Wind regulator and engagement method

Abstract

To provide a wind regulator which, upon being fitted to a vehicle, makes it difficult to release a drive part held by a guide member, and a method of engaging the drive part and the guide member with each other.SOLUTION: A window regulator according to the present invention ha a drive unit for moving a carrier plate and a guide member for guiding movement of the carrier plate. One of the drive unit and the guide member has an engaging part for engaging the drive unit and the guide member so that both can be moved relatively and the other has a plurality of projecting parts where a release preventing part engaged with the engaging part is formed. The engaging part has an aperture part arranged such that if the drive unit is positioned at a first position relative to the guide member, a release preventing part of at least one of the projecting parts can be inserted into the aperture part without interfering therewith, and that if the drive unit is positioned at a second position different from the first position relative to the guide member, a release preventing part of at least one of the projecting parts interferes with the aperture part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a window regulator and a method of engagement. [Background technology]

[0002] Window regulators that raise and lower vehicle window glass are widely used.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a window regulator that includes a moving member that moves a window glass, a guide member that guides the movement of the moving member, and a drive unit that moves the moving member via a cable. The window regulator disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a holding structure that holds the drive unit on the guide member in a state in which the drive unit can move relative to the guide member within a predetermined range along the thickness direction of the guide member, in order to facilitate position adjustment of the guide member and the drive unit when the window regulator is attached to a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-180502 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the window regulator is attached to the vehicle, the guide member may come loose from holding the drive unit. In this case, it is necessary to redo the holding of the drive unit and the installation of the window regulator to the vehicle, resulting in a loss of time and an increase in labor.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a window regulator in which a drive unit is unlikely to come loose from the guide member when the window regulator is attached to a vehicle, and a method of engaging the drive unit with the guide member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a window regulator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a drive unit that moves a carrier plate and a guide member that guides the movement of the carrier plate, one of the drive unit or the guide member has an engagement portion that engages the drive unit and the guide member in a state where they can move relative to each other, and the other of the drive unit or the guide member has a plurality of protrusions formed with anti-slip portions that engage with the engagement portion, and the engagement portion has a hole portion that is formed so that when the drive unit is arranged relative to the guide member in a first arrangement, the anti-slip portion of at least one of the plurality of protrusions can be inserted without interference, and when the drive unit is arranged relative to the guide member in a second arrangement different from the first arrangement, the engagement portion has a hole portion that is formed so as to interfere with the anti-slip portion of at least one of the plurality of protrusions.

[0008] An engagement method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an engagement method for engaging a drive unit that moves a carrier plate and a guide member that guides the movement of the carrier plate in a state where they can move relative to each other using a plurality of protrusions, each of which has an anti-slip member, and a hole into which the plurality of protrusions are inserted, during the manufacture of a window regulator, the engagement method including the steps of: when an arrangement of the drive unit relative to the guide member is in a first arrangement, inserting the first protrusion into the hole in a state where the anti-slip member of a first protrusion among the plurality of protrusions does not interfere with the hole; changing the arrangement of the drive unit relative to the guide member from the first arrangement to a second arrangement with the first protrusion inserted into the hole; and, in the second arrangement, inserting the second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions into the hole. Effect of the Invention

[0009] When the window regulator is attached to a vehicle, the drive unit is unlikely to come loose from the guide member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a window regulator. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the guide rail holds the drive unit by the holding structure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the guide rail holds the drive unit by the holding structure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of an engagement portion and a hole portion which are part of a holding structure in the first embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of a slip-off prevention portion, a protrusion, and a protrusion forming surface, which are part of the holding structure in the first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining an engagement method by a holding structure in the first embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of an engagement portion and a hole portion which are part of a holding structure in a second embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shapes of a slip-off prevention portion, a protrusion, and a protrusion forming surface, which are part of the holding structure in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining an engagement method by a holding structure in a second embodiment; [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of an engagement portion and a hole portion in a first modified example of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] <First embodiment> (Window regulator overview) A window regulator 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted on, for example, a door of a vehicle, etc. The window regulator 100 transmits a driving force to a carrier plate via a cable by winding and unwinding a cable, thereby moving a window glass (window) attached to the carrier plate.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a window regulator 100. The directions shown in Fig. 1 are directions based on the vehicle when the window regulator 100 is attached to an inner panel of a front door of the vehicle. In the following description, the directions shown in Fig. 1 may be used.

[0014] The front-rear direction and the up-down direction shown in Fig. 1 correspond to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, respectively, of a vehicle to which the window regulator 100 is attached. Although not shown in Fig. 1, the front direction of the paper in Fig. 1 corresponds to the outside of the vehicle, and the back direction of the paper in Fig. 1 corresponds to the inside of the vehicle.

[0015] However, the directions shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and the window regulator of the present disclosure does not necessarily have to be installed in accordance with the directions exemplified in FIG.

[0016] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the window regulator 100 includes two guide rails 10, four brackets 12, a cable 30, a drive unit 40, and two carrier plates 50.

