Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A vehicle window regulator mechanism coupled to a window panel that is vertically divided into independently movable, substantially coplanar, visibility and ventilation sections, the window regulator mechanism having a mounting plate, a gear sector pivotally mounted on a first pivot shaft carried by the mounting plate, a first regulator arm freely swingable intermediate its ends on a second pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate, the first regulator arm at one end being coupled to the ventilation section and at its other end having a cam slot, a second regulator arm fixedly coupled at one end to the second pivot shaft for swinging movement as the second shaft rotates in the mounting plate, the second regulator arm being coupled at its other end to the visibility section, the second regulator arm having an appendage having a cam slot therein, and drive pinion means for rotating the gear sector about the pivot axis of the first pivot shaft, wherein the improvement comprises: a first and a second cam follower mounted on the gear sector for movement through equal angular degrees of rotation about the gear sector pivot axis upon rotation of the gear sector, the first and second cam followers moving through the cam slots in the first and second regulator arms, respectively, so that upon rotation of the gear sector in window opening direction the ventilation section is lowered to a predetermined position before the visibility section is lowered and upon rotation of the gear sector in window closing direction the visibility section reaches a fully raIsed position before the ventilation section starts to rise, the shift of movement from the one panel section to the other occurring at the same angular degree of rotation of the cam follower relative to the initial position of the followers in window closed position of the panel sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
A vehicle window regulator mechanism coupled to a window panel that is vertically divided into independently movable, substantially coplanar, visibility and ventilation sections, the window regulator mechanism having a mounting plate, a gear sector pivotally mounted on a first pivot shaft carried by the mounting plate, a first regulator arm freely swingable intermediate its ends on a second pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate, the first regulator arm at one end being coupled to the ventilation section and at its other end having a cam slot, a second regulator arm fixedly coupled at one end to the second pivot shaft for swinging movement as the second shaft rotates in the mounting plate, the second regulator arm being coupled at its other end to the visibility section, the second regulator arm having an appendage having a cam slot therein, and drive pinion means for rotating the gear sector about the pivot axis of the first pivot shaft, wherein the improvement comprises: a first and a second cam follower mounted on the gear sector for movement through equal angular degrees of rotation about the gear sector pivot axis upon rotation of the gear sector, the first and second cam followers moving through the cam slots in the first and second regulator arms, respectively, so that upon rotation of the gear sector in window opening direction the ventilation section is lowered to a predetermined position before the visibility section is lowered and upon rotation of the gear sector in window closing direction the visibility section reaches a fully raIsed position before the ventilation section starts to rise, the shift of movement from the one panel section to the other occurring at the same angular degree of rotation of the cam follower relative to the initial position of the followers in window closed position of the panel sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
140 words
A vehicle window regulator mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the cam slot in the first regulator arm comprises a short straight section, a transitional section and an elongated arcuate section having a radius equal to the radius of the circular path the first cam follower traverses about the gear sector pivot axis, whereby, upon the gear sector being rotated in ventilation section lowering direction, the first cam follower on the gear sector moves longitudinally of the short straight section in engagement with the side edges of the latter to drive the first regulator arm in ventilation section lowering direction to cause the ventilation section to drop to the predetermined position, and after reaching and passing through the transitional section the first cam follower moves through the elongated arcuate section while holding the ventilation section at the predetermined position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
A vehicle window regulator mechanism according to claim 2, in which: the cam slot in the second regulator arm coacting with the second cam follower on the gear sector comprises an arcuate section having a radius equal to the radius of the circular path the second cam follower traverses about the gear sector pivot axis, a transitional section and an elongated, straight section, whereby, upon the gear sector being rotated in visibility section lowering direction, the second cam follower carried by the gear sector arm moves in the arcuate section of the slot without transmitting movement to the visibility section until the transitional section is reached, and, as the sector rotates further, the cam follower moves from the transitional section and travels in the straight section of the slot causing the visibility section to drop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle window regulator mechanism according to claim 3, in which: a counterbalance spring means is coupled to the second pivot shaft to counterbalance the weight of the visibility section of the window panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
301 words
A vehicle window regulator mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the cam slot in the first regulator arm comprises a short straight section, a transitional section and an elongated arcuate section having a radius equal to the radius of the circular path the first cam follower follows about the gear sector pivot axis, the cam slot in the second regulator arm coacting with the second cam follower on the gear sector comprises an arcuate section having a radius equal to the radius of the circular path the second cam follower follows about the gear sector pivot axis, a transitional section and an elongated straight section; whereby, upon the gear sector being rotated in window panel lowering direction, the first cam follower on the gear sector as it moves longitudinally of the short straight section of the slot in the first regulator arm to the transitional section causes the ventilation section to drop to the predetermined position, and the second cam follower carried by the gear sector as it moves in the arcuate section of the slot in the second regulator arm to the transitional section of the slot does so without transmitting movement to the visibility section of the window panel, and, further, upon the gear sector being rotated in continuous window panel lowering direction, the first cam follower on the gear sector after reaching and passing through the transitional section of the slot in the first regulator arm moves through the arcuate section of the latter without causing further lowering movement of the ventilation section, and simultaneouslu the second cam follower carried by the gear sector moves from the transitional section of the slot in the second regulatoR arm through the elongated straight section of the latter to cause the visibility section to drop to a fully lowered position.