Assist grip

• US 20020113465A1
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Ohtsuka, Ryuji, Inari, Takahiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,692,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/023 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/10 for supporting hats, clothes or clothes hangers

Abstract

A grip main portion of an assist grip is attached to a car body through an attaching device. A hook member is housed in a housing of the attaching device to be located outside the housing. An end surface of the hook member is aligned with an outer surface of the attaching device in a state wherein the hook member is housed in the housing. The housing and the hook member are provided with a cam mechanism. Through the cam mechanism, the hook member can be moved between a using position and a non-using position. Thus, the assist grip having a good appearance and operability can be obtained.

Claims

1. An assist grip comprising:

an attaching device to be attached to a car body for supporting a grip main portion to be gripped by a passenger,

a hanging member attached to the attaching device to be movable between a using position projected from the attaching device and a non-using position retreated from the using position with respect to the attaching device for allowing a member to be hung at the using position; and

a fixing device situated between the attaching device and the hanging member for releasably fixing the hanging member to the attaching device at the non-using position.

2. An assist grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hanging member slides with respect to the attaching device so that said hanging member is moved between the using position and the non-using position.

3. An assist grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hanging member rotates with respect to the attaching device so that said hanging member is moved between the using position and the non-using position.

4. An assist grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing device allows said hanging member to be fixed to the attaching device or allows said hanging member to be released therefrom through movement of the hanging member toward the non-using position.

5. An assist grip as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing movably receiving the hanging member therein and formed integrated with said attaching device.

6. An assist grip as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a spring attached to the hanging member for urging the hanging member to the using position.

7. An assist grip as claimed in claim 6, wherein said housing includes at least one slit, and said hanging member includes a guiding member formed at one side thereof and engaging the slit so that the guiding member in the slit limits the movement of the hanging member between the using position and the non-using position.

8. An assist grip as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one slit includes a horizontal portion and a front end inclined upwardly from the horizontal portion to incline the hanging member at the using position.

9. An assist grip as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one slit includes a sliding portion disposed in an axial direction of the housing, a rotating portion connected to the sliding portion at a rear end thereof and provided along a periphery of the housing, and an engaging portion connected to the rotating portion and disposed in a same direction as that of the sliding portion.

10. An assist grip as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hanging member includes shafts, and said housing includes holes rotatably receiving the shafts of the hanging member so that the hanging member rotates between the using position and the non-using positing.

11. An assist grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing device is a cam, a cam pin engaging the cam, and a spring for urging the cam pin toward the cam.