[0017] (Configuration of guide rail 10) The two guide rails 10 each extend in the moving direction of the window glass and are disposed approximately parallel to each other. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the extending direction of the guide rails 10 and the moving direction of the window glass are different from the up-down direction in Fig. 1, but in the present disclosure, the moving direction of the window glass may coincide with the up-down direction of the window regulator. The guide rails 10 movably support the carrier plate 50 and guide the movement of the carrier plate 50. The guide rails 10 are an example of a guide member of the present disclosure.

[0018] (Configuration of bracket 12) The bracket 12 is a member that supports the rotation shaft of the pulley 20 that changes the moving direction of the cable 30. The brackets 12 are provided on the upper and lower ends of the two guide rails 10, respectively.

[0019] (Cable 30 configuration) The cable 30, which is a power transmission member, is a member for transmitting the driving force of the drive unit 40 to the carrier plate 50. The cable 30 is, for example, a flexible wire formed by twisting together metal wires, resin fiber wires, etc. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the cable 30 is composed of three cables 30a, 30b, and 30c.

[0020] One end of the cable 30a is connected to the drive unit 40. The cable 30a extends from the drive unit 40 toward the pulley 20 provided at the upper end of the rear guide rail 10, and further extends toward the carrier plate 50 provided on the guide rail 10. The other end of the cable 30a is connected to the carrier plate 50 provided on the guide rail 10.

[0021] One end of the cable 30b is connected to a carrier plate 50 provided on the rear guide rail 10. The cable 30b extends from the carrier plate 50 toward a pulley 20 provided at the lower end of the guide rail 10. The cable 30b further extends from the pulley 20 toward a pulley 20 provided at the upper end of the front guide rail 10. The other end of the cable 30b is connected to the carrier plate 50 provided on the guide rail 10.

[0022] One end of the cable 30c is connected to the drive unit 40. The cable 30c extends from the drive unit 40 toward the pulley 20 provided at the lower end of the front guide rail 10, and further extends toward the carrier plate 50 provided on the guide rail 10. The other end of the cable 30c is connected to the carrier plate 50 provided on the guide rail 10.

[0023] Incidentally, the entire cable 30 , from the drive unit 40 to the brackets 12 provided on the left and right guide rails 10 , is covered with an outer casing 31 for protecting the cable 30 .

[0024] (Configuration of driving unit 40) The driving unit 40 is a device that moves the carrier plate 50 by winding and unwinding the cable 30. In the first embodiment, the driving unit 40 is attached to the guide rail 10 via a bracket 12 provided at the lower end of the rear guide rail 10.

[0025] The drive unit 40 includes, for example, a drum around which the cable 30 is wound, a drum housing in which the drum is housed, a motor, and a power transmission unit such as a worm gear that transmits the rotation of the motor to the drum.

[0026] When the motor rotates in the forward direction, the rotational motion of the motor is transmitted to the drum via the power transmission unit, causing the drum to rotate in the forward direction. In this case, the cable 30a is wound on the drum, and the cable 30c is unwound from the drum. As a result, the two carrier plates 50 rise along the two guide rails 10, respectively.

[0027] On the other hand, when the motor rotates in the reverse direction, the drum rotates in the reverse direction. In this case, the cable 30c is wound on the drum and the cable 30a is unwound from the drum. As a result, the two carrier plates 50 descend along the two guide rails 10, respectively.

[0028] (Configuration of carrier plate 50) The carrier plate 50 is a member that holds the window glass and moves up and down together with the window glass on the guide rail 10. Note that the window glass is not shown in Fig. 1. The carrier plate 50 includes a holding section that holds the window glass, a storage section that stores the end of the cable 30, and a guide section that guides the carrier plate 50 for moving up and down along the guide rail 10.

[0029] (Regarding the holding structure 60) 1 and is held by the guide rail 10. In the following description, the structures that the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 have for holding the drive unit 40 on the guide rail 10 are referred to as a holding structure 60.

[0030] In this specification, holding means provisional fixation, i.e., temporary fixation. The holding structure 60 holds the drive unit 40 on the guide rail 10 while allowing the drive unit 40 to move relative to the guide rail 10 within a predetermined range along the thickness direction of the guide rail 10.

[0031] Furthermore, the holding structure 60 holds the drive unit 40 on the guide rail 10 in a state in which movement of the drive unit 40 along the length direction of the guide rail 10 is restricted.

[0032] The retaining structure 60 retains, i.e., temporarily fixes, the drive unit 40 to the guide rail 10, which has the effect of facilitating installation, for example, when attaching the window regulator 100 to an inner panel of a vehicle door. This is because if the relatively heavy drive unit 40 is not temporarily fixed, the drive unit 40 and the cable 30 pulled by the drive unit 40 may make unintended movements when installing the window regulator 100 to the vehicle, which may hinder installation.

[0033] In addition, since the holding structure 60 allows relative movement between the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 within a specified range along the thickness direction of the guide rail 10, it becomes easier to adjust the position of the window glass, etc. when installing the window regulator 100 on a vehicle.

