FASTENING DEVICE FOR A WINDOW LIFTER, AND WINDOW LIFTER

Abstract

A fastening device for a vehicle window lifter includes at least one guide rail for guiding a driver for a window glass or pane. A joint piece has two joint pins integrally formed axially opposite one another thereon along an axis of rotation, a fastening bolt, and a connection portion connected to the guide rail. The connection portion has a connection leg, with a through-opening for the fastening bolt, between two lateral legs having mutually aligned joint grooves for receiving the joint pins of the joint piece, which pivots between the lateral legs and is pivotably mounted in the connection portion. A vehicle window lifter for adjusting a window glass of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A fastening device for a vehicle window lifter having at least one guide rail for displaceably guiding a driver for a window glass, the fastening device comprising: a joint piece having a main body with an opening formed therein, said joint piece having two joint pins integrally molded on said main body and disposed mutually opposite axially along a rotation axis; a fastening bolt having first and second shank portions, said first shank portion being insertable or inserted in said opening in said joint piece; and an attachment portion connected to the guide rail, said attachment portion having two lateral legs and a connection leg between said two lateral legs, said connection leg having a through opening formed therein for receiving said fastening bolt, and said two lateral legs having mutually aligned joint grooves each configured for receiving a respective one of said joint pins of said joint piece; said main body of said joint piece being pivoted between said lateral legs in a direction of said connection leg and said main body being pivotably mounted in said attachment portion.

12. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein said joint pins of said joint piece each have two respective mutually opposite flat sides as guide faces.

13. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein said joint pins of said joint piece have two mutually opposite radiused or arcuate joint sides as joint faces.

14. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein said joint grooves of said attachment portion each have an introduction portion, a constriction adjoining said introduction portion in a groove longitudinal direction, and a groove portion forming a joint socket for receiving a respective one of said joint pins of said joint piece.

15. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein said main body of said joint piece is cylindrical and has a shell and a joint web being integrally molded on and running tangentially to said shell, said joint pins each being disposed on a respective end side of said joint web.

16. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein said joint grooves have groove legs, and a detent periphery is integrally molded on at least one of said joint pins for bearing said joint piece on at least one of said groove legs.

17. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein: said opening of said joint piece is a through opening having an internal thread; and at least one of: said first shank portion of said fastening bolt has an external thread communicating with said internal thread on said joint piece; or said opening of said joint piece is eccentric relative to said through opening of said attachment portion.

18. The fastening device according to claim 11, which further comprises at least one annular detent disposed on said fastening bolt or disposed between said first and second shank portions for at least one of: bearing on said joint piece for bearing on a frame part or module part or a vehicle door, or acting as a detent on an opening periphery of said through opening of said attachment portion for delimiting a pivoting movement of said joint piece.

19. A vehicle window lifter for adjusting a window glass of a motor vehicle, the vehicle window lifter comprising at least one guide rail, and a fastening device according to claim 11.

20. A fastening device for a vehicle window lifter having at least one guide rail for displaceably guiding a driver for a window glass, the fastening device comprising: a joint piece having two joint pins being integrally molded on said joint piece and being disposed mutually opposite axially along a rotation axis; a fastening bolt having first and second shank portions, said first shank portion being integrated in said joint piece; and an attachment portion connected to the guide rail, said attachment portion having two lateral legs and a connection leg between said two lateral legs, said connection leg having a through opening formed therein for receiving said fastening bolt, and said two lateral legs having mutually aligned joint grooves each configured for receiving a respective one of said joint pins of said joint piece; said joint piece being pivoted between said lateral legs in a direction of said connection leg and said joint piece being pivotably mounted in said attachment portion.

21. The fastening device according to claim 20, wherein said joint pins of said joint piece each have two respective mutually opposite flat sides as guide faces.

22. The fastening device according to claim 20, wherein said joint pins of said joint piece have two mutually opposite radiused or arcuate joint sides as joint faces.

