Tailgate window regulator

Claim 2

Tailgate window regulator mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a pair of coplanar toothed sectors pivotally mounted on said plate with the toothed peripheral portions thereof laterally spaced from each other with minimum clearance so that the tips of the teeth thereof are as close as possible to each other without interfering with each other, a pair of pinions coplanar with each other and with said sectors located in a position spaced laterally from the line joining the pivot axes of said sectors, said pinions being in mesh with each other, each of said pinions being in mesh with one of said sectors, a geared motor coupled to a single one of said pinions, and window actuating arms fixed to said sectors.

Claim 3

Mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said plate if formed of sheet metal and is provided with a pair of stabilizing pins fixed thereto adjacent the edges of said sectors, said sectors having arcuate slots therein through which said pins extend, portions of said plate adjacent said pins and extending along said slots at opposite sides thereof being embossed to provide convexly curved bearing surfaces engageable with the adjacent surfaces of said sectors to provide limited area contact therebetween.

Claim 4

Mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said plate is formed of sheet metal and is provided with a pair of openings, pivot pins rotatably received in said openings, said sectors and arms comprisIng assemblies fixed to said pins, the portions of said plate surrounding said openings being embossed to provide convexly curved bearing surfaces engageable with the adjacent surfaces of said sector and arm assemblies.

Claim 5

Tailgate window regulator mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a pair of coplanar toothed sectors pivotally mounted on said plate with the toothed peripheral portions thereof laterally spaced from each other with minimum clearance, a pair of pinions coplanar with each other and with said sectors located in a position spaced laterally from the line joining the pivot axes of said sectors, said pinions being in mesh with each other, each of said pinions being in mesh with one of said sectors, a geared motor coupled to a single one of said pinions, and window actuating arms fixed to said sectors, said plate being formed of sheet metal and provided with a pair of openings, pivot pins rotatably received in said openings, said sectors and arms comprising assemblies fixed to said pins, the portions of said plate surrounding said openings being embossed to provide convexly curved bearing surfaces engageable with the adjacent surfaces of said sector and arm assemblies, one of said pins being slotted at the end thereof at the side of said plate opposite said sector and arm assembly, and a coil spring having one end received in said slotted end and the other fixed to said plate and stressed to assist movement of said sectors and arms in the direction which results in raising the tailgate window.

Claim 6

Tailgate window regulator mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a pair of coplanar toothed sectors pivotally mounted on said plate with the toothed peripheral portions thereof laterally spaced from each other with minimum clearance, a pair of pinions coplanar with each other and with said sectors located in a position spaced laterally from the line joining the pivot axes of said sectors, said pinions being in mesh with each other, each of said pinions being in mesh with one of said sectors, a geared motor coupled to a single one of said pinions, and window actuating arms fixed to said sectors, said plate being formed of sheet metal and provided with a pair of openings, pivot pins rotatably received in said openings, said sectors and arms comprising assemblies fixed to said pins, the portions of said plate surrounding said openings being embossed to provide convexly curved bearing surfaces engageable with the adjacent surfaces of said sector and arm assemblies, one of said pins being slotted at the end thereof at the side of said plate opposite said sector and arm assembly, and a coil spring having one end received in said slotted end and the other fixed to said plate and stressed to assist movement of said sectors and arms in the direction which results in raising the tailgate window.

Claim 7

Tailgate window regulator assembly comprising a generally planar mounting plate formed of sheet metal and having a portion partially severed and offset laterally from said plate to one side thereof, a gear housing having a recess at one side and affixed to the other side of said plate to overlie the offset portion thereof, a rotary shaft having one end journaled in the inner wall of said recess and extending outwardly from said recess and having its other end journaled in an opening in the offset portion of said mounting plate, a worm in said recess, a combined worm gear and sun gear rotatably mounted on said shaft and in mesh with said worm, the side wall of said recess being provided with teeth to form an internal gear, a carrier fixed to said shaft, a plurality of planetary gears on said carrier in mesh with said internal gear and said sun gear, a drive pinion fixed to said shaft, a toothed sector pivoted to said mounting plate and having its toothed peripheral portion extending into the space between the offset plate portion and the housing and in meshed engagement with said pinion, and a regulator arm fixed to said sector.

Claim 8

Tailgate window regulator assembly comprising a generally planar mounting plate formed of sheet metal and having a portion partially severed and offset laterally from said plate to one side thereof, a gear housing having a recess at one side and affixed to the other side of said plate to overlie the offset portion thereof, a rotary shaft having one end journaled in the inner wall of said recess and extending outwardly from said recess and having its other end journaled in an opening in the offset portion of said mounting plate, a worm in said recess, a combined worm gear and sun gear rotatably mounted on said shaft and in mesh with said worm, the side wall of said recess being provided with teeth to form an internal gear, a carrier fixed to said shaft, a plurality of planetary gears on said carrier in mesh with said internal gear and said sun gear, a drive pinion fixed to said shaft, a toothed sector pivoted to said mounting plate and having its toothed peripheral portion extending into the space between the offset plate portion and the housing and in meshed engagement with said pinion, and a regulator arm fixed to said sector.

Claim 9

An assembly as defined in claim 5 which comprises a second sector pivoted to said mounting plate, a second pinion in mesh with said first mentioned pinion and with said second sector, and a second arm fixed to said second sector.

Claim 10

An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said mounting plate and its offset portion are provided with bearing embossments engaging opposite sides of said sector.

Claim 11

An assembly as defined in claim 5 comprising a closure plate separate from said mounting plate closing the open side of the recess in said housing to enclose the gears therein.