Harve Doreau, Richard Dubas
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Publication number: 20010054257Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle roof and connected to the liftgate for opening and closing the liftgate. Each drive unit includes a housing having a curved track and a curved gear rack that is bodily movable endwise in the housing and guided by the curved track, the rack also serving as the drive link between the housing and the liftgate. The combined rack and drive link is extended and retracted by a pinion gear that is journalled interiorly in the housing and engages the teeth of the curved gear rack. The pinion gear is rotated by the output shaft of the motor, which in turn is fastened to the side of the housing. The motor is a reversible electric motor and is adapted to be operably coupled to the vehicle ECU unit and preferably includes an internal transmission and electrically operated clutch controlled by the ECU unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2001Publication date: December 27, 2001Inventors: Michael G. Wygle, Ian Martin, Douglas Dombrowski, Howard Warren Kuhlman
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Publication number: 20010023556Abstract: A driving motor (1) for an actuating drive having improved jamming protection of a closing part, e.g., a window pane (2) of a motor vehicle. The closing part is adjusted via a transmission, e.g., a cable drive drum (3, 4). To avoid over-dimensioning of the driving motor (1), a variable transmission is provided that delivers a substantially constant load on the driving motor (1) over the entire adjustment path of the window pane (2). Thereby, a design of the driving motor (1) to cope with an increased load, which would otherwise be caused when the closing part slides into a closed position, is avoided. In addition, since the closing part approaches the closed position with a lower speed, the closing part is able to brake rapidly, if necessary. This results, e.g., in an improved jamming protection function of the closing part.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2000Publication date: September 27, 2001Inventor: Peter Michel
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Patent number: 6260905Abstract: A multi-segment rear power window assembly for location behind the seats of a pick-up truck, van, tractor trailers, limousines and the like, having the ability to independently open and close one or several movable sections in a vertical direction, the same or differing amounts, from a position inside the cab of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2000Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Inventor: Michael T. Wagner
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Patent number: 6253491Abstract: A device for completing the assembly of a window raiser mechanism. The device includes a cover (12) partly surrounding the drum (1) for winding the cables. At the base of the drum (1) a circular tunnel (16) defines a peripheral passage for manually inserting the hooking pellet of the second cable (4). The end pellet of the first cable (3) is inserted in the opening and this cable is then wound on the drum (1) by adjusting this winding in such manner that the opening for the pellet of the second cable (4) is accessible to an operator and that a slider (6), which is fixed to the first cable, is in the end-of-travel abutment position. Then the second cable (4) is manually inserted around the drum (1) on substantially one turn until it is possible to place its end pellet (19) in the corresponding opening (21). Then the loop formed by the two cables is closed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle System-FranceInventor: Philippe Pages
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Patent number: 6216394Abstract: A window lift mechanism for raising and lowering a window in a vehicle door includes a support bracket mounted to the window and a motor supported on the support bracket. A pair of parallel, vertical racks are mounted to the door and are positioned immediately adjacent the window. Pinion gears driven by the motor are supported on the support bracket and engaged with the rack to permit vertical movement of the window.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Inventor: Paul J. Fenelon
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Patent number: 6145252Abstract: A window lift mechanism for raising and lowering a window in a vehicle door includes a support bracket mounted to the window and a motor supported on the support bracket. A vertical rack is mounted to the door and is positioned immediately adjacent the window, and a vertical guide track is also mounted to the door parallel to the rack and immediately adjacent the window. A pinion gear driven by the motor is supported on the support bracket and engaged with the rack to permit vertical movement of the window. A slide is supported on the support bracket and engaged with the guide track to provide support as the window is raised or lowered. Alternatively, a second rack and pinion are used instead of the guide track and slide.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Inventor: Paul J. Fenelon
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Patent number: 6138412Abstract: A door opener and closer that provides motive power for opening and closing a door. A double acting cylinder pivotally mounted on the door is coupled to a roller arm. A roller on the roller arm is captive within a cage mounted to the door frame. The cylinder applies a force on the roller arm in one direction to open the door and in the opposite direction to close the door. The components are mounted in a manner such that none of the components project into the door opening. The door opener and closer eliminates the need for a separate closer. The door may be opened manually with minimum resistance.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1997Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Chase Industries, Inc.Inventors: William H. Rieckmann, Wayne W. Bostad, deceased
