Window regulator

Claim 2

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, guide means fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a window panel motion path, a guide follower unit, means mounting said guide follower unit on said guide means for movement in said motion path defined thereby, means mounting said window panel on said guide follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond one margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide means upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unit in said extended position thereof and in said raised position of said window panel projecting substantially beyond said one window margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 3

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit having secondary guide means thereon, means mounting said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path defined thereby, said secondary guide means with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path, means on said window panel engageable on said secondary guide means to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond one margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said secondary guide means upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unit in said extended position thereof and in said raised position of said window panel projecting substantially beyond said one window margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at substantially spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 4

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit having secondary guide means thereon, means mounting said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path defined thereby, said secondary guide means with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path, means on said window panel engageable on said secondary guide means to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond one margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said secondary guide means upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unit in said extended position thereof and in said raised position of said window panel projecting substantially beyond said one window margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at substantially spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 5

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combinatioN of a window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having a pair of generally axially aligned collars secured thereto, each of said collars being slidably engageable on said guide member to mount said follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path, means on said window panel cooperable with said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, one collar of said pair of collars in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially beyond said one window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 6

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combinatioN of a window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having a pair of generally axially aligned collars secured thereto, each of said collars being slidably engageable on said guide member to mount said follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path, means on said window panel cooperable with said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, one collar of said pair of collars in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially beyond said one window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 7

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first and second collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of said collar extending longitudinally of said vehicle body and said second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said vehicle body to thereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path and for pivotable movement relative thereto, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motion path, track means on said window panel slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at the lower margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially below said lower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 8

In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first and second collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of said collar extending longitudinally of said vehicle body and said second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said vehicle body to thereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path and for pivotable movement relative thereto, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motion path, track means on said window panel slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at the lower margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially below said lower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 9

In a vehicle body having a door opening, the combination of a door, means vertically hinging said door on said vehicle body for swinging movement between a closed position closing the lower portion of said door opening and an open position exposing said door opening, a window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said door and defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first and second collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of said collar extending longitudinally of said door and said second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said door to thereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path and for pivotal movement relative thereto, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motion path, a track segment on said window panel slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing the upper portion of said door opening in the closed position of said door and a lowered position stowed within said door, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said door selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said door generally at the belt line of said vehicle body engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially below said lower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

Claim 10

In a vehicle body having a door opening, the combination of a door, means vertically hinging said door on said vehicle body for swinging movement between a closed position closing the lower portion of said door opening and an open position exposing said door opening, a window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said door and defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first and second collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of said collar extending longitudinally of said door and said second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said door to thereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path and for pivotal movement relative thereto, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motion path, a track segment on said window panel slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing the upper portion of said door opening in the closed position of said door and a lowered position stowed within said door, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said door selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said door generally at the belt line of said vehicle body engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially below said lower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.