Remote manual anti-backdrive system for modular rear-mounted window assembly

• US 5,836,110 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dura Operating Corporation (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Original Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buening, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US08/726,055
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 49/118, 49/121, 49/360, 49/352, 49/380, 49/347, 49/349, 49/139, 49/140, 49/331, 49/332, 296/223, 74/89.22, 192/8 C, 192/7
• US Class Current: 49/360
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/16 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1853 horizontally in direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/74 for sliding window panes, e.g. sash guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/1047 specially adapted for vehicles E05D15/1044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2015/1055 with slanted or curved track sections or cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/505 for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/535 for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/643 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables by flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/635
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/646 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/49 Wrap springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18848 with pulley

Abstract

A modular window assembly has a glazing pane, typically a slider assembly incorporating a vertically mounted transparent pane, which is slidably mounted in a rear-mounted frame. The slider pane is mounted for moving laterally back and forth between a closed and an open position. A drive subassembly comprises a drive drum and handle remotely mounted in the passenger compartment for moving the sliding pane back and forth between the open and closed positions. An anti-backdrive subassembly is connected to the drive drum and the handle to substantially prevent opening or closing of the slider pane by forces other than operation of the handle. The drive subassembly further comprises a mechanism for operatively connecting the handle to the sliding pane, for example, a drive cable mounted in the roof above a roof liner. When the handle is rotated in either direction, the drive drum wraps and unwraps corresponding segments of the drive cable, pulling the sliding pane between its open and closed position. When a force is exerted directly on the sliding pane, the anti-backdrive device substantially prevents rotation of the drive drum and correspondingly, movement of the sliding pane.

Claims

1. A modular window assembly vertically mounted in a motor vehicle body having a windshield and a roof, enclosing a passenger compartment, the modular window assembly comprising, in combination:

a circumferential rear-mounted frame member mounted in a window recess in the vehicle body rearward of a driver'"'"'s seat;

a slider subassembly comprising a sliding pane mounted in the rear-mounted frame member to slide laterally back and forth between an open position and a closed position; and

a drive subassembly to move the slider subassembly laterally back and forth between its open and closed positions, the drive subassembly comprising;

a manually-operable drive unit secured to the roof of the vehicle remote from the rear-mounted frame member; and

an anti-backdrive subassembly for substantially preventing movement of the slider subassembly between its open and closed positions by forces other than operation of the manually-operable drive unit.

2. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive subassembly further comprises a drive member attached to the slider subassembly to pull the slider subassembly substantially laterally in a first direction toward its open position upon movement of the drive unit in a first direction, and for pulling the slider subassembly substantially laterally in a second direction toward its closed position upon movement of the drive unit in a second direction.

3. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the drive unit comprises a drive drum housing containing a drive drum, the anti-backdrive subassembly being connected to the drive drum, a handle being connected to the anti-backdrive subassembly, the drive member comprises a drive cable attached to the slider subassembly and wrapped around the drive drum for pulling the slider subassembly, the slider subassembly and drive cable together forming a closed loop from the drive drum, with a first drive cable segment extending laterally from the slider subassembly toward a left side of the frame member and a second drive cable segment extending laterally from the slider subassembly toward a right side of the frame member.

4. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the anti-backdrive subassembly comprises:

a driving member engageable with the handle;

a driven member driven by the driving member to rotate with rotation of the handle; and

a camming member engageable with the drive drum and driven by the driven member to rotate with rotation of the handle and to substantially prevent rotation of the drive drum by forces exerted directly on the slider subassembly.

5. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the driving member comprises a stem having opposed first and second ends, the first end engaging the handle, and a drive plate having a slot formed therein defining first and second slot edges, the drive plate being secured to a middle portion of the stem, the driven member comprises a housing freely rotatable about the stem between the drive plate and the first end and a biasing member contained within the housing having a first engaging surface proximate and engageable with the first slot edge and a second engaging surface proximate and engageable with the second slot edge, the biasing member being movable in a first direction within the housing when the first slot edge engages the first engaging surface and in a second direction when the second slot edge engages the second engaging surface, the camming member having a camming surface at a first end thereof and engaging the drive drum at a second end thereof, the camming member being freely rotatable about the stem between the drive plate and the second end, the camming surface being proximate and engageable with the first and second engaging surfaces, the biasing member substantially preventing rotation of the drive drum member when the camming surface engages the first and second engaging surfaces.

6. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein the biasing member comprises a coil spring, a first end of the coil spring projecting radially inwardly toward a center of the housing forming the first engaging surface, and a second end of the coil spring projecting radially inwardly toward the center of the housing forming the second engaging surface.

7. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein the housing is cup shaped, the coil spring nests within the housing, the drive plate nests within the coil spring, and the camming member nests within the drive plate.

8. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the camming surface defines first and second cam edges, the first cam edge abutting a first side of the first engaging surface, the first slot edge abutting an opposed second side of the first engaging surface, the second cam edge abutting a first side of the second engaging surface, the second slot edge abutting an opposed second side of the second engaging surface.

9. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein engagement of the first and second slot edges with the first and second engaging surfaces causes the coil spring to compress within the housing.

10. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein engagement of the first and second cam edges with the first and second engaging surfaces causes the coil spring to expand within the housing.

11. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein the camming member comprises a pinion gear having a projection extending from the first end forming the camming surface, the pinion gear matingly engaging with a chamber formed in the drive drum.

12. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the drive unit is secured to the roof of the vehicle and the drive cable extends between the roof and a roof liner attached to the roof.

13. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the drive unit is located proximate the windshield.

14. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the handle extends and rotates within the passenger compartment of the vehicle in a plane substantially parallel to the roof.

15. A modular window assembly vertically mounted in a motor vehicle body having a windshield and a roof, enclosing a passenger compartment, the modular window assembly comprising, in combination:

a circumferential rear-mounted frame member mounted in a window recess in the vehicle body comprising;

a slider subassembly comprising a sliding pane mounted in the rear-mounted frame member to slide laterally back and forth between an open position and a closed position; and

a pull-pull cable drive subassembly to move the slider subassembly laterally back and forth between its open and closed positions, the pull-pull cable drive subassembly comprising;

a drive drum mounted to the roof of the vehicle body remote from the rear-mounted frame member;

an anti-backdrive subassembly connected to the drive drum to substantially prevent movement of the slider subassembly between its open and closed positions by forces other than operation of a handle connected to the anti-backdrive subassembly; and

a drive cable attached to the slider subassembly and wrapped around the drive drum for pulling the slider subassembly substantially laterally in a first direction toward its open position upon rotation of the handle in a first rotational direction, and for pulling the slider subassembly substantially laterally in a second direction toward its closed position upon rotation of the handle in an opposite rotational direction, the slider subassembly and drive cable together forming a closed loop from the drive drum, with a first drive cable segment extending laterally from the slider subassembly toward a left side of the frame member and a second drive cable segment extending laterally from the slider subassembly toward a right side of the frame member.

16. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the first drive cable segment extends in a first cable channel in a substantially horizontal upper portion of the frame member, and at least a section of the second drive cable segment extends in a second cable channel in the upper portion of the frame member.

17. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the first and second channels has a closed cross-sectional configuration.

18. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein a portion of the drive cable extends from the slider subassembly to the drive drum between the roof and a roof liner attached to the roof.

19. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 15 further comprising at least one fixed-position pane mounted to the frame member, an outside surface of the sliding pane in its closed position being in a plane, substantially flush with an outside surface of the fixed-position pane, and in its open position being in an offset plane substantially parallel to the first plane, substantially overlapping the fixed-position plane;

guide means for guiding the sliding pane as it moves in a path of travel between its open and closed positions, the guide means comprising;

guide channels extending in the frame member and defining the path of travel,

fixed members extending from the sliding pane into the guide channels, and

kick-out means provided by the frame member for engaging the fixed members at least during initial lateral movement of the sliding pane in its path of travel from its closed position toward its open position, to forcibly guide the sliding pane from the first plane toward the second plane substantially simultaneously with said initial lateral movement of the sliding pane from its closed position toward its open position.

20. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 19 further comprising first and second fixed-position panes substantially flush with each other, the sliding pane in its closed positions being between, and substantially flush with, both of the fixed-position panes.

21. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 19 further comprising sealing means for providing a substantially weather-tight seal between the sliding pane in its closed position and the fixed pane.

22. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein the sealing means comprises an O-seal extending on the inside surface of the fixed-position pane proximate its peripheral edge adjacent the sliding pane, and a sealing flange extending from the inside surface of the sliding pane outwardly toward the fixed-position pane, having a flange surface seated against and at least partially compressing the O-seal.

23. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein the sealing means comprises an elastomeric, full-circumference blade seal mounted to a full-circumference sealing flange extending from the inside surface of the sliding pane.

24. A modular window assembly vertically mounted in a motor vehicle body having a windshield and a roof, enclosing a passenger compartment, the modular window assembly comprising, in combination:

a circumferential rear-mounted frame member mounted in a first plane in a window recess in the vehicle body rearward of a rearmost edge of a driver'"'"'s door;

a slider subassembly comprising a sliding pane mounted in the rear-mounted frame member to slide laterally back and forth between an open position and a closed position; and

a drive subassembly to move the slider subassembly laterally back and forth between its open and closed positions, the drive subassembly comprising;

a manually-operable drive unit comprising a hand crank mounted in a second plane different from the first plane forward of the rearmost edge of the driver'"'"'s door; and

an anti-backdrive subassembly for substantially preventing movement of the slider subassembly between its open and closed positions by forces other than operation of the manually-operable drive unit.