With Means To Accommodate Window Accessory; E.g., Automobile-type Door Patents (Class 49/502)
  • Patent number: 6364397
    Abstract: An attachment device for attaching a window in a motor vehicle, the window having at least one sheet of a transparent material and being able, in one position, to close off an opening made in the bodywork of the vehicle and, in one or more other positions, at least partially open the opening. In the closing-off position, the window is fastened to the bodywork of the vehicle but, after an accident, the window-bodywork fastening is explosively weakened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Frederic Bordeaux, Volkmar Offermann
  • Patent number: 6354652
    Abstract: A module (3) for the door (1) of an automobile vehicle comprises a window raiser mechanism (4) of the type having two substantially parallel rails (5) and driving cables (6) arranged in the form of an X between these rails and slidable relative to the latter, and a support for this mechanism. This support (9) has a generally X shape connecting the upper ends (5a) to the lower ends (5b) of the rails and enveloping the cables. This support may be, for example, formed by an X-shaped tubular structure rigidly interconnecting the two rails and enveloping the cables (6) whose sheaths, which were otherwise necessary, may be eliminated. The tubular structure (9) protects the cables against aggression and deterioration due to transport and mounting in the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicles System, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Laurent Arquevaux, Carlo Bertolini
  • Patent number: 6354651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a door wire harness capable of passing through the inside of a door frame without being splashed with water. A door harness is provided from a body side of a vehicle over a door side and reaches to the inside area of a door frame by passing through a first penetration hole provided in the body of the vehicle to a second penetration hole provided in a side panel area of a hinge installation area of the door frame, is pulled out between the door frame and trim cover by passing through a third penetration hole provided in the inner panel area of the door frame. The area of the door harness that extends from the first penetration hole over to the third penetration hole is passed through the inside of consecutive grommets, and joint areas provided in the grommets are connected with the first penetration hole, second penetration hole, and third penetration hole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Mori
  • Publication number: 20020027378
    Abstract: A weather strip has a base portion and seal lips. The base portion has a base bottom portion attached to a door frame, side wall portions extending from substantially opposite sides of the base bottom portion, and a bridge portion connecting the opposite side wall portions. A hollow portion is formed by these portions. An exterior-side seal lip is provided to extend from a substantially border portion between the exterior-side side wall portion and the bridge portion. An interior-side seal lip is provided to extend from the bridge portion more interior than the exterior-side seal lip. In the bridge portion, the opposite sides of the root portion of the interior-side seal lip are formed into thin portions respectively. Thus, when the door is closed, even if the gap is narrowed, the interior-side seal lip is bent and the bridge portion is deformed easily in the thin portions so that the repulsion stress is restrained from increasing conspicuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20020011029
    Abstract: A door inner panel assembly including a door inner panel and a window regulator drive means, the window regulator drive means having a drive portion and an output shaft projecting from the drive portion, the inner panel having an abutment portion for co-operation with the drive portion and a shaft support portion for co-operation with a portion of the shaft remote from the drive portion, the abutment portion and shaft support portion being integrally formed from the same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damlen Cabanne
  • Publication number: 20020007599
    Abstract: A vehicle door and a method for its fabrication. The vehicle door includes a lower door structure that is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle body and which includes a hollow cavity. The vehicle door also includes an upper door structure having a frame that defines a window aperture. A window member and a window regulator mechanism are coupled to the upper door structure such that the window member is movably mounted within the window aperture. The window regulator mechanism is of type that is easily packaged into the vehicle door. Suitable alternatives include mechanisms that include powered lead screws, rack-and-pinion drives and/or cable-and-drum type mechanisms. The assembled upper door structure or cassette is thereafter coupled to the lower door structure to form the vehicle door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: John P. Pacella, Joseph E. Mrozowski, Earl E. Kansier
  • Publication number: 20020007598
