Patent Publication Number: US-2023158869-A1

Title: Perimeter frame for a sunshade module

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments disclosed herein relate to sunshade modules for vehicles equipped with sunroofs and, more particularly, to perimeter frames for sunshade modules. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sunroofs are common equipment on many new vehicles. In association with their sunroofs, some new vehicles are equipped with sunshade modules. The sunshade modules commonly include perimeter frames that define sunshade openings, sunshades corresponding to the sunshade openings, and drive systems for the sunshades. The perimeter frames commonly include guiderails for the sunshades and housings for the drive systems. 
     In these sunshade modules, as part of the perimeter frames, the housings are connected to the guiderails. The guiderails commonly include guideways and mounting flanges. As a matter of convenience for vehicle manufacturers, the guiderails may also include attachment channels that allow the attachment of headliners to the guiderails. With existing configurations contemplating securing the housings to the mounting flanges, the addition of the attachment channels creates challenges with respect to connecting the housings to the guiderails. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein are embodiments of a perimeter frame for a sunshade module. In one aspect, a perimeter frame for a sunshade module includes a sunshade opening, a guiderail, and a housing. The guiderail includes an end face, and a guideway, a mounting flange, and an attachment channel extending therefrom. The guideway opens inwardly to the sunshade opening, the mounting flange projects outwardly away from the sunshade opening, and the attachment channel opens downwardly from therebetween. The housing includes a guiderail adaptor. The guiderail adaptor is inserted into the attachment channel, secured to the attachment channel using a fastener installed from above the attachment channel, and engages the attachment channel from below. 
     In another aspect, a perimeter frame for a sunshade module includes a sunshade opening, a guiderail, and a housing. The guiderail includes an end face, and a guideway, a mounting flange, and an attachment channel extending therefrom. The guideway opens inwardly to the sunshade opening, the mounting flange projects outwardly away from the sunshade opening, and the attachment channel opens downwardly from therebetween. The housing includes a guiderail adaptor. The guiderail adaptor bifurcately projects past the end face to overlap the attachment channel and the mounting flange, and is secured to the attachment channel and the mounting flange. 
     In yet another aspect, a perimeter frame for a sunshade module includes a sunshade opening, a guiderail, and a housing. The guiderail includes an end face, and a guideway, a mounting flange, and an attachment channel extending therefrom. The guideway opens inwardly to the sunshade opening, the mounting flange projects outwardly away from the sunshade opening, and the attachment channel opens downwardly from therebetween. The housing includes a guiderail adaptor. The guiderail adaptor includes a base, and a first bracket and a second bracket projecting therefrom. The base is advanced to the end face. The first bracket and the second bracket are respectively inserted into the attachment channel and disposed atop the mounting flange, secured to the attachment channel and the mounting flange, and engage the attachment channel from below and the mounting flange from above. 
     These and other aspects will be described in additional detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features, advantages and other uses of the present embodiments will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a perspective view of a sunshade module, showing a perimeter frame that defines a sunshade opening, a sunshade corresponding to the sunshade opening, and a drive system for the sunshade; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a partial assembly view of the sunshade module, showing aspects of the perimeter frame, including guiderails for the sunshade, and housings for the drive system that include guiderail adaptors for the guiderails; 
         FIG.  1 C  is a cross-sectional view of the sunshade module taken along the line  1 C- 1 C in  FIG.  1 A , showing aspects of a guiderail, including a guideway, a mounting flange, and an attachment channel; and 
         FIGS.  2 A- 2 C  are partial perspective views of the sunshade module, showing aspects of securing a housing to a guiderail by a guiderail adaptor, including securing the guiderail adaptor to an attachment channel and a mounting flange of the guiderail. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure teaches a sunshade module for a vehicle equipped with a sunroof. The sunshade module includes a perimeter frame that defines a sunshade opening, a sunshade corresponding to the sunshade opening, and a drive system for the sunshade. The perimeter frame includes a sunshade opening, guiderails for the sunshade, and housings for the drive system. 
