TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to mechanisms of assembling a window glass in a vehicle, and, more particularly, to an integrated slider channel of a glass for assembly of the glass in a window panel assembly of 5 a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed 10 subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] In conventional type of single arm regulator design, the regulator is assembled with a glass by first rotating the glass supported on a glass channel inside a window panel assembly and then inserting a roller connected with a 15 regulator arm of the regulator inside the glass channel of the glass. However, in case the styling and design of a vehicle is such that there is limited space available between outer and inner panels of the window panel assembly, the rotation of the glass inside the window panel assembly is very difficult because of large size of the glass and limited space available between the outer and inner panels. Hence, 20 in such cases, the assembly of the glass with the regulator arm is sometimes not possible with conventional type of single arm door window regulator.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for modifying the structural configuration of the existing window regulator or the glass channel.
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OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide an integrated slider channel for assembly of the glass in a window panel assembly of a vehicle. 5
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a mechanism for assembly of the glass in the window panel assembly of the vehicle without rotation of the glass inside the window panel assembly.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a mechanism for assembly of the glass in a limited space available between outer and inner 10 panels of the window panel assembly.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an 15 integrated slider channel of a glass for assembly of the glass in a window panel assembly of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 20
[0011] The present disclosure relates to an integrated slider channel for assembly of a glass in a window panel assembly. The integrated slider channel includes a U-shaped glass channel having a base and a pair of arms attached to the base; a C-type guiding bracket fixed from its top directly with the base of the U-shaped glass channel and fixed from its base to one of the arms of the U-shaped 25
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glass channel through a supporting bracket; and a sliding channel slidably mounted within the C-type guiding bracket.
[0012] In an aspect, the C-type guiding bracket is fixed at a centrally offset position on the U-shaped glass channel through the supporting bracket.
[0013] In an aspect, the integrated slider channel includes a screw mounting 5 brackets each of which is fixed at respective longitudinal ends of the U-shaped glass channel. Each of the screw mounting brackets include a mounting hole.
[0014] In an aspect, the sliding channel includes mounting holes at both longitudinal ends to fix with the mounting holes of the screw mounting brackets.
[0015] In an aspect, the sliding channel includes two stoppers, where each of 10 the stoppers is provided at an end for the sliding channel in such a way that one stopper stops against the supporting bracket while another stopper stops against one of the screw mounting brackets.
[0016] In an aspect, the sliding channel includes an open slot for receiving a regulator roller of a window regulator. The open slot is so formed on the sliding 15 channel that the regulator roller does not come out from the sliding channel during the operation of the window regulator.
[0017] In an aspect, the integrated slider channel includes a rubber disposed between the U-shaped glass channel and the glass so as to grip the glass.
[0018] The present disclosure further relates to a method of assembly of a 20 glass in a window panel assembly using the integrated slider channel proposed herein. The method includes inserting the glass with the integrated slider channel in the window panel assembly; moving the sliding channel within the C-type guiding bracket in a forward direction until one stopper formed on the sliding channel stops against the supporting bracket; inserting the regulator roller in the 25 sliding channel through the open slot formed on the sliding channel; moving the
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sliding channel in the reverse direction until another stopper of the sliding channel stops against one of the screw mounting bracket, wherein after stopping against one of the screw mounting bracket, the mounting holes of the sliding channel are aligned with the mounting holes of the screw mounting brackets at both ends; and tightening screws through the mounting holes of the sliding channel and the screw 5 mounting brackets so as to fix the sliding channel with the screw mounting brackets.
[0019] In an aspect, the forward direction is a left-side direction when viewed from the open slot side, and the revere direction is a right-side direction when viewed from the open slot side. 10
[0020] In an aspect, the method includes mounting a window regulator on an inner panel of the window panel assembly and fixed with bolts, before inserting the glass with the integrated slider channel in the window panel assembly.
