Such operating devices are generally used in the lateral doors of motor vehicles and often consist of pivotable arms which by means of their upper ends are displaceably connected with a slide rail mounted on the lower edge of the window pane. These arm constructions usually are configured as torsion links, i.e. supporting two equally spaced sliding guide means on the upper link ends. Constructions are also known that include lifting cables one run of which extends in the vertical direction of the door, said run being secured to an attachment rail or the like supporting the window pane at the lower edge thereof.

These constructions often are of complex structure and include a large number of mutually movable components which in addition exhibit poor flexibility in the thick- ness direction of the door, a feature which often is associated with considerable risks for jamming of the pane inside the guide means, particularly in vehicles having sharply curved lateral window panes. In addition, these operating devices often require comparatively large space laterally of or below the associated window pane.

Also, some prior-art constructions comprise a large number of separate and sharp details which in case of a collision may injure the occupants of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the space requirements of the operating device are in conflict with the need for the provision of

side reinforcement means inside the doors in order to increase safety in case of lateral impacts.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple operating device of the kind outlined above, wherein the majority of the disadvantages outlined above are eliminated.

This object is achieved in an operating device of the kind defined in the introduction and in which the drive means is formed by: a first rotary deflecting member the pivot shaft of which extends along the covering element perpendicularly to the path of movement of said element, a second rotary elongate deflecting member which is spaced from the first deflecting member and arranged along the path of movement of the covering element, the pivot shaft of said second member being essentially parallel with the pivot shaft of the first deflecting member, at least one flexible drive belt which is passed over the two deflecting members so as to extend between the latter, attachment means for interconnection of the covering element and the drive belt at least at two spaced-apart places as seen in the width direction of the drive belt, i.e. along the two deflecting members, and drive means for driving the deflecting members in a rotary motion and for advancing the belt including the attachment means for the purpose of forcibly operating the covering elements between closed and open positions.

Owing to this arrangement an extremely simple operating device is obtained, which comprises only a very reduced number of components. In addition, the device guides the covering element in a most stable manner without resorting to the use of slide rails to guide the operating device and it exhibits considerable flexibility properties with respect to the covering element, also when the latter is of curved configuration.

Additional peculiarities and advantages will appear from the dependent claims in conjunction with the follow- ing description and the accompanying drawing figures

which illustrate some embodiments of the inventive object.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic transparent view of a motor vehicle door provided with a device in accord- ance with the inventon, Fig. 2 is a schematical view of the same vehicle door as seen straight from the side, Fig. 3 also is a schematical cross-sectional view through the same vehicle door, Fig. 4 is a schematical cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3, through the vehicle door in accordance with an alternative embodiment, Figs 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Fig. 3, through the vehicle door, the window pane being illustrated in closed and an open positions, respectively.

Figs 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figs 5 and 6, respectively, illustrating an operating device in accordance with an alternative embodiment, Figs 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views according to Figs. 7 and 8, illustrating an operating element in accordance with another embodiment, Figs 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views correspond- ing to Figs 9 and 10 but illustrate yet another alterna- tive embodiment of the operating device, Figs 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views similar to Figs 11 and 12 but illustrating an operating device in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment, Fig. 15 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, of a motor vehicle door fitted with an operating device according to yet another alternative embodiment, and Fig. 16 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 15 of a motor vehicle door fitted with an operating device of yet another alternative embodiment.

In the drawing figures, equivalent components of the various embodiments are identified by the same numeral

reference with the exception that for each embodiment the references have been increased by 100.

In Fig. 1 a motor vehicle door is designated gener- ally by reference 1, the lower door part is designated by 2 and the window frame projecting therefrom is designated by 3. An upper attachment bracket 4 disposed in the door interior supports an upper deflecting member 5 rotatably mounted thereon and in a corresponding manner a lower attachment bracket 6 supports a lower deflecting member 7 similarly rotatably mounted thereon. In accordance with the shown embodiment the two deflecting members are in the shape of elongate rollers the pivot shafts 8 and 9, respectively, of which extend in essentially parallel relationship alongside the side window pane 10 trans- versely relative to a forward slide rail 11 and to a rear slide rail 12, which rails prolong of the window frame 3 and serve as guide tracks in which the forwards and rear end edges, respectively, of the window pane are received for guided movement therein. A flexible drive belt 13 is passed over the roller-shaped deflecting members. In accordance with the shown embodiment the pivot shaft of the lower deflecting member 7 is mounted in oval-shaped mounting apertures 14, allowing movement of said roller in the longitudinal direction of said drive belt 13.

