EP0369853B1 - Device for coupling a window to a window regulator having swinging arms in an automotive vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling pad between a window and a window regulator mechanism with swinging arms in a motor vehicle, as well as a device comprising this pad and the associated bottom window profile.

This device is of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1 and comprising, for each arm, a shoe articulated on the end of the latter and adapted to be able to slide in a section integral with the bottom of the window, as described by the US -A 3 466 802.

The end of the arms can be constituted for example, by a spherical ball joint.

So far these couplings have been performed manually on vehicle assembly lines, partially blind. The installation of these devices is therefore relatively long and expensive.

The object of the invention is to produce a coupling device which allows its automatic mounting by a robot actuating the arms of the window regulator.

According to the invention, the skate has the characteristics of claim 1.

It is understood that once the two half-pads assembled and introduced into the corresponding profile of the bottom of the window, it suffices to lower the window so that the shoe comes to bear, by an appropriate housing formed therein, on the end of the window regulator arms. It then suffices to control by robot a maneuver with the arms of the window regulator to move the shoe from its first stable position to its second stable, final position of use.

This automatic assembly can therefore be executed in a very short time compared to the manual assembly implemented so far.

• Les moyens de verrouillage des deux demi-patins comprennent, agencés aux extrémités opposées de ceux-ci, des organes élastiques pouvant s'agrafer avec serrage sur des éléments d'arrêt associés.
• L'un des organes élastiques est une languette longitudinale flexible de l'un des demi-patins et qui délimite avec le corps du demi-patin un évidement pouvant recevoir un pion d'arrêt solidaire de l'autre demi-patin tandis que ladite languette s'écarte latéralement, et des butées de verrouillage sont agencées sur la languette ou sur la paroi du corps, entre lesquelles le pion peut venir se placer pour verrouiller les deux demi-patins dans leur première position stable.
• La languette est pourvue d'une partie terminale saillant latéralement.
• Le second organe élastique est un bras flexible d'un des demi-patins pourvu d'un crochet terminal pouvant venir s'agrafer avec serrage sur un ergot correspondant de l'autre demi-patin, ces éléments ainsi que la languette et le pion associé étant dimensionnés et positionnés de façon que le crochet ne soit pas engagé sur l'ergot lorsque le pion est verrouillé entre les butées d'arrêt, et que le crochet vienne sur l'ergot lorsque, après un coulissement de l'un des demi-patins par rapport à l'autre, le pion se dégage complètement de la languette et que celle-ci revient latéralement par détente élastique à sa position de repos.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• The locking means of the two half-pads comprise, arranged at the opposite ends of the latter, elastic members which can be clamped with clamping on associated stop elements.
• One of the elastic members is a flexible longitudinal tongue of one of the half-shoes and which delimits with the body of the half-shoe a recess capable of receiving a stop pin integral with the other half-shoe while said tongue moves laterally, and locking stops are arranged on the tongue or on the wall of the body, between which the pin can be placed to lock the two half-pads in their first stable position.
• The tongue is provided with a laterally projecting end portion.
• The second elastic member is a flexible arm of one of the half-pads provided with a terminal hook which can be stapled with tightening on a corresponding lug of the other half-pad, these elements as well as the tongue and the associated pin being sized and positioned from so that the hook is not engaged on the lug when the pin is locked between the stops, and that the hook comes on the lug when, after sliding one of the half-pads relative to the 'other, the pin is completely released from the tongue and that it returns laterally by elastic relaxation to its rest position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description of the two embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a vehicle door equipped with a window lifter mechanism which can be provided with coupling pads according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the half-pads constituting the pad of Fig.2.

Figures 4 to 7 are bottom plan views of the device according to the invention, illustrating the successive phases of the mounting of the coupling pad and putting it in the position of use.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pad of the coupling device of FIGS. 2 to 7.

Figure 9 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of the pad and the end of the arm in the mounting position.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig.9 showing the shoe in the use position.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of one of the half-skids of the skate of FIGS. 9 and 10.

Figure 12 is a bottom view of the second half-shoe, forming a drawer in the first half-shoe of Fig.11.

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the pad of Figs 9 to 12, mounted in the bottom section of the window.

We see in Fig.1 a door 1 of a motor vehicle on which are mounted a window 2 and a window regulator mechanism 3 with two arms 4 oscillating on a support housing. The ends of the arms 4 are articulated in pads which can slide in a profile 5 fixed to a U-shaped profile 6 receiving the bottom of the window 2, of which the two profiles 5 and 6 are integral. The ends 11 of the arms 4 sliding in the skids can be spheres (ball joints) or any other suitable system.

The invention provides for coupling between the section 5 of the bottom of the window and the ends of the arms 4 by means of a shoe device 7 shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, each shoe 7 being articulated on one end 11 d 'an arm 4.