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Patent number: 6125585Abstract: A window regulator for use with a horizontally sliding window assembly has a channel-like guide rail, an elongated carrier plate slidingly movable along the guide rail, and a cable drive mechanism for moving the carrier plate along the guide rail. Pane engagement pairs are disposed at opposite ends of the carrier plate, each comprising a male feature and a mating female feature. One of the features of each pair is secured to the carrier plate and the mating feature is secured to the sliding pane adjacent an outboard edge thereof. The male/female engagement between the features allows the sliding pane and the carrier plate to move relative to one another along an axis generally perpendicular to the sliding pane, while the two-point engagement between the pane and the carrier plate serves to stabilize the pane and allow it to slide smoothly even if the guide tracks for the sliding pane and the guide rail are less than perfectly flat and parallel to one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Hi-Lex CorporationInventors: Kevin Koneval, Jeffrey W. Kolar, Charles Hazel
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Patent number: 6119400Abstract: A regulator assembly for extending a component, e.g., window, sunroof or adjustable seat, of an automotive vehicle utilizing a flexible belt. The regulator assembly has a drive that is rotationally coupled to a first gear element having a first set of teeth. A second gear element having a second set of teeth is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the first gear element to allow the first and second sets of teeth to mesh and to allow the flexible belt to weave therebetween. The flexible belt is attached to the component, and loops around first and second belt guiding devices, e.g., pulleys, which are located on opposing sides of the first and second gear elements. The regulator assembly can further include having the second gear element rotationally coupled to the drive as well.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: H. Neil Ovenshire
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Patent number: 6115966Abstract: A power window regulator which comprises first regulator main body (18) of a power window regulator (12) is disposed at a front end side of a door, and is provided with a loop-shaped first tape (44) that raises and lowers a carrier plate (58). Further, a second regulator main body (20) disposed at a rear end side of the door is provided with a second tape (68) capable of pushing and pulling a carrier plate (70) and that is connected to the first tape (44). In accordance with this structure, a large space is secured between a first guide rail (22) and a second guide rail (60), so that a viewing window for securing a downward view can be disposed.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1998Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuma Shibata
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Patent number: 6114820Abstract: A power window apparatus is provided for detecting pinching in accordance with the opened/closed position of the window and a state of rotation of a motor, the apparatus having a position sensor which detects a safety-control suspension region of the window and which is an accurate sensor. A spiral guide groove is formed in the inner surface of a housing opposite to a rotational plate which is rotated by an output shaft of a motor which opens/closes a window. A follower which is guided by the spiral guide groove is able to move along a straight guide groove provided for the rotational plate in the radial direction. Terminals in the form of conductive films are provided for a printed circuit board accommodated in the housing. When the rotational plate has been rotated, the follower is guided by the spiral guide groove so as to be moved in the straight guide groove. Thus, a slide member provided for the follower is brought into contact with the terminals so that the terminals are conducted with each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masanori Nishigaya
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Patent number: 6094868Abstract: A handle unit of a manual window apparatus including a base plate 110 that has a brake drum part 111, a handle shaft 120 that penetrates the base plate 110, a brake spring 140 that is mounted inside the brake drum part 111, a spring hanger 160 that is fitted on the handle shaft 120 and that is joined with the handle shaft 120 in a circumferential direction via the brake spring 140, a volute balance spring 170 that is laid over a surface of the base plate 110 in an outer circumferential area of the spring hanger 160 and that is mounted between the spring hanger 160 and the base plate 110, a wire drum 180 that is fitted on the handle shaft 120 so as to form a single body with the spring hanger 160 in a circumferential direction and that is wound around on the circumferential surface thereof with a wire for opening-closing actions of a window glass, and a cover that has a container part 191 that covers the wire drum and that is secured to the base plate 110.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Otaka, Shoichiro Yokoi
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Patent number: 6073395Abstract: A window lift mechanism for raising and lowering a window in a vehicle door includes a support bracket mounted to the window and a motor supported on the support bracket. A vertical rack is mounted to the door and is positioned immediately adjacent the window, and a vertical guide track is also mounted to the door parallel to the rack and immediately adjacent the window. A pinion gear driven by the motor is supported on the support bracket and engaged with the rack to permit vertical movement of the window. A slide is supported on the support bracket and engaged with the guide track to provide support as the window is raised or lowered. Alternatively, a second rack and pinion are used instead of the guide track and slide.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1996Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Inventor: Paul J. Fenelon
