CN114635618A - Powered sliding door assembly having cable system with quick connect coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a powered sliding door assembly having a cable system with a quick connect coupling. In particular, a slide assembly is provided for coupling a first cable and a second cable to a cable driven slide closure panel for movement of the cable driven slide closure panel along a motor vehicle body. The slide assembly includes a slide body having at least one roller to facilitate movement of the cable driven sliding closure panel along the motor vehicle body. The first cable attachment portion is attached to the first cable and the second cable attachment portion is attached to the second cable. The first cable attachment portion with the first cable secured to the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion with the second cable secured to the second cable attachment portion are configured to be assembled to the sliding body and at the same time the sliding body is secured to the cable driven sliding closure panel without introducing slack into the first cable and the second cable.

Description

Powered sliding door assembly having cable system with quick connect coupling

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application serial No. 63/125,921, filed on 12/15/2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to motor vehicle closure panels and more particularly to cable driven motor vehicle sliding closure panels and cable connectors for coupling cables to cable driven motor vehicle sliding closure panels.

Background

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure that is not necessarily prior art.

In many motor vehicle sliding door assemblies, the sliding door is configured for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position via actuation of a motor operatively coupled to a cable actuation mechanism. The cable actuation mechanism typically includes a pair of cables having a first end coupled to the driven cable spool and a second end operatively coupled to the sliding door. An intermediate portion of the cable extending between the first and second ends generally meanders in a serpentine manner around the intermediate idler wheel on opposing generally S-shaped bends, changing direction between positive and negative angles relative to the common axis.

In the sliding door assemblies described above, as well as other known sliding door assemblies, the assembly free length of the cables within the cable system may be greater (increased) than what is optimally desired in use, thus introducing uncertainty during use and complicating the functionality of the sliding door assembly. Thus, over time, the function of the sliding door will be impaired, resulting in the need for maintenance of the sliding door. The increased free length of the cable is often deliberately provided to facilitate assembly by allowing the cable to be easily routed around its respective pulley and to facilitate connecting a ferrule secured to the end of the cable with a cable connector secured to the sliding door; however, as noted above, if the increased free length of the cable is allowed to remain unchanged after assembly of the cable to the sliding door, the function of the sliding door may not be optimal, particularly over time as the cable stretches during use.

In order to reduce the free length of the cable in the cable system, it is known to incorporate elaborate and complex mechanisms, including spring tensioners, in the cable system. The spring tensioner can be releasably held in a pre-assembled state in which an increased free length is introduced into the cables of the cable system to bend and route the cables around the pulleys as required and to allow the cables 1, 2 such as shown in fig. 12A to 12C to flex and bend as required in the direction of arrow a (fig. 12C) so that the ferrules 3 can be inserted into their respective receptacles 4 in the cable connector 5. Then, after assembly is complete, the spring tensioner may be released to the assembled state to exert a pulling force on the cable to tighten the cable, thereby tightening the cable in place around the pulley and the ferrule, fixedly engaged within the receptacle of the cable connector. Thus, in order to achieve routing of the cables 1, 2 around the pulleys and insertion of the ferrule 3 into the respective receiving portion 4 of the cable connector 5, it is necessary to provide a suitable slack in the cables 1, 2 via an increased length, which ultimately proves difficult and time consuming in terms of assembly and affects the performance of the cables in use.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for providing a cable actuation mechanism and a cable connector for a cable actuation mechanism for a motor vehicle sliding door assembly that facilitates assembly, yields an optimal cable length upon completion of assembly, is efficient in operation, while being compact, robust, durable, lightweight, and economical in manufacture, assembly, and use.

Disclosure of Invention

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not intended to fully list all features, advantages, aspects, and objects associated with the inventive concepts described and illustrated in the detailed description provided herein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable operated drive system for a sliding door assembly of a motor vehicle which solves at least some of the problems discussed above therein with respect to known cable operated drive systems.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cable connector for a sliding door assembly of a motor vehicle that addresses at least some of the above problems with known cable connectors.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cable connector for a sliding door assembly of a motor vehicle, which facilitates attachment of a cable to the cable connector, which is efficient in operation and enables accurate and reliable positioning of the sliding door in operation, which facilitates maintenance of the sliding door assembly while being compact, robust, durable, lightweight and economical in manufacture, assembly and use.

In accordance with the above purposes, the present disclosure is directed to a motor vehicle sliding closure panel having a cable system with cable connectors constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure that provides a quick connect coupling of a cable of the cable system to the cable connectors.