     As part of the perimeter frame, the housings are connected to the guiderails. In addition to guideways and mounting flanges, as a matter of convenience for vehicle manufacturers, the guiderails include attachment channels that allow the attachment of a headliner to the guiderails. With existing configurations contemplating securing the housings to the mounting flanges, the addition of the attachment channels creates challenges with respect to connecting the housings to the guiderails. 
     According to this disclosure, the perimeter frame includes adaptor-based configurations for connecting the housings to the guiderails. Among other aspects of the adaptor-based configurations, the housings include guiderail adaptors for the guiderails. To connect the housings to the guiderails, the guiderail adaptors are secured to the guiderails. Compared to existing configurations that contemplate securing the housings to the mounting flanges, the guiderail adaptors are advantageously secured to not only the mounting flanges, but also the attachment channels. As explained in additional detail below, the guiderail adaptors advantageously promote both retaining the extruded constructions of the guiderails and maintaining the sizes of the guiderails, and at the same time, advantageously stably connect the housings to the guiderails. 
     A sunshade module  100  for a vehicle equipped with a sunroof is shown in  FIG.  1 A . In this description, uses of “front,” “forward,” and the like, and uses of “rear,” “rearward,” and the like refer to the corresponding longitudinal directions of the vehicle and the sunshade module  100 . “Front,” “forward,” and the like refer to the front (fore) of the vehicle and the sunshade module  100 , while “rear,” “rearward,” and the like refer to the back (aft) of the vehicle and the sunshade module  100 . Uses of “transverse,” “inner,” “inward,” “outer,” “outward,” and the like refer to the corresponding lateral directions of the vehicle and the sunshade module  100 . Uses of “above,” “below,” and the like refer to the corresponding vertical directions of the vehicle and the sunshade module  100 . 
     With a configuration typical of passenger vehicles, the vehicle will include an exterior and a number of interior compartments. The compartments will include a passenger compartment, as well as an engine compartment, a cargo area, and the like. The vehicle will include a body that forms the exterior and defines the compartments. The body will include a horizontal roof, as well as two upright sides, a horizontal floor, and the like that define the passenger compartment. As part of the roof, the body will define a sunroof opening that opens between the passenger compartment and the exterior and include a transparent sunroof corresponding to the sunroof opening. The sunroof may include one or more transparent sunroof panels, and may have any combination of a panoramic configuration or a non-panoramic configuration and a stationary configuration or a movable configuration. 
     The sunshade module  100  includes a perimeter frame  102  that defines a sunshade opening  104  corresponding to the sunroof opening and a nontransparent or semitransparent sunshade  106  corresponding to the sunshade opening  104 . Although the sunshade module  100 , as shown, includes one sunshade  106 , it will be understood that this disclosure is applicable in principle to otherwise similar sunshade modules  100  including multiple sunshades  106 . During the assembly of the vehicle, the sunshade module  100  is mountable to the roof. To mount the sunshade module  100  to the roof, with the sunshade opening  104  aligned with the sunroof opening, the perimeter frame  102  is secured to the roof. 
     The perimeter frame  102  includes a rigid frame-like construction defining the sunshade opening  104 . The sunshade  106  includes a flexible, rollable and unrollable, shade-like construction corresponding to the sunshade opening  104 . The perimeter frame  102  supports the sunshade  106  for deployment relative to the sunshade opening  104  between an open configuration and a closed configuration through a range of partially-open configurations. As shown, the perimeter frame  102  supports the sunshade  106  for roll-up retraction from the closed configuration to the open configuration and roll-out extension from the open configuration to the closed configuration. In  FIG.  1 A , the sunshade  106  is shown in a representative partially-open configuration. In the open configuration, the sunshade  106  is positioned away from the sunshade opening  104  to allow sunlight into the passenger compartment through the sunroof. In the closed configuration, the sunshade  106  is positioned over the sunshade opening  104  to block sunlight from entering the passenger compartment through the sunroof. 
