US3174743A - Electric auto window safety device - Google Patents

Description

March 23, 1965 R. H. BOWERS 3,174,743

ELECTRIC AUTO WINDOW SAFETY DEVICE Filed Oct. 16, 1962 7 I INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,174,743 ELECTRIC AUTO WINDOW SAFETY DEVICE R. H. Bowers, 31171 Elmwood Ave., Garden City, Mich. Filed Oct. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 230,861 3 Claims. (Cl. 268-124) This invention relates generally to the operation of electrically controlled vehicle windows, and more specifically to a pressure sensitive switching device for preventing damage to the mechanism and damage from accidental finger entrapment.

The conventional electrically controlled vehicle window is a potential hazard where children are involved, and very unpleasant accidents can result from accidental finger entrapment during the closing of such windows. Further, other obstructions which may inadvertently prevent closure of the window can result in costly damage being caused to the mechanism which operates the window. My invention is directed towards the provision of a pressure sensing control mechanism which will automatically reverse the direction of movement of the window upon meeting an obstruction which creates resistance greater than a certain pre-fixed figure. I have accomplished the above improvement by providing a pressure plate which is located between the lower edge of the glass pane and its original channel. This pressure plate contains a switch mechanism which upon overload results in reversing the direction of movement of the window, thereby preventing damage to the equipment or to whatever is obstructing the free upward movement of the Window.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an electric window safety device which performs to protect the mechanism and the occupants of the vehicle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide certain new and useful improvements to a conventional electrically operated automobile window by aifording increased safety in operation.

A full understanding of the construction of this invention, together with further novel features and advantages, will be had from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a pressure plate shown partly in cross section, and also indicating diagrammatically the wiring circuit involved in this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the pressure plate constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how the pressure plate is mounted to the lower edge of a vehicle window pane.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 represents the pressure plate which is formed in channel section and has downwardly extending parallel skirts 6. Extending longitudinally along the top of the pressure plate is a raised channel section 7 which may be designed to receive the lower framing rib 8 of a conventional auto window 9, or may receive the lower edge of the glass pane directly. A base channel 10 is disposed in vertical sliding relationship inwardly of the two parallel skirts 6 of the pressure plate and has vertical sides 11 for such sliding engagement. The pressure plate and base channel are maintained in an overlapping relationship by means of four bolts 12 which loosely extend in a vertical manner through the pressure plate and base channel at each end thereof. Longitudinal movement between the pressure plate and the base channel is prevented by means of two posts 13 which are mounted on ice the underside of the pressure plate inwardly of each end and extend into vertical sleeves 14 which project in alignment with the posts and are secured on the inner side of the base channel 10. A coiled compression spring 15 surrounds the posts 13 and the sleeves 14 to restrain downward movement of the pressure plate relative to the base channel.

Mounted centrally of the base channel 10 is a double pole double throw push button locking switch 16 which has a vertically projecting actuating button 17. The actuating button may be mechanically depressed by downward movement of the pressure plate in response to an obstruction or may be actuated by a solenoid 18 which forms an integral part of the switch. The actuating button 17 is threaded as indicated at 19 so as to permit adjustment relative to the pressure plate 5, thereby permitting the sensitivity of the switch to be modified to compensate for the weight of the window and the tripping resistance desired.

The present invention is adapted for use in connection with conventional electrically operated vehicle window lifting mechanisms. Such mechanisms include a reversible electric motor (not shown) which pivots an arm .34 which carries a roller 24. The arm 34 extends through a slot in a tubular member 36 with the roller 24 being positioned within the tubular member 36. The member 36 is secured to the lower surface of the base channel When the motor is energized to pivot the arm 34 in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1, the roller 24 rolls along the upper surface 38 causing the window 9 to rise. Conversely, when the arm 34 is :pivoted in the counter-clockwise direction, the roller 24 rolls along the lower surface 40 causing thewindow 9 to be retracted.

A control switching system (not shown) is provided in the vehicle door for connecting the electric motor to power. The control switching system includes an up control switch and a down control switch. These switches are connected to power via leads 52, 54 indicated in circuit 27. Manual actuation of the up control switch causes the motor to rotate to raise the window and actuation of the down control switch causes the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to lower the window.