In accordance with the above objects and aspects, a sliding door slide assembly is provided for coupling a first cable and a second cable to a cable driven sliding closure panel for reliable and precise movement of the cable driven sliding closure panel relative to a motor vehicle body. The sliding door slide assembly includes a slide body configured to be secured to a cable driven sliding closure panel. The sliding body has at least one roller attached thereto for facilitating movement of the cable driven sliding closure panel relative to the motor vehicle body. The first cable attachment portion has a first receptacle configured to securely receive a ferrule of a first cable therein such that the first cable extends away from the first cable portion along a first axis. The second cable attachment portion has a second receptacle configured to fixedly receive a ferrule of a second cable therein such that the second cable extends away from the second cable portion along a second axis. The first cable attachment portion with the first cable attached to the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion with the second cable attached to the second cable attachment portion are configured to be operably coupled to the sliding body without providing slack in the first cable and the second cable.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first cable attachment portion to which the first cable is fixed and the second cable attachment portion to which the second cable is fixed are configured to be operatively coupled in a fixed relationship with respect to each other by moving the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion towards each other in a coupling relationship with one of the sliding bodies or in a coupling relationship with each other along the first axis and the second axis.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion are configured to be coupled to the sliding body.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sliding body has one of a pair of female receivers, a female receiver and a male protrusion, and a pair of male protrusions, and the first and second cable attachment portions have the other of the pair of female receivers, the female receiver and the male protrusion, and the pair of male protrusions, the female receiver being configured to lockingly receive the male protrusion.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the female receiver has at least one window and the male protrusion has at least one spring finger, the window configured to snappingly receive the spring finger.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sliding body has a female receiving portion, and the first and second cable attachment portions have male protrusions.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion are configured to be coupled to each other.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one of the first and second cable attachment portions has a female receptacle and the other of the first and second cable attachment portions has a male projection, wherein the female receptacle is configured to lockingly receive the male projection.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the female receiver of the first cable attachment portion has at least one window and the male protrusion of the second cable attachment portion has at least one spring finger, wherein the window is configured to snappingly receive the spring finger.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of facilitating assembly of a motor vehicle sliding closure panel to a motor vehicle body is provided.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of facilitating assembly of first and second cables of a power sliding door cable system to a sliding door of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises the following steps: securing a sliding body having at least one roller to the sliding door; securing a first cable to the first cable attachment portion; securing a second cable to the second cable attachment portion; and coupling the first cable attachment portion to which the first cable is fixed and the second cable attachment portion to which the second cable is fixed to the sliding body without introducing slack into the first cable and the second cable.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include: providing a slide body having one of a pair of female receivers, a female receiver and a male projection, and a pair of male projections; and providing first and second cable attachment portions having a pair of female receivers, female receivers and male projections, and the other of the pair of male projections; and configuring the female receiver to lockingly receive the male projection.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include: providing a female receptacle having at least one window and providing a male tab having at least one spring finger; and configuring the window to snappingly receive the spring finger.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include: the method includes providing a sliding body having a female receptacle, and providing first and second cable attachment portions having a male projection.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include: providing a female receptacle having a pair of oppositely facing windows and providing a male projection having a pair of spring fingers configured to be snap-received in the pair of windows.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include coupling the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion to each other.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include: providing one of a first cable attachment portion and a second cable attachment portion, the one having a female receptacle; and providing the other of the first cable attachment portion and the second cable attachment portion, the other having a male protrusion; and configuring the female receiver to lockingly receive the male projection.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include: providing a female receiving portion of the first cable attachment portion, the female receiving portion having at least one window; and providing a male projection of the second cable attachment portion, the male projection having at least one spring finger; and configuring the window to snappingly receive the spring finger.

According to another aspect, there is provided a sliding door slide assembly for coupling at least one cable to a cable-driven sliding closure panel for facilitating movement of the cable-driven sliding closure panel relative to a motor vehicle body, the sliding door slide assembly comprising at least one cable attachment portion configured to attach to the at least one cable and operatively couple to the cable-driven sliding closure panel, wherein an audible engaging sound is generated by the at least one cable attachment portion being in operatively coupled relationship with the cable-driven sliding closure panel.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 illustrates a motor vehicle having a sliding door assembly with a powered sliding door assembly with a cable system having a quick connect coupling in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the sliding door assembly is shown in a closed state;

FIG. 1A is a view similar to FIG. 1, with the sliding door assembly shown in an open condition;