     In addition to the perimeter frame  102  and the sunshade  106 , the sunshade module  100  includes a drive system  108  for the sunshade  106 . The drive system  108  is mounted to, housed by, or otherwise supported by the perimeter frame  102 . Moreover, the drive system  108  is connected between the perimeter frame  102  and the sunshade  106 . The drive system  108  is operable to retract the sunshade  106 , extend the sunshade  106 , and otherwise deploy the sunshade  106  between the open configuration and the closed configuration. 
     In contemplation that the vehicle will be separately equipped with the sunroof and/or that the sunroof will have a stationary configuration, the sunshade module  100  may have a sunshade-only configuration. As shown, the sunshade module  100  is implemented as a standalone module, and the perimeter frame  102  and the drive system  108  are dedicated to the deployment of the sunshade  106 . However, it will be understood that this disclosure is not exclusive to the sunshade-only configuration. For example, the sunshade module  100  may be implemented as a submodule of a sunroof assembly. In this example, the sunroof assembly may include both the sunshade module  100  and the sunroof. Accordingly, mounting the sunroof assembly to the roof may both mount the sunshade module  100  to the roof and equip the vehicle with the sunroof. For example, the sunroof may have a movable configuration. In this example, the sunroof may include one or more movable sunroof panels. Accordingly, the perimeter frame  102  may support the sunroof panels for movement between open positions and closed positions. Likewise, the drive system  108  may be operable to move the sunroof panels between the open positions and the closed positions. 
     As shown with additional reference to  FIG.  1 B , the perimeter frame  102  includes two elongate guiderails  110  for the sunshade  106  and two elongate housings  112  for the drive system  108 . As shown, the housings  112  include a main housing  112 A and an auxiliary housing  112 B for the drive system  108 . As part of the perimeter frame  102 , the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  are arranged end-to-end. The guiderails  110  are laterally opposed from one another and extend longitudinally between the housings  112 . The housings  112  are longitudinally opposed from one another and extend laterally between the guiderails  110 . At the longitudinal ends of the guiderails  110  and the lateral ends of the housings  112 , the housings  112  are connected to the guiderails  110 . As explained in additional detail below, the perimeter frame  102  includes adaptor-based configurations for connecting the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . Among other aspects of the adaptor-based configurations, the housings  112  include guiderail adaptors  114  for the guiderails  110 . To connect the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 , the guiderail adaptors  114  are secured to the guiderails  110 . For example, from the perspective of one housing  112  and one guiderail  110 , the one housing  112  is secured to the one guiderail  110  by one guiderail adaptor  114 . For example, from the perspective of one housing  112  and the two guiderails  110 , the one housing  112  is secured to the two guiderails  110  by two guiderail adaptors  114 . Both the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  are securable to the roof. To mount the sunshade module  100  to the roof, with the housings  112  connected to the guiderails  110 , the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  are secured to the roof. 
     The drive system  108  includes a tensioner  116  and a crossbar  118  for the sunshade  106 , two guides  120  for the crossbar  118 , one or more cables  122  for the guides  120 , and a motor  124  for the cables  122 . The tensioner  116  and the crossbar  118  are longitudinally opposed from one another. The tensioner  116  is mounted to the main housing  112 A and the crossbar  118  extends between the guiderails  110 . The main housing  112 A supports the tensioner  116  for rotation. The guiderails  110  support the crossbar  118  for movement therealong via the guides  120 . More specifically, the guiderails  110  support the guides  120  for movement therealong, and the crossbar  118  is mounted to the guides  120 . The motor  124  is mounted to the main housing  112 A and the cables  122  extend along the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  between the guides  120  and the motor  124 . During the deployment of the sunshade  106 , the motor  124  is operable to move the crossbar  118  along the guiderails  110  via the cables  122  and the guides  120 . More specifically, the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  support the cables  122  for movement therealong. Moreover, the cables  122  are connected to the guides  120  at the guiderails  110 , and the motor  124  is connected to the cables  122  at the main housing  112 A. The motor  124  is operable to move the cables  122  along the guiderails  110  and the housings  112 . As the product of moving the cables  122  along the guiderails  110  and the housings  112 , the motor  124  is operable to move the guides  120  along the guiderails  110  via the cables  122 . And, as the product of moving the guides  120  along the guiderails  110  via the cables  122 , the motor  124  is operable to move the crossbar  118  along the guiderails  110  via the guides  120 . 
