EP2134915B1 - Guide rail arrangement and driving element for window lifters in motor vehicles, and method for the production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A guide rail assembly for motor vehicle window lifters and a method for the production thereof. Two guide webs having protrusions formed thereon form a guide rail on a carrier plate made from a plastic material. The guide webs may be bent elastically inwards or outwards, enabling the driving element to be clipped on by pushing it on in the vehicle's transverse direction y and considerably simplifies production in an injection moulding process because the guide rail may be removed by elastically bending the guide rails such that a smaller number of sliders is required in the moulding tool. In one embodiment, there is also provided a driving element comprising a body of a first material and, securely held therein, sliding inserts comprised of a second material which material ensures a particularly good tribological pairing with the material of the associated guide web.

Description

The present application claims the priority of the German patent application no. 10 2007 016 953.3 "Guide rail arrangement and driver for motor vehicle windows and method for their production", filed on 5 April 2007.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to plastic guideway assemblies for motor vehicle windows, and more particularly to a guideway assembly according to the preamble of claim 1, a driver for motor vehicle windows, and methods of making the same.

Background of the invention

Plastic support plates, also called mounting supports, are known from the prior art, which permit moisture-proof wet room / dry room separation after their connection to a module carrier, pre-assembly of door module components and door module functions, for example door controls, electric windows , Side airbag module, speakers or the like, and allow high mechanical strength requirements with ease of installation. The advantage of using plastic as a material results in particular from the fact that thereby the production of the carrier plate by injection molding is possible in a simple manner.

Examples of such carrier plates are for example in the DE 199 44 965 A1 the applicant or DE 197 32 225 A1 (according to the U.S. Patent 5,906,072 ), the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

DE 10 2005 033 115 A1 (corresponding WO 2007/006296 A1 ) discloses an assembly consisting of a plastic subframe for a motor vehicle door with an integrally formed thereon guide rail. In order to withstand the considerable forces occurring during operation of the guide rail, the guide rail should be characterized by a high stability and rigidity. The guide rail comprises two guide webs spaced apart from each other with guide projections formed thereon, which protrude inwards from the respective guide web. To increase the rigidity in the region of the guide rail additional stiffening beads and bulges are provided. The guide webs are thus not bendable in the sense of the present application.

In the Fig. 7 In this application, an injection molding tool for producing such a guide rail is shown. The injection molding tool comprises in the region of the guide rail a middle slider and two lateral slides, which have lateral projections for forming the guide projections on the guide webs. Thus, the total number of slides of the injection molding tool is comparatively high, which increases the cost of the injection mold and also the injection molding process. Since no recesses for shaping the guide projections are provided on the central slider, the principle of demolding the guide rail assembly from the injection molding tool differs significantly from that according to the present invention.

DE 10 2004 063 514 A1 (according to the WO 2006/069 559 A1 ) relates to a plastic window for motor vehicles. Disclosed is a carrier plate made of a plastic, on which a guide rail is integrally formed. To guard against lateral forces, the guide rail is stepped, as in the FIGS. 2A to 2C shown. The guide rail does not have two guide webs spaced apart from each other with guide protrusions projecting inwardly or outwardly thereon. The principle of production, in particular demolding from an injection molding tool, deviates significantly from the procedure according to the present invention.

DE 36 00 413 C2 (according to the U.S. Patent 4,700,508 ) discloses a molded from a sheet metal profile and fixed to a vehicle body central guide rail for a motor vehicle windows, arranged at a distance from each other, to perpendicular and parallel to the window pane aligned legs of the guide rail attacking sliding elements are displaceable.

A cost advantage arises in particular when the guide rail, which is made of plastic for guiding one of the connection of the window to the window serving lift driver, in particular integrally formed with the support plate, by injection molding of a plastic material. In order to guide the window pane and the driver securely in a direction transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction, the driver has to engage behind the guide profile of the guide rail. Only in this way does the driver remain safely guided on the guide rail even at comparatively high accelerations in the vehicle transverse direction, as they occur in particular during heavy door slamming. To realize such a rear grip during injection molding of the carrier plate made of a plastic relatively large slide in the mold are necessary, as above in particular with reference to DE 10 2005 033 115 A1 explained. This increases the cycle time during injection molding of the carrier plate and thus also the costs and risks.

Summary of the invention

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a guide rail assembly for automotive windows of a plastic that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and assembled and reliably guides a driver. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a driver for a motor vehicle window is also to be provided from a plastic, which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and mounted and reliably guided on a guide rail, in particular on a guide rail, which will be explained in more detail below. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a guide rail assembly and a follower, as set forth below.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by a guide rail assembly with the features of claim 1, by a driver according to claim 20 and by a method for their preparation or assembly according to claim 17, 27 and 28, respectively. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Thus, according to a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a guide rail arrangement for motor vehicle windows, which is formed from a plastic, with a flat carrier and at least one guide rail for guiding a window lift driver, wherein the guide rail has two guide webs spaced apart from each other protrude from the carrier, and on the guide webs guide projections are formed, each extending over the entire guide length of the guide webs and protrude inwardly or outwardly by a predetermined distance from the respective guide web, so that the cooperating with these carrier secured against pulling perpendicular to the carrier is guided.

According to the invention, the guide webs are designed so that they are elastically inwardly or outwardly bendable in the region of the guide projections at least by the predetermined distance. Thus, the guide rail according to the invention by elastic deformation of their guide webs are removed from an injection molding tool. For demolding, the number of necessary slides of the mold can thus be reduced according to the invention. In particular, no cross slides are required for the formation of the guide webs, since all mold parts can be removed in the same direction to demold the guide rail of the mold.