FIG. 1B is a partial perspective view of an interior portion of the motor vehicle and sliding door assembly of FIGS. 1 and 1A;

fig. 2 is a schematic view of a pair of cables extending outwardly from a cable operated drive mechanism of the sliding door assembly of fig. 1 and 1A, wherein the cables are routed around a pulley assembly configured to be secured to a rear side panel of the motor vehicle and operatively coupled to a cable connector assembly secured to the motor vehicle sliding door, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

fig. 2A is a perspective view of a portion of a sliding door drive assembly of the sliding door assembly of fig. 1-1B;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views illustrating opposite sides of a sliding door slide assembly having a cable connector assembly constructed according to one aspect of the present disclosure, wherein a cable is connected to the cable connector assembly;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the cable connector of the sliding door slide assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B, illustrating a cable connected to the cable connector assembly;

fig. 5 is a partial front perspective view of the cable connector assembly of fig. 4, illustrating the first cable attachment portion shown pre-assembled to a cable and oriented for quick connection to a body of the cable connector assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front side view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of a first cable attachment portion with a cable coupled thereto;

FIG. 8 is an exploded front perspective view of the first cable attachment portion and cable of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sliding door slide assembly illustrating a perspective view of a cable attachment assembly constructed according to another aspect of the present disclosure, exploded from the slide body of the cable attachment assembly;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cable attachment assembly of FIG. 9 illustrating a first cable attachment portion shown pre-assembled to a first cable oriented for quick connection to a second cable attachment portion shown pre-assembled to a second cable;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a quick connect method for connecting a cable of a cable system of a motor vehicle sliding closure panel to a sliding body of a sliding door slide assembly;

fig. 12A to 12C illustrate a cable connector and a slide assembly with the cable connector according to the prior art;

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of a coupling system for a sliding door cable system in a pre-assembled state;

FIG. 14 illustrates the coupling system for the sliding door cable system of FIG. 13 in an assembled state during which tension in the cable is increased;

FIG. 15 illustrates the coupling system for the sliding door cable system of FIG. 14 in an assembled state during which the tension in the cable has increased to and is maintained at a final operating cable tension; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating another quick connect method for connecting a cable of a cable system of a motor vehicle sliding closure panel to a sliding body of a sliding door slide assembly.

Detailed Description

A motor vehicle sliding closure panel and a quick connect coupling for a motor vehicle sliding closure panel will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. To this end, exemplary embodiments of a quick-connect coupling device of a cable system are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the intended scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, in order to provide a thorough understanding of particular embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that example embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some portions of the exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may also be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," and "having" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "engaged to," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other terms used to describe the relationship between elements (e.g., "between" and "directly between", "adjacent" and "directly adjacent", etc.) should be interpreted in the same manner. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms are used herein without implying a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," outer, "" below, "" in. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "above. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated angle or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Referring to fig. 1-1B, there is shown a portion of a motor vehicle 10 including a cable driven sliding closure panel, shown by way of example and not limitation as a sliding door 12, the sliding door 12 having a powered sliding door drive assembly, shown generally at 14 (fig. 1B), and a pulley assembly 15 (fig. 3A and 3B). The sliding door drive assembly 14 is mounted to a motor vehicle body 17 of the motor vehicle 10, such as to a rear side panel thereof via a mounting bracket 16 by way of example and without limitation, and the sliding door drive assembly 14 is operatively connected to the sliding door 12 for selectively moving (meaning intentionally actuated or intentionally moved hereinafter) the sliding door 12 between a closed state (fig. 1) and an open state (fig. 1A). Sliding door drive assembly 14 includes a motor 18 electrically connected to a source of electrical energy, which is schematically represented by an electrical connector 20. It is contemplated that motor 18 may use, by way of example and not limitation, electrical energy provided from known sources typically provided in motor vehicles, including electrical energy provided from a vehicle battery, or electrical energy provided from a generator. Preferably, the motor 18 is bi-directional, thereby enabling direct, selectively actuated rotation of the output shaft 22 (fig. 2A) in opposite rotational directions. By way of example, and not limitation, the output shaft 22 is shown as an output shaft of a gearbox, such as a planetary transmission/clutch assembly 24.