[0021] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description 15 of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like 20 numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1A illustrates a single arm type window regulator; 25
[0024] FIG. 1B illustrates a conventional glass channel supporting a glass;
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[0025] FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary conventional process of rotation of the glass along with the glass channel for assembly over the single arm type window regulator;
[0026] FIG. 1D illustrates the single arm window regulator assembled with the conventional glass channel; 5
[0027] FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of an integrated slider channel connected with a window regulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIGS. 2B-2C illustrate two different positions of a sliding channel of the integrated slider channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present 10 disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 2D illustrates a rear view of the integrated slider channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 2E illustrates a cross-sectional view of the integrated slider channel along a supporting bracket connecting the glass channel with the sliding 15 channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of assembly of a glass in a window panel assembly using the integrated slider channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a method step of inserting the glass with the 20 integrated slider channel in the window panel assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a method step of moving the sliding channel 208 within the C-type guiding bracket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 25
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[0034] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a method step of inserting the regulator roller in the sliding channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 6D illustrates a rear view of the integrated slider channel after insertion of the regulator roller, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 5
[0036] FIG. 6E illustrates a front view of the integrated slider channel after insertion of the regulator roller, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 6F illustrates a cross-sectional view of the assembled the regulator roller in the integrated slider channel across the cross-section B-B 10 marked in FIG. 6E, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0038] FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a method step of moving the sliding channel in the reverse direction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0039] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a method step of tightening screws through the mounting holes of the sliding channel and the screw mounting brackets, in 15 accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 9A illustrates a front view of the integrated slider channel connected with the window regulator during operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0041] FIG. 9B illustrates a rear view of the integrated slider channel 20 connected with the window regulator during operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It 25 should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to
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clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 5
[0043] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. 10
[0044] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or 15 “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0045] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the 20 functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific 25 terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further
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understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0047] Embodiments explained herein pertain to a glass channel for assembly 5 of a glass in a window panel assembly. FIG. 1A shows a typical / conventional single arm type window regulator 100 which is utilized for mounting, raising, and lowering a window glass of a vehicle. The window regulator 100 includes a mounting plate 102. On the mounting plate 102, a first end of an arm 104 is mounted for swinging from the mounting plate 102. The first end of the arm 104 10 is mounted on the mounting plate 102 through a gear sector 106 rotatable by an electric motor (not shown) or a manual handle connected to a spindle 108 mounted on the gear sector 106.
[0048] Further, the arm 104 is connected at its second end, through a regulator roller 110, to a glass channel 112 supporting a glass 114 (FIG. 1B). The regulator 15 roller 110 is provided to allow the second end of the arm 104 to slide on the glass channel 112 during the mounting, raising, and lowering of the glass 114.
[0049] With the existing single arm regulator design, the regulator 100 is assembled with the glass 114 by first rotating the glass 114 supported on the glass channel 112 inside the window panel assembly and then inserting the regulator 20 roller 110 of the regulator 100 inside the glass channel 112, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D.
[0050] However, the rotation of the glass 114 inside the window panel assembly is very difficult because of large size of the glass 114 and limited space available between the outer and inner panels of the window panel assembly. 25 Hence, the assembly of the glass 114 with the regulator arm 104 is sometimes not possible with the existing of single arm type window regulator 100.
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[0051] To resolve this issue with the existing single arm type window regulator 100, a modified integrated slider channel 200 supporting the base of the glass 114, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2E, is proposed herein in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The integrated slider channel 200 includes a U-shaped glass channel 202 having a base 202-B and a pair of arms 202-A 5 extending from and attached to the base 202-B.
[0052] The U-shaped glass channel 202 is fixed / welded with a C-type guiding bracket 204. In an aspect, the C-type guiding bracket 204 is fixed from its top 204-T directly with the base 202-B of the U-shaped glass channel 202 and fixed from its base 204-B to one of the arms 202-A of the U-shaped glass channel 10 202 through a supporting bracket 206. In an aspect, the C-type guiding bracket 204 is fixed at a centrally offset position on the U-shaped glass channel 202 through the supporting bracket 206, as shown in FIG. 2D.
[0053] Further, within the C-type guiding bracket 204, a sliding channel 208 is slidably mounted. The sliding channel 208 includes an open slot 208-OS for 15 receiving the regulator roller 110 of the window regulator 100.
