Boot sealing and attachment means for automotive door lock actuators and the like
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to boot sealing and attachment means, wherein a flexible boot, typically made of rubber, is used to at least partially cover over and protect an electric motor, and is attached and sealed to an actuator rod capable of both axial as well as rotational movement, which rod is driven by the motor. More particularly the present invention in its preferred embodiment is directed to such a sealing and attachment means for an automotive powered door lock actuator, in which the boot serves to seal off and protect the electric motor located within the boot, which motor drives the door latching mechanism through the axially, linearly moveable and rotatable actuator rod. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Power door lock actuators are becoming a popular accessory for automobiles. Because of the increased demand for this type of accessory, automobile manufacturers have endeavored to make this accessory available on a wide range of models. 
     Such an actuator typically includes an electric motor with an actuator rod for the door latching mechanism, which rod is capable of both axial and rotational movement with respect to the motor. An example of such a door lock actuator is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,306 of Sokoly et al (issued Dec. 26, 1978). 
     In such an exemplary prior art system a rubber boot is used to seal off and environmentally protect the electric motor for the door lock actuator, which upon an appropriate electrical power signal drives the rod axially in a longitudinal direction inwardly or outwardly with respect to the motor, in order to lock and/or unlock the door latching mechanism. The rod is also capable of rotational motion with respect to the motor. 
     Typically the upward end of the boot is affixed to the actuator rod. However, with such a fixed connection, when the rod is rotated even a relatively small degree, the boot becomes distorted due to its fixed connection to the rod, and such distortion can impair the integrity of the sealed area between the upward or distal end of the boot and the actuator rod. 
     This exemplary prior art system is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 hereof. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide boot sealing and attachment means between the boot and the actuator rod which will allow both axial, as well as rotational, movement of the rod without distorting the boot and while maintaining a good water sealing interface between the boot and the rod. 
     To achieve this objective, the present invention provides in its preferred embodiment two, spaced annular grooves in the rod and a special end tip portion on the boot, which includes two inwardly directly, internal beads or projections, which will bear against and ride around on the cylindrical, outer surface of the rod, as the rod rotates, with the two beads being located between the annular grooves. Two circular clips are positioned in the rod grooves, fixedly locating the end tip portion of the boot in the longitudinal or axial direction between the two spaced grooves. A sealing lubricant is also preferably included within the interior or internal area defined between the two beads and the inner surface of the end tip portion of the boot, and the contained outer surface of the rod between the two beads. 
     The clips, when located in the grooves, serve as radially extended, retainer members for trapping and longitudinally affixing the distal boot end to the rod. 
     Such a design allows random rotational positioning of the actuator rod within the rod sealing area of the boot, while maintaining water-tight integrity. The actuator rod end may be rotated to any position and attached to a mechanism without any boot deformation. Additionally a positive, water-tight seal is maintained between the rod and the boot during both the linear and rotational rod movements. 
     This is in contrast to the previous designs, which utilized a direct sealing interface between the actuator rod and the boot, which previous designs caused boot deformation and increased linear actuation efforts, when rotation of the rod was required for, for example, attaching the rod to a mechanism, such as a door latching mechanism. 
     It is noted that a good seal around the shaft or rod is necessary, since the actuator of the preferred embodiment is mounted in the door of an automobile or other vehicle, where water and other foreign matter can enter the motor, causing motor failure. Just placing a boot onto the shaft, without providing an adequate sealing interface, diminishes, if not destroys, the environmental seal capabilities provided by the boot for the motor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial, perspective view of an exemplary automotive door, with part of the door cut away to show the general location of an exemplary door lock motor and boot with its actuator rod attached to the door latching mechanism, all in accordance with general &#34;prior art&#34; principles, which provides the exemplary, preferred application of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the completely assembled electric door lock motor and boot (with part of the boot cut away), illustrating the boot&#39;s sealing attachment to the door lock actuator rod, all in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a detail, close-up, cross-sectional, side view of the upper, distal, circumferentially reduced, end portion of the boot, showing its interior, beaded structure for its sealing and connecting interface with the actuator rod. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed, close-up, side view of the grooved portion of the actuator rod, to which the distal end portion of the boot of FIG. 3 is sealingly attached. 
