Patent Publication Number: US-8528259-B1

Title: Method of adjusting door glass cross car for frameless window systems

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In some vehicles, a side door includes a structural member that extends around the top of the side door window. The structural member is commonly referred to as a door frame. The door frame often provides support for weather seals, which in turn, provide support and sealing functions for the side door window when the side door window is in raised position. 
     Other vehicles, such as for example convertibles, have a frameless door system. That is, the side door does not have a structural member that extends around the top of the side door window. Frameless door systems are used to provide an unobstructed view from the vehicle interior when the side door window is in a lowered position. Frameless door systems can also be used to achieve desired styling objectives. 
     Since frameless systems do not have a structural member extending around the top of the side door window, movement and positioning of the side door window is supported by structures or mechanisms contained within the vehicle door. In certain cases, the movement and positioning of the side door window is controlled and supported by a regulator. A regulator is a mechanism that controls the raising, lowering, and positioning of the side door window. Typically, a regulator includes one or more rails, clamps configured to ride on the rails and further configured to secure the side door window, and cables configured to move the clamps on the rails as directed by a motor assembly. 
     In certain frameless systems, the weather seals are mounted to the vehicle body. Mounting the weather seals to the vehicle body can lead to variations in the relative positioning of the side door windows and the weather seals. As a result of the variations in the relative positioning, it can be time consuming to position a regulator such that the side door window obtains a proper seal against a weather seal. In order to ensure proper engagement of the side door window with the weather seals, it is desirable to provide adjustments with the structures and mechanisms, such as for example regulators, that control the movement and positioning of the side door windows. 
     It would be advantageous if the structures and mechanisms that control the movement and positioning of side door windows could be installed in vehicle doors more efficiently. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to this invention, there is provided a method for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction. The method including the steps of: providing one or more guide rails positioned within a side door of a vehicle, the guide rails being configured to guide the movement and position of the side door windows as the side door windows are raised and lowered, each guide rail having a guide rail bracket, each guide rail bracket being configured for seating against a door bracket; attaching the door brackets to portions of the side door; positioning a locator fixture such as to extend through the door bracket; seating the guide rail bracket over the door bracket and over the locator fixture such that the guide rail bracket and the locator fixture mate in a desired fore and aft position relative to the side door and also in a desired cross-car location relative to the side door; and fastening the guide rail bracket to the door bracket. 
     According to this invention, there is also provided a method for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction. The method includes the steps of: providing one or more guide rails positioned within a side door of a vehicle, the guide rails being configured to guide the movement and position of the side door windows as the side door windows are raised and lowered, each guide rail having a guide rail bracket; attaching a door bracket to each guide rail bracket, the door bracket being configured for attachment to portions of the side door; positioning a locator fixture such as to extend through the door bracket; seating the guide rail bracket over the door bracket and over the locator fixture such that the guide rail bracket and the locator fixture mate in a desired fore and aft position relative to the side door and also in a desired cross-car location relative to the side door; and fastening the guide rail bracket to the door bracket. 
     According to this invention, there is also provided a method for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction. The method includes the steps of: providing one or more guide rails positioned within a side door of a vehicle, the guide rails being configured to guide the movement and position of the side door windows as the side door windows are raised and lowered, each guide rail having a guide rail bracket, each guide rail bracket being configured for seating against portions of a side door; positioning a locator fixture in the side door in a desired fore and aft and a desire cross car location; seating the guide rail bracket over the locator fixture such that the guide rail bracket and the locator fixture mate; and fastening the guide rail bracket to the door bracket. 
     Various objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a vehicle having a movable, frameless window assembly in a side door. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the vehicle door and frameless window system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a guide rail of the movable frameless window system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an expanded schematic view of a portion of the guide rail of  FIG. 3  illustrating a guide rail bracket. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the guide rail bracket of  FIG. 3  shown in a seated position over a door bracket. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, of the guide rail bracket and the door bracket of  FIG. 5  taken along the line C-C. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, of the guide rail bracket and the door bracket of  FIG. 5  taken along line D-D shown in an installed position within a portion of a side door. 
