TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The subject invention relates to a cursor assembly with adjustment that is free from a guide rail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The position of a window regulator mounted within a vehicle door needs to be adjusted to be positioned properly so that a window panel can be raised and lowered between uppermost and lowermost positions. Adjustment of a window regulator presents challenges for frameless doors where the window panels are not guided in lateral guideways during movement. In a frameless door, the sealing between the window panel and the vehicle body is more difficult than in a classical door with a frame where the window panel can penetrate window seals at its periphery. In a frameless door the sealing is achieved without significant glass penetration in the window seals, which requires a good relative positioning of the window panel versus the seals mounted on the vehicle body. To achieve the sealing, it is necessary to adjust the window position and balance between front and rear portions, especially for ensuring that an upper edge of the window is aligned with the body.

[0003] The window regulator includes cursors that are attached to guide rails located within a vehicle door, the cursors are pulled by cables along the guide rails. The guide rails have an external side towards the door body and an internal side towards the vehicle interior. The cursors include structure to hold the window panel, and a cable attachment portion. Adjusting the window regulator involves locating the window panel at a correct position via the cursors. Typically, the window panel is adjusted at the raised position when the window panel is at the uppermost position and the cursors are at a topmost position of travel.

[0004] One known form of adjustment is incorporated into the cursors at each guide rail. The cursors are attached to the guide rails at an attachment interface. The position of each cursor is adjusted relative to the associated guide rail at the attachment interface between the cable attachment portion and the cursor portion, which is located on the external side of the rail, the access being usually from the door interior side. Consequently, the adjustment is a blind operation. Adjusting a position of each of the cursors in such a manner can be difficult and time consuming. Thus, there is a need for a more efficient and cost effective adjustment for the window regulator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A cursor assembly for a vehicle window regulator includes a mounting block that is supported for movement along a guide rail and an adjustment block that is secured to the mounting block with an adjustment member that is free from the guide rail. The adjustment block includes a window mount portion to hold a window panel. The adjustment member is selectively adjusted to set a mount position for the window panel.

[0006] In one example, the adjustment member comprises a fastener and a nut. The mounting block includes a first lug with a first aperture and the adjustment member includes a second lug with a second aperture that is aligned with the first aperture to receive the fastener. The fastener is rotated for movement along an adjustment path that corresponds to a direction of movement of the window panel along the guide rail.

[0007] One example method for adjusting a mount position of the window panel includes the following steps. The mounting block is secured for movement along the guide rail and the adjustment block is secured to the mounting block with an adjustment member that is free from the guide rail. The adjustment block supports the window panel and is selectively adjusted to set the mount position for the window panel.

[0008] These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 shows a door assembly including a carrier plate with guide rails and a cursor assembly incorporating the subject invention.

[0010] Figure 2 is a magnified view of a portion of the assembly as identified in Figure 1.

[0011] Figure 3 shows a view of one side of an attachment interface between the cursor assembly and guide rail of Figure 1. [0012] Figure 4 shows a view of an opposite side of the attachment interface of Figure 3.

[0013] Figure 5 shows a perspective assembled view of one side of the cursor assembly of Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 6 shows a front assembled view of the cursor assembly of Figure 5.

[0015] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a mounting block of the cursor assembly of Figure 5.

[0016] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an adjustment block of the cursor assembly of Figure 5.

[0017] Figure 9 shows a door assembly including a carrier plate with guide rails and another example embodiment of a cursor assembly incorporating the subject invention.

[0018] Figure 10 is a magnified view of a portion of the assembly as identified in Figure 9.

[0019] Figure 11 shows a front view of one side of an attachment interface between the cursor assembly and guide rail of Figure 9.

[0020] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the attachment interface of Figure 11.

[0021] Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a mounting block of the cursor assembly of Figure 9.

[0022] Figure 14 shows a front assembled view of the cursor assembly of Figure 9.

[0023] Figure 15 shows a perspective view of an opposite side of the mounting block of Figure 13.

[0024] Figure 16 shows a perspective view of an adjustment block of the cursor assembly of Figure 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Figure 1 shows a carrier plate 20 that is mountable within a vehicle door D. The carrier plate 20 is a rigid structure that provides a mounting support for a window regulator 22 and other door components, such as a door lock mechanism (not shown) for example. As known, interior door trim covers one side of the carrier plate 20 and an external door panel covers an opposite side of the carrier plate 20 when installed within the vehicle door D.

