MXPA00009222A - Window lift bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A window lift bracket (20) for attachment to a movable window (26) and which is connectable to a window lifting mechanism (24). The window lift bracket (20) includes a base (28) which is attachable to the window lifting mechanism (24) and spaced apart sidewalls (30) extending from the base (28) being positionable on either side of the movable window (26). The spaced apart sidewalls (30) define a channel (32) therebetween. The window lift bracket (20) includes at least one member, such as a flexible beam member (40), which is disposed generally in the channel (32) for engaging the window (26) when the window (26) is disposed therein. Preferably, the engagement between the member (40) and the window (26) provides a reduced stress area at the bottom of the channel (32). Opposing surfaces (46) of the spaced apart sidewalls (30) may provide convoluted surfaces, such as protrusions (50) and depressions (52), which effectively increase the surface area to which the adhesive (36) adheres, thereby improving the adhesion of the adhesive (36) to the window bracket (20) and the window (26).

Description

WINDOW LIFTING MECHANISM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Related Request The priority application claims the benefit of the United States Provisional Application Series No. 60 / 160,102, filed on October 18, 1999.

BACKGROUND The present invention relates generally to a bracket for attachment to a moveable window and a connection to a window lift mechanism of an automobile or automotive, and relates more specifically to a window bracket having at least one beam flexible, which couples to the window. In vehicles, and especially in automobiles, it is highly desirable to have movable windows. With reference to automobiles, the windows can be moved up and down relative to a door assembly or assembly by the use of a manual crank or an electrically driven window lift mechanism. Many window lift mechanisms include a scissor link, which transfers movement from a hand crank or an electric drive to a window connected to the window lift mechanism. The scissor link is used to limit the movement of the window in a generally vertical direction. A transverse member is attached to the scissor link to provide a support for the movable window. Such a window lifter mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,513,468, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Mounting brackets or window lifting brackets are often used to attach the movable window to the transverse member attached to the scissor link. These brackets are generally joined to a mounting edge of the window in two spaced apart locations and a portion of the bracket is attached to the transverse window lift member. Many brackets of the prior art present problems in a movable window assembly, are difficult to manufacture and are relatively expensive. Some brackets of the prior art are manufactured from a stamped metal strip, which is deformed to a specific bracket configuration. These deformed components are subject to damage and failure as a result of corrosion, thus providing a weak link in the movable window assembly. With reference to the manufacture of such window lift brackets of the prior art, many opportunities for complications and defects are presented. Initially, a metal strip is stamped or cut to a desired size. Next, the metal component is stamped, drilled or drilled to provide through holes that will be used as described hereinafter. The stamped metal component is deformed to form a bracket having a generally "Y" shaped cross section. The deformed metal component must now be protected by painting, anodizing or other means to retard the corrosion process. Once protected, plastic mounting brackets are placed in a channel portion of the bracket and secured in the through holes through the use of a heat staking process. The base of the bracket is drilled to receive a fastener, which will be used to attach the bracket to the transverse member of the lifting mechanism. When applying such prior art lifting brackets to a window, an adhesive is provided in the channel portion of the lift bracket and the lift bracket is attached to the mounting or mounting edge of the movable window. The window, with two or more brackets placed on it, is subjected to a heat curing process in order to cure the adhesive. A heat curing adhesive is used to properly adhere the adhesive to the surfaces of the bracket and the window. As can be understood from the above description, there are numerous opportunities for problems arising in the manufacture of a window lift bracket as described in the prior art. For example, if the bracket is not properly formed, it would not fit properly on the window or it would not work on the movable window assembly. At each stage of the manufacturing process a new method of operation, coating, or joining is used, each presenting its own opportunity for problems. For example, as mentioned, clamps with the deformed metal bracket should be used to prevent the bracket from scratching the window glass and the protective coating over the window. Plastic clamps are a part of an individual piece that must be designed, purchased and operated in the manufacturing system. The clamps are typically produced by selectively cutting an extruded strip of plastic. Each clamp must be cut to a generally precise dimension thus requiring an additional inspection stage. The clamps should also be staked with heat to the metal bracket. The process of staking with heat deforms a portion of the plastic clamp on a stop portion of the metal bracket. If the plastic portion does not melt properly, it can not be held securely to the metal bracket, which may result in the window of the bracket being released under certain circumstances. It is clear that it is undesirable that the window of the bracket be released. Additionally, an adhesive is placed in a channel portion of the metal bracket to secure the window to the bracket. The adhesive must be selected to join or adhere to the metal bracket (or to the protective surface of the metal bracket) and to the glass and / or window covering. The numerous and diverse properties of the materials involved can make the selection of a suitable adhesive somewhat difficult. Also, if the metal bracket begins to corrode, corrosion could result in the release of the adhesive from the metal bracket. As can be clear, there are numerous problems associated with the manufacture and use of metal window lift brackets as currently used in the state of the art. As such, it is important to find a window lift bracket that overcomes the problems associated with the prior art devices.

