CARRIER WITH PIVOTABLE CLAMPING PART AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

Abstract

It is provided a carrier for a vehicle window lifter comprising a pane holder that comprises two opposed clamping parts between which a gap is provided for receiving a portion of a window pane and which are to be connected to each other via at least one fastening element when the window pane is inserted into the gap. The pane holder forms a bearing portion for one of the clamping parts, on which a swivel axis for the one clamping part is defined, and a swivel element protruding into the gap is provided, by means of which the one clamping part is pivotable in the direction of the other clamping part about the swivel axis by inserting the window pane into the gap.

Claims

1. A carrier for a vehicle window lifter, comprising: a pane holder that comprises two opposed clamping parts between which a gap is provided for receiving a portion of a window pane and which are to be connected to each other via at least one fastening element when the window pane is inserted into the gap wherein the pane holder forms a bearing portion for one of the clamping parts, on which a swivel axis is defined for the one clamping part and a swivel element protruding into the gap is provided, by means of which the one clamping part is pivotable about the swivel axis in the direction of the other clamping part by inserting the window pane into the gap.

2. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the swivel bearing element is molded to the bearing portion.

3. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the swivel bearing element is configured to pivot the one clamping part by elastic and/or plastic deformation of the bearing portion in the direction of the other clamping part upon insertion of the window pane into the gap.

4. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein based on an insertion direction along which the window pane is insertable into the gap, the swivel element is disposed below the swivel axis.

5. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the bearing portion includes a bearing bracket defining a cutout and wherein the swivel bearing element is arranged in the cutout.

6. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein on both clamping parts a fastening opening is provided for the fastening element.

7. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element includes a screw.

8. The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier body wherein at least a portion of the pane holder is fixed to the carrier body, and wherein the carrier body includes a guide portion configured to shiftably guide the carrier on a guide rail of the vehicle window lifter.

9. A vehicle window lifter for the adjustment of a window pane, comprising a carrier according to claim 1.

10. A method for the assembly of a window pane on a carrier for a vehicle window lifter, the method comprising: inserting a portion of the window pane is into a gap that is formed between two clamping parts of the carrier; subsequently connecting the two clamping parts 5t each other via at least one fastening element to fix the portion of the window pane to the carrier. wherein on a bearing portion of the carrier a swivel axis is defined for one of the clamping parts; and pivoting one of the clamping parts in a direction towards the other clamping part about the swivel axis.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein inserting the portion of the window pane includes the window pane acting on a swivel element of the bearing portion, and wherein the bearing portion protrudes into the gap.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the carrier is used, which comprises a pane holder that comprises two opposed clamping parts between which a gap is provided for receiving a portion of a window pane and which are to be connected to each other via at least one fastening element when the window pane is inserted into the gap, wherein the pane holder forms a bearing portion for one of the clamping parts, on which a swivel axis is defined for the one clamping part, and a swivel element protruding into the gap (g), and is provided, by means of which the one clamping part is pivotable about the swivel axis in the direction of the other clamping part by inserting the window pane into the gap.

13. The pane holder of claim 9, wherein the bearing portion is configured to deform such that the swivel element pivots the second clamping part towards the first clamping part.

15. The pane holder of claim 9, wherein the swivel element is integrally molded with the bearing portion.

16. The pane holder of claim 9, wherein the swivel element is disposed below the swivel axis.

18. The pane holder of claim 16, wherein the swivel element is a pin extending from the bearing portion into the gap.

19. The pane holder of claim 16, wherein the bearing portion includes a bearing bracket provided with a base and a pair of legs extending therefrom, wherein the swivel element is disposed between each of the legs.

20. The pane holder of claim 9, further comprising a gear engaged with the first clamping part and configured to rotate about the fastening element to pivot the first clamping part towards the second clamping part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The attached Figures by way of example illustrate possible design variants of the proposed solution.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a design variant of a proposed carrier.

[0025] FIG. 2 likewise shows a perspective view of the carrier in a partly exploded representation.

[0026] FIG. 3 partially shows a sectional view of the carrier with two clamping parts spaced apart from each other and with a fastening element provided for the connection of the two clamping parts to each other.