[0034] When installing the window regulator 100 in a vehicle, the window regulator 100 may be temporarily fixed to an inner panel to adjust the position of the window glass, etc. This position adjustment is particularly important in vehicles equipped with sashless doors, which have no window frame. This is because, in sashless doors, in order to ensure watertightness between the weather strips provided on the vehicle body and the window glass, when the window glass is moved to the top, the leading edge of the window glass must be accurately inserted between the weather strips.

[0035] In the process of adjusting the position of window glass, the guide rail 10 is temporarily fixed to an inner panel of a vehicle door with the drive unit 40 temporarily fixed to the guide rail 10, and the drive unit 40 is fixed to the inner panel. Even in this state, as described above, the holding structure 60 allows the guide rail 10 to move relative to the drive unit 40 within a predetermined range along the thickness direction of the guide rail 10. Therefore, even in a state in which the guide rail 10 is temporarily fixed to the inner panel, the guide rail 10 can be moved within a predetermined range along the thickness direction of the guide rail 10. Therefore, even in a state in which the guide rail 10 is temporarily fixed to the vehicle and the drive unit 40 is fixed to the vehicle, the position of the guide rail 10 can be adjusted, and thus the position of the carrier plate 50 and the window glass held by the carrier plate 50 can be adjusted.

[0036] The following is a detailed description of the configuration of the holding structure 60. The holding structure 60 has an engagement portion 11 and a hole portion 13 provided in the guide rail 10, and a slip-out prevention portion 41 and a protrusion portion 42 provided in the drive portion 40.

[0037] 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating a state in which the guide rail 10 holds the drive unit 40 by the holding structure 60 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the bracket 12 provided at the lower end of the guide rail 10, the engagement portion 11 provided at the tip of the front side (drive unit 40 side) of the bracket 12, and the slip-out prevention portion 41 and the protrusion portion 42 provided at the rear side (bracket 12 side) of the drive unit 40 are shown. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the holding structure 60 as viewed from the outside along the thickness direction of the guide rail 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the holding structure 60 as viewed from the underside of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40.

[0038] The bracket 12 is attached to the lower end of the guide rail 10 by, for example, a fastening member such as a bolt, or by welding, etc. A plate-shaped engagement portion 11 having a hole 13 formed therein is provided at the tip of the bracket 12 on the drive unit 40 side.

[0039] 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shapes of the engagement portion 11 and the hole portion 13 in the first embodiment. The engagement portion 11 is a member for engaging the guide rail 10 and the drive portion 40 in a state in which the relative movement is possible. The engagement portion 11 is provided with a hole portion 13 formed in an elongated hole shape having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction as a whole. The hole portion 13 has a first region 131 extending in the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 13, and a second region 132 connected to one end of the first region 131 and having a width wider than that of the first region 131.

[0040] The first region 131 is an opening extending along the longitudinal direction of the hole 13. The width of the first region 131, i.e., the length of the first region 131 along the short direction of the hole 13, is shorter than the length of the first region 131 along the longitudinal direction of the hole 13.

[0041] The second region 132 connected to one end of the first region 131 is an opening formed, for example, in a substantially circular shape, excluding the connecting portion. The width of the second region 132, i.e., the diameter of the circle, is longer than the width of the first region. As described below, the protrusion 42 having the slip-out prevention portion 41 formed thereon can be inserted into the hole 13 via the second region 132.

[0042] 2 and 3, the length of the first region 131 along the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 is set to be slightly longer than the distance between the two protrusions 42. As a result, when the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the hole 13, the two protrusions 42 fit within the first region 131 in the longitudinal direction of the hole 13.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the second region 132 is formed at a position above the first region 131 when the window regulator 100 is attached to the vehicle. When the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the hole 13, a downward force is always applied to the two protrusions 42 due to the weight of the drive unit 40 to which the protrusions 42 are attached. Therefore, when the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the first region 131, they are less likely to move toward the second region 132 provided above. This makes it possible to prevent the two protrusions 42 from moving toward the second region 132 and coming out of the hole 13, even if the second region 132, which is wider than the first region 131, is formed at one end of the upper side of the hole 13.

[0044] On the other hand, a plurality of protrusions 42 are formed to extend from a protrusion forming surface 43 at the end of the drive unit 40 on the bracket 12 side of the drum housing. In the example shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, two protrusions 42 are provided side by side. A slip-out prevention portion 41 that engages with the engagement portion 11 is formed at the tip of the protrusion 42.

[0045] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shapes of the fall-off prevention portion 41, the protrusions 42, and the protrusion-forming surface 43 in the first embodiment. Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view in a plane including the central axes of the two protrusions 42. Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view in a plane including the central axes of the two protrusions 42 and perpendicular to the protrusion-forming surface 43. Fig. 5C is a diagram showing the fall-off prevention portion 41, the protrusions 42, and the protrusion-forming surface 43 viewed from above along the central axis direction of the protrusions 42.

[0046] In Figure 5, the direction in which the protrusion 42 extends, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the protrusion forming surface 43, is defined as the first direction D1, the direction in which the two protrusions 42 are aligned, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43, is defined as the second direction D2, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, i.e., the short direction of the protrusion forming surface 43, is defined as the third direction D3.