Each shoe 7 is formed by two half-shoes 8 and 9 which can be displaced by sliding with respect to one another. For convenience of description, the following half-shoe 8 will be called "upper half-shoe" and half-shoe 9 "lower half-shoe", since they are actually in this relative position during mounting in the profile 5. The half-pads 8 and 9 are further provided with locking means one on the other in two respective stable positions: namely a first position called "mounting" before introduction of the end 11 of the arm 4 in the shoe 7 and in which the latter has a limited freedom of translation relative to the profile 5, and a second position after introduction of the end 11 into the shoe 7 and displacement by the end 11 of the upper half-shoe 8 relative to the lower half-shoe 9, called the "use" position. In fact, in this latter the terminal sphere 11 is locked in the shoe 7, which can slide freely in the profile 5.

These locking means of the two half-pads 8, 9 comprise, arranged at the opposite ends thereof, elastic and flexible members 12, 13 which can be clamped with clamping on associated stop elements 14 and 15. In the 'example described, the elastic members 12 and 13 belong to the lower half-pad 9 (of which they can be an integral part or be attached to it) while the elements 14 and 15 are part of the upper half-pad 8. Similarly , the members 12 and 13 can both be on the same side of the half-roller 9 or be located on the opposite sides of the latter. The elastic member 12 is a flexible longitudinal tongue provided with an end portion 12a projecting laterally and forming an elbow substantially at right angles to the rest of the tongue 12. The latter delimits with a longitudinal finger 40 the body 16 of the half-shoe 9 an elongated recess 17 which can receive the pin 14, while the tongue 12 moves laterally under the thrust of the latter. On the side of the tongue 12 bordering the recess 17, two notches or stops 18, 19 are provided for stopping the pin 14. The latter can indeed come to be placed between the stops 18 and 19, which then hold the half upper shoe 8 in its first stable locked position possible with respect to the half-shoe 9. The first stop 18 is rounded to allow the passage of the pin 14, while that the second stop 19 forms a notch for blocking the pin 14 against any subsequent progression.

The second elastic member 13 is a flexible tab provided with a terminal hook 13a having a notch 13b. In its normal position where it is held elastically, the tab 13 has its hook 13a engaged on the corresponding lug 15 engaged in the notch 13b.

The tongue 12, the lug 13, the pin 14 and the lug 15 are positioned and dimensioned so that the hook 13a is not engaged on the lug 15 when the pin 14 is locked between the stops 18 and 19 , and that the hook 13a comes on the lug 15 when, after sliding of the half-shoe 8 relative to the half-shoe 9, the pin 14 is completely released from the tongue 12 and that the latter returns laterally to its position rest (Fig. 7).

A housing 21a, 21b is formed in the two half-pads 8, 9 to receive the end of the arm 4, as well as lateral notches 22, 23 for introducing the end 11 into the housing 21a, 21b, these notches being respectively formed in the half-pads 8 and 9. The end 11 being in the example described spherical, the housing 21a formed in the central part of the half-pad 8 has a corresponding truncated spherical shape, completed by the cylindrical portion 21b delimited by a cylindrical surface 24 formed on the lower half-roller 9. In the example shown, the cylindrical surface 24 is thus arranged between the notch 23 and the tongue 12. On one side its end is flush with the longitudinal edge 16a of the body 16, and on the opposite side this portion 24 joins a step 35 itself extended by the flexible tab 13. The latter can undergo a certain angular movement relative to the underlying end 16b of the body 16, which delimits on this side the notch 23.

The notches 22, 23 are flared or chamfered to facilitate the introduction of the sphere 11 into the housing 21a when the two half-pads 8, 9 are assembled. Thus the notch 22 proper is extended externally by divergent edges or chamfers 25.

In order to allow sliding guide of the shoe 7 inside the profile 5, the upper face of the half-shoe 8 has a longitudinal groove 26 in which a corresponding longitudinal flap 27 of the profile 5 can engage. In addition, the lower part 5a of the latter is U-shaped or V-shaped in order to receive the male conjugate end 28 of the half-shoe 9.

Furthermore, in the section 5 is pierced a longitudinal slot 29 arranged to be able to cooperate with the end portion 12a of the tongue 12 during mounting of the pad 7 in its first stable locked position inside the section 5. The slot 29 is in fact arranged to receive the end portion 12a when the tongue 12 is laterally spaced apart by the pin 14 introduced into the recess 17, as will be explained below.

More generally, the surface 24 of the half-shoe 9 is profiled so as to be complementary to the surface formed in the half-shoe 8 to receive the end of the arm 4, this end possibly being a sphere 11 or all other appropriate element.

Furthermore, the end hook 13a is positioned at one end of the half-shoe 9 so to be able to be released manually from the lug 15, which allows the unlocking and separation of the two half-pads 8, 9 if necessary.