The guide webs protrude preferably perpendicular or according to further embodiments almost perpendicularly from the carrier and are formed integrally therewith. According to a further embodiment, the carrier can be extended to a carrier plate, also known as a door module carrier, which is basically known from the prior art and can also carry at least one further guide rail. The guide rail is formed according to the invention by two guide webs spaced apart from one another, which form a substantially U-shaped guide rail in cross-section, wherein a guide projection projects inwardly and / or outwardly from the inner and / or outer side of the guide webs, which with correspondingly formed sections of the driver positively cooperates to guide this secured in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and against a withdrawal of the driver perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, ie to secure in the intended vehicle transverse direction. For this purpose, the driver preferably engages behind one or more guide projections of the guide rail, as stirred out below.

To realize such a rear grip, the projections according to a further embodiment each have a guide surface facing the carrier, which preferably represents a plane, wherein the imaginary extension of the guide surface encloses a first acute angle with a perpendicular to the carrier. The projection of the inclined guide surface on the plane spanned by the carrier level in the region of the guide rail sets the aforementioned, predetermined distance, around which the guide webs are bent during removal from the mold elastic inwardly or outwardly. In a corresponding manner to the driver also engage behind sections of a mold part after injection molding of the guide rail assembly, the guide projections. According to the demolding of the guide rail assembly from the mold is facilitated by the aforementioned guide surface inclined to the support and not parallel. According to a further embodiment, however, such a rear grip can in principle still be realized even if the aforementioned guide surface extends parallel or substantially parallel to the carrier.

According to a further embodiment, the projections further each have a slope facing away from the carrier, the imaginary extension of which encloses a second acute angle with the perpendicular to the carrier. The first acute angle is smaller than the second acute angle. The support facing away from the slope is thus preferably steep in mounting direction, to allow easy clipping or attaching the driver to the guide rail. As a result, in particular assembly forces can be advantageously reduced. On the other hand, the carrier surface facing the guide surface is formed flat to allow high withdrawal forces of the driver perpendicular to the carrier and thus to ensure a high holding force of the driver on the guide webs. However, the angle must be chosen so that the demolding of the guide rail assembly from the injection mold or from the tool without problems, in particular without damage to the guide portions of the guide rail assembly, can be done.

The inclination angle of the aforementioned guide surface or bevel are expediently chosen so that in the tool design and the determination of the dimensions of the subregions of the guide rail, the limits of the elastic deformability of considered material areas. The resulting Entformungskräfte are not essential to the invention.

According to a further embodiment, the guide projections each have on a side facing the carrier a spherical, i. substantially spherical or convexly outwardly curved guide surface, which merges at an obtuse angle in the associated guide web. The forced removal of the guide rail arrangement from the molding tool can also be realized by elastic deformation of the guide webs by means of a spherical guide surface.

According to a further embodiment, the guide webs in the region of the guide projections in each case upon application of a minimum force by the predetermined distance elastically inwardly or outwardly bendable, wherein the minimum force corresponds to a demoulding of the injection molded from the plastic guide rail or guide rail assembly from the mold force required. Appropriately, the required minimum force is greater than a maximum force corresponding to a maximum holding force of the driver on the guide rail when used as intended. Such a maximum holding force can be multiplied, for example by the mass of the driver multiplied by a maximum transverse acceleration as intended, i. Acceleration in the vehicle transverse direction to be specified. Thus, even without additional securing elements, which secure the driver on the guide rail, a sufficient peel strength of the driver realized on the guide rail.

According to a further embodiment, the aforementioned guide rail arrangement comprises a window lifter driver having abutment portions which are formed corresponding to the guide projections of the guide webs and cooperate therewith to guide the driver secured against removal perpendicular to the carrier. Preferably, the window lifter carrier is guided in the vehicle longitudinal direction substantially free of play and secured against tilting about the longitudinal axis of the guide rail.

According to a further embodiment securing means are respectively formed on the driver, which counteract a bending of the guide webs or prevent this, or lock. The securing means can permanently on the inside or outside of the Guide webs abut or can only come into contact with these when the guide webs are bent inwardly or outwardly, by a distance which is smaller than the aforementioned predetermined distance, which lead to a repeal of the aforementioned positive connection between the driver and the guide projections would. In this case, the securing means have sufficient rigidity, in particular in the vehicle longitudinal direction, to suppress the bending or further bending of the guide webs, or to block.

Conveniently, the driver has a central projection which projects into an inner side of the substantially U-shaped guide profile of the guide rail.

The central projection may be formed mushroom-shaped thickened to realize the aforementioned rear handle, in particular to realize a positive connection between the mushroom-shaped thickened portion of the driver and projecting into the inside of the guide rail guide projections of the guide webs. In such an embodiment, the securing means are arranged on an outer side of the guide webs, i. on a side opposite the guide projections of the guide webs.

According to a further embodiment, the securing means are formed as resilient webs which are angled at an acute angle and directed towards a base of the driver against the outer sides of the guide webs are inclined. As a result, an advantageously high inherent rigidity of the securing webs against an outward bending of the guide webs of the guide rail can be realized. Preferably, the mushroom-shaped thickening at the central portion of the driver projects further into the inside of the guide rail as the elastic securing webs protrude from the base of the driver. As a result, removal of the driver from the guide rail in the vehicle transverse direction can be virtually ruled out.