[0027] FIG. 4 partially and in a side view shows the carrier with a window pane fixed thereto.

[0028] FIG. 4A shows a sectional view along the sectional line A-A of FIG. 4.

[0029] FIGS. 5-8 show different views of the carrier with the window pane fixed thereto.

[0030] FIGS. 9A-9C show different views of a further design variant of a proposed carrier with a differently constructed bearing portion for pivoting one of the clamping parts in the direction of the other clamping part of the carrier triggered by the assembly of the window pane on the carrier.

[0031] FIGS. 10A-10B show a further design variant of a proposed carrier, in which a pane holder with its two clamping parts is molded to a carrier body.

[0032] FIGS. 11A-11B show a further design variant of a proposed carrier which is of multi-part construction and in which a pivotable clamping part is mounted on a carrier body as a component of a separate part to which the other clamping part of the pane holder is molded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] A comparable carrier is known for example from DE 10 2005 025 281 Al. The carrier proposed herein includes a clamping part adjustably mounted via elastically deformable web connections in order to provide for a tilting movement of the window pane relative to a guide rail when the window pane is fixed to the carrier. The assembly problem described above, however, is not addressed in DE 10 2005 025 281 A1. What merely is considered here is the provision of a balancing tilting movement via a pane holder of the carrier.

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 8 and 9A to 11B show different views of design variants for a carrier 1 that for example can be used in a vehicle window lifter for a frameless vehicle door.

[0035] The carrier 1 has a carrier body 2 on which a guide portion 20 for the shiftable guidance of the carrier 1 on a guide rail of the vehicle window lifter (not shown in the Figures) is provided. Furthermore, a connecting portion 21 for the connection to a Bowden cable of the vehicle window lifter is provided on the carrier body 2. This connecting portion 21 therefor includes two nipple chambers into which cable nipples of the Bowden cable can be hung in order to be able to transmit an adjusting force to the carrier 1 via the Bowden cable or to adjust the same along the guide rail.

[0036] To specify an end position of the carrier 1, in which a window pane F connected to the carrier 1 is completely lowered, the carrier body 2 includes a stop 22 via which the carrier 1 can abut against a counter-stop, for example on the guide rail or a carrier component forming the guide rail or carrying the guide rail.

[0037] The carrier body 2 of the carrier 1 furthermore includes a holder portion 23 for fixing a pane holder 3 to the carrier body 2. For fixing the pane holder 3 to the carrier body 2 the pane holder 3 forms a connecting portion 32 which in particular carries clamping parts 3a and 3b and is enclosed by the holder portion 23 of the carrier body 2. The pane holder 3 of the carrier 1 with the clamping parts 3a and 3b is provided for a positive and clamping connection of the carrier 1 to the window pane F to be adjusted, which is partially shown in FIGS. 4 to 8.

[0038] The pane holder 3 forms the two opposed clamping parts 3a and 3b which between themselves define a gap g. Into this gap g a portion of the window pane F can be inserted properly in the region of its pane lower edge U and hence be arranged between the two clamping parts 3a and 3b. For fixing the window pane F to the carrier 1 a fastening element, here in the form of a screw 5, then is guided from one side through a fastening opening 35b on one of the clamping parts 3a, 4b, through a corresponding opening in the window pane F and inserted into a fastening opening 35a on the opposed clamping part 3a. On one or both clamping parts 3a, 3b an internal thread can be provided on a fastening opening 35a or 35b, into which an external thread of the screw 5 is turned. In a development, the internal thread can also be provided by a threaded sleeve arranged in a fastening opening 35a. For fixing such a threaded sleeve to the pivotable clamping part 3a a screw element, e.g. in the form of a helical gear 4, is to be attached to the one clamping part 3a (cf. in particular FIGS. 1 and 2). This helical gear 4before inserting the window pane F and attaching the screw 5is turned onto an end of the threaded sleeve protruding from a clamping part 3 in order to non-rotatably mount the threaded sleeve on the clamping part 3a via a head, e.g. with an external hexagon, positively retained in the fastening opening 35a.