         FIG. 8  is an expanded schematic view of a portion of a guide rail illustrating an alternate embodiment of a guide rail bracket and door bracket. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, of the guide rail bracket and the door bracket of  FIG. 8  taken along the line E-E. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of dimensions such as length, width, height, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, methods are provided for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction, for frameless window systems. The term “frameless window system”, as used herein, is defined to mean any vehicle door window system not having a structural member that extends around the top of the side door window. The term “cross car direction”, as used herein, is defined to mean a direction substantially parallel to the direction extending from one front tire to the other front tire. The term “fore and aft direction”, as used herein, is defined to mean a direction substantially parallel to the direction extending from one front tire to the rear tire on the same side of the vehicle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  includes a side door  12  that is hinged relative to the vehicle  10  such as to open in the conventionally known manner. The side door  12  includes a frameless side door window  14  that engages a peripheral seal  16  extending around a periphery of a side door window opening  18  when the side door  12  is in the closed position (not shown). 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a fore and aft direction is illustrated by the direction arrows A-A and a cross-car direction is illustrated by the direction arrows B-B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a movable side door window assembly  20  is illustrated. The side door window assembly  20  includes the frameless side door window  14  and an electrically powered regulator  22 . The regulator  22  includes one or more guide rails  24  and one or more clamping mechanisms  26  configured to ride on the guide rails  24 . The clamping mechanisms  26  are further configured to be secured to the side door window  14 . The regulator  22  also includes a plurality of cables  28  configured to move the clamping mechanisms  26  on the guide rails  24  as directed by a motor assembly  30 . While the embodiment of the regulator  22  illustrated in  FIG. 2  shows a quantity of two guide rails  24 , it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the regulator may only have one guide rail or the regulator may have more than two guide rails. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , one of the guide rails  24  is illustrated. The guide rail  24  includes a lower end  32  and an upper end  34 . The clamping mechanism  26  is first shown at the lower end  32  of the guide rail  24  (in the position where the side door window  14  is in a lowered position) and also shown (in phantom) at the upper end  34  of the guide rail  24  (in the position where the side door window  14  is in a raised position). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a guide rail bracket  36  extends from the lower end  32  of the guide rail  24 . As will be explained in more detail below, during the installation of the regulator  22  into the side door  12  of the vehicle (not shown), the guide rail bracket  36  is configured to mate with a corresponding door bracket  44  (see  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , thereby positioning the guide rail  24  in a desired position. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , cross-sectional line C-C equates to the fore and aft direction as indicated by line A-A shown in  FIG. 1  and cross-sectional line D-D equates to the cross-car direction as indicated by line B-B shown in  FIG. 1 . The guide rail bracket  36  includes a first aperture  38  and a second aperture  40 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first and second apertures  38  and  40  are positioned such as to be co-linear on cross-sectional line C-C. However, in other embodiments, the first and second apertures  38  and  40  need not be co-linear on the cross-sectional line C-C. As will be explained in more detail below, the first aperture  38  is configured to receive a bracket fastener  42  and the second aperture  40  is configured to receive a locating pin (not shown). 
     While the guide rail bracket  36  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  as a unitary extension of the guide rail  24 , it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the guide rail bracket  36  can be a separate and distinct component that is assembled to the guide rail  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , the guide rail bracket  36  is illustrated in an installed position over a door bracket  44 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the door bracket  44  can be fixed to portions of the bottom  45  of a side door  12  in any desired manner. Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the guide rail bracket  36  includes the first aperture  38  and the second aperture  40 . The door bracket  44  includes a first slot  46  and a second slot  48 . As will be explained in more detail below, in the installed position, the first slot  46  in the door bracket  44  and the first aperture  38  in the guide rail bracket  36  substantially align, thereby allowing the bracket fastener  42  to pass through the guide rail bracket  36  and the door bracket  44  and connect to a bracket retainer  50 . The bracket fastener  42  and the bracket retainer  50  are configured to secure the guide rail bracket  36  to the door bracket  44  after the guide rail bracket  36  and the door bracket  44  are aligned as desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket fastener  42  is a threaded fastener and the bracket retainer  50  is a threaded nut. However in other embodiments, the bracket fastener  42  and the bracket retainer  50  can be other mechanisms, devices, or structures, such as, for example, clips or clamps, sufficient to secure the guide rail bracket  36  to the door bracket  44  after the guide rail bracket  36  and the door bracket  44  are aligned as desired. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in a similar fashion, in an installed position the second slot  48  in the door bracket  44  and the second aperture  40  in the guide rail bracket  36  substantially align, thereby allowing a locator fixture, such as the illustrated locating pin  52 , to pass from under the door bracket  44 , through the door bracket  44  and through the guide rail bracket  36 . The locator fixture  52  will be discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the guide rail bracket  36  and the door bracket  44  optionally have a cross-sectional shape in the form of an expanded “U”. The expanded U-shaped cross-sectional shapes allow the guide rail bracket  36  to seat on the door bracket  44  and substantially fix the position of the guide rail bracket  36  relative to the side door  12  in a fore and aft direction. Fixing the fore and aft position of the guide rail bracket  36  relative to the side door  12  provides a desired fore and aft location for the side door window  14 . While the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  is shown with the optional U-shaped cross-sectional shapes of the guide rail bracket  36  and the door bracket  44 , it should be understood that other structures, mechanisms, and devices can be used to fix the relative fore and aft position of the guide rail bracket  36  relative to the side door  12 . Accordingly, the methods for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction, for frameless window systems can be practiced without the guide rail bracket  36  and the door bracket  44  having U-shaped cross-sectional shapes. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the locator fixture  52  is used to position the guide rail bracket  36  in a cross-car direction relative to the door bracket  44 . The locator fixture  52  is located along the second slot  48  in a known cross-car position such that the location of the guide rail bracket  36 , and subsequently the guide rail  24  and side door window  14 , ensure a desired engagement of the side door window  14  with other side door window structures, such as for example weather seals. While the locator fixture  52  is located in the known cross-car position, it is within the contemplation of this invention that the location of the locator fixture  52  relative to the side door  14  can be adjusted as necessary to accommodate various build conditions, various window configurations and various window structures. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the locator fixture  52  includes a body  54  and an extension segment  56 . The extension segment  56  is configured to extend through the second slot  48  of the door bracket  44  and through the second aperture  40  of the guide rail bracket  36 . The extension segment  56  has a circular cross-sectional shape and a diameter that respectively correspond to the circular cross-sectional shape and diameter of the second aperture  40  in the guide rail bracket  36 . The circular cross-sectional shapes and diameters of the extension segment  56  and the second aperture  40  are configured to provide an accurate mating of the guide rail bracket  36  with the locator fixture  52 , thereby ensuring the desired cross-car positioning of the guide rail bracket  36  relative to the door bracket  44 . While the illustrated embodiment shows the extension segment  56  and the second aperture  40  as each having a circular cross-sectional shape, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the extension segment  56  and the second aperture  40  can have other desired cross-sectional shapes, such as, for example, square cross-sectional shapes, sufficient that the extension segment  56  and the second aperture  40  provide an accurate mating of the guide rail bracket  36  with the locator fixture  52 . 
     In certain embodiments, the locator fixture  52  is a temporary structure that can be positioned in the side door  12  during assembly of the vehicle. Once the guide rail bracket  36  is secured to the door bracket  44 , the locator fixture  52  can be removed from the side door  12 . In other embodiments, the locator fixture  52  can be a permanent structure that remains within the side door  12  after the guide rail bracket  36  has been secured to the door bracket  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an inner portion  58   a  and an outer portion  58   b  of the side door  12  are illustrated. The guide rail  24  is shown with the guide rail bracket  36 . The guide rail bracket  36  is seated on the door bracket  44 . The door bracket  44  includes the second slot  48 . The extension segment  56  of the locator fixture  52  extends through the second slot  48  and through the second aperture  40  in the guide rail bracket  36 . In one scenario, prior to seating of the guide rail bracket  36  on the extension segment  56  of the locator fixture  52 , the locator fixture  52  is positioned along the second slot  48  in the desired cross-car location as described above. The guide rail bracket  36  is positioned along the cross-car direction, as shown by direction arrows B-B. 
     While use of the locator fixture  52  has been described in detail above as one process having certain installation steps, it should be appreciated that the locator fixture can be used in other processes having other installation steps. Referring again to  FIG. 7  as one non-limiting example of another process having other installation steps, the order of the installation of the various components can be changed such that the guide rail bracket  36  is seated on the door bracket  44  in a relatively random cross car orientation. Next, the extension segment  56  of the locator fixture  52  is inserted into the second aperture  40  in the guide rail bracket  36 . Finally, the locator fixture  52  and the attached guide rail bracket  36  are simultaneously moved to a desired location. 
