Vehicle having a luminous unlocking handle and method of making said handle

• US 20020047279A1
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Moczygemba, Juergen, Polic, Marco, Loeffler, Eberhard, Byrla, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/336.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/106 fluorescent
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/26 Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/82 Knobs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/85 Knob-attaching devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/865 Sliding

Abstract

A vehicle, particularly a passenger car, has an unlocking handle arranged in the vehicle interior for the opening operation of a lock of a closing element, such as a door, a flap, a hood, a lid, or the like, this unlocking handle having a luminous construction. In order to improve the finding of the unlocking handle in the dark, the unlocking handle has a basic body coupled with the lock and a luminous body mounted thereon made of a luminous material.

Claims

1. A passenger car, having an unlocking handle arranged in a vehicle interior for opening operation of a lock of a closing element of a vehicle interior space, said unlocking handle having a luminous construction,

wherein the unlocking handle has a basic body coupled with the lock and a luminous body which is mounted thereon and is made of a luminous material.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the luminous body is fitted onto the basic body by a dovetail guide.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the luminous body is secured on the basic body by means of a detent connection.

4. Vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the luminous body is secured on the basic body by means of a detent connection.

5. Vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the luminous body consists of a luminescent crystal mixture which is mixed with a transparent plastic material and/or is embedded therein.

6. Vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the luminous body consists of a luminescent crystal mixture which is mixed with a transparent plastic material and/or is embedded therein.

7. Vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein the luminous body consists of a luminescent crystal mixture which is mixed with a transparent plastic material and/or is embedded therein.

8. Vehicle according to claim 4,

wherein the luminous body consists of a luminescent crystal mixture which is mixed with a transparent plastic material and/or is embedded therein.

9. Vehicle according to one of claims 1,

wherein illuminating devices are provided which permit an illumination of the luminous body, a control of the vehicle switching on these illuminating devices together with an interior illumination and/or a control panel illumination.

10. Vehicle according to one of claims 2,

wherein illuminating devices are provided which permit an illumination of the luminous body, a control of the vehicle switching on these illuminating devices together with an interior illumination and/or a control panel illumination.

11. Vehicle according to one of claims 3,

wherein illuminating devices are provided which permit an illumination of the luminous body, a control of the vehicle switching on these illuminating devices together with an interior illumination and/or a control panel illumination.

12. Vehicle according to one of claims 5,

wherein illuminating devices are provided which permit an illumination of the luminous body, a control of the vehicle switching on these illuminating devices together with an interior illumination and/or a control panel illumination.

13. Vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the unlocking handle is arranged in the trunk of the vehicle and is used for unlocking a lock of a rear trunk lid.

14. Vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the unlocking handle is arranged in the trunk of the vehicle and is used for unlocking a lock of a rear trunk lid.

15. Vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein the unlocking handle is arranged in the trunk of the vehicle and is used for unlocking a lock of a rear trunk lid.

16. Vehicle according to claim 5,

wherein the unlocking handle is arranged in the trunk of the vehicle and is used for unlocking a lock of a rear trunk lid.

17. Vehicle according to claim 9,

wherein the unlocking handle is arranged in the trunk of the vehicle and is used for unlocking a lock of a rear trunk lid.

18. Unlocking handle for a vehicle according to claim 1.

20. An unlocking handle according to claim 19,

wherein the luminous body is fitted onto the basic body by a dovetail guide.

21. An unlocking handle according to claim 19,

wherein the luminous body is secured on the basic body by means of a detent connection.

22. An unlocking handle according to claim 19,

wherein the luminous body consists of a luminescent crystal mixture which is mixed with a transparent plastic material and/or is embedded therein.

23. An unlocking handle according to claim 20,

wherein the luminous body is secured on the basic body by means of a detent connection.

24. An unlocking handle according to claim 23,

wherein the luminous body consists of a luminescent crystal mixture which is mixed with a transparent plastic material and/or is embedded therein.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said connecting includes gluing said luminous body to said basic body.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein said connecting includes providing a dove-tail protrusion and dove-tail recess on the respective basic body and luminous body and slidably enterengaging said protrusion and recess.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein said interior space cover is a passenger vehicle trunk lid, said handle being disposable inside a trunk space covered by the trunk lid.

19. An unlocking handle operable in use to facilitate manual unlocking of a vehicle interior space cover, comprising:

a basic body formed of non-luminous material, which basic body in use is coupled with a lock for the cover, and

a luminous body made of luminous material and mounted on the basic body.

25. A method of making an unlocking handle operable in use to facilitate a manual unlocking of a vehicle interior space cover, said method comprising:

forming a basic handle body of non-luminous material and having structural strength for facilitating transfer of manual forces moving said basic body to unlock the space cover, and

connecting a luminous body made of luminous material to the basic body.

29. A passenger vehicle interior trunk lock handle made by the process of claim 25.