[0039] For the assembly of the window pane F on the carrier 1 the two clamping parts 3a and 3b should be spaced apart from each other sufficiently and the gap g obtained between the same should be funnel-shaped, if possible. However, there is the problem that after an insertion of the window pane F into the gap g along an insertion direction E the two clamping parts 3a and 3b of the pane holder 3 possibly are not aligned with each other with their fastening openings 35a and 35b. This is all the more serious as during the assembly of the window pane F on the carrier 1, the carrier 1 already is usually pre-mounted on the vehicle window lifter in a vehicle door and hence the one, outer clamping part 3b no longer is easily accessible when the screw 5 is tightened on the inner clamping part 3b from the inside. A possible malposition of the two clamping parts 3a and 3b relative to each other or to a screw-in direction of the screw 5 then however prevents or at least impedes a correct screw connection. This in turn can lead to a damage of an internal thread into which the screw 5 is turned. The consequence hence is an increased risk for a failure of the carrier in operation of the vehicle window lifter.

[0040] In the illustrated carriers 1 of FIGS. 1 to 8 (and of FIGS. 9A to 11B) such a risk for a faulty screw connection is almost completely excluded by defining a swivel axis S on a bearing portion 30 of the pane holder 3 for the external (outer) clamping part 3a and by providing a swivel element 301 protruding into the gap g, such that the outer clamping part 3a is pivotable in the direction of the other, internal (inner) clamping part about the swivel axis S by inserting the window pane F into the gap g.

[0041] The bearing portion 30 formed with a U-shaped bearing bracket 300 here is formed integrally with the pivotable clamping part 3a and with the swivel element 301. A base of the bearing bracket 30 extending between two legs of the bearing bracket 300 defines the swivel axis S about which the one, outer clamping part 3a is pivoted in the direction of the other, inner clamping part 3b when the window pane F is mounted to the carrier 1 along the insertion direction E. The outer clamping part 3a here is arranged above the swivel axis S with respect to the downwardly pointing insertion direction E, the swivel element 301 protruding into the gap g below the swivel axis S. In the design variant shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 the swivel element 301 is designed pin-shaped with a bulged end portion and hence as a pivot pin 301. This pivot pin 301 furthermore is arranged within a cutout 3000 of the bearing bracket 300 in order to ensure a displaceability of the pivot pin 301 transversely to the insertion direction E of the window pane F.

[0042] The bearing portion 30 with the bearing bracket 300 is formed to be selectively deformable in the region of the base of the bearing bracket 300 defining the swivel axis S. In this way, the window pane F inserted into the gap g can deform the base of the bearing bracket 300 by displacing the pivot pin 301 protruding into the gap g. The displacement of the pivot pin 301 leads to a swivel movement of the pivot pin 301 and hence also of the outer clamping part 3a integrally formed therewith along a swivel direction R about the swivel axis S in the direction of the opposed, inner clamping part 3b. The outer clamping part 3a thus is displaced from a pre-assembly position in the direction of the opposed clamping part 3b into an assembly position solely by inserting the window pane F into the gap g about the swivel axis S and along the swivel direction R.

[0043] In the assembly position the outer clamping part 3a is properly aligned relative to the inner clamping part 3b so that a screw connection via the screw 5 and the helical gear 4 can be effected by avoiding a malposition of the two clamping parts 3a and 3b relative to each other.

[0044] Via the bearing portion 30 of the pane holder 3 a kind of lever mechanism thus is provided on the carrier 1 in order to pivot the outer clamping part 3a in the direction of the other, inner clamping part 3b on joining of the window pane F. Since for this purpose a deformation on the bearing portion 30 in the region of the specified swivel axis S selectively is permitted, the outer clamping part 3b therefor need not be supported with great expenditure. The pivotability of the outer clamping part 3a by displacement of the pivot pin 301 on insertion of the window pane F is achieved solely by the shape and the material of the pane holder 3.

[0045] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show different views of a further design variant for a pane holder 3 and hence for a carrier 1 that is formed with this pane holder 3 and a carrier body 2 not shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C.

