Abstract:
A slider for a vehicle window regulator includes a rail passage for a guide rail that runs in a “Z” direction and which guides the slider while the window is being raised and lowered. The slider includes a securing member that passes through a hole in a window glass for securing the window glass to the slider. The position at which the securing member and window glass are locked to the slider is adjustable in the “Z” direction. The slider allows adjustment to be readily performed and ensures the vehicle window glass has a good seal with a vehicle roof when the vehicle window glass is in the fully raised position, especially in a frameless door.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to French Patent Application FR 04 06 069 filed on Jun. 4, 2004.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a slider for a vehicle window glass regulator, a window regulator incorporating a slider, and a part of a bodywork of a vehicle incorporating the window regulator.  
         [0003]     The position of a window regulator mounted in a vehicle needs to be adjusted so that a window glass can be raised and lowered to an upper position and a lower position. Adjusting the window regulator causes a problem in frameless doors where the window glass is not guided by lateral slideways during movement. Adjustment includes locating the window glass at the correct position, and the various adjustments are generally performed on the window regulator. The window glass is adjusted at the raised position when the window glass meets a vehicle roof and the mechanism is at the top position of travel.  
         [0004]     French patent 2,815,667 discloses a system for securing a window regulator on a frameless door. A front edge of a window glass is guided by a slideway which extends from inside the door outwardly. The window regulator includes a forward rail and a rear rail substantially parallel to the slideways. Sliders slide on the rails. Adjustment in the heightwise direction of the vehicle is done on the front rail by securing the front rail to the slider and on the rear rail by adjusting the actual slider. The problem with adjusting this type of window regulator is that various adjustment systems for each of the front rail and the rear rail are employed, thereby increasing window regulator production costs. Secondly, the system disclosed does not adapt to all door configurations, and it is not always possible to secure the forward rail onto the forward guiding slider.  
         [0005]     There is consequently a need for less expensive means of adjusting a window regulator.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a slider for a vehicle window regulator including a rail passage for a guide rail extending in a defined direction and a securing member for securing a window glass to the slider. The securing member is movable in the defined direction of the rail passage of the guide rail.  
         [0007]     According to one embodiment, the securing member can be immobilized with respect to the slider. According to a further embodiment, the securing member can be reversibly immobilized with respect to the slider. According to a further embodiment, the slider includes a slot, and the securing member is guided in translation by the slot. According to yet a further embodiment, the securing member includes a bush and a screw, and the securing member is immobilized with respect to the slider by tightening the screw in the bush. According to a further embodiment, the securing member is immobilized with respect to the slider by bringing the screw against one face of the slider and by bringing the bush against a second face of the slider.  
         [0008]     The present invention also provides a vehicle window regulator including a guide rail and a slider guided in translation by the guide rail. A vehicle bodywork element includes the window regulator, and a window glass is secured to the window regulator by the slider.  
         [0009]     A method for adjusting a window glass on a window regulator includes the steps of assembling a window glass to a securing member, adjusting a position of the securing member in the direction in which the slider is guided by a guiding rail, and immobilizing the securing member with respect to the slider.  
         [0010]     Preferably, the method also includes the step of inserting a window regulator into a vehicle bodywork element. The step of assembling the window glass is performed after the step of inserting the window regulator into the vehicle bodywork element. The step of adjusting the position of the securing member is performed with the slider at an uppermost position of abutment along the guide rail.  
         [0011]     Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more clear from the detailed description which follows of some embodiments, provided solely by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a slider according to one embodiment;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view through the slider taken along line A-A;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view through the slider taken along line B-B; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the slider. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     A slider for a window regulator includes a rail passage for a slider guide rail. The slider also includes a securing member for securing a window glass to the slider that is movable in the direction of the rail passage. The slider ensures simple adjustment of the window glass, thereby offering a relatively inexpensive structure. The slider makes it possible to reduce the cost of window regulator production.  
         [0017]     Below, the direction X represents the direction in which the vehicle is moving, the direction Y is a direction perpendicular to direction X in the plane of forward movement of this vehicle, and the Z direction is the direction in which the window glass moves.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a slider  10  and a guide rail  11 . The guide rail  11  extends in the Z direction and guides the slider  10  in that direction. The slider  10  includes a rail passage  12  for the guide rail  11 . The rail passage  12  can be seen in  FIG. 4 , which is a perspective view of the slider  10 . In  FIG. 1 , the slider  10  moves from left to right. The slider  10  also includes a securing member  14  for securing a window glass  29  to the slider  10 . The slider  10  is movable in the Z direction of the rail passage  12 . Thus, in  FIG. 1 , the securing member  14  is movable from left to right, allowing the position at which the window glass  29  is secured to the slider  10  to be shifted in the Z direction.  
