Patent Grant
11746575
The present invention relates to handles for vehicles and, more particularly, to an exterior handle for opening a side door and/or liftgate of a vehicle or interior handle for opening a side door and/or liftgate of a vehicle.
A door handle for a vehicle door typically includes a handle portion that is pivotable relative to a base portion, whereby pivotal movement of the handle portion actuates a latch mechanism to open the door. Typically, a door handle is a pull strap handle with a strap handle portion that protrudes outwardly from the side of the vehicle for grasping by the person opening the door of the vehicle. The door handle portions of such door handle assemblies typically protrude outwardly from the vehicle door when in their unpulled state and have a space or recess behind the handle portion for receiving a user's fingers for grasping the handle portion.
An extendable flush door handle assembly for opening a door of a vehicle (such as a side door or rear door or liftgate of a vehicle) includes a handle portion that is disposed at a base portion attached at the door such that, when not in use to open the vehicle door, the handle portion is recessed at the door, with the outer surface of the handle portion being generally flush with or generally coplanar with (or only slightly protruding from or only slightly recessed in) the outer surface of the door panel at the door handle region of the door. An actuator of the door handle assembly is operable to extend or move the handle portion outward from the base portion and the door panel when a user is to use the handle to open the vehicle door, such as in response to a signal from a key fob or a passive entry system or the like. When so extended or moved to a deployed position, the handle may be readily grasped by the user and actuated or pulled or moved further outward to open the vehicle door. The actuator includes a motor that pivots a crank that is pivotally mounted at the base portion of the door handle assembly, whereby pivotal movement of the crank deploys or extends the handle portion. After the user releases the handle, the handle may return to its non-use or partially recessed position where its outer surface is generally flush or coplanar with (or only slightly protruding from or slightly recessed in) the outer surface of the door panel.
The door handle assembly includes a manual override feature, where a user can manually cause the door handle portion to protrude at least partially from the base portion and door panel. The door handle assembly includes a crank locking feature that locks the crank of the door handle when the handle portion is being manually extended to avoid a crashing or impact condition where the handle portion may impact the door panel or base portion when the handle portion is grasped and extended from the manually extended or deployed position.
Thus, the door handle assembly, when not in use, is in a recessed position, where an outer surface of the door handle portion is generally flush with the outer or exterior surface of the exterior panel of the vehicle door. The door handle portion cooperates with the door panel of the vehicle door to provide a generally flush, closed or uniform appearance of the door handle at the door when the door handle is not in use, with the door handle being movable or pivotable outward to a deployed position to facilitate grasping of the handle portion by a user when it is desired to open the vehicle door. The crank lock feature for manual deployment of the handle avoids crashing or impact conditions and may decrease the manual override efforts required to manually pivot the handle from the flush or retracted state to the manually deployed state.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle handle assembly or module or unit or extendable flush door handle assembly 10 is mountable to a door 12a of a vehicle 12 and operable to release a latch mechanism of the vehicle door 12a to open the vehicle door (
The handle assembly 10 may comprise any suitable type of handle assembly, and may include or incorporate aspects of the door handle assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,977,619; 7,407,203; 8,333,492; 8,786,401 and/or 9,871,288, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2020-0102773; US-2014-0292004 and/or US-2010-0088855, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, aspects of the handle assembly 10 may be suitable for use with a liftgate handle assembly for a liftgate or tailgate of a vehicle.
As shown in
The handle portion 16 includes a grasping portion 22 disposed between a base end 24 and a swing end 26 of the handle and incudes a base mounting portion 25 at the base end and a swing end mounting portion 27 at the swing end. The swing end mounting portion 27 of the handle portion 16 is pivotally mounted at a follower or connecting link 28, and the base end mounting portion 25 of the handle portion 16 is pivotally mounted at a crank 30, with the follower or connecting link 28 pivotally attached to the bellcrank 18 and the crank 30 pivotally attached at the bracket 14. The actuator 20 operates to pivot the crank 30 to extend the door handle 16 to its extended position. The concerted movement of the crank 30 and the connecting link 28 moves the handle portion 16 in and out relative to base portion 14, with the handle portion 16 remaining generally parallel to the base portion and to the surface of the door region of the vehicle door when the handle portion is moved between the recessed position and the deployed position via operation of the actuator.
