Abstract:
A carrier for connecting a window pane to a window lifter including retaining arms which are located to each side of the lower edge of the window pane. At least one of these retaining arms has a recess in which a window bolt can engage to connect the window pane to the carrier. At least the upper part of at least one retaining arm is resilient. One retaining arm has a retaining area formed as a horizontal oblong guide and the other retaining arm has a fixing area which is resiliently attached to the carrier for horizontally urging the window bolt as the bolt moves with respect to the carrier within the horizontal guide.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a carrier for connecting a window pane to a window lifter comprising retaining arms which are located to both sides of the lower edge of the window pane. At least one of these retaining arms has a recess in which a window bolt can engage in order to lock the window pane. At least the upper part of at least one retaining arm is formed spring elastic and has a guide-in area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     From DE 4423 440 A1 a carrier is known for fixing a window pane of a motor vehicle onto the guide rails of a window lifter. This carrier comprises retaining arms which are mounted on each side of the lower area of the window pane. At least one of these retaining arms has a recess in which a connecting element can engage in order to lock the window pane. At least an upper part of at least one retaining arm is formed spring elastic and supports a guide bevel directed towards the lower edge of the pane. 
     The connecting element for locking the window pane is already connected to the window pane prior to assembly. As connecting elements are used bolts mounted in full-length holes of the pane, elements stuck onto the panes or elements shaped out of the pane. 
     For assembly the connecting element is inserted into the gap between the retaining arms and engages there in the recesses. The position of the window pane is thereby fixed in this way. 
     In order to be able to compensate for tolerances in the parallel position of the guide rails or to undertake adjustments, in one embodiment the recesses are formed as horizontally aligned oblong hole guides. Thus the one connecting element can be fixedly mounted in the carrier and the other connecting element can be mounted in this oblong hole guide (loose bearing/fixed bearing system). 
     Despite these measures the device is not in a position to compensate for the tolerances which can occur between the window pane and the seal during movement of the window pane. The reason for this is that the window pane is fixed by the fixed bearing in its position relative to the vehicle door, that is to the guide of the pane in the vehicle door. In the event of unfavourable tolerance positions there can result high friction forces in the guides or in the seals of the window pane in the vehicle door. 
     The carrier device further has the drawback that during manufacture of vehicle doors a special carrier of the correct type has to be provided for each angular position between the travel direction of the carrier and the lower edge of the window pane. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to develop a carrier which can be used for different angular positions between the travel direction of the carrier and the lower edge of the window pane and/or is in a position to compensate the position of the window pane in the travel direction (x-direction). 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, this is achieved through a retaining area designed as a horizontal oblong hole guide which is associated with one of the retaining arms, while a fastening area mounted horizontally resilient is associated with the other retaining arm. 
     This solution has the advantage that it is possible to compensate the tolerances both with regard to the parallel alignment of the two guide rails and the parallel alignment between the pane guide on the B-pillar and the guide rail associated with same. 
     Since one carrier combines both the function of guiding in the vertical direction (z-direction) and the function of resilience in the horizontal direction (x-direction) the structural design of fixing the pane is the same on both carriers of twin-cable window lifters. Thus the carriers can be constructed structurally identical and it is possible to use these also for a single-strand window lifter. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a contour is formed in the region of the lower edge of the window pane whose cross-section is formed as a segment of a circle wherein the height of the circle segment is fixed in dependence on the angular positions to be covered between the carrier and the window pane edge and the contour rests on a support surface arranged on the carrier and wherein the width of the support surface is measured so that the support point with maximum tolerance deviations in the horizontal direction still rests on this support surface. 
     This embodiment is suitable for different angular positions of the carrier relative to the window pane. At the same time there is also the possibility of compensating for movement at right angles to the travel direction of the window pane or to the direction of force introduced into the window pane. Thus it is possible to make a universal carrier which is suitable for a variety of uses. 
     A further advantage is that no component of movement of the operating force appears parallel to the lower edge of the window pane (in the plane of the window). 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the present invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the specification, claims, and drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the carrier according to the invention for compensating tolerances in the x-direction with a window pane and window bolt. 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 1 with a separate view of the retaining arms. 
     FIG. 3 a  shows the position of the window pane relative to the seal of a vehicle door prior to installation of the carrier. 
     FIG. 3 b  shows the window pane connected to the carrier during installation of the carrier. 
     FIG. 3 c  shows that when the window pane is moved upwards it is pressed by the inclined sealing section into the sealing section. 
     FIG. 4 a  shows the position of the window pane relative to the seal of the vehicle door prior to installation of the carrier. 
     FIG. 4 b  shows the window pane connected to the carrier during installation of the carrier, wherein the window pane contacts the seal when moving upwards. 