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an outer door panel, an inner door panel formed with an aperture and a plastic mounting panel to which functional devices of the vehicle door and door parts are installed and which is installed to the inner door panel to enclose the aperture thereof, the mounting panel having a plastic panel, a plastic structural part appendant to the plastic panel, and a breakable joint connecting the plastic structural part to the plastic panel as one whole piece. The structural part is separated from the plastic panel by breaking away the joint from the plastic panel and installed to the plastic panel after having installed the plastic panel to the vehicle door in order to cover an access opening which provides access to the interior of the vehicle door for assembling for example an exterior door handle and window glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Ikuo Nishikawa, Chikashi Kawamoto, Kenichi Ogawa, Noboru Shouno
  • Publication number: 20020005015
    Abstract: A door module assembly for mounting in a vehicle door, the module assembly including a door latch secured, the door latch having an outside handle lever being located on and outer side of the door module assembly and been operably connectable, in use, to an outside door handle of the door, the door module assembly having a closeable access aperture to allow access from the inside of the door module to connect the outside handle lever to the outside door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: Nigel Victor Spurr
  • Publication number: 20020005014
    Abstract: The additional segment of a wire harness 3 which is required for opening/closing a slide door 1 and constitutes a curved segment 20 is housed in a protector 9. The protector 9 has curved walls 28, 29, guide rail 30, slider 31 and first and second harness outlets 32, 33. When the slide door 1 is opened/closed, the wire harness 3 shuttles to and fro within the second wire harness outlet 33. The looseness of the wire harness when the slide door is opened/closed may be absorbed in such a manner that it is supported by an elastic member in a state where the wire harness has been curved within the protector without using the guide rail 30 and slider 31. The protecting member may be provided with a bending limiting portion, harness securing portion and flange or slanted sliding-contact portion which serve to slide the wire harness smoothly. In this configuration, it is possible to realize improvement of easiness of assembling, saving of the space and smooth operation of a power supply apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kenichi Doshita, Tohru Aoki, Hiroshi Watanabe, Ryoichi Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20010052203
    Abstract: In a power supply structure in a sliding structure, the one end of a wire harness 3 is secured to either one of a sliding structure 1 and a body 5. The other end of the wire harness 3 is hung over the other of them. An elastic member 4 is arranged along the wire harness in the longitudinal direction from the one end of the wire harness so that the wire harness is supported by the elastic member. The elastic member 4 may be a lengthy flat spring. The elastic member may be composed of a first spring segment along the outer face of the wire harness and a second spring segment having a small spring constant which protrudes toward a free end of the elastic member. The elastic member may be bent at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction and arranged on the curved portion of the wire harness. The elastic member may be composed of a flat spring segment along the inner face of the curved portion and a spiral segment. The elastic member may be provided with a harness supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Kenichi Doshita, Tohru Aoki, Mitsunori Tsunoda, Mitsunobu Kato, Hiroshi Watanabe, Ryoichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6328373
    Abstract: A closure member for a closing an aperture in a vehicle body. The closure member includes a frame structure and a seal member. The frame structure has an upper frame member that defines a window aperture. The seal member is formed onto at least a portion of the frame member and includes a body seal portion and a window seal portion. The body seal portion forms a seal between the vehicle body and at least a portion of the upper frame member. The window seal portion forms a seal between the at least a portion of the upper frame member and a window member that is movable relative to the frame structure. A method for forming a closure member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: The Budd Company
    Inventors: John P. Pacella, Joseph E. Mrozowski, Earl E. Kansier
  • Patent number: 6320335
    Abstract: In a reciprocating drive device, for example, in a power window device for a vehicle, a drive member is reciprocated by transmitting a rotating force from a motor to a regulator. A driven gear of the regulator is engaged with a drive gear fixed outside a synthetic resin housing of the motor to an output shaft of the motor. In the reciprocating drive device, a relative movement between the housing of the motor and a support base to which the housing is attached with screws is surely prevented by a relative-movement preventing unit having an engagement structure between the support base and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Saitou