[0046] Even in the design variant of FIGS. 9A to 9C a bearing portion 30 with a bearing bracket 300 and a pivot pin 301 is provided in order to ensure a pivotability of the outer clamping part 3a. The base of the bearing bracket 300 of the bearing portion 30 in contrast to the design variant of FIGS. 1 to 8 is formed with less rigidity in order to allow an elastic deformation of this base and hence of the bearing portion 300, when the window pane F inserted into the gap g with its pane lower edge U displaces the pivot pin 301 below the swivel axis S and the outer clamping part 3a thereby is displaced along the swivel direction R in the direction of the opposed inner clamping part 3b.

[0047] FIGS. 10A and 10B show two different views of a further design variant of a proposed carrier 1 in which the pane holder 3 is molded to the carrier body 2. The guide portion 20 and the connecting portion 21 of the carrier body 2 are located laterally beside the one (fixed) clamping part 3b of the pane holder 3 and are formed integrally with the same. Furthermore, the bearing bracket 300 of the bearing portion 30 with the pivot pin 301 for pivotally mounting the other clamping part 3a and the other clamping part 3a are integrally molded to the carrier body 2. In the design variant of FIGS. 10A and 10B the carrier body 2 and the pane holder 3 hence are formed in one piece and thus made of the same material.

[0048] In the further design variant shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B the carrier 1 on the other hand is of multi-part design. The carrier 1 here consists of two parts, on the one hand the carrier body 2 with the (fixed) clamping part 3b integrally formed thereon and on the other hand a further part mounted to the carrier body 2, which includes the bearing portion 30 with the bearing bracket 300 and the pivotable clamping part 3a with the pivot pin 301 formed thereon. The second part of the two-part carrier 1, which includes the bearing portion 30 and the pivotable clamping part 3a, correspondingly forms one of two clamping sides of the pane holder 3. This part with the pivotable clamping part 3a is made separately, possibly of another material than the carrier body 2 with the other clamping side of the pane holder 3 integrally formed thereon with the clamping part 3b.

[0049] In this design variant the gap g for the window pane F to be connected to the carrier 1 only is obtained by assembling the parts of the carrier 1 and hence by joining the two parts, which each comprise one of the clamping parts 3a, 3b. For connecting the part including the pivotable clamping part 3a to the carrier body 2, the carrier body 2 in the design variant shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B forms a plurality of protruding connecting pins 23a and 23b. These connecting pins 23a and 23b engage into connecting openings that are formed on a base area of the bearing portion 30 when the carrier 1 is properly assembled. The carrier body 2 and the pivotable clamping part 3 and the part of the carrier 1 including the bearing portion 30 thus can be manufactured separately and subsequently be joined in order to manufacture the carrier 1. The connection of the two parts of the carrier 1, which each comprise a clamping part 3a and 3b, here is achieved via connecting elements positively engaging into each other, such as the connecting pins 23a and 23b. Alternatively or in addition, a cohesive connection of the parts manufactured separately can also be provided.

[0050] A window lifter in principle can comprise at least one of the illustrated carriers 1. In a design variant of a two-strand window lifter, in which two carriers 1 are shiftably held on two guide rails transversely spaced apart from each other, differently designed carriers 1 can also be provided. In particular, in such a two-strand window lifter a carrier 1 according to FIG. 1 to 8 or 9A to 9B, which includes a pane holder 3 fixed to a carrier body 2, can be arranged on a first guide rail, while a carrier 1 according to one of the design variants of FIGS. 10A to 10B or 11A to 11B, in which at least one clamping part 3a is molded to the carrier body 2 and correspondingly is an integral component of the carrier body 2, is arranged on the other, second guide rail. On such a two-strand window lifter, different design variants of a proposed carrier thus can be combined with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0051] 1 carrier

[0052] 2 carrier body

[0053] 20 guide portion

[0054] 21 connecting portion

[0055] 22 stop

[0056] 23 holder portion

[0057] 23a, 23b connecting pin

[0058] 3 pane holder

[0059] 3a, 3b clamping part

[0060] 30 bearing portion

[0061] 300 bearing bracket

[0062] 3000 cutout

[0063] 301 pivot pin (swivel element)

[0064] 32 connecting portion

[0065] 35a, 35b screw opening (fastening opening)

[0066] 4 helical gear

[0067] 5 screw (fastening element)

[0068] E insertion direction

[0069] F window pane

[0070] g gap

[0071] R swivel direction

[0072] S swivel axis

[0073] U pane lower edge