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US 7,882,658 B2Granted
Cable regulator rail and carrier with snap-in pulley
AssigneeInteva Products, LLC
InventorsBrian H. Staser, Mike J. Skiba, Timothy A. Neil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards improved mounting structures and methods for formation of window regulator systems for vehicles. In one exemplary embodiment, a mounting structure for a window regulator system is provided. The mounting structure includes a main body defining cavity for rotatably receiving a portion of a pulley; and an engagement feature depending away from the main body, the engagement feature engaging the portion of the pulley and preventing movement of the pulley away from the main body, the engagement feature being substantially free of fasteners for preventing movement of the portion of the pulley away from the main body.
Claims11
A mounting structure, comprising:
- a main body portion defining a cavity for rotatably receiving a shaft portion of a pulley therein;
- and
- a resilient engagement feature integrally formed with the main body portion, the resilient engagement feature extending from the main body into the cavity, the resilient engagement feature being configured to be deflected from a first position in a first direction when the shaft portion of the pulley is inserted into the cavity in the first direction and the resilient engagement feature returns to the first position when the shaft portion is fully inserted into the cavity and the resilient engagement feature is configured to prevent the shaft portion of the pulley from being removed from the cavity, wherein the engagement feature of the mounting structure is the only item that prevents the shaft portion of the pulley from being removed from the cavity once the shaft portion of the pulley is fully inserted into the cavity, and wherein the mounting structure is integrally formed with a panel of a window regulator system.
A mounting assembly for a window regulator system, comprising:
- a first mounting structure integrally formed with a panel of the window regulator system, the first mounting structure having a first slotted portion and a first engagement feature located above the first slotted portion, the first engagement feature having a cavity for rotatably receiving a shaft portion of a pulley therein;
- and a resilient engagement feature integrally formed with the first engagement feature, the resilient engagement feature extending from the first engagement feature into the cavity, the resilient engagement feature being configured to be deflected from a first position in a first direction when the shaft portion of the pulley is inserted into the cavity in the first direction and the resilient engagement feature returns to the first position when the shaft portion is fully inserted into the cavity and the resilient engagement feature is configured to prevent the shaft portion of the pulley from being removed from the cavity, wherein the engagement feature of the mounting structure is the only item that prevents the shaft portion of the pulley from being removed from the cavity once the shaft portion of the pulley is fully inserted into the cavity and wherein a portion of the shaft portion is also rotatably received within the first slotted portion;
- a second mounting structure integrally formed with the panel of the window regulator system, the second mounting structure having a second slotted portion and a second engagement feature located above the second slotted portion, the second engagement feature having a cavity for rotatably receiving a shaft portion of another pulley therein;
- and a resilient engagement feature integrally formed with the second engagement feature, the resilient engagement feature extending from the second engagement feature into the cavity, the resilient engagement feature being configured to be deflected from a first position in a first direction when the shaft portion of the another pulley is inserted into the cavity in the first direction and the resilient engagement feature returns to the first position when the shaft portion is fully inserted into the cavity and the resilient engagement feature is configured to prevent the shaft portion of the another pulley from being removed from the cavity, wherein the second engagement feature of the mounting structure is the only item that prevents the shaft portion of the pulley from being removed from the cavity once the shaft portion of the another pulley is fully inserted into the cavity and wherein a portion of the shaft portion is also rotatably received within the second slotted portion;
- and
- a first guide rail extending between the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure, the first guide rail including a first window attachment slidably attached thereto, the first window attachment being drivably attached to a cable which is adapted for engagement with the first and second pulleys.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.