23. The fastening device according to claim 20, wherein said joint grooves of said attachment portion each have an introduction portion, a constriction adjoining said introduction portion in a groove longitudinal direction, and a groove portion forming a joint socket for receiving a respective one of said joint pins of said joint piece.

24. The fastening device according to claim 20, wherein said main body of said joint piece is cylindrical and has a shell and a joint web being integrally molded on and running tangentially to said shell, said joint pins each being disposed on a respective end side of said joint web.

25. The fastening device according to claim 20, wherein said joint grooves have groove legs, and a detent periphery is integrally molded on at least one of said joint pins for bearing said joint piece on at least one of said groove legs.

26. The fastening device according to claim 20, wherein: said opening of said joint piece is a through opening having an internal thread; and at least one of: said first shank portion of said fastening bolt has an external thread communicating with said internal thread on said joint piece; or said opening of said joint piece is eccentric relative to said through opening of said attachment portion.

27. The fastening device according to claim 20, which further comprises at least one annular detent disposed on said fastening bolt or disposed between said first and second shank portions for at least one of: bearing on said joint piece for bearing on a frame part or module part or a vehicle door, or acting as a detent on an opening periphery of said through opening of said attachment portion for delimiting a pivoting movement of said joint piece.

28. A vehicle window lifter for adjusting a window glass of a motor vehicle, the vehicle window lifter comprising at least one guide rail, and a fastening device according to claim 20.

Description

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail hereunder by means of a drawing in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 in a perspective illustration shows a vehicle window lifter having an actuating motor and having an actuating mechanism, as well as having two guide rails having in each case one articulated fastening device;

[0026] FIG. 2 in a perspective manner shows a fragment II from FIG. 1 in a larger scale, having an (upper) attachment portion of one of the guide rails and pivotably mounted thereon a joint piece having an inserted fastening bolt;

[0027] FIG. 3 in a perspective illustration shows a fragment from FIG. 1 having a transparently shown frame part or module part, and the fastening device attached (or connected, respectively) thereto;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the assembly according to FIG. 3 in a rear view onto a screw fastening of the guide rail, or the attachment portion thereof of the transparently shown frame part or module part;

[0029] FIG. 5 in a perspective illustration shows the (U-shaped) attachment portion of the guide rail having a through opening in a connection leg between mutually spaced apart legs, having joint grooves incorporated therein;

[0030] FIG. 6 in a perspective illustration shows the joint piece in a preferred embodiment, having joint pins integrally molded thereon;

[0031] FIGS. 7a-7d show in a perspective view in four joined positions the joint piece inserted and pivoted into the joint grooves;

[0032] FIG. 8 in a perspective illustration shows the fastening bolt having two shank portions and two disk-type, collar-type or shoulder-type bearing faces in the form of annular bearing or detent peripheries fixed to the joint piece (integrally molded on the joint piece or the main body thereof, respectively);

[0033] FIGS. 9 and 10 in a perspective illustration show the fastening device having two further geometric variants of the joint piece; and

[0034] FIG. 11 shows one of the guide rails in a lateral view, having an adjustment or setting installation at the lower rail end.

[0035] Equivalent parts and variables are always provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a window lifter 1 for a motor vehicle (vehicle window lifter), in the exemplary embodiment a so-called dual-strand cable window lifter, having two parallel guide rails 2 on which drivers (rail slides) 3 are displaceably guided. A window glass 4 is held, for example fixed by jamming, on the drivers 3. The drivers 3 are connected to a cable pull 5 which is guided over upper and lower deflection rollers 6 and 7, respectively, and coupled to a cable drive 8 with an electric motor. A rotating movement of the electric-motor cable drive 8 leads to the window glass 4 being moved to an opening position or, in the opposite direction, to a closing position of the window glass 4.

[0037] It is necessary or desirable, in particular in the case of a frameless vehicle door, that an upper glass portion or an upper glass edge of the window glass 4 bears on a seal (on the vehicle roof) by way of a certain or determined contact pressure. In order for this to be achieved, a pivotable fastening device 9 is provided on at least one of the guide rails 2, preferably on each of the guide rails 2, at the upper rail end of the latter.

