Patents Assigned to Excel Industries
  • Patent number: 5657580
    Abstract: A window regulator employs a drive cable to regulate opening and closing of a window in a vehicle. The drive cable is attached to a glider which is attached to the window, and extends around a first and second guide means and a drive drum. Rotation of the drive drum causes movement of the cable which in turn causes movement of the window. One of the guide means is slidably mounted and coupled to a spring which causes the guide means to apply tension to the drive cable. The spring is positioned along substantially the same axis along which the slidably mounted guide means may travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael David Kobrehel
  • Patent number: 5647094
    Abstract: An improved sliding member for a regulator assembly has a slide body providing a substantially spherical working contact surface and attachment means extending from the slide body for mounting the sliding member to another member of the regulator assembly. The slide body can be substantially mushroom-shaped, having a cap portion and a hub portion, wherein the cap portion forms the substantially spherical working contact surface and includes a substantially curvo-annular flange coaxially surrounding the hub portion. The attachment means can be provided as an attachment stud having a head portion embedded in the slide body, preferably extending coaxially through the hub portion. One or more flexure gaps can be provided in the curvo-annular flange to provide improved compressive fit of the sliding member within a guide channel. A regulator assembly incorporating the sliding member can provide such guide channel as a tube channel in an elongate guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries
    Inventor: James Gregory Mariel
  • Patent number: 5623785
    Abstract: A window regulator employs a drive cable to regulate opening and closing of a window in a vehicle. The drive cable is attached to a glider which is attached to the window, and extends around a loop which includes first and second guide elements and a drive drum. Rotation of the drive drum causes movement of the cable which in turn causes movement of the window. One of the guide elements is coupled to a torsion spring which causes the guide element to be forced outward to increase the circumference of the loop traveled by the cable and thereby to maintain tension on the cable. The guide element may take the form of a rotatable pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Mariel
  • Patent number: 5617675
    Abstract: A collapsible cable regulator assembly is provided, having a collapsible support structure wherein one or more swing arms are pivotably mounted to a lateral member. Cable guide means are provided for mounting a regulator cable, including a cable return at the free end of each of the swing arms. The collapsible support structure is openable from a collapsed condition in which each swing arm is at an acute angle to the lateral member, to an operating condition in which each swing arm is at an operating angle to the lateral member which is greater than the aforesaid acute angle. The cable regulator assembly in its collapsed condition has improved installation capability, being especially advantageous for installation through limited access openings. Once in proper location, the cable regulator assembly is opened to its operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Kobrehel
  • Patent number: 5613322
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Kobrehel
  • Patent number: 5613325
    Abstract: A motor vehicle glazing unit has generally U-shaped frame channels open toward each other in substantially fixed position. A transparent glazing pane is moveably mounted in the frame channels, having at least one non-frangible pane member, such that the deformation of the glazing pane provides good energy absorption. Edge flanges extend along the peripheral edge of the glazing pane, extending laterally beyond the peripheral edge to a distal portion. Typically, a pair of edge flanges extends vertically along opposite vertical edges of a vertically moveable glazing pane. The distal portion of the edge flange is received in the corresponding frame channel. Edge flange retainers are provided in substantially fixed position relative the frame channels. The edge flange retainers each have a structural member oriented along the corresponding frame channel to capture the distal portion of the edge flange in the frame channel during deformation of the glazing pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Mariel
  • Patent number: 5613323
    Abstract: A window assembly for a motor vehicle body enclosing a passenger compartment has a structural frame mounting a sliding pane. Guide means are provided for guiding the sliding pane as it slides between its open and closed positions. The guide means includes kick-out means for forcibly guiding the sliding pane toward an offset, substantially parallel plane upon initial movement of the sliding pane from its closed position toward its open position. Such initial offset facilitates mounting of the sliding pane in its closed position in a plane substantially flush with an adjacent fixed position pane or other object of the window assembly of the vehicle body. Pull/pull type drive means are provided for operating the sliding pane. Specifically, a cable-and-drum drive mechanism of the window assembly includes a drive cable wrapped around a drive drum and attached to the sliding pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Buening