     The sunshade  106  is connected between the tensioner  116  and the crossbar  118 . The tensioner  116  is rotatable in a rolling direction and an unrolling direction. The crossbar  118  is movable along the guiderails  110  toward the tensioner  116  and away from the tensioner  116 . Moreover, the tensioner  116  is biased for rotation in the rolling direction. Acting against the crossbar  118 , the bias for rotation in the rolling direction creates tension in the sunshade  106 . In addition to facilitating the deployment of the sunshade  106 , the tension in the sunshade  106  promotes an attractive taut appearance for the sunshade  106  in the closed configuration and the partially-open configurations. In general, the deployment of the sunshade  106  follows the movement of the crossbar  118  along the guiderails  110 . Among other things, it follows that with the tensioner  116  being mounted to the main housing  112 A, the retraction of the sunshade  106  is toward the main housing  112 A, and the extension of the sunshade  106  is away from the main housing  112 A. As shown, in a rearward-retraction and forward-extension implementation, the main housing  112 A is rearward of the auxiliary housing  112 B. Alternatively, in a forward-retraction and rearward-extension implementation, the main housing  112 A may be forward of the auxiliary housing  112 B. 
     In conjunction with the remainder of the drive system  108 , the motor  124  is operable to retract the sunshade  106 , extend the sunshade  106 , and otherwise deploy the sunshade  106  between the open configuration and the closed configuration. To retract the sunshade  106 , the motor  124  is operable to move the crossbar  118  along the guiderails  110  toward the tensioner  116 . As the crossbar  118  moves along the guiderails  110  toward the tensioner  116 , the bias for rotation in the rolling direction induces the tensioner  116  to rotate in the rolling direction against the tension in the sunshade  106 . As the tensioner  116  rotates in the rolling direction, the sunshade  106  rolls onto the tensioner  116 , and thereby assumes the open configuration. To extend the sunshade  106 , the motor  124  is operable to move the crossbar  118  along the guiderails  110  away from the tensioner  116 . As the crossbar  118  moves along the guiderails  110  away from the tensioner  116 , the tension in the sunshade  106  induces the tensioner  116  to rotate in the unrolling direction against the bias for rotation in the rolling direction. As the tensioner  116  rotates in the unrolling direction, the sunshade  106  unrolls from the tensioner  116 , and thereby assumes the closed configuration. 
     As part of the perimeter frame  102 , the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  perform a number of basic functions with respect to the sunshade module  100 . For example, both the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  guide the deployment of the sunshade  106 . Compared to the guiderails  110 , the housings  112  perform a number of additional basic functions. For example, in addition to guiding the deployment of the sunshade  106 , the housings  112 , whether individually or contributorily, support the drive system  108 . Moreover, the housings  112  are connected to the guiderails  110 . Moreover, the housings  112  provide access to the drive system  108 . More specifically, with the tensioner  116  and the motor  124  mounted thereto, and the cables  122  extending in part therealong, the main housing  112 A includes an underside access plate  126  for the drive system  108 . Once the sunshade module  100  is mounted to the roof, the access plate  126  is removable from the remainder of the main housing  112 A from below. In relation to their performance of these and other basic functions, while the housings  112  have relatively complex multipiece assembly constructions, the guiderails  110  have relatively straightforward extruded constructions. For example, the guiderails  110  may be made from one or more metallic materials suitable for extrusion, such as aluminum. 
     As shown with additional reference to  FIG.  1 C , as a matter of convenience for vehicle manufacturers, the guiderails  110  also perform a supplemental function with respect to the vehicle. More specifically, once the sunshade module  100  is mounted to the roof, the guiderails  110  allow the attachment of a headliner to the guiderails  110 . With respect to  FIG.  1 C , this description follows with reference to one representative guiderail  110 . However, it will be understood that this disclosure is applicable in principle to the other guiderail  110 . 