According to a further embodiment, the guide projections are provided on the outer side of the guide web, wherein protrude from the outer sides of the driver spring-elastic securing webs, whose front free ends are formed corresponding to the guide projections and abut against these. The driver is practically clamped against the guide webs of the guide rail, which is a Removal of the driver in the vehicle transverse direction reliably prevented by the guide rail. Appropriately, the contact surfaces are formed as concave webs

For reliable insertion of the driver in the aforementioned guide rail profile are provided on the side facing away from the carrier of the guide projections insertion bevels, which come when inserting the driver in the guide rail in contact with a central projection of the driver and / or with the securing means and so an elastic bending cause the guide webs of the guide rail or the securing means during insertion of the driver in the guide rail profile.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a guide rail assembly as described above by injection molding from a plastic. To form the guide rail, the molding tool comprises at least three displaceable mold tool parts which together form cavities for forming the planar support and for forming the guide webs with the guide projections formed integrally therewith. According to the invention, the mold part that predetermines the interior of the guide rail is wedge-shaped, so its edge surfaces run towards each other at an acute angle or apart. This wedge-shaped mold part is arranged to form the guide rail profile between two adjacent mold parts, which are expediently formed in one piece. According to the invention, these three displaceable mold parts are removed in the same direction during removal of the guide rail assembly from the mold. The molding tool according to the invention thus makes do without cross slides, which conventionally leads to an increased cycle time and thus to higher costs and risks. When removing the wedge-shaped mold part, this results in an elastic bending of the guide rail forming guide webs, as described above.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, which in principle can be claimed separately independently, but in particular for a guide rail arrangement, as described above, designed or suitable, according to the invention further provided for a motor vehicle window lifter, the at least one U-shaped Longitudinal recess and consists of a first material, suitably made of plastic and manufactured in a plastic injection molding process. According to the invention, the driver has at least one sliding insert which is formed from a second material which is different from the first material and which is held secured in the respective longitudinal recess of the basic body. In this case, the sliding insert has a guide groove which is formed at least partially corresponding to a guide web of the associated guide rail, so that the driver is slidably moved by positive engagement of the guide web in the guide groove in the longitudinal direction of the guide web and is secured against peeling perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The slider insert is thus formed as a separate component of a different material, so that according to the invention for a particularly suitable sliding pair for the opposite, i. for the associated guide bar, can be taken care of.

According to another preferred embodiment according to the invention a guide rail assembly is provided which comprises a driver, wherein in the driver a longitudinal recess is formed which extends parallel to the guide webs of the carrier, and wherein the support further protrudes from a locking web, which thus in the longitudinal recess engages to counteract a 'bending of the longitudinal recess forming surfaces of the driver and / or jumping out of the at least one sliding insert from the associated U-shaped longitudinal recess during removal of the driver perpendicular to a plane spanned by the carrier plane. The locking bar locked in this way the sliding insert used in each case in the driver.

At the same time, according to the invention, the assembly of a guide rail arrangement, which comprises a guide rail and a driver engaging in the same, can be simplified. Because conventionally, the drivers are threaded at the top or bottom of the guide rail in the guide rail profile and then moved to a position determining the mounting position of the window regulator. As with the aforementioned first aspect of the present invention, relating to the guide rail arrangement in which the driver can be pressed or clipped onto the guide rail with elastic deformation of the guide webs in the vehicle transverse direction, the driver according to the second aspect of the present invention can also be pressed or pressed open Clipping under force in the vehicle transverse direction to be assembled. In this case, the corresponding sliding insert is first placed or pushed onto the associated guide web, optionally with elastic deformation of side walls of the U-shaped sliding insert. Subsequently, the driver is pushed onto the slide insert or on the sliding inserts, so that the respective slide insert is received in the associated longitudinal recess of the driver and so a driver is formed, which is guided secured in the longitudinal direction of the guide web, but against a withdrawal perpendicular to Longitudinal direction, ie in the vehicle transverse direction, is secured to the guide web.

In contrast, according to a preferred alternative embodiment, the sliding inserts are first inserted into the driver, in particular clipped, so as to form a preassembled driver unit. This is then placed on the associated guide webs, that the driver is slidably guided on the respective guide web in the longitudinal direction and secured in a direction perpendicular thereto. Finally, the driver is moved into an area in which engages the locking web of the carrier in the longitudinal recess of the driver, that bending of the longitudinal recess forming surfaces of the driver and / or jumping out of the at least one sliding insert from the associated U-shaped longitudinal recess Removal of the driver is counteracted perpendicular to a plane spanned by the carrier plane, so that the sliding inserts are locked or secured in the driver.

In this case, the driver may comprise securing means to keep the slide insert secured in the respective longitudinal recess. Basically, such securing means can be realized by frictional, force or positive locking. Particularly preferably, the securing means are realized according to the invention by a positive connection. This can be realized by engaging formed on the driver or the sliding insert securing projections or securing recesses in correspondingly formed on the sliding insert or the driver securing recesses or securing projections.

According to a preferred embodiment, the securing means are realized as projecting longitudinal edges of the respective longitudinal recess of the driver. Thus, the sliding insert can be introduced by clipping the driver in this.

In a further embodiment, which has two mutually spaced sliding inserts, a central web may be formed between the sliding inserts, which has a central longitudinal recess, which allows an elastic bending of the longitudinal recesses limiting side walls of the driver during clipping of the sliding inserts. In this case, securing hooks may be formed on the central web, which hold the sliding inserts secured by positive engagement in the longitudinal recess.

