Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080222844 | Pivoting, Translating and Latching Hinge - The invention is a hinge for a vehicle door that is movable between a closed and a fully open position relative to a vehicle body. The hinge includes a mounting bracket, operable to be secured to the vehicle body. At least one link is pivotally mounted along a fixed axis to the mounting bracket at a first end and operable to pivot a second end of the at least one link between a first and second position. A door bracket is operable to be secured to the vehicle door, and pivotally mounted along a movable axis to the second end of the at least one link. The vehicle door is constrained by the vehicle body from pivoting around the movable axis when the second end of the at least one link is in the first position, and is operable to pivot around the movable axis when the at least one link is in the second position. A latch is provided on the hinge, obviating the need for a separate door latch. | 09-18-2008 |
20080276541 | Structural Door Module - A structural door module for a motor vehicle door, comprising of a carrier plate with a plurality of door hardware components mounted to the dryside and wetside surfaces of the carrier plate. The carrier plate includes a number of preformed components that allow door subsystems to be pre-mounted to the door module and tested prior to mounting the structural door module in the motor vehicle door body. An energy absorbing area is molded into the carrier plate. Additionally, a protruding arm rest support is designed to collapse during a side-impact collision. | 11-13-2008 |
20090146451 | INNER PANEL FOR A DOOR ASSEMBLY HAVING AN INTEGRATED INTRUSION BEAM - A door assembly is provided that includes integral impact regions that obviate the need for a separate impact beam. The door assembly includes an outer panel and an inner panel, operably connected to the outer panel so that a compartment is formed therebetween. At least one hardware-mounting surface is integrally formed from the inner panel and extends towards the outer panel. Each of the hardware mounting surfaces is operable to mount a hardware component between the inner and outer panels. At least one integrally-formed impact region is provided on the inner panel that is operable to strengthen the door assembly and increase its intrusion resistance of the vehicle door during a collision. The inner panel has substantially no large access openings that would be deleterious to impact resistance and substantially seals the vehicle passenger compartment from the external environment. The at least one impact region is also displaced at least as far away from the outer panel as the at least one hardware mounting surface. | 06-11-2009 |
20090174112 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOLDING INTEGRAL JOINT - A method is provided for molding an integral joint including a stationary member and an enclosure rotatable about the stationary member. The method utilizes a joint formation assembly defining an inner cavity, a first passageway connected to the inner cavity, an outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity, and a second passageway connected to the outer cavity. The method includes the steps of: introducing moldable material into the inner cavity from the first passageway to form the stationary member; introducing moldable material into the outer cavity from the second passageway to form the enclosure; and divorcing the inner cavity from the outer cavity for separately and independently forming the enclosure around the stationary member to allow rotatable movement of the enclosure about the stationary member. | 07-09-2009 |
20100011668 | MOUNTING BRACKET FOR FRAMELESS DOOR - The invention is a window regulator for moving a closure panel between a first and a second position in a door for a vehicle. The window regulator includes at least one rail with a lift plate slidably mounted to the at least one rail that retains the closure panel. An adjustable mounting structure pivotally attaches the at least one rail to a surface in the door so that the closure panel is operable to pivot around a fixed instantaneous center that is displaced away from the at least one rail. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting structure includes a jackscrew mounted to one end of the rail and a four bar hinge located at the other end. | 01-21-2010 |
20100146862 | Trim door hardware carrier and methods of assembling vehicle door - A door module assembly for a motor vehicle door has a plate-like carrier holding a plurality of door hardware components in a pre-configured orientation, including one or more window regulator rails. The carrier seals the motor vehicle door and includes a flap that provides at least partial access to the window regulator rails. A first trim panel is pre-fixed to the carrier. A second trim panel articulates with respect to the first trim panel between an initial position generally parallel to the first trim panel and an installed position generally in-line with the first trim panel. With the carrier storing substantially all of the hardware required for the door and the trim panels covering substantially the entire surface area of the door, handling and assembly operations are minimized. | 06-17-2010 |
