WINDOW LIFTER ASSEMBLY WITH A DRIVER FOR A WINDOWPANE AND DRIVER

Abstract

A window lifter assembly for an adjustable windowpane of a motor vehicle has a guide rail and a driver with a connecting leg and two driver legs connected by the connecting leg. Between the two driver legs is a receptacle gap for the adjustable windowpane. The two driver legs include a first driver leg configured to mount and guide the driver on the guide rail and a second driver leg being elastically displaceable in relation to the first driver leg and has a latching element which protrudes into the receptacle gap. When inserting the adjustable windowpane into the receptacle gap of the driver the latching element engages in a pane-proximal latching opening of the windowpane. The driver further has a resting contour on which the second driver leg is supported as a result of a tensile force acting on the latching element by way of the adjustable windowpane in a closing direction or a closed position of the adjustable windowpane.

Claims

1. A window lifter assembly for an adjustable windowpane of a motor vehicle, the window lifter assembly comprising: a guide rail; a driver having a connecting leg and two driver legs connected by said connecting leg and between said two driver legs is formed a receptacle gap for the adjustable windowpane, wherein said two driver legs include a first driver leg configured to mount and guide said driver on said guide rail and a second driver leg being elastically displaceable in relation to said first driver leg and has a latching element which protrudes into said receptacle gap, and when inserting the adjustable windowpane into said receptacle gap of said driver said latching element engages in a pane-proximal latching opening of the windowpane; and said driver further having a resting contour on which said second driver leg is supported as a result of a tensile force acting on said latching element by way of the adjustable windowpane in a closing direction or closed position of the adjustable windowpane.

2. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said resting contour, in a gap longitudinal direction directed toward a gap base of said receptacle gap, is disposed behind said latching element.

3. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said resting contour, in a gap longitudinal direction outside said receptacle gap, is disposed in a region of said connecting leg of said two driver legs.

4. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said driver has on said second driver leg a supporting contour which, in a gap longitudinal direction directed toward a gap base of said receptacle gap, is disposed downstream of said resting contour of said driver.

5. The window lifter assembly according to claim 4, wherein said supporting contour on said second driver leg is integrally molded thereon so as to be movable in relation to said resting contour in the gap longitudinal direction.

6. The window lifter assembly according to claim 4, wherein said supporting contour of said second driver leg is disposed at a spacing from said resting contour of said driver, said spacing decreases as a displacement of said latching element in the gap longitudinal direction toward a gap opening of said receptacle gap increases.

7. The window lifter assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said supporting contour projects in a transverse direction in relation to the gap longitudinal direction of said receptacle gap; and/or said resting contour projects in the transverse direction in relation to the gap longitudinal direction of said receptacle gap.

8. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said connecting leg between said two driver legs, in a functional region which adjoins a gap base of said receptacle gap and contains said resting contour of said driver, is configured so as to be constricted and/or waisted in relation to at least said second driver leg.

9. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said latching element has an introduction ramp which is inclined toward a gap base of said receptacle gap; and/or said latching element has a blocking edge which is inclination-free toward a gap opening of said receptacle gap and by way of said blocking edge said latching element when connecting to the adjustable windowpane penetrates the pane-proximal latching opening of the adjustable windowpane.

10. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first driver leg has a rail wrap-around for said guide rail.

11. The window lifter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said resting contour, in a gap longitudinal direction outside said receptacle gap, is disposed in a region of said connecting leg of said two driver legs in a connecting portion of said connecting leg, or integrally molded on said connecting leg.