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Querschnittsansicht den Eingriff eines Mitnehmers in eine Führungsschiene gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2

in einer schematischen Schnittansicht drei Formwerkzeugteile zum Spritzgiessen der Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

die Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß der Fig. 1 in einer ersten Phase des Entformens aus dem Formwerkzeug gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

die Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß der Fig. 1 in einer zweiten Phase des Entformens aus dem Formwerkzeug gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

in einer schematischen Querschnittsansicht den Eingriff eines Mitnehmers in eine Führungsschiene einer Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 6

in einer schematischen Schnittansicht die Herstellung einer Führungsschiene gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einem Formwerkzeug mit drei verschieblichen Formwerkzeugteilen;

Fig. 7

das Zusammenwirken eines Mitnehmers mit der Führungsschiene gemäß der Fig. 6 gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 8

einen Mitnehmer mit zwei, aus einem anderen Material bestehenden Gleitereinsätzen gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 9a

einen Mitnehmer gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Führungsschienenanordnung der vorliegenden Erfindung, welcher mit Hilfe eines an dem Träger vorgesehen Verriegelungsstegs an dem Träger gegen Abziehen senkrecht zum Träger gesichert gehalten ist;

Fig. 9b

in einer schematischen Teil-Draufsicht den Führungssteg der Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß der Fig. 9a;

Fig. 10a

in einem Teilschnitt und in Draufsicht das Zusammenwirken des Mitnehmers und des Verriegelungsstegs der Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß der Fig. 9a beim Aufsetzen des Mitnehmers auf die Führungsstege nahe deren Endbereich; und

Fig. 10b

in einem Teilschnitt und in Draufsicht das Zusammenwirken des Mitnehmers und des Verriegelungsstegs der Führungsschienenanordnung gemäß der Fig. 9a in einem bestimmungsgemäßen Arbeitsbereich des Mitnehmers.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, from which further features, advantages and objects to be achieved will result. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a schematic cross-sectional view of the engagement of a driver in a guide rail according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2

in a schematic sectional view of three mold parts for injection molding of the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 1 in a first phase of demolding from the mold according to the Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 1 in a second phase of the demoulding from the mold according to the Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 5

in a schematic cross-sectional view of the engagement of a driver in a guide rail of a guide rail assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6

in a schematic sectional view of the manufacture of a guide rail according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a mold with three displaceable mold parts;

Fig. 7

the interaction of a driver with the guide rail according to the Fig. 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8

a driver with two, made of a different material Gleitereinsätzen according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9a

a driver according to another embodiment of a guide rail assembly of the present invention, which is held secured by means of a locking web provided on the carrier to the carrier against removal perpendicular to the carrier;

Fig. 9b

in a schematic partial plan view of the guide web of the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 9a ;

Fig. 10a

in a partial section and in plan view, the interaction of the driver and the locking web of the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 9a when placing the driver on the guide webs near the end region; and

Fig. 10b

in a partial section and in plan view, the interaction of the driver and the locking web of the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 9a in a designated working area of the driver.

In the figures, identical reference numerals designate identical or substantially equivalent elements or groups of elements.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

According to the Fig. 1 protrude from the support plate 1, which is formed substantially flat and from the sake of simplification, only a projecting portion is shown on which the guide rail is formed, two guide webs 4 substantially perpendicular, which together form a substantially U-shaped rail profile. According to the Fig. 1 protrude from the inner sides of the guide webs 4 triangular guide projections 5 in the interior 3 of the rail profile. The guide projections 5 each have a slope 7 facing the bottom 2 of the rail profile and an insertion slope 6 facing away from the bottom 2. In the thus formed rail profile engages a central thickened portion 11 of the driver 10 a form-fitting manner. More specifically, the acute angle at which an imaginary extension line of the slope 7 intersects the plane defined by the support plate 1 in the region of the guide rail corresponds to the angle at which the rear slopes 15 intersect the side walls 12 of the central portion 11. According to the Fig. 1 are the front ends of the guide webs 4 at the base of the driver 10, so that the driver 10 due to the positive connection in total on the thus formed guide rail in the Guided longitudinally displaceable and in a direction perpendicular thereto, ie in the vehicle transverse direction y, is secured against removal from the rail profile.

As follows from the Figures 2-4 is described, the guide webs 4 can be bent elastically outward, in the region of the guide projections 5 at least by a distance corresponding to the distance by which the guide projections 5 protrude from the inside of the guide webs 4, ie substantially at least the height of the Tip of the triangular guide projection 5 with respect to the inside of the guide web 4. Thus, the driver 10 can be pressed or clipped into the rail profile formed by the guide webs 4. For this purpose, two bevels 14 are formed on the upper end face of the central, thickened portion 11, which finally come into contact with the insertion bevels 6 when the driver 10 is pressed on and subsequently cause the guide webs 4 to widen when the driver 10 is pressed further onto the rail profile Finally, until the central thickened portion 11 slides past at its widest point on the acute, triangular guide projections 5 and slides into the interior 3 of the rail profile. Upon further pushing the driver 10, the guide webs 4 finally return to the in the Fig. 1 shown starting position back, in which they are biased.

According to the Fig. 1 the carrier 10 further comprises two wing-like edge webs 16, 17 forming in cross-section with the base of the driver 10 almost a closed equilateral triangle, wherein the front free ends 17 are inclined at an acute angle to the base of the driver 19 and a slight Distance to the outside of the guide webs 4 are arranged or according to a further embodiment (not shown) permanently abut the outside of the guide webs 4. The webs 16, 17 serve as securing elements in order to additionally secure the driver against removal from the guide rail in the vehicle transverse direction y. According to the Fig. 1 the inclined edge web 17 is further spaced from the bottom 2 of the guide rail than the widest point of the central thickened portion 11. When removing the driver 10 of the guide rail, the guide webs 4 are pressed outwardly due to the interaction of the rear slopes 15 with the bevels 7. However, this evasive movement of the guide webs 4 is at least inhibited or even prevented by the securing webs 16, 17, which is due to the elastic properties of the securing webs 16, 17 and their geometric design depends. It should be emphasized that the additional securing webs 16, 17 are not absolutely necessary.