A window lift bracket that overcomes many of the problems presented by some window brackets of the prior art, can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,513,468, which has been incorporated herein in its entirety by reference above in this document. The bracket disclosed in the '468 patent is also generally illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the present application, as designated by the reference number 10. The bracket 10 includes a base 12, which is configured to joining a window lifting mechanism (see Figure 1 of the '468 patent), and side walls spaced at a distance 14, which extend from the base 12 and define a channel 16, which receives an edge of the window (see Figures 1, 6 and 7 of the '468 patent. Each of the side walls 14 includes alternating protuberances 17 and depressions 18, which define a corrugated surface. As described in the '468 patent, the corrugated surfaces increase the effective surface area of the inner surface of the side walls 14, thereby increasing the contact surface between an adhesive applied to the corrugated surfaces and the window, which is arranged in the channel 16. As disclosed in the '468 patent, the bracket 10 also includes a slot 19 in the bottom of the channel 16, which provides even greater holding forces between the adhesive and the window. As disclosed in the '468 patent, the bracket 10 is preferably formed of a plastic material that allows the bracket to be integrally formed as a unitary one-piece body. Such a configuration has certain advantages, including certain manufacturing advantages. Although the bracket 10 disclosed in the '468 patent and illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the present application, has several advantages over many window brackets of the prior art, the bracket 10 also has a disadvantage. Specifically, the bracket 10 is configured in such a way that when the window is installed in the bracket 10, and specifically in the channel 19 defined by the side walls 14, an interference fit results between the side walls 14 and the window. The interference fit tends to create high stresses at the bottom of channel 16, which can cause the failure of the bracket 10. One embodiment of the present invention essentially provides an improvement to the bracket disclosed in the '468 patent. Hence, the modality provides many of the same advantages as the bracket described in the '468 patent, while at the same time aimed at overcoming the aforementioned disadvantage, namely, the elimination of the area with high effort presented in the bottom of the channel of the bracket described in the '468 patent.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A general object or objective of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a window lift bracket, which will securely attach to a window and a window lift mechanism. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a window lift bracket with a reduced stress area. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a window lift bracket, which is manufactured efficiently and eliminates numerous manufacturing steps and the parts required to manufacture a bracket. Briefly, and in accordance with at least one of the above, one embodiment of the present invention visualizes a window lift bracket for attaching to a mounting edge of a movable window and which is connectable to a window lift mechanism. The window lift bracket includes a base, which can be attached to the window lift mechanism and remotely spaced portions extending from the base can be placed on either side of the movable window. The remotely spaced portions define a channel between them. The window lift bracket includes at least one member, such as a flexible beam member, which is generally disposed in the channel to engage with the window when it is placed therein. Preferably, the coupling between the member and the window provides a reduced area of stress at the bottom of the channel. Opposing surfaces of the spaced apart portions may provide corrugated surfaces, such as protrusions and depressions, which effectively increase the surface area to which the adhesive adheres, thereby improving adhesion of the adhesive to the window bracket and the window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a window lift bracket of the prior art, which is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,513,468; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a window lift bracket, where the window lift bracket is presented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the window lift bracket shown in FIGURE 2, showing the entire bracket; FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the window lift bracket shown in FIGURE 3; FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the window lift bracket shown in FIGURE 3; FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the window lift bracket shown in FIGURE 3, taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing the window disposed in a channel defined by the bracket; FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing a window disposed in the channel defined by the bracket; FIGURE 9 is an amplification of an upper portion of FIGURE 8, showing an adhesive disposed in the channel defined by the bracket; and FIGURE 10 is an amplification of a middle portion of FIGURE 4, showing for sale disposed in the channel defined by the bracket, and showing the coupling of two flexible beam or brace members of the bracket to the window.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the invention may be susceptible to incorporation in different ways, it is shown in the drawings and will be described in this document in detail, one embodiment in the understanding that the present description is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment as illustrated and described herein. FIGS. 2 to 10 illustrate a window lift bracket 20, which is presented according to one embodiment of the present invention. The window lift bracket 20 is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,513,468, which has been incorporated herein in its entirety by reference hereinabove. Similar to the bracket shown in FIGURE 1 (and described in the '468 patent), the bracket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 10 is configured to be attached to a window lifter mechanism 24 and a window 26 (see FIGURE 3, for example). example), essentially providing a link between the window lift mechanism 24 and the window 26. The bracket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 10 of the present application preferably includes a base 28 and distance spaced means, such as sidewalls 30 generally parallel, which extend from the base 28, thus defining a channel 32, which receives an edge 34 of the window 26. Preferably, the spaced apart means 30 provide corrugated surfaces that provide increased surface areas for an adhesive 36 to be adhered. Unlike the bracket 10 shown in FIGURE 1 (and described in the '468 patent), where an interference fit results between the side walls 14 of the bracket 10 and the window when the window is arranged in the channel 16 between the side walls 14, the bracket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 10 includes a plurality of flexible beam or tie members 40, which extend from the base 28 and are generally disposed in the channel 32. Beam or tie members flexible 40 engage with the window 26 when the window 26 is arranged in the channel 32, and the coupling between the flexible beam or tie members 40 and the window 26 works to locate the resultant stress on the flexible beam or tie members 40, thus reducing the stress that would otherwise be experienced at the bottom of the channel 32, such as in the bracket 10 shown in FIGURE 1 (and described in the '468 patent). All this will be described more fully in this document.

