Window regulator module

Abstract

To provide a window regulator module which enables improvement of handling ease during transportation, etc.SOLUTION: A window regulator module 21 is attached to an inner panel of a vehicle door and includes: a window regulator 31 which moves up or down window glass of the vehicle door; and a module panel 32 to which the window regulator 31 is fixed. The module panel 32 has a body plate part 51, a right folding plate part 53, and a left folding plate part 55 and is configured to be foldable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a window regulator module. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a window regulator module in which a module panel that closes the opening of a door panel is attached and integrated with multiple functional parts, including a window regulator (see Patent Document 1). In this window regulator module, the module panel and multiple functional parts, including the window regulator, are integrated, so that the module panel and multiple functional parts, including the window regulator, can be attached to the door panel as a single unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-104052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in recent years, there has been a trend toward larger module panels, and in conventional window regulator modules, as the module panels have become larger, the entire window regulator module has become larger, which has led to the problem of making the window regulator module harder to handle during transportation, etc.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a window regulator module that can be easily handled during transportation and the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a window regulator module that is attached to a door panel of a vehicle door, comprising: a window regulator that raises and lowers the window glass of the vehicle door; and a module panel to which the window regulator is fixed, wherein the module panel is configured to be freely foldable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The window regulator module according to the present invention can improve ease of handling during transportation and the like. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall schematic view showing a window regulator module according to an embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle door to which the window regulator module is attached. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are a front view and a plan view showing a window regulator module. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are a front view and a plan view showing the window regulator module during transportation. [Figure 4] 4(a) is a front view showing the module panel, (b) is a plan view showing the module panel, and (c) is a plan view of the main parts of FIG. 4(b) showing the areas around the right hinge portion and the left hinge portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A window regulator module according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This window regulator module is a module attached to a vehicle door of a vehicle (e.g., an automobile) and is modularized (i.e., integrated) by assembling multiple functional components, including a window regulator, to a module panel. In particular, this window regulator module has a foldable module panel, which improves handling during transportation, installation, and the like. Note that the following description will be given with definitions of left and right, front and rear, and up and down as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the up and down direction of the vehicle coincides with the up and down direction of the window regulator module, the width direction of the vehicle coincides with the front and rear direction of the window regulator module, and the front and rear direction of the vehicle coincides with the left and right direction of the window regulator module.

[0010] (Vehicle door configuration) Before describing the window regulator module 21, we will first describe a vehicle door 1 to which the window regulator module 21 is attached. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle door 1 is composed of an inner panel 11 on the vehicle interior side, which is a door panel, and an outer panel (not shown) on the vehicle exterior side, and an interior space of the door is formed between the inner panel 11 and the outer panel.

[0011] Furthermore, a window opening 16 that is opened and closed by a window glass W is formed in the upper part of the inner panel 11 and the outer panel. Meanwhile, an introduction opening 17 for introducing a plurality of functional parts, including a window regulator 31, into the interior space of the door is formed in the lower part of the inner panel 11. In this embodiment, a window regulator module 21 is attached to the inner panel 11, and by attaching the window regulator module 21 to the inner panel 11, the introduction opening 17 is closed by the module panel 32, and the plurality of functional parts, including the window regulator 31, are accommodated in the interior space of the door.

[0012] (Window regulator module configuration) 1 to 3, the window regulator module 21 includes a window regulator 31 that raises and lowers the window glass W of the vehicle door 1, and a module panel 32 to which the window regulator 31 is fixed. Although not shown, in addition to the window regulator 31, functional parts such as a speaker are also assembled to the module panel 32.

[0013] The window regulator 31 includes a guide rail 41 arranged in the lifting direction, a carrier plate 42 that supports the window glass W and is slidably attached to the guide rail 41, an ascending wire 43 and a descending wire 44 that pull the carrier plate 42, a drive unit 45 that is disposed at the lower end of the guide rail 41 and drives the ascending wire 43 and the descending wire 44, and a pulley 47 that is fixed to the upper end of the guide rail 41 via a pulley bracket 46 and changes the direction of the ascending wire 43. By driving the drive unit 45 and winding up and unwinding the ascending wire 43 and the descending wire 44, the carrier plate 42 is pulled in the vertical direction and moved in the vertical direction. This raises and lowers the window glass W supported by the carrier plate 42.