         [0019]     The guide rail  11  guides the movement of the slider  10  in the Z direction in the vehicle, in other words up and down and vice-versa. The guide rail  11  includes a wing portion having a shape adapted to penetrate into the passage  12  of the slider  10 . The guide rail  11  is, for example, a stamped or shaped metal plate. The guide rail  11  can include upper and lower stops against which the slider  10  comes into abutment at the top and bottom of its travel in the vehicle bodywork.  
         [0020]     The slider  10  provides a connection between the window glass  29  and the mechanism for driving the window regulator. The slider  10  allows the window glass  29  to slide in the Z direction. In  FIG. 4 , the slider  10  has a flat face  16  against which the window glass  29  rests and a second face  18  opposite to the flat face  16  on which the rail passage  12  is located. The rail passage  12  is shown in  FIG. 4  with, by way of example, two lugs  20  and  22  that are distanced from the second face  18  and extend parallel to the faces  16  and  18  and perpendicular to the Z direction. The slider  10  also includes a plane  24  extending from the second face  18  and perpendicularly to the Z direction. The lugs  20  and  22  extend towards the plane  24 , together defining the rail passage  12  for the guide rail  11  with the plane  24  and the second face  18 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rail passage  12  has an L-shape, and the two arms of the L-shape prevent rotation in the X and Y directions with respect to the guide rail  11  during sliding. The lugs  20  and  22  are distanced at each end of the slider  10  in the Z direction to ensure stability of the slider  10  along the guide rail  11 . Ribs  26  along the lugs  20  and  22  provide greater rigidity for the lugs  20  and  22 .  
         [0021]     The securing member  14  allows the window glass  29  of the window regulator to be secured to the slider  10 . The securing member  14  can be moved linearly in the Z direction, making it possible to adjust the position at which the window glass  29  is secured in the direction in which the window glass  29  is raised or lowered while the slider  10  is immobilized along the guide rail  11 . In particular, the securing member  14  allows the position at which the window glass  29  is secured to the slider  10  in the direction of movement to be adjusted with respect to the vehicle roof, thereby ensuring correct positioning of the window glass  29  when it comes to the end of its upward travel. Preferably, the position of the window glass  29  is adjusted in general when the window glass  29  is in the upper raised position when the slider  10  is immobilized against an upper abutment stop. The securing member  14  can also be immobilized with respect to the slider  10  when the window glass  29  is adjusted in position in a vehicle. The securing member  14  can have its position adjusted with respect to the slider  10  on the window regulator production line. Alternatively, the securing member  14  can be adjusted in position with respect to the slider  10  once the window regulator has been mounted in a vehicle both while the vehicle is being produced as well as later if it is necessary to replace a broken window glass. The securing member  14  can in particular be employed in place of a gripper-type slider which includes a jaw that grips the window glass  29 . The latter type of slider has a complex structure and is expensive. Using the slider  10  of the invention consequently reduces costs. The invention can obviously be applied to other shapes or means for securing a window glass to a slider.  
