BACKLITE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100269412A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: BROADHEAD, Douglas G., MIU, Traian, MELLARY, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/130
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1853 horizontally in direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis
• 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: E05Y 2900/516 for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

In an aspect, the invention is directed to a backlite assembly for a vehicle such as a pickup truck. The backlite assembly incorporates a motor assembly and a motor driven belt engaged with a guide rail that can be mounted to a structural support that is bonded to the fixed windows of the backlite assembly. A motor driven belt is used to actuate a movable window between closed and open positions. The lower support can also integrate the rail directly therein. The lower support can additionally integrate a housing for the motor assembly.

Claims

1. A backlite assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one fixed window;

a movable window;

a support structure connected to the at least one fixed window; and

a power sliding mechanism including

a guide rail having a guide channel, wherein the movable window is slidable in the guide channel between a closed position and an open position,

a motor connected to the guide rail,

a drive sprocket driven by the motor at a first end of the guide rail,

an idler at a second end of the guide rail,

a toothed belt, that is connected at a first end to the first bushing and at a second end to the second bushing, wherein the belt is engaged with the drive sprocket and with the idler between the first and second ends of the belt and is drivable in two directions by the motor though the drive sprocket to move the movable window between the closed position and the open position.

2. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first bushing assembly that is slidable in the guide channel and that is connected to a first side of the movable window, and a second bushing assembly that is slidable in the guide channel and that is connected to a second side of the movable window.

3. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support structure includes an upper support and a lower support, wherein the guide rail is connectable to the lower support.

4. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower support has a groove therein and wherein the guide rail has a tongue that frictionally fits in the groove.

5. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide channel has a pair of side walls, wherein each side wall has a rib that extends therefrom, wherein each bushing assembly includes a bushing body which has grooves which mate with the ribs on the side walls to support the bushing assembly in the guide channel.

6. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bushing body includes a pair of contact strips extending outwardly therefrom, wherein each contact strip is positioned to engage one of the side walls and has a selected contact surface area.

7. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the toothed belt extends between the drive sprocket and the idler in the channel underneath the bushing assemblies.

8. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one bushing assembly includes a bushing body and a belt end retainer, wherein the belt end retainer is biased relative to the bushing body in a direction that maintains tension in the toothed belt.

9. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each bushing assembly includes a bushing body and a belt end retainer, wherein the belt end retainer is biased relative to the bushing body in a direction that maintains tension in the toothed belt.

10. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the movable window is mounted to a carrier, wherein the carrier is slidably supported on the ribs on the side walls of the channel.

11. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the carrier is removably connected to each of the bushing assemblies.

12. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one fixed window and the support structure together define a periphery for the backlite assembly, and wherein the power sliding mechanism is at least substantially within the periphery, such that the backlite assembly is insertable as a single assembly into a window opening in a vehicle having a periphery that is substantially the same size as the periphery of the backlite assembly.

13. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is a bidirectional electric motor.

14. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed window includes a first fixed window and a second fixed window, wherein the movable window is between the first and second fixed windows when in the closed position.

15. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the motor is positioned proximate the movable window when the movable window is in the closed position.

16. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide rail is integrally formed in the structural support.

17. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each bushing assembly includes a locking aperture and a locking member, wherein the locking member has grooves that are complementary to teeth on the toothed belt, wherein an associated end of the toothed belt is folded over the locking member such that teeth on the toothed belt engage the grooves on the locking member, and wherein the locking member with the toothed belt folded thereover is slidable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of travel for the belt, into a snuggly sized locking aperture in the bushing assembly, such that the locking aperture is sized to prevent the belt from slipping relative to the locking member in the travel direction for the belt and wherein a shoulder of the locking aperture prevents the locking member and first end of the belt from being withdrawn together from the bushing assembly in the direction of travel of the belt.

18. A backlite assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein each bushing assembly includes a bushing body and a belt end retainer, wherein the belt end retainer is biased relative to the bushing body in a direction that maintains tension in the toothed belt, wherein the locking aperture is in the belt end retainer.