In the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 behind the rear bevels 15 of the driver 10, the guide projections 5 of the guide webs 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle at which the bevels 7 are inclined to the bottom 2, about 45 degrees. This acute angle can be varied within wide limits and can even be relatively small, but should not be vanishing to allow removal of the rail profile from the mold.

The following is based on the FIGS. 2 to 4 a method for injection molding the carrier plate with the guide rail according to Fig. 1 described. The Fig. 2 shows three adjacent mold parts 30-32, which together define the support plate in the region of the guide rail. In this case, the mold part 32 is wedge-shaped, ie the edge surfaces of the mold part 32 run towards each other at a comparatively small acute angle. According to the Fig. 2 are recesses 34, 35 formed in the edge surfaces of the wedge-shaped mold part 32, which predetermine the guide projections and guide webs of the later rail profile. Together, the mold parts 30-32 form a central cavity 33 which is bounded by a counter-mold, not shown, so as to specify the shape of the support plate. The mold parts 30-32 are displaceable for removal of the workpiece in the arrow direction, wherein the areas 30, 31 are advantageously formed in one piece, so that the slider 32 forms the second tool part. The third tool part is formed by the counter-mold, not shown, which forms the cavity to be filled with the other tool parts.

To produce the carrier plate with the guide rail, the procedure is as follows: first, the mold according to the Fig. 2 trained and introduced the counterpart, not shown. Subsequently, the injection molding of the carrier plate with the integrally formed thereon guide rail. Subsequently, the two lateral mold parts 30 and 31 are first removed in the direction of arrow for removal. This process is schematic in the Fig. 3 shown, which is a perspective greatly exaggerated representation. In this state, the wedge-shaped mold part 32 continues to engage the guide rail.

In a final step, as in the Fig. 4 shown, the wedge-shaped mold member 32 is now lifted in the same direction. In the Fig. 4 recognizes the formed in the edge surfaces 37 triangular notches 38, which predetermine the guide projections 5 on the inner sides of the guide webs 4. When removing the wedge-shaped mold part 32, the guide webs 4 are bent elastically outward, so that the tips of the guide projections 5 lead to the edge surfaces 37 until the guide webs 4 finally due to their elastic properties in the in the Fig. 4 return home position shown.

The Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment in which the driver 10 can not be removed without destruction of the guide rail. For this purpose, the driver 10 is substantially C-shaped, with two edge webs 19 which extend perpendicular to the base of the driver 10. According to the Fig. 5 protrude from the inner sides of the edge webs 19 from two acting as securing elements projections, which may permanently abut the outer sides of the guide webs 4, but may also be arranged at a small distance to this, which is smaller than the aforementioned predetermined distance. According to the Fig. 5 the guide projections 5 on its inside a slope 7, which cooperate with the central thickened portion 11 of the driver 10. According to the Fig. 5 the securing projections 20 and the widest portions of the central thickened portion 11 are arranged at the same distance from the bottom 2 of the rail profile. To subtract the driver 10 from the rail profile in the vehicle transverse direction y, not only the guide webs 4 must be bent outward, but at the same time the edge webs 19. Thus, a high peel strength of the driver 10 can be achieved. Appropriately, such a driver is mounted by threading at one of the ends of a guide rail.

Like from the Fig. 5 can be seen extending the backs 18 of the central thickened portion 11 at a right angle to the side surfaces 12. Basically, however, at this point, an inclined surfaces may be provided, as in the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 ,

Based on FIGS. 6 and 7 In the following, a third embodiment will be described. According to the Fig. 7 protrude the triangular guide projections 5 of the Outside of the guide webs 4 from. To produce such a rail profile serve three mold parts 30-32, as this example in the Fig. 6 are shown. According to the Fig. 6 are the cavities, which define the guide webs 4 and the guide projections 5, formed in the edge surfaces of the mold part 30, 31. The middle mold part 32 is wedge-shaped, ie, its side surfaces converge toward each other at a comparatively small acute angle, as described above with reference to FIG Fig. 2 described.

To remove such a guide rail, the procedure is as follows: First, the wedge-shaped mold part 32 is pulled off in the illustrated wedge direction, so that the inner sides of the guide webs 4 are exposed. Subsequently, the removal of the adjacent mold parts 30, 31 takes place in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows. In this case slide the insertion bevels 7 of the guide projections 5 at the constricted portions of the mold parts 30, 31, which leads to an elastic bending of the guide webs 4 inwardly directed. Finally, the guide webs 4 return to their relaxed starting position 4 according to the Fig. 7 back.

To further secure the driver 10 on the rail profile are laterally provided on the driver 10 edge webs 19, 17, wherein the edge webs 19 extend substantially perpendicular to the base of the driver 10 and the securing webs 17 are directed at an acute angle to the guide projections 5 out , According to the Fig. 7 To secure the driver 10 on the rail profile is in each case formed on the front free ends of the securing ribs 17 securing portion 21 directly to the opposite, the bottom 2 of the rail profile facing surface of the guide projection 5 on. These surfaces may be bevelled, as described above with reference to Fig. 1 described. In the embodiment according to the Fig. 7 these side surfaces 9 are formed crowned and formed corresponding thereto formed securing portions 21 concave. According to the Fig. 7 the convex securing portion 9 is at an obtuse angle, ie an angle greater than 90 degrees in the outer surface of the securing web 4 over. Overall, the driver 10 is secured to the rail profile by clamping against pulling in the vehicle transverse direction y.

