Abstract:
The present invention concerns a glass attachment and method of assembly for a movable vehicle window, particularly in a vehicle door. A pair of glass clips are attached to a window glass, and a pair of carriers are mounted and retained in a door by cable sets. A snap-in installation is performed by sliding camming guide shoulders on the carriers into channels formed by cam engagement flanges on the glass clips. As the camming action takes place, the carriers are lifted into use positions and catches on the glass clips engage catch openings on the carriers to secure the components together. Grooves in the carriers direct the cable sets, the ends of which are retained in the carriers by ferrules and cable take-up springs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle doors and more particularly to the glass attachment for a movable window in a vehicle door. 
         [0002]    Automotive vehicles typically include movable window glass in some or all of the vehicle side windows. For vehicle doors with movable window glass, the interiors of the doors include two separate assemblies. A first assembly, a glass run channel assembly, is mounted adjacent to the front and rear edges of the door. The run channel assembly directs the window glass in the fore-aft and inboard-outboard directions. A second assembly, a window regulator assembly, is spaced from the channel assembly more toward the middle of the door. The window regulator assembly is used to move the window glass up and down. The window regulator assembly typically includes a pair of guide rails, upon which sliders are mounted and guided. Typically, these two assemblies can be installed separately, with the window glass thereafter slid into the run channel assemblies and secured to the sliders in some way. 
         [0003]    The window glass has been secured to the sliders in various ways, including mounting a regulator carrier plate to slide along the guide rails and bolting this plate to clips bonded on the window glass. Another attachment method includes using a clamping mechanism with an elastomeric insulator that is squeezed against the window glass, with the clamping mechanism being attached to the window regulator. Still others have employed a combination slider and carrier with a screw or bolt driven into a plastic clip that is snapped into a hole in the glass. All of these approaches generally have drawbacks in that they require more assembly time and/or cost more than is desirable. 
         [0004]    A convenient way to assemble a window glass to a window regulator assembly may be particularly desirable for vehicle doors having movable window glass where the glass run channel assembly and the window regulator assembly are combined into a single assembly. Some have proposed combining the glass run channels and the window regulator assembly into one subassembly. However, the proposed solutions, while combining these components, tend to make installation of the window glass and connection to the window regulator more difficult. Consequently, for these types of configurations, while they have some advantages over conventional separate assemblies, they also have the potential to make assembling the window glass into this assembly more cumbersome and difficult—thus negating some of the advantage in combining the assemblies in the first place. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    An embodiment contemplates a glass clip and carrier assembly for use in supporting a movable window glass in a vehicle door. The assembly may comprise a glass clip and a carrier. The glass clip may include a glass support flange engageable with the window glass, a clip body extending from the glass support flange, and a pair of cam engagement arms extending from the clip body, each of the cam engagement arms including a cam engagement flange extending therefrom to define a channel. The carrier may include a carrier body operatively engageable with a first cable set, and a pair of camming guide shoulders extending from the carrier body and slidably received in the channel, the camming guide shoulders extending farther from the carrier body at a first end adjacent to the glass support flanges and tapering toward the carrier body as the camming guide shoulders extend away from the first end, whereby the carrier body is pulled closer to the clip body as the camming guide shoulders are slid further into the channel. 
         [0006]    An embodiment contemplates a window glass support assembly for use in supporting a movable window glass in a vehicle door. The assembly may comprise a glass clip, a carrier, a first cable set and a second cable set. The glass clip may include a glass support flange engageable with the window glass, a clip body extending from the glass support flange, and a pair of engagement arms extending from the clip body, each of the engagement arms including an engagement flange extending therefrom to define a channel. The carrier may include a carrier body having a pair of guide shoulders extending from the carrier body and slidably received in the channel, a first cable groove recessed in the carrier body and including a first end extending in a generally horizontal direction and a second end extending in a generally vertical direction, and a second cable groove recessed in the carrier body and including a first end and a second end. The first cable set may be mounted in the first cable groove and supporting the carrier, and the second cable set may be mounted in the second cable groove and supporting the carrier. 
