Abstract:
A guide system for guiding a window glass of a vehicle includes a guide rail and a guide. The guide includes a shaft to be attached to the window glass; a base as one part of a component divided in a widthwise direction of the vehicle and contacting an inner surface of the guide rail at an inner side of the vehicle; and a slider slidably attached to the base as the other part of the component and contacting an inner surface of the guide rail at an outer side of the vehicle. An elastic member is disposed between the base and the slider for pressing the slider toward the outside of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a guide system for guiding a window glass of a vehicle, particularly to the guide system for effectively eliminating a play between the glass and a guide rail.  
           [0002]    A conventional guide includes a main member of a guide rail sliding in a groove with a roughly C-shaped cross section, and a shaft rotatably supported on the main guide member and projected from an open portion of a guide rail for holding a window glass (for example, refer to the following references No. 1 to No. 5).  
           [0003]    Also, as a conventional attachment structure of the guide rail, a pair of the guide rails is disposed in front and rear sides of a door. In the guide rails, the front guide rail has an opening facing a glass surface, and the rear guide rail has an opening facing the front of the vehicle (for example, refer to the following reference No. 6).  
           [0004]    Reference No. 1  
           [0005]    Japanese Utility Model Publication (Jikkai) No. 01-170775 (FIG. 1)  
           [0006]    Reference No. 2  
           [0007]    Japanese Patent Publication (Tokkohei) No. 04-60190 (FIG. 1)  
           [0008]    Reference No. 3  
           [0009]    Japanese Utility Model Publication (Jikkai) No. 04-124510 (FIG. 2)  
           [0010]    Reference No. 4  
           [0011]    Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 05-280246 (FIG. 1)  
           [0012]    Reference No. 5  
           [0013]    Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 07-52645 (FIGS. 1 and 2)  
           [0014]    Reference No. 6  
           [0015]    Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-270329 (FIG. 1 and 2)  
           [0016]    However, the above-mentioned conventional guides are mounted on the guide rails with the openings facing the glass surface. When the guide is mounted on the guide rail with the opening facing the front of the vehicle, there is a problem in which it is easy to rattle or make noises by a play therebetween.  
           [0017]    In other words, in the conventional guide, the rattles inside the guide rail are absorbed by elasticity against a force in an axial direction of the shaft. On the other hand, if the opening faces the front of the vehicle, the direction of the force exerted on the shaft changes in a 90 degrees different direction. Therefore, when the conventional guide is mounted on the guide rail with the opening facing the front of the vehicle, the force is exerted in a direction perpendicular to the shaft, thereby causing a risk wherein the guide moves with the rattle in a width direction of the guide rail.  
           [0018]    Accordingly, in view of the above-mentioned problem associated with the conventional technology, the present invention has been made, and an object of the present invention is as follows. An object of the first aspect of the invention is to provide a guide suitable for a guide rail with an opening facing at least one of the front and backside of the vehicle.  
           [0019]    That is, the guide is divided in the width direction of the vehicle and a shaft is directly connected to a base side. Therefore, when a force is exerted on the base side, it is possible to prevent the rattles. On the other hand, when the force is exerted on a slider side through the shaft, the rattles can be absorbed by an elastic member disposed between the base and the slider. According to the second aspect, in addition to the object of the first aspect of the invention described above, an object is as follows.  
           [0020]    The object of the second aspect of the present invention is to provide a guide in which projections of the guide elastically abut against a bottom of the guide rail, thereby absorbing the rattles in a vertical direction of the guide rail. According to the third aspect, in addition to the object of the second aspect of the invention described above, an object is as follows.  
           [0021]    The object of the third aspect of the invention is to provide a guide having an elastic member for supporting an elastic force of the projections. According to the fourth aspect, in addition to any one of the objects of the first to third aspects of the invention described above, an object is as follows.  
           [0022]    The object of the fourth aspect of the invention is to provide a guide wherein a notch engages a claw, thereby simplifying an assembly of the guide, and also it is possible to control a sliding amount of a slider relative to the base. According to the fifth aspect, in addition to any one of the objects of the first to fourth aspects of the invention described above, an object is as follows.  
           [0023]    The object of the fifth aspect of the invention is to provide a guide suitable for a guide rail with an opening facing the front of the vehicle. According to the sixth aspect, in addition to any one of the objects of the first to fifth aspects of the invention described above, an object is as follows.  