[0014] Furthermore, in the window regulator 31, the housing 45a of the drive unit 45, to which the lower end of the guide rail 41 is fixed, is fixed to the module panel 32, thereby fixing the window regulator 31 to the module panel 32. In addition, the guide rail 41 extending upward from the housing 45a of the drive unit 45 extends beyond the upper end of the module panel 32 and is formed to protrude upward from the module panel 32. A pulley bracket 46 and a pulley 47 are fixed to the upper end, which is the tip of the guide rail 41 protruding from the module panel 32, and the pulley bracket 46 and the pulley 47 fixed to the upper end of the guide rail 41 are fixed to the inner panel 11. In other words, the window regulator 31 is fixed at its lower end to the module panel 32 and at its upper end to the inner panel 11.

[0015] In addition, grease is applied to the guide rails 41 of the window regulator 31. This grease suppresses sliding noise and wear when the ascending side wire 43 and the descending side wire 44 come into contact with the guide rails 41.

[0016] (Module panel configuration) As shown in FIG. 4 , the module panel 32 is a panel body that is fixed to the inner panel 11 with screws. The module panel 32 is sized to cover and close the introduction opening 17 and is configured to be freely foldable. Specifically, the module panel 32 is configured to include a main body plate portion 51 to which the window regulator 31 is fixed, a right folding plate portion 53 that is foldably connected to the right end of the main body plate portion 51 via a right hinge portion 52, and a left folding plate portion 55 that is foldably connected to the left end of the main body plate portion 51 via a left hinge portion 54. The main body plate portion 51, the right folding plate portion 53, and the left folding plate portion 55 are each made of resin and molded as separate bodies. That is, the module panel 32 is configured by connecting the main body plate portion 51, the right folding plate portion 53, and the left folding plate portion 55 that are molded as separate bodies, and the module panel 32 is divided into three sections in the left-right direction. The right folding plate 53 is an example of a first folding plate, and the left folding plate 55 is an example of a second folding plate.

[0017] The main body plate 51 has, at its right end, two upper and lower right hinge shafts 61, 61 that are shafts that make up the right hinge 52, and, at its left end, two upper and lower left hinge shafts 62, 62 that are shafts that make up the left hinge 54. In addition, four fixing holes 63 are formed at each of the four corners of the main body plate 51 for fixing the main body plate 51 to the inner panel 11 with screws.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the right folding plate 53 has, at its left end, two upper and lower hinge cylinders 71, 71 that are cylinders that constitute the right hinge portion 52. Two fixing holes 72 for screwing the right folding plate 53 to the inner panel 11 are formed at the upper and lower ends of the right folding plate 53, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the width dimension in the left-right direction of the right folding plate 53 is such that, when the right folding plate 53 is folded relative to the main plate 51, it overlaps with a portion of the window regulator 31 (in this embodiment, the carrier plate 42 positioned at the lowest position) as viewed from the front. In other words, the main plate 51 and the right folding plate 53 can be said to be divided at a position where the right folding plate 53 overlaps with a portion of the window regulator 31 when the right folding plate 53 is folded relative to the main plate 51.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the left folding plate 55 has, at its right end, two upper and lower hinge cylinders 81, 81 that are cylinders that constitute the left hinge portion 54. Furthermore, two fixing holes 72 for screwing the left folding plate 55 to the inner panel 11 are formed at the upper and lower ends of the left folding plate 55, respectively. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the left folding plate 55 has a width dimension in the left-right direction that is large enough to overlap a portion of the window regulator 31 (the drive motor 45b of the drive unit 45 in this embodiment) when viewed from the front when the left folding plate 55 is folded relative to the main plate 51. In other words, the main plate 51 and the left folding plate 55 can be said to be divided at a position where the left folding plate 55 overlaps a portion of the window regulator 31 when the left folding plate 55 is folded relative to the main plate 51.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4(c), the right hinge portion 52 is made up of two right hinge shafts 61, 61 formed on the main body plate portion 51 and two hinge cylinders 71, 71 formed on the right folding plate portion 53. That is, the right hinge portion 52 is made up by engaging the two hinge cylinders 71, 71 with the two right hinge shafts 61, 61, respectively. The right folding plate portion 53 is connected to the main body plate portion 51 so as to be able to swing freely. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the right folding plate portion 53 is connected to the main body plate portion 51 so as to be able to fold from a state parallel to the main body plate portion 51 to the side (front side) to which the window regulator 31 is fixed, and is configured to overlap a portion of the window regulator 31 when folded relative to the main body plate portion 51 as shown in FIG. 3(a). Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), the right folding plate portion 53 is connected to the main body plate portion 51 so that it can move freely (swing freely) from a state parallel to the main body plate portion 51 to the opposite side (rear side) of the inner panel 11.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4(c), the left hinge portion 54 is made up of two left hinge shafts 62, 62 formed on the main body plate portion 51 and two hinge cylinders 81, 81 formed on the left folding plate portion 55. That is, the left hinge portion 54 is made up by engaging the two hinge cylinders 81, 81 with the two left hinge shafts 62, 62, respectively. The left folding plate portion 55 is connected to the main body plate portion 51 so as to be able to swing freely. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the left folding plate portion 55 is connected to the main body plate portion 51 so as to be able to fold from a state parallel to the main body plate portion 51 to the side (front side) to which the window regulator 31 is fixed, and is configured to overlap a portion of the window regulator 31 when folded relative to the main body plate portion 51 as shown in FIG. 3(a). Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), the left folding plate portion 55 is connected to the main body plate portion 51 so that it can move (swing) from a position parallel to the main body plate portion 51 to the opposite side (rear side) of the inner panel 11.