[0054] Further, the integrated slider channel 200 includes screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2 each of which is fixed at respective longitudinal ends of the U-shaped glass channel 202. In an aspect, the screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2 include mounting holes which are aligned to and fixed with the mounting 20 holes of the U-shaped glass channel 202, during the assembly of the glass on the window regulator 100.
[0055] Yet further, in an aspect, a rubber 212 is disposed between the U-shaped glass channel 202 and the glass 114 so as to grip the glass 114, as shown in FIG. 2E. 25
[0056] Yet further, in an aspect, the sliding channel 208 includes two stoppers. Each of the stoppers is provided on an end of the sliding channel 208 in
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such a way that one stopper stops against the supporting bracket 206 while another stopper stops against one of the screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2.
[0057] Thus, with the implementation of the integrated slider channel 200 proposed herein, the rotation of the glass 114 is not required in the window panel assembly for the insertion of the regulator roller 110 in the integrated slider 5 channel 200. With the implementation of the present disclosure, the sliding channel 208 would be the part of a fixed bottom glass channel 202 of the glass 114. The sliding channel 208 is having linear relative motion with respect to fixed bottom glass channel 202 and this sliding channel 208 moves in the C-type guiding bracket 204 which is fixed to the fixed bottom glass channel 202 with the 10 help of the supporting bracket 206. The movement of sliding channel 208 can be control with the help of two stoppers provided in the sliding channel 208 itself.
[0058] The implementation and operation of the proposed slider channel 200 is described in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3-4.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a method 300 for method of assembly of the glass 114 in the 15 window panel assembly using the integrated slider channel 220, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. The order in which the method 300 is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any appropriate order to carry out the method 300 or an alternative method. Additionally, individual 20 blocks may be deleted from the method 300 without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein.
[0060] The method 300 begins after the mounting of the window regulator 100 on inner panel of the window panel assembly and the fixing of the window regulator 100 therein. 25
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[0061] At block 302, and as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the method 300 includes inserting the glass 114 with the integrated slider channel 200 in the window panel assembly.
[0062] At block 304, and as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the method 300 includes moving the sliding channel 208 within the C-type guiding bracket 204 in a 5 forward direction until one stopper 502-1 formed on the sliding channel 208 stops against the supporting bracket 206 (FIG. 5C). In an example, the forward direction is a left-side direction when viewed from the open slot 208-OS side. In this position, the open slot 208-OS will automatically align with the position of the regulator roller 110 already mounted inside the window panel assembly. In an 10 aspect, the open slot 208-OS is so formed on the sliding channel 208 that the regulator roller 110 does not come out from the sliding channel 208 during the operation of the window regulator 100.
[0063] At block 306, and as shown in FIGS. 6A-6F, the method 300 includes inserting the regulator roller 110 in the sliding channel 208 through the open slot 15 208-OS. FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a procedure of inserting the regulator roller 110 in the sliding channel 208. FIG. 6D shows a rear view of the integrated slider channel 200 after insertion of the regulator roller 110, while FIG. 6E shows a front view of the integrated slider channel 200 after insertion of the regulator roller 110. FIG. 6F illustrates a cross-sectional view of the assembled the 20 regulator roller 110 in the integrated slider channel 200 across the cross-section B-B marked in FIG. 6E. Also, in an aspect, the regulator roller 110 can be either a square roller or a cylindrical roller.
[0064] At block 308, and as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, the method 300 includes moving the sliding channel 208 in the reverse direction until another stopper 502-25 2 of the sliding channel 208 stops against one of the screw mounting bracket 210-2. In an aspect, after stopping against one of the screw mounting bracket 210-2,
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the mounting holes of the sliding channel 210 are aligned with the mounting holes of the screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2 at both ends.
[0065] At block 310, and as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the method 300 includes tightening screws 802-1, 802-2 through the mounting holes of the sliding channel 208 and the screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2 so as to fix the sliding channel 5 208 with the screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2.