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Patent number: 6044588Abstract: A window pane is slidably driven in two guides by an electric motor. A piezoelectric vibrator vibrates the window pane to facilitate sliding movement of the window pane relative to the guides and a delay relay enables the vibrator to start operation before the motor is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Volkswagen AgInventor: Bernd Rech
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Patent number: 6021604Abstract: A drive device (2) for translatory displaceable component parts in motor vehicles, more particularly for window regulators or sliding roofs is connected by an axis (6) to a base part (1) which consists of a part of the translatory displaceable component part (1). The drive device is supported for swivel movement about the axial centre point and elastically relative the base part (1).Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1998Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: BroseFahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Helmut Sesselmann
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Patent number: 6006473Abstract: A window regulator comprises a rail defining a central channel which receives an elongate flexible plastic tape having a plurality of slots, the width of the tape being sized to fit within the central channel, a drive mechanism for moving the tape, either electric or manual, and a universal housing connecting the rail and the drive mechanism. The universal housing can be used with either manual or electric window regulator designs. The universal housing has a central cavity which can receive an insert bracket for a manual drive drum when the drive mechanism includes a hand crank. The central cavity is sized to receive a larger, electric drive drum when the drive mechanism includes an electric motor. Either drive drum has teeth sized to engage the slots of the tape so that the drive mechanism can impart motion to the tape to raise and lower a windowpane. When the insert bracket is used, the tape is routed in the universal housing from a first slot, around the manual drive drum to a second slot.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1998Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc.Inventors: James G. Mariel, Michael D. Kobrehel, Larry B. Walker
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Patent number: 6003268Abstract: A window lift system generally comprises a motor driving a threaded shaft threadably engaging a nut slidably mounted in a bracket. A link has a first end rotatably mounted to the nut and a second end rotatably mounted to an end of a pivotally mounted arm. An opposite end of the arm engaging the window glass raises and lowers the window glass as the arm pivots.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1997Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.Inventor: Raghn K. Oruganty
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Patent number: 5946857Abstract: A closure assembly includes a track and a slidable and pivotable closure member. The closure member is engaged with the track proximate first and second pivots adjacent the pivotable end of the member, the first and second pivots being interconnected by a multiple segment shaft (for example at least two portions) (for example telescoping) which provides for accurate installation, retention, removal, adjustment and alignment of the first and second pivots in a substantially parallel line for pivotally supporting the closure member so that it may be safely and securely pivoted away from the closure assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Preferred Engineering Products, Ltd.Inventors: Bob Davies, Sean Davies, Shaul Goldenberg, Sinnathamby Kupenthirarajan
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Patent number: 5875588Abstract: A position detecting device of a moving body can detect the position of a window glass of a power window device with high precision, and can set an initial position of the window glass without making any complicated adjustment. Further, this device can be realized with a simple structure and at low cost. Furthermore, the position detecting device and the vehicle door can reliably maintain an original assembly function in a normal assembly state into the moving body. The position detecting device 30 has a pushing button 202. Rotation of a ring gear 46 can be compulsorily prevented by pushing the pushing button 202 even in an operating state of a motor. Thus, if the motor is driven by pushing the pushing button 202, the position detecting device can be reliably assembled into a vehicle body in the normal assembly state irrespective of a rotating position of a motor rotating shaft (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignees: Asmo Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Torii, Keizo Ishizu, Masaki Fukuzawa
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Patent number: 5864987Abstract: A cable-drum window regulator for controlling the motion of a windowpane, such as a window in a door, has an improved glider assembly. The glider assembly is attached to the windowpane, and comprises a glider slidably secured by snap fit to an elongate guide rail, and a glider plate which snap fits to the glider. The glider assembly travels along the guide rail from a full-up to a full-down position. The glider preferably has a cushioning unitary downstop to absorb the loading of the glider assembly at the full-down position. The glider has at least a pair of rail tabs which snap fit to longitudinally extending receiving flanges of the rail; preferably at least one of the rail tabs has a beveled surface for ease in assembly. The glider has at least one flexible finger with a digit which snaps into a corresponding receiving opening in the glider plate. In those embodiments with more than one flexible finger, one finger is preferably longer than the other.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.Inventors: James G. Mariel, Michael D. Kobrehel, James F. Trevarrow, M. Darren Grumm, Robert K. Roth, Andrew C. Smith