The Fig. 8 shows a driver for motor vehicle windows according to another aspect of the following invention, which is suitable for a guide rail assembly, as described above, but in principle is also suitable for any other rail profiles, including those that are not made of plastic. The guide rail has in the embodiment according to the Fig. 8 two mutually spaced guide webs 4, according to the first embodiment of the Fig. 1 are formed. In principle, however, a single guide bar 4 is sufficient for guiding the driver, protrude from the example, two guide projections 5 in opposite directions. According to the Fig. 8 consists of the driver 10 of two different materials, namely a base body 10, which is preferably made of a plastic, in particular injection molded plastic, in which U-shaped longitudinal recesses are formed, in which U-shaped slide inserts 27 are securely received, consisting of a different material. This other material is particularly suitable for a particularly suitable sliding pair to the material of the guide webs 4, in particular may be a metal or a metal insert, also in the form of a sintered body, but may in principle also consist of another plastic. According to the Fig. 8 engage the slide inserts 27 positively in the U-shaped longitudinal recesses of the driver 10 a. Edges 24, 25 on the inside of the driver 10 engage behind edges at the upper end of the slide inserts 27 in order to secure the slide inserts 27 in the longitudinal recesses.

For mounting such a guide rail arrangement, the procedure is as follows: first, a guide rail is provided, for example, with two spaced guide webs 4, as in the Fig. 8 shown. Subsequently, the slider inserts 27 are pushed onto the front, free ends of the guide webs 4. The side bars of the U-shaped Gleitereisätze 27 must be expanded elastically, which succeeds due to the design of the inner sides of the side edges and the guide projection 5. Subsequently, the driver 10 in the Fig. 8 slid onto the guide rail with the slider inserts 27 placed thereon from above, until the lower ends of the slide inserts 27 bear on the edges 24, 25 or insertion bevels formed on these edges, resulting in an elastic widening of the webs of the driver 10 forming the longitudinal recess leads. According to the Fig. 8 For example, the central portion of the follower 10 has a U-shaped longitudinal recess 26 such that the inner side walls of the follower 10 can be bent elastically inwardly. At the Finally slide the slider inserts 27 completely into the longitudinal recess of the driver into it, then finally the edges 24, 25 snap back and engage behind the front ends of the slide inserts 27, so the driver 10 against peeling in the vehicle transverse direction, ie in the Fig. 8 in the vertical direction, secure.

The Fig. 9a shows a variant of the guide rail assembly according to the Fig. 8 , Deviating from Fig. 8 rises from the base 2 of the module carrier a locking web 260 which engages in the working region of the driver in the U-shaped longitudinal recess or recess 26 of the driver 10. The sliding inserts 27 are clipped into the driver 10, under elastic deformation or bending of the longitudinal recess 26 delimiting locking hook 25. In the work area of the driver engages the locking bar 260 in such a way in the longitudinal recess 26 that a bending of the safety hooks 25 to each other during removal of the Driver 10 perpendicular to the base 2 of the module carrier away. As a result, a jumping out of the sliding inserts 27 is effectively prevented from the longitudinal recesses of the driver 10 and the driver 10 is secured to the guide webs 4.

In order to mount the illustrated driver on the guide webs 4 of a provided with the locking bar 260 carrier 1, the locking web 260 according to the Fig. 9b on at least one end portion a narrowed portion or cutout 261 on. To mount the driver can first of all the positive connection between the driver 10 and the projections 5 of the guide webs 4 by simply clipping the driver 10 with the slider inserts 27 inserted therein in the region of the narrowed portion 261 are prepared. When moving the driver 10 in the working area, it then comes to the engagement of the locking bar 260 in the recess 26 of the driver, as described above, so that large forces acting perpendicular to the module carrier withdrawal forces can be transmitted. For this, the width of the locking web 260 in the working or adjustment range of the driver 10 substantially corresponds to the width of the longitudinal recess 26 of the driver 10.

If the geometry of the module carrier allows a sliding of the driver in the adjustment direction of the driver 10, can on the aforementioned narrowed section or Free cut 261 be waived. The advantage of the locking bar 260 is thus that an unintentional bending of the securing hook 25 and thus a Ausknöpfen the projections 5 from the slider insert 27 can be safely avoided. Of course, it is necessary for this that the outer regions of the driver or the main body of the driver are designed as such sufficiently rigid.

• Bei einer Ftlhrungsschienenanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4 können die Führungsstege 4 im Bereich der Führungsvorsprünge 5 jeweils bei Einwirken einer Mindestkraft um die vorbestimmte Distanz elastisch einwärts oder auswärts biegbar sein, welche Mindestkraft einer Kraft entspricht, die zum Entformen der aus einem Kunststoff spritzgegossenen Führungsschiene aus einem Formwerkzeug erforderlich ist;
• bei einer Führungsschienenanordnung nach Anspruch 8 können vordere, freie Enden 17 der federelastischen Stege unter einem spitzen Winkel und zu einer Basis des Mitnehmers 10 gerichtet gegen die Aussenseiten der Führungsstege 4 geneigt sein;
• bei einer solchen Führungsschienenanordnung können die pilzförmige Verdickung des zentralen Vorsprungs 11 und die geneigten vorderen freien Enden 17 der federelastischen Stege unter unterschiedlichen Abständen zu der Basis des Mitnehmers 10 bzw. zum Träger 2 angeordnet sein;
• bei einer solchen Führungsschienenanordnung können die Vorsprünge 5 auf den Aussenseiten der Führungsstege 4 vorgesehen sein und können an dem vorderen freien Ende 3 der federelastischen Stege Anlageflächen 21 vorgesehen sein, die korrespondierend zu den Führungsvorsprüngen 5 ausgebildet sind;
• bei einer solchen Führungsschienenanordnung können die Anlageflächen 21 als konkave, gewölbte Stege ausgebildet sein;
• bei einer Führungsschienenonordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9 kann der Träger als flächige Trägerplatte 2 ausgebildet sein, mit der eine oder zwei Führungsschienen 4 einstückig ausgebildet sind, zur Vormontage von Türmodul-Bauteilen an der Trägerplatte;
• bei einer Führungsschienenanordnung nach Anspruch 15 kann nahe wenigstens einem Endbereich der Führungsstege 4 des Trägers 2 an dem Verriegelungssteg 260 ein verschmälerter Abschnitt 261 und/oder Freischnitt vorgesehen sein;
• bei einem Verfahren zur Montage einer Führungsschienenanordnung nach Anspruch 17 kann die vormontierte Mitnehmer-Einheit nahe einem Endbereich der Führungsstege 4 des Trägers 29 auf diese aufgesetzt werden, wobei nahe dem Endbereich der Führungsstege 4 an dem Verregelungssteg 260 ein verschmälerter Abschnitt 261 und/oder Freischnitt vorgesehen sein kann.