To allow the sliding of the lower half-shoe 9 in the upper half-shoe 8, the height h1 of the half-shoe 9, excluding that of its profiled part 28, is equal to an interval h2 formed on the half-shoe. pad 8, between a longitudinal shoulder 20 and a bar 30. The latter is orthogonal to the two cheeks 31 delimiting the notch 22 and on the inner face of which the shoulder 20 is formed. Once the pin 14 is introduced into the recess 17 , the half-shoe 9 is thus held on the half-shoe 8 between the bar 30 and the guide shoulder 20.

The implementation of the coupling device which has just been described is as follows.

First of all, the half-shoes 8 and 9 are fitted into each other by introducing the half-shoe 9 into the height clearance h2 of the half-shoe 8. To do this, the lower half-shoe is oriented. 9 so that the pin 14 comes into the recess 17 and slides along the tongue 12 until it is locked in position between the stops 18 and 19. The two half-pads 8, 9 are then in their first stable locked position called "mounting" (Fig.4).

It is then possible to manually insert the shoe 7 into the profile 5 by fitting the lower edge 28 into the bottom 5a and by introducing the flap 27 into the groove 26, until the tongue 12 comes to be placed opposite the light 29. During this sliding, the projecting end portion 12a of the tongue 12 slides first on the wall of the profile 5, then comes into the light 29 by elastic relaxation of the tongue 12 (Fig. 5 and 6). In this mounting position, the freedom of translation of the roller 7 in the profile 5 is limited by the abutment of the end portion 12a at one or the other of the ends of the lumen 29. It is noted that in this position also, the hook 13a is separated from the pin 15 by an interval d.

The arms 4 of the window regulator are in the assembly position, and the window 2 provided with its sections 5 and 6 and the pads 7 is lowered onto the spheres 11. The robot maneuvers the arm 4 so as to bring first of all the end portion 12a abuts against one of the ends of the lumen 29 (FIG. 6). From this moment the lower half-pad 9 is immobilized while the sphere 11 continues to drive the half-pad 8 in translation. Therefore, in each pad 7 the pins 14 are released from the stops 18 and 19, then slide along the tongues 12, and as soon as they have passed the terminal parts 12a of these, the released tongues 12 fold down elastically inside the profile 5 at the same time as the hooks 13a come to engage on the pins 15 (Fig. 7).

In this second position, the half-shoe 9 is therefore locked on the half-shoe 8 by the pin 14 and the lug 15 while, after this relative displacement of the two half-shoes 8, 9, the notches 22, 23 do not are more placed opposite one another and the sphere 11 is trapped in its housing (21a, 21b). In this position, the end 11 of the arm 4 is therefore locked in the roller 7, which can freely slide in the profile 5 and is therefore in the position of use.

Thus, once the two half-pads 8, 9 fitted and introduced into the profile 5, it suffices to lower the window 2 to the ends 11 of the arms 4, then to operate the arms 4 of the window lifter to obtain a locking in position of use of the two half-pads 8, 9.

If later it proves necessary for any reason to disassemble the shoe 7, it suffices for that the operator to manually lift the end of the hook 13a, which slightly protrudes from the half shoe 8, to release the tab 13 from its pin 14, then to exert a longitudinal traction on the half-shoe 9 in order to separate it from the half-shoe 8, which at the same time releases the sphere 11.

As a variant, the stop 18 of the tongue 12 could be eliminated, the half-shoe 9 then being blocked only in one direction with respect to the half-shoe 8. It would still be possible then to carry out the passage of the first stable locked position at the second locked position, but this variant would naturally be less advantageous than that with two stops 18, 19.

Furthermore, the cylindrical part 21b can be extended on the tab 12 in the direction of the terminal part 12a, possibly up to the latter, and / or on the finger 40.

It will be noted that the relative position dispersions between the shoe 7 and the sphere 11, in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the profile 5, are caught up thanks to the notch 23 and to the diverging edges 25 as well as to the inclination of the bottom 5a. of profile 5. The transverse dispersions are compensated for by a slight deformation of the window regulator.

The light 29 also allows a longitudinal displacement of the half-shoe 8 when the sphere 11 comes into contact with one of the edges 25.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13, the shoe 7a consists of two half-shoes 8a, 9a. The half-shoe 9a is entirely housed in the half-shoe 8a, inside which it can slide like a drawer. The half-shoe 8a receiving this drawer 9a is then provided with all of the guide means (26, 28, 30) on the conjugated parts (5a, 27) of the profile rail 5.

Preferably, the elastic locking members 12, 13 are produced on the half-shoe or drawer 9a. In addition, in this example, it is noted that the stopper 18 is eliminated and that the stopper 19 is formed in the wall of the recess 17 opposite the tongue 12. The other parts of the pad 7a similar to those of the pad 7, have been identified by the same references. As in the previous embodiment, the mounting of the half-pad 9a in the half-pad 8a closes the housing 21a by its surface 24, the mounting of the pad 7a in the profile 5 being also identical.