[0066] Once the siding channel 208 is fixed with the screw mounting brackets 210-1, 210-2, the glass 114 and the regulator 100 become ready for use. For example, as can be seen in FIGS. 9A (front view of the assembly) and 9B (rear view of the assembly), the regulator 100 can move the integrated slider channel 10 200 supporting the glass 114 from a bottom glass position to a top glass position. Also, as can be seen from FIGS. 8A and 8B, the open slot 208-OS is so formed on the sliding channel 208 that the regulator roller 110 does not come out from the sliding channel 208 during the operation of the window regulator 100.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES 15
[0067] The present disclosure provides an integrated slider channel for assembly of a glass in a window panel assembly of a vehicle.
[0068] The present disclosure provides a mechanism for assembly of the glass in the window panel assembly of the vehicle without rotation of the glass inside the window panel assembly. Such assembly without rotation of the glass will 20 result in ease of assembly and reduction in glass assembly TACT time.
[0069] The present disclosure provides a mechanism for assembly of the glass in a limited space available between outer and inner panels of the window panel assembly.
[0070] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present 25 disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be
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devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the 5 person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
1. An integrated slider channel (200) for assembly of a glass (114) in a window panel assembly, the integrated slider channel (200) comprising:
a U-shaped glass channel (202) having a base (202-B) and a pair of arms (202-A) attached to the base (202-B); 5
a C-type guiding bracket (204) fixed from its top (204-T) directly with the base (202-B) of the U-shaped glass channel (202) and fixed from its base (204-B) to one of the arms (202-A) of the U-shaped glass channel (202) through a supporting bracket (206); and
a sliding channel (208) slidably mounted within the C-type guiding 10 bracket (204).
2. The integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the C-type guiding bracket (204) is fixed at a centrally offset position on the U-shaped glass channel (202) through the supporting bracket (206).
3. The integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprising 15 screw mounting brackets (210-1, 210-2) each of which is fixed at respective longitudinal ends of the U-shaped glass channel (202), wherein each of the screw mounting brackets (210-1, 210-2) include a mounting hole.
4. The integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the 20 sliding channel (208) includes mounting holes at both longitudinal ends to fix with the mounting holes of the screw mounting brackets (210-1, 210-2).
5. The integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding channel (208) comprises two stoppers (502-1, 502-2), and wherein 25 each of the stoppers (502-1, 502-2) is provided at an end for the sliding
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channel (208) in such a way that one stopper (502-1) stops against the supporting bracket (206) while another stopper (502-2) stops against one of the screw mounting brackets (210-2).
6. The integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding channel (208) includes an open slot (208-OS) for receiving a 5 regulator roller (110) of a window regulator (100), and wherein the open slot (108-OS) is so formed on the sliding channel (208) that the regulator roller (110) does not come out from the sliding channel (208) during the operation of the window regulator (100).
7. The integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a 10 rubber (212) disposed between the U-shaped glass channel (202) and the glass (114) so as to grip the glass (114).
8. A method of assembly of a glass (114) in a window panel assembly using the integrated slider channel (200) as claimed in claims 1-7, the method comprising: 15
inserting the glass (114) with the integrated slider channel (200) in the window panel assembly;
moving the sliding channel (208) within the C-type guiding bracket (204) in a forward direction until one stopper (502-1) formed on the sliding channel (208) stops against the supporting bracket (206); 20
inserting the regulator roller (110) in the sliding channel (208) through the open slot (208-OS);
moving the sliding channel (208) in the reverse direction until another stopper (502-2) of the sliding channel (208) stops against one of the screw mounting bracket (210-2), wherein after stopping against one of 25 the screw mounting bracket (210-2), the mounting holes of the sliding
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channel (208) are aligned with the mounting holes of the screw mounting brackets (210-1, 210-2) at both ends; and
tightening screws (802-1, 802-2) through the mounting holes of the sliding channel (208) and the screw mounting brackets (210-1, 210-2) so as to fix the sliding channel (208) with the screw mounting brackets (210-5 1, 210-2).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the forward direction is a left-side direction when viewed from the open slot side, and the revere direction is a right-side direction when viewed from the open slot side.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising mounting the 10 window regulator (100) on inner panel of the window panel assembly and fixing with bolts, before inserting the glass (114) with the integrated slider channel (200) in the window panel assembly.