Springs, not shown, may be provided to act on the lower deflecting roller shaft, tending to force said deflecting roller in a direction away from the upper deflecting roller 5, thus maintaining the drive belt in a taut condition. It should be appreciated that it is likewise possible to arrange for all mounting and bearing means of either one or both deflecting members to be movable and to be subjected to a suitable load in order to tighten the drive belt 13.

Numeral reference 15 designates a drive motor which by means of a bevel gear drive or other suitable trans- mission drivingly engages the deflecting roller 7.

Alternatively, the drive force could of course be exerted directly against the drive belt.

From Fig. 2 appears that the deflecting rollers 5 and 7 as well as the drive belt 13 have an inclined orientation corresponding to that of the front and rear guides 11 and 12, respectively, in which the window pane 10 is guided. At its lower end, the window pane is attached to the drive belt 13 in any suitable manner. As appears from both Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the window frame 3 in accordance with the shown embodiment is arcuately curved as is also the window pane 10. This means that the window pane will follow an arcuate curve as indicated by reference 16 in Fig. 3. When the window pane is attached to the run 13a of the drive belt that is turned towards the vehicle interior, said run will, on account of the flexibility of the drive belt, be pressed inwards as the window pane is moving and assume the same shape as the curve 16. In the shown embodiment, the lower mounting means of the deflecting roller 7 is an oval aperture 14 as indicated in the drawing figure, in order to allow stretching movements. With a suitable choice of elasticity of the drive belt 12 this movability feature in one or both rollers could be dispensed with, because the inherent elasticity of the drive belt itself is sufficient to compensate for the changed length caused by the arcuate shape. The point of attachment of the window pane to the drive belt is indicated in Fig. 3 by reference 17.

Figs 5 and 6 are identical cross-sectional views showing the device with the window pane assuming a closed and an open position, respectively. Also this drawing figure shows the manner in which the inner run of the drive belt adopts the arcuate shape indicated previously in Fig. 3. As appears from Figs 3, 5 and 6 the drive means formed by the drive belt and the deflecting rollers occupy very little space above and below, respectively, the upper and the lower places of attachment of the

window pane to the drive belt. On account of their rigidity the deflecting rollers may be part of the stiffening system provided in the interior cavity of the door, which stiffening system otherwise could consist of beams enhancing the safety in the case of lateral collision impacts.

By suitable choice of the material of the drive belt the latter could also serve as a noise-reducing means by eliminating resonance in the inner cavity of the door. In the embodiment of Figs 1-3 and 5 - 6, the drive means is disposed externally of the window pane path of movement whereas in the embodiment of Fig. 4 the drive means is disposed interiorly of the window pane path of movement, the latter indicated in this drawing figure by reference 116. In this embodiment, the window frame is designated by 103, the car window pane by 110, the drive belt by 113, the upper deflecting roller by 105, and the lower deflecting roller by 107. In addition, the car door is generally designated by reference 101 and the lower part thereof by 102. Except that it is the outer belt run 113b that will adopt an arcuate curved configuration when the window pane is being lowered, this embodiment has a function essentially identical with that of the embodi- ment described previously.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs 7 and 8 differs from the previous ones essentially in that the drive belt is kept taut by means of a runner 218 which is loaded in the transverse direction of the belt and which, owing to its yieldability when exposed to forces, primarily spring forces, is movable between the positions illustrated in Figs 7 and 8, respectively, as the drive belt run 213b is stretched upon lowering of the car window pane 210 to the open window position illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the drive belt run 213a has adopted an arcuate configuration.

In other respects this embodiment functions in the same way as the previously described embodiments, for which reason the mode of operation will not be repeated.

Components corresponding to those appearing in earlier described embodiments have received identical numeral references, however in the two-hundreds.

In accordance with the embodiment of Figs 9 and 10 the drive belt is kept taut by a pressure roll 318 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 319 and driven in the direction of rotation by a drive means 320, preferably in the form of a chain or a belt travelling over the lower deflecting roller 307 with suitable gearing to provide a compensational depression of the drive belt run 313b as the window pane is being lowered and oppositely relative to the inwards curved configuration assumed by the opposite drive belt run 313a during this process. The rest of the components of equivalent nature to those described with reference to previous embodiments have received identical numeral references, however in the three-hundreds. Their function is identical, for which reason their mode of operation is not repeated.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs 11 and 12 is identical with that of Figs 5 and 6 inasmuch as the drive means is positioned externally of the path of movement of the window pane, the difference being, however, that the window pane is attached to the inner drive belt run 413 via a spacer means 417' and therefore the inner drive belt run will not be depressed as a result of window pane movements. Consequently, no yieldable stretching arrange- ments need to be made with respect to the drive means. In other respects this embodiment functions in the same manner as the previous ones and no separate description of the function therefore will be made. Components that are functionally similar to equivalent components of the previous embodiments are identified by the same numeral references, however in the four-hundreds.

