Window lift mechanism
First Claim
1. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprisinglift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising at least first and second sections,means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, andmeans interconnected to the rotative force means and the lift arm means for providing a first substantially constant mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second substantially constant mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said second mechanical advantage being greater than said first mechanical advantage.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automobile window lift mechanism having a lift arm assembly for raising and lowering a window along a travel path between an open and closed position, a pinion gear for supplying rotative force from a motor or manual handle for actuating the lift arm assembly, and a gear train interconnecting the pinion gear and the lift arm assembly to provide a substantially instantaneous increase in mechanical advantage and window closing force as the window engages an upper seal in the closed position. The gear train includes a gear reduction configuration and/or an increased lever effort arm to increase the mechanical advantage only during the closing movement of the window as it engages the upper seal.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprising
lift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising at least first and second sections, means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, and means interconnected to the rotative force means and the lift arm means for providing a first substantially constant mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second substantially constant mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said second mechanical advantage being greater than said first mechanical advantage.
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14. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprising
lift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising at least first and second sections, pinion gear means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, and gear train means interconnecting the pinion gear means and the lift arm means for providing a first mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said second mechanical advantage being greater than said first mechanical advantage, said first section of the travel path extending between the open position and a predetermined position and said second section extending between said predetermined position and said closed position, said gear train means comprising a sector gear connected to said lift arm means for actuating said lift arm means responsive to rotative force to raise and lower a window, said sector gear having separate first and second gear sections with said pinion gear means engaging said first gear section only for said first section of the travel path, and intermediate gear means for interconnecting said pinion gear means and said second gear section of said sector gear only for said second section of the travel path.
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22. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprising
lift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising at least first and second sections, pinion gear means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, and gear train means interconnecting the pinion gear means and the lift arm means for providing a first mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said second mechanical advantage being greater than said first mechanical advantage, said lift arm means comprising a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis to raise and lower a window, and said gear train means comprising a sector gear mounted to said lever for rotational movement about said pivot axis to pivot said lever, said sector gear having first and second radially spaced arcuate gear sections with said pinion gear means engaging said first gear section only for said first section of the travel path, and intermediate gear means for interconnecting said pinion gear means and said second gear section of said sector gear only for said second section of the travel path.
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32. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprising
lift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising at least first and second sections, pinion gear means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, and p1 gear train means interconnecting the pinion gear means and the lift arm means for providing a first mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said second mechanical advantage being greater than said first mechanical advantage, said gear train means comprising a sector gear connected to said lift arm means for actuating said lift arm means responsive to rotative force to raise and lower a window, said sector gear having separate first and second gear sections with said pinion gear means engaging said first gear section only for said first section of the travel path, and intermediate gear means for interconnecting said pinion gear means and said second gear section of said sector gear only for said second section of the travel path.
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40. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprising
lift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising at least first and second sections, pinion gear means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, and gear train means interconnecting the pinion gear means and the lift arm means for providing a first mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said second mechanical advantage being greater than said first mechanical advantage, said lift arm means comprising a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis to raise and lower a window, and said gear train means comprising a sector gear mounted to said lever for rotational movement about said pivot axis to pivot said lever, said sector gear having first and second radially spaced arcuate gear sections with said pinion gear means engaging said first gear section only for said first section of the travel path, and intermediate gear means for interconnecting said pinion gear means and said second gear section of said sector gear only for said second section of the travel path.
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50. An automobile window lift assembly for an automobile window which sealingly engages an upper window seal in a closed position comprising
lift arm means for raising and lowering a window along a path of travel between an open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with an upper window seal, the window travel path comprising a first larger section and a second smaller section, said first section extending between the open position and a predetermined position where the window is adjacent the upper seal and said second section extending between said predetermined position and said closed position, pinion gear means for supplying rotative force for actuating the lift arm means to raise and lower a window, and gear train means interconnecting the pinion gear means and the lift arm means for providing a first mechanical advantage over said first section of the travel path and a second greater mechanical advantage over said second section of the travel path, said gear train means comprising a sector gear connected to said lift arm means for actuating said lift arm means responsive to rotative force to raise and lower a window, said sector gear having separate first and second discrete gear sections with said pinion gear means engaging said first gear section only for said first section of the travel path to provide said first mechanical advantage, and intermediate gear means for interconnecting said pinion gear means and said second gear section of said sector gear only for said second section of the travel path to provide said second mechanical advantage.
Specification