  • Publication number: 20010037607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece door module for motor vehicles, encompassing a self-supporting metal carrier panel, which also encompasses, as integral constituents, a multiplicity of plastic functional components which are connected securely and permanently to the metal carrier panel in one operation by the outsert technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Bernhard Pfeiffer, Ulrich Haack, Frank Reuter
  • Patent number: 6312028
    Abstract: A motor vehicle structural energy absorbing member (12) is light weight and is made in a manner to produce random or directionally oriented, elongated pores or voids (16) in a structural matrix (14) in a manner that permits tailoring of impact energy absorption in one or more direction(s) to provide an integral energy absorbing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Wilkosz
  • Patent number: 6305129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle door comprising an outer panel lined with an inner door panel having at least one opening therethrough, a rigid base door trim panel covered with a decorative covering, the rigid base door trim panel being fixed to the inner door panel and being disposed in front of the opening thereof, the rigid base door trim panel locally integrating a cup-shaped housing opened on the decorative covering and covered thereby, and a window lift mechanism partially received within the cup-shaped housing and connected to the rigid base door trim panel, the window lift mechanism comprising a rotative drum for lifting or lowering the window. The rotative drum is rotatively fitted within the cup-shaped housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems
    Inventors: Bernhard Yves Eckhardt, Frank Velthaus
  • Publication number: 20010029704
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle door in which a handle unit fixed to a door outer panel and a door latch unit fixed to a door inner panel are prevented from making a substantial shift in their relative positions for the sake of normal operation even under sideways minor impacts or the like. A door latch reinforcement for fixing the door latch unit is fixed to the door inner panel. Handle stations, to which threaded portions of the handle unit are fastened, are bent-formed in a handle mount opening formed in the door outer panel. The door latch reinforcement and the handle stations are connected to each other with a handle bracket. Since the door latch reinforcement for fixing the door latch unit and the handle unit are connected to each other via the handle bracket, the two units make no substantial shift in their relative positions even under sideways minor impacts or the like, thereby allowing the normal operation of the door lock device even after the minor impacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakamoto, Daisuke Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20010029702
    Abstract: A door or other body part of a motor vehicle comprises an inner skin panel (5) and a preferably painted outer skin (2), which is fastened to said inner skin panel. To improve such a door or another such body part, the outer skin (2) is fastened to the inner skin panel (5) by means of punch rivets (11) or other fastening elements. (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: Gerhard Heuel
  • Patent number: 6302473
    Abstract: An integral door inner reinforcement in the form of an elongated profiled part with a pot-shaped portion. The reinforcement is joined at the front, pot-shaped end and at the opposite end to the inside door panel and in the intermediate portion to the outside door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Norbert Weber
  • Patent number: 6302474
    Abstract: A reinforcement module for a vehicle door comprises a plurality of elongate reinforcement members (1) and a plurality of connectors (2a, 2b and 2c). Each connector (2a, 2b and 2c) is engageable with the free end portions of at least two of the elongate reinforcement members (1) to connect those elongate reinforcement members together. The arrangement is such that at least one of the elongate reinforcement members (1) extends generally transversely with respect to at least one other elongate reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Stephen Drysdale, Nancy Raykovitz, Steven Murray Foster, Timothy Bland, David Birt, John Robert Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 6301835
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece door module for motor vehicles, encompassing a self-supporting metal carrier panel, which also encompasses, as integral constituents, a multiplicity of plastic functional components which are connected securely and permanently to the metal carrier panel in one operation by the outsert technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ticona GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Pfeiffer, Ulrich Haack, Frank Reuter
  • Patent number: 6302472
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle door which, in a known manner, is comprised of a door outer panel (5), a door inner panel (1), a movable window pane (12), a module support (4) having accompanying functional elements, and an inner lining (3). The module support and the functional elements supported by the module support are located in the interior door space formed between the door inner panel and the inner lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sommer Allibert-Lignotock GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Rahmstorf, Lydia Creutz
