Safety apparatus for a motor driven window

• US 4,943,757 A
• Filed: 05/23/1989
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: kabelmetal electro GmbH
• Original Assignee: kabelmetal electro GmbH
• Inventors: Richter, Siegfried, Bauernfeind, Peter, Schauer, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/355,471
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 318/256, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/280, 318/283, 318/285, 318/286, 318/466, 318/468, 49/28
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

There is disclosed a safety apparatus for a motor driven window that comprises an elongated sensing mechanism that extends substantially across the width of a window aperture and along that side of the window aperture toward which a closing, motor driven window moves. Such elongated sensing mechanism is comprised, at least in part, of a piezoelectric cable for generating electrical pulses upon an obstruction extending across the path of the closing window being pushed against the sensing mechanism by the closing window. Coupled to the motor driven window is an electric motor that is connected so as to be responsive to the electrical pulses generated by the piezoelectric cable for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor.

Claims

1. Safety apparatus for a motor driven window of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

A vehicle outer wall including a window aperture;

a motor driven window slidably positioned within said outer wall and movable in a first direction toward a first side of said window aperture to assume a closed position, and movable in a second opposite direction to assume an open position;

a piezoelectric cable extending substantially across the width of said window aperture and along said first side of said window aperture for generating electrical pulses upon an obstruction extending through said window aperture being pushed against said piezoelectric cable; and

an electric motor coupled to said motor driven window for movement in said first direction upon rotation of said electric motor in a first direction, and movement in said second opposite direction upon the reversal of direction of rotation of said electric motor, said electric motor being connected to said piezoelectric cable so as to be responsive to an electrical pulse generated thereby for reversing the direction of rotation of said electric motor upon said obstruction being pushed against said piezoelectric cable.

2. Safety apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric cable is extending through an elongated aperture in a flexible seal attached to a surface of said vehicle outer wall in the vicinity of said first side of said window aperture.