Slider window assembly with movable panel drive system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11746582-B2
Application number	US-202117443975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2021
Priority date	Jun 14, 2018
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

A vehicular slider window assembly includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail, a fixed window panel, and a movable window panel that is movable along the rails between an opened position and a closed position. A drive system is operable to move the movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position. The drive system includes a single flexible drive element that, when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in one direction, the flexible drive element pulls the movable window panel along the rails, and when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in the opposite direction, the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails. The lower rail includes guide structure that limits flexing of the flexible drive element when the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicular slider window assembly, said vehicular slider window assembly comprising:
a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;
a fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said fixed window panel at least in part defining an opening;
a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is moved from the closed position away from the opening and at least partially along said fixed window panel;
a drive system operable to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, wherein said drive system comprises a single flexible drive element that, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel in a first direction, said flexible drive element pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail, and when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel in a second direction opposite the first direction, said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail;
wherein said single flexible drive element comprises a flexible tape;
wherein said lower rail of said frame portion comprises a guide structure along said lower rail that receives said flexible tape;
wherein an end region of said flexible tape connects to said movable window panel along said guide structure of said lower rail, and wherein said flexible tape, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, is moved along said guide structure of said lower rail; and
wherein said guide structure of said lower rail limits flexing or bending of said flexible tape when said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail.

2. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said flexible tape, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the opened position, pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail, and wherein said flexible tape, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the closed position, pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail.

3. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said guide structure defines a passageway along said lower rail, and wherein said flexible tape is received in the passageway along said lower rail, and wherein said guide structure limits flexing or bending of said flexible tape as said flexible tape is moved along said passageway.

4. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 3 , wherein said flexible tape is coiled around a spool when moved to pull said movable window panel, and wherein said flexible tape is uncoiled from said spool when moved to push said movable window panel.

5. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 4 , wherein said flexible tape extends between said spool and said movable window panel and along said guide structure of said lower rail.

6. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said flexible tape comprises a U-shaped tape, and wherein said guide structure defines a correspondingly formed passageway that limits flexing or bending of said U-shaped tape.

7. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said lower rail comprises a slot along said guide structure, and wherein a connector extends between and connects to the end region of said flexible tape and said movable window panel, and wherein the connector passes through and is movable along said slot.

8. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said drive system comprises a drive motor that rotates a drive element to move said flexible tape, and wherein said drive element is disposed at an end region of said lower rail.

9. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 8 , wherein said flexible tape extends between said drive element and said movable window panel and along said guide structure of said lower rail.

10. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening therethrough.

11. A vehicular slider window assembly, said vehicular slider window assembly comprising:
a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;
a fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said fixed window panel at least in part defining an opening;
a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is moved from the closed position away from the opening and at least partially along said fixed window panel;
a drive system operable to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, wherein said drive system comprises a single flexible drive element that, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the open position, said flexible drive element pulls said movable window panel along said lower rail, and when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel toward the closed position, said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail;
wherein said single flexible drive element comprises a U-shaped tape;
wherein said lower rail of said frame portion comprises a guide structure along said lower rail that receives said U-shaped tape;
wherein an end region of said U-shaped tape connects to said movable window panel along said guide structure of said lower rail, and wherein said U-shaped tape, when said drive system is actuated to move said movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position, is moved along said guide structure of said lower rail;
wherein said guide structure of said lower rail limits flexing or bending of said U-shaped tape when said flexible drive element pushes said movable window panel along said lower rail; and
wherein said guide structure defines a U-shaped passageway at least partially along said lower rail and limits flexing or bending of said U-shaped tape as said U-shaped tape moves along said U-shaped passageway.

12. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 11 , wherein said drive system comprises a drive motor that rotates a drive element to move said U-shaped tape, and wherein said drive element is disposed at an end region of said lower rail.

13. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said drive motor rotatably drives a spool, and wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives said spool in a first direction, said U-shaped tape is coiled around said spool to pull said movable window panel, and wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives said spool in a second direction opposite the first direction, said U-shaped tape is uncoiled from said spool to push said movable window panel.

14. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 13 , wherein, when said drive motor rotatably drives said spool, an output gear of said drive motor rotates about an axis of rotation normal to an axis of rotation of said spool.

15. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said U-shaped tape extends between said drive element and said movable window panel and along said guide structure of said lower rail.

16. The vehicular slide

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Snider Darin J
• Bowman Kyle S

Classifications

• E05F15/655 Primary

  specially adapted for vehicle wings · CPC title

• B60J1/1853 Primary

  horizontally in direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis · CPC title

• E05D15/0621

  Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides (E05D15/0604, E05D15/08 - E05D15/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/55

  Windows · CPC title

• E05Y2201/264

  linear · CPC title