Vehicle handle assembly

• US 20030031025A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huizenga, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,854,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/501
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• 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 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5898 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

A handle assembly for a vehicle includes a base, which is adapted to mount to a vehicle, and a handle portion, which is movably mounted to the base. The handle portion is adapted to connect to a vehicle latching mechanism. The handle assembly includes at least one switch mounted to the handle portion and an electrical circuit, which is adapted to connect to a locking control system for the vehicle latching mechanism. The switch is adapted to open and close the electrical circuit to generate electrical signals to the locking control system to unlock the vehicle latching mechanism.

Claims

1. A handle assembly for a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:

a base adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a handle portion movably mounted to said base, said handle portion being adapted to connect to a vehicle latching mechanism;

at least one switch mounted to said handle portion; and

an electrical circuit adapted to connect to a locking control system for the vehicle latching mechanism, said switch being adapted to open and close said electrical circuit to generate electrical signals to the locking control system to unlock the vehicle latching mechanism.

2. The handle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible carrier, said flexible carrier supporting said switch.

3. The handle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said carrier supports a plurality of said switches.

4. The handle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said carrier further supports at least one light source for illuminating a portion of said base.

5. The handle assembly according to claim 4, wherein said light source lights said portion through said handle portion.

6. The handle assembly according to claim 5, wherein said handle portion includes at least one transverse passage extending therethrough, said light source projecting light through said transverse passage on said portion of said base.

7. The handle assembly according to claim 6, wherein said handle portion includes a light directing member in said transverse passage for directing the light from said light source to said portion of said base.

8. The handle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said light directing member comprises a light pipe.

9. The handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein said light pipe comprises an acrylic light pipe.

10. The handle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a user actuatable member, said switch located at said user actuatable member.

11. The handle assembly according to claim 10, further comprising at least one light source operable to illuminate said user actuatable member.

12. The handle assembly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

13. The handle assembly according to claim 11, wherein said light source is actuatable in response to at least one of a touch of said handle portion, a movement of said handle portion, actuation of a remote key-less entry device, a detection of motion at the vehicle, and an insertion of a key into a handle assembly keyhole.

14. The handle assembly according to claim 10, wherein said user actuatable member comprises a touch key.

15. The handle assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of said switches and a key pad having a plurality of touch keys, each of said switches being adapted to close a circuit to generate an electrical signal to the locking control system, and each of said touch keys being associated with one of said switches.

16. The handle assembly according to claim 15, wherein said keypad has at least one light source for illuminating said touch keys.

17. A handle assembly for a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:

a base adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a handle portion movably mounted to said base, said handle portion being operable to latch or unlatch a vehicle latching mechanism via movement of said handle portion relative to said base;

a flexible carrier having at least one electrical switch and a user actuatable member associated with said switch, said flexible carrier mounted to said handle assembly; and

a flexible tape coupled to said carrier, said flexible tape having an electrical path, said switch adapted to selectively open and close said electrical path for generating electrical signals to a locking control system for locking or unlocking the vehicle latching mechanism.

18. The handle assembly of claim 17, wherein said flexible carrier member is mounted to said handle portion.

19. The handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said flexible carrier member is mounted to said handle portion by an adhesive.

20. The handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said handle portion includes a recessed portion, said carrier member positioned in said recessed portion.

21. The handle assembly of claim 20, wherein said carrier member is substantially flush with an outer surface of said handle portion when positioned in said recessed portion and mounted to said handle portion.

24. The handle assembly according to claim 17, further comprising at least one light source operable to illuminate said user actuatable member.

25. The handle assembly according to claim 24, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

26. The handle assembly according to claim 24, wherein said light source is actuatable in response to at least one of a touch of said handle portion, a movement of said handle portion, actuation of a remote key-less entry device, a detection of motion at the vehicle, and an insertion of a key into a handle assembly keyhole.

27. The handle assembly of claim 24, further comprising another light source operable to illuminate a portion of said base.

