US3681874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Window operating mechanism with flexible threaded cable transmission particularly for motor vehicles
Assignee: ROCKWELL GOLDE GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHFANKTER HAFTUNG
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Filing: 1970-06-18
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An operating mechanism for raising and lowering windows, particularly automobile windows which move upwardly and downwardly in a guide track wherein the movement is controlled by the displacement of a threaded flexible cable which is guided from the rotating mechanism, which may be operated by a hand crank or a motor, to the connecting part for the window pane which is guided in a track. The driving mechanism for the threaded flexible cable includes a housing mounting a driving pinion which engages the cable and which also rotates a spring pulley which carries a spring which is wound during the opening of the window and which is unwound to aid in the driving force during the closing of the window. The construction includes a housing having two interengageable parts which together define an enclosing tube for receiving and holding a rigid plastic tube in which the cable is movable. The rigid tube is held in a secure position within the housing tubular formation in a manner which prevents axial displacement as well as rotation thereof by a formation of plastic sleeves at each end of the housing tubular formation which are formed directly over the rigid plastic tube carrying the threaded cable and which includes projections which engage within recesses of the housing and prevent rotation or axial displacement of the plastic tube. The tube and the plastic sleeves are preferably made of a material such as copolymerized polyacetals and are formed such as by spraying directly over a rigid tube formation for the threaded cable which has been provided with knurlings or grooves on its exterior surface for facilitating interengagement of the sleeve with the rigid tube. The rigid tube containing the threaded cable is provided with a notch or cut-away portion at the location on the interior of said housing to facilitate meshing engagement of a driving pinion within the housing with the threaded cable contained within the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Golde
- 👤 Friedrich Herrmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:19
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F11/00; E05F11/38; E05F11/42; E05F11/423; E05F11/426; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/40; E05Y2201/47; E05Y2201/482; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/55; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
In a window operating mechanism including a drive housing having an axially extending tubular portion which is open at its opposite ends, a threaded flexible drive cable extending through and arranged to extend outwardly from both ends of said tubular portion, a rotatable drive gear positioned within said drive housing adjacent said tubular portion thereof for engagement with said flexible drive cable for rotating and axially displacing said drive cable, a window panel arranged to be moved selectively between opened and closed positions, and a support member for said window connected to said driVe cable at a position spaced from said drive housing so that said window panel can be moved between its open and closed positions by the movement of said drive cable, a guideway for said drive cables and said support member formed of a rigid material and spaced from said drive housing, wherein the improvement comprises a tube formed of a rigid plastic material and bent to a desired configuration, said flexible cable located within said tube and being rotatably and axially displaceable therein, said tube extending between said drive housing and said guideway and having a slot therein in the range of said tubular portion of said drive housing with said drive gear extending through said slot to engage with said drive cable, and a plastic sleeve located at each end of said tubular portion, said plastic sleeves being co-extensive with, secured on and in interfitting engagement with the exterior of said tube, and said sleeves secured to said tubular portion for accurately positioning and holding said tube in a fixed position relative to said drive housing for preventing any rotation and axial displacement therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
In a window operating mechanism including a drive housing having an axially extending tubular portion which is open at its opposite ends, a threaded flexible drive cable extending through and arranged to extend outwardly from both ends of said tubular portion, a rotatable drive gear positioned within said drive housing adjacent said tubular portion thereof for engagement with said flexible drive cable for rotating and axially displacing said drive cable, a window panel arranged to be moved selectively between opened and closed positions, and a support member for said window connected to said driVe cable at a position spaced from said drive housing so that said window panel can be moved between its open and closed positions by the movement of said drive cable, a guideway for said drive cables and said support member formed of a rigid material and spaced from said drive housing, wherein the improvement comprises a tube formed of a rigid plastic material and bent to a desired configuration, said flexible cable located within said tube and being rotatably and axially displaceable therein, said tube extending between said drive housing and said guideway and having a slot therein in the range of said tubular portion of said drive housing with said drive gear extending through said slot to engage with said drive cable, and a plastic sleeve located at each end of said tubular portion, said plastic sleeves being co-extensive with, secured on and in interfitting engagement with the exterior of said tube, and said sleeves secured to said tubular portion for accurately positioning and holding said tube in a fixed position relative to said drive housing for preventing any rotation and axial displacement therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein another said sleeve is formed on said tube spaced from said drive housing with a form closed connection for joining said tube to said guideway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said sleeves on said tube comprise projections formed thereon and being locked with said tubular portion of said housing against axial and rotational displacement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 3, wherein said tube and said sleeves are made of a copolymerized polyacetal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said tube includes a surface provided with recess and projecting portions interengaged with the material of said sleeves and securing said sleeves against rotation and displacement on said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 5, wherein said tube includes a plurality of grooves extending over the surface thereof around the periphery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said drive housing comprises two separate parts which are interengaged to form said tubular portion, said tubular portion having an inwardly extending recess at each end, said sleeves including axially extending extensions engageable into the respective recesses of each end of said tubular portion in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said tube includes an end plastic sleeve which extends beyond the end of said plastic tube and engages over said guideway, said end sleeve including a plurality of tongues extending parallel to said tube axis, said guideway including a metal part having a slot for accommodating each tongue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said plastic tube includes a guideway engaging said sleeve having a laterally extending portion, said guideway having a metal part with a slot into which said laterally extending portion extends, and means for securing said tube to said guideway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said drive housing includes a spring gear having a hollow interior space forming a spring storage, a spring located within said spring storage and being fixed at one end and connected at its opposite end to said gear, said spring gear being engageable with said drive gear and being rotatable by said drive gear to wind said spring when said window panel is moved in an opening direction and being rotatable by said spring to drive said drive gear when said window is moved in a closing direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a window operating device, according to claim 10, wherein said housing includes a hub affixed thereto and extending into the spring storage portion of said gear, said spring comprising a coil spring having an inner end wound around said hub and engaged therewith And an outer end extending into the inner periphery of said spring gear and secured thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 11, including a cover for said gear spring storage portion and said cover being made of a plastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a window operating mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein a flexible plastic tube is fitted over the end of said tube and is arranged to receive the end of said threaded drive gear which extends through said tubular housing and which is remote from the end connected to said guideway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |