EXTENDABLE FLUSH DOOR HANDLE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110148575A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sobecki, Justin E., Foote, Keith D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,786,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0053 Handles or handle attachments facilitating operation, e.g. by children or burdened persons foot-operation E05B53/001
• 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 5/006 essentially defining a completely closed surface together with the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/01 Comfort closing, i.e. the locking action for a wing is combined with actuation of other vehicle functions, e.g. locking the doors and closing the windows simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/62 for opening or closing of a circuit depending on electrical parameters, e.g. increase of motor current
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/18 for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/103 creating a completely closed wing surface
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/107 Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5394 Directly acting dog for exterior, manual, bolt manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5496 Freely movable external manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5805 Freely movable when locked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 : Central control

Abstract

An extendable flush door handle assembly for a door or liftgate of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movably attached to the base portion. The handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where the handle portion is at least partially received in the base portion, and a partially extended position, where the handle portion extends partially outward from the base portion and is graspable by a user. The handle portion is moved from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a trigger, such as a signal from a key fob or a passive entry system or a vehicle door unlock button or the like. The handle portion, when in its recessed position, is at least partially received in the base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user until the handle portion is moved toward its partially extended position.

Claims

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

a base portion mounted at or incorporated into a structure of the door of the vehicle;

a handle portion movable relative to said base portion, wherein said handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where said handle portion is at least partially recessed at said base portion, and a partially extended position, where said handle portion extends partially outward from said base portion to be graspable by a user; and

wherein said handle portion moves from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to a trigger.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle assembly is mounted at a structure of one of (a) a side door of the vehicle, (b) a rear door of the vehicle and (c) a liftgate of the vehicle.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said trigger comprises at least one of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of a user actuating a door unlock button of the vehicle.

4. The handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising an actuator that is operable to move said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to said trigger.

5. The handle assembly of claim 4, wherein said actuator comprises an electrically operable actuator.

6. The handle assembly of claim 4, wherein said handle portion is pivotally mounted to said base portion and said actuator is operable to pivot said handle potion from said recessed position to said partially extended position.

7. The handle assembly of claim 6, wherein said actuator engages a guide element of said handle portion to move said guide element in a generally arcuate path to impart pivotal movement of said handle portion about a pivot pin that pivotally mounts said handle portion to said base portion.

8. The handle assembly of claim 4, wherein said actuator is responsive to a passive entry system of the vehicle, and wherein said trigger comprises a signal of said passive entry system.

9. The handle assembly of claim 4, wherein said actuator is operable in response to current sensing circuitry to stop movement of said handle portion when said handle portion reaches its travel limits at least one of its recessed position and said partially extended position.

10. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle portion, when in said recessed position, is at least partially received in said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user until said handle portion is moved toward said partially extended position.

11. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said base portion includes a bezel portion that is generally flush with an exterior surface of the vehicle door when said handle assembly is mounted to the vehicle door, and wherein a handle outer surface is generally flush or generally coplanar with or protrudes slightly outward from an exterior surface of said bezel portion when said handle portion is in said recessed position.

12. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein a grasping portion of said handle portion is received in said base portion when said handle portion is in said recessed position, and wherein said grasping portion is not readily graspable by a user when said handle portion is in said recessed position.

13. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein when said handle assembly is mounted at an opening in sheet metal of a vehicle, a gap between said handle portion and the sheet metal is less than a gap between said handle portion and a handle receiving portion of said base portion.

14. The handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cover element that functions to sandwich the vehicle sheet metal between said cover element and said base portion when said handle assembly is mounted at the sheet metal of the vehicle.

15. The handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a dampening element that dampens return of said handle portion towards its recessed position after extension of said handle portion to open the vehicle door.

16. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle assembly comprises one of (a) a strap handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle, (b) a paddle handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle and (c) a liftgate handle assembly for opening a liftgate of a vehicle.