  • Patent number: 5595025
    Abstract: A regulator assembly for moving a window panel between its open and closed positions, suitable in certain preferred embodiments for operation of motor vehicle windows for example, has drive mechanism such as a hand crank or electric motor for delivering a drive force to the regulator assembly to move the window panel. Linkage, including at least a lifting arm and, optionally, a cross-arm, etc., is connected to the window panel at one end and mounts at its other end a sector gear engaging the drive mechanism. Load absorbers are provided for releasably absorbing drive force upon operation of the regulator assembly between any two points of travel of the window panel between the open and closed positions. The load absorbers help to level the peak loads otherwise experienced by the regulator assembly and, particularly, an electric drive motor thereof, during start-up and travel stall at the full open position, full closed position, intrusion or blockage during closure travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan D. MacPhail-Fausey
  • Patent number: 5581943
    Abstract: An improved torque window assembly for motor vehicles has a peripheral frame defining an opening, and a moveable glazing pane pivotally mounted to the frame for movement about a pivot axis between an open and closed position. A torque handle is operatively connected to the glazing pane by a linkage assembly, including a torque bar which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A mounting assembly for the moveable glazing pane includes a hinge rail along a peripheral edge of the glazing pane. The hinge rail provides a U-shaped glazing channel to receive the peripheral edge of the glazing pane with a biased interference fit. The linkage from the torque bar to the hinge rail includes a one-piece hinge link having a substantially planar link section perpendicular to the hinge rail and two or more tabs received, one each, into U-shaped hinge channels extending axially along the hinge rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Deren, Darren M. Grumm
  • Patent number: 5551193
    Abstract: A flexible blade seal for a window assembly has an elongate body of substantially uniform cross-section formed of flexible elastomeric material. As viewed in cross-section, the blade seal has a seal segment forming an exposed, substantially planar sealing surface for contact with a surface of a windowpane, e.g., a sliding pane of the window assembly. In its free state the sealing surface is presented at an angle to the surface of the sliding pane, extending from a free end to a substantially flat end wall. A lateral segment of the blade seal extends from the end wall at an acute angle to the seal segment to an angled junction with a base segment. The base segment extends to a free distal portion adapted for attachment to the window assembly for mounting the blade seal. The flat end wall of the blade seal is generally perpendicular to the plane of the window opening and provides an abutting surface for surface-to-surface contact with another blade seal or other sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Barnett
  • Patent number: 5542214
    Abstract: A flush-closing multi-pane window assembly for a motor vehicle is provided, comprising a frame for mounting in a window recess in the vehicle body, one or more fixed-position panes mounted to the frame and at least one sliding pane mounted to the frame for sliding between an open position and a closed position. In its open position, the sliding pane overlaps a fixed-position pane, but in its closed position is substantially flush therewith. Guide means are provided for guiding the sliding pane as it moves laterally between its open and closed position. The guide means includes fixed members extending from the sliding panes substantially perpendicular to its direction of travel and kick-out means provided by the frame for engaging the fixed members at least during initial lateral movement of the sliding pane from its closed position to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Buening
  • Patent number: 5522191
    Abstract: A window assembly for mounting in a recessed window opening, especially as the rear window in the passenger compartment of a pickup truck or other motor vehicle, has slidable and fixed positioned panes, preferably right-side and left-side fixed positioned panes with a slidably mounted center pane between them. A mounting frame including a molded plastic, single-sided frame member supports the fixed positioned pane(s) by adhesive surface bonding to a perimeter portion of the interior surface of the panes. The peripheral edge and the exterior surface of the fixed position pane(s) are free of adhesive bonding to the single-sided frame member. The mounting frame also provides an exterior show surface substantially flush with the exterior surface of the fixed position pane(s). The window assembly presents, therefore, an overall flush surface appearance with exposed peripheral edge surfaces of the fixed positioned pane(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Wenner, Ricky J. Mason, Robert M. Pabreza, Aaron M. Tiede