The crank 30 is pivotally attached at the bracket 14 and pivotally attached at the base end mounting portion 25 of the handle 16 so that, when the actuator is operated to move the handle portion between the recessed and deployed positions, the crank 30 is pivoted relative to the bracket to swing or push the handle portion outward from the base portion 14. The handle portion 16 pivots relative to the crank 30 as the actuator operates to move the handle portion outward from the base portion to maintain a generally parallel relationship between the handle portion and the surface of the door panel. Thus, the crank 30 is pivotable about a first pivot pin or axis 31 relative to the base portion 14 and the handle portion 16 is pivotable about a second pivot pin or axis 33 relative to the crank 30. The second pivot pin 33 connects the crank 30 and the handle portion 16 at the base mounting portion 25 at a position between an end of the base end 24 and the grasping portion 22.
Additionally, the door handle assembly provides a manual override feature, which allows a user to open the vehicle door when the door handle is not extended via the actuator. For example, a user may press inward at a portion of the base end 24 of the door handle (where the hand is pointing in
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The handle portion 16 also includes a handle cap 38 that attaches at the exterior of a handle core portion 40 and covers the outer sides of the base mounting portion and the swing mounting portion and covers the exterior surface or side of the handle portion (that faces outward at the door panel). The handle cap may snap or otherwise attach to the handle core, such as by sliding the handle cap into place so that the tabs are received at the core portion to retain the handle cap at the handle core. As can be seen with reference to
Therefore, the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly is movable relative to the base portion between a recessed position, where the handle portion is recessed at the base portion so as to be not graspable by a user (and with an outer surface of the grasping portion of the handle portion being generally flush or co-planar with an outer surface of the door handle region at and around the handle portion), and a deployed position, where the handle portion protrudes outward from the base portion to be graspable by the user. The crank 30 pivotally connects the base end mounting portion 25 of the handle portion 16 to the base portion 14. The bellcrank 18 is pivotally mounted at the base portion and is coupled with a door latch of the door of the vehicle. The bellcrank connecting link 28 pivotally connects the swing end connecting portion 27 of the handle portion to the bellcrank 18.
The actuator 20 includes a motor that is electrically operable in response to an input signal. Responsive to the input signal, the motor operates and the actuator engages a portion of the crank to impart pivotal movement of the crank to cause the crank to pivot relative to the base portion and move the handle portion from the recessed position toward the deployed position. As the crank pivots to move the base end of the handle portion, the bellcrank link 28 pivots relative to bellcrank and the base portion to move the swing end of the handle portion relative to the base portion 14. When the handle portion is at the deployed position, the swing end of the handle portion is manually movable further outward from the base portion to move the bellcrank link outward from the base portion to impart pivotal movement of the bellcrank relative to the base portion to open the door of the vehicle.
The door handle assembly thus provides a parallel door handle deployment, which is electrically actuated from a flush position or state to a deployed position or state. The door handle is spring-biased to return to its flush state after deployment (and after the actuator cam is rotated back to its initial position). The linkage mechanism, with the follower attached directly to the counter weight/bellcrank, causes the follower and the bellcrank to both move when the handle is pulled to activate the latch or e-latch switch.
The mechanism also allows the user to push on one side of the handle and manually deploy the handle. This will allow the user to unlatch the latch manually without using the actuator. When the handle is manually pivoted in such a manner, the crank locking mechanism is engaged to limit or preclude pivotal movement of the crank when the handle portion is pulled by the user to open the vehicle door. The crank locking mechanism thus controls the pivoting of the handle portion and limits or precludes pivoting of the crank when the handle is pulled to open the vehicle door, and thus limits or eliminates the crashing or impact condition and decreases the manual override efforts in pulling the handle to open the vehicle door.
By providing a flush or generally flush or recessed handle, the door handle assembly reduces air drag and enhances the aerodynamic performance of the equipped vehicle with a potential for enhanced fuel economy for the vehicle. When normally mounted to a vehicle door and not in use, the door handle assembly provides a generally flush mounted door handle that does not protrude from the side of the vehicle and/or does not have a pocket or recess thereat to facilitate grasping of the door handle by a person using the door handle to open the vehicle door. The actuator of the door handle assembly may cause the handle portion to extend from the vehicle when it is desired or appropriate for the user to grasp the door handle to open the vehicle door. The extension of the handle from its recessed position to its partially extended or graspable position may be responsive to any suitable trigger or signal or the like. For example, the handle may extend to its graspable position responsive to a touch or proximity of a person's hand at the door handle or at the door or the like (such as via responsive to a touch or proximity sensor disposed at the vehicle door at or near the door handle). Optionally, the movement of the handle to its partially extended graspable position may be responsive to a signal received from a remote transmitting device, such as a key fob or identifying device or the like (and the signal may comprise a radio frequency signal or infrared signal or any suitable signaling means), or may be responsive to a detection of a proximity of a device that the user may carry (which is automatically detected when it is in a detectable distance from the vehicle and does not require that the user actuate a door unlock button or the like), or may be responsive to a human action at the door (such as a touch and/or proximity of a person or person's hand at the door or door handle), or may be responsive to other passive entry type systems and/or devices. Although shown and described as being movable by an electrically operable motor and actuator, the movement of the handle from its recessed position to its graspable position may be via any suitable means, such as an electric motor or a memory wire or muscle wire or the like.
