Window regulator mechanism

Claim 2

A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into or out of a window well, the window panel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibility sections, the window regulator mechanism comprising: an elongated mounting plate, a first gear sector freely rotatably mounted on a pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate intermediate the ends of the latter, a first regulator arm fixed to the first gear sector and coupled to the ventilation section for lowering and raising the latter in response to rotation of the first gear sector, a second gear sector mounted on the pivot shaft and coupled to the latter for rotation therewith, a second regulator arm fixed to the second gear sector and coupled to the visibility section for raising and lowering the latter in response to rotation of the second gear sector, and independent first and second drive means located at opposite ends of the mounting plate and coupled to the first and second gear sectors, respectively, for rotating the latter to independently lower and raise the window panel sections.

Claim 3

A window regulator mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the respective gear sectors are rotatable in opposed directions to counter-swing the regulator arms in respective window panel section lowering or raising directions in response to independent rotation of the first and second drive means in a common direction of rotation.

Claim 4

In combination, a window panel divided substantially vertically into a small ventilation section and a large visibility section, and a window regulator mechanism for lowering and raising the window panel sections into and out of a window opEning, the window regulator mechanism comprising an elongated mounting plate positioned beneath the larger of the two panel sections adjacent the division therebetween with its longitudinal axis extending generally in the same direction as the division line between the panel sections, a first and a second gear sector in superimposed relationship on a pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate intermediate the ends of the latter, a first regulator arm fixed to the first gear sector and a second regulator arm fixed to the second gear sector, each regulator arm being swingable about the axis of the pivot shaft and being coupled to a respective one of the panel sections for lowering and raising the latter in response to rotation of the gear sector to which it is fixed, and independent first and second drive means located at opposite ends of the mounting plate and coupled to the first and second gear sectors, respectively, for rotating the latter to independently lower and raise the window panel sections.

Claim 5

In combination, a window panel divided substantially vertically into a small ventilation section and a large visibility section, and a window regulator mechanism for lowering and raising the window panel sections into and out of a window opEning, the window regulator mechanism comprising an elongated mounting plate positioned beneath the larger of the two panel sections adjacent the division therebetween with its longitudinal axis extending generally in the same direction as the division line between the panel sections, a first and a second gear sector in superimposed relationship on a pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate intermediate the ends of the latter, a first regulator arm fixed to the first gear sector and a second regulator arm fixed to the second gear sector, each regulator arm being swingable about the axis of the pivot shaft and being coupled to a respective one of the panel sections for lowering and raising the latter in response to rotation of the gear sector to which it is fixed, and independent first and second drive means located at opposite ends of the mounting plate and coupled to the first and second gear sectors, respectively, for rotating the latter to independently lower and raise the window panel sections.

Claim 6

A vehicle body structure according to claim 3, in which: the first gear sector is freely rotatable about the pivot shaft and the second gear sector is coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a counterbalance spring is coupled to the shaft to counterbalance the weight of the visibility section coupled to the second regulator arm.

Claim 7

A vehicle body structure according to claim 3, in which: the respective gear sectors are rotated in opposite directions about the pivot shaft axis to oppositely swing the regulator arms in respective window panel section lowering or raising directions in response to independent rotation of the first and second drive means in common directions of rotation.

Claim 8

A vehicle body structure according to claim 5, in which: the first gear sector is freely rotatable about the pivot shaft and the second gear sector is coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith, and the counterbalance spring is coupled to the shaft to counterbalance the weight of the window panel section coupled to the second regulator arm.

Claim 9

A vehicle body structure according to claim 6, in which: the second gear sector is somewhat larger than the first gear sector, the sizes of the gear sectors being proportional to the sizes of the respective visibility and ventilation sections of the window panel.