The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1997
James G Mariel, Mishawaka, IN (US);
Michael D Kobrehel, Elkhart, IN (US);
James F Trevarrow, Goodrich, MI (US);
M Darren Grumm, Cassopolis, MI (US);
Robert K Roth, Elkhart, IN (US);
Andrew C Smith, South Bend, IN (US);
Excel Industries, Inc., Elkhart, IN (US);
Abstract
A cable-drum window regulator for controlling the motion of a windowpane, such as a window in a door, has an improved glider assembly. The glider assembly is attached to the windowpane, and comprises a glider slidably secured by snap fit to an elongate guide rail, and a glider plate which snap fits to the glider. The glider assembly travels along the guide rail from a full-up to a full-down position. The glider preferably has a cushioning unitary downstop to absorb the loading of the glider assembly at the full-down position. The glider has at least a pair of rail tabs which snap fit to longitudinally extending receiving flanges of the rail; preferably at least one of the rail tabs has a beveled surface for ease in assembly. The glider has at least one flexible finger with a digit which snaps into a corresponding receiving opening in the glider plate. In those embodiments with more than one flexible finger, one finger is preferably longer than the other. The glider plate may be snap fit directly to the glider or it may be inserted from one side into a slot between glider plate retention tabs and snapped into place. The glider plate has a center portion and a first and second wing; preferably the first and second wing are positioned in an offset plane closer to the windowpane. For ease of assembly, the first wing may be smaller than the center portion and the slot, and the second wing may be larger than the center portion and the slot.