The powered sliding door cable system 25 of the sliding door drive assembly 14 includes a cable spool 26, wherein the cable spool 26 is shown coupled to the transmission/clutch assembly 24 via a coupling 28, by way of example and not limitation. The cable spool 26 is shown supported for rotation by two sets of bearings 30, 32, the bearings 30, 32 being fixedly secured to a cable spool housing 34 (fig. 1B). The cable drum 26 includes a helical groove 36, and a cable assembly including a first cable 38 and a second cable 40 is wound around the helical groove 36. By way of example and not limitation, the first cable 38 and the second cable 40 are wound in opposite directions around the cable spool 26 in the helical groove 36. The first cable 38 has an end secured within the first receptacle 39 of the cable spool 26, and the first cable 38 extends in a generally tangential relationship from the cable spool 26 through the first cable port P1 (fig. 2), forwardly in the direction of the first axis a1 (fig. 1B), around the front pulley assembly 15, and then the first cable 38 changes direction back toward the sliding door 12 along the second axis a2 and into a coupled relationship with the sliding door 12, as discussed further below. The second cable 40 has an end secured within the second receptacle 41 of the cable spool 26, and the second cable 40 extends in a generally tangential relationship from the cable spool 26 through the second cable port P2, rearward in the direction of the third axis A3 (fig. 1B), around the rear pulley assembly 15, and then the second cable 40 changes direction along the fourth axis a4 back toward the sliding door 12 and into a coupled relationship with the sliding door 12, as discussed further below. The first and second cables 38, 40 each have respective first and second ends 43, 45 configured to be quick-connect to be fixedly secured to a central hinge, also referred to as a sliding door slide assembly and hereinafter referred to as a sliding mount or slide assembly 46, the slide assembly 46 being fixedly secured to the sliding door 12. Rotation of the cable drum 26 winds one of the first and second cables 38, 40 and simultaneously unwinds the other of the first and second cables 38, 40. Thus, the first cable 38 is configured to wind around the cable spool 26 in response to the cable spool 26 rotating in a first direction and unwind from the cable spool 26 in response to the cable spool 26 rotating in an opposite second direction, and the second cable 40 is configured to wind around the cable spool 26 in response to the cable spool 26 rotating in the second direction and unwind from the cable spool 26 in response to the cable spool rotating in the first direction.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a position sensor, generally indicated at 56, may be mounted to the cable spool housing 34 for indicating the rotational position of the cable spool 26. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the position sensor 56 is a very high resolution position sensor and may be provided to include a sensor that senses the orientation of a magnet (not shown) fixedly secured to the cable spool 26 for rotation with the cable spool 26.

The slide assembly 46, as best shown in fig. 3A and 3B, includes a slide body 47 and a cable connector assembly 49 secured to the slide body 47. According to one aspect, by way of example and not limitation, a cable connector assembly 49 may be provided having a front or first cable attachment portion 48 and a rear or second cable attachment portion 50 for quickly and reliably securing and securing the respective ends 43, 45 of the first and second cables 38, 40 to the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50. To facilitate securing the first and second cables 38, 40 to the cable connector assembly 49, the first cable attachment portion 48 may have a first receptacle 58, the first receptacle 58 configured to securely receive the ferrule 59 of the first cable 38 in the first receptacle 58 such that the first cable 38 extends away from the first cable attachment portion 48 along the axis a2, and the second cable attachment portion 50 may have a second receptacle 60, the second receptacle 60 configured to securely receive the ferrule 61 of the second cable 40 in the second receptacle 60 such that the second cable 40 extends away from the second cable attachment portion 50 along the axis a 4. In assembly, it should be appreciated that the first and second cables 38, 40 may be secured to the respective first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 prior to securing the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 to the central connector body 52 and prior to securing to the sliding body 47, thereby avoiding the need to have slack in the first and second cables 38, 40, as discussed further below. In this non-limiting embodiment, the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 are operatively secured against movement relative to each other and relative movement with the cable connector assembly 49 via the central connector body 52.

The sliding body 47 is configured to be secured to the cable-driven sliding closure panel 12 via any desired securing mechanism, including mechanical fasteners, welded joints, etc. (not shown), as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the disclosure herein. The sliding body 47 has at least one roller, and by way of example and not limitation, is shown as a plurality of rollers 54 attached to the sliding body 47 to facilitate low friction translational movement of the cable driven sliding closure panel 12 relative to the motor vehicle body 17. Sliding body 47 may be formed from any suitable high strength material and is preferably formed from a metal, such as, by way of example and not limitation, stamped steel. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the geometry of sliding body 47 may be provided according to the needs of the intended vehicle platform.