         [0022]     One non-limiting example of an embodiment of the securing member  14  and of how the securing member  14  can be shifted with respect to the slider  10  will now be described. In  FIG. 4 , the securing member  14  is a pin extending transversely to the faces  16  and  18  and to the window glass  29 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the slider  10  includes a slot  28  running perpendicularly to the faces  16  and  18  of the slider  10 . The slot  28  guides translatory movement of the securing member  14 , and the securing member  14  can be moved in translation in the Z direction. The slot  28  is an oblong hole, and the major axis runs in the Z direction. The side walls of the slot  28  guide translatory movement of the securing member  14 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the securing member  14  is located substantially at the center of slot  28 . Spaces are at each side of the securing member  14  between the securing member  14  and the end walls of the slot  28 , indicating how the securing member  14  can be moved with respect to the slider  10  in either direction on the Z-axis.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the slider  10  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows the flat face  16  against which the window glass  29  lies and the second face  18  opposite the flat face  16 , with the ribs  26  ensuring rigidity for the lugs  20  and  22 . The securing member  14  for the window glass  29  is also shown. The securing member  14  includes a bush  30  or dowel pin passing through the slider  10  orthogonally to the faces  16  and  18 . The bush  30  also penetrates into the window glass  29  to retain it in position. A passage through the window glass  29  can be provided for this purpose. One of the ends of the bush  30  passes through the window glass  29 . A grommet can be placed in the passage through the window glass  29 , allowing some play between the slider  10  and the window glass  29  in the X direction to avoid excessive rigidity of guiding of the window glass  29  in the X direction. A groove  32  can be provided at the end for receiving a forked retainer (not illustrated) for the window glass  29 . The forked retainer locks the window glass  29  and the securing member  14  together and ensures the window glass  29  is held firmly against the flat face  16 . The securing member  14  further includes a screw  34  and a washer  36  for immobilizing the securing member  14  with respect to the slider  10 . The screw  34  and the washer  36  will be described in relation with  FIG. 3 .  
         [0024]     In  FIG. 2 , the slot  28  provides spaces visible between the securing member  14  and the slider  10 , and the securing member  14  can be shifted in the Z direction to occupy one or the other of the spaces, thereby allowing the window glass  29  to be adjusted in the Z direction. For example, the range of adjustment between the securing member  14  and the slider  10  can be of the order of +/−4 mm. Further, an undercut  38  is formed at the circumference of the slot  28 . The undercut  38  is a groove at the circumference of the mouth of the slot  28  and facilitates guiding of the securing member  14  in the Z direction. The undercut  38  is on the flat face  16  of the slider  10  and cooperates with a shoulder  40  of the bush  30 , as will be described in relation with  FIG. 3 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the slider  10  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , the flat face  16  against which the window glass  29  rests, the second face  18  opposite to the flat face  16 , and the plane  24  of the guide rail passage  12  are shown. The securing member  14  for the window glass  29  can also be seen, the window glass  29  not being illustrated. The securing member  14  includes the bush  30 , the screw  34  and the washer  36 . In this cross-section, the slot  28  guides movement of the securing member  14  in the Z direction towards one or the other of the spaces visible in  FIG. 2  that are between the securing member  14  and the slider  10 . The shoulder  40  of the bush  30  slides along the undercut  38 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows how the securing member  14  is immobilized with respect to the slider  10 . The bush  30  is inserted via the flat face  16  into the slot  28  until the shoulder  40  abuts the undercut  38 . The bush  30  now projects from the flat face  16 . The pin includes a thread  42  at one end that comes to the surface towards the second face  18  of the slider  10 . The screw  34  is inserted into the thread  42  and abuts the second face  18  via the washer  36 . The slider  10  is clamped when the screw  34  is tightened into the bush  30 , bringing the screw  34  against the flat face  16  of the slider  10  (via the washer  36 ) and the bush  30  against the second face  18  of the slider  10  (via the shoulder  40  and the undercut  38 ). This ensures that the securing member  14  is immobilized with respect to the slider  10  along the Z direction.  
         [0027]     The securing member  14  can be immobilized with respect to the slider  10  in a reversible fashion. This allows the position of the window glass  29  with respect to the slider  10  to be pre-set and then definitively adjusted once in the vehicle. It also allows the window glass  29  to be removed for replacement. Reversible immobilization or locking is, for example, made possible by the screw  34 , which can be screwed into and out of the bush  30 .  
         [0028]     Further, the cooperation between the undercut  38  and the shoulder  40  prevents the securing member  14  from deviating in the Z direction. Allowing for tolerances, the securing member  14  can substantially only move with respect to the slider  10  in the Z direction. Further, the undercut  38  makes it possible to embed the shoulder  40  of the bush  30  in the flat face  16  so that the flat face  16  provides a continuous flat surface to ensure the window glass  29  lies flat against the slider  10 .  
         [0029]     The invention also provides a window regulator including a guide rail  11  and a slider  10  as discussed above, and the slider  10  is guided in translation by the guide rail  11 . The slider  10  is, for example, driven linearly by a cable that is itself driven by a geared motor or a winder. The window regulator can further include a second guide rail, and each of the rails guide the slider  10  in translation. One of the sliders can be the slider  10  described above or alternatively both can be the slider  10  described above. Using the same type of slider makes it possible to reduce window regulator production costs.  