Optionally, the movement of the door handle to its partially extended or graspable position may be done in conjunction with other functions, such as activation of one or more vehicle exterior lights (such as ground illumination lights or headlights or turn signal lights or the like) or such as activation of one or more vehicle interior lights or such as actuation of the vehicle horn or other signal to alert the user that the door handle is moved to its graspable position. Control circuitry or logic to provide the dual or multiple functions can piggyback on one common control system.
Optionally, the control circuitry or logic to control or extend the handle portion may include a lockout function so that the control will not and cannot extend the handle when it is not appropriate to open the door of the vehicle. For example, the lockout function may limit or preclude extension of the door handle when the vehicle is in a forward or reverse gear or when the vehicle ignition is on or following a period of time (such as about twenty seconds or more or less) after the vehicle ignition is turned on or when the vehicle is moving at or above a threshold speed (such as, for example, at or above about three mph or about five mph or other selected threshold vehicle speed) or the like. When one or more of these conditions (and optionally one or more other conditions depending on the particular application) is detected, the control limits or precludes extension of the handle to its graspable position irrespective of receipt of other inputs, such as a door unlock button actuation or a passive entry system signal or the like.
Optionally, the door handle assembly and/or the vehicle door may include a control or control module for operating and controlling the actuator (and/or other devices or functions of the door or vehicle). For example, the door or door handle assembly may include a control module that utilizes aspects of the control modules disclosed in U.S. Pat. Publication No. US-2010-0007463, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although shown as a strap type handle, the handle assembly may comprise any suitable type of vehicle door handle assembly, such as a paddle type vehicle door handle assembly (having a paddle or handle portion that is pivotable about a generally horizontal pivot axis to open the vehicle door) and/or such as a handle assembly of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,450, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) or other type of vehicle door handle assembly. Optionally, the door handle assembly may include a soft touch handle portion, such as utilizing the principles described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,450, incorporated above.
Optionally, the door handle assembly may include an antenna or the like, such as for sensing or transmitting signals, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,977,619, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, the handle assembly may include an antenna or sensor (such as an antenna and/or capacitive sensor) at the handle portion and/or may include a passive entry device or element. The antenna or sensor and/or passive entry device may receive a signal from a transmitting device (such as from a key fob or the like carried by the driver of the vehicle) and/or may sense or detect the presence of or proximity of a person or person's hand at or near the door handle, and may generate an output signal indicative of such detection. The actuator may be responsive to the antenna and/or sensor and/or device to impart an outward movement of the door handle portion so that the user can grasp the handle portion to open the door of the vehicle.
Although shown and described as being a generally horizontally oriented handle portion that pivots about a generally vertical pivot axis, it is envisioned that the handle of the extendable flush door handle assembly may be oriented in any manner. For example, the handle may be oriented so that it is either vertical, horizontal, or diagonal with respect to the ground. Also, although shown and described as an exterior door handle for opening a side door or rear door or lift gate of a vehicle from exterior the vehicle, it is envisioned that the extendable flush door handle assembly may be suitable for use as an interior handle for opening a side door or rear door or liftgate of a vehicle from inside the vehicle.
Optionally, the door handle assembly or module may incorporate other features or accessories, such as, for example, a blind spot indicator device or element and/or a turn signal indicator device or element, such as by utilizing aspects of the devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,569,697; 8,801,245 and/or 8,333,492, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0007463, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Optionally, the door handle assembly or module may include or may be associated with an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device. For example, the antenna (such as, for example, an antenna of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,977,619, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) may communicate a signal to the door locking system via a wire connection or the like, or wirelessly, such as via a radio frequency signal or via an infrared signal or via other wireless signaling means. Such connections can include cables, wires, fiber optic cables or the like. The communication to the locking system may be via a vehicle bus or multiplex system, such as a LIN (Local Interconnect Network) or CAN (Car or Controlled Area Network) system. The vehicle door may then be unlocked and/or the illumination source or sources may be activated as a person carrying a remote signaling device approaches the door handle. Optionally, other systems may be activated in response to the remote signaling device, such as vehicle lighting systems, such as interior lights, security lights or the like, or the vehicle ignition, or any other desired system.
Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.
The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/705,798, filed Jul. 16, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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