12. A driver for a window lifter of a window lifter assembly, the driver comprising: a first driver leg; a second driver leg being elastically displaceable in relation to said first driver leg; a receptacle gap defined between said first driver leg and said second driver leg for a windowpane having a latching opening formed therein; a latching element, disposed on said second driver leg and protruding into said receptacle gap, for engaging in the latching opening of the windowpane; and a blocking function for blocking elongating and/or bending of said second driver leg containing said latching element beyond a permissible degree and/or after exceeding a specified or specifiable spacing between leg-proximal contours.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a vehicle window lifter having an adjustment drive (activating motor) and having a window lifter assembly having a (pane) driver which is coupled to a windowpane;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the driver having a receptacle gap (pane gap), formed between driver legs, for the windowpane, with a view onto a movable (second) driver leg;

[0027] FIG. 3 is an end-side view of the driver with a view onto a gap opening for introducing the windowpane into the receptacle gap, and a latching element, protruding into the receptacle gap, on one of the driver legs, and a rail wrap-around on the other driver leg;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a lateral view showing the driver with a view onto a flexural leg-proximal supporting contour and a driver-proximal resting contour, which is spaced apart from the former, in a constricted (waisted) functional portion of the connecting leg between the driver legs;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fragment V-V shown in FIG. 4 in a larger scale with a view onto the projecting supporting and resting contours; and

[0030] FIGS. 6A and 6B are lateral views according to FIG. 4 of the driver having in the receptacle gap of the latter the windowpane inserted and latched therein in a tension-free installed position, or in a limited deflected position of the driver leg that contains the latching element, which is the result of a tensile force acting on the windowpane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Equivalent parts and variables are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

[0032] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown in a simplified schematic illustration an electric or electric-motor window lifter assembly 2 as an actuating device for a (vehicle) windowpane 4 of a motor vehicle. The window lifter assembly 2 is assigned an adjustment drive 6 which, by means of an actuating mechanism 8 having a driver 10 of the window lifter assembly 2, acts on the windowpane 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating mechanism 8 has a traction cable 12 and a guide rail 14 of the window lifter assembly, the driver 10 being displaceably guided along an adjustment path V on the guide rail 14. A plurality of, for example two, traction cables 12 may also be provided.

[0033] The adjustment drive 6 of the window lifter 2 drives a cable drum 18 of the actuating mechanism 8 by way of a worm gear or spur gear 16. The traction cable 12 of the cable mechanism is disposed on the cable drum 18 in such a manner that the traction cable 12 is wound and unwound by rotations of the cable drum 18 caused by the gear 16. The traction cable 12 of the cable mechanism, which is embodied as a Bowden cable, for example, is guided by way of deflection elements or deflection rollers 20 and coupled to the driver 10 which in turn is guided along the guide rail 14 and in the process conjointly moves the windowpane 4.

[0034] When the actuating motor 6 is activated, the windowpane 4 is displaced along the adjustment path V to the set or desired (pane) position of the windowpane 4. The windowpane 4 is reversibly displaceable between a closed position S, which represents the topmost possible position, and an open position O, which represents the bottommost possible position. The windowpane 4 in FIG. 1 is in each case indicated by dashed lines in these positions S and O. In contrast, the windowpane 4 is illustrated by solid lines in a half-opened intermediate position.

[0035] Indications in terms of the spatial directions hereunder are also stated in a coordinate system of the motor vehicle (vehicle coordinate system) in terms of the exemplary installed situation in a side door of the motor vehicle. The abscissa axis (X-axis) here is oriented along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the ordinate axis (Y-axis) along the vehicle transverse direction, and the applicate axis (Z-axis) along the vehicle height. The axial direction A herein is oriented so as to be parallel to the abscissa axis (X), whereby the radial direction R is aligned so as to be substantially parallel to the ordinate axis (Y).

[0036] FIGS. 2 to 4 show the driver 10 in various views. The orientation of the driver 10 shown corresponds to the directions X, Y, Z of the depicted vehicle coordinate system. The driver 10 is configured so as to be approximately U-shaped or V-shaped and has a first driver leg 10a and a second driver leg 10b. A receptacle or pane gap 21 having a gap opening 22 and having a gap base 23 is formed between the driver legs 10a and 10b. The driver legs 10a and 10b are connected to one another by way of a connecting leg 10c. The connecting leg 10c has a waisted connecting or functional portion 10d which is constricted in the X-direction and gap transverse direction RX of the receptacle gap 11. This connecting or functional portion 10d extends to the gap base 23 of the receptacle gap 21.