[0038] Indications in terms of the spatial directions hereunder are stated in a coordinate system of the motor vehicle (vehicle coordinate system). The abscissa axis (X-axis) here is oriented along the vehicle longitudinal direction (direction of travel), and the ordinate axis (Y-axis) is oriented along the vehicle transverse direction, and the applicate axis (Z-axis) is oriented along the vehicle height.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a perspective fragment of the fastening device 9 for the window lifter 1, having the at least one guide rail 2. The fastening device 9 has a joint piece 10 having a main body 11 on which two joint pins 13 that are axially mutually opposite along a rotation axis 12 are integrally molded. The joint piece 10, or the main body 11 thereof, respectively, in the exemplary embodiment has an opening 14 as a through opening.

[0040] The fastening device 9 furthermore has a fastening bolt 15 which has a first shank portion 15a that is insertable, or inserted, in the opening 14 of the joint piece 10, and has a second shank portion 15b. Furthermore, the fastening device 9 has an attachment portion 16 which is connected to the guide rail 2. This attachment portion 16 is preferably an integral component part of the guide rail 2 (in one piece with the latter). The attachment portion 16 in the cross section is U-shaped and comprises a connection leg 16a and two lateral legs 16b. A through opening 17 which is aligned with the opening 14 of the joint piece 10 is incorporated in the connection leg 16a.

[0041] The lateral legs 16b have mutually aligned joint grooves 18 for receiving the joint pin 13 of the joint piece 10. The main body 11 of the latter in the direction of the connection leg 16a is pivotable between the lateral legs 16b, and in the inward-pivoted state is mounted in the attachment portion 16 so as to be pivotable about the rotation axis 12. The mutually aligned joint grooves 18 of the two lateral legs 16b in the assembled state of the window lifter 1, or of the guide rails 2 thereof, respectively, here are open at the top such that the joint pins 13 of the joint piece 10 are able to be inserted into the attachment portion 16 of the guide rail 2 at the upper rail end, as will be described in more detail hereunder by means of FIGS. 7a to 7d. The joint pins 13 of the joint piece 10 and the joint grooves 18 of the attachment portion 16 of the guide rail 2 form a pivot joint.

[0042] FIGS. 3 and 4 in a perspective illustration show in fragments the fastening device 9 in a transparently shown frame part or module part 20, in particular a vehicle door, in a front view, or in a rear view, respectively, on to a screw fastening of the guide rail 2, or the attachment portion 16 thereof on the frame part or module part 20 by means of a screw nut 21.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows in a perspective view the U-shaped attachment portion 16 at the upper rail end of the guide rail 2, having the through opening 17 in the connection leg 16a between the mutually spaced apart legs 16b, having the joint grooves 18 incorporated therein. These joint grooves 18 have a conical introduction portion 18a which in the groove longitudinal direction 22 opens into a constriction 18b which is adjoined by a joint-socket type groove portion 22c. The latter is arcuate and forms the location of the joint (the counter bearing) for the respective joint pin 13. The respective constriction 18b forms friction faces (friction edges) 18d along which the respective joint pin 13, while overcoming a specific friction force when overstressing the respective constriction 18b, is pivoted into the groove portion 22c (FIGS. 7a to 7b). A receptacle space 16c which is open on one side and into which the joint piece 10 pivots is situated between the legs 16b of the attachment portion 16.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows in a perspective view the joint piece 10 in a preferred embodiment. The joint piece 10 has a cylindrical main body 11. The joint pins 13 are provided on the end side of a joint web 11a which is integrally molded on the shell of the main body 11 and runs tangentially thereto. As a result, the main body 10, which is preferably composed of plastics material, is embodied in a particularly material-saving and lightweight manner. The joint pins 13 of the joint piece 10 have two mutually opposite flat sides 13a as guide faces. The mutual spacing thereof corresponds to the available width at the constriction 18b between the groove flanks of the respective joint groove 18. In other words, the thickness between the flat sides 13a of the respective joint pin 13 corresponds to the width of the joint groove 18 at the constriction 18b of the latter. In this way, the joint pins 13 can be introduced into the joint grooves 18. Furthermore, the joint pins 13 of the joint piece 10 have two mutually opposite, radiused, in particular arcuate, joint sides 13b as joint faces or sliding faces.