[0026] The window regulator 22 includes first and second guide rails 24 that are mounted to the carrier plate 20. The guide rails 24 are longitudinally spaced apart from each other in an X-direction, i.e. a longitudinal direction of vehicle movement, and define a vertical path of movement for a window panel 26 in a Z-direction. A Y-direction extends perpendicular to both the X and Z directions and is generally parallel to a lateral direction across a vehicle width.

[0027] A cursor assembly 28 is mounted to at least one of the guide rails 24 to support the window panel 26 for movement along the guide rails 24. It should be understood that while Figure 1 shows one cursor assembly 28 mounted to a rearward guide rail 24, an additional cursor assembly 28, similarly configured, could also be mounted to the forward guide rail 24.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the cursor assembly 28 includes a first piece or mounting block 30 that is directly attached to the guide rail 24 for movement relative to the guide rail 24, and a second piece or adjustment block 32 that is secured to the mounting block 30 at an interface 34 (Figure 3). The guide rail 24 is a stamped or shaped metal plate and defines upper and lower stops that define travel limits for the mounting block 30. Alternatively, the guide rail 24 can be made from plastic, can be formed as part of the carrier plate 20, or can be attached to an inner door panel. The mounting block 30 is driven by a mechanism (not shown) for movement essentially in the Z-direction as known, along the guide rail 24.

[0029] The adjustment block 32 is a separate piece from the mounting block 30 and is not directly attached to the guide rail 24. Instead, the adjustment block 32 is directly secured to the mounting block 30 at the interface 34 with an adjustment member 38. The adjustment member 38 is a fastener 40 and a nut 42. As such, the adjustment occurs free of the guide rail 24, i.e. adjustment occurs at the interface 34 between the mounting 30 and adjustment 32 blocks (and not at the attachment between the mounting block 30 and cable seed portion in the guide rail external side area).

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the mounting block 30 includes a guide structure 44 that is coupled to a flange 46 of the guide rail 24 for sliding movement relative thereto. The adjustment block 32 includes a window mount portion 48 that holds the window panel 26 in place on the cursor assembly 28. The window mount portion 48 is separate from the mounting block and can include any type of window mount such as a clamp mount or fastener mount for example.

[0031] In the example of Figures 1-8, the adjustment member 38 is located at a position along one longitudinal side of the window mount portion 48, i.e. the adjustment member 38 is positioned longitudinally between the window mount portion 48 and the mounting block 30. The mounting block 30 includes one edge 50 extending in a vertical direction and the adjustment block 32 includes another edge 52 extending in the vertical direction that faces the one edge 50 of the mounting block 30. The adjustment member 38 is positioned between these edges 50, 52 and defines an adjustment path of movement that corresponds to a direction of movement of the window panel 26, i.e. a direction of movement along the Z-direction.

[0032] Figures 5-8 show the mounting block 30 and the adjustment block 32 in greater detail. The mounting block 30 includes an elongated body 60 that is elongated in the Z-direction. A first lug 62 extends outwardly from the edge 50 in the X-direction toward the adjustment block 32. The first lug 62 includes a first aperture 64 that receives the fastener 40.

[0033] The adjustment block 32 includes a rectangular shaped body 70 with a second lug 72 that extends outwardly from the edge 52 in a direction toward the mounting block 30. The second lug 72 includes a first portion 72a and a second portion 72b that are vertically spaced apart from each other and are positioned on opposing vertical ends of the first lug 62. The first 72a and second 72b portions include apertures 74 that are aligned with the first aperture 64 of the first lug 62. The fastener 40 is inserted through the apertures 64, 74 to secure the mounting block 30 and adjustment block 32 together. The fastener 40 can be selectively adjusted to define the correct or proper mount position for the window panel 26 in the vehicle door.

[0034] In one example, the mounting block 30 and adjustment block 32 are each single-piece, plastic molded components. By making the adjustment free from the guide rail 24 the adjustment is more effectively and efficiently performed in the Z-direction. Further, such a configuration allows a blank size of the guide rail to be reduced which provides more room for other door components and reduces the rail cost and weight.

