GRAB HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A VEHICLE

• US 20180118072A1
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: IBRAHIM, Christina M., NGUYEN, Johnny T., VELASCO, Rafael E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,071,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/02 of hand grips or straps
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

A grab handle assembly for use in a vehicle includes a bracket for mounting on a vehicle frame, a speaker assembly mounted on the bracket and a grab handle mounted on the bracket. The speaker assembly is located between the bracket and the grab handle.

Claims

1. A grab handle assembly for use in a vehicle comprising:

a bracket for mounting on a vehicle frame, a speaker assembly mounted on the bracket, a grab handle mounted on the bracket, wherein the speaker assembly is located between the bracket and the grab handle.

2. A grab handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, wherein the first engaging portion engages with a part of the grab handle to be fixed on the bracket and the second engaging portion engages with a third engaging portion of the speaker assembly to be fixed on the bracket.

3. A grab handle assembly according to claim 2 wherein the second engaging portion is offset from the first engaging portion towards the vehicle frame.

4. A grab handle assembly according to claim 2 further comprising an airbag device extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle under the bracket, wherein the second engaging portion is located on the opposite side of the airbag.

5. A grab handle assembly according to claim 2 further comprising a mating portion surrounding the first engaging portion wherein an outer perimeter of the mating portion engages with an inner perimeter of a fourth engaging portion of the speaker assembly.

6. A grab handle assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an airbag extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle under the bracket, a protective cover that covers at least a part of the air bag, wherein the protective cover is located between the bracket and the airbag.

7. A grab handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the grab handle is integrated with a speaker grille.

8. A grab handle assembly according to claim 7 wherein the grab handle includes a base portion to support a handle portion which a user grabs and the speaker grille is connected with the base portion.

9. A grab handle assembly according to claim 8 wherein the handle portion includes an overlapping portion which overlaps with a part of the speaker grille and the handle portion includes a plurality of holes at the overlapping portion.

10. A grab handle assembly according to claim 1 further comprising:

an air bag extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the airbag is formed of a cylinder including a centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein a lower end of the speaker assembly and/or a lower end of the grab handle is/are located above the centerline of the airbag.

11. A grab handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the grab handle is deployed when it is used by a passenger or a driver and the grab handle is folded when it is not used by a passenger or a driver.

12. A grab handle assembly device comprising:

a first bracket, a second bracket, a grab handle mounted on the first bracket and the second bracket and a speaker assembly mounted on the first bracket and the second bracket wherein the speaker assembly includes a speaker portion and the speaker portion is disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket.

13. A grab handle assembly according to claim 12 further comprising an airbag installed under the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the airbag extends along the first bracket and the second bracket in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

14. A grab handle assembly according to claim 13 further comprising a protective cover partially covering the air bag, wherein the protective cover is located between the airbag and the first bracket and the second bracket and the protective cover extends along the first bracket and the second bracket in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

15. A grab handle assembly according to claim 12 wherein the speaker assembly further includes two fourth engaging portions engaged with the first bracket and the second bracket respectively.

16. A grab handle assembly according to claim 15 wherein the speaker portion is located between the two fourth engaging portions.

17. A method for installing a grab handle assembly to a vehicle comprising the steps of:

mounting a bracket on a vehicle frame, mounting a speaker assembly on the bracket, mounting a grab handle on the bracket, wherein the speaker assembly is individually held by a third engaging portion of the speaker assembly engaging with a second engaging portion of the bracket before the grab handle is mounted.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the speaker assembly is individually held by a fourth engaging portion which is disposed next to the third engaging portion of the speaker assembly engaging with a mating portion of the bracket.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the third engaging portion is a protrusion of the speaker assembly and the second engaging portion is an aperture of the bracket.

20. A method according to claim 17 further comprising a cover that covers the speaker assembly wherein the cover is installed after the speaker assembly is individually installed and before the grab handle is mounted.