[0045] A detent periphery 11b is integrally molded on the joint pins 13. This detent periphery 11b serves for bearing the joint piece 10 on the groove legs of the corresponding joint groove 18. The opening 14 of the joint piece 10 is embodied as a through opening having an internal thread 23. In a manner corresponding thereto, the first shank portion 15a of the fastening bolt 15 has an external thread 24 (FIG. 8). A tool opening 25 on the end side in the fastening bolt 15 serves for receiving a tool for screwing the fastening bolt 15 into the opening 14 of the joint piece 10, or the main body 11 of the latter, respectively.

[0046] As can be seen from FIG. 8, a first annular detent 26 is provided between the two shank portions 15a and 15b of the fastening bolt 15. This annular detent 26 serves for bearing on the joint piece 10, as a result of which the penetration depth of the first shank portion 15a of the fastening bolt 15 into the screw opening 14 of the joint piece 10 is delimited. A second annular detent 27 is provided between the two shank portions 15a and 15b of the fastening bolt 15. The diameter of said second annular detent 27 is larger than that of the first annular detent 26. The second annular detent 27 serves for bearing on the frame part or module part 20 (FIG. 4), while the second shank portion 15b of the fastening bolt 15 penetrates a through opening 28 in the frame part or module part 20 so as to receive the screw nut 21 therein. This second annular detent 27 also serves as a detent on the opening periphery of the through opening 17 of the attachment portion 16 so as to delimit the pivot path of the joint piece 10.

[0047] It can be seen from the sequence of the four joined positions shown in FIGS. 7a to 7d how the joint piece 10 is joined to the attachment portion 16 of the guide rail 2 so as to produce, or form, respectively, the pivot joint. According to FIG. 7a, the joint piece 10 is inserted by way of the respective introduction portion 18a in such an orientation of the joint pins 13 in relation to the joint grooves 18 of the attachment portion 16 that the flat sides 13a pass the constriction 18b and the joint pins 13 can be introduced into the joint-socket type groove portion 18c. This joined position is shown in FIG. 7b.

[0048] At this position, the joint piece 10 that in the corresponding orientation has been introduced into the joint grooves 18 up to the groove portion 18c can be pushed in by a rotating movement (FIG. 7c) and pivoted into the receptacle space 16c between the lateral legs 16b and in the direction of the connection leg 16a of the connection portion 16 (FIG. 7d). The joint piece 10 therein is held so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis 12.

[0049] To this end, the joint-socket type groove portion 18c of the respective joint groove 18 is arcuate, wherein the arc of the groove portion 18c extends across an angle of more than 180° and preferably less than 270°. In this way, the quasi over-stressed joint pins 13 of the joint piece 10 in the process of the pivoting of the latter, while overcoming the friction force predefined by the geometry of the groove and the pin, latch into the joint-socket type groove portions 18c of the joint grooves 18. As a result, a captive fit of the joint piece 10 pivoted inward between the legs 16b of the attachment region 16 is ensured.

[0050] The joint pins 13 are embodied as eccentrics. The latter are embodied as material application 13c of or to the joint pins 13. Material applications 13c of this type here are suitably provided on both radiused joint sides 13b of both joint pins 13. The eccentricity of the joint pins 13 enables the joint piece 10 to be mounted without play on the guide rail 2, or on the attachment portion 16 thereof in the assembly position shown in FIG. 7d. Moreover, the eccentrics lead to noise being minimized on or in the bearing point, i.e. in the (mechanical) interface between the guide rail 2, or of the attachment portion 16 thereof, respectively, and the joint pins (joint bolts) 13. Furthermore, the joint piece 10 including the joint pins 13 is held in a defined position by virtue of the increased friction. This is advantageous with a view to further assembling as well as when transporting the window lifter functional group as a door module conjointly with the frame part (support body) 20, the guide rails 2, the drivers 3, the cable pull 5 and the electric-motor cable drive 8.