  • Patent number: 6299236
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interior lining for a car door, the lining being fitted with a carrier panel which is integral with the lining and to which is fixed a window lifting mechanism which is fitted with a window mounted on a support, the lining being fitted with at least one stop means to limit the lateral displacement of the window in a substantially horizontal direction, the stop means having a free end and an opposing end which is connected to the carrier panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Praud, Christophe Hesse, Laurent Arquevaux, Philippe Delire
  • Patent number: 6299235
    Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle provides at least one fixed panel or window and a movable panel or window. A one piece frame is formed which includes a perimeter frame and at least one dividing member. The window panel assembly may be adapted for a vehicle door, whereby the fixed window panel is secured to the dividing member and a portion of the perimeter frame, while the movable window panel slidably engages a portion of the perimeter frame with one edge and the dividing member with the other edge, which is opposite the first edge. A rail or guide member is secured to the second edge of the movable panel for slidable engagement with the dividing member. The rail member and guide member allow the movable window panel and fixed window panel to form a substantially flush, continuous, planar surface across their adjacent edges, while still providing a substantially airtight seal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Davis, Loren B. Renkema
  • Publication number: 20010025456
    Abstract: A door trim 50 is made up of two divided trims of an upper trim 51 and a lower trim 52. A door elevating mechanism 27 composed of a guide rail 28, a motor 30, and the like, a step lamp 57, a speaker grille 56, etc. are subassembled to the lower trim 52. In particular, the motor 30 is mounted on an extended attachment element 67 formed by extending the upper part of a pocket back cover 6 constituting a pocket 47 of the lower trim 52. The lower trim 52 configured in this manner is mounted to an inner panel 21. After a door glass 26 is installed to the door elevating mechanism 27, the upper trim 51 is mounted to the inner panel 21. Therefore, even if the area of an opening in the inner panel is not increased so much, the installation work of the door glass can be done easily, and a demand for increased size of the door glass can be met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Junichi Furuyama, Masayuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20010022050
    Abstract: An plug-in module for adjusting motors of electric-motor operated window openers to be used in a motor vehicle, the plug-in module has at least one plug insertable in a transmission housing of a window lifter along a mounting direction, a plug housing composed of a synthetic plastic material with partially injection molded contact elements and motor contacts, the motor contacts having freely located connection portions which have an end-side contact portion for contacting with an associated countercontact and also a spring portion which supports the contact portion and allows a position orientation of the contact portion to the countercontact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Willy Bentz, Heiko Buss, Martin Hager
  • Patent number: 6290282
    Abstract: A safety bar which provides protection, the bar having a generally trapezoidal, open cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional configuration of the bar includes a central flange which is embraced by two webs each of which has a side-flange which extends outwardly on a respective side of the bar. The bar has an intermediate section between a first section thereof and a mounting section thereof at one of its ends. In the intermediate section, the central flange has generally a decreasing width and the webs a generally decreasing height towards the bar end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Plannja Hardtech AB
    Inventors: Stefan Hortlund, Lars Sandberg
  • Publication number: 20010020347
    Abstract: A guide device for an especially trapezoidal window which is movably supported for opening on a body part of a motor vehicle, the engagement device of the window being movably supported on a side guide rail for the window, the guide rail being supported in a pivot bearing to pivot about the body part of the motor vehicle such that it can be pivoted outward in the closed position of the window relative to the path of motion of the engagement device of the opening window. In addition, when the window is opened by pivoting, the guide rail being matched to the respective position of the engagement device which is moving away from the pivot bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventor: Francois de Gaillard
  • Publication number: 20010017476
    Abstract: A vehicle door for a vehicle comprises an outer door panel, an inner door panel formed with an aperture, a plastic panel to which functional devices of the vehicle door and door parts are installed and which is installed to the inner door panel to close up the aperture of the inner door panel, and an impact absorbing member formed as a part integral with the plastic panel or fixedly secured to the plastic panel which absorbs an impact against the plastic panel upon an occurrence of a side crash of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Ikuo Nishikawa, Chikashi Kawamoto, Kenichi Ogawa, Noboru Shouno