[0047] 3 and 5A, the protrusion 42 is a columnar structure formed so as to extend a predetermined length from the protrusion forming surface 43 of the driving unit 40 along the first direction D1. In this specification, the term "columnar" includes shapes such as a cylindrical shape, an elliptical cylindrical shape, a truncated cone shape, an elliptical truncated cone shape, and a rectangular column shape. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 42 has a cylindrical shape.

[0048] The protrusion-forming surface 43 is a substantially rectangular region provided on the driving unit 40. The two protrusions 42 are provided side by side along the second direction D2, which is the longitudinal direction of the protrusion-forming surface 43. The shape of the protrusion-forming surface 43 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be, for example, a rectangular shape with rounded corners or an elliptical shape.

[0049] The width of the protrusion 42 may be narrower than the short-side length (width) of the first region 131 of the hole 13, but if it is too narrow, the strength will decrease, so it is desirably formed slightly narrower than the width of the hole 13.

[0050] A slip-out prevention portion 41 is provided near the tip of the protrusion 42 at a predetermined distance along the first direction D1. The slip-out prevention portion 41 is a member for preventing the protrusion 42 from slipping out when inserted into the hole 13 of the engagement portion 11.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5C, the slip-out prevention portion 41 is formed so as to extend on both sides along a third direction D3 that is approximately perpendicular to a first direction D1 in which the protrusions 42 extend and a second direction D2 in which the two protrusions 42 are aligned.

[0052] With this configuration, when the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the hole 13 lined up in the longitudinal direction of the hole 13, the slip-out prevention portion 41 extends approximately along the lateral direction of the hole 13. The length of the slip-out prevention portion 41 along the lateral direction of the protrusion forming surface 43 is formed to be longer than the lateral length (width) of the first region 131 of the hole 13. In the following description, the lateral direction of the protrusion forming surface 43 may be referred to as the longitudinal direction of the slip-out prevention portion 41.

[0053] 2 and 3, both ends of the fall-off prevention part 41 in the longitudinal direction are formed in a rounded shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Both ends of the fall-off prevention part in the longitudinal direction may be formed in a shape with corners, such as a square shape as shown in FIG. 5C.

[0054] With this structure, when the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the hole 13, even if the protrusions 42 attempt to come out of the hole 13, the fall-out prevention portion 41 and the first region 131 of the hole 13 interfere with each other. This makes it possible to prevent the protrusions 42 from coming out of the hole 13 unintentionally.

[0055] In order to prevent the protrusion 42 from unintentionally coming out of the hole 13, it is preferable that the fall-out prevention portion 41 is made of a material that is difficult to deform and has a relatively high hardness.

[0056] As described above, the holding structure 60 includes the engagement portion 11 provided on the guide rail 10 via the bracket 12, and the slip-out prevention portion 41 and the protrusion portion 42 provided on the drive portion 40. The engagement portion 11 is provided with a hole portion 13 having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, when the window regulator 100 is attached to the vehicle and the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the hole 13, even if at least one of the guide rail 10 or the drive unit 40 moves inward or outward, the hole 13 and the fall-off prevention portion 41 interfere with each other. This allows the drive unit 40 to be held by the guide rail 10 by the holding structure 60. Even when the two protrusions 42 are inserted into the hole 13, the guide rail 10 can move relative to the drive unit 40 within the range of the length along the central axis of the protrusions 42. In other words, by appropriately setting the length of the protrusions 42, the movement range of the guide rail 10 relative to the drive unit 40 can be limited to a predetermined range. The predetermined range may be appropriately set to a range that is desirable when attaching the window regulator 100 to an inner panel of a vehicle door.

[0058] With the two protrusions 42 inserted into the hole 13 in the first region 131, a downward force is applied to the two protrusions 42 due to the weight of the drive unit 40. As a result, with the window regulator 100 attached to the vehicle and the drive unit 40 held on the guide rail 10 by the holding structure 60, the two protrusions 42 are less likely to move toward the second region 132 located above the first region 131 of the hole 13. This makes it possible to prevent the protrusions 42 from moving from the first region 131 toward the second region 132 and becoming dislodged.

[0059] The hole 13 has a first region 131 extending along the longitudinal direction and a second region 132 provided and connected to one end of the first region 131, and the width of the second region 132 is formed to be wider than the width of the first region 131. The first region 131 and the second region 132 of the hole 13 are formed into a shape that is advantageous when the drive unit 40 is held by the guide rail 10, in other words, when the engagement unit 11 is engaged with the hole 13.

[0060] Next, a method for engaging and holding the drive unit 40 on the guide rail 10 by the holding structure 60 will be described in detail.

[0061] As described above, the hole 13 of the engagement portion 11 provided in the guide rail 10 has the first region 131 extending in the longitudinal direction and the wider second region 132. As described above, the two protrusions 42 provided in the drive unit 40 are each formed with the slip-out prevention portions 41 so as to extend on both sides along a direction perpendicular to the protrusion forming surface 43 and a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43.