     As shown, the guiderail  110  includes a guideway  130  for a guide  120  and a cable  122 , a mounting flange  132  for the roof, and an attachment channel  134  for a headliner. The guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134  are oriented with the guiderail  110  and extend side-by-side along the guiderail  110 . The guideway  130  and the mounting flange  132  are opposed from one another about the attachment channel  134 . The guideway  130  is located inward toward the sunshade opening  104  and the mounting flange  132  is located outward away from the sunshade opening  104 . The attachment channel  134  is located between the guideway  130  and the mounting flange  132 , outward of the guideway  130  and inward of the mounting flange  132 , and further inward toward the guideway  130  than the mounting flange  132 . The guideway  130  opens inwardly to the sunshade opening  104  and is complementary to the guide  120  and the cable  122 . The mounting flange  132  projects outwardly away from the sunshade opening  104  and is complementary to the roof. From between the guideway  130  and the mounting flange  132 , the attachment channel  134  opens downwardly and is complementary to headliner attachments. 
     The guideway  130  supports the guide  120  and the cable  122  for movement along the guiderail  110 . Moreover, the guideway  130  supports the guide  120  against pullout from the guiderail  110  toward the sunshade opening  104 . As shown, the guideway  130  has a double-grooved cross-sectional shape. Correspondingly, the guideway  130  supports the guide  120  and the cable  122  for side-by-side movement along the guiderail  110 . The mounting flange  132  is securable to the roof. Correspondingly, the guiderail  110  is securable to the roof by the mounting flange  132 . The attachment channel  134  is configured to retentively receive headliner attachments from below. As shown, the attachment channel  134  has a lipped C-shaped cross-sectional shape. Correspondingly, the attachment channel  134  is configured to retentively receive clips, snaps, X-mas tree fasteners, and like push-in headliner attachments typical of vehicles from below. To attach a headliner to the guiderail  110 , with the headliner aligned with the roof, headliner attachments for the headliner are pushed into the attachment channel  134  from below. 
     As a matter of manufacturability, it is desirable to retain the extruded constructions of the guiderails  110 . Compared to otherwise similar guiderails  110  that include the guideways  130  and the mounting flanges  132 , from the perspective of the guiderails  110 , their extruded constructions accommodate the addition of the attachment channels  134 . However, from the perspective of the perimeter frame  102  as a whole, the addition of the attachment channels  134  creates challenges with respect to connecting the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . 
     As a matter of reliability, it is desirable to stably connect the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . As noted above, during the deployment of the sunshade  106 , the motor  124  is operable to move the cables  122  along the guiderails  110  and the housings  112 . Correspondingly, the motor  124  is operable to move the cables  122  between the guiderails  110  and the housings  112 . The movement of the cables  122  therebetween creates moments between the guiderails  110  and the housings  112 . With the guideways  130  supporting the cables  122  for movement along the guiderails  110 , the moments between the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  are centered on the guideways  130 . The moments between the guiderails  110  and the housings  112 , while centered on the guideways  130 , act on the connections of the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . With the housings  112  stably connected to the mounting flanges  132 , the moments between the guiderails  110  and the housings  112  are counteracted. 
     As a matter of space optimization, despite the addition of the attachment channels  134 , it is desirable to maintain the sizes of the guiderails  110 . To connect the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 , existing configurations contemplate securing the housings  112  to the mounting flanges  132 . Accordingly, maintaining the sizes of the guiderails  110  creates the prospect of reliability drawbacks with respect to stably connecting the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . More specifically, with the sizes of the guiderails  110  maintained, the addition of the attachment channels  134  limits the available space for securing the housings  112  to the mounting flanges  132 . It is contemplated that to increase the available space for securing the housings  112  to the mounting flanges  132 , the attachment channels  134  may be partially removed from the longitudinal ends of the guiderails  110 . However, partially removing the attachment channels  134  from the longitudinal ends of the guiderails  110  creates the prospect of manufacturability drawbacks with respect to retaining the extruded constructions of the guiderails  110 . 
