Patents Assigned to Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11001127
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door module and a door panel. The door module has a back plate with a periphery bearing attachment orifices defining a base plane. At least one guide rail extends in a rail direction in a rail plane offset from the base plane and has a connected edge and a free edge. The connected edge is attached to the back plate, and the free edge is shaped for slidably attaching a carrier plate for a window. The guide rail vertically protrudes beyond the periphery of the back platen. A void in the rail plane intersects a trajectory of the connected edge. The void provides access through the rail plane to the periphery of the back plate, wherein an attachment orifice is disposed in the void. The door panel has a central hole and attachment openings aligned with the attachment orifices of the door module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Beau Cook, Stephen J. Brinck, Tuan Tony Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11002060
    Abstract: A window regulator for a motor vehicle includes a drive unit assembly with a module plate. The drive unit for the window regulator includes a cable drum housing with a cable drum and a motor assembly. The cable drum housing includes a stepped annular ring extended from the cable drum housing and a snap-fit post protruded from each of the stepped annular ring for engaging with the module plate. The cable drum housing is positioned on a receiving site of the module plate, and the stepped annular ring and the snap-fit post is coupled with a locating site on the receiving site. Each locating site includes a circular bead for engaging with the stepped annular ring of the cable drum housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Shigeki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 10894465
    Abstract: A door assembly may include a sub-assembly having a sub-assembly panel, one or more rails, an edge strip, and a sealing gasket. The rails may extend from the sub-assembly panel and may overhang an edge of the panel to be sealed. The edge strip may be configured to seal the panel extending across a region of the edge where the rail overhangs the edge. The sealing gasket may be a foam-in-place gasket. The sealing gasket may be applied to the sub-assembly panel around the perimeter of the sub-assembly panel and may interact with the edge strip at the region where the at least one rail overhangs the edge to form a contiguous seal around the sub-assembly panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Arimoto, Beau Cook
  • Patent number: 10895097
    Abstract: A window regulator for a motor vehicle includes a drive unit assembly with a module plate. The drive unit for the window regulator includes a cable drum housing with a cable drum and a motor assembly. The cable drum housing includes a stepped annular ring extended from the cable drum housing and a snap-fit post protruded from each of the stepped annular ring for engaging with the module plate. The cable drum housing is positioned on a receiving site of the module plate, and the stepped annular ring and the snap-fit post is coupled with a locating site on the receiving site. Each locating site includes a circular bead for engaging with the stepped annular ring of the cable drum housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Shigeki Arimoto
  • Publication number: 20210003156
    Abstract: A window regulator for a motor vehicle includes a drive unit assembly with a module plate. The drive unit for the window regulator includes a cable drum housing with a cable drum and a motor assembly. The cable drum housing includes a stepped annular ring extended from the cable drum housing and a snap-fit post protruded from each of the stepped annular ring for engaging with the module plate. The cable drum housing is positioned on a receiving site of the module plate, and the stepped annular ring and the snap-fit post is coupled with a locating site on the receiving site. Each locating site includes a circular bead for engaging with the stepped annular ring of the cable drum housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: SHIGEKI ARIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200262273
    Abstract: A window regulator for a motor vehicle door assembly including features for providing defrosting capabilities for movable glass of the door. A door wire harness is routed inside a door inner cavity. A defroster wire harness is provided having a first end connected to the door wire harness at a bracket on a window regulator guide rail. The opposite end of the defroster wire harness is affixed to a second bracket at a window regulator window carrier. Electrical defroster element wires are connected to the defroster wire harness at the second connector. The defroster wire harness is configured to undergo a bending motion in a manner to reduce fatigue and interference with internal components of the vehicle door. Other applications include providing electrical power to electronic or electrical elements carried by a vehicle movable window panel in addition to defroster functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki ARIMOTO, Yohei MORIYA
  • Patent number: 10577849
    Abstract: A cable guide for use with a window regulator assembly includes a body with a first rail support surface and a second rail support surface in a guide rail region, and a cable support surface and a cable retention arm in a cable region. The first rail support surface is configured to pass through an aperture in a guide rail and be placed on a first side of the guide rail and a cable retention arm configured to receive a tensioned drive cable of the window regulator. The cable guide with the first and second rail support surfaces is steadily secured to the guide rail by utilizing the pushing force from the tensioned drive cable. The aperture is located along the guide rail such that the aperture is out of the slide path of the window carrier of the window regulator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Shigeki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 10550926