  • Publication number: 20010015036
    Abstract: A front door structure is configured such that a front lower frame can be disposed farther toward the front within an inner space of the door in order to minimize an obstructed passenger viewing area. To this end, in a vehicle front door structure having a front lower frame 6 and a rear frame 7 adapted for guiding vertical movement of a window glass 5 and opposedly disposed forward and rearward, respectively, within a hollow door body portion 1a, a distended portion is formed in a hinge side panel 4 which constitutes the front portion of the door body portion 1a, by forwardly enlarging an inner space of the door body portion 1a. The front lower frame 6 is disposed with its lower end received within the distended portion 9, thus enabling the front lower frame 6 to be disposed farther toward the front within the door body portion 1a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYODA JIDOSHOKKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: TATSUYA SENGA, HIDEAKI TERAI, MAMORU HOZUMI, KINSHO FUKUTA
  • Patent number: 6241307
    Abstract: A tailgate structure for automotive vehicle and manufacturing method thereof adapted to join an inner panel of a tailgate via a plurality of panels each having a different thickness by way of laser welding, thereby ruling out waste of materials, preventing concentration of stress through uniformity of joined areas and promoting a reinforcement of structural strength at respective members, the tailgate having an inner panel centrally forming an opening, an outer panel coupled to the inner panel to centrally form an opening and a door glass installed on the openings of the inner panel and the outer panel, wherein the inner panel comprises lateral members having a relatively heavy thickness and corresponding to left and right portions of the opening; and upper and lower members vertically connecting the lateral members and each having a relatively thinner in thickness thereof than those of the lateral members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ki-Chang Kim
  • Patent number: 6233875
    Abstract: A door module (1) is adapted to be applied in a sealed manner to the periphery (2) of an inner opening (3) of a box structure (4) of a vehicle door (5) and can support devices such as a window raiser (6). The module (1) comprises a rigid peripheral part (14) composed of a first material having good mechanical properties shaped to be adaptable to the periphery (2) of the opening (3), and a plate (15) composed of a second material connected on its periphery in a sealed manner to the rigid peripheral part (14) and filling the area defined by the latter. The plate (15) may be composed of a cheap material, which reduces the cost of the module while maintaining its mechanical properties on the peripheral part thereof. The devices, in particular the window raiser, are fixed to the rigid peripheral part (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems - France
    Inventors: Bertolini Carlo, Arquevaux Laurent
  • Patent number: 6227491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a window unit W for aircraft cabins, comprising an outer window frame 1, an inner window frame 3, a window pane 2 lying between them, and possibly having a sun-visor 4, a roller blind 34 or the like arranged between the inner window frame 3 and a possible covering frame 5, the window unit W being insertable into the opening 7 in a side-wall panel 6 or the like in the aircraft cabin. In order to make it possible for the window unit W to be rapidly and simply installed and removed, the invention makes provision for the window unit W to have a centering device and at least two snap fastenings 13, advantageously with locking devices, to detachably connect it to the side-wall panel 6, or to components connected thereto, the side-wall panel 6, or components connected thereto, having any necessary mating parts for the centering device for the snap fastenings 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Fischer Advanced Composite Components Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter A. Stephan, Hermann Filsegger
  • Patent number: 6226927
    Abstract: An automobile vehicle door (1) includes a box structure (3), a module (4) including an acoustic chamber (6) supporting a speaker (7) adapted to be applied on the periphery of an opening (5) formed on the inner side of the box structure and an inner trim panel (8) covering the module. The module is fixed in a watertight manner on the surround of the opening (5) of the box structure, a peripheral rib (12) is provided for defining in the module a volume of air V excited by the rear wave of the speaker, and a vent is provided in the trim panel for returning the rear wave of the speaker in the direction toward a listening zone. With this arrangement, the door is provided with an acoustic enclosure of the “bass reflex” type having a very good acoustic efficiency in respect of the bass frequencies with no risk of entry of water into the compartment of the vehicle through the vent (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Carlo Bertolini, Laurent Arquevaux