     As noted above, the perimeter frame  102  includes adaptor-based configurations for connecting the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . Among other aspects of the adaptor-based configurations, to connect the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 , the guiderail adaptors  114  are secured to the guiderails  110 . As shown with additional reference to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C , compared to existing configurations that contemplate securing the housings  112  to the mounting flanges  132 , the guiderail adaptors  114  are advantageously secured to not only the mounting flanges  132 , but also the attachment channels  134 . As explained in additional detail below, the guiderail adaptors  114  advantageously promote both retaining the extruded constructions of the guiderails  110  and maintaining the sizes of the guiderails  110 , and at the same time, advantageously stably connect the housings  112  to the guiderails  110 . With respect to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C , this description follows with reference to one representative guiderail  110 , one representative housing  112 , namely, the main housing  112 A, and one representative guiderail adaptor  114 . However, it will be understood that this disclosure is applicable in principle to the other guiderail  110 , the other housing  112 , namely, the auxiliary housing  112 B, and the other guiderail adaptors  114 . 
     As shown, as part of the adaptor-based configuration for connecting the main housing  112 A to the guiderail  110 , the perimeter frame  102  includes the guiderail  110  and the main housing  112 A. As noted above, the guiderail  110  includes the guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134 , and the main housing  112 A includes the guiderail adaptor  114  and the access plate  126 . With respect to the guiderail adaptor  114 , the perimeter frame  102  also includes a first fastener  200 A for securing the guiderail adaptor  114  to the attachment channel  134  and a second fastener  200 B for securing the guiderail adaptor  114  to the mounting flange  132 . With respect to the access plate  126 , the perimeter frame  102  also includes a third fastener  200 C for securing the access plate  126  to the mounting flange  132  together with the guiderail adaptor  114 . 
     At one longitudinal end, the guiderail  110  includes an end face  202 . The end face  202  is oriented normally to the guiderail  110 . As noted above, the guiderail  110  has an extruded construction. Accordingly, the guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134  extend continuously along the guiderail  110 . Correspondingly, the guiderail  110  has, and the end face  202  features, a compound cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134 . From the perspective of the guiderail  110 , the guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134  extend continuously along the guiderail  110  to the end face  202 . From the perspective of the guiderail adaptor  114 , the guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134  extend from the end face  202  continuously along the guiderail  110 . 
     At one lateral end, the main housing  112 A includes a wing-like support  204  for the guiderail adaptor  114 . The support  204  projects from the main housing  112 A normally thereto and distally supports the guiderail adaptor  114 . The guiderail adaptor  114  includes a base  206  for the end face  202  and a multi-bracket  208  for the guiderail  110 . The base  206  is oriented normally to the support  204  and is complementary to the end face  202 . The multi-bracket  208  projects from the base  206  normally thereto and is complementary to the guiderail  110 . As noted above, once the sunshade module  100  is mounted to the roof, the access plate  126  is removable from the remainder of the main housing  112 A from below. The access plate  126  includes a wing-like extension  210  for the guiderail  110 . The extension  210  projects from the access plate  126  normally thereto and is complementary to the mounting flange  132 . 
     As shown, the multi-bracket  208  includes a cable plug  212  for the guideway  130 , an elongate block-like first bracket  214  for the attachment channel  134 , and an elongate block-like second bracket  216  for the mounting flange  132 . The cable plug  212 , the first bracket  214 , and the second bracket  216  are oriented with the multi-bracket  208  and project side-by-side from the base  206 . The cable plug  212  and the second bracket  216  are opposed from one another about the first bracket  214 . The cable plug  212  is located inward toward the sunshade opening  104  and the second bracket  216  is located outward away from the sunshade opening  104 . The first bracket  214  is located between the cable plug  212  and the second bracket  216 , outward of the cable plug  212  and inward of the second bracket  216 , and further inward toward the cable plug  212  than the second bracket  216 . The cable plug  212  is complementary to the guideway  130 . Moreover, the cable plug  212  is complementary to the cable  122  supported by the guideway  130 . The first bracket  214  is complementary to the attachment channel  134 . The second bracket  216  is complementary to the mounting flange  132 . 