[0062] The second region 132 is formed so that its width is longer than the longitudinal length of the slip-out prevention portion 41. In the example shown in FIG. 4 etc., the second region 132 is formed in a substantially circular shape, but in this case, the diameter of the second region 132 is formed so that it is longer than the longitudinal length of the slip-out prevention portion 41. This makes it possible to insert the protrusion 42 into the second region 132 by aligning the second region 132 with the protrusion 42, regardless of the positional relationship between the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40.

[0063] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an engagement method by a holding structure 60 in the first embodiment. For simplicity, Fig. 6 omits most of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40, and shows the peripheral area of ​​a hole 13 provided in the bracket 12 and the peripheral area of ​​a protrusion forming surface 43 provided in the drive unit 40. In Fig. 6, in order to easily distinguish between the members on the guide rail 10 side and the members on the drive unit 40 side, the members on the guide rail 10 side are shown in white and the members on the drive unit 40 side are shown in gray, with each color being different.

[0064] In the engagement method described below, the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 may be supported and moved by, for example, an industrial robot.

[0065] 6A shows a first step of the engagement method using the holding structure 60. In the first step, the directions of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 are aligned. More specifically, in the first step, the directions of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 are aligned so that the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 formed in the guide rail 10 (D4 in FIG. 6A) and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43 on which the two protrusions 42 are formed (D5 in FIG. 6A) are approximately parallel to each other. In this manner, in a state in which the directions of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 are aligned so that the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43 are approximately parallel to each other, the longitudinal direction D4 of the hole 13 and the longitudinal direction of the slip-out prevention portion 41 (D6 in FIG. 6A) are approximately perpendicular to each other.

[0066] In the following description, of the two protrusions 42, one of the protrusions in Fig. 6 (the one of the two protrusions closer to the second region 132 when the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion-forming surface 43 are parallel as in Fig. 6A) will be referred to as the first protrusion 42_1, and the other protrusion will be referred to as the second protrusion 42_2. In addition, the slip-out prevention portion provided on the first protrusion 42_1 will be referred to as the first slip-out prevention portion 41_1, and the slip-out prevention portion provided on the second protrusion 42_2 will be referred to as the second slip-out prevention portion 41_2.

[0067] 6B shows a second step of the engagement method using the holding structure 60. In the second step, in a second region 132 of the hole 13 provided in the guide rail 10, one of the two protrusions 42, the first protrusion 42_1, is inserted into the hole 13. As described above, regardless of the orientation of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40, the width of the second region 132 is longer than the length of the slip-out prevention portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even when the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43 are substantially parallel to each other, the first protrusion 42_1 (first slip-out prevention portion 41_1) can be inserted into the hole 13 in the second region 132.

[0068] 6B, the arrangement of the drive unit 40 with respect to the guide rail 10 when the first protrusion 42_1 can be inserted into the hole 13 in the second region 132 without interference between the first slip-out prevention unit 41_1 and the hole 13 corresponds to the first arrangement of the present disclosure. In other words, the first arrangement is an arrangement when the first protrusion 42_1 of the two protrusions 42 is inserted into the hole 13 in the second region 132.

[0069] 6C shows a third step of the engagement method using the holding structure 60. In the third step, the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 move relative to each other while the first protrusion 42_1 remains inserted in the hole 13, so that the first protrusion 42_1 moves to the first region 131. As described above, the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 and the longitudinal direction of the first slip-out prevention portion 41_1 are aligned to be substantially perpendicular to each other, so that the first slip-out prevention portion 41_1 and the first region 131 interfere with each other in the third step. This prevents the first protrusion 42_1 from slipping out of the hole 13.

[0070] In the third step, the first protrusion 42_1 is moved to the first region 131, whereby the other second protrusion 42_2 is aligned with the second region 132. As a result, the second protrusion 42_2 is inserted into the hole 13 in the second region 132.

[0071] In addition, the relative movement between the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 in the third step may be achieved by movement of the guide rail 10, by movement of the drive unit 40, or by movement of both the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40.

[0072] During the relative movement between the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 in the third step, the surface constituting the guide rail and the surface constituting the drive unit 40 may be moved at an incline relative to each other so that the other second protrusion portion 42_2 not inserted into the hole portion 13 does not interfere with the engagement portion 11 of the guide rail 10.

[0073] 6C, the arrangement of the drive unit 40 with respect to the guide rail 10 when the first slip-out prevention portion 41_1 of the first protrusion 42_1 of the two protrusions 42 interferes with the hole 13 corresponds to the second arrangement of the present disclosure. In other words, the second arrangement is an arrangement when the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 are moved relatively along the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 and the second protrusion 42_2 is inserted into the hole 13 in the second region 132.

[0074] 6D shows a fourth step of the engagement method using the retaining structure 60. In the fourth step, after the protrusion 42 is inserted into the hole 13 in the second region 132, the guide rail 10 and the driving unit 40 are further moved relative to each other, and the protrusion 42 is moved to the first region 131. This completes the step of engaging and retaining the driving unit 40 with the guide rail 10.