The first cable attachment portion 48, wherein the first cable 38 is secured to the first cable attachment portion 48, such as via a ferrule 59 disposed in the first receptacle 58, and the second cable attachment portion 50, wherein the second cable 40 is secured to the second cable attachment portion 50, such as via a ferrule 61 disposed in the second receptacle 60, are configured to be operatively coupled in a fixed relationship relative to one another by: by linearly moving the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 along the straight linear axes a2, a4 toward each other into an operatively coupled relationship with the slide body 47. As shown, the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 are directly coupled to the central connector body 52, the central connector body 52 in turn being configured to be secured to the sliding body 47, such as via any suitable mechanical fastening mechanism, including separate fasteners or an integral clamp configuration, by way of example and not limitation, the central connector body 52 being secured to the sliding body 47 by a pin 53 (fig. 3A), the pin 53 being shown as being disposed and secured within respective openings 55, 57 of the connector body 52 and the sliding body 47 via any suitable mechanical and/or adhesive mechanism, by way of example and not limitation.

The central connector body 52 has one of a pair of female receivers (each female receiver being an example of a first connector), a female receiver and a male protrusion (each male protrusion being an example of a second connector), and a pair of male protrusions (male projections), and in the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the central connector body 52 is shown as having a pair of female receivers 62. The first and second connectors are configured to couple to each other in the manner illustrated herein. Meanwhile, the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 have a pair of female receivers, female receivers and male projections, and the other of a pair of male projections, and are shown in the illustrated non-limiting embodiment as having a pair of male projections 64. The female receiver 62 is configured to lockingly receive the male projection 64 such that upon disposing the male projection 64 in the female receiver 62, the male projection 64 is locked and secured against inadvertent, undesired removal from the female receiver 62. However, if desired and intentional removal is required, such as during maintenance, measures may be provided that allow such selective removal.

To facilitate desired locking of the male projection 64 within the female receivers 62 of the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50, the female receivers 62 may be provided with at least one pocket, slot, or through opening, shown by way of example and not limitation as a pair of oppositely facing recessed pockets, slots, or through openings, and referred to hereinafter as windows 66, and the male projections may be provided with at least one spring finger 68, and the at least one spring finger 68 is illustrated as a corresponding number of pairs of spring fingers 68 according to the windows 66, wherein the windows 66 are configured to snap-receive the spring fingers 68 in the windows 66. Illustratively, due to the snap-fit reception, an audible sound is generated by the locking engagement of the male projection 64 with the female reception 62, which sound can be perceived by the assembler to confirm the locked state of the male projection 64 with the female reception 62. Such an impact sound may be described, for example, as a click, snap, pop, or other sound that is realized by the assembler of the device and that can be sensed or sensed. In some other configurations, a visible marking for providing confirmation of the locked state to the assembler may be provided, such as a colored marking on the male projection 64 that is perceptible relative to a reference marking on the female receptacle 62, such as a marking hole, which allows the assembler to view the colored marking through the hole only when the marking projection 64 has been moved into the locked position with the female receptacle 62. In another configuration, both audible and visual confirmation may be provided to the assembler. As best shown in fig. 6, the spring finger 68 has a tapered lead-in surface, hereinafter referred to as a nose 69, to facilitate insertion of the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 into the female receptacle 62, and the spring finger 68 may further include an outwardly extending protrusion, hereinafter referred to as a stop member 70, the stop member 70 being axially spaced from the nose 69, wherein the stop member 70 may be used to limit axial insertion of the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 into the female receptacle 62. Further, the stop member 70 protrudes from the opening 72 of the housing 73 of the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50, and the stop member 70 may serve as an accessible release member to facilitate selective (desired and intended) release of the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 from the female receptacle 62 by providing an easily accessible location to press and bias the spring fingers 68 inwardly to allow the spring fingers 68 to be removed from the secure receipt of the windows 66 of the central connector body 52. The spring fingers 68 are normally biased outwardly by a spring member 74, by way of example and not limitation, the spring member 74 being shown as a torsion spring member. The fingers 68 are shown spaced apart via a washer, also referred to as a spacer 76, wherein the fingers 68 are supported for pivotal movement relative to one another by a pin 78, wherein the pin 78 is shown having an end configured for fixed attachment within an opening 80 in an extended region 82 of the housing 73.

In fig. 9, a slide assembly 146 constructed in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure is illustrated, wherein like reference numerals, which are the same as those used above, but differing by 100, are used to identify similar features. The slide assembly 146 includes a slide body 147 and a cable connector assembly 149 secured to the slide body 147, the slide body 147 having at least one roller 154 and being generally configured as discussed above and further discussion thereof is not believed necessary. The cable connector assembly 149 may be directly attached to the sliding body 147 via any desired securing mechanism, including via auxiliary mechanical fasteners such as threaded fasteners, rivets, pins, and/or adhesive mechanisms, such as weld joints, and/or by being disposed and captured in recessed pockets 63 formed between the generally U-shaped sidewalls 65 as viewed in cross-section. According to one aspect, by way of example and not limitation, a cable connector assembly 149 may be provided having a front or first cable attachment portion 148 and a rear or second cable attachment portion 150 for quickly and reliably securing and securing respective ends 43, 45 of the first and second cables 38, 40 to the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50. The first and second cables 38, 40 may have ferrules 59 for receipt in the first and second receptacles 158, 160 as discussed above. As such, in assembly, the first and second cables 38, 40 may be secured to the respective first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 prior to securing the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 against movement relative to each other and against movement relative to the cable connector assembly 149.