  • Patent number: 6223472
    Abstract: A vehicle door including a window regulator, a first sash, a second sash, and a metallic elongated member which are incorporated with a base plate as a module which is to be mounted to a door main body. The main body is provided under the window opening of the door and has a housing space configured to house a windowpane. The window regulator is configured to move the windowpane between the window opening and the housing space. Each of the first and second sashes are configured to guide a respective one of the sides of the windowpane when the windowpane is moved by the window regulator. The first and second sashes are provided in parallel with each other. The base plate extends between the first sash and the second sash and is made of a resin material in a plate-shaped form. The metallic elongated member extends between the first sash and the second sash. The window regulator is provided on the elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishikawa, Hideyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6220650
    Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle provides at least one fixed panel or window and a movable panel or window. A one piece frame is formed which includes a perimeter frame and at least one dividing member. The window panel assembly may be adapted for a vehicle door, whereby the fixed window panel is secured to the dividing member and a portion of the perimeter frame, while the movable window panel slidably engages a portion of the perimeter frame with one edge and the dividing member with the other edge, which is opposite the first edge. A rail or guide member is secured to the second edge of the movable panel for slidable engagement with the dividing member. The rail member and guide member allow the movable window panel and fixed window panel to form a substantially flush, continuous, planar surface across their adjacent edges, while still providing a substantially airtight seal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Davis, Loren B. Renkema
  • Patent number: 6220652
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body including a plurality of vertical pillars defining therebetween a plurality of door frames for access to a passenger compartment of the vehicle body, a plurality of doors supported by pairs of hinges on the front vertical pillar of each door frame for pivotal movement between closed and open positions, and a light weight side impact protection barrier characterized by high elongational stiffness and high strain-at-failure. The light weight barrier may be employed alone or in combination with a horizontal door beam and includes a synthetic cable in the door made from a plurality of helically braided bundles of fibers selected from a group of fibers consisting of aramid fibers and liquid crystal polymer fibers characterized by a strain-at-failure exceeding about 3%. The synthetic cable includes attachments to the front and rear pillars of the door frame when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Lampe Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6205714
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Hale Staser, Mark Manuel, Rick Mahan
  • Patent number: 6192632
    Abstract: An interior paneling element (1) for a motor vehicle door (10) is described, which element is designed as a bearer of functional units or parts (11). At least some of the functional units or parts (11), in particular the cavity-reinforcement means (2), the guide rail (3, 4) of the window opener and optionally a strut of the side-impact protection (5) are fastened on the element (1) in the form of a static framework (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Kuster & Co. GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Medebach, Andreas Gutermuth
  • Patent number: 6185872
    Abstract: A vehicle door in modular structure including a door shell which is completed by an assembly-bearing support plate and a single or multi-part inner door lining. The vehicle door includes a twin-shell door shell with an outer door panel and inner door panel which are connected together along their edges wherein the inner door panel has a cut-out section which is covered substantially by a support plate with functional units mounted thereon, such as window lift mechanism, lock, and cable tree. A lining body covers the door on the inside, and at least one part of the lining body is in preassembled connection with the support plate. A cover frame covers the connecting points between the lining body and support plate or inner door panel and support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Seeberger, Sabine Neuss, Eberhard Pleiss
  • Patent number: 6185874
    Abstract: A door model comprising a totally function unit including on a basic body a side reinforcement, an internal opening control and an external opening control with a vibration absorbent sheet, an inner upper reinforcement of the base body, a window winder, a locking device, a vibration absorbent support, a window pane, and window pane guides. The unit is assembled into a door by inserting glass that protrudes therefrom onto a rear guide in the door, supporting the unit firstly in the area of the lock and later completing fixing by bolts or similar items in the area of the hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Grupo Antolin Ingenieria, S.A.
