DEVICE FOR ATTACHING AN UP- AND DOWNWARDLY MOVABLE WINDOW TO A REGULATOR MECHANISM

Abstract: Device for attaching an up- and downwardly movable window glass (1) to a regulator mechanism (2) particularly in conjunction with the windows of automotive vehicles, the device being suited for assembly with the aid of machines intended herefor. To this end there are arranged linearly displaceable locking elements (5, 6) which can be displaced linearly with the aid of a robot-carried tool. Linear displacement of the locking elements enables coupling devices (7) on the ends of the upper linkage arms of the regulator mechanism to be connected to connecting elements (3, 4) which are firmly connected to a window glass (1) at their upper ends.

Description: Device for attaching an up- and downwardly movable window to a regulator mechanism. The present invention relates to a device for attaching an up- and downwardly movable window to a regulator mechanism. The invention is particularly intended for application in conjunction with the doors of automotive vehicles . A number of devices intended for the above purpose and based on partially different construction principles are known to the art. In one known arrangement of this kind, bosses provided on the ends of the upper linkage arms of the regulator mechanism are inserted from one side into a channel located in a rail that carries the window glass and are held firmly in the channel by means of a washer and a locking spring, which are fitted onto the bosses from the other side. A construction of this kind is not suited for assembly with the aid of automated machines, such assembly progressively becoming an essential require¬ ment in present day industrial assembly procedures, in whioh the use of robotic machines is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in the automobile manufacturing industry. Other known constructions of the aforesaid kind a r also relatively difficult to assemble, dismantle, and re-assembl , and several of these constructions are also relatively complicated and therewith expensive to manufac¬ ture. A common feature of all previously known construc¬ tions of the aforesaid kind is that they are unsuitable for assembly with the aid of automated machines. The object of the present inv-r:'" ion is to provide a device for attaching a window to a regulator mechanism which is suitable ^or assembly with .he ; ■ >'"' of automated machines; whioh has but few comDoren par's; which can be readily assembled and dismantled; and the component parts of which pi n* structurally simple and therewith cheap to manufac¬ ture. It shall also be possible to manufacture these com¬ ponent parts from a lightweig hi and inexpensive material. This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with a device that has the characterizing features set forth in the following Claim 1. Since the locking elements need only execute a linear movement, the arrangement is well suited for assembly with the aid of automated machi¬ n s. Tn the embodiment set forth in Claim ?, lateral movement of the window glass in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is controlled by σuide strips mounted on the win¬ dow frame, and the coupling devices on the ends of the linka. e arms of the regulator mechanism are therefore slideably journalled in the connecting elements and the lcckin. elements. Tn the modification set forth in Claim 3, solely one of the coupling devices is mounted for rotation and lateral movement of the window . lass in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is determined fully by the movement of this coupling device. In this case, the regulator mechanism has a . p omptrioal form such that the aforesaid coupling device describes a substantially rectilinear uo-and-down move¬ ment. This variant of the invention is used in conjunction with window . lasses that have a construction such that when guide strips are used in the window frame there is a risk of the window glass becoming tilted in the frame and jamming during its vertical movement, sometimes known as the "tilted desk-draw jam ing pffect". In order to render the device still more suitable for automated assembly, the preferred embodiment set forth in E^_©ORia . , Claim 4 is constructed such that the connecting elements co-act at one end of their lower part with a first projec¬ tion on the locking elements in a manner to hold said ele¬ ments in a transport position. Thus, the window glass delivered from the manufacturers is already provided, upon delivery, with connecting elements, preferably glued to the window glass, and locking elements which are held in their transport position (i.e. the first position of the locking elements). Thus, the only procedure remaining is that of placing the window glass unit in the window frame and of bringing the coupling devices located on the ends of the linkage arms into abutment with the undersurfaces of the connecting elements, and of then displacing the locking elements linearly from their first to their second position. Claim 5 sets forth an advantageous embodiment of the coup¬ ling device provided on the end of the lever arm of the regulator mechanism. Because this coupling device has the form of a universally pivotable spherical body, those breaking stresses which are liable to occur when raising and lowering curved window glass are avoided. F r r features of the invention and advantages afforded thereby are made apparent in the following, detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fi_. 