[0037] The first driver leg 10a has a rail wrap-around 24 which is approximately L-shaped in the cross section (FIG. 3). By way of this rail wrap-around 24, the driver 10 sits on the approximately hat-shaped guide rail 14 and on the latter on a correspondingly shaped rail portion. A sliding piece 25 made from a low-friction material, for example from polyoxymethylene (POM), is inserted in the rail wrap-around. The first driver leg 10a in the assembled state of the window lifter assembly 2 is guided along the guide rail 14 and held on the latter. Therefore, the first driver leg 10a is also referred to hereunder as the fixed driver leg of the driver 10. The first, fixed driver leg 10a has an introduction ramp 26 in the region of the gap opening 22 of the receptacle gap 21 (FIG. 4).

[0038] The second driver leg 10b is elastically displaceable, or flexurally elastically deformable and thus movable in relation to the first, fixed driver leg 10a, in particular in the Y-direction, but also at least slightly in the Z-direction and thus in the gap longitudinal direction RZ of the receptacle gap 21. A latching element 27 which protrudes (in the -direction) into the receptacle gap 21 is integrally molded on the second driver leg 10b, the latter also being referred to as movable hereunder. The latching element 27 is configured as a triangular latching hook and has an introduction ramp 28 which is inclined toward the gap base 23 of the receptacle gap 21, and a blocking edge 29 which is inclination-free toward the gap opening 22 of the receptacle gap 21 and normal (perpendicular) in relation to the XZ-plane of the second (movable) driver leg 10b. The second (movable) driver leg 10b likewise has an introduction ramp 30 in the region of the gap opening 22 of the receptacle gap 21.

[0039] The windowpane 4 can be inserted in a simple and error-free manner into the receptacle gap 21 of the driver 10 by way of the leg-proximal introduction rams 26, 30 of the latter. The windowpane 4, with the pane lower edge thereof ahead, by way of the gap opening 22, is inserted into the receptacle gap 21 and between the two drivers 10a and 10b, and latched in the receptacle gap 21. In the process, the windowpane 4 by way of the pane lower edge thereof slides along the inclined introduction ramp 28 of the latching element or hook 27. The second, movable driver leg 10b of the driver 10 is hereby elastically bent in the Y-direction, and the latching element 27 snaps, engages or latches, in particular in the form-fitting manner, into a latching opening 31 of the windowpane 4, which is indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In the snap-fit or latching connection of the windowpane 4 with the driver 10, the blocking edge 29 of the latching element 27 penetrates, ideally completely, the pane-proximal latching opening 31.

[0040] The driver 10 has a blocking function which is provided (implemented) in particular by blocking contours. This blocking function blocks elongating or bending of that driver leg 10b that contains the latching element 27, as a result of a tensile force beyond a permissible degree acting by way of the windowpane in the Z-direction on the latching element 27, which is latched to the windowpane. It is reliably prevented as a result that the latching element (latching hook) 27 slides out of the corresponding pane-proximal latching opening 31.

[0041] With a view to FIGS. 4 and 5 as well as 6A and 6B, the driver 10 in the exemplary embodiment for this purpose has a first blocking contour or resting contour 32 on which the second driver leg 10b is supported as a result of a tensile force F acting on the latching element 27 by way of the windowpane 4 in the closing direction of the latter (FIG. 6B). The resting contour 32, in the gap longitudinal direction RZ directed toward the gap base 23 (FIG. 4) of the receptacle gap 21, thus in the insertion direction of the windowpane 4 into the receptacle gap 21, is disposed behind the latching element 27, thus disposed downstream of the latter in spatial terms. The resting contour 32, in the gap longitudinal direction RZ outside the receptacle gap 21, is disposed in the region of the connecting portion 10d of the driver 10 and integrally molded thereon.

