Window lifter

Abstract

 A window lifter comprising at least one guide (2) suitable for slidably supporting a window holder (3), which can be driven through a kinematic chain (4, 5, 6) that comprises a drum (6) arranged in a container (7) provided with one or more fixing members (11) suitable for allowing the assembly of the container (7) on a panel (1), wherein the guide (2), the container (7) and/or a driving device (8) connected to the drum (6) are connected to each other and fixed to the panel (1) by means of these fixing members (11).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a window lifter, and particularly to a window lifter that may be mounted on motor vehicle doors.

[0002] The doors of a motor vehicle are generally provided with a frame on which various components such as, for example, locks, hinges, handles and window lifters are fixed. In order to facilitate the assembly of the window lifters, which comprise a number of mechanical and/or electrical members connected to each other, modular solutions have been developed, wherein such devices are pre-assembled on a supporting panel, thus forming an assembly that is subsequently mounted onto the door frame. On this panel other components such as e.g. the handles may be possibly assembled.

[0003] This window lifter generally comprises at least one guide suitable for slidably supporting a window holder on which a door window will be mounted. The guide is generally fixed to the panel at its ends and is arranged in a substantially vertical position. The window holder is driven through a kinematic chain that typically comprises one or more cables connected to the window holder and forming a closed path around the guide. The cables are supported by pulleys or slides restrained to the guide and wind on a drum arranged in proximity to the guide itself. The drum is connected to a driving device, which may be of a manual type, e.g. a crank, or of an automatic type, e.g. an electric geared motor.

[0004] When raising or lowering a door window, the supporting panel is stressed by the forces generated by the interaction of the various components of the window lifter, such as for example the weight of the window and the torque transmitted from the driving device to the drum. These forces are transmitted to the panel through the fixation points of the guide and of the driving device, thus generating stresses and deformations which strain the structure of the panel and may cause deformations and breaks. The static loads of the guide, the driving device and of the other components possibly fixed to the panel are added to these forces, as well as the impulsive forces due to e.g. the closing of the door.

[0005] Consequently, the design of a panel for a window lifter results in an oversizing of the fixation points of the various components and of possible other zones adjacent thereto, as well as in the use of special shapes, thus resulting in an increase of the manufacturing costs and/or the total weight.

[0006] Window lifters are also known, wherein the cables of the kinematic chain slide in suitable rigid sheaths connected to the guide, the sheaths serving as stiffening elements of the guide and allowing to discharge a part of the stresses borne by the guide itself and by the panel.

[0007] However, known window lifters do not allow to reduce the stresses the panel is subject to both by the window holder and by effect of impulsive forces. Therefore it is always necessary to provide for reinforcing areas and oversized thicknesses in particular in the fixation points of the various components of the panel, thus leaving the problems related to the weight and the manufacturing costs substantially unsolved.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a window lifter, which allows to overcome such disadvantages. Said object is achieved with a window lifter, whose main features are disclosed in the first claim, while other features are disclosed in the remaining claims.

[0009] The main advantage of the window lifter according to the present invention is that the connection among the guide, the drum container and the driving device allows to exchange a part of the forces stressing the panel among these components directly, thus remarkably reducing the stresses borne by the panel.

[0010] Consequently, it is possible to simplify the structure of the panel, reducing its thicknesses, in particular in correspondence to the connection points of the various components of the window lifter, thus reducing the total weight of the panel and its manufacturing costs.

[0011] Another advantage of the window lifter according to the present invention is that the connection points among the guide, the drum container and the driving device may coincide with the points wherein the driving device is fixed to the panel, thus restraining the guide to the panel in one or more points and obtaining a stiffening effect of the panel at a very low cost.

[0012] The structure of the window lifter assembly thus results more rigid and has a higher loading capacity, thus possibly allowing to bear the stresses produced on the panel by other components such as e.g. the handles.

[0013] A further advantage offered by the invention is that the container of the drum may be integrated in the guide, thus allowing to reduce the number of components and to simplify the assembly operation of the window lifter.

[0014] Further advantages and features of the window lifter according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of some embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

• figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the window lifter;
• figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the window lifter of figure 1;
• figure 3 shows cross-section III-III of figure 1;
• figure 4 shows the cross-section of figure 3 of a second embodiment of the window lifter;
• figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the window lifter;
• figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the window lifter of figure 5;
• figure 7 shows cross-section VII-VII of figure 5; and
• figure 8 shows the cross-section of figure 7 of a fourth embodiment of the window lifter.

[0015] Referring to figures 1 and 2, the window lifter according to the present invention is fixed to a supporting panel 1 on which a guide 2 suitable for slidably supporting a window holder 3 is mounted. In figure 1, window holder 3 is shown in the two end positions of guide 2, whereas in figure 2 window holder 3 is shown in a substantially intermediate position of guide 2. Guide 2 is fixed to panel 1 in correspondence to its ends and is arranged in a substantially vertical position. Window holder 3 is driven by means of a kinematic chain comprising at least one cable 4 connected to window holder 3 and forming a closed path around guide 2. In the illustrated embodiment window holder 3 is connected to two cables 4 passing around a pair of pulleys or slides 5 pivoted at the ends of guide 2. Cables 4 wind on a drum 6, which is arranged in a suitable container 7 and is connected to a driving device 8, such as e.g. an electrical geared motor.