     As part of the multi-bracket  208 , the cable plug  212  is pluggable into the guideway  130 , the first bracket  214  is insertable into the attachment channel  134 , and the second bracket  216  is disposable atop the mounting flange  132 . During the assembly of the perimeter frame  102 , with the guiderail adaptor  114  aligned with the guiderail  110 , the base  206  is advanced to the end face  202 . With the base  206  advanced to the end face  202 , the base  206  engages the end face  202 . As shown, the base  206  engages a portion of the end face  202  corresponding to the attachment channel  134  and a portion of the end face  202  corresponding to the mounting flange  132 . As part of the multi-bracket  208 , the cable plug  212 , the first bracket  214 , and the second bracket  216  project from the base  206  past the end face  202  to overlap the guideway  130 , the mounting flange  132 , and the attachment channel  134 . Correspondingly, the cable plug  212  is plugged into the guideway  130 , the first bracket  214  is inserted into the attachment channel  134 , and the second bracket  216  is disposed atop the mounting flange  132 . Moreover, as part of the access plate  126 , the extension  210  is disposable underside the mounting flange  132 . During the assembly of the perimeter frame  102 , with the access plate  126  aligned with the remainder of the main housing  112 A, the extension  210  is disposed underside the mounting flange  132  opposite the second bracket  216 . 
     As shown with particular reference to  FIG.  2 A , the cable plug  212  supports the cable  122  for movement therealong. As noted above, the guiderail  110  and the main housing  112 A support the cable  122  for movement therealong. Correspondingly, the guiderail  110  and the main housing  112 A support the cable  122  for movement therebetween. With the guideway  130  supporting the cable  122  for movement along the guiderail  110 , from inside the guideway  130 , the cable plug  212  supports the cable  122  for movement between the guideway  130  and the main housing  112 A. 
     As shown with particular reference to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 C , with the first bracket  214  inside the attachment channel  134 , the first fastener  200 A is installed from above the attachment channel  134 . With its installation, the first fastener  200 A extends from atop the attachment channel  134  to the first bracket  214  through the attachment channel  134 . From its position at the first bracket  214 , the first fastener  200 A is secured to the first bracket  214 . In association therewith, from its position atop the attachment channel  134 , the first fastener  200 A engages the attachment channel  134  from above. For example, with a configuration typical of threaded fasteners, the first fastener  200 A may include a head and a threaded shank projecting from the head. Correspondingly, the first bracket  214  may include a threaded retainer for the threaded shank. In this example, the threaded shank may extend through the attachment channel  134  and thread with the threaded retainer, and in association therewith, the head may engage the attachment channel  134  from above. 
     As shown with particular reference to  FIGS.  2 B and  2 C , with the second bracket  216  atop the mounting flange  132 , the second fastener  200 B is installed from below the mounting flange  132 . With its installation, the second fastener  200 B extends from underside the mounting flange  132  to the second bracket  216  through the mounting flange  132 . From its position at the second bracket  216 , the second fastener  200 B is secured to the second bracket  216 . In association therewith, from its position underside the mounting flange  132 , the second fastener  200 B engages the mounting flange  132  from below. For example, with a configuration typical of threaded fasteners, the second fastener  200 B may include a head and a threaded shank projecting from the head. Correspondingly, the second bracket  216  may include a threaded retainer for the threaded shank. In this example, the threaded shank may extend through the mounting flange  132  and thread with the threaded retainer, and in association therewith, the head may engage the mounting flange  132  from below. 
     Similarly, with the extension  210  underside the mounting flange  132 , the third fastener  200 C is installed from below the mounting flange  132 . With its installation, the third fastener  200 C extends from underside the extension  210  to the second bracket  216  through the extension  210  and the mounting flange  132 . From its position at the second bracket  216 , the third fastener  200 C is secured to the second bracket  216 . In association therewith, from its position underside the extension  210 , the third fastener  200 C engages the extension  210  from below. For example, with a configuration typical of threaded fasteners, the third fastener  200 C may include a head and a threaded shank projecting from the head. Correspondingly, the second bracket  216  may include a threaded retainer for the threaded shank. In this example, the threaded shank may extend through the extension  210  and the mounting flange  132  and thread with the threaded retainer, and in association therewith, the head may engage the extension  210  from below. 
