Patent Application
20120153683
The present disclosure relates to handles, and more specifically, to a grab handle provided in a vehicle roof structure.
In general assist grip or grab handles are provided in vehicles to provide assistance to driver or passenger while entering or exiting the vehicles. For example, such grab handles are provided in the passenger compartment or climbing ladder to assist the driver. Specifically, in heavy vehicles, such as loader and off highway trucks, the grab handles are separately mounted in a vehicle such that they are used by driver while entering or exiting the vehicle. Typically, the grab handles are welded to a side pillar, a roof bracket or a rail. The grab handle may be mounted, welded or attached through a permanent or a temporary fastener.
Installation of such, grab handles require an additional assembly step. Further, such handles require welding with the body pillars of the vehicle. This requires additional cost and effort during the manufacturing/assembling process.
The disclosed roof structure is directed to overcome one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a vehicle roof structure. The vehicle roof structure may include a roof structure frame and a top panel. The top panel extends from the edges of the roof structure frame to form a roof cap. A grab handle formed in the roof cap.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a grab handle in the vehicle roof structure. The method may include providing a roof panel that is extended to form an overhung portion. The overhung portion extends along the periphery of the roof panel. The method may further include forming a cavity in the overhung portion, thereby forming the grab handle in the overhung portion. In yet another aspect, the cavity is punched in the overhung portion. An ejected material from the cavity is molded to form the grab handle.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages, all in accordance with the present disclosure.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated, relative to other elements, to help in improving an understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
Before describing the embodiments in detail in accordance with the present disclosure, it should be observed that these embodiments reside primarily in a grab handle in a roof of a vehicle and method for manufacturing it. Accordingly, the method steps and the system components have been represented to show only those specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and not the details that will be apparent to those with an ordinary skill in the art.
In this document, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus that comprises the element. The term “another,” as used in this document, is defined as at least a second or more. The term “includes”, as used herein, is defined as comprising.
In one embodiment, a vehicle comprising a roof panel having an extended surface forming a roof cap, the roof cap having at least one hole to form at least one grab handle is provided.
In another embodiment, a vehicle roof structure is provided. The vehicle roof structure includes a roof structure frame and a top panel. The top panel is extended from the edges of the roof structure frame to form a roof cap. A grab handle is formed in the roof cap.
In yet another embodiment, a method for forming a grab handle is provided. The method includes providing a roof panel which is extended from the edges to form an overhung portion. The overhung portion extends along the periphery of the roof panel. Further the method includes forming a cavity in the overhung portion. The cavity is punched in the overhung portion. Further, an ejected material from the cavity is molded to form the grab handle.
The vehicle 100 includes a driver cabin 102 and a vehicle roof structure 104. The vehicle roof structure 104 includes a roof structure frame 106 and a top panel 108. The driver cabin 102 includes various controls and seating position for the driver of the vehicle 100.
The vehicle roof structure 104 forms the roof of the driver cab 102. The vehicle roof structure 104 includes the roof structure frame 106, and the top panel 108. The roof structure frame 106 is a skeleton structure for mounting the top panel 108. In other words, the roof structure frame 106 forms the pillars and base for mounting the top panel 108. It is understood that the term top panel and roof panel are same and can be used interchangeably.
In one embodiment the top panel 108 is integrated with the pillars to form a vehicle roof structure 104 covering the driver cab 102. The top panel 108 of the roof structure 104 is extended from the edges of the roof structure frame 106 to form a roof cap 110. In other words, the extended surface is an overhung portion forming the roof cap 110. The roof cap 110 can be formed around the periphery of the top panel 108. As represented in
For operating the vehicle, the driver may need climb to reach to the driver cabin 102. Typically the driver grabs a handle to climb up the driver cabin 102. The disclosed vehicle roof structure illustrates the grab handles formed in the roof cap 110. In general, a portion defining at least one hole is formed in the roof cap. The at least one hole in the roof cap 110 forms a grab handle. The grab handle is further described in reference with
In an alternate embodiment, the roof cap 204 and the grab handles 206 can be molded with the casting of the roof panel 202. In other words, the roof panel 202 has the overhung portion with holes 206 forming the grab handles 206 in an integral casting.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure offer one or more advantages. The present disclosure provides for a grab handle in the vehicle roof structure. It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will be readily capable of generating such products with minimal experimentation.
In the foregoing specification, the disclosure and its benefits and advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of this application, and all equivalents of those claims, as issued.