[0075] 6D, when the two protrusions 42 are located in the first region 131 of the hole 13, the longitudinal direction of the slip-out prevention portion 41 and the lateral direction of the hole 13 are substantially parallel to each other. This prevents the two protrusions 42 from slipping out of the hole 13. As described above, a force toward the first region 131 in the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 is applied to the drive portion 40 due to its own weight, so that the protrusions 42 are prevented from moving toward the second region 132, and thus the protrusions 42 are prevented from slipping out of the second region 132.

[0076] At the same time, the drive unit 40 can move relative to the guide rail 10 within the range of the length of the protrusion 42 extending perpendicularly from the protrusion forming surface 43. Therefore, when the drive unit 40 is fixed to the vehicle and the guide rail 10 is temporarily fixed to the vehicle, the guide rail 10 is allowed to move within that range in a direction toward the inside or rear side of the vehicle, and thus the position of the window glass held by the carrier plate 50 can be easily adjusted.

[0077] <Second embodiment> A window regulator 100A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. In the second embodiment, the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be described with the letter A added to the reference numerals of the first embodiment.

[0078] In the second embodiment, the structure of the holding structure 60A is different from that of the holding structure 60 in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of the engagement portion 11A and the hole portion 13A in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of the slip-out prevention portion 41A, the protrusion portion 42A, and the protrusion-forming surface 43A in the second embodiment. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view in a plane including the central axis of the two protrusion portions 42A. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view in a plane including the central axis of the two protrusion portions 42A and a plane perpendicular to the protrusion-forming surface 43A. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a bird's-eye view of the slip-out prevention portion 41A, the protrusion portion 42A, and the protrusion-forming surface 43A along the central axis direction of the protrusion portion 42A.

[0079] In Figure 8, the direction in which the protrusion 42A extends, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the protrusion forming surface 43A, is defined as the first direction D1A, the direction in which the two protrusions 42A are aligned, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A, is defined as the second direction D2A, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1A and the second direction D2A, i.e., the short direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A, is defined as the third direction D3A.

[0080] The engaging portion 11A is provided with a hole 13A. Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the hole 13A does not have a second region 132, and the hole 13A is an opening formed in an elongated hole shape having a substantially uniform width in the longitudinal and lateral directions. Note that both ends of the hole 13A in the longitudinal and lateral directions may be formed in a curved shape, such as a semicircular shape or a semielliptical shape, or may be formed in an angular shape.

[0081] In addition, two protrusions 42A are formed side by side on the protrusion forming surface 43A of the driving unit 40A along the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A (D2A in FIG. 8). Unlike the first embodiment, the directions in which the fall-off prevention parts 41A formed at the tips of the two protrusions 42A extend from the protrusions 42A are different from each other. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, the second fall-off prevention part 41A_2 provided on the second protrusion 42A_2 of the two protrusions 42A extends from the central axis of the second protrusion 42A_2 toward both sides along the lateral direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A (D3A in FIG. 8B). The direction in which the second fall-off prevention part 41A_2 extends from the central axis of the second protrusion 42A_2, that is, the longitudinal direction of the second fall-off prevention part 41A_2, and the lateral direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A (D3A in FIG. 8B) correspond to the first protruding direction of the present disclosure.

[0082] On the other hand, the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 in Fig. 8C extends in a direction different from the first protruding direction from the central axis of the first protruding portion 42A_1 along the longitudinal direction (D2A in Fig. 8) of the protruding portion forming surface 43A. Specifically, the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 extends in a direction opposite to the second protruding portion 42A_2 when viewed from the first protruding portion 42A_1 (D2A in Fig. 8). The direction in which the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 extends from the central axis of the first protruding portion 42_1 corresponds to the second protruding direction of the present disclosure.

[0083] In the second embodiment, the length of the hole 13A in the longitudinal direction is formed to be slightly longer than the distance between the two protrusions 42A.

[0084] With this configuration, when the two protrusions 42A are inserted into the hole portion 13A, the longitudinal length of the second anti-slip portion 41A_2 of the second protrusion 42A_2 is longer than the lateral length (width) of the hole portion 13A, thereby preventing the second protrusion 42A_2 from falling out of the hole portion 13A.

[0085] On the other hand, as described above, the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 of the first protrusion 42A_1 extends from the central axis of the first protrusion 42A_1 in the opposite direction to the second protrusion 42A_2 along the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9D described later, when the first protrusion 42A_1 is located near one longitudinal end of the hole 13A, the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 and the hole 13A interfere with each other, and thus the first protrusion 42A_1 is prevented from slipping out of the hole 13A.

[0086] Therefore, even with the holding structure 60A of the second embodiment, which has a different structure from that of the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the holding structure 60 of the first embodiment.

[0087] Next, a method for engaging and holding the drive unit 40A on the guide rail 10A by the holding structure 60A will be described in detail.

[0088] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining an engagement method by a holding structure 60A in the second embodiment. In Fig. 9, similarly to Fig. 6, most of the guide rail 10A and the driving part 40A are omitted, and only the peripheral area of ​​the hole 13A of the bracket 12A and the peripheral area of ​​the protrusion forming surface 43A of the driving part 40A are shown.