In the embodiment of Figs 13 and 14 the drive means consists like in the previous embodiments of one upper deflecting reel 505 and one lower deflecting reel 507 with a drive belt extending between the reels, said belt,

however, being a single-run belt. The drive belt is arranged to be wound onto and unwound from, respectively, the two deflecting reels 505 and 507, the run extending between the deflecting reels being driven between the positions illustrated in Figs 13 and 14, respectively by means of window pane attachment fittings 517. In accord- ance with this embodiment the drive arrangement of the two deflecting reels preferably is such that the diameter variations caused by the difference in the amount of drive belt wound onto the reels are compensated for. Such compensation could be effected by electric-motor induced load on the deflecting reels. It could also be effected by incorporating some springiness in the drive system.

One deflecting reels may be entirely spring biased in the belt winding-on direction whereas the other reel is motor operated. Remaining components of equivalent function to those in the earlier described embodiments are identified by identical numeral references, however in the five- hundreds, and will not be described in more detail here- in.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 15 corresponds to the one shown in Fig. 1, the difference being that the drive belt 613 is provided with perforations 619 arranged in rows, preferably positioned along the lengthwise lateral edges of the drive belt. However, such perfora- tion may be formed in other places of the drive belt. In accordance with the shown embodiment the deflecting rollers are provided with engagement teeth, not shown in the drawing figure, for engagement with the perforations.

This embodiment provides reliable operation of the drive belt without it being necessary to trust the friction between the drive belt and the deflecting rollers to be sufficiently strong for the purpose. Reliable operation thus results, also when the drive belt is not highly tensioned. In other respects the embodiment of Fig. 5 functions in the same manner as the embodiment of Fig. 1, for which reason a repetition of the mode of operation

need not be made. Components corresponding to those used in the embodiment of Fig. 1 are identified by the same numeral references, however in the six-hundreds.

In contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the drive belt according to the embodiment of Fig. 16 comprises two spaced apart drive belts 713, each one of which is arranged to travel around one upper and one lower deflecting reel 705 and 707, respectively, the upper reels being interconnected by means of an upper shaft and the lower reels by means of a lower shaft whereby together these reels will have a function similar to that of the deflecting rollers of the previously described embodiments. However, there is nothing to prevent the use of deflecting rollers also in accordance with this embodiment. The drive belt runs 713 may be formed as flat belts having no perforations therein or having perfora- tions for cooperation by engagement with driving teeth formed on the deflecting reels. Also, the drive belt runs could be in the shape of V-belts with or without teeth engaging in corresponding grooves in the deflecting reels. The function in other respect being the same as that in accordance with the previously described embodiments, it will not be described herein in more detail. Components of a corresponding nature to components used in the previously described embodiments are identified by the same numeral references, however in the seven-hundreds.

A feature common to all the embodiments described is that the drive belt is connected with the window pane at least in two places positioned in spaced apart relation- ship as seen in the width dimension of the drive belt.

The total width of the drive belt suitably coresponds to the major run of the length of the deflecting members.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the aforegoing and illustrated in the drawing figures but could be varied as to its details in many ways without departing from the fundamental idea of

the invention. Thus, the devices may be modified as to their structure and design and the described embodiments may be combined according to the current need at the time of application. The invention offers particularly great advantages compared with prior-art devices when the vehicle side, and thus the side windows of the vehicle, have a strong arcuately curved configuration but the advantages are great also when the covering element is rectilinear. The invention offers efficient guidance of the window pane without any risk that the phenomenon known as the "wedged-drawer effect" will arise, i.e. that the window pane will assume a position askew inside the guide tracks and tend to jam. This is a problem met in prior-art constructions, particularly in cold wheather when frost may form inside the window pane guide tracks.

The drive track in accordance with the invention requires very little space in the thickness direction of the door at the door centre, with the result that ample space exists in which to accommodate stiffening bars and fittings while at the same time the door is automatically stiffened by the deflecting members at its top and bottom areas. Furthermore, a resonance-reducing effect is obtained in the interior of the door when the drive track extends over a large part of the inner cavity of the door. In comparison with the prior-art constructions, the operating device in accordance with the invention is simple to mount in the vehicle door, in connection with the assembly of the vehicle as well as later.

Also, the invention is applicable not only in conjunction with vehicle doors as described herein but equally well whenever the use of an openable covering element is required, such as to open and close other openings in a motor vehicle, such as roof and side hatches as well as hatches and windows more generally.