         [0007]    An embodiment contemplates a method of assembling a movable window glass into a vehicle door comprising the steps of: affixing a glass clip under a bottom edge of the window glass; supporting a carrier in a location in the vehicle door by securing the carrier to a first cable set and a second cable set; sliding the glass clip and the window glass into the vehicle door; sliding a first end of a pair of camming guide shoulders of the carrier into a channel in the glass clip, with the first end of the camming guide shoulders extending a first distance from a carrier body and tapering toward a second end that is a second distance from the carrier body, the second distance being less than the first distance; sliding the camming guide shoulders into the channel, thereby camming the carrier body closer to a clip body against a bias of the first cable set and the second cable set; and securing the glass clip to the carrier. 
         [0008]    An advantage of an embodiment is the ability to attach a floating carrier to a glass clip, secured to the window glass prior to installation, during glass installation with a snap-in type of connection. This may be particularly useful in vehicle door applications where glass run channels and window regulators have been integrated into a single assembly. 
         [0009]    An advantage of an embodiment is reduced assembly time, reduced cost, and potential for reduced material costs with a relatively simple and quick snap-in place installation, versus conventional attachment methods and assemblies. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view looking inboard at a portion of a vehicle door. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view looking inboard at a window glass, glass clips and carriers. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view looking outboard at a portion of the window glass and a forward glass clip and forward carrier. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the window glass, forward glass clip and forward carrier. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a partially schematic, side elevation view looking inboard at a portion of the window glass, forward glass clip and forward carrier, prior to assembly of the glass clip to the carrier, and a portion of a forward integrated channel/regulator. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the forward integrated channel/regulator, and a portion of the forward glass clip as it is beginning to be assembled to the forward carrier. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but illustrating the forward glass clip being partially assembled onto the forward carrier. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but illustrating the forward glass clip fully assembled onto the forward carrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a portion of a vehicle door  10 , having a door inner panel  12 , is illustrated. The door inner panel  12  includes structure forming a window frame  14  that defines a window opening  16 , the bottom edge  17  of which is generally referred to as a beltline, and other structure forming a lower door portion  18  that defines an access hole  20 . The access hole  20  allows various components and sub-assemblies, such as a latch/window regulator module  24 , to be assembled into the door  10 . 
         [0019]    The latch/window regulator module  24  is mounted to the door inner panel  12 . The latch/window regulator module  24  includes a door latch assembly  26  mounted to a rear integrated channel/regulator  28 , a forward integrated channel/regulator  30 , and a window regulator cable assembly  32 . The window regulator cable assembly  32  is mounted to and extends between the rear and forward integrated channel/regulators  28 ,  30 . 
         [0020]    The forward integrated channel/regulator  30  may include a forward glass run channel  34  that extends from and may be integral with a forward window regulator guide rail  36 . The forward glass run channel  34  may extend somewhat above the beltline  17 . A top front pulley  38  and a bottom front pulley  40  may mount to the forward guide rail  36 . A motor flange  42  may extend from the forward integrated channel/regulator  30  and provide support for a motor  44  and cable drum  45 . Upper and lower mounting flanges  46 ,  48 , respectively, may provide locations for securing the forward integrated channel/regulator  30  to the door inner panel  12 . 
         [0021]    The term integral, as used herein, means that the particular elements are formed as a single monolithic piece rather than being formed separately and later assembled and secured together. 
         [0022]    The rear integrated channel/regulator  28  may include a rear below belt glass run channel  50  that extends from and may be integral with a rear window regulator guide rail  52 . A top rear pulley  54  and a bottom rear pulley  56  may mount to the guide rail  52 . Also, a rear/lower door mounting flange  68  may extend from the rear integrated channel/regulator  28  and provide a location for securing the channel/regulator  28  to the door inner panel  12 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates window glass  22  having an outboard surface  23 , and inboard surface  25  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), a bottom edge  27 , a forward edge  29 , and a rear edge  31 . The window glass  22  is sized and shaped to fit into the door  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and slide up an down to selectively cover the window opening  16  ( FIG. 1 ). A forward glass clip  58  is mounted to the bottom edge  27  adjacent to the forward edge  29  of the glass  22 , and a rear glass clip  60  is mounted to the bottom edge  27  adjacent to the rear edge  31  of the glass  22 . A forward carrier  62  mounts to the forward glass clip  58  (discussed in more detail below) and a rear carrier  64  mounts to the rear glass clip  60 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the forward glass clip  58  and forward carrier  62  in more detail. Since the rear glass clip  60  and rear carrier  64  are preferably mirror images of the forward glass clip  58  and forward carrier  62 , they are not shown in greater detail herein. 