     FIGS. 5A &amp; 5B are end and side, cross-sectional views, respectively (with the latter being taken along section line 5B-5B of the former), of one of the gaped, ring clip retainers used in association with the grooves on the rod to affix the boot to the rod. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, side view of the motor drive portion of the door lock motor and its driving interface with the proximal end portion of the actuator rod, the details of which are of standard design and do not form a part of the invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring firstly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an automobile door having an outside, sheet metal surface or panel 1, an inside, trim finish surface or panel 2, and a latch surface 3 located approximately perpendicularly to the outside and inside panel surfaces. In FIG. 1 the latch surface 3 is not shown in any detail, in order to more clearly show the exemplary locations of the door lock actuating components, including the exemplary electric motor 4, a sealing boot 5 and a door lock actuator rod 6. 
     A suitable mounting bracket 4A is used to mount the motor 4 onto the door 1/2. As is well known, the boot 5 has an accordion type design, which allows it to flex in and out. 
     A door latch assembly 7 is secured to the inside of the latch surface 3, so that it engages a corresponding latch bar (not shown for simplicity purposes) on the vehicle body to maintain the door in a closed position. The latch assembly 7 is conventional and, accordingly, is not described here in detail. 
     As is known, the latch assembly 7 typically includes a locking mechanism (not shown), which can be actuated by two actuation methods. In the first actuation method, manual means in the form of a conventional door lock button 8 is linked to the latch assembly 7, in such a manner that it allows the latch to be operated in an unlocked position and prevents the latch from being operated in a locked position. The linkage between the door lock button 8 and the latch 7 is conventional and has been omitted from the drawings for sake of clarity. 
     The second means for locking the latch assembly 7 comprises an electrically operated, reversible linear actuator powered by the electric motor 4. The actuator includes the linearly moveable output shaft or rod 6, which is connected to a locking lever 9 situated on the latch assembly 7. When the locking lever 9 is in a first position, the latch assembly 7 is allowed to be operated. However, when the locking lever 9 is placed in a second or locked position, the latch assembly 7 is prevented from being operated. 
     The actuator can be any type of power operated actuator, which is capable of being mechanically moved as well. An actuator with an internal screw drive is the preferred type of actuator, although other types of actuators may be employed. 
     The foregoing is standard practice and a known, established system. 
     IMPROVEMENTS OF INVENTION 
     However, in accordance with the present invention, the preferred, exemplary embodiment of the actuator shaft or rod 10 includes two, longitudinally or axially spaced grooves 13, 14 (note FIGS. 4 &amp; 6), to which the end portion 21 of the boot 20 is to be attached. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the end portion 21 of the boot 20 includes on its interior surface two, longitudinally or axially spaced, rounded beads 22, 23 whose rounded, distal tips will ride around on and bear against the smooth, cylindrical surface 15 of the screw shaft or rod 10, when the rod or shaft is rotated. The two beads 22, 23 define between them an annular area or pocket 24, into which a sealing lubricant is placed and held. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 2, initially a first boot retainer clip 16 is positioned in the inboard rod groove 13, which is the one nearer the motor, and thereafter the end portion 21 of the boot 20 is slid over the distal end of the rod 10 until the bead 22 is positioned against or in juxtaposition to the first ring clip 16. 
     Thereafter, with the distal end portion 21 of the boot located between the annular grooves 13 &amp; 14, which end portion has a longitudinal length less than the separation distance between the two grooves, the second boot retainer clip 17 is positioned in the annular groove 14 of the actuator rod 10, thus serving to effectively attach the end portion 21 of the boot 20 to the rod in a substantially fixed, axial position. When so affixed, the boot beads 22 &amp; 23 with the sealing lubricant provide a water-tight seal between the distal end 21 of the boot 20 and the rod 10. 
     Thus, with the two retainer rings 16 &amp; 17 installed and serving as radially extended retainer members, the reduced circumferential area 21 of the boot 20 is nestled and trapped between the two retainers 16 &amp; 17, with the boot being pulled over the inboard or first retainer 16, so that the first retainer is inside the interior boot chamber, which covers over and protect the motor 4. The outer most, distal end tip of the circumferentially reduced area 21 of the boot 20 rests against the outboard or second retainer 17. 