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Patent number: 5822921Abstract: A rotationally biasing window regulator for controlling the motion of a windowpane, such as a windowpane in a motor vehicle door or door module, comprises a motor or hand crank to produce a force to move the windowpane, drive arm and a sector gear to transmit the force, an attachment assembly attached to the windowpane and a slider assembly slidingly attached to the attachment assembly and mounted over the drive arm, and a counterbalance spring positioned between the attachment assembly and the drive arm placing rotational force on the slider assembly, which directly biases the attachment assembly to force the windowpane in a lateral direction towards a glass run channel. The slider assembly can slide in a stamped metal bracket or in a C-channel. A clip connecting the attachment assembly to the drive arm may be used to releasably secure the regulator in a said position.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Excel Indusries, Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Griepenstroh, Darren M. Grumm, Michael D. Kobrehel, James A. Molitor, Clayton E. Flanagan
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Patent number: 5818183Abstract: A device for controlling the tilt angle of window blind blades having a motor with an output shaft and a slip clutch coupling the output shaft to a tilt control mechanism. A receiver and demodulator receives a modulated infra red carrier signal modulated with a code and to demodulate the carrier to produce corresponding electrical pulses. A decoder is coupled to an output of the receiver and demodulator and when powered provides an output on one of several output lines depending upon the coding of pulses from the receiver and demodulator. A motor driver circuit has an input coupled to the decoder and an output coupled to the motor, is operative to drive the motor in either a forward or reverse direction depending upon the output from the decoder, and a decoupler decouples the motor from the wand upon reaching an extreme of tilting of the blade when the motor is still running.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1995Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Auto-Tilt Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: James Andrew Lambert, Gregory Alan Weber, Yu Chiu Kwok
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Patent number: 5806244Abstract: A window regulator system generally comprises a first pinion rotatably driven by a motor. The first pinion is mounted between a first rack and a rotatable second pinion. The second pinion is rotatably mounted between the first pinion and a second rack. Teeth on the first pinion engage the first rack and simultaneously drive the second pinion to engage the second rack.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.Inventor: Christopher R. Tilli
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Patent number: 5794478Abstract: A transmitting chain for an automobile electric window includes an endless transmitting chain, a lower gear, an upper gear, two lower chain protectors, two upper chain protectors, two elastic tubes and an elongate cover. The lower chain protectors contain the lower gear having a leaf connector to combine with a rotating mechanism, which rotates the lower gear. The lower gear then moves the chain, which then rotates the upper gear. The upper gear then moves a lowering and lifting mechanism of the electric window of an automobile. The endless chain has its two intermediate portions contained in the elastic tubes and the elongate cover covers the tubes to hold them side by side.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Chin-Yun HuangInventor: Kun Chu Chen
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Patent number: 5782038Abstract: A window regulator for raising a lowering a window pane in a motor vehicle. The regulator includes a scissors linkage including crossed lever arms connected at a pivot axis. The lever arms are attached at their upper ends to spaced points on the lower edge of the window pane and a cable is connected to the linkage at the pivot axis of the crossed arms. The cable is wrapped around a drum driven by a motor and is further trained over an upper pulley positioned above the pivot axis of the linkage and a lower pulley positioned below the pivot axis of the linkage. The regulator further includes a lower cross rail defining a rear pivot pivotally mounting the lower end of one of the lever arms, an intermediate pivot pivotally mounting the lower pulley, and a forward slot slidably mounting the lower end of the other lever arm.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1996Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Hi-Lex CorporationInventors: Edward E. Sponable, Jeffrey Kolar
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Patent number: 5778600Abstract: The invention relates to a cable-tensioning device associated with a rail (3) having at its ends (4, 5) two points for returning at least one cable (8), characterized in that one (4) of the said ends of the rail includes: a rotary cam (12); a cam-support element (7); a spring (13) coaxial with the cam (12) and having two angularly offset radial tabs (32, 33), a first tab (33) bearing on a stop (19) formed on the support element (7), and the second tab (32) extending inside the cam (12) and being designed to slide over a non-return means (20) arranged on the support element (7) after the cam has rotated through a first travel, this non-return means being shaped to prevent any return of the second tab (32) after the tabs of the spring (13) have become angularly separated by at least the length of the arc between the non-return means (20) and the stop (19), the cable (8) being engaged in grooves (30, 31) formed at the periphery of the cam. This invention has application to motor vehicle door window lifters.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-FranceInventor: Yi-Hwa Chu