           [0024]    The object of the sixth aspect of the invention is to provide a guide wherein a shaft is rotated in upper and lower directions of the window glass to smoothly raise and lower the window glass. For example, even when the guide rail is slightly curved relative to a moving direction of the vehicle, the shaft is rotated in the upper and lower directions of the window glass, thereby absorbing the curve of the guide rail.  
           [0025]    Incidentally, the rotation of the shaft in the width direction of the vehicle is limited so as not to hinder the function of the guide for preventing and absorbing the rattles of the window glass.  
           [0026]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0027]    The present invention has been made in order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, and characteristics of the invention will be explained.  
           [0028]    According to the first aspect of the invention, a guide rail (for example, a backside guide rail) includes the following structure.  
           [0029]    (1) Inner back wall  
           [0030]    (2) A pair of sidewalls extending from the inner back wall  
           [0031]    (3) Open portion facing the inner back wall.  
           [0032]    The open portion of the guide rail may face at least one of front and rear directions of a vehicle (for example, a backside guide rail). The guide for raising and lowering a window glass of the vehicle is mounted to be slidable inside the guide rail (for example, the backside guide rail), and includes the following structure.  
           [0033]    (4) Shaft  
           [0034]    The shaft is fixed to the window glass projecting from the open portion. More specifically, the shaft is fixed to the window glass through a bracket.  
           [0035]    The shaft may be directly fixed to the window glass without the bracket. The guide includes the following structure.  
           [0036]    (5) Base  
           [0037]    The base is one part of a component divided in the width direction of the vehicle, and contacts an inner surface of a sidewall of the pair of the sidewalls at an inside of the vehicle (for example, an inner vehicle sidewall).  
           [0038]    (6) Slider  
           [0039]    The slider is the other part of the component divided in the width direction of the vehicle, and contacts an inner surface of the sidewall of the pair of the sidewalls at an outside of the vehicle (for example, an outer vehicle sidewall) . Also, the slider is held by the base and can slide in the width direction of the vehicle.  
           [0040]    (7) Elastic member (for example, the first elastic member)  
           [0041]    The elastic member (for example, the first elastic member) is located between the base and the slider, and presses the slider toward the outside of the vehicle. According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the characteristics of the first aspect of the invention, the characteristics are as follows.  
           [0042]    At least one of the base and the slider has a projection elastically projecting toward the inner surface of the inner back wall of the guide rail (for example, the backside guide rail). According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the characteristics of the second aspect of the invention, a characteristic is as follows.  
           [0043]    The projection is urged in a direction that the projection projects toward the inner surface of the inner back wall of the guide rail (for example, the backside guide rail) with the elastic member (for example, the first elastic member). According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to any one of the characteristics of the first to third aspects of the invention, the characteristics are as follows.  
           [0044]    First, one of the base and the slider includes a depression. Second, the other of the base and the slider includes a claw for connecting the base to the slider when the claw elastically fits into the depression.  
           [0045]    Third, the depression is provided with a stopper at one end thereof for controlling the slider to move toward the outside of the vehicle by abutting against the claw. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to any one of the characteristics of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the characteristics are as follows.  
           [0046]    That is, the guide rail (for example, the backside guide rail) has the open portion facing the front of the vehicle. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to any one of the characteristics of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, the characteristics are as follows.  
           [0047]    That is, the shaft is held by the base and mounted to be rotatable only in the upper and lower directions of the window glass. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0048]    [0048]FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view showing a device for raising and lowering a window glass of a vehicle;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 2 is a side view of a door;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing a mounting state of the window glass;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a backside guide rail;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a guide;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the guide;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 7 is a side view of the guide;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the guide;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along  9 - 9  line in FIG. 8;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along  10 - 10  line in FIG. 8; and  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing a mounting state of the guide. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0059]    FIGS.  1 - 11  show embodiments of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view showing a device for raising and lowering a window glass of a vehicle, FIG. 2 is a side view of a door, FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing an installation state of the window glass, FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a backside guide rail, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a guide, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the guide, FIG. 7 is a side view of the guide, FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the guide, FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along  9 - 9  line in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along  10 - 10  line in FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing the installation state of the guide.  
         [0060]    (Elevator Device  10 )  
         [0061]    In FIGS.  1 - 2 ,  10  denotes the guide for raising and lowering a window glass  20  of the vehicle.  
         [0062]    The elevator device  10  is disposed, for example, on the door  30 , and connected to a window regulator (not shown in the figure). Incidentally, the elevator device  10  is not limited to the door  30 . The elevator device  10  mainly includes the following configuration as shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 .  