Further embodiments of the invention are summarized below:

• In a guide rail arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, the guide webs 4 in the region of the guide projections 5 can each be elastically inwardly or outwardly bendable upon application of a minimum force by the predetermined distance, which minimum force corresponds to a force required for demoulding the injection molded from a plastic guide rail is required from a mold;
• in a guide rail assembly according to claim 8, front, free ends 17 of the resilient webs directed at an acute angle and to a base of the driver 10 may be inclined against the outer sides of the guide webs 4;
• in such a guide rail arrangement, the mushroom-shaped thickening of the central projection 11 and the inclined front free ends 17 of the resilient webs may be arranged at different distances to the base of the driver 10 and to the carrier 2;
• in such a guide rail arrangement, the projections 5 may be provided on the outer sides of the guide webs 4 and may be provided at the front free end 3 of the resilient webs contact surfaces 21 which are formed corresponding to the guide projections 5;
• in such a guide rail arrangement, the contact surfaces 21 may be formed as concave, curved webs;
• in a guide rail arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, the carrier may be formed as a flat support plate 2, with one or two guide rails 4 are integrally formed, for pre-assembly of door module components to the support plate;
• in a guide rail arrangement according to claim 15, a narrowed portion 261 and / or free cut can be provided near at least one end region of the guide webs 4 of the carrier 2 on the locking web 260;
• In a method for assembling a guide rail assembly according to claim 17, the preassembled driver unit can be placed near an end region of the guide webs 4 of the carrier 29, wherein near the end region of the guide webs 4 on the Regulating web 260 a narrowed portion 261 and / or free cut can be provided.

As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate upon reading the foregoing description, the features of the embodiments described above may be combined with one another in any manner other than those described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

support plate

2

Bottom of the guide rail

3

Inside of the guide rail

4

guide web

5

guide projection

6

chamfer

7

slope

8th

Front side of the guide bar 4

9

Rounded system / guide section

10

takeaway

11

Central thickened section

12

narrowing

13

Face of the central thickened portion 11th

14

Front slant

15

Rear slope

16

Inclined edge bar

17

securing web

18

edge

19

edge web

20

fuse element

21

Rounded security section

22

stiffening rib

23

slope

24

Front end

25

safety hook

26

recess

260

Verricgclungssteg

261

Free cut / narrowed end of the locking bar 260

27

gliders use

28

Inner thigh

29

Outer thigh

30

First mold half

31

Second mold half

32

Wedge insert of the molding tool

33

Central cavity

34

cavity

35

narrowing

36

Side surface of the first mold half

37

Side surface of the wedge insert 32

38

notch

Claims (18)

1. A guide rail assembly for motor vehicle window lifters, which is formed of a plastic material, comprising a flat carrier (2) and at least one guide rail for guidance of a window lifter driving element (10), wherein the guide rail has two guide webs (4) spaced apart from each other and protruding from the carrier (2) and wherein guide protrusions (5) are formed on the guide webs (4), each of which extending over the entire guidance length of the guide webs and protruding by a predetermined distance inwards or outwards from the respective guide web such that the driving element (10) cooperating with the guide webs is securely guided against detachment perpendicular to the carrier (2),
   characterized in that the guide webs (4) are designed such that in the region of the guide protrusions (5) said guide webs (4) are each elastically bendable inwards or outwards by at least the predetermined distance.
2. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions (5) each have a guide surface (7) facing towards the carrier (2), a notional extension of which includes a first acute angle with a line perpendicular to the carrier (2), and a bevel (6) facing away from the carrier (2), a notional extension of which includes a second acute angle with the line perpendicular to the carrier (2).
3. The guide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first acute angle is smaller than the second acute angle.
4. The guide rail assembly according to claim 1, in which the guide protrusions (5) each have, on a side facing the carrier (2), a convex guide surface (9) which merges into the guide web (4) at an obtuse angle.
5. The guide rail assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a window lifter driving element (10) for connecting a window pane to the window lifter, wherein the driving element (10) has contact sections (15; 21), which are formed in correspondence to the guide protrusions (5) and cooperate therewith in order to guide the driving element securely perpendicular to the carrier (2) to prevent detachment.
6. The guide rail assembly according to claim 5, wherein securing means (16, 17; 20; 17, 21), which counteract or prevent bending of the guide webs (4), are respectively formed on the driving element (10).
7. The guide rail assembly according to claim 6, wherein the driving element (10) has a central protrusion (11), which protrudes into an inner space (3) of the guide rail and is guided there in the guide rail's longitudinal direction, wherein the securing means are disposed on an outside of the guide webs (4) and wherein the securing means (16, 17; 20; 17, 21) are permanently in contact on the outside of the guide web (4).
8. The guide rail assembly according to claim 7, wherein the central protrusion (11) is thickened in a mushroom shape in the inner space (3) of the guide rail and engages with a positive fit in the guide protrusions (5) formed on the insides of the guide webs (4), wherein the securing means are resilient webs (16, 17), which rest on the outside of the guide webs.
9. The guide rail assembly according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein an introductory bevel (6) is provided on the side of the guide protrusions (5) facing away from the carrier (2), said bevel coming into contact with a central protrusion (11) of the driving element and/or with the securing means (16, 17; 20; 17, 21) on introduction of the driving element (10) into the guide rail to thereby cause an elastic bending of the guide webs (4) of the guide rail or of the securing means.
10. A method for the production of a guide rail assembly according to any of the preceding claims by means of injection moulding from a plastic material, comprising the steps of:

