Window lift mechanism
OwnerPaul J. Feneloninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual rack and pinion system is provided for a window lift mechanism. The window lift mechanism includes improved window brackets for simple mounting to a window. A modular frame design is provided to improve assembly of the window lift mechanism into the door of a vehicle. An improved assembly method is provided for the dual rack and pinion system. The system is also provided with a smart motor and incorporates resilient shock absorbers in the dual rack and pinion gear train to allow more time for the smart motor to detect and react to an obstruction in the window.
Claims25
A closure assembly comprising:
- a closure member;
- a window bracket coupled to said closure member, said window bracket including a channel for receiving said closure member therein;
- and
- a pair of metal plates disposed on opposite sides of said window bracket and including a clamping mechanism engaging each of said pair of metal plates for drawing said metal plates toward one another.
A closure assembly comprising:
- a closure member;
- a window bracket coupled to said closure member, said window bracket including a channel for receiving said closure member therein;
- and
- a wedge mechanism received in said channel for securing said closure member in said channel.
A method for assembling a window lift mechanism, comprising the steps of:
- mounting a motor housing assembly to a main bracket, said motor housing assembly including a motor drivingly connected to a worm and worm gear, said worm gear including a shaft rotatably connected to said worm gear and extending through said main bracket;
- mounting a first pinion gear onto said shaft and mounting a second pinion gear in meshing engagement with said first pinion gear;
- placing a dual rack system in alignment with said pinion gears;
- and
- applying power to the motor to drive said pinion gears to engage said pinion gears with said dual rack system.
A dual rack assembly, comprising:
- a base frame structure adapted to be mounted to a vehicle door;
- and
- a pair of rack members each including a plurality of gear teeth extending along said rack members, said rack members being snap fit to said base frame structure.
An integrally formed dual rack system, comprising:
- a pair of elongated parallel racks each including a plurality of gear teeth extending there along;
- and
- a cross brace structure extending between said pair of elongated parallel racks and integrally molded as a unitary piece with said pair of elongated racks.
A window lift mechanism comprising:
- a dual rack system;
- a support structure supported on said dual rack system;
- a drive pinion gear supported by said support structure and in engagement with a rack of said dual rack system;
- a slave pinion gear supported by said support structure, said slave pinion gear including a first gear segment in engagement with said drive pinion gear and a second gear segment in engagement with a second rack of said dual rack system, said first and second gear segments including a resilient shock absorber operatively engaged therebetween;
- a worm gear supported for rotation by said support structure and operatively joined with said drive pinion gear;
- and
- a motor supported by said support structure and including an output shaft having a worm engaged with said worm gear.
A window lift mechanism comprising:
- a dual rack system;
- a support structure supported on said dual rack system;
- a gear train including:
- a drive pinion gear supported by said support structure and in engagement with a rack of said dual rack system;
- a slave pinion gear supported by said support structure in engagement with said drive pinion gear and a second rack of said dual rack system;
- a worm gear supported for rotation by said support structure and operatively joined with said drive pinion gear, said gear train including a plurality of resilient shock absorbers disposed therein;
- and
- a motor supported by said support structure and including an output shaft having a worm engaged with said worm gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.