In contrast to the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50, the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 are configured to be directly coupled to one another to complete assembly of the cable connector assembly 149. Upon completion of assembly of the cable connector assembly 149, the cable connector assembly 149 may be attached to the slide body 147, such as via the use of any suitable fastening mechanism, including the use of mechanical fasteners or otherwise. To facilitate coupling the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 to one another, one of the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 has a female receiver 162 and the other of the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 has a male protrusion 164, wherein the female receiver 162 is configured to lockingly receive the male protrusion 164. To facilitate preventing the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 from being unintentionally released from each other, the female receiver 162 has at least one slot or opening, also referred to as a window 166, and the male protrusion 164 has at least one spring finger 168, wherein the window 166 is configured to snap-receive the spring finger 168. As discussed above with respect to spring fingers 68, spring fingers 168 may be intentionally depressed for selective removal from windows 166, such as may be required during servicing.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 11, a method 1000 is provided that facilitates assembling the first cable 38 and the second cable 40 of the powered sliding door cable system 25 to the sliding door 12 of the motor vehicle 10. The method 1000 includes: step 1100, securing the sliding body 47, 147 with the at least one roller 54 to the sliding door 12; step 1200, securing the first cable 38 to the first cable attachment portion 48, 148; step 1300, securing the second cable 40 to the second cable attachment portion 50, 150; and a step 1400 of coupling the first cable attachment portion 48, 148 with the first cable 38 secured to the first cable attachment portion 48, 148 and the second cable attachment portion 50, 150 with the second cable 40 secured to the second cable attachment portion 50, 150 to the sliding body 47, 147 without introducing slack into the first cable 38 and the second cable 40.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method 1000 may further include the step 1500: providing a connector body 52, the connector body 52 having one of a pair of female receivers 62, female receivers 62 and male projections 64, and a pair of male projections 64; and providing first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50, the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 having a corresponding one of a pair of female receivers 62, female receivers 62 and male projections 64, and the other of a pair of male projections 64; and configuring the female receiver 62 to lockingly receive the male projection 64.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method 1000 may further include the step 1600: providing a female receiver 62 having at least one window 66 and providing a male projection 64 having at least one spring finger 68, and configuring the window 66 to snappingly receive the spring finger 68. The snap-receiving may be configured to generate an audible sound such as a click, pop, snap, or other type of clicking sound that can be perceived by an assembler of the device to audibly confirm that the locked state of the device has been achieved.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method 1000 may further include the step 1700: a sliding body 52 having a female receiver 62 is provided and a first cable attachment portion 48 and a second cable attachment portion 50 having a male protrusion 64 are provided.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method 1000 may further include step 1800: a female receiver 62 having a pair of oppositely facing windows 66 is provided, and a male projection 64 having a pair of spring fingers 68 is provided, the pair of spring fingers 68 being configured to be snap-received in the pair of windows 66.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method 1000 may further include step 1900: the first and second cable attachment portions 148 and 150 are directly coupled to each other.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method 1000 may further include the step 2000: providing one of the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 having a female receiver 162; and providing the other of the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 with a male projection 164; and configuring the female receiver 162 to lockingly receive the male projection 164.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method 1000 may further include step 2100: providing a female receiver 162 of the first cable attachment portion 148, the female receiver 162 having at least one window 166; and a male projection 164 providing the second cable attachment portion 150, the male projection 164 having at least one spring finger 168; and configuring the windows 166 to snap-receive the spring fingers 168.