    Abstract: A window regulator assembly for a motor vehicle includes a pulley assembly with integrated module plate for redirecting a cable. The pulley assembly includes a base element and a cable pulley rotatably coupled with the base element. The base element has a pair of fingers and a stepped area for engaging with an integrated module plate. The integrated module plate has a pulley assembly receiving site for placing the pulley assembly. The pulley assembly receiving site of the integrated module plate has at least one aperture, a slot and a mating portion for easily engaging with the pulley assembly. The mating portion includes a third support surface for supporting the edge of the stepped area of the base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20190390757
    Abstract: A window regulator assembly for a motor vehicle includes a pulley assembly with integrated module plate for redirecting a cable. The pulley assembly includes a base element and a cable pulley rotatably coupled with the base element. The base element has a pair of fingers and a stepped area for engaging with an integrated module plate. The integrated module plate has a pulley assembly receiving site for placing the pulley assembly. The pulley assembly receiving site of the integrated module plate has at least one aperture, a slot and a mating portion for easily engaging with the pulley assembly. The mating portion includes a third support surface for supporting the edge of the stepped area of the base element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10501978
    Abstract: A cable guide for use with a window regulator assembly includes a body with a first rail support surface, a second rail support surface and a third rail support surface in a guide rail region and a cable support surface and a cable retention arm in a cable region. The first rail support surface is configured to be inserted through an aperture in a guide rail and be placed on a first side of the guide rail and a cable retention arm configured to receive a tensioned drive cable of the window regulator. The cable guide with the first, second and third rail support surfaces may be steadily assembled to the guide rail by utilizing the pushing force from the tensioned drive cable. The aperture is located along the guide rail such that the aperture is out of the slide path of the window carrier of the window regulator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Arimoto, Ichiro Okuno, Yohei Moriya
  • Patent number: 10287811
    Abstract: A window regulator assembly for moving a side window of a vehicle in an upward direction and in a downward direction along a guide rail, includes a carrier plate having a rail channel for movably engaging the guide rail. A first cable end pocket laterally offset from the rail channel is configured for receiving a cable end extending from a bottom end of the guide rail, and a separate second cable end pocket, likewise laterally offset from the rail channel, is configured for receiving a cable end extending from a top end of the guide rail. At a top end of the first cable end pocket in an installed position, the first cable end pocket is longitudinally delimited by a radial step having a depth of at most ½ of a width of the first cable end pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeki Arimoto, Ichiro Okuno, Yohei Moriya
  • Patent number: 10094471
    Abstract: A park release system includes a park release handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a base, a handle pivotally connected to the base, and a lock piece. The handle is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The lock piece is uniquely designed to selectively lock the handle in open position and to release the handle and allow it to pass back to closed position after the handle is pulled from lock position. The park release system may include a cable connector assembly. The cable connector assembly may comprise a first cable section connectable to a second cable section. The second cable section includes a housing having a slider within a passageway and below a flexible retention beam. The slider is configured to receive and connect to the cable from the first cable section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew DeVos, Eldon Teets
  • Patent number: 10030770
    Abstract: A park release system may include a cable connector assembly. The cable connector assembly includes a first cable section connectable to a second cable section. The second cable section includes a housing having a slider within a passageway and below a flexible retention beam. The slider is configured to receive and connect to the cable from the first cable section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew DeVos, Eldon Teets
  • Publication number: 20180094724
    Abstract: A park release system includes a park release handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a base, a handle pivotally connected to the base, and a lock piece. The handle is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The lock piece is uniquely designed to selectively lock the handle in open position and to release the handle and allow it to pass back to closed position after the handle is pulled from lock position. The park release system may include a cable connector assembly. The cable connector assembly may comprise a first cable section connectable to a second cable section. The second cable section includes a housing having a slider within a passageway and below a flexible retention beam. The slider is configured to receive and connect to the cable from the first cable section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: MATTHEW DEVOS, ELDON TEETS
  • Patent number: 9822574
    Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a hinged device is provided. In particular, the actuator is a power tailgate actuator. The actuator comprises a motor with a rotor, and an output shaft that rotates on an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis on which lies the rotor of the motor. The actuator has a rotary position sensor such as a rotary potentiometer which positively identifies the position of the tailgate. The tailgate also comprises a clutch which can engage and disengage depending on the mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS INC.