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Patent number: 5749173Abstract: A regulator for a power window having a safety function for preventing an object from being caught in a closing power window includes a driving unit for raising and lowering the window glass of a vehicle and a driven unit which receives power from the driving unit. When frictional resistance corresponding to relative displacement between the driving and driven units is less than a fixed value during descent of the window glass and exceeds this fixed during ascent of the window glass, the ascending window glass is reversed and made to descend. When the amount of an increase in current to the driving unit during ascent of the window glass increases in a case where the sliding resistance has exceeded a fixed value even once during descent of the window glass, the ascending window glass is reversed and made to descend.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiko Ishida, Toshimitsu Oka, Naofumi Fujie, Hitoshi Ishikawa, Yasuaki Suzuki
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Patent number: 5723960Abstract: An opening/closing control apparatus detects an overload placed on a movable member of a vehicle such as a sunroof and a power window while it is sliding. Further, it prevents overload detecting operation (reversing motion) from being made by a cause other than an overload. A control processor circuit compares a driving current value of a motor detected at predetermined intervals with a preset current value and corrects an overload threshold value to a threshold value of higher value when the driving current value detected when a first predetermined time period has passed after the start of the motor does not exceed the preset current value. Thereafter, the control processor circuit determines that an overload has occurred when a change in the driving current value has exceeded the overload threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1995Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kouichi Harada
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Patent number: 5656898Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a horizontally sliding door includes a chain driven assembly, a reversible motor for moving the chain and a sliding door driver which converts the chain motion to door movement. A remote control device can also be used to operate the sliding door remotely, especially if users are elderly or handicapped individuals.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Inventor: Edward T. Kalina
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Patent number: 5653144Abstract: A rotatable apparatus includes a pair of rotatable members joined by a stress dissipating structure. The stress dissipating structure can be employed in a gear, sprocket, clutch or the like. In one embodiment of the present invention, antibuckling plates generally spanning between a hub and rim define a hollow cavity. In another embodiment of the present invention, the stress dissipating structure includes a specifically configured sets of nodules moving the hub and rim. An additional aspect of the present invention provides a stress dissipating structure employing various anti-buckling plate attachment constructions. In still another embodiment of the present invention, a uniquely sized and packaged gear, gear housing and/or motor are employed in order to maximize output force per pound of material efficiencies.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Inventor: Paul J. Fenelon
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Patent number: 5615577Abstract: An ultrathin transmission mechanism for all types of automobile power windows is provided, in which the gears thereof each is formed at its shaft hole periphery with two laterally outward projected flanges for positioning the gears on the transmission mechanism with reduced overall width or thickness required for mounting the transmission mechanism. A transmission chain thereof is partially coated at its cord segments exposed between every two ball-type teeth with a layer of material the same as that used to make the ball-type teeth, thereby preventing the transmission chain from becoming extended even after a long term period of use and to always provide high-precision displacement.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1996Date of Patent: April 1, 1997Inventor: Tse-Hsing Chen
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Patent number: 5613322Abstract: A cable regulator assembly for controlling the vertical travel of a windowpane in the window opening of a motor vehicle has a cable support structure comprising first and second guide rail members extending vertically from laterally-spaced attachment to a lateral bridging member. The lateral bridging member, first guide rail member and second guide rail member cooperatively form an integral, rigid U-shaped structure. A regulator cable is mounted by suitable cable guide means for driven travel in a U-shaped travel path along the cable support structure. First and second gliders are attached to the regulator cable for cable-driven vertical travel along guide rails formed by the guide rail members. The gliders provide mounting means for attachment to the windowpane. The U-shaped cable support structure and corresponding U-shaped travel path of the regulator cable leave the center area of a door cavity advantageously clear of regulator assembly components.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.Inventor: Michael D. Kobrehel