     With their installation, the first fastener  200 A, the second fastener  200 B, and the third fastener  200 C secure the guiderail adaptor  114  to the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132 , and secure the access plate  126  to the mounting flange  132  together with the guiderail adaptor  114 . As shown, using the first fastener  200 A, the first bracket  214  is secured to the attachment channel  134 . From inside the attachment channel  134 , the first bracket  214  engages the attachment channel  134  from below. Using the second fastener  200 B and the third fastener  200 C, whether individually or contributorily, the second bracket  216  is secured to the mounting flange  132 . From atop the mounting flange  132 , the second bracket  216  engages the mounting flange  132  from above. Using the third fastener  200 C, the extension  210  is secured to the mounting flange  132  together with the second bracket  216 . From underside the mounting flange  132 , the extension  210  engages the mounting flange  132  from below. 
     With the guiderail adaptor  114  secured to the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132 , the main housing  112 A is secured to the guiderail  110  by the guiderail adaptor  114 , and thereby connected to the guiderail  110 . With respect to securing the guiderail adaptor  114  to the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132 , at the base  206 , the guiderail adaptor  114  is advanced to the end face  202 , and engages the end face  202 . At the first bracket  214  and the second bracket  216 , the guiderail adaptor  114  projects past the end face  202  to overlap the guiderail  110 . Correspondingly, at the first bracket  214 , the guiderail adaptor  114  is inserted into the attachment channel  134 . Moreover, at the second bracket  216 , the guiderail adaptor  114  is disposed atop the mounting flange  132 . With the first bracket  214  and the second bracket  216  projecting side-by-side from the base  206 , the guiderail adaptor  114  bifurcately projects past the end face  202  to overlap the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132 . Correspondingly, the guiderail adaptor  114  is bifurcately inserted into the attachment channel  134  and disposed atop the mounting flange  132 . With the first bracket  214  inside the attachment channel  134 , the guiderail adaptor  114  is secured to the attachment channel  134  by the first bracket  214 . Moreover, at the first bracket  214 , from inside the attachment channel  134 , the guiderail adaptor  114  engages the attachment channel  134  from below. With the second bracket  216  atop the mounting flange  132 , the guiderail adaptor  114  is secured to the mounting flange  132  by the second bracket  216 . Moreover, at the second bracket  216 , from atop the mounting flange  132 , the guiderail adaptor  114  engages the mounting flange  132  from above. 
     Compared to existing configurations that contemplate securing the main housing  112 A to the mounting flange  132 , the guiderail adaptor  114  is advantageously secured to not only the mounting flange  132 , but also the attachment channel  134 . As shown, the guiderail adaptor  114  advantageously facilitates securement to the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132  by bifurcately projecting past the end face  202  to overlap the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132 . Correspondingly, the guiderail adaptor  114  advantageously promotes both retaining the extruded construction of the guiderail  110  and maintaining the size of the guiderail  110 . For example, by securing to the attachment channel  134 , the guiderail adaptor  114  advantageously eliminates the need to partially remove the attachment channel  134  from the longitudinal end of the guiderail  110 . At the same time, the guiderail adaptor  114  advantageously stably connects the main housing  112 A to the guiderail  110 . For example, by securing to the attachment channel  134 , the guiderail adaptor  114  advantageously facilitates the connection of the main housing  112 A to the guiderail  110  further inward toward the guideway  130  than the mounting flange  132 , where the moments between the guiderail  110  and the main housing  112 A are centered. For example, by securing to the attachment channel  134  and the mounting flange  132 , and engaging the attachment channel  134  from below and the mounting flange  132  from above, the guiderail adaptor  114  advantageously counteracts the moments between the guiderail  110  and the main housing  112 A. 
     While recited characteristics and conditions of the invention have been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.