     The use of the locator fixture  52  to ensure the desired cross-car positioning of the guide rail bracket  36  relative to the door bracket  44  advantageously provides several benefits, although all of the benefits may not be present in all embodiments. First, the use of the locator fixture  52  advantageously eliminates the need to manually set the position of each regulator within each side door of each vehicle, thereby reducing labor costs and improving manufacturing capability. Second, the use of the locator fixture  52  is advantageously suited for high volume, lean manufacturing environments. Third, if conditions warrant, the location of the locator fixture  52  relative to the side door  14  can be easily adjusted as necessary to accommodate various build conditions, various window configurations and various window structures. 
     While the embodiment of the method for adjusting the position of side door windows  14 , in a cross car direction, for frameless window systems shown in  FIGS. 5-7  has been described above as seating the guide rail bracket  36  to an installed door bracket  44  by use of the locator fixture  52 , it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, other structures and methods can be used. Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an alternate embodiment is illustrated. Referring first to  FIG. 8 , a guide rail  124  includes a guide rail bracket  136 . The guide rail bracket  136  includes a first aperture  138  and a second aperture  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, the guide rail  124 , guide rail bracket  136 , first aperture  138  and second aperture  140  are the same as, or similar to, the guide rail  24 , guide rail bracket  36 , first aperture  38  and second aperture  40  illustrated in  FIG. 4  and described above. However, in other embodiments, the guide rail  124 , guide rail bracket  136 , first aperture  138  and second aperture  140  can be different than the guide rail  24 , guide rail bracket  36 , first aperture  38  and second aperture  40 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a door bracket  144  is attached to the guide rail bracket  136  prior to the installation of the regulator (not shown) in the side door (not shown). The door bracket  144  is attached to the guide rail bracket  136  using a fastener  142  and bracket retainer  150  in the same manner as described above for fastener  42  and bracket retainer  50 . Attaching the guide rail bracket  136  to the door bracket  144  forms a rail bracket assembly  170 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8 , the door bracket  144  has a door bracket first aperture  172  and a door bracket second aperture  174 . The door bracket first and second apertures  172  and  174  will be discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the door bracket  144  includes a first slot  146  and a second slot  148 . In the assembled position, the first slot  146  in the door bracket  144  and the first aperture  138  in the guide rail bracket  136  substantially align, thereby allowing the bracket fastener  142  to pass through the guide rail bracket  136 , through the door bracket  144 , connect to a bracket retainer  150 . In a similar fashion, in an assembled position the second slot  148  in the door bracket  144  and the second aperture  140  in the guide rail bracket  136  substantially align, thereby allowing a locating fixture  152  to pass from under the door bracket  144 , through the door bracket  144  through the guide rail bracket  136 . In the illustrated embodiment, the locator fixture  152  is the same as, or similar to, the locator fixture  52  illustrated in  FIG. 6  and described above. In other embodiments, the locator fixture  152  can be different than the locator fixture  52 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 9 , the locator fixture  152  is used to position the rail bracket assembly  170  in a cross-car direction relative to portions of the side door  112 . The locator fixture  152  is located along the second slot  148  in a known cross-car position such that the location of the rail bracket assembly  170  ensures a desired engagement of the side door window (not shown) with other side door window structures, such as for example weather seals. 
     Once the rail bracket assembly  170  is positioned in the desired cross-car location, the rail bracket assembly  170  is attached to the side door  112  by fasteners  178  extending through the first and second apertures  172  and  174  of the door bracket  144  and connected to retainers  180 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners  178  and retainers  180  can be any desired mechanism, such as for example a threaded bolt and nut, sufficient to secure the rail bracket assembly  170  in the desired cross-car location. 
     While the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate the guide rail bracket  136  attached to a discrete door bracket  144 , it should be appreciated that in other embodiments the guide rail bracket  136  and the door bracket  144  can be formed as a unitary structure, thereby incorporating the mounting provisions of the door bracket  144 . In this scenario, the resulting guide rail bracket  136  can be fastened to portions of the side door in manners similar as that described above. 
     While the various embodiments of the methods for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction, for frameless window systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9  have been shown in the context of a regulator having one or more guide rails, it should be appreciated that certain regulators do not use rails. Rather, the side door window is only guided by structures, such as for example, one or more glass run seal channels positioned along the front and rear edges of the side door window. In these embodiments, the methods for adjusting the position of side door windows, as described herein, can be applied to position the bottom of the glass run seal channels in the same manners as discussed above. 
     The principles and mode of operation of the methods for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction, for frameless window systems have been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the methods for adjusting the position of side door windows, in a cross car direction, for frameless window systems may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.