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Patent number: 5577347Abstract: This device comprises mechanical link including a pawl (25) establishing a rigid drive link between a driving input member (2) and an output member (22), interacting with a prestressed element (31) which tends to hold the pawl in connection with the driving input member or with the driven output member, for so long as the force transmitted by the pawl remains below a predetermined value; this system automatically interrupts the kinematic drive chain of the movable member in the case of a force exceeding a predetermined value. This arrangement makes the device practically insensitive to friction and eliminates the uncertainty on the threshold of the triggering force.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1993Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis SystemInventors: Robert J. Heckel, Enrico Fin, Achim R. Gier, Pascal Bonduel
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Patent number: 5572101Abstract: A power window system equipped with a "one-touch-down" feature for a motor vehicle includes provisions for programming the system to enable and/or disable the one-touch-down feature. The programming is done via a sequence of commands provided to the controller of the one-touch-down feature from various switches on the motor vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, all such commands are issued from devices already on the vehicle to perform functions other than programming of the "one-touch-down" feature.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1994Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: David J. Rutkowski, Mohammad H. Arghavani-Badrabadi
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Patent number: 5564230Abstract: The window lifter (1) may, for example, be of the twisted cable type (3) driven by a motorized reduction gear (2) wound around return pulleys (4, 5) and sliding in a guide rail (6); a carriage (8) carrying the window pane (9) is fixed to the strand of the cable passing into the rail (6); damping elements (11) such as flat metal springs, for example, are fixed to the ends of the guide rail (6) and to the door panel (7), which makes it possible to damp out a hard impact against an obstacle encountered by the window pane (9).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1993Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Inventor: Pierre Periou
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Patent number: 5561948Abstract: A device for manually controlling a power window of an automobile including a connector formed with a cavity at a lower end and a rectangular recess at an upper end, a sleeve fixedly fitted on a bearing mounted on an upper end of an electric motor, a flexible tube having a lower end fixedly engaged with the sleeve, a ferrule inserted through a covering panel mounted at an inner side of an automobile door so as to engage with the other end of the flexible tube, and a turning mechanism including a handwheel, a tubular member disposed at one side of said handwheel, and a cable extending through the tubular member to engage with a central portion of the handwheel and having a rectangular lower end adapted to engage with the rectangular recess of the connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1995Date of Patent: October 8, 1996Inventor: Ming-Kuei Wu
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Patent number: 5537781Abstract: A modular window regulator system is provided for controlling the movement of a window which includes first and second cross arms pivotally joined to one another, each cross arm having first and second ends, the first cross arm first end being geared; a back plate mounting a driver gear for torsional engagement with the geared end of the first cross arm, the back plate mounting the first end of the second cross arm for linear movement; first and second channels extending generally vertically and transverse to the back plate and fixably joined thereto at opposite ends of the back plate; a sash slidably mounting the second end of the cross arms, the sash having first and second ends extending toward the first and second channels, respectively; a first guide block fixably connected to the sash first end and to the window, the first guide block having a vertical bearing connection with the first channel; a second guide block fixably connected to the sash second end and to the window, the second guide block havingType: GrantFiled: March 29, 1995Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William C. Bisnack, Jesse J.-S. Jou, Timothy A. Wirsing, Alex N. Draper
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Patent number: 5528861Abstract: In a cable-actuated window lifter, especially for motor vehicles with a driver (3) carrying a window panel (1) along a guide track (2), motor-driven or hand-operated adjustment mechanism (4, 4a and 4b) engaging directly into the retainer (3), and a braking device (5), which prevents an independent movement of the window panel (1) with the adjustment mechanism in rest position, whereby the braking device (5) is placed on the retainer (3) and includes at least one brake which can be pivoted around a bearing block (6), which, when the adjustment device (4) is in rest position, lays against at least one lateral surface (a) of the guide track (2) in a braking, preferably self-restraining, manner thereby releasing the guide track (2) when the adjustment device (4) is engaged, the brake being designed as a clamping block (7)placed off-center on the bearing pin (6), with two curved arcs (d and e) spiraling in opposite direction from its center (c), and being pre-loaded in clamping direction (Y) by a spring (8), thereType: GrantFiled: June 8, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Gastone Beyerlein