This variant ensures better guidance of the shoe 7a in the profile 5, because all the guide surfaces belong to the same half-shoe 8a, which is not the case for the shoe 7.

Claims (13)

1. Coupling block between a window-pane and a swinging arm (4) of a window-winder mechanism (3) in an automative vehicle, adapted to be able to slide in a section (5) securely attached to the base of the window-pane and to be articulated on one end-piece (11) of the corresponding arm (4), characterized in that this block (7) is formed by two half-blocks (8,9) which can slide relative to one another and are provided with means of relative guidance, and these half-blocks (8,9) are fitted with resilient means (12, 13) which can be clipped on to stop members (14, 15) in order to lock the half-blocks one on the other in a first stable position known as the assembly position, before introduction of the end-piece of the arm (4) into the block (7), in which position the latter has its freedom of movement limited relative to the section (5) at the bottom of the window-pane, said resilient means being capable of engaging by clamping on said stop members in a second stable position known as the position of use, after introduction of the said end-piece (11) of the arm (4) and displacement by this end-piece of one half-block (8) relative to the other (9), in which the end-piece of the arm is locked in the block, and the latter can slide freely in the section at the bottom of the window-pane.
2. Block according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the resilient means is a flexible longitudinal strip (12) of one (9) of the half-blocks and defines, together with the body (16) of the half-block (9), a recess (17) adapted to receive a stopping pin (14) securely attached to the other half-block (8), whilst the said strip is laterally deflected, and the locking stops (18,19) are fitted on the strip (12) or on the wall of the recess (17), between which the pin (14) can be positioned in order to lock the two half-blocks (8,9) in their first stable position.
3. Block according to claim 2, characterized in that the strip (12) is provided with a laterally projecting end part (12a).
4. Block according to one of claims 2 and 3,
   characterized in that the second resilient element is a flexible foot (13) of one (9) of the half-blocks, provided with an end claw (13a) which can be clipped on to a corresponding lug (15) of the other half-block (8), these elements, as well as the strip (12) and the associated pin (14), being of a size and in a position such that the claw (13a) does not engage on the lug (15) when the pin (14) is locked between the stops (18,19), and that this claw comes into contact with the lug when, after sliding of one (8) of the half-blocks relative to the other (9), the pin (14) is completely disengaged from the strip (12) and the latter reverts laterally to its resting position by elastic relaxation.
5. Block according to one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that a housing (21a, 21b) is provided in the two half-blocks (8,9) for receiving the end-piece (11) of the corresponding arm (4) of the window-winder (3), as well as lateral slots (22,23) for introducing this end-piece into this housing.
6. Block according to claim 5, characterized in that the slots (22,23) are widened or bevelled to facilitate the introduction of the end-piece (11) of the arm (4) into the housing (21a).
7. Block according to one of claims 5 and 6,
   characterized in that one (9) of the half-blocks has, near its not (23) for the introduction of the end-piece (11) of the arm (4), a shaped surface (24) complementary to a second surface formed in the other half-block (8), so as to define, with this second surface, the housing (21a,21b) of the end-piece (11) of the arm (4) and to trap it there after relatie sliding of the two half-blocks (8,9) from the first to the second of their stable locked positions.
8. Block according to one of claims 5 to 7,
   characterized in that the end claw (13a) of the flexible arm (1) is positioned at one end of the block (9) so that it can be disengaged manually from the associated lug (15), in order to enable the two half-blocks (8,9) to be locked together and separated.
9. Block according to one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that one (9a) of the half-blocks (8a,9a) is completely housed in the second half-block (8a), inside which it can slide like a drawer, and the second half-block (8a) is provided with guide means (26, 28, 30) for guiding the block (7a) on the conjugate parts (5a, 27) of the section (5).
10. Block according to claim 9 and one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the resilient locking members (12,13) are provided on the half-block (9a) which is slidably accommodated in the other half-block (8a).
11. Coupling device between a window-pane and the arms (4) of a window-winder mechanism (3), characterized in that it comprises a block (7) according to one of claims 1 to 10, as well as a section (5) securely attached to the bottom of the window-pane, and this section is made in such a way that the block (7) can fit in it and slide along, thanks to the retaining and guide means (5a,28,26,27).
12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that an aperture (29) is cut in the section (5), to enable it to cooperate with the above-mentioned locking means (12,12a,14).
13. Device according to claims 12 and 3, characterized in that the aperture (29) is arranged so as to receive the projecting end part (12a) of the flexible strip (12) when this latter is deflected sideways by the pin (14) introduced into the recess (17), so that in the said first assembly position, the opposite ends of the aperture (29) form a stop for the block (7), limiting its freedom of movement in the section (5).

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