[0051] FIGS. 9 and 10 in a perspective manner show the fastening device 9 having two further geometric variants of the main bodies 11′ and 11″, respectively, of the joint piece 10. In the embodiment according to FIG. 10 the opening 14 of the joint piece 10 is embodied without an internal thread. In this embodiment, the fastening bolt 15 by way of the first shank portion 15a thereof, which in this instance is likewise threadless, is fixed in a materially integral manner in the opening 14, for example by means of an adhesive (Tuflok).

[0052] FIG. 11 shows one of the guide rails 2 in a lateral view, having an adjustment installation 28 at the lower rail end opposite the attachment portion 16. The adjustment installation 28 has a threaded bolt 29 by means of which the respective guide rail 2, as is visualized by the double arrow 30, can be adjusted in the vehicle transverse direction (Y-direction) and to this end can be pivoted about the rotation axis 12 of the fastening device 9 embodied as a pivot joint. The maximum adjustment stroke here is delimited by the pivot stroke of the joint piece 10, the latter in turn being determined by the spacing (arcuate portion) of the annular detent 27 of the fastening bolt 9 from the attachment portion 16 of the guide rail 2.

[0053] The claimed invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above. It is rather also possible for other variants of the invention to be derived therefrom within the scope of the disclosed claims by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention. In particular, all individual features described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments may furthermore also be combined with one another in some other way within the scope of the disclosed claims, without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention.

[0054] For instance, the fastening bolt 15 can be integrally molded on the joint piece 10 in such a manner that the first shank portion of said fastening bolt 15 is an integral component part of the joint piece 10, or of the main body 11 of the latter, respectively.

[0055] Such a fastening device 9 for a window lifter (vehicle window lifter) 1, having at least one guide rail 2 for displaceably guiding a driver 3 for a window glass 4, has a joint piece 10 having two joint pins 13 which are integrally molded on said joint piece 10 so as to be axially mutually opposite along a rotation axis 12, as well as a fastening bolt 15 having a first shank portion 15a which is integrated in the main body 11 of the joint piece 10, and having a second shank portion 15b, wherein an attachment portion 16 which is connected to the guide rail 2 between two lateral legs 16b has a connection leg 16a having a through opening 17 for the fastening bolt 15, said two lateral legs 16b having mutually aligned joint grooves 18 for receiving the joint pin 13 of the joint piece 10 so as to pivotably mount said joint pin 13 between the lateral legs 16b.

[0056] Moreover, the solution described cannot only be used in the specifically illustrated application but in a similar embodiment also in other motor vehicle applications, such as, for example, in door and tailgate systems, in single-strand window lifters, in vehicle locks, in adjustable seat and interior systems, as well as in electric drives, control systems, sensors and the disposal of the latter in the vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 1 Window lifter
2 Guide rail

3 Driver

[0058] 4 Window glass
5 Cable pull
6 Upper deflection roller
7 Lower deflection roller
8 Cable drive
9 Fastening device
10 Joint piece
11 Main body

11a Joint web

[0059] 11b Detent periphery
12 Rotation axis

13 Joint pin

[0060] 13a Flat side/guide face
13b Radiused joint side/joint face
14 Through opening/opening
15 Fastening bolt
15a First shank portion
15b Second shank portion
16 Attachment portion

16a Connection leg 16b Leg

[0061] 16c Receptacle space
17 Through opening
18 Joint groove
18a Introduction portion

18b Constriction

[0062] 18c Groove portion
18d Friction face
19 Rotation axis
20 Frame part/module part

21 Screw nut

[0063] 22 Groove longitudinal direction
23 Internal thread
24 External thread
25 Tool opening
26 First annular detent
27 Second annular detent
28 Adjustment installation
29 Threaded bolt
30 Double arrow/pivoting direction