[0042] A second blocking or supporting contour 33, which is provided on the second, movable driver leg 10b, in the gap longitudinal direction RZ directed toward the gap base 23 of the receptacle gap 21, thus in the insertion direction of the windowpane 4 into the receptacle gap 21, is disposed downstream of the resting contour 32 of the driver 10. The supporting contour 33 is integrally molded on the second, movable driver leg 10b and thereby movable in relation to the resting contour 32 of the driver 10 in the gap longitudinal direction RZ.

[0043] The blocking contours 32, 33 are configured as a resting or supporting rib, respectively, which extend in the gap transverse direction RX. The supporting contour 33 of the second (movable) driver leg 10b is disposed at a spacing a (FIG. 5) from the resting contour 32 of the driver 10.

[0044] As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 6A and 6B, this spacing decreases as the displacement of the latching element 27 in the gap longitudinal direction RZ toward the gap opening 22 of the receptacle gap 21 increases as a result of a tensile force F acting on the windowpane 4. Once this specified spacing a between the leg-proximal contours 32, 33 is exceeded, further elongating of the second driver leg 10b, which comprises the latching element 27, in the Z-direction and further bending of the second driver leg 10b in the Y-direction is blocked.

[0045] The (immovable) resting contour 32, which is fixed to the driver, and the blocking contour 33 (which in contrast is movable) of the second driver leg 10b overlap one another (are mutually congruent) in the gap longitudinal direction RZ of the receptacle gap 21 for the windowpane 4 in such a way that the leg-proximal supporting contour 33 can be supported on the resting contour 32, which is fixed to the driver, when the tensile force F acts on the latching element 27 by way of the windowpane 4, and the spacing a between the contours 32 and 33 has been used up.

[0046] In summary, the invention relates to a window lifter assembly 2 for an adjustable windowpane 4 of a motor vehicle, having a driver 10 with a first driver leg 10a and a second driver leg 10b which is (flexurally) elastically displaceable in relation to the first driver leg 10a, and a latching element 27 which protrudes into a receptacle gap 21 between the driver legs 10a, 10b and when inserting the windowpane 4 into the receptacle gap 21 of the driver 10 engages in a pane-proximal latching opening 31. The driver 10 has a blocking function 10 which blocks elongating and/or bending of that driver leg 10b that contains the latching element 27 beyond a permissible degree and/or after exceeding a specified or specifiable spacing a between leg-proximal contours 32, 33.

[0047] For this purpose, the driver 10 preferably has a resting contour 32 on which the second driver leg 10b is supported as a result of a tensile force F acting on the latching element 27 by way of the windowpane 4 in the closing direction or closed position S of the latter. Furthermore preferably provided for this purpose on the second driver leg 10b is a supporting contour 33 which in the gap longitudinal direction RZ is spaced apart from the resting contour 32.

[0048] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all individual features described in the context of the exemplary embodiment can also be combined with one another in a different way without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

[0049] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 2 Window lifter assembly [0051] 4 Windowpane [0052] 6 Adjustment drive [0053] 8 Actuating mechanism [0054] 10 Driver [0055] 10a First (fixed) driver leg [0056] 10b Second (movable) driver leg [0057] 10c Connecting leg [0058] 10d Connecting/functional portion [0059] 12 Traction cable [0060] 14 Guide rail [0061] 16 Worm gear/Spur gear [0062] 18 Cable drum [0063] 20 Deflection element/roller [0064] 21 Gap base [0065] 22 Gap opening [0066] 23 Gap base [0067] 24 Rail wrap-around [0068] 25 Sliding piece [0069] 26 Introduction ramp [0070] 27 Latching element/hook [0071] 28 Introduction ramp [0072] 29 Blocking edge [0073] 30 Introduction ramp [0074] 31 (Pane-proximal) latching opening [0075] 32 Blocking/Resting contour/rib [0076] 33 Blocking/Supporting contour/rib [0077] a (Contour) spacing [0078] F (Tensile) force [0079] S Closed position [0080] O Open position [0081] RX Gap transverse direction [0082] RZ Gap longitudinal direction [0083] V Adjustment path [0084] X,Y,Z Direction (in the vehicle coordinate system)