[0089] 9A shows a first step of an engagement method using the holding structure 60A. In the first step, the directions of the guide rail 10A and the driving unit 40A are aligned. More specifically, in the first step, the directions of the guide rail 10A and the driving unit 40A are aligned so that the longitudinal direction (D7 in FIG. 9A) of the hole 13A formed in the guide rail 10A and the longitudinal direction (D8 in FIG. 9A) of the protrusion forming surface 43A on which the two protrusions 42 are formed are approximately perpendicular to each other.

[0090] In this manner, when the directions of the guide rail 10 and the drive unit 40 are aligned so that the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 13A and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A are approximately perpendicular to each other, the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 13 and the longitudinal direction of the second slip-out prevention portion 41A_2 (D9 in FIG. 9A) are approximately parallel to each other.

[0091] 9B shows a second step of the engagement method using the retaining structure 60A. In the second step, the second protrusion 42A_2 is aligned with the first region 131A, which is a region near one end of the hole 13A, and the second protrusion 42A_2 is inserted into the hole 13A in the first region 131A.

[0092] 9B, the arrangement of the drive unit 40A with respect to the guide rail 10A when the longitudinal direction of the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 (i.e., the first protruding direction) and the longitudinal direction of the hole 13 are substantially parallel to each other corresponds to the first arrangement of the present disclosure. In other words, the first arrangement is an arrangement when the second protrusion portion 42A_2 is inserted into the hole 13A in the first region 131A.

[0093] 9C shows a third step of the engagement method using the holding structure 60A. In the third step, the guide rail 10A and the drive unit 40A rotate relatively by approximately 90 degrees while the second protrusion 42A_2 remains inserted in the hole 13A. As a result, the longitudinal direction of the second slip-out prevention portion 41A_2 of the second protrusion 42A_2 becomes approximately parallel to the lateral direction of the hole 13A. Since the longitudinal length of the second slip-out prevention portion 41A_2 is longer than the lateral length (width) of the hole 13A, this prevents the second protrusion 42A_2 from slipping out of the hole 13A.

[0094] In addition, the relative rotation between guide rail 10A and drive unit 40A in the third step may be achieved by rotation of guide rail 10A, by rotation of drive unit 40A, or by rotation of both guide rail 10A and drive unit 40A.

[0095] 9D shows a fourth step of the engagement method using the holding structure 60A. In the fourth step, the guide rail 10A and the driving unit 40A move relative to each other while the second protrusion 42A_2 remains inserted in the hole 13A, so that the second protrusion 42A_2 moves to the vicinity of the second region 132A, which is the region near the other end of the hole 13A.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 9D, after the relative rotation of the guide rail 10A and the driving unit 40A in the third step, the direction in which the two protrusions 42A are arranged (the longitudinal direction of the protrusion forming surface 43A) and the longitudinal direction of the hole 13A are substantially parallel to each other. As described above, the longitudinal length of the hole 13A is formed slightly longer than the distance between the protrusions 42A. Therefore, when the second protrusion 42A_2 moves to the second region 132A, which is a region near the other end of the hole 13A, the first protrusion 42A_1 is located near the second region 132A, which is a region near one end of the hole 13A, and a slight gap is generated between the one end of the hole 13A and the first protrusion 42A_1. As a result, in the fourth step, the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 does not interfere with the hole 13A, and the first protrusion 42A_1 can be inserted into the hole 13A.

[0097] 9D, the arrangement of the drive unit 40A with respect to the guide rail 10A when the direction in which the second slip-out prevention portion 41A_2 extends from the central axis of the second protrusion portion 42A_2 (i.e., the second protruding direction) is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 13 corresponds to the second arrangement of the present disclosure. In other words, the second arrangement is an arrangement when the second protrusion portion 42A_2 is inserted into the hole portion 13A in the first region 131A.

[0098] As described in the first embodiment, when the window regulator 100A is attached to the vehicle, a downward force is applied to the drive unit 40A due to its weight. Therefore, after the fourth step, the two protrusions 42A provided on the drive unit 40A move inside the hole 13A toward the first region 131 of the hole 13A located below.

[0099] As a result, the tip of the first slip-out prevention portion 41A_1 extending from the second protrusion 42A_2 in the opposite direction to the second protrusion 42A_2 interferes with the edge of the hole 13A near the first region 131A. This prevents the two protrusions 42A from slipping out of the hole 13A.

[0100] At the same time, the drive unit 40A can move relative to the guide rail 10A within the range of the length of the protrusion 42A extending perpendicularly from the protrusion forming surface 43A. Therefore, when the drive unit 40A is fixed to the vehicle and the guide rail 10A is temporarily fixed to the vehicle, the guide rail 10A is allowed to move within that range in a direction toward the inside or rear side of the vehicle, which in turn makes it easy to adjust the position of the window glass held by the carrier plate.

[0101] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, the multiple embodiments and modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

[0102] In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the hole portion 13 formed in the guide rail 10 via the bracket 12 has a first region 131 extending in the longitudinal direction and a second region 132 whose width is wider than the first region 131.