    providing a moulding tool having at least three movable moulding tool parts (30-32), which together form a first cavity (33) for formation of the flat carrier (2) and two second cavities (34, 35) for formation of the guide webs (4) and guide protrusions (5);

    injection moulding of the guide rail assembly from the plastic material within the moulding tool;

    and removing the guide rail assembly from the moulding tool; during which process one moulding tool part (32) defining the interior (3) of the guide rail is wedge-shaped and is disposed between two adjacent moulding tool parts (30, 31) and all of the at least three movable moulding tool parts are withdrawn in the same direction on removal.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein on demoulding at first the two adjacent moulding tool parts (30, 31) are withdrawn and subsequently the wedge-shaped moulding tool part (32) with elastic bending of the guide webs (4) is withdrawn or wherein during demoulding at first the two adjacent moulding tool parts (32, 30) arc withdrawn and subsequently the wedge-shaped moulding tool part (31) is withdrawn with elastic bending of the guide webs (4).
12. A driving element for motor vehicle window lifters for a guide rail assembly according to any of claims 1 to 9, which driving element is designed to be movably guided in the longitudinal direction of a guide rail of the window lifter and to be secured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, said driving element comprising a body (10), which has at least one U-shaped longitudinal recess and is made of a first material, and at least one sliding insert (27) formed from a second material that is different from the first material, which is held securely in the relevant longitudinal recess, wherein the sliding insert has a guide groove, which is formed at least in sections correspondingly to a guide web (4) of the guide rail.
13. The driving element according to claim 12, further comprising securing means (24, 25) for securely holding each sliding insert (27) in the relevant longitudinal recess, wherein the securing means are protruding longitudinal edges of the longitudinal recess, and/or wherein the respective longitudinal recess is U-shapcd and the respective sliding insert (27) is clipped into the longitudinal recess.
14. The driving element according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the driving element (10) has two sliding inserts (27) spaced apart from each other and wherein between the sliding inserts (27) there is formed a central web having securing hooks on its front, free end in which a central longitudinal cut-out (26) is formed.
15. A guide rail assembly for motor vehicle window lifters according to any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a driving element according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein a longitudinal recess (26) is formed in the driving element (10) and wherein furthermore a locking web (260) protrudes from the carrier (2), which engages in the longitudinal recess (26) in such a manner as to counteract bending of surfaces of the driving element (10) which form the longitudinal recess (26) and/or popping out of the at least one sliding insert (27) from the associated U-shaped longitudinal recess on detachment of the driving element perpendicular to a plane defined by the carrier (2).
16. A method for the assembly of a guide rail assembly for motor vehicle window lifters according to any of claims I to 9 or 15, comprising a flat carrier (1), at least one guide web (4) protruding therefrom and a driving element (10) according to any of claims 12 to 14, which is guided movably on at least one guide web in the longitudinal direction thereof and is secured against detachment perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, said method comprising the steps of:

    placing of each sliding insert (27) on the associated guide web (4) such that the guide groove formed therein cooperates at least in sections in the manner of a positive fit;

    placing of the body (10) of the driving element on at least one guide web (4) such that the relevant sliding insert is accommodated in the associated longitudinal recess of the body (10); and

    securing of the relevant sliding insert (27) on the body such that the driving element is movably guided on each guide web in the longitudinal direction thereof and is secured in a direction perpendicular thereto.
17. A method for the assembly of a guide rail assembly, in particular according to claim 15, comprising a flat carrier (1), at least one guide web (4) protruding therefrom and a driving element (10) according to any of claims 12 to 14, which is guided movably on at least one guide web in the longitudinal direction thereof and is secured against detachment perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, said method comprising the steps of:

    inserting the respective sliding insert (27) in the associated U-shaped longitudinal recess of the driving element (10) in order to form a pre-assembled driving element unit consisting of the driving element (10) and of at least one sliding insert (27);

    placing the pre-assembled driving element unit on the associated guide webs (4) in such a manner that the driving element is movably guided on the respective guide web in the longitudinal direction thereof and is secured in a direction perpendicular thereto; and

    sliding the driving element (10) into a region, in which the locking web (260) of the carrier (2) engages in the longitudinal recess (26) of the driving element (10) in such a manner as to counteract bending of surfaces of the driving element (10) forming the longitudinal recess (26) and/or popping of the at least one sliding insert (27) out of the associated U-shaped longitudinal recess on detachment of the driving element perpendicular to a plane defined by the carrier (2).
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein on placing the body (10) each sliding insert (27) is clipped into the associated longitudinal recess.

Images