Referring now to fig. 13 and 14 and 15, in addition to the other figures herein, fig. 13 and 14 and 15 illustrate another example of a cable coupling system 200, which is now illustrated with reference to a pivot mechanism that is different from the slide mechanism illustrated above. The cable coupling system 200 includes a first connector 202 secured to a sliding door cable 204, a second connector 206 secured to a sliding door 208, for example, directly via a sliding door body 210. The first connector 202 and the second connector are shown as being arranged to each other using a pivot connection 212 such that the first connector 202 is moved, e.g. pivoted, into engagement with the second connector 206, whereby the first connector 202 and the second connector may engage each other, e.g. in a snap, click or the like manner, as shown e.g. in the final position of fig. 14. The action of moving the first connector 202 into engagement with the second connector 206 increases the tension in the cable from a taut state to an operating tension, such as a final operating tension, which does not require any other assembly action on the cable to tighten. In a related aspect, a method of facilitating assembly of a cable of a powered sliding door cable system to a sliding door of a motor vehicle is provided, the method comprising: securing a first connector to a cable; securing the second connector to the sliding door; moving the first connector into engagement with the second connector, wherein the movement increases the tension in the cable to an operating tension.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method 2000 (fig. 16) of facilitating quick connection and assembly of at least one cable 38, 40 of a powered sliding door cable system 25 to a sliding door 12 of a motor vehicle 10 is provided. Method 2000 includes step 2100: the at least one cable attachment portion 48, 50, 148, 150 is configured to attach to the at least one cable 38, 40 and to be operably coupled to the cable-driven sliding closure panel 12. The method 2000 further includes step 2200: configuring the at least one cable attachment portion 48, 50, 148, 150 to move in a direction along the straight axis of the at least one cable 38, 40 into an operatively coupled relationship with the cable driven sliding closure panel 12 tightens the at least one cable 38, 40 to provide an operating tension in the at least one cable 38, 40.

According to another aspect, the method 2000 may further comprise step 2300: configuring the sliding body 47, 147 to be secured to the cable driven sliding closure panel 12; and configuring the at least one cable attachment portion 48, 50, 148, 150 to couple to the sliding body 47, 147 without first providing slack in the at least one cable 38, 40.

According to another aspect, method 2000 may further include step 2400: providing at least one cable attachment portion 48, 50, 148, 150 including a first cable attachment portion 48, 148 and a second cable attachment portion 50, 150; and providing at least one cable 38, 40 including a first cable 38 and a second cable 40, and wherein the first cable 38 is secured to the first cable attachment portion 48, 148, and wherein the second cable 40 is secured to the second cable attachment portion 50, 150; the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 148, 50, 150 are moved toward one another along the first and second axes a2, a4 of the first and second cables 38, 40 into an operatively coupled relationship with one of the slide bodies 47, 147 or with one another.

According to another aspect, method 2000 may further include step 2500: the central connector body 52 is configured to be fixed to the sliding body 47; and configuring the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 to be coupled to the central connector body 52 by moving the first and second cable attachment portions 48, 50 toward each other in a direct coupling relationship with the central connector body 52 along the first and second axes a2, a 4.

According to another aspect, method 2000 may further include step 2600: the first and second cable attachment portions 148 and 150 are configured to be directly coupled to each other.

According to another aspect, method 2000 may further include step 2700: the first and second cable attachment portions 148, 150 are configured to attach directly to the sliding body 117.

While the above description constitutes a number of embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention may be further modified and varied without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

The foregoing description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The various elements or features of a particular embodiment may also be varied in a number of ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims (17)

1. A sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) for coupling at least one cable (38, 40) to a cable driven sliding closure panel (12) to facilitate movement of the cable driven sliding closure panel (12) relative to a motor vehicle body (17), the sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) comprising:

at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150), the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) configured to attach to the at least one cable (38, 40) and configured to operably couple to the cable-driven sliding closure panel (12); and is

Wherein the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) is configured to move in a direction along the straight axis of the at least one cable (38, 40) into an operably coupled relationship with the cable-driven sliding closure panel (12), which tightens the at least one cable (38, 40) to provide an operating tension in the at least one cable (38, 40).

2. The sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) of claim 1 further comprising a slide body (47, 147), the slide body (47, 147) configured to be secured to the cable driven slide closure panel (12), wherein the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) is configured to couple to the slide body (47, 147) without providing slack in the at least one cable (38, 40).

3. The sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) of claim 2 wherein said slide body (47, 147) has at least one roller (54, 154), said at least one roller (54, 154) attached to said slide body (47, 147) to facilitate movement of said cable driven sliding closure panel (12) relative to said motor vehicle body (17).

