INTUITIVE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE

• US 20110302842A1
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Original Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Inventors: SONNEK, TOM F., TIKOZENSKI, LIOR
• Granted Patent: US 8,733,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/349
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/002 locking the handle E05B13/10, E05B47/0657 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2001/0076 The handle having at least two operating positions, e.g. the bolt can be retracted by moving the handle either upwards or downwards
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0069 Override systems, e.g. allowing opening from inside without the key, even when locked from outside E05B65/1086, E05B9/105 take precedence; by movable striker E05B63/246
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/383 Staples or the like for padlocks; Lock slings; Arrangements on locks to cooperate with padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/34 Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• 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 83/01 Locks for military or armoured vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/22 Rectilinearly moving bolts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/504 for armoured vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/00 Armoured or armed vehicles general vehicle aspects B60; armoured or armed ships B63G; armoured or armed aircraft B64D; mounting guns, e.g. machine guns, on vehicles F41A23/00

Abstract

An intuitive exterior door handle assembly is provided for a heavy duty power assisted vehicle door for opening and closing the door. The exterior handle assembly pivots about an axis for movement between pushed in and pushed out positions to actuate the power assist unit in opposite directions and thereby close and open the door, respectively. A switch or valve assembly controls actuation of the power assist unit in response to pulling or pushing the door handle so as to open and close the door. An override system is built into the handle assembly to actuate the power unit without pivoting the handle. The assembly and override system mount through a single common hole in the door. In the method of operating the vehicle door, the exterior handle is pushed inwardly to close the door and pulled outwardly to open the door through retraction and extension of the power assist assembly.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle door having a power assist assembly, comprising:

pivoting an exterior door handle about an axis between an inward position toward the door and an outward position away from the door so as to actuate the power assist assembly in opposite directions and thereby close and open the door.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the handle pivots in a plane perpendicular to the axis.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pivotal movement of the handle moves a shaft connected to the handle axially inwardly and outwardly, with the shaft being operatively connected to the power assist assembly.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising mechanically over-riding the pivotal movement of the handle to rotate the shaft and open the door.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pivotal movement of the handle actuates a control assembly operatively connected to the power assist assembly.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein movement of the handle to the outward position actuates a first controller to open the door and movement of the handle to the inward position actuates a second controller to close the door.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein pivotal movement of the handle actuates a latch assembly on the door.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein pivotal movement of the handle actuates a lock assembly on the door.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein pivotal movement of the handle actuates a latch assembly and a lock assembly on the door.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the pivotal movement of the handle latches and unlatches the latch assembly, and locks and unlocks the lock assembly.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically returning the handle to a neutral position between the inward and outward positions when released by an operator.

12. A power-assisted door mounted in a door frame for movement between open and closed positions, comprising:

a power unit mounted in the door with opposite ends connected to the door and door frame;

a handle assembly mounted on an exterior side of the door and being operatively connected to the power unit;

the handle assembly having a pivot axis for pivotal movement of the handle between pushed in and pulled out positions to actuate the power unit in opposite directions and thereby close and open the door, respectively.

13. The door of claim 12 further comprising a mechanical override system in the handle assembly to override the pivot movement of the handle to directly open the door.

14. The door of claim 12 wherein the handle assembly is biased to a neutral position between the pushed in and pulled out positions.

15. The door of claim 12 further comprising a control assembly operatively connected between the handle assembly and the power unit to actuate the power unit when the handle is pivoted to either the in or out position.

16. The door of claim 15 wherein the switch assembly includes a first controller which is actuated by movement of the handle to the out position so as to open the door and a second controller which is actuated by movement of the handle to the in position to close the door.

17. The door of claim 12 wherein the handle assembly includes a lever and a slidable shaft connected to the lever by a 360°

rack and pinion assembly, and the shaft being operatively connected to the power unit.

18. The door of claim 12 further comprising a latch assembly actuated by the pivotal movement of the handle assembly.

19. The door of claim 12 further comprising a lock assembly actuated by the pivot movement of the handle assembly.

20. The door of claim 12 further comprising a latch assembly which is latched and unlatched by the pivotal movement of the handle assembly, and a lock assembly which is locked and unlocked by the pivotal movement of the handle assembly.

21. The door of claim 12 wherein the handle assembly includes an override member to actuate the power unit without pivoting the handle assembly.

22. The door of claim 21 wherein the override member rotates an arm to actuate the power assist unit.

23. The door of claim 21 wherein the handle assembly and the override member are mounted through a single hole in the door.

24. A vehicle door, comprising:

a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door;

an exterior handle assembly mounted on the door to actuate the power unit; and

an override system built into the handle assembly to open the door.

25. The vehicle door of claim 24 wherein the handle assembly includes a lever with a pivot axis for pivotal movement between a pushed in position toward the door and a pulled out position away from the door so as to actuate the power unit to close and open the door, respectively.

26. The vehicle door of claim 25 wherein the lever is normally in a neutral position between the pushed in and pulled out positions.

27. The vehicle door of claim 24 wherein the exterior handle assembly and override system share a common mounting hole.

28. The vehicle door of claim 24 wherein the handle assembly includes a lever and a slidable shaft connected to the lever by a 360°

rack and pinion assembly, and the shaft being operatively connected to the power unit.

29. The vehicle door of claim 24 further comprising a latch assembly actuated by pivotal movement of the handle assembly.

30. The vehicle door of claim 24 further comprising a lock assembly actuated by pivot movement of the handle assembly.

31. The vehicle door of claim 24 further comprising a latch assembly which is latched and unlatched by pivotal movement of the handle assembly, and a lock assembly which is locked and unlocked by pivotal movement of the handle assembly.

32. The vehicle door of claim 24 wherein the override system rotates an arm to actuate the power assist unit.

33. The vehicle door of claim 24 further comprising a control assembly operatively connected between the handle assembly and the power unit to actuate the power unit upon movement of the handle.

34. The vehicle door of claim 33 wherein the switch assembly includes a first actuator to actuate the power unit in a first direction to open the door when the handle is pulled and a second actuator to actuate the power unit in an opposite second direction to close the door when the handle is pushed.

35. The vehicle door of claim 24 wherein the handle assembly and override member mount through a common hole in the door.

36. The vehicle door of claim 24 wherein the assembly includes a lever with a hole to receive a lock.

37. A door handle assembly for an armored door, comprising:

a handle mechanism; and

a built-in override mechanism;

the handle assembly and override mechanism being configured for mounting onto a corresponding door via a single hole in the door.

38. A door handle assembly according to claim 37 wherein both the handle mechanism and the override mechanism share a mutual sleeve.

39. A door handle assembly according to claim 38 wherein the sleeve is configured for being fitted within the single hole of the door.

40. A door handle assembly according to claim 38 wherein the handle is configured for revolving about an axis defined by the mutual sleeve.

41. A door handle assembly according to claim 38 wherein the handle is configured for being inwardly pushed and outwardly pulled along an axis defined by the mutual sleeve.

42. A door handle assembly according to claim 37 wherein the handle mechanism and the override mechanism are configured for operation independently of one another.