         [0025]    The forward glass clip  58  includes a main body  65  from which a pair of glass support flanges  66  extend. One each of the glass support flanges  66  is bonded to the outboard surface  23  and the inboard surface  25 , respectively, of the glass  22 . Alternatively, the glass support flanges  66  may be attached to the glass by a different method—for example being pressed-on, bolted-on via a through-hole in the glass, and snapped-on with a feature engaging a hole in the glass. The main body  65  also includes a catch hole  70 , within which is mounted a cantilevered catch member  72 . Extending from the catch member  72 , adjacent to a free end  74 , is a catch lip  76 . A pair of cam engagement arms  78  extend from the main body  65 , each including a cam engagement flange  80 . The cam engagement arms  78  and cam engagement flanges  80  define a channel  82  within which the forward carrier  62  is received. 
         [0026]    The forward carrier  62  includes a carrier body  84  from which a pair of cam guide shoulders  86  extend. The cam guide shoulders  86  extend farther from the carrier body  84  near an upper end  88  and taper toward the carrier body  84  near a lower end  90 . The cam guide shoulders  86  are also spaced apart so they can slide in and be retained by the channel  82  of the forward glass clip  58 . The carrier body  84  has a catch opening  92  that aligns with the free end  74  of the cantilevered catch member  72 , allowing the catch lip  76  to engage an edge of the catch opening  92  when the forward carrier  62  is fully assembled to the forward glass clip  58 . A cable retention flange  94  extends generally horizontally from the carrier body  84  and includes a ferrule pocket  96  and a cable take-up spring pocket  98 . The term “generally horizontal”, as used herein, means that the element extends in a direction that is horizontal or within about plus or minus thirty degrees from horizontal—as opposed to something that extends in a more vertical direction. Since the window glass  22  is raised and lowered generally vertically, a component extending generally horizontally would be oriented about normal to the direction of window movement. Generally vertically means that a component extends or moves vertically or within about plus or minus thirty degrees of vertical. 
         [0027]    A first cable groove  100  and a second cable groove  102  are recessed in the carrier body  84  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). The first cable groove  100  is oriented generally horizontally at a first end adjacent to the cable take-up spring pocket  98  and curves upward about ninety degrees toward a second end that is oriented generally vertically. The second cable groove  102  is oriented generally horizontally at a first end adjacent to the ferrule pocket  96  and curves downward about ninety degrees toward a second end that is oriented generally vertically. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows portions of a first cable set  104  and a second cable set  106 , both being part of the window regulator cable assembly  32 . The first cable set  104  includes a first cable take-up spring  108  (shown schematically) attached at a first end, which is oriented generally horizontally in the cable take-up spring pocket  98 . The first cable set  104  extends through the first cable groove  100 , where it is redirected to a generally vertical orientation, around the top front pulley  38 , where it is redirected to the cable drum  45  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). From the cable drum  45 , the first cable set  104  is directed down around the bottom rear pulley  56  (only the pulley, not the cable, shown in  FIG. 1 ), where it is redirected up to a second end (not shown) at the rear carrier  64  (only the carrier, not the cable, shown in  FIG. 2 ). The second end of the first cable set  104  is preferably attached to the rear carrier  64  the same way that a first end of the second cable set  106  is attached to the forward carrier  62 , discussed below. 