         [0030]     The window regulator can be mounted in an element of a vehicle bodywork as well as on a window glass secured to the window regulator by the slider  10 . The window glass  29  can be assembled onto the window regulator only after the window regulator has been mounted in the bodywork element. Alternatively, the window glass  29  can be secured to the window regulator before the window regulator is mounted in the bodywork element. This is, for example, the case when the window glass  29  has been broken and needs replacement. The slider  10  as described allows the height (Z direction) adjustment of the window glass  29  with respect to the slider  10  without needing to shift the guide rail  11  in this direction, as was the case in French patent 2,815,667. Thus, the slider  10  can be fastened at its ends to the bodywork element, after which the position of the window glass  29  is adjusted. Adjustment of the window glass  29  with respect to the slider  10  is easier to perform than the adjustment of the guide rail  11  with respect to the vehicle door.  
         [0031]     The invention also provides a method for adjusting a window glass  29  on a window regulator. The method can be applied to the adjustment of a window glass  29  with respect to a window regulator already mounted in a bodywork element, such as a vehicle door or a rear side panel, or to the adjustment of a window glass  29  with respect to a window regulator on a window regulator assembly line. The window regulator includes the slider  10  as described above. Without this being limiting, the method involves bringing the slider  10  to its upper point of abutment, allowing the window regulator to be adjusted with the window glass  29  at its highest position. This is the most critical position to adjust because, in this position, the window glass  29  must cooperate with the vehicle roof to ensure good sealing of the passenger compartment. Bringing the slider  10  to the upper position of abutment is, for example, achieved by providing a mechanical stop member along the guide rail  11 . This can, for example, be a rivet riveted into the guide rail  11 . The stop member is positioned so that the slider  10  is prevented from continuing to move along the guide rail  11 .  
         [0032]     Next, the method involves the step assembling the window glass  29  onto the securing member  14 . Taking the embodiment of the securing member  14  described above, the step of assembling the window glass  29  includes inserting a bush  30  through the window glass  29  or the grommet and preferably locking the window glass  29  to the securing member  14  via a forked retainer. The locking of the window glass  29  to the securing member  14  makes it easier to adjust the securing member  14  without detaching the window glass  29 .  
         [0033]     The method also includes the step of adjusting the position of the securing member  14  in the direction of guiding the slider  10  by the guide rail  11 . In particular, adjusting the position of the securing member  14  is determined by adjusting the position of the window glass  29  in its direction of raising and lowering with respect to the vehicle roof. This step ensures good positioning of the window glass  29  at its highest travel position, notably to ensure good sealing between the window glass  29  when it is raised and the vehicle roof.  
         [0034]     The method also includes the step of immobilizing the securing member  14  with respect to the slider  10 . This ensures the securing member  14  is held at the desired adjusted position. Immobilization is, for example, achieved by tightening the screw  34  into the bush  30 . For immobilizing the position of the securing member  14  onto the slider  10 , the window regulator will be at its highest position, with the window glass  29  on the jig or vehicle and the securing member  14  passing through the window glass  29 .  
         [0035]     The method can also be applied to adjusting the window glass  29  with respect to a window regulator in a bodywork element. The method includes the steps of inserting a window regulator into a bodywork element. The step of assembling the window glass  29  to the securing member  14  can then be performed after the window regulator has been inserted into the bodywork element. The step of adjusting the position of the securing member  14  can be done with the slider  10  at its uppermost position along the guide rail  11 . This allows appropriate securement of the window glass  29  in its position of cooperation with the vehicle roof to ensure sealing of the passenger compartment.  
         [0036]     It can also be envisioned to insert the window regulator into the bodywork element with the window glass  29  already assembled. In this case, the previous immobilizing step can be reversible. The securing member  14  is now released from its immobilized position, adjusted to the appropriate position by moving the slider  10  on the guide rail  11  in the guiding direction and then again immobilized. The previous adjustment step is now only a pre-adjustment step, facilitating insertion of the window regulator and the window glass  29  into the bodywork element. The new adjustment step allows the window glass  29  to be adjusted in the Z direction with respect to the bodywork element.  
         [0037]     Obviously, this invention is not limited to the embodiments described by way of example. Thus, the slider described could for example be employed for a window glass of a sliding roof.  
         [0038]     The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than using the example embodiments which have been specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.