[0022] In this embodiment, when the window regulator 31 is transported, as shown in FIG. 3 , the carrier plate 42 is positioned at its lowest position and the module panel 32 is transported in a folded state. When the module panel 32 is folded, as shown in the same figure, the left and right folding plate portions 53, 55 are folded so as to overlap a portion of the window regulator 31, and the left and right folding plate portions 53, 55 surround the window regulator 31. This prevents the window regulator 31 from coming into contact with other window regulator modules 21 being transported together, the hands of an operator, a carrying box, etc. In particular, preventing the other window regulator modules 21, the hands of an operator, the carrying box, etc. from coming into contact with the guide rails 41 of the window regulator 31 prevents grease applied to the guide rails 41 from adhering to the other window regulator modules 21, the hands of an operator, the carrying box, etc.

[0023] Next, the operation of attaching the window regulator module 21 to the vehicle door 1 will be described. In attaching the window regulator module 21, first, multiple functional parts including the window regulator 31 are introduced into the interior space of the door through the introduction opening 17. Then, with the right folding plate 53 and the left folding plate 55 pivoted rearward relative to the main body plate 51, the main body plate 51 is aligned with the inner panel 11, and with the main body plate 51 pressed against the inner panel 11 from the rear, the main body plate 51 is screwed to the inner panel 11 using the four fixing holes 63. After the main body plate 51 is screwed to the inner panel 11, the right folding plate 53 is pivoted relative to the main body plate 51 so that the right folding plate 53 is pressed against the inner panel 11, and the right folding plate 53 is screwed to the inner panel 11 using the two fixing holes 72. Furthermore, the left folding plate 55 is swung relative to the main body plate 51 to press the left folding plate 55 against the inner panel 11, and then the left folding plate 55 is screwed to the inner panel 11 using the two fixing holes 82. After the main body plate 51, right folding plate 53, and left folding plate 55 have been screwed together, the pulley bracket 46 and pulley 47 of the window regulator 31 are fixed to the inner panel 11. This completes the installation operation of the window regulator module 21.

[0024] (Actions and Effects of the Embodiments) As described above, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, the module panel 32 is configured to be foldable, so that by folding the module panel 32 when not in use, such as during transportation, the module panel 32 can be deformed into a compact shape, thereby reducing the overall size of the window regulator module 21. This improves handling during transportation, and in particular improves the efficiency of transporting the window regulator module 21.

[0025] Furthermore, by configuring the module panel 32 to be foldable, the folding plate portions 53, 55 can be used as supports when transporting multiple window regulator modules 21 in an upright position (standing position). This prevents the upright window regulator modules 21 from falling over due to impact during transport. This prevents the upright window regulator modules 21 from falling over and damaging other window regulator modules 21 during transport.