1 illustrates in side view a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, and shows the locking elements in their transport position; Fiεr. ? is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines II-II in Fi. . 1 ; Fig. 3 illustrates a connecting element and a locking ele¬ ment according to a second embodiment of the invention, and shows the locking element in its transport position: Fie. 4 illustrates the elements shown in Fig. 3 from behind, i.e. in the insertion direction of the locking element; Fig. 5 illustrates a connecting element and a locking ele¬ ment according to a third embodiment of the invention, in which the regulator mechanism solely incorporates one lin¬ kage arm; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the locking element illustra¬ ted in Figs. 5 and 6. Fies. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the device according to the invention for connecting the window glass 1 of a window assembly to a regulator mechanism 7, which is only partly shown in the figure and which, in the illu¬ strated embodiment, comprises a scissor-action linkage mechanism of known kind. The device according to the invention comprises solely two connecting elements 3, 4, two locking elements 5, 6, and two coupling devices, which in the preferred embodiment have the form of two spherical bodies 7, which are connected by means of studs to the upper arms of the scissor-action linkage mechanism. The connecting elements and the locking elements are made of a pliable, resilient material, preferably a plastics material, whereas the spherical bodies are made of a har¬ der material, preferably of the same material as the remainder of the regulator mechanism. BA© OHIO ' *^ Λl - As is shown in Fig. 1, the connecting elements 3, 4 are mutually identical, but face in mutually opposite direc¬ tions, so that the locking elements 5, 6 can be moved in unison to a closed position with the aid of a single tool placed centrally between the connecting elements 3, 4, as described more fully hereinafter. The connecting elements are provided on their upper parts with a U-shaped channel 8 in which the window glass 1 is fixed, preferably by means of a glue joint, and have extending along the bottom thereof, with the exception of the two ends of respective elements, an inwardly curved surface 9, the radius of cur¬ vature of which corresponds to the radius of curvature of the s herical body 7. The connecting elements have arran¬ ged on the ends thereof pairs of downwardly extending legs 10, 11 which are able to receive the locking elements 5, 6 therebetween. To this end, the legs have provided thereon lower, upwardly facing guide tracks 12 and upper, horizon¬ tal guide surfaces 13- In addition, the mutually facing ends of respective connecting elements incorporate down¬ wardly projecting locking legs 14 which are located on the outer extremities of said ends. The locking elements have the form of elongated elements having an inwardly curved groove 15 provided on the upper surfaces thereof, the curvature of said groove correspond¬ ing to the curvature of the spherical body 7. When seen in cross-section, the locking elements have a T-shaped confi¬ guration, and the arms of the T are terminated respective¬ ly i^h downwardly facing projections or ribs 16 which have a shape complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the guide track formed in the legs of the connecting ele¬ ments. When seen in the direction of displacement of the respec¬ tive locking elements, the leg pairs 10 of the connecting el n- n s have an extension such as to ensure that the locking elements will be guided accurately, through the agency of the inner surfaces of said leg pairs with asso¬ ciated guide track 12. It should be observed in this regard that because of the co-action of ribs 16 provided on the locking elements with the guide tracks 12 located in the leg pairs 10, the ribs will prevent the legs from being bent outwards laterally, thereby adding to the late¬ ral stability of the legs and therewith improving lateral guidance of the locking elements. In order to ensure still further that the locking elements will be introduced posi¬ tively into the leg pairs 11 when moving the locking ele¬ ments from the transport position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which position the forwardly located ends of the lock¬ ing elements (seen in the movement direction) are spaced from the mutually opposing ends of the connecting ele¬ ments, to the locking position, in which position the locking elements are located in both pairs of legs 10, 11 of the connecting elements, the said forwardly located ends of the locking elements are provided with bevelled or chamfered guide surfaces. It will be perceived that when assembling or fitting the various components with the aid of machines, an accurate guide facility which will prevent a respective locking element from deviating from its intended direction of movement, and thereby fail to enter the gap between the other leg pair 11, is a necessity. As will be seen from Fig. 2 , the downwardly extending part 17 of the locking element, said part corresponding to the central leg of the T presented by the locking element in cross-section, extends beyond the lower extremity of the leg pairs 10, 11 of the