[0103] In the present disclosure, for example, instead of providing the second region 132, a first modified example may be adopted in which the other end of the hole 13 reaches the end of the engagement portion 11B. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of the engagement portion 11B and the hole 13B in the first modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 shows a hole 13B formed at an open end 133 in which the end opposite to the first region 131B in the longitudinal direction of the hole 13B in the window regulator 100B according to the first modified example reaches the end of the engagement portion 11B. In the first modified example, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described with the reference numeral of the first embodiment followed by B.

[0104] In the first modified example, when the driving unit 40 similar to that in the first embodiment is engaged with and held by the guide rail 10B, engagement can be achieved by the same engaging method as that in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 6. That is, instead of inserting the protrusion 42 into the hole 13 at the second region 132 in the first embodiment, in the first modified example, the protrusion 42 can be inserted into the hole 13B at the open end 133.

[0105] As described in the first embodiment, after engagement, a force is generated in the drive portion 40B in the direction opposite to the open end 133 in the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 13B, thereby preventing the protrusion portion 42 from coming out of the hole portion 13B at the open end 133.

[0106] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, second embodiment, and first modified example, an example has been described in which engagement portions 11, 11A, 11B having hole portions 13, 13A, 13B are provided on the guide rails 10, 10A, 10B side, and protrusion portions 42, 42A having anti-slip portions 41, 41A are provided on the drive portion 40 side.

[0107] The present disclosure is not limited to such a structure, and for example, a protrusion having a slip-out prevention portion may be provided on the guide rail (the guide member of the present disclosure) side, and an engagement portion having a hole may be provided on the drive portion side. Even with such a structure, the present disclosure can obtain the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments. [Industrial Applicability]

[0108] The present invention can be applied to a window regulator for driving the window glass of an automobile to move up and down. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 100, 100A, 100B Window regulator 10, 10A, 10B Guide rail 11,11A,11B Engagement part 12,12A Bracket 13,13A,13B Hole 131,131A,131B 1st area 132,132A 2nd area 133 Open end 20 Pulley 30, 30a, 30b, 30c Cable 31 Outer casing 40, 40A, 40B Drive unit 41, 41A Pull-out prevention part 41_1, 41A_1 First pull-out prevention part 41_2, 41A_2 Second slip-out prevention part 42,42A,42B Protrusion 42_1,42A_1 1st protrusion 42_2,42A_2 2nd protrusion 43,43A Projection forming surface 50 Carrier Plate 60,60A holding structure

Claims

1. A drive unit that moves the carrier plate; a guide member for guiding the movement of the carrier plate; Equipped with one of the drive unit and the guide member has an engagement unit that engages the drive unit and the guide member in a state in which they can move relative to each other; the other of the drive portion and the guide member has a plurality of protrusions formed with anti-slip portions that engage with the engagement portion, the engaging portion has a hole portion that can be inserted without interference with a slip-out prevention portion of at least one of the plurality of protrusions when the driving portion is disposed relative to the guide member in a first arrangement, and that is formed to interfere with the slip-out prevention portion of at least one of the plurality of protrusions when the driving portion is disposed relative to the guide member in a second arrangement different from the first arrangement. Window regulator.

2. The hole portion has a first region extending in a longitudinal direction of the hole portion, and a second region connected to one end of the first region and having a width wider than that of the first region.

2. The window regulator according to claim 1.

3. the first arrangement is an arrangement when a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is inserted into the hole in the second region, the second arrangement is an arrangement when the drive unit and the guide member are moved relative to each other along the longitudinal direction, and a second protrusion different from the first protrusion is inserted into the hole in the second region.

3. The window regulator according to claim 2.

4. The hole has an elongated hole shape.

2. The window regulator according to claim 1.

5. the plurality of protrusions include a first protrusion and a second protrusion, The first protrusion has a first slip-out prevention member provided so as to protrude in a first protruding direction as viewed from a central axis of the first protrusion. the first arrangement is an arrangement in which the first protruding direction and a longitudinal direction of the elongated hole shape are substantially parallel to each other, the second protrusion has a second slip-out prevention member provided so as to protrude in a second protruding direction different from the first protruding direction as viewed from a central axis of the second protrusion, The second arrangement is an arrangement in which the second protruding direction and the longitudinal direction are substantially parallel to each other.

5. The window regulator according to claim 4.

6. A method for engaging a drive unit that moves a carrier plate and a guide member that guides the movement of the carrier plate in a state in which they can move relative to each other using a plurality of protrusions each having a slip-out prevention member and a hole into which the plurality of protrusions are inserted, during the manufacture of a window regulator, comprising: inserting a first protrusion, among the plurality of protrusions, into the hole in a state in which the anti-slip member of a first protrusion does not interfere with the hole when the drive unit is disposed in a first position relative to the guide member; changing a position of the drive unit relative to the guide member from the first position to a second position with the first protrusion inserted into the hole; inserting a second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions into the hole in the second arrangement; The method of engagement comprising:

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