  • Patent number: 5442880
    Abstract: A modular window assembly has a molded plastic frame defining one or more apertures, wherein at least one of the apertures can be opened and closed by a transparent pane which slides in opposed channels formed cooperatively by a backplate and the frame. The slide channels can be formed by backplate members attached to the frame at upper and lower rabbets. The frame can be a unitary one-piece frame having a latch keeper formed therein for releasably capturing a moveable member of a latch attached to the sliding pane. Tab and slot positioning means can be provided as unitary elements of the frame and a circumferentially extending halo molding fitted about the periphery of the window opening. Vehicle attachment studs optionally are attached to, e.g., sonically welded into, the frame and/or the backplate. In a motor vehicle application, the frame may further provide a unitary headliner flange extending inwardly to support a passenger compartment headliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronnie G. Gipson
  • Patent number: 5427013
    Abstract: An improved vacuum motor for actuating heat, ventilating and air conditioning control systems (HVAC), which uses a conical spiral spring and a bonded connection between the housing and cap to reduce weight, size, cost and noise. The motor includes a bellows which forms an airtight compartment inside the motor housing with the cap and a plunger connected to the bellows. The conical spring biases the bellows to a fully expanded position. A negative pressure or vacuum in the air line connected to the housing causes the bellows to collapse and compress the spring. As the bellows collapses, the attached plunger is pulled axially into the motor housing. The movement of the plunger actuates the connected HVAC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Kobrehel, Jeffrey T. Markovicz
  • Patent number: 5398449
    Abstract: A dual drive window regulator for use with a door assembly for raising and lowering a window glass. The window regulator includes a window glass mounted to two window carriers. The carriers are supported by stationary tracks for shiftable movement thereon. A toothed rack connects each carrier to a movable toothed slide member housed within the tracks. Each carrier overlies the sides of a track to prevent lateral movement of the carrier and window glass during raising and lowering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Kobrehel, James F. Trevarrow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5291916
    Abstract: A check valve which is positioned in the vacuum air line of an internal combustion engine. The check valve includes a single-piece valve body having an outlet port and two or more inlet ports, with one outlet port located substantially in line with the inlet port and connected by a venturi tube. The second inlet port is separated from the main air flow line by the valve stem and a diaphragm which allows communication there between and prevents back pressure. The second inlet port communicates with the outlet port through the valve stem and a second venturi tube which provides a vacuum boost to a device, usually vehicle brakes, connected to the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Kloosterman, John Barlow
  • Patent number: 5236650
    Abstract: A process for RIM bonding urethane gaskets to glass panels which includes storing a primed glass panel in a temperature-humidity controlled environment for 20-28 hours. The primed and conditioned panels are then fitted with RIM gaskets with 24 hours after removal from the controlled environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Choby, Peter J. Kubizne
  • Patent number: 5154028
    Abstract: Glazing panels which are mounted in the vehicle flush with the exterior skin. The glazing may be stationary or movable by manual or power operated assists and includes a mounting molding having a peripheral lip which extends to the vehicle skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Hill, Louis R. Csokasy, Peter J. Kubizne
  • Patent number: 5099611
    Abstract: A window regulator mechanism for motor vehicle door assembly is disclosed having a kick-out feature for moving of the lower edge of the glass outward as the glass is moved upward into the upper position such that the lower edge of the glass can be positioned flush with the exterior surface of the vehicle. Three separate embodiments are disclosed for providing the kick-out feature in the window regulator mechanism. The window regulator combines both the window drive and guidance systems into one mechanism, reducing the number of components in the door assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kracht, Jeffrey S. Lawrence
  • Patent number: D345741
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Mullett, Elmer D. Voth