connecting elements. The down¬ wardly extending part 17 is provided in a vicinity thereon beneath the leg pair 10, 11 with three locking hooks 18, 19, 20 which co-operate with the locking legs 1. of the connecting elements. Thus, these locking legs extend beneath the leg pairs 10, 11. The first two hooks 18, 19 hold the locking elements in their transport position, i.e. the position in which the completed window-glass assembly, comprising window glass with connecting elements adhesively bonded thereto and locking elements inserted in a respective one pair of legs 10, is delivered from the window glass manufacturer. To this end, the hooks are spaced apart through a distance equal to the width of the locking leg 14. The forwardly located hook 18, as seen in the direction of linear displacement, is suitably provided with a latching surface which, subsequent to inserting the locking element in the connecting element will prevent it from being withdrawn therefrom. The positioning of the hooks 18, 19 in the longitudinal extension of the locking element is adapted primarily to the length of the working stroke of the tool with which the locking elements are displaced linearly. The rearwardly located ends of the locking elements, as seen in their movement direction, have provided thereon stop abutments 21 which in the locking position of the locking elements are located in abutment with the mutually opposing ends of the connecting elements. Simultaneously herewith, the locking legs 14 snap-in behind the locking hooks 20, the latching surfaces of which prevent rearward displacement of the locking element. In order to release this locking engagement it is necessary to manually bend the locking legs outwards while, at the same time, with¬ drawing the locking elements. The locking legs may be pro¬ vided with gripping devices (not shown) intended to faci¬ litate this outward bending of the locking legs, which legs are located on the same side as the locking hooks 20. As will be understood, the devices which hold the locking elements in their respective transport and locking posi¬ tions may have a different form to that described above. For instance, the locking hooks 18, 19, 20 of the afore- BA©ORIGINAL said locking elements may be replaced with two recesses or notches arranged to co-ac with a vertical locking rib provided on the legs 10. This solution obviates the requi¬ rement of separate locking legs 14. The type of devices described below with reference to the respective embodi¬ ments illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 and Figs 5-7 may also be employed with the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2. A regulator mechanism for raising and lowering a window glass assembly that comprises a window glass, connecting elements 3, 4 adhesively bonded thereto, and locking ele¬ ments 5, 6 located in their respective transport posi¬ tions, is fitted in the following manner. The window glass assembly is first inserted in the window frame, whereafter the coupling devices of the regulator mechanism are brought into abutment with the undersurfaces of the connecting elements. A robot-carried tool is first posi¬ tioned so that those parts cf the tool which act upon the locking elements are placed centrally between and in regi¬ ster with the locking elements, and then activated so as to move the locking elements linearly from their transport position to their locking position. This tool, which is preferably operated pneumatically or hydraulically, forms no part of the present invention. Notwithstanding this, however, the tool shall be capable of delivering a pushing force which is sufficiently large to overcome the force with which the locking hooks 18, 19 engage the one locking leg 14. This completes the fitting of the window glass assembly. Py reversing the locations of the connecting elements 3 and 4 illustrated in Fig. 1, there can be used a tool with which the parts thereof that act upon the locking elements 5, 6 can be placed on both sides of both locking elements and moved towards one another during a fitting movement of the tool, instead of a tool in which said parts move apart. It will also be understood that the coupling devices of the upper linkage arms of the regulator mechanism may have a form other than that of the spherical bodies 7, e.g. the form of rollers or prismatic bodies, with corresponding modifications to the bearing surfaces on the connecting and locking elements. If the window glass is curved, how¬ ever, the glass will move in an arcuate path when wound up and down, as seen from one side of the glass. In order to prevent the ensuing torque from resulting in the occurren¬ ce of breaking stresses in the joints between the window glass and the regulator mechanism, the bearing elements used in accordance with the invention are spherical bodies 1 . This enables the window glass to rotate about an axis which extends through the centres of the spherical bodies, thereby avoiding any damage to the bearing surfaces that might result in gaps or functional faults. The ends of the linkage arms of the aforedescribed embodi¬ ment of the regulator mechanism execute a circulatory movement as the window glass is wound up and down, and consequently the length of the bearing grooves or tracks for the spherical bodies 7 is, of course, adjusted to allow for lateral movement of said bodies. The window glass is guided laterally, in