         [0063]    (1) Guide rails  40 ,  50   
         [0064]    (2) Guide  60   
         [0065]    (3) Bracket  70   
         [0066]    Incidentally, the elevator device  10  is not limited to the above-mentioned structure: (1)-(3). For example, although it is not shown in the figure, a shaft  200  may be directly fixed to the window glass  20  without the bracket  70 .  
         [0067]    (Window Glass  20 )  
         [0068]    Within upper and lower limits of the window glass  20 , as shown in FIG. 3, the following parts are disposed.  
         [0069]    (1) Weatherstrip  80   
         [0070]    (2) Stabilizer  90   
         [0071]    Incidentally, the parts disposed at the elevator position of the window glass  20  are not limited to the above-mentioned structure: (1)-(2).  
         [0072]    (Door  30 )  
         [0073]    As shown in FIG. 1, the door  30  mainly includes the following parts.  
         [0074]    Incidentally, the parts of the door  30  are not limited to the following (1)-(2).  
         [0075]    (1) Outer panel  31   
         [0076]    The outer panel  31  is located at the outside of the vehicle.  
         [0077]    (2) Inner panel  32   
         [0078]    The inner panel  32  is located at the inside of the vehicle.  
         [0079]    (Guide Rail  40 ,  50 )  
         [0080]    As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of the guide rails  40 ,  50  is disposed at the front and back sides of the door  30 .  
         [0081]    The guide rail  40  located at the front side of the door  30  has an opening facing the backside of the vehicle, although it is not shown in the figure. The window glass  20  is mounted on the front side guide rail  40  for elevating and lowering through the existing guide, though it is not shown in the figure. The guide rail  50  at the backside of the door  30  has an open portion  56  facing the front side of the vehicle, as described later.  
         [0082]    The backside guide rail  50 , as shown in FIG. 1, is located between the outer panel  31  and the inner panel  32 , and fixed to the inner panel  32  side. Incidentally, the backside guide rail  50  is inclined relative to a moving direction of the vehicle, or is slightly curved. More specifically, the backside guide rail  50  mainly includes the following configuration, as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0083]    Incidentally, the configuration of the backside guide rail  50  is not limited to the following structure: (1)-(4).  
         [0084]    (1) Inner back wall  51   
         [0085]    (2) Sidewalls  52 ,  53   
         [0086]    A pair of the sidewalls  52 ,  53 , as shown in FIG. 4, is located at the right and left sides, and projects respectively from both right and left ends of the inner back wall  51 .  
         [0087]    More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the right and left sidewalls  52 ,  53  are formed of the inner sidewall  52  at the inside of the vehicle and the outer sidewall  53  at the outside thereof.  
         [0088]    (3) Top wall  54 ,  55   
         [0089]    A pair of the top walls  54 ,  55 , as shown in FIG. 4, is located at the right and left sides, and is curved inwardly and oppositely from the right and left sidewalls  52 ,  53 .  
         [0090]    (4) Open portion  56   
         [0091]    The open portion  56 , as shown in FIG. 4, faces the inner back wall  51 , and located between the top walls  54 ,  55  at the right and left sides.  
         [0092]    (Guide  60 )  
         [0093]    The guide  60  is mounted and slidable in the backside guide rail  50  between the front and back guide rails  40 ,  50 , and is connected to the bracket  70 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0094]    More specifically, the guide  60 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 7, mainly includes the following parts.  
         [0095]    (1) Guide main member  100   
         [0096]    (2) Shaft  200   
         [0097]    Incidentally, the parts of the guide  60  are not limited to the above-mentioned structure: (1)-(2).  
         [0098]    (Bracket  70 )  
         [0099]    The bracket  70 , as shown in FIG. 1, fixes the window glass  20  to the shaft  200 , and is curved in an L-shape.  
         [0100]    (Main Guide Member  100 )  
         [0101]    The main guide member  100  is mounted and slidable in the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0102]    More specifically, the main guide member  100 , as shown in FIG. 5, mainly includes the following parts.  
         [0103]    (1) Base  110   
         [0104]    (2) Slider  120   
         [0105]    (3) Elastic members  130  and  140   
         [0106]    Incidentally, the parts of the guide main member  100  are not limited to the above-mentioned structure: (1)-(3).  