    Inventors: John M. Heiberger, Kevin Koneval, Fred Eberle, Eric Thomas, Stephen J. Brinck
  • Patent number: 9822568
    Abstract: A cable guide for use with a window regulator assembly includes a body, an attachment configured to be inserted through an aperture in a guide rail and retain a portion of the guide rail in a rail gap, a spring tab configured to press against an edge of the guide rail, and a cable retention arm configured to receive a tensioned drive cable of the window regulator. The cable guide may be steadily assembled to the guide rail by utilizing the pushing force from the tensioned drive cable. The aperture is located along the guide rail such that the aperture is out of the slide path of the window carrier of the window regulator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9822843
    Abstract: A planetary gear box assembly includes a plastic gear box housing and a first and a second monolithic housing part. The first-stage and second-stage housing parts each have an end face on one axial end of the housing part, and a surrounding wall. A first-stage ring gear is formed inside the surrounding wall of the first-stage housing part, and a second-stage ring gear is formed inside the surrounding wall of the second-stage housing part. The planetary gear box assembly has a planetary gear carrier with a generally cylindrical carrier body with a cylinder wall and a window extending through the cylinder wall. The window is axially adjoined by a first and a first radial pocket. The first and first radial pockets are radial indentations in a radially outer surface of the cylinder wall and accommodate planetary shaft ends of planetary gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Eberle
  • Patent number: 9822571
    Abstract: A window clamp and assembly for an automotive window regulator assembly. The window clamp provided features a body foundation and a U-shaped bridge extending from the foundation configured to deflect away from the foundation to allow a window panel to be inserted into a slot of the window clamp. Claws formed on the bridge pass through and interlock with holes in the window panel to secure and support the panel. Shoulders formed on and protruding from the bridge guide the window panel into position and aid in supporting the panel. The window clamp design facilitates rapid and accurate assembly of the window clamp assembly while providing increased stability of the window panel and reduced size of the window clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Reinke, Masayuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9790728
    Abstract: A single-rail window regulator for moving a side window of a vehicle in an upward direction and in a downward direction includes a guide rail defining and a carrier plate having a central guide structure for movably engaging the guide rail, a first lateral extension extending to a first lateral side of the guide rail, and a second lateral extension extending to a second lateral side of the guide rail body opposite the first lateral side. The carrier plate has a first cable attachment pocket on the first lateral extension and a second cable attachment pocket on the second lateral extension. Accordingly, the two attachment pockets are arranged on opposite lateral sides. As one cable end pulls the carrier plate upward and the other cable end pulls the carrier plate downward, the arrangement causes torques in the same rotational direction, even when reversing the direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeki Arimoto, Masayuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9637969
    Abstract: A rattle mitigation assembly for a window regulator installed in a vehicle door includes drive unit housing having a port with a mouth of a cylindrical cavity adapted to receive a connector of a sheathed cable; a profiled end face extending around the mouth; and a slot extending radially outward from the cylindrical cavity, along the cylindrical cavity and through the end face. The end face forms a radially sloped ramp profile configured to exert a radial bias on a compression spring surrounding the connector and abutting the end face. An optimal slope angle of the ramp for urging the spring in the radial direction lies in the range of 45° through 80° with respect to a plane extending radially relative to the cylindrical cavity. An optional wedge profile with an increasing elevation along a direction away from the radially sloped ramp profile may be arranged opposite the ramp profile to exert an axial bias on the compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Wild, Kevin Koneval