this case, with the aid of conventional guide channels fitted to the window frame. With some window constructions it may be difficult to laterally guide the window glass satisfactorily with the aid of guide channels, or strips, due to the tendency of the window glass to jam obliquely in said channels (analo¬ gous with the so-called "tilted, sticking draw effect"). In cases such as these one of the assemblies comprising a connecting element and a locking element of the first embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is substituted with another assembly comprising a connecting element 22 and a locking element 2? o the second embodiment illu- strated in Figs. 3 and 4. The connecting element 22 of the second embodiment differs from the connecting elements 3, 4 of the first embodiment mainly in that the upper bearing surface provided for the spherical body 7 between the leg pairs 24, 25 has a length such as to prevent the spherical body from moving laterally in relation to the connecting element. In addition hereto, the locking element 23 incor¬ porates only one locking hook 26, which co-acts partly with a through-passing recess 27 in the side surface of one of the legs in the leg pair 24 in a manner to hold the locking element in its transport position, and partly with the end surface of one of the legs in the leg pair 25, in a manner to hold the locking element in its locking posi¬ tion. Finally, the mutually opposing surfaces of the leg pairs 24, 25 are curved with a radius of curvature corres¬ ponding to that of the spherical body 7. This provides accurate guidance of the window glass, both laterally and vertically, and therewith obviates the need for guide channels or strips in the window f ame. It is necessary, of course, to ensure that the spherical body 7 is moved substantially rectilinearly by the regulator mechanism. In conjunction herewith there is used in the second embodi¬ ment of the invention a known scissor-action regulator mechanism, in which the geometric relationships between the linkage arms afford rectilinear vertical movement of the linkage arm connected to the connecting element 22 and the locking element 23. Figs. 5-7 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. Those elements illustrated in the figures that are analo¬ gous with corresponding elements in the first embodiment have been identified with the same references as those used in Figs. 1 and 2. The connecting arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5-7 is used in conjunction with a regulator mechanism that has solely one linkage arm 2 and thus incorporates only one connecting element 3 and one locking element 5. In this embodiment the locking element 5 is guided in stirrup-like structures 28, 29 instead of the legs 10, 11; 24, 25 used in the afore-described embodiments. The third embodiment thus obviates the need of guide tracks 12 in the connect¬ ing element and ribs 16 on the locking element, which in the first two embodiments prevented the leg pairs 10, 11 from oeing bent outwards. In addition, the locking element is provided solely with one single locking hook 30, which in the illustrated embodiment is hemispherical in shape. Tn the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 this locking hook co-acts with a through-passing hole 32 in the stirrup 29, in a manner to hold the locking element 5 in its transport position. A similar hole 31 is provided in the stirrup 28, in a manner to hold the locking element in its locking position when fully inserted. In order to enable the locking hook 30 to be moved from the position in which it co-acts with one of the holes 31, 32, the locking ele¬ ment is provided along part of its length with an elonga¬ ted channel or slot 33, which enables this part of the locking element to be squeezed inwardly, this facility being sufficient to enable the locking hook to be moved out of its co-acting position with the hole. In the aforegoing the invention has been described in con¬ junction with scissor-linkage regulator mechanisms. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the use of such regulator mechanisms and that the invention can be applied with other types of mechanism, e.g. cable regulator mechanisms. Thus, it is evident that the invention provides a device which is well suited for connecting the window glass of a window to a regulator mechanism with the aid of machines suitable herefor. The use of snap-in lock functions also enables the arrangement to be readily fitted and dismant¬ led. The locking elements can also be readily reached. In addition, the device is of simple construction and compri¬ ses but few component parts, and hence it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the use of a coupling device in the form of a spherical body, in accor¬ dance with the invention, enables curved window glass to function more smoothly and imparts thereto a longer useful life than that enjoyed with prior art arrangements. The invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated embodiments, since further modifications are conceivable within the scope of the invention. Consequent¬ ly, the invention is restricted solely by the scope of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for attaching an up- and downwardly movable window (1) to a regulator mechanism (2), particularly in conjunction with the windows of automotive vehicles, which device comprises