[0026] Furthermore, because the folding plates 53, 55 are configured to overlap a portion of the window regulator 31 when folded relative to the main body plate 51, the folding plates 53, 55 can enclose the window regulator 31 when not in use, such as during transport, preventing other window regulator modules 21, the hands of an operator, a transport box, etc. from coming into contact with the window regulator 31. In particular, it is possible to prevent grease applied to the guide rails 41 from adhering to other window regulator modules 21, the hands of an operator, a transport box, etc. Furthermore, the window regulator 31 can be protected.

[0027] Furthermore, by configuring the folding plate portions 53, 55 to be movable (swingable) on the opposite side of the inner panel 11 relative to the main body plate portion 51, handling when installing the window regulator module 21 can be improved.

[0028] Furthermore, because the module panel 32 is molded separately into the main body plate portion 51 and the folding plate portions 53, 55, there is no need to use a large molding machine, and the module panel 32 can be molded using a small molding machine. This also reduces molding time and costs.

[0029] Furthermore, since the module panel 32 is formed by dividing it into the main plate portion 51 and the folding plate portions 53 and 55, the size of the module panel 32 can be changed without changing the main plate portion 51 by replacing the folding plate portions 53 and 55 with ones having different width dimensions, making it possible to provide window regulator modules 21 of various sizes and shapes.

[0030] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the invention according to the claims is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It should be noted that not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. The present invention can be implemented by modifying it as appropriate within the scope of its spirit.

[0031] For example, in the above embodiment, the module panel 32 is divided into three parts, the main body plate portion 51, the right folding plate portion 53, and the left folding plate portion 55, and the module panel 32 is configured to be foldable into three folds, but this is not limited to this. That is, the module panel 32 may be divided into four or more parts (for example, five parts), and the module panel 32 may be configured to be foldable into four or more folds.

[0032] In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration includes a right folding plate portion 53 (first folding plate portion) connected to one left-right end of the module panel 32, and a left folding plate portion 55 (second folding plate portion) connected to the other left-right end of the module panel 32, but the configuration may also include only one of the right folding plate portion 53 and the left folding plate portion 55.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the module panel 32 is configured to be foldable left and right, and the folding plate portions 53, 55 are connected to the left and right ends of the main plate portion 51. However, the module panel 32 may be configured to be foldable up and down, and the folding plate portions 53, 55 may be connected to the top and bottom ends of the main plate portion 51.

[0034] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the folding plate portions 53, 55 were configured to be foldably connected to the front side (the side where the window regulator 31 is fixed) of the main body plate portion 51, but the folding plate portions 53, 55 may also be configured to be foldably connected to the rear side of the main body plate portion 51.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the main body plate 51 and the folding plates 53, 55 are connected by the hinges 52, 54, which are made up of the hinge shafts 61, 62 integrally molded with the main body of the main body plate 51 and the hinge cylinders 71, 81 integrally molded with the main bodies of the folding plates 53, 55. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the main body plate 51 and the folding plates 53, 55 may be connected by the hinges 52, 54 molded separately from the main body plate 51 and the folding plates 53, 55.

[0036] In addition, in the above embodiment, the main body plate 51 and the folding plates 53, 55 are molded separately, but the main body plate 51 and the folding plates 53, 55 may be molded integrally. In such a case, the hinge portions 52, 54 are formed, for example, by thin portions.