         [0107]    (Shaft  200 )  
         [0108]    The shaft  200 , as shown in FIGS. 1, 5, fixes the window glass  20  projecting from the open portion  56  of the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0109]    Additionally, the shaft  200 , as shown in FIG. 9, is held by the base  110 , and mounted to be rotatable only in a direction that the window glass  20  is elevated. The shaft  200 , as shown in FIG. 5, mainly includes the following parts.  
         [0110]    (1) Shaft main member  210   
         [0111]    (2) Round head portion  220   
         [0112]    Incidentally, the shaft  200  is not limited to the above-mentioned parts.  
         [0113]    (Base  110 )  
         [0114]    The base  110 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 11, is one side of parts divided in the width direction of the vehicle, and contacts the inner face of the inner sidewall  52 .  
         [0115]    The base  110 , as shown in FIGS.  5 - 11 , mainly includes the following parts. Incidentally, the parts of the base  110  are not limited to the following (1)-(3).  
         [0116]    (1) Shaft direct connection  160   
         [0117]    The shaft direct connection  160 , as shown in FIG. 9, is provided for mounting the shaft  200  to be rotatable only in the elevating direction of the window glass  20 .  
         [0118]    (2) Projections  111   
         [0119]    The pair of projections  111 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 11, is located at upper and lower sides, and elastically projects toward the inner surface of the inner back wall  51  of the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0120]    (3) Concaves  112   
         [0121]    The pair of concaves  112 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, is located at upper and lower sides, and is elongated along the sliding direction of the slider  120 , i.e. a widthwise direction of the vehicle.  
         [0122]    (Slider  120 )  
         [0123]    The slider  120 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 11, is the other parts divided in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and contacts the outer sidewall  53 . Also, the slider  120  is held by the base  110  and can slide in the width direction of the vehicle.  
         [0124]    The slider  120 , as shown in FIGS.  5 - 11 , mainly includes the following parts. Incidentally, the parts of the slider  120  are not limited to the following structure: (1)-(3).  
         [0125]    (1) Projections  121   
         [0126]    The pair of projections  121 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 11, is located at upper and lower sides, and elastically projects toward the inner surface of the inner back wall  51  of the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0127]    ( 2 ) Claws  122   
         [0128]    The claws  122 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, connect the base  110  and the slider  120  by elastically fitting into the concaves  112 . Each claw  122  controls movement of the slider  120  in a direction toward the outside of the vehicle by abutting against the stopper  113  at one end of each concave  112  in a longitudinal direction.  
         [0129]    (Elastic Members  130 ,  140 )  
         [0130]    The elastic members  130 ,  140 , as shown in FIG. 5, mainly include the following types.  
         [0131]    (1) One of first elastic member  130   
         [0132]    (2) Two of second elastic members  140   
         [0133]    Incidentally, the types of elastic members  130 ,  140  are not limited to the above-mentioned structure: (1)-(2), and one is enough.  
         [0134]    (Shaft Connection  160 )  
         [0135]    The shaft connection  160 , as shown in FIG. 9, mainly includes the following parts.  
         [0136]    Incidentally, the parts of the shaft connection  160  are not limited to the following structure: (1)-(3).  
         [0137]    (1) Bearing  161   
         [0138]    The bearing  161 , as shown in FIG. 9, supports the ball head portion  220  to be rotatable in the elevating direction of the window glass  20 .  
         [0139]    (2) Bulge  162   
         [0140]    The bulge  162 , as shown in FIG. 9, projects inwardly with a circular shape toward the bearing  161 , and prevents the ball head portion  220  from disengaging out of the bearing  161 .  
         [0141]    (3) Guide frame  163   
         [0142]    The guide frame  163 , as shown in FIGS. 6, 9, surrounds a moving range of the main shaft member  210  in a quadrangular shape, and is elongated along the sliding direction of the slider  120 , i.e. the vertical direction. The main shaft member  210 , as shown in FIG. 9, is controlled in the range of the vertical movement by abutting against the upper and lower walls of the guide frame  163 .  
         [0143]    The right-and-left movement of the main shaft member  210 , as shown in FIG. 6, is also controlled by abutting against the right and left walls of the guide frame  163 .  
         [0144]    (First Elastic Member  130 )  
         [0145]    The first elastic member  130 , as shown in FIG. 11, is located between the base  110  and the slider  120 , and presses the slider  120  toward the outside direction of the vehicle.  