at least one connecting element (3, 4) which is firmly connected at its upper part to the window glass (1), and a locking element (5, 6) which co-acts with the connecting element and which is linearly displaceable parallel with the undersurface of the window glass relative to an associated connecting element between a first, open position, in which one coupling device of the regulator mechanism can be moved into abutment with the under-surface of the connecting element, and a second, closed position, in which the upper side of the locking element also abuts the coupling device, characterized in that the coupling device comprises a body (7) of circular cross-section in a plane at right angles to the displace¬ ment direction of the locking element; and in that the parts (9, 15) of the connecting and locking elements abutting the coupling device have a concave, circular- arcuate cross-sectional shape with the same radius as the cross-section of the body (7), said parts co-acting with said body (7) in a manner such that the connection between regulator mechanism and window glass in the closed posi¬ tion of the locking element at least permits relative rotation between regulator mechanism and window glass about an axis which extends parallel with the underedge of the window glass. 2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting and locking elements present along parts of their lengths concave surfaces (9, 15) of circular cross- section, such as to permit relative lateral movement between the window glass and the coupling device. 3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling device, or coupling devices, of the regulator mechanism has or have the form of a spherical body or bodies (7). 4. A device according to Claim 1 incorporating a regulator mechanism in which the coupling device comprises a spheri¬ cal body which describes a rectilinear upwards and down¬ wards movement when operating the mechanism, characterized in that the parts of the connecting and locking elements (22, 23) that abut the spherical body (7) form a spherical cavity having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the spherical body. 5. A device according to any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the locking element (5, 6, 23) in the first position is supported solely by a first end of the connecting element (3, 4; 22), the coupling device (7) being capable of being inserted from beneath through the free opening formed between the forwardly located end of the locking element, seen in the direction of linear dis¬ placement, and the other end of the connecting element; and in that the locking element in the second position is carried by the respective end of the connecting element at the ends thereof. 6. A device according to any of the preceding Claims, cha¬ racterized in that the connecting and locking elements (3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively) are made of a pliant, resilient material, preferably a plastics material; and in that the locking elements (5, 6) are provided with first and second projections (18, 19; 20) or recesses which co-act through a snap-in action with complementary means (14) on the con¬ necting elements, the first projection (18, 19) holding the connecting elements in the first position, i.e. the open position, and the second projections (20) locking the connecting elements in the second position, i.e. the closed position; and in that the locking elements incorpo¬ rate stop abutments (21) which prevent the locking ele¬ ments from being displaced beyond the second position. 7. A device according to any of the preceding Claims, cha¬ racterized in that the connecting element includes at both ends thereof two mutually opposing and downwardly extend¬ ing legs (10, 11) between which the locking element can be inserted, each leg having an upwardly directed track (12) which co-acts with either of two downwardly directed projections (16) on the locking element. 8. A device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the legs (10) on the mutually facing ends of the connect¬ ing elements have an extension in the movement direction of the locking elements (5, 6) such that the inner sur¬ faces of said legs accurately guide the locking elements in their displacement movement. 9. A device according to any of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the connecting element is provided at both ends thereof with a downwardly extending stirrup structure (28, 29) the opening of which has a shape complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the locking element (5). 10. A device according to any of Claims 1, 2, 3, 5 or 8, characterized in that the connecting elements (3, 22) are provided with downwardly projecting means (10, 11, 24, 25, 28, 29) which have through-passing holes (31, 32) which co-act with a locking hook (30) provided on the forwardly located end of the locking element (5, 23), as seen in the movement direction; and in that the locking element (5, 23) is provided inwardly of the locking hook (30) with an elongated groove (33) which extends along a part of the length of the locking element.

Inventors: HOLMDAHL LARS TORSTEN ROLANDSS, PAGERUP DAN JOERGEN, RYLANDER IVAN UNOSON, HOLMDAHL, LARS, TORSTEN, ROLANDSSON, PAGERUP, DAN, JOERGEN, RYLANDER, IVAN, UNOSON
Applicants: VOLVO AB, AB VOLVO
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B60J1
IPC codes: E05F11