20100269412 | BACKLITE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE - In an aspect, the invention is directed to a backlite assembly for a vehicle such as a pickup truck. The backlite assembly incorporates a motor assembly and a motor driven belt engaged with a guide rail that can be mounted to a structural support that is bonded to the fixed windows of the backlite assembly. A motor driven belt is used to actuate a movable window between closed and open positions. The lower support can also integrate the rail directly therein. The lower support can additionally integrate a housing for the motor assembly. | 10-28-2010 |
20110010999 | Window Regulator Assembly For A Vehicle - In an aspect, the invention is directed to a window regulator assembly that includes a carrier, a set of lifter plates, a drive motor and drive cables for operatively connecting the drive motor to the lifter plates. At least one rail may be integral with the carrier. The carrier has a carrier seal that is co-molded therewith. The carrier has a pulley assembly thereon that includes a pulley and a pulley bearing member that has a pulley bending load bearing surface that is conical and that mates with a carrier bending load bearing surface that is inner-conical. The lifter plate is capable of a relatively strong connection to a vehicle window. The lifter plate has a window pass-through member that passes through a locking aperture in the vehicle window. The window pass-through member has two ends and is supported at both ends against vertical withdrawal of the vehicle window. The lifter plate also has a reduced tendency to bind when in use. The lifter plate has lateral engagement surfaces that are for engagement with lateral guide surfaces and has cable mounts for receiving drive cables. The cable mounts are positioned laterally between the lateral engagement surfaces. Additionally, the vehicle window lifter plate has lateral engagement surfaces that are for engagement with lateral guide surfaces. The lateral engagement surfaces are biased against the lateral guide surfaces, thereby giving the lifter plate the capability to accommodate lateral forces with a reduced tendency to bind. A wiring harness clip for holding wiring harnesses to the carrier is provided. The wiring harness clip has two clip elements that together define a wiring harness retaining aperture in a longitudinal direction and an inlet thereto. The wiring harness inlet is canted to a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal direction. The perpendicular spacing between the two clip elements is larger than the distance between them in the transverse direction. | 01-20-2011 |
20110308163 | Structural Door Module - A structural door module for a motor vehicle door, comprising of a carrier plate with a plurality of door hardware components mounted to the dryside and wetside surfaces of the carrier plate. The carrier plate includes a number of preformed components that allow door subsystems to be pre-mounted to the door module and tested prior to mounting the structural door module in the motor vehicle door body. An energy absorbing area is molded into the carrier plate. Additionally, a protruding arm rest support is designed to collapse during a side-impact collision. | 12-22-2011 |
20120093576 | Method And System of Molding Integral Joint - A method is provided for molding an integral joint including a stationary member and an enclosure rotatable about the stationary member. The method utilizes a joint formation assembly defining an inner cavity, a first passageway connected to the inner cavity, an outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity, and a second passageway connected to the outer cavity. The method includes the steps of: introducing moldable material into the inner cavity from the first passageway to form the stationary member; introducing moldable material into the outer cavity from the second passageway to form the enclosure; and divorcing the inner cavity from the outer cavity for separately and independently forming the enclosure around the stationary member to allow rotatable movement of the enclosure about the stationary member. | 04-19-2012 |
20140041303 | WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE - In an aspect, a lifter plate is provided that is capable of a relatively strong connection to a vehicle window. The lifter plate includes a lifter plate body including a first side wall and a second side wall configured to receive a vehicle window therebetween, a window holding member positionable in a locking position to prevent the withdrawal of the vehicle window from between the first and second side walls, and a locking member positioned to prevent the movement of the window holding member out of the locking position in the event of a force urging the withdrawal of the vehicle window from between first and second side walls. | 02-13-2014 |
20140203590 | Structural Door - A structural door module for a motor vehicle door body includes a carrier plate forming a first and second surface. The structural door module also includes a plurality of door hardware components mounted to at least one of the first and second surface in a pre-configured orientation. A handle support is integrally formed from the carrier plate, and provides a cavity to receive a door handle assembly on the first surface. | 07-24-2014 |