     FIG. 4 c  shows the window pane in its upward position during installation of the carrier. 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the carrier for compensating different positions of the window pane. 
     FIG. 6 shows a partial perspective view of the carrier according to FIG. 5 without the window pane and front retaining element. 
     FIG. 7 shows a front view of the carrier shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     FIG. 8 shows a view of a connecting part with cogs in the assembled state with the window pane. 
     FIG. 9 shows a view of the connecting part prior to assembly. 
     FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic view of the position of the carrier relative to the guide rails. 
     FIG. 11 shows the diagrammatic view of FIG. 10 having an alternate position of the carrier relative to the guide rails. 
     FIG. 12 shows the diagrammatic view of FIG. 10 where the position of the guide rails differ from each other. 
     FIG. 13 shows a view of a carrier with tolerance compensation in the x-direction and to compensate different positions relative to the window pane. 
     FIG. 14 shows an incomplete view of the carrier according to FIG. 13 without window pane and front retaining element. 
     FIG. 15 shows a front view of the carrier according to FIG.  13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiment according to FIG. 1 shows a carrier  2  which is provided with two retaining arms  21 ,  22 . The window pane  1  is held by its lower edge  11  in the gap  25  between the retaining arms  21 ,  22 . A window bolt  3  is inserted as a connecting element into the window pane  1  and is held by the retaining arms  21 ,  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the two retaining arms have in their upper part a guide bevel  23 ,  24  to guide the window bolt  3  into its installation position. Both the retaining arm  21  and the retaining arm  22  are formed symmetrical. However the two retaining arms  21 ,  22  differ significantly from each other with regard to their construction. 
     A component part of the retaining arm  21  is a fixing area with a bolt socket  26  which holds the window bolt  3 . The bolt socket  26  is resilient in the horizontal x-direction (i.e. in the travel direction). This is achieved by the bolt socket  26  having a V-shaped guide-in area wherein a spring elastic web  28 . 1  is formed between the v-shaped guide in area and the base body  29  of the carrier  2 . The shape of the bolt socket  26  is not restricted to the v-shape. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 to  15 , a bolt socket  26 ′ in the form of an “M” is also possible, wherein the guide-in area is thereby connected on each side through arms  28 . 2  to the base body  29 ′, wherein both the guide-in area and/or the side arms  28 . 2  are resilient. 
     The retaining arm  22  has a retaining area in the form of an oblong hole  27  extending in the x-direction (see FIG. 2) and holding the window bolt in its installation position. 
     On inserting the window pane  1 , the window bolt  3  passes through the guide-in bevels  23 ,  24  into the installation position. The oblong hole  27  of the retaining arm  22  allows displacement in the x-direction but can fully take up the force component acting in the vertical z-direction. The retaining arm  22  is therefore mounted directly on the side facing the guide rail so that the withdrawal forces can be safely transferred. 
     The bolt socket  26  of the retaining arm  21  is used to secure the position in the x-direction. Although the position of the window bolt  3  is thereby fixed, the spring action in the x-direction can reliably compensate the installation tolerances. 
     FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b , and  3   c  show using the present carrier for compensating tolerances during installation of the window pane  1 . FIG. 3 a  shows the position of the window pane  1  relative to the seal  4  of a vehicle door (not shown) prior to installation. The installation tolerances are fixed so that the window pane  1  is spaced from or just touches the sealing section  41  located on the B-pillar of the vehicle, so that the window pane  1  can be fitted free of tension. 
     FIG. 3 b  shows the window pane  1  connected to the carrier  2 . It can be seen that a distance ΔXx is present between the window pane  1  and the sealing section  4 . When the window pane is moved upwards, as shown in FIG. 3 c , it is pressed by the inclined sealing section  42  into the sealing section  41  and compensates any possible spacing which may exist there. 
     A different installation concept is shown in FIGS. 4 a  to  4   c . Here the window pane is installed under compression in relation to the sealing section  41  on the B-pillar (see here FIG. 4 b ) so that the window pane  1  when moving upwards always has contact with the sealing section  41  and glides in the direction of the sealing section  42  on the A-pillar. The tolerances for the compensation movement of the carrier must be selected so that the window pane glides into an end position in the direction of the A-pillar, showing essentially no compression of the seal portion  41  at the B-pillar (FIG. 4 c ). 
     In FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  an alternative carrier  5  is shown which can be used for a cable or tubular window lifter and offers the ability to be used for different positions relative to the lower edge  11  of the window pane. For clarity the yoke  53 . 1  at the front and the window pane  1  have been omitted from the view shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The carrier  5  comprises a carrier base body  54  which is provided with yokes  53 . 1 ,  53 .  2  which correspond to the retaining arms  21 ,  22  described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The yokes  53 . 1 ,  53 . 2  have a guide bevel  531  for guiding in a window bolt  62 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, connecting part  6  associated with the window pane  1  is fitted between the base body  54  of the carrier and the yokes  53 . 1 ,  53 . 2 . The connecting part  6  can be seen more clearly from FIG.  6 . The connecting part  6  comprises a base  61 , which is mounted against each side of the window pane  1 . Circular round window bolts  62  are formed on each side on the base  61 . The lower part of the base  61  supports a contour  63  which has the shape of a segment of a circle. 
     FIG. 7 shows the geometric conditions which are to be observed when designing the carrier  5 . The contour  63  rests in the support point A on a support surface  51  which is mounted on the base body  54  of the carrier. The width b of the support surface  51  must be dimensioned so that with maximum displacement of the support point A in the x-direction always rests on the support surface  51 . 
     It is necessary for the radius R 1  of the connecting part  6  and the radius R 2  of the contour  63  to have the same center M. The reason for this is that as a result of the functioning conditions the distance between the upper contact bearing point A 1  of the window bolt  62  on the yoke  53 . 1 ,  53 . 2  and the support point A on the support surface  51  must always be the same with each angular position between the carrier  5  and the window pane  1 . 
     Next to the support point A in the x-direction, clearances  52 . 1 ,  52 . 2  are provided to ensure that with different angular positions of the connecting part  6  relative to the support surface  51  the lower edge of the connecting part and/or the lower edge  11  of the window pane  1  do not sit on the base body  54  of the carrier. These clearances are produced by the areas adjoining the support surface having a falling contour  55 . 1 ,  55 . 2 . 
     The connecting part  6  is mounted free of play between the yokes  53 . 1 ,  53 . 2  of the carrier  5  and the support surface  51 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further preferred embodiment of the connecting part, wherein the connecting part  6 ′ is designed in two parts. The connection between the individual parts  6 . 1 ′,  6 . 2 ′ is made by positive locking elements. In this case there are rectangular cogs  7 . 1 ,  7 . 2 . The contour  63 ′ is shaped in the area of these rectangular cogs. The two individual parts  6 . 1 ′,  6 . 2 ′ are placed on each side of the window pane  1 . When bringing together the individual parts  6 . 1 ′,  6 . 2 ′ the rectangular cogs  7 . 1 ,  7 . 2  ensure that they are accurately positioned. Tolerances with regard to the thickness of the window pane  1  are compensated so that the adhesive surfaces can be contacted over the entire surface area. 
     FIGS. 10 to  12  show some installation positions of the carrier  5  according to the present invention. For clarity the carrier  5  is only shown diagrammatically. As can be seen from the drawings, the carrier  5  slides on the guide rails  8  which are shown in the drawings by dotted lines. FIGS. 10 and 11 show that the angle of the guide rail  8  relative to the carrier  5  can vary depending on the installation situation, without impairing the function of the carrier  5 . 
     In FIG. 12 a case is shown where the positions of the guide rails  8  differ from each other with regard to the proposed parallel alignment and/or with regard to the spacing from each other. It can be seen that a displacement of the support point A on the support surface  51  is possible by an amount a so that tolerances can be compensated in the x-direction. The extent of the possible displacement depends on the width of the support surface  51  and the geometry of the contour  63 . 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is apparent from FIGS. 13 to  15 . Here the features of the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 are combined with the features of the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 5 to  7 . The retaining arms  21 ′,  22 ′ are designed so that a bolt socket  26 ′ is located to a retaining arm  21 ′ as a horizontally resilient fastening area which secures a position of the window bolt  62 ′ in the x-direction but allows a movement of the window bolt  62 ′ or base body  61 ′ against the spring force of the bolt socket  26 ′. The yoke  53 . 2  secures the position of the window bolt  62 ′ in the z-direction. The other retaining arm  22 ′ is associated with a retaining area which is formed by the yoke  53 . 1 ′ and holds the window bolt  62 ′ in the z-direction. The contour  63 ′ thereby rests on the support surface  51 ′ as described with respect to the other embodiments of the present invention. This carrier is in a position both to allow a compensation in the x-direction and to produce different positions of the carrier relative to the window pane. 
     The present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. For example, the shape of the connecting part  6  is not bound to the shape illustrated and described. It is also possible to mach the contour  63  directly to the lower edge  11  of the window pane  1 , to work the contour  63  out from same or to stick on the contour  63 . The window bolt can then be mounted or likewise formed in a window pane hole in the window pane  1 . Further, the shape of the support surface  51  need not be formed as a flat surface and can be shaped trough-like.