4. The sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) of claim 3 wherein the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) includes a first cable attachment portion (48, 148) and a second cable attachment portion (50, 150), and wherein the at least one cable (38, 40) includes a first cable (38) and a second cable (40), the first cable attachment portion (48, 148) having a first receptacle (58, 158), the first receptacle (58, 158) configured to attachingly receive the first cable (38) in the first receptacle (58, 158) such that the first cable (38) extends away from the first cable attachment portion (48, 148) along a first axis, the second cable attachment portion (50, 150) having a second receptacle (60, 160), the second receptacle (60, 160), 160) Configured to attachedly receive the second cable (40) in the second receiving portion (60, 160) such that the second cable (40) extends away from the second cable attachment portion (50, 150) along a second axis,

wherein the first cable attachment portion (48, 148) to which the first cable (38) is fixed and the second cable attachment portion (50, 150) to which the second cable (40) is fixed are configured to be operatively coupled in a fixed relationship relative to each other by moving the first cable attachment portion (48, 148) and the second cable attachment portion (50, 150) towards each other along the first axis (A2) and the second axis (A4) into an operatively coupled relationship with one of the sliding bodies (47, 147) or into an operatively coupled relationship with each other.

5. The sliding door slide assembly (46) of claim 4 wherein said first receptacle (58, 158) is configured to fixedly receivingly receive a ferrule (59) of said first cable (38) in said first receptacle (58, 158) and said second receptacle (60, 160) is configured to fixedly receive a ferrule (59) of said second cable (40) in said second receptacle (60, 160).

6. The sliding door slide assembly (46) of claim 4 further including a central connector body (52), said central connector body (52) being fixed to said slide body (47), wherein said first and second cable attachment portions (48, 50) are configured to be coupled to said central connector body (52) by moving said first and second cable attachment portions (48, 50) toward each other along said first and second axes (A2, A4) into a direct coupling relationship with said central connector body (52).

7. The sliding door slide assembly (46) of claim 6 wherein said central connector body (52) has one of a pair of female receivers (62), female receivers (62) and male projections (64), and a pair of male projections (64), and said first and second cable attachment portions (48, 50) have the other of said pair of female receivers (62), female receivers (62) and male projections (64), and said pair of male projections (64), said female receivers (62) being configured to lockingly receive said male projections (64).

8. The sliding door slide assembly (46) of claim 7 wherein said female receiver (62) has at least one window (66) and said male projection (64) has at least one spring finger (68), said window (66) configured to snappingly receive said spring finger (68).

9. The sliding door slide assembly (46) of claim 10 wherein said female receiver (62) includes a pair of oppositely facing windows (66) and said male projection (64) includes a pair of spring fingers (68), said pair of spring fingers (68) configured to be snap-received in said pair of windows (66).

10. The sliding door slide assembly (46) of claim 7 wherein said central connector body (52) has said female receptacle (62) and said first and second cable attachment portions (48, 50) have said male protrusion (64).

11. The sliding door slide assembly (146) of claim 4, wherein the first cable attachment portion (148) and the second cable attachment portion (150) are configured to be directly coupled to each other.

12. The sliding door slide assembly (146) of claim 11, wherein one of the first and second cable attachment portions (148, 150) has a female receptacle (162) and the other of the first and second cable attachment portions (148, 150) has a male projection (164), the female receptacle (162) being configured to lockingly receive the male projection (164).

13. The sliding door slide assembly (146) as claimed in claim 12 wherein the female receiver (162) has at least one window (66) and the male protrusion (164) has at least one spring finger (168), the at least one window (66) configured to snap receive the at least one spring finger (68).

14. The sliding door slide assembly (146) of claim 11, wherein the first cable attachment portion (148) and the second cable attachment portion (150) are configured to attach directly to the slide body (147).

15. The sliding door slide assembly (146) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein an audible engagement sound is generated by bringing the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) into operatively coupled relationship with the cable driven sliding closure panel (12).

16. A sliding door slide assembly (46, 146), the sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) for coupling at least one cable (38, 40) to a cable driven sliding closure panel (12) to facilitate movement of the cable driven sliding closure panel (12) relative to a motor vehicle body (17), the sliding door slide assembly (46, 146) comprising:

at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150), the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) configured to attach to the at least one cable (38, 40) and configured to operably couple to the cable-driven sliding closure panel (12); and is

Wherein an audible engagement sound is generated by bringing the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) into operatively coupled relationship with the cable driven sliding closure panel (12).

17. A method of facilitating assembly of at least one cable (38, 40) of a powered sliding door cable system (25) to a sliding door (12) of a motor vehicle (10), the method comprising:

configuring at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) to attach to the at least one cable (38, 40) and to operably couple to a cable-driven sliding closure panel (12); and

configuring the at least one cable attachment portion (48, 148, 50, 150) to move in a direction along a straight axis of the at least one cable (38, 40) into an operatively coupled relationship with the cable-driven sliding closure panel (12), which tightens the at least one cable (38, 40) to provide an operating tension in the at least one cable (38, 40).

Images