Track for sliding closure
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorDenis L. C. Allen
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorDenis L. C. Allen
Estimating the term…
A track assembly for a sliding closure member comprising a track extending in a longitudinal direction. A support arm is mounted at one end in the track for travelling movement along the track by a connecting means which retains the arm generally perpendicular to the track during part of the travelling movement. The connecting means also permits rotation of the arm about an axis perpendicular to the common plane of the track and arm in one end region of the track. The connecting means comprises a ball roller mounted on the arm for rolling movement along the track when the arm is generally perpendicular to the track. The ball roller also permits rotation of the connecting means about the axis perpendicular to the common plane of the arm and the track. A holding means engages the connecting means to prevent such rotation when the connecting means is not positioned in the end region of the track.
A track assembly for a sliding closure member comprising a track extending in a longitudinal direction and a support arm mounted at one end in the track for traveling movement along the track by a connecting means which retains the arm generally perpendicular to the track during part of the traveling movement and permits rotation of the arm about an axis perendicular to the common plane of the track and arm in one end region of the track,
A track assembly according to claim (1), wherein the pinion portion is defined by circumferential grooves in the ball roller.
A track assembly according to claim (1), wherein the pinion portion is formed on a cage in which the ball roller is rotatably mounted.
A track assembly according to claim (1), wherein the pinion portion is positioned such that it is in engagement with the rack at a point diametrically opposite the arm relative to the axis perpendicular to the common plane of movement of the arm and the track when the arm lies parallel to the track in the end region.
A track assembly according to claim (1), wherein the ball roller includes a circumferential groove which engages with a longitudinally extending ridge in the track which prevents the connecting means from rotating about the axis perpendicular to the common plane of the arm and the track except when the connecting means is in the end region of the track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.