    Inventors: Felipe Barrero Serrano, Cesar Marcos Gonzales, Jose Ignacio Gonzales Saiz, Francisco Javier Martinez Moral, Alberto Manso Moneo, Antonio Romero Magarino, Ricardo Manzanas Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6185873
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a power window apparatus including an outer panel, an inner panel, a regulator, a window glass, a motor, and a seal member. The inner panel is separated from the outer panel by a predetermined distance and has a through bore. The regulator has a movable arm, which is arranged in a space formed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The window glass is fixed to the movable arm. The motor is connected to the regulator to drive the movable arm and open and close the window glass. At least a portion of the motor is arranged in the inner panel. The seal member is arranged between the motor and the inner panel to close the through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: ASMO Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6183038
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Ransford Hansen, Arthur Carl Stein, Brian Hale Staser, Pamela Lane Codd
  • Patent number: 6176542
    Abstract: The door assembly has an inner door panel, an outer door panel and a window module opening. A window module includes a module frame with a side impact beam assembly; a belt reinforcement beam, a front glass guide channel and a rear glass guide channel. A window is slideably mounted in the glass channels. A window regulator assembly is mounted on the module frame and connected to the window. Pin and slot connectors connect the side impact beam assembly to the inner door panel. Mechanical fasteners secure the belt reinforcement beam to the inner door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Charles Gooding, Manhar Kantical Sheth
  • Patent number: 6170199
    Abstract: The invention concerns a motor vehicle door with a door body, an inner door panel, and a window lifter disposed in the door body, which lifter includes a guide rail, on which a carrier for a window pane is displaceably disposed. According to the invention, at least one functional element which is not part of the regulating mechanism of the window lifter is connected to both the guide rail and the door body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Ketschendorfer Strasse
    Inventors: Manfred Stenzel, Ferenc Szerdaheliy, Roland Feder, Stefan Burger, Sabine Neuss, Eberhard Pleiss
  • Patent number: 6161363
    Abstract: Disclosed is the utilization of two halves for a door with tops, bottoms, and sides defining circumambient outside portions and a window portion having tops, bottoms, and sides forming a window circumambient portion, in which the circumambient portion of the outside and the circumambient portion of the window opening constitute dams which will preclude the flow of a foaming material. When the two door halves are secured together, the interior voids are filled with an expanding foam such as a two part urethane. The foam can be inserted through ports in the bottom and/or the top. In the final form, the frame two halves are secured together adhesively by the foam which adheres to the entire inner skin of both halves. The foam also provides insulation. Additionally, the foam reinforced by the skins imparts substantial structural strength to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Walter B. Herbst
  • Patent number: 6149224
    Abstract: A break away trim panel assembly for a panel in an occupant compartment of a vehicle includes a trim panel having an inner side and an outer side and a reinforcement attached to the outer side of the trim panel. The reinforcement includes a channel. The break away trim panel assembly also includes a fastener disposed within the channel for attaching the trim panel to the panel, such that application of a force from a predetermined angle pushes the fastener through the channel to break away the trim panel from the panel in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph William Tiberia, Alethea Keesia Morris, Thomas Jay Corbett, George Jiri Strnad, Peter J. Gareau
  • Patent number: 6148564
    Abstract: A module (16) for mounting in an aperture (14) in the inner panel (12) of a door (10) of a motor vehicle includes a structural member (18) having a central portion (20) and arms (22) extending away from the central portion in different directions. Each arm has a free end (26) secured to the inner panel such that the arms extend across the aperture when the structural member is mounted on the inner panel. A support panel (28) is secured to the structural member and at least one door component (34-40) is mounted on the support panel and/or the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Dancasius
  • Patent number: 6139088
    Abstract: An automobile door that is significantly easy to fabricate, enhanced in ease of assembling door components, and reduced in the number of parts to be mounted. The door comprises an outer panel and an inner panel. The inner panel is composed of a main panel made of metal and a resin-molded sub panel formed integrally with the main panel. The inner panel is formed with a mount on which door functional parts to be mounted on the door are mounted. The inner panel is also formed integrally with electrically connecting means for connecting these door functional parts with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Okamoto, Keizo Nishitani, Yoshihito Aoki, Akio Minami, Mitsunobu Kato
  • Patent number: 6134841
    Abstract: A door system for utility vehicles having a frame forming the cab or canopy protecting the driver. The door system comprises a door pivotally mounted on hinges to the frame forming the cap or canopy. The door has a door frame having a T-shaped cross section. A receiving section is mounted on the transverse leg of the T-shaped cross-section. A door lining with windowpanes and/or cover plates is inserted on the other side of the receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Schneider Fahrkomfort GmbH
    Inventor: Boris Sebastian Heinrich Schneider
  • Patent number: 6134840
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door with an outside door panel, an inside door panel provided with a large cutout, which can be partially covered by a supporting plate, where the supporting plate bears a Bowden cable tube window lifter and possibly additional functional units, such as a lock, side air bag, electric cables, and an inside door trim panel which completes the door on the side toward the motor vehicle interior. The supporting plate is connected on the side facing the outside door panel to a mountinq rail, which partially surrounds the window pane and on which at least one guide rail of the Bowden cable window lifter rests displaceably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eberhard Pleiss