Hi-lex Controls, Inc.

Hi-lex Corporation

Kevin Richard Koneval

Heather Ann Golen

Jeffrey W Kolar

Ichiro Okuno

Fred Eberle

Brian J Wild

John Heiberger

Favad Shah

Stephen J Brinck

Heather Golen

Jay Sypen

Jeffrey John Lijana

David Edward Flint

Ellen Marisa Kauten

Eric Thomas

Charles Hazel

A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having mechanical parts and electric devices for seat operation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable for activating at least one device, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the at least one operating cable. An end portion of the operating cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the operating cable is connected to the electric devices and/or mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the retained operating cables is securely mounted to the seat.

Seat module for cable arrangement

A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having component for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for retaining at least one operating cable. Further, the operating cable is retained in the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is retained by the module plate in a stowed condition, and the operating cable is released from the stowed condition and connected to the components of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate retaining the operating cable is attached to the seat.

A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having mechanical parts and electric devices for seat operation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable for activating at least one device, and a cushion suspension module adapted to support a cushion of the seat having a plurality of cushion suspension wires for attaching to the seat and at least one module plates coupled with the cushion suspension wires. An end portion of the operating cable is temporarily stowed on the cushion suspension module in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is attached to the cushion suspension module, and the end portion of the operating cable is connected to the electric devices and/or mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the cushion suspension module with the attached operating cables is securely mounted to the seat.

Seat module

A seat module attached to a seat having mechanical parts for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one mechanical control cable for the seat actuation, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the mechanical control cable. An end portion of the mechanical control cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the mechanical control cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the mechanical control cable is connected to the mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the attached mechanical control cable is securely mounted to the seat.

An actuator for opening and closing a hinged device is provided. In particular, the actuator is a power tailgate actuator. The actuator comprises a motor with a rotor, and an output shaft that rotates on an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis on which lies the rotor of the motor. The actuator has a rotary position sensor such as a rotary potentiometer which positively identifies the position of the tailgate. The tailgate also comprises a clutch which can engage and disengage depending on the mode of operation.

Power tailgate actuator

A rattle mitigation assembly for a window regulator installed in a vehicle door includes drive unit housing having a port with a mouth of a cylindrical cavity adapted to receive a connector of a sheathed cable; a profiled end face extending around the mouth; and a slot extending radially outward from the cylindrical cavity, along the cylindrical cavity and through the end face. The end face forms a radially sloped ramp profile configured to exert a radial bias on a compression spring surrounding the connector and abutting the end face. An optimal slope angle of the ramp for urging the spring in the radial direction lies in the range of 45&#xb0; through 80&#xb0; with respect to a plane extending radially relative to the cylindrical cavity. An optional wedge profile with an increasing elevation along a direction away from the radially sloped ramp profile may be arranged opposite the ramp profile to exert an axial bias on the compression spring.

Integrated window regulator assembly

A power actuator for moving automotive closure panels between opened and closed positions. The actuator is particularly adapted for actuating the rear tailgate of a pickup truck type vehicle and includes an electric drive motor, a flexible cable assembly, and a strut assembly coupled to the hinge of the tailgate. Electrical control signals are applied to cause the opening and closing motion upon appropriate input electrical signals from vehicle mounted switches. The actuator assembly provides controlled opening rotational rate of the tailgate against the force of gravity through the application of a reduced electrical power level applied to the motor by a separate power source or by shunting the motor to an electrodynamic braking effect. Closing of the tailgate is caused by applying full power to the electric motor. The invention also involves the design of a hinge assembly which efficiently transfers torque between the vehicle body and closure panel, while allowing serviceability of the closure panel.

Rotating cable tailgate actuator

A powered window regulator for use with a horizontally sliding window assembly may be disconnected from a sliding pane to permit manual operation of the window. The regulator has a tubular guide rail mounted adjacent and parallel to the lower edge of the window assembly by pivot brackets which engage the respective ends of the guide rail such that the guide rail is rotatable about the pivot brackets. A carrier block slides within the guide rail, and a portion of the block extends out through a longitudinal slot extending along the length of the guide rail to engage a pane attachment affixed to the sliding pane. The carrier block is moved reciprocally along the guide rail by a motor-driven cable to slide the sliding pane between open and closed positions. Rotation of the guide rail about the pivot brackets through approximately ninety degrees moves the carrier block between an upright position wherein it engages the pane attachment and a depressed position wherein it is disengaged from the pane attachment. Each pivot bracket comprises a bearing pin which fits into the end of the tubular guide rail and a conduit end fitting for receiving the end of a protective conduit which surrounds the drive cable.

Sliding window regulator with disconnectable power feature

A window regulator for use with a horizontally sliding window assembly has a channel-like guide rail, an elongated carrier plate slidingly movable along the guide rail, and a cable drive mechanism for moving the carrier plate along the guide rail. Pane engagement pairs are disposed at opposite ends of the carrier plate, each comprising a male feature and a mating female feature. One of the features of each pair is secured to the carrier plate and the mating feature is secured to the sliding pane adjacent an outboard edge thereof. The male/female engagement between the features allows the sliding pane and the carrier plate to move relative to one another along an axis generally perpendicular to the sliding pane, while the two-point engagement between the pane and the carrier plate serves to stabilize the pane and allow it to slide smoothly even if the guide tracks for the sliding pane and the guide rail are less than perfectly flat and parallel to one another. The carrier plate is a unitary, elongated piece extending between the two widely spaced points of attachment with the sliding pane, so that it is more stable as it slides along the guide rail.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb, MI, United States of America

Kevin Richard Koneval