[0037] In addition, in the above embodiment, the main body plate 51 and the guide rail 41 are molded as separate bodies, but the main body plate 51 and the guide rail 41 may be molded as a single body. In such a case, the main body plate 51 and the guide rail 41 are formed, for example, from resin.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the upper part of the window regulator 31 protrudes upward from the module panel 32, the upper part of the window regulator 31 is fixed to the inner panel 11, and the lower part of the window regulator 31 is fixed to the module panel 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as long as the window regulator 31 is fixed to the module panel 32. For example, the entire window regulator 31 may be located on the module panel 32, and the upper and lower parts of the window regulator 31 may be fixed to the module panel 32, or the lower part of the window regulator 31 may protrude downward from the module panel 32, the lower part of the window regulator 31 is fixed to the inner panel 11, and the upper part of the window regulator 31 is fixed to the module panel 32.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the folding plate portions 53, 55 are configured to overlap a portion of the window regulator 31 when folded, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the folding plate portions 53, 55 may be configured so as not to overlap the window regulator 31 when folded relative to the main plate portion 51, or the folding plate portions 53, 55 may be configured to cover the entire window regulator 31 when folded relative to the main plate portion 51. Furthermore, in order to further prevent grease applied to the guide rail 41 from adhering to the guide rail 41, the folding plate portions 53, 55 may be configured to cover a portion or the entire guide rail 41 when folded relative to the main plate portion 51.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to window regulator module 21 equipped with wire-driven, bottom-rail window regulator 31 that is driven by wires 43, 44 and has drive unit 45 disposed at the bottom end of guide rail 41, but the window regulator 31 equipped in window regulator module 21 is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to window regulator module 21 equipped with other wire-driven window regulators, such as delta type, banjo type, self-propelled type, or double rail type, or may be applied to window regulator module 21 equipped with a window regulator other than a wire-driven window regulator, such as an arm-driven window regulator.

[0041] In addition, in the above embodiment, the window regulator module 21 is attached to the left front door (i.e., the left front side door), but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention may be applied to a window regulator module 21 attached to a right side door, or to a window regulator module 21 attached to a rear side door.

[0042] (Summary of the embodiment) Next, the technical concepts grasped from the above-described embodiments will be described using the reference numerals and the like in the embodiments. However, the reference numerals and the like in the following description do not limit the components in the claims to the members and the like specifically shown in the embodiments.

[0043] [1] A window regulator module (21) to be attached to a door panel (11) of a vehicle door (1), comprising: a window regulator (31) that raises and lowers the window glass (W) of the vehicle door (1); and a module panel (32) to which the window regulator (31) is fixed, wherein the module panel (32) is configured to be freely foldable. [2] The window regulator module (21) described in [1] is characterized in that the module panel (32) has a main body plate portion (51) to which the window regulator (31) is fixed, and folding plate portions (53, 55) connected to the main body plate portion (51) so as to be freely foldable. <3> The window regulator module (21) described in <2> is characterized in that the folding plate portions (53, 55) are foldably connected to the main body plate portion (51) on the side where the window regulator (31) is fixed, and are configured to overlap at least a portion of the window regulator (31) when folded relative to the main body plate portion (51). <4> A window regulator module (21) described in <2> or <3>, characterized in that the module panel (32) has a first folding plate portion (53) connected to one end of the main body plate portion (51) and a second folding plate portion (55) connected to the other end of the main body plate portion (51). <5> A window regulator module (21) described in any one of <2> to <4>, characterized in that the folding plate portion (53, 55) is movably connected to the main body plate portion (51) on the side opposite the door panel (11). <6> A window regulator module (21) described in any one of <2> to <5>, characterized in that the main body plate portion (51) and the folding plate portions (53, 55) are molded as separate bodies. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1: Vehicle door, 11: Inner panel, 21: Window regulator module, 31: Window regulator, 32: Module panel, 51: Main body plate portion, 53: Right folding plate portion, 55: Left folding plate portion

Claims

1. A window regulator module that is attached to a door panel of a vehicle door, a window regulator for raising and lowering a window glass of the vehicle door; a module panel to which the window regulator is fixed; A window regulator module, wherein the module panel is configured to be freely foldable.

2. The module panel comprises: A main body plate portion to which the window regulator is fixed; 2. The window regulator module according to claim 1, further comprising a folding plate portion foldably connected to the main plate portion.

3. The window regulator module described in claim 2, characterized in that the folding plate portion is foldably connected to the main body plate portion on the side to which the window regulator is fixed, and is configured to overlap at least a portion of the window regulator when folded relative to the main body plate portion.

4. The module panel comprises: a first folding plate portion connected to one end of the main body plate portion; 4. The window regulator module according to claim 3, further comprising: a second folding plate portion connected to the other end of the main plate portion.

5. 4. The window regulator module according to claim 2, wherein the folding plate portion is movably connected to the main plate portion on a side opposite to the door panel.

6. 4. The window regulator module according to claim 2, wherein the main plate portion and the folding plate portion are formed as separate bodies.

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