The electrical circuit may be best described in conjunction with the operation of the device. During upward movement of the Window, and upon meeting an obstruction the button 17 will be depressed and the double throw switch 16 will open the terminals 20 and thereby, via leads 42, 44, break the circuit to the up control switch which is connected in series therewith and indicated at 21. Simultaneously the terminals 22 will be closed and such closure will actuate the down control switch and circuit indicated at 23, the leads 46, 48 being connected across the down control switch. The direction of movement of the window is thus reversed by the overloading resulting from the obstruction. When the window is being raised or lowered by actuation of the roller 24, a normally open single pole single throw lever action switch 25 is momentarily closed. It will be noted that the switch 25 is conveniently mounted adjacent the end of the tube member 36 with plunger 50 extending into the path of the roller 24. Power entering at 26 will actuate the solenoid 18 via leads 56, 58, 60. When the roller 24 passes the switch 25 the solenoid power is cut off and the switch 16 is thus reloaded to its original position as indicated in FIG. 1. Thus when the window is retracted after being raised, the terminals 20 of switch 16 will be closed and the terminals 22 will be opened. This condition of switch 16 is necessary to permit subsequent raising of the window. In order to avoid window reversal during the final stages of window closure as a result of actuation of pressure plate 5, the roller 24 engages plunger 62 of a switch 28 which is a double pole single throw switch. The switch 28 is mounted at the end of tubular member 36 with the plunger 62 extending thereinto. This switch is thrown just before the window reaches the top of its travel and completes another circuit before the circuit including switch 16 is actuated to cause opening of the window. As will be appreciated from the drawing, depression of the plunger 62 of switch 28 closes normally open contacts 29 and opens normally closed contacts 3t). Leads 64, 66 extend from contacts 29 and-when contacts 29 are closed serve to maintain the up control switch circuit 21 closed after the contact 20 of switch 16 have been opened. Contacts 30 of switch 28 are in series with leads 46, 68. Thus, when contacts 22 of switch 16 are closed, the circuit 23 across the down control switch is still maintained open by the open contacts 30. An overload switch 31 may be incorporated in series with the 'control switch 27 as indicated in the drawing.

Having described the invention in a preferred form, it will be appreciated that some modifications may be made to the precise configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

I. A safety device for an electrically operated vehicle window having an up control device and a down control device, comprising a pressure switch having a set of normally closed contacts for connection in series with the up control device and a set of normally open contacts for connection across the down control device, switch actuating means responsive to pressure applied thereto to open the normally closed contacts and close the normally open contacts to activate the down control device and de-activate the up control device, and an electrical solenoid in the pressure switch operatively connected to the switch actuating means to reset the switch to its 4 normal position, and means to energize the electrical solenoid.

2. A safety device for an electrically operated vehicle window having an up control device and a down control device, comprising a double pole pressure switch having a set of normally closed contacts for connection in series with the up control device and a set of normally open contacts for connection across the down control device, means to mount the pressure switch on the lower edge of the vehicle window, said pressure switch including relatively movable members, resilient means biasing the relatively movable members apart, a switching member on the pressure switch operated by movement of the relatively movable members together to close the normally open contacts and open the normally closed contacts to activate the down control device and de-activate the up control device, and an electrical solenoid in the pressure switch operatively connected to the switching member to reset the switch to its normal position, and means to energize the electrical solenoid.

3. A device according to claim 1 and further characterized in the provision of a second switching device having a set of normally open contacts connected across the normally closed set of contacts of the pressure switch and a set of normally closed contacts connected in series with the normally open contacts of the pressure switch, switch actuating means in the second switch operative prior to window closure to close the normally open contacts of the second switch and open the normally closed contacts thereof to thus de-activate the pressure switch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,792,420 2/31 Forman ZOO-61.71 2,881,378 4/59 Russell 318283 2,911,212 11/59 Forster 268--125 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. A SAFETY DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VEHICLE WINDOW HAVING AN UP CONTROL DEVICE AND A DOWN CONTROL DEVICE, COMPRISING A PRESSURE SWITCH HAVING A SET OF NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACTS FOR CONNECTION IN SERIES WITH THE UP CONTROL DEVICE AND A SET OF NORMALLY OPEN CONTACTS FOR CONNECTION ACROSS THE DOWN CONTROL DEVICE, SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSURE APPLIED THERETO TO OPEN THE NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACTS AND CLOSE THE NORMALLY OPEN CONTACTS TO ACTIVATE THE DOWN CONTROL DEVICE AND DE-ACTIVE THE UP CONTROL DEVICE, AND AN ELECTRICAL SOLENOID IN THE PRESSURE SWITCH OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS TO RESET THE SWITCH TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, AND MEANS TO ENERGIZE THE ELECTRICAL SOLENOID.

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