         [0029]    The second cable set  106  includes a ferrule  110 , attached at a first end, that is mounted and retained in the ferrule pocket  96 . The second cable set  106  extends through the second cable groove  102  where it is redirected to a generally vertical orientation, around the bottom front pulley  40  (only the pulley, not the cable, shown in  FIG. 1 ), where it is redirected to the top rear pulley  54  (only the pulley, not the cable, shown in  FIG. 1 ), and around the top rear pulley  54 , where it is again redirected to the rear carrier  64  (only the carrier, not the cable, shown in  FIG. 2 ) A second end of the second cable set  106  is preferably attached to the rear carrier  64  the same way that the first end of the first cable set  104  is attached (i.e., extending through a groove and attaching to a second cable take-up spring (not shown)). 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , pre-assembled components of the latch/window regulator module  24 , then, may be inserted through the access hole  20  and secured to the door inner panel  12 , rather than assembling the components after insertion into the door  10 . The rear integrated channel/regulator  28  allows for pre-assembly of some components before assembly into the door  10 . The forward integrated channel/regulator  30  also allows for pre-assembly of some components before assembly into the door  10 . For example, the motor  44  and cable drum  45  may be mounted to the forward integrated channel/regulator  30  before installation. Also, the window regulator cable assembly  32  may be pre-assembled to the latch/window regulator module  24 , with the forward and rear carrier  62 ,  64  and first and second cable sets  104 ,  106  pre-assembled before insertion of latch/window regulator module  24  into the door  10 . All of these pre-assembled components of the latch/window regulator module  24 , then, may be inserted through the access hole  20  and secured to the door inner panel  12 . Consequently, far less of the assembly work for a vehicle assembler needs to be accomplished within the door itself. With these pre-assembled components mounted in the door, the window glass  22 , having the forward and rear glass clips  58 ,  60  already attached, may be assembled into the door  10 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 6-8  illustrate the installation of the glass clips  58 ,  60 , and hence the window glass  22  (shown in  FIGS. 2-5 ) onto the carriers  62 ,  64  (only the forward glass clip  58  and forward carrier  62  shown). The rear glass clip  60  and rear carrier  64  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) preferably install in the same way and so are not shown separately. The first and second cable sets  104 ,  106  are not shown in these views, but would be installed and support the carriers  62 ,  64  prior to installation of the window glass clips  58 ,  60  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Initially, prior to the installation of the window glass  22 , the first and second cable sets  104 ,  106  hold the forward and rear carriers  62 ,  64  in surface contact with the forward and rear window regulator guide rails  36 ,  52 , a shipping position. It is the cable sets  104 ,  106  themselves that position the carriers  62 ,  64 —so they are free floating. That is, unlike conventional window regulator guide rails where the carrier plates are secured to and slide along a vertically extending flange (thus the motion being defined by the flange), these carriers are secured to and guided by the cable sets  104 ,  106 . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 6 , as the window glass  22  (see  FIG. 2 ) is inserted, the forward glass clip  58  is held outboard off of the surface of the forward window regulator guide rail  36  by a spacer  112 , aligning the channel  82  with the cam guide shoulders  86  at the upper end of the forward carrier  62 . The cam guide shoulders  86 , extending out farther from the carrier body  84 , allow for the alignment, even though the forward carrier  62  is off to one side of the forward glass run channel  34  against the forward window regulator guide rail  36 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the forward carrier  62  is moved upward into the forward glass clip  58 . As this occurs, the cam guide shoulders slide farther into the channel  82 , causing the forward carrier  62  to be pulled outboard off of the forward window regulator guide rail  36  toward the center of the forward glass run channel  34 . The forward carrier  62  is moved upward farther until the forward glass clip  58  is fully seated on the forward carrier  62  and the forward carrier  62  is cammed further into the middle of the forward glass run channel  34 , as seen in  FIG. 8 . At this point, the free end  74  of the cantilevered catch member  72  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) overlaps with the catch opening  92  ( FIG. 3 ) such that the catch lip  76  ( FIG. 3 ) snaps over and engages an edge of the catch opening  92 . The forward glass clip  58  and forward carrier  62  are now secured together. The self-locating of the carrier  62  relative to the glass clip  58  as they initially contact each other and then cam into the use position, as well as the snap-securing of the glass clip  58  to the carrier  62 , in particular, allow for this type of assembly. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the glass run channels are integral with the guide rails in the latch/window regulator module  24 . 
         [0033]    Once installed, the latch/window regulator module  24 , employing the rear and forward integrated channel regulators  28 ,  30 , both guides the window glass  22  and controls its up and down motion. The rear and forward integrated channel/regulators  28 ,  30  guide the window glass  22  both inboard/outboard as well as fore/aft. The pulleys  38 ,  40 ,  54 ,  56  cooperate with the window regulator cable assembly  32  to guide the cable sets  104 ,  106 , while the motor  44  and cable drum  45  control the up and down movement of the window glass  22 . 
         [0034]    While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.