As discussed above, preferably the window lift bracket 20 is configured to engage with a window lift mechanism 24. Specifically, the base 28 of the window lift bracket 20 preferably includes one or more holes 42 to receive corresponding fasteners 44 (shown with dashed line in FIGURE 3), which secure the base to the window lift mechanism 24, such as to a transverse member of the window lift mechanism 24. Although only a portion of the window lift mechanism 24 is shown in FIG. FIGURE 3, and the window lifter mechanism 24 is omitted from the remainder of the FIGURES for clarity, a window lifter mechanism 24 that can be employed with the window lift bracket 20 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,513,468 (see specifically Figure 1 of the '468 patent), and the' 468 patent has been incorporated herein in its entirety by reference ia above in the present description. As discussed above, the window lift bracket 20 is configured to receive an edge 34 of a window 26 and effectively provide a link or link between the window lift mechanism 24 and the window 26. Preferably, the window lift bracket 20 is configured to be securely coupled with the edge 34 of the window 26, without scratching the window or a protective coating that is often applied to the windows. As shown, the window lift bracket 20 includes remote spaced means 30, which are attached to and extend from the base 28 to connect the bracket 20 to the window 26. The spaced apart media 30 define a channel 32 therebetween , in which the edge 34 of the window 26 is adjusted. Preferably, an inner surface 46 of the spaced apart media 30 provides a corrugated surface for adhesion to an adhesive 36. The spaced apart media 30 is preferably formed as distance walls 30 spaced apart, generally vertical, which are joined together and extending from the base 28. The internal facing surfaces 46 of the side walls 30 preferably include protuberances 50, which are configured as ridges or ridges, and corresponding depressions 52, which are configured as valleys or depressions. Preferably, the peaks 50 and the valleys 52 are generally parallel to the travel direction of the window 26 (the arrow 56 in FIGURE 3 represents a preferred travel direction of the window 26). The crests 50 and the valleys 52 define a corrugated inner surface. The corrugated surfaces preferably increase the effective surface area of the inner surface 46 of the side walls 30, thereby increasing the contact surface between an adhesive 36 that is applied to the corrugated surfaces and the window 26. Preferably, the side walls 30 are spaced apart at a distance, such that when the window 26 is placed in the channel 32, an air space (defined by the reference number 60 in FIGURE 10) exists between the side walls 30 and the window 26, and only the members of flexible beam or tie 40 engage to make contact with the window 26. The flexible beam members 40 provide that the stress on the side walls 30 is located on the flexible beam members 40, and that the effort , which would otherwise be experienced at the bottom of channel 32 (ie, close to area 70 illustrated in FIGURE 9) is reduced. For example, the bracket 10 shown in FIGURE 1 (and described in the '468 patent) is configured to provide an interference fit between the side walls 14 of the bracket 10 and a window positioned in the channel 16. Such an interference fit provides a high stress area generally at the bottom of the channel (i.e. in area 15 shown in FIGURE 1). By contrast, the bracket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 10 includes flexible beam or tie members 40, which engage with the window 26, and an air space 60 (see FIGURE 10) is preferably provided between the internal surfaces 46 of the side walls 30 and window 26. Hence, stresses are located on flexible beam members 40, and a high stress area is removed from the bottom of channel 32 (i.e., in area 70 identified in FIG. FIGURE 9). As shown in FIGURES 2, 5, 6 and 9, each of the flexible beam or tie members 40 may include a hook portion 72 at one end thereof, to contact the window 26 which is disposed in the channel 32. Preferably, the flexible beam members 40 are also configured to allow free flow of the adhesive 36 along the internal surfaces 46 of the side walls 30, and the adhesive 36 does not leak from the bracket 20. As shown in FIG. shown in FIGURE 9, the adhesive 36 is preferably arranged in the channel 32 to make contact between the inner surfaces 46 of the side walls 30 and the window 26. Preferably, the adhesive 36 is retained between the side walls 30 and the window 26, and the rolled surfaces provide an increased surface area for improved adhesion. As shown, the adhesive 36 is also positioned between the spaced side walls 30 and the flexible beam members 40. In order to provide even greater holding forces between the adhesive 36, the bracket 20 and the window 26, a slot 80 can be formed on the bracket 20 generally at the bottom of the channel 32, between the