[0035] Figures 9-16 show another example of a cursor assembly 128. Door structure components that are common for both embodiments retain the original numbering while common, but modified, cursor assembly components include a designation of one hundred plus the original number. The cursor assembly 128 includes a first piece or mounting block 130 that is directly attached to the guide rail 24 for movement relative to the guide rail 24, and a second piece or adjustment block 132 that is secured to the mounting block 130 at an interface 134 (Figure 11). As discussed above, mounting block 130 is driven by a mechanism for movement in the Z-direction as known.

[0036] The adjustment block 132 is a separate piece from the mounting block 130 and is not directly attached to the guide rail 24. Instead, the adjustment block 132 is directly secured to the mounting block 130 at the interface 134 with an adjustment member 138. The adjustment member 138 is a fastener 140 and a nut 142. As with the embodiment discussed above, adjustment occurs at the interface 134 between the mounting 130 and adjustment 132 blocks and not at the attachment between the mounting block 130 and the cable seed portion in the guide rail external side area, i.e. the adjustment occurs free of the guide rail 24.

[0037] As shown Figure 12, the mounting block 130 includes a guide structure 144 that is coupled to a flange 46 of the guide rail 24 for sliding movement relative thereto. The adjustment block 132 includes a window mount portion 148 (Figure 10) that holds the window panel 26 in place on the cursor assembly 128. The window mount portion 148 is separate from the mounting block 130 and can include any type of window mount such as a clamp mount or fastener mount, for example.

[0038] In the example of Figures 9-16, the adjustment member 138 is located at a position generally underneath the window mount portion 148, i.e. the adjustment member 38 extends vertically downwardly relative to the window mount portion 148. The mounting block 130 includes one bottom edge 150 extending in the X-direction and the adjustment block 132 includes a bottom edge 152 extending in the X-direction. The adjustment member 138 is positioned to extend transverse to these bottom edges 150, 152 and defines an adjustment path of movement that corresponds to a direction of movement of the window panel 26, i.e. a direction of movement essentially in the Z-direction along the guide rail 24. [0039] Figures 9-16 show the mounting block 130 and the adjustment block 132 in greater detail. The mounting block 130 includes an elongated body 160 that is elongated in the Z-direction. An extension portion 154 extends outward from the elongated body 160 in the X-direction. The extension portion 154 defines the bottom edge 150 and is significantly shorter in height than the elongated body 160 to form an L-shape. A first lug 162 is formed within the extension portion 154 of the mounting block 130. The first lug 162 includes a first aperture 164 that receives the fastener 140.

[0040] The adjustment block 132 includes a rectangular shaped body 170 with a second lug 172 (Figure 16) that is spaced vertically above the bottom edge 152. The second lug 172 includes a second aperture 174 that is aligned with the first aperture 164 of the first lug 162. The fastener 140 is inserted through the apertures 164, 174 to secure the mounting block 130 and adjustment block 132 together. The fastener 140 can be selectively adjusted to define the correct or proper mount position for the window panel 26 in the vehicle door.

[0041] The adjustment block 132 also includes a guide 180 that is received over the elongated body 160 of the mounting block 130. The guide 180 ensures rigidity of the adjustment block 132 with the mounting block 130. The guide 180 comprises an L-shaped member that first extends outwardly from the rectangular body 170 in a Y-direction and then which extends toward the mounting block 130 in the X-direction.

[0042] In one example, the mounting block 130 and adjustment block 132 are each single-piece, plastic molded components. By making the adjustment free from the guide rail 24 the adjustment is more effectively and efficiently performed in the Z-direction. Further, by positioning the adjustment to be below the window mount portion 148, a length of the fastener 140 can be reduced, and such a configuration allows a blank size of the guide rail to be reduced which provides more room for other door components. Also, threading ensures adjustment by translation of the adjustment block in a situation where the adjustment member is rotated. The self locking nut 42,142 keeps the distance with the fastener 40,140 head constant. By rotating the fastener, the threaded engagement between the fastener and the first lug 62,162 leads to adjustment of the first lug 62,162 relative to the second lug 72,172.

[0043] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.