         [0146]    Also, the first elastic member  130 , as shown in FIG. 5, is located across the two projections  121  of the slider  120 , and although it is not shown in the figure, the first elastic member  130  urges each projection  121  in the projecting direction toward the inner surface of the inner back wall  51  of the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0147]    (Second Elastic Members  140 )  
         [0148]    There are two second elastic members  140 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. Each of the second elastic members  140  is located inside the two projections  111  of the base  110 , respectively, and urges each of the projections  111  in the projecting direction toward the inner surface of the inner back wall  51  of the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0149]    (Operation of the Guide  60 )  
         [0150]    The guide  60  with the above-mentioned configuration operates as follows.  
         [0151]    First, at the highest elevating position of the window glass  20 , as shown in FIG. 3, a reaction force F 2  is exerted on the shaft  200  of the guide  60  through the bracket  70  with the stabilizer  90  as a rotational center by a reaction force (F 1 ) of the weatherstrip  80 . At this time, since the shaft  200  is directly connected to the base  110 , the base  110  directly contacts the inner surface of the inner sidewall  52  of the backside guide rail  50 , so that the main guide member  100  of the guide  60  is prevented from moving inside the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0152]    On the other hand, when the reaction force (F 1 ) of the weatherstrip  80  is not exerted upon, for example, opening the door  30 , the reaction force F 3  in the opposite direction of the F 2  is exerted by the window glass  20  own weight, and the base  110  moves closer toward the slider  120 . At this time, the slider  120  is stuck to the inner surface of the outer vehicle sidewall  53  of the backside guide rail  50 . Accordingly, the first elastic member  130  is compressed between the base  110  and the slider  120 , and a resilient restoration force of the first elastic member  130  absorbs rattles by a play of the main guide member  100  of the guide  60  inside the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0153]    On the other hand, when a force is exerted in the axial direction of the shaft  200  by a vibration or an inertia of the vehicle, the projections  111  of the base  110  and the projections  121  of the slider  120  are pressed toward the inner surface of the inner back wall  51  of the backside guide rail  50 . At this time, the resilient restoration forces of the projections  111 ,  121  absorb the rattles of the main guide member  100  of the guide  60  inside the backside guide rail  50 .  
         [0154]    Also, the second elastic members  140  are pressed by the projections  111  of the base  110 , and the resilient restoration forces of the second elastic members  140  are exerted as well. Similarly, the first elastic member  130  is pressed by the projections  121  of the slider  120 , and the resilient restoration force of the first elastic member  130  is also exerted.  
         [0155]    The present invention with the above-mentioned configurations has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the invention, the following effect is obtained.  
         [0156]    In the first aspect, the present invention can provide the guide suitable for the guide rail with the opening facing at least the front or back of the vehicle. That is, the guide is divided in the widthwise direction of the vehicle and the shaft is directly connected to the base side. Therefore, when the force is exerted on the base side, it is possible to prevent the rattles. On the other hand, when the force is exerted on the slider side through the shaft, the rattles can be absorbed with the elastic member disposed between the base and the slider. According to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention described above, an effect can be obtained as follows.  
         [0157]    That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the guide in which the projections of the guide elastically abut against the bottom of the guide rail, thereby absorbing the rattles in a vertical direction of the guide rail. According to the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention described above, further effect can be obtained as follows.  
         [0158]    That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the guide having the elastic member for supporting the elastic force of the projections. According to the fourth aspect, in addition to any one of the effects of the first to third aspects of the invention described above, the other effect can be obtained as follows.  
         [0159]    That is, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the guide wherein the concave engages the claw, thereby simplifying the assembly of the guide, and also it is possible to control the sliding amount of the slider relative to the base. According to the fifth aspect, in addition to any one of the effects of the first to fourth aspects of the invention described above, further effect can be obtained as follows.  
         [0160]    That is, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the guide suitable for the guide rail with the opening facing the front of the vehicle. According to the sixth aspect, in addition to any one of the effects of the first to fifth aspects of the invention described above, further effect can be obtained as follows.  
         [0161]    That is, according to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the guide wherein the shaft is rotated in the elevating direction of the window glass to smoothly elevate the window glass. For example, even when the guide rail is slightly curved relative to the moving direction of the vehicle, the shaft is rotated in the elevating direction of the window glass, thereby absorbing the curve of the guide rail.  
         [0162]    Incidentally, the rotation of the shaft in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is limited so as not to hinder the function of the guide for preventing and absorbing the rattles of the window glass.  
         [0163]    While the present invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.