     This effectively traps the boot 20 on the shaft 10. Furthermore, as previously indicated, the lubricant placed in the area of contact between the boot 20 and shaft 10, not only serves as a lubricant but also enhances the seal between the shaft and the boot. The lubricant in the pocket 24 and the rounded, beaded interface at the beads 22 &amp; 23 allow the shaft 10 to swivel or rotate within the boot interface without distorting the boot 20, thereby preventing any impairment of the integrity of the sealed area which occurred in the prior art designs, while still maintaining a good water-tight seal. 
     The lubricant, which should have a non-liquid, grease-like consistency, can be applied to the interior of the boot end 21 or it can be applied to the exterior surface of the rod 10, before the boot end is slid over the rod, particularly in the area 16, or both application techniques can be used. After the boot end 21 has been secured over the area 15, the pocket 24 will hold and maintain the non-liquid lubricant in place for long-term lubricating, sealing use. An exemplary lubricant is Dow Corning No. 33. 
     The retainer clips 16 &amp; 17 have an inner diameter closing matching the diameters of the grooves 13 &amp; 14 and an outer diameter significantly greater than the outer diameter of the rod 10, thus having sufficient radial extent to effectively prevent the distal end portion 21 of the boot 20 from slipping over or past them. To assist in their emplacement in the grooves 13 &amp; 14, the retainer clips 16 &amp; 17 can be made of a strong but somewhat flexible material, such as &#34;Nylon&#34;, in the form of an almost closed ring, extending around, for example, about three hundred and thirty (330°) degrees of a circle. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 5A, a gap 18 is formed in the nearly closed, somewhat flexible ring and includes diverging walls 19 having a greater spacing between them at the outer diameter (&#34;O.D.&#34;) of the ring than at the inner diameter (forming a &#34;MIN. GAP&#34;) of the ring, allowing the ring clip 16/17 to be affixed to its respective groove 13/14 by forcing the groove radially through the gap. This allows them to be laterally or radially pushed on and clipped about the grooves 13 &amp; 14. 
     The shaft 10 is free to move axially (and coincidentally rotationally), as it is driven back and forth by the rotating motor armature&#39;s interconnection with the shaft or rod 10 via three balls 32 that connects the armature 30 to the rod, as can be seen in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the shaft 10 extends back into a hollow or tubular section 31 of the armature 30. 
     The three balls 32, one of which can be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, are equally positioned around the shaft 10 and held in position by holes 33 in the tubular section 31 of the armature 30, a cup shaped retainer 34, and the threaded area 12 of the shaft or rod 10 itself. 
     These details of the motor/rod 4/10 driving interconnection are standard and are not part of the present invention, but are provided for general background information. 
     The shaft 10 also is free to move rotationally to assure alignment with the lock mechanisms to which it is attached to actuate the door lock when the power lock motor is energized. 
     With respect to the assembly of the elements of the invention, it is preferred to provide the inboard retainer member 16 first on the rod 10, with the distal end portion 21 of the boot then slid onto the rod, and the second retainer member then applied. This is particularly so for the powered door lock assembly illustrated, which has the rod already attached to the motor 4 before the boot 20 is attached. However, it is possible to redesign the elements, so that the outboard retainer 17 is applied first, with the boot end 21 then slipped over onto the rod at its motor end, and the inboard retainer 16 then applied. 
     Additionally, although the groove/ring clip combinations 13/16 &amp; 14/17 provide a reliable, economical, easily assembled attachment system, it is possible to provide the axially extended retainer members in other forms. For example, particularly for the first applied retainer, the retainer member could be provided in the form of an integral, increased diameter portion of the rod during the lathing of the rod, or, for further example, radial projection(s) could be welded or otherwise affixed to the exterior surface of the rod. 
     The foregoing are only exemplary variations or modification, and many others are, of course, feasible. 
     Thus, although this invention has been shown and described with respect to a detailed, exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form, detail, methodology and/or approach may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.