Abstract: An automotive door module has a plastic support panel and a plurality of door hardware components mounted thereon as a preassembled unit. The plastic support panel has forward and rearward pairs of upper and lower integrally molded stand-offs that secure forward and rearward rolled section guide rails of a cable operated window regulator without any intervening brackets. The plastic support panel also has an integrally molded handle bracket that rotatably supports a handle that operates a push-pull cable. The plastic support panel also includes an integrally molded bumper stop support that extends from the lower stand-off of one of the pairs of stand-offs through a hole in the guide rail secured to it and supports an annular bumper.

Abstract: A door trim assembly and method for making same for attachment to an inner panel of an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of components and a single carrier formed from a plastic material for attachment to the inner panel of the automotive vehicle and incorporating the plurality of components into the plastic material and a door trim substrate attached to the carrier.

Abstract: An automotive door module has a plastic support panel and a plurality of door hardware components mounted thereon as a preassembled unit. The plastic support panel has forward and rearward pairs of integrally molded stand-offs that secure forward and rearward rolled section guide rails of a cable operated window regulator without any intervening brackets. The plastic support panel also has an integrally molded handle bracket that rotatably supports a handle that operates a push-pull cable integrated wire harness routing features, and an integrated bumper stop support that is integrally connected to stand-off and extends through a hole in the guide rail to support an annular bumper.

Abstract: A vehicle door panel and method for roll forming the vehicle door panel are provided. The vehicle door panel has an exterior side and an interior side including a number of longitudinal protrusions formed during the roll forming process. The predetermined number of longitudinal protrusions extends inward from the interior side and receives door hardware components. The door hardware components are installed onto the vehicle door panel forming a vehicle door module. The vehicle door module is then attached to the vehicle door.

Abstract: A rear window module is designed for the rear window of a truck passenger cab. The rear window module is pre-assembled as a single unit having a housing attaching rigidly to a frame. The housing inserts into the cab from a rear opening. The frame attaches to a peripheral edge of the cab which defines the rear opening. The housing supports a motor actuated pane movement mechanism capable of moving a central pane positioned within the frame in a vertical direction. The rear window module may also include side vents capable of pivoting to an open position.

Abstract: A safety system including a substantially membrane-like panel which is deployable at least partially across a window opening of a transportation vehicle in a rapid manner from a position generally below the window opening. The panel provides a restraining barrier against undesired egress through the window opening during an extended rollover collision event. The panel may be used either alone or in combination with an inflatable air bag cushion.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle has a power operated moveable roof panel that moves between an open position above a fixed roof panel and a closed position behind the fixed roof panel. The moveable roof panel is guided by forward and rearward roller assemblies at each side that travel in respective forward and rearward tracks exclusively. The forward roller assemblies have forward rollers, rearward rollers and guide rollers that cooperate with drops in the forward tracks to push the moveable roof panel down in the closed position. The vehicle has an optional luggage rack and an optional interior partition between the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment that includes a moveable glass panel.

Abstract: A modular vehicle door has a hollow door shell of sheet metal panels that are secured together at their abutting periphery, a crash beam that is attached to hollow door shell so as to extend across the length of the door, and a module that supports several parts of vehicle door that is preassembled and assembled to the hollow door shell as the preassembled module. The hollow door shell has a hinge reinforcement at a forward end and a latch reinforcement at an aft end. The module has a metal support beam that is attached to the hinge reinforcement at one end and to the latch reinforcement at the other end so that the metal support beam extends across the length of the door and forms a box section with the crash beam. The metal support beam has upper and lower channels and the module includes an insert molded carrier that has a plurality of ribs that cooperate with the channels of the metal support beam to increase the torsional ridgidity of the metal support beam.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes inner and outer panels defining a cavity therebetween. The outer panel has an opening therein for receiving a door latch operating handle. An outside door handle assembly includes a housing and an operating handle movably mounted on the housing. A door module frame for mounting within the door cavity has a door handle support arm extending into proximity with the opening of the door outer panel. A snap retainer is provided acting between the housing of the outside handle assembly and the support arm of the module frame to loosely mount the handle assembly on the module frame so that mounting of the module frame within the door cavity carries the operating handle of the door handle assembly into general alignment with the opening of the door outer panel. An escutcheon is provided for installation onto the outside of the outer panel to surround the opening in the outer panel.

Abstract: A door trim assembly and method for making same for attachment to an inner panel of an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of components and a single carrier formed from a plastic material for attachment to the inner panel of the automotive vehicle and incorporating the plurality of components into the plastic material and a door trim substrate attached to the carrier.

Abstract: A vehicle door module including window glass is presented which includes a box section belt having an angled bolt attachment and a double overlap attachment to maintain strength and rigidity of the door assembly. The incorporation of the box section belt to the vehicle door module permits the inclusion of the window glass and various parts of the lift system. The angled bolt attachment provides for efficient load transfer between the belt and the door frame through load sharing face contact and a bolt. The double overlap attachment provides for efficient load transfer through a lap joint and clamping forces provided by a bolt. The double overlap attachment further includes features which facilitate assembly while compensating for manufacturing tolerances and build variability. An embodiment of the double overlap joining includes interlocking ridges which engage to further enhance load transfer capability.

Abstract: A window regulator has a lift arm pivoted on the door and rotatable to raise and lower a window between open and closed positions. A lever is carried by the arm and pivotally connected to a gear rack crank. A crank mechanism is provided for turning a pinion gear and the pinion gear meshes with the gear rack. Accordingly, rotation of the pinion gear translates the rack and rotates the lever to pivot the lift arm thereby raising and lowering the window. A swing arm is pivoted on the pinion shaft and carries a roller which engages the rack so that the rack is captured between the roller and the pinion gear to maintain the rack in engagement with the pinion.

Abstract: A window lift module includes front and rear lift rails, each having a guide block slidably mounted thereon for attachment to a window panel. A drive cable is routed through and between the lift rails and attached to the guide blocks so that motion of the drive cable in one direction will lower the guide blocks along the lift rails and motion of the drive cable in the other direction will raise the guide blocks to raise the window panel. A drive mechanism such as a hand crank or electric motor is mounted on one of the lift rails to move the cable.

Abstract: A mounting device is provided for mounting a window regulator drive unit on a molded plastic mounting panel. A plurality of flexible tabs are molded integral with the mounting panel and adapted to engage with the window regulator drive unit to retain the drive unit on the mounting panel. A molded plastic cap is adapted to fit over the drive unit and has integrally molded mounting fingers for engaging with complimentary integrally molded mounting fingers provided on the mounting panel so that rotation of the plastic cap causes inter-engagement of the mounting fingers and the drive unit is captured between the cap and the mounting panel. The cap has slots therein which become engaged with projecting lugs of the flexible tabs upon rotation of the cap relative to the mounting panel so that the flexible tabs become blocked and cannot be disengaged from their respective engagement with the drive unit.

Abstract: A vehicle door module includes a door latch mounted on the module and has first and second bent wire rods pre-assembled on the door latch. The portion of the module to which the door latch is mounted is of molded plastic construction and has an integrally molded first receptacle in which the first bent wire rod is releasably snap-retained. A plastic mounting clip is attached to the door latch and has a molded second receptacle in which the second bent wire is releasably snap-retained. The first and second receptacles retain the first and second bent wire rods, respectively, to orient the bent wire rods to facilitate installation of the module into a vehicle door. The first and second receptacles permit release of the first and second bent wire rod therefrom to permit connection of the bent wire rods respectively to an outside door handle and an outside lock cyinder.