28. The handle assembly of claim 27, wherein said flexible carrier member includes said other light source.

29. The handle assembly of claim 28, wherein said other light source is actuatable in response to at least one of a touch of said handle portion, a movement of said handle portion, actuation of a remote key-less entry device, a detection of motion at the vehicle, and an insertion of a key into a handle assembly keyhole.

30. The handle assembly of claim 28, wherein said other light source directs light through said handle portion to illuminate at least a portion of said base.

31. The handle assembly of claim 28, wherein said handle portion includes a transverse opening, said other light source directing light through said transverse opening.

32. The handle assembly of claim 17, wherein said base includes a recess defining a finger cup area.

33. The handle assembly of claim 17, wherein said base includes a recess defining a finger cup area.

34. The handle assembly of claim 33, wherein said carrier member includes at least one light source operable to illuminate at least a portion of said recess.

35. The handle assembly of claim 17, wherein said handle portion comprises a strap handle.

36. The handle assembly of claim 17, wherein said flexible carrier is mounted to said base.

37. The handle assembly of claim 17, wherein said user actuatable member comprises a button.

38. The handle assembly of claim 36, wherein said flexible carrier includes a plurality of user actuatable members and a plurality of said switches, each said switches being adapted to selectively open and close an electrical path to generate electrical signals to the locking control system, said user actuatable members being associated with said switches.

22. The handle assembly of claim 22, said handle portion having a cover over at least an exposed portion of said flexible tape to protect said flexible tape.

39. A handle assembly of a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:

a base adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a handle portion movably mounted to said base, said handle portion being operable to latch or unlatch a vehicle latching mechanism via movement of said handle portion relative to said base; and

a light source mounted at said handle portion to illuminate a portion of said base.

40. The handle assembly of claim 39, wherein said light source is operable to direct light through said handle portion to said base.

41. The handle assembly of claim 40, wherein said base includes a recessed portion defining a finger cup area, said light source being operable to illuminate at recessed portion.

42. The handle assembly of claim 40, further comprising a flexible carrier member, said carrier member including said light source.

43. The handle assembly of claim 42, wherein said handle portion includes a recessed portion, said carrier member being positioned in said recessed portion.

44. The handle assembly of claim 43, wherein said handle portion includes a transverse opening, said other light source directing light through said transverse opening to illustrate said base.

45. The handle assembly of claim 44, wherein said handle portion comprises a strap handle.

46. A handle assembly for a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:

a fixed portion adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a movable portion movably mounted to said fixed portion, said movable portion being adapted to connect to a vehicle latching mechanism;

at least one switch mounted to said movable portion; and

an electrical circuit adapted to connect to a locking control system for the vehicle latching mechanism, said switch being adapted to open and close said electrical circuit to generate electrical signals to the locking control system to unlock the vehicle latching mechanism.

47. The handle assembly according to claim 46, further comprising a flexible carrier, said flexible carrier supporting said switch.

54. The handle assembly according to claim 47, further comprising a user actuatable member, said switch located at said user actuatable member.

55. The handle assembly according to claim 54, further comprising at least one light source operable to illuminate said user actuatable member.

56. The handle assembly according to claim 55, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

57. The handle assembly according to claim 56, wherein said light source is actuatable in response to at least one of a touch of said movable portion, a movement of said movable portion, actuation of a remote key-less entry device, a detection of motion at the vehicle, and an insertion of a key into a handle assembly keyhole.

48. The handle assembly according to claim 48, wherein said carrier supports a plurality of said switches.

49. The handle assembly according to claim 48, wherein said carrier further supports at least one light source for illuminating a portion of said fixed portion.

50. The handle assembly according to claim 49, wherein said light source lights said portion of said fixed portion through said movable portion.

51. The handle assembly according to claim 50, wherein said movable portion includes at least one transverse passage extending therethrough, said light source projecting light through said transverse passage on said fixed portion.

52. The handle assembly according to claim 51, wherein said movable portion includes a light directing member in said transverse passage for directing the light from said light source to said portion of said fixed portion.

53. The handle assembly according to claim 52, wherein said light directing member comprises a light pipe.