side walls 30 to receive the adhesive therein. Preferably, the slot 80 runs generally along the bracket 20 to provide additional holding forces between the surface of the bracket 20 positioned proximate the slot 80, the adhesive 36 retained between the slot 80 and the edge 34 of the window 26 A type of adhesive that is used in the joining of the present bracket 20 to a window 26 requires a heat curing process. In such a way that the adhesive 36 is applied between the window 26 and the bracket 20 forming joints between the window 26 and the internal surfaces 46 of the side walls 30 and the groove 80. The window 26 and one or more attached brackets The window defines a movable window assembly, which is subjected to a heated environment to cure the adhesive 36. In this regard, it is preferable to form the bracket 20 of a suitable plastic material, which can withstand the temperature range required to cure by heat the adhesive 36. The bracket 20 is preferably formed of a plastic material that allows the bracket 20 to be integrally formed as a unitary single piece body. A material such as a nylon plastic filled with injection molded glass can be used. Such material will provide the manufacturing benefits of the plastic without compromising, and perhaps, improving the structural characteristics of the bracket 20. The unitary formation of the bracket 20 eliminates numerous manufacturing stages and, perhaps, the inspection stages required in some brackets of the previous technique. Also, the formation of the plastic bracket 20 eliminates the need to individually manufacture and assemble the brackets to prevent scratching of the glass and the protective coating of the window. As discussed above, the bracket 20 is preferably configured to be attached to a transverse member of a window lifting mechanism 24 by means of one or more fasteners 44 extending through the holes 42 formed in the base 28 of the bracket 20. Using the fasteners 44 to attach the bracket 20 to the window lifter mechanism 24 helps simplify the installation process and also reduces the weight of the complete vehicle assembly. Preferably, the plastic material used in the formation of the bracket 20 does not corrode, thus eliminating the corrosion failure, which can occur in some metal brackets of the prior art. Additionally, by providing the plastic bracket 20, the need for additional manufacturing steps such as a metal bracket liner to delay the corrosion process is eliminated. The plastic material greatly reduces the weight of the bracket 20, which can provide a remarkable cumulative effect since two brackets are often used per window, which results in the use of eight brackets per vehicle, thus providing eight times the reduction of weight per vehicle, when comparing the plastic bracket with the metal bracket of the prior art. Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art can devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The invention is not intended to be limited by the above description.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A window lift bracket that is configured to be attached to a movable window and which can be connected to a window lift mechanism, said window lift bracket comprising: a base that can be attached to the window lift mechanism; side walls spaced at a distance extending from the base that can be placed on either side of the movable window, said side walls spaced apart define a channel therebetween; and a plurality of flexible beam or tie members that are generally disposed in the channel and are configured to engage with the window when the window is placed in the channel. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spaced apart side walls and said flexible beam members are configured such that the flexible beam or tie members contact the window when said window is placed in the channel and said lateral walls spaced apart do not contact the window when said window is placed in the channel. 3. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposite surfaces of the spaced-apart side walls provide corrugated surfaces. 4. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the corrugated surfaces comprises projections and depressions. 5. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible beam members are configured to allow the generally free flow of adhesive along said distance walls spaced apart. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes at least one bore to receive a fastener to secure the base to the window lift mechanism. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the flexible beam members includes a hook portion, which makes contact with the window. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, which also comprises a slot in the bottom of the channel, generally between the side walls spaced apart. The window lift bracket as claimed in claim 1, which also comprises adhesive between said spaced-apart side walls and the flexible beam or tie members, 10 15 20 25