[0016] Guide 2, container 7 and/or driving device 8 are suitably connected to each other in one or more points of panel 1. Preferably, the connection among guide 2, container 7 and/or driving device 8 is made by using some of the fixation points of driving device 8 itself to panel 1. Therefore, guide 2 is restrained to panel 1 in correspondence to its ends and in one or more intermediate points, thus serving as a structural stiffening member and allowing to improve the loading capacity of panel 1.

[0017] As shown in figures 2 and 3, guide 2 comprises at least one plate 9 on which one or more openings 10 are formed and are suitable for receiving members, screws 11 in particular, allowing to fix container 7 and/or driving device 8 to panel 1. For instance, openings 10 formed in plate 9 of guide 2 may comprise two through-holes symmetrically arranged with respect to the point wherein driving device 8 is connected to panel 1.

[0018] Thanks to this connection, when driving window holder 3, the torque exerted by driving device 8 will be spread between guide 2 and supporting panel 1. Similarly, the forces exchanged among window holder 3, cables 4, pulleys or slides 5 and guide 2 will be spread between driving device 8 and panel 1, thus reducing the stresses borne by panel 1. By increasing the number of connection points between guide 2, container 7 and/or driving device 8 it is possible to further reduce the stresses borne by panel 1.

[0019] In order to facilitate possible service operations, guide 2 and the kinematic chain, i.e. window holder 3, cables 4, the related pulleys or slides 5 and drum 6 with the related container 7, are arranged and fixed on an outer side 1a of panel 1, i.e. on the side that faces the outside of the door once the window lifter has been mounted. On the contrary, driving device 8 is arranged on an inner side 1b of panel 1 and thus faces the inside of the door. In this way driving device 8 is always easily accessible in order to allow repairing and maintenance operations without requiring to disassemble the whole window lifter.

[0020] Preferably, driving device 8 is inserted in a suitable seat formed in panel 1 and screwed on container 7 of drum 6, which is arranged on outer side 1 a of panel 1. In this way it is possible to keep the thickness of panel 1 to a minimum size in the zone where driving device 8 is fixed.

[0021] Therefore, according to this arrangement, as shown in figure 3 in particular, fixing members 11 cross panel 1 and openings 10 formed on plate 9 of guide 2 and engage suitable seats 12 formed in container 7. Guide 2 is thus arranged between panel 1 and container 7 of drum 6, being connected to driving device 8 in this way.

[0022] The connection between driving device 8, container 7, guide 2 and panel 1 may be made in alternative ways, e.g. in order to simplify the structure of container 7 of drum 6.

[0023] For instance, as illustrated in the second embodiment shown in figure 4, fixing members 11 cross panel 1 and container 7 of drum 6 and engage bushings 13 inserted in openings 10 of plate 9 of guide 2. In this case, panel 1 is arranged between container 7 of drum 6 and driving device 8, whereas the connection between guide 2 and driving device 8 is made on the external surface of container 7.

[0024] Figures 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the invention, wherein container 7 is integrally formed in guide 2 in correspondence to plate 9. As shown in figure 7, container 7 does not completely enclose drum 6, but covers it on the front side and only partially surrounds it laterally in order to correctly accomplish the centering and the containing functions without making the structure of guide 2 too complex.

[0025] Alternatively, as shown in figure 8, it is possible to eliminate the portion of container 7 laterally surrounding the drum by forming on panel 1 a plurality of protrusions 14 suitable for surrounding and containing drum 6.

[0026] Both in the third and in the fourth embodiment, fixing members 11 of driving device 8 cross panel 1 and engage bushings 13 that are inserted in openings 10 of plates 9 of guide 2, whereby panel 1 is arranged between plate 9 of guide 2 and driving device 8.

[0027] Further modifications and/or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to the hereinabove disclosed and illustrated embodiments while remaining within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A window lifter comprising at least one guide (2) suitable for slidably supporting a window holder (3), which can be driven through a kinematic chain (4, 5, 6) that comprises a drum (6) arranged in a container (7) provided with one or more fixing members (11) suitable for allowing the assembly of the container (7) on a panel (1), characterized in that the guide (2), the container (7) and/or a driving device (8) connected to the drum (6) are connected to each other and fixed to the panel (1) by means of these fixing members (11).

2. A window lifter according to the previous claim, characterized in that the guide (2) has a plate (9) wherein one or more openings (10) suitable for receiving the fixing members (11) are formed.

3. A window lifter according to the previous claim, characterized in that said openings (10) comprise through-holes symmetrically arranged with respect to the point wherein the driving device (8) is fixed to the panel (1).

4. A window lifter according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fixing members (11) cross the panel (1) and the openings (10) and engage seats (12) formed in the container (7).

5. A window lifter according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fixing members (11) cross the panel (1) and the container (7) of the drum (6) and engage the openings (10).

6. A window lifter according to the previous claim, characterized in that the fixing members (11) engage bushings (13) inserted in the openings (10).

7. A window lifter according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the guide (2) is arranged between the panel (1) and the container (7).

8. A window lifter according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container (7) is arranged between the panel (1) and the guide (2).

9. A window lifter according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the container (7) is integrally formed in the guide (2).

10. A window lifter according to the previous claim, characterized in that the container (7) is integrally formed in the guide (2) in correspondence to the plate (9).

Drawing