Door handle assembly and method of mounting

• US 6,039,366 A
• Filed: 03/13/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADAC Plastics Incorporated (ADAC Automotive, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADAC Plastics Incorporated (ADAC Automotive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Jimmie
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US09/041,772
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 292/336.3, 292/347, 292/348, 292/350, 292/352, 292/DIG. 31, 292/DIG. 56, 292/DIG. 64, 292/DIG. 73, 248/575, 248/27.3, 248/231.81, 403/256, 403/258, 403/259, 403/260
• US Class Current: 292/352
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/1607 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0004 Lock assembling or manufacturing making locksmith's goods of sheet metal B21D53/38; assembling in general B23P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/06 Mounting of handles, e.g. to the wing or to the lock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/18 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/64 Assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/865 Sliding

Abstract

An automotive door handle assembly includes an escutcheon sized to fit in a door aperture; a handle pivotally mounted on the escutcheon; a fastener device extending rearwardly from the escutcheon; and a clip of U-configuration having a bight portion and upper and lower leg portions extending forwardly from opposite edges of the bight portion in outwardly splayed relation with an aperture in the bight portion fitted over the fastener device to position the clip rearwardly of the escutcheon with the leg portions extending forwardly in embracing relation to the escutcheon. A resilient cushion member is fitted between the clip upper leg portion and the adjacent surface of the escutcheon and dimples upstand from the clip lower leg portion for slidable engagement with the adjacent escutcheon surface. As the fastener device is tightened, following pivotal positioning of the handle assembly in the door aperture, the clip moves forwardly to bring clamping edge portions of the upper and lower clip leg portions into clamping engagement with the inner face of the door skin while the resilient cushion member compresses to facilitate the forward movement of the upper leg portion and the dimples on the lower leg portion slide on the adjacent escutcheon surface to facilitate the forward movement of the lower leg portion. After engaging the door skin, further tightening of the fastener device causes the free ends of the upper and lower leg portions to splay outwardly to produce a spring force to augment the mounting force exerted by the clip.

Claims

1. An automotive door handle assembly adapted to be mounted in an aperture defined in an outer skin of a motor vehicle door by a door flange having upper and lower edge portions and inner and outer faces, the handle assembly including:

an escutcheon plate sized to fit in the door aperture and having a main body central bowl portion and a peripheral flange extending around the bowl portion and adapted to seat against the outer face of the door flange;

a handle pivotally mounted on the escutcheon plate within the central bowl portion;

a threaded fastener device secured to the central bowl portion of the escutcheon plate and extending rearwardly therefrom;

a clip of U-configuration having a bight portion and upper and lower leg portions extending forwardly from opposite edges of the bight portion in outwardly splayed, outwardly diverging disposition relative to each other and having an aperture in the bight portion fitted over the threaded fastener device to position the clip rearwardly of the bowl portion of the escutcheon plate with the clip leg portions extending forwardly in embracing relation to the bowl portion of the escutcheon plate, the upper leg portion overlying an upper region of the bowl portion of the escutcheon plate and defining a forward clamping free edge flange for clamping engagement against the inner face of the upper edge portion of the door flange to clamp the door flange between the upper leg portion free edge flange and the peripheral flange of the escutcheon plate, the lower leg portion underlying a lower region of the bowl portion of the escutcheon plate and defining a forward clamping free edge flange for clamping engagement against the inner face of the lower edge portion of the door flange to clamp the door flange between the lower leg portion free edge flange and the escutcheon plate peripheral flange;

the handle assembly further including a resilient cushion member fitted between the upper clip leg portion and an adjacent surface of the upper region of the bowl portion of the escutcheon plate; and

the handle assembly further including slide means positioned between the lower leg portion of the clip and an adjacent escutcheon plate surface to facilitate sliding movement of the clip lower leg portion on the adjacent escutcheon plate surface in response to tightening of the fastener device.

2. An automotive door handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the slide means comprises a plurality of dimples upstanding from the front face of the clip lower leg portion and slidably engaging the adjacent escutcheon plate.

3. An automotive door handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the threaded fastener device includes a threaded shaft extending rearwardly from the escutcheon plate and the aperture in the clip bight portion is oversized with respect to the threaded shaft so as to allow pivoting movement of the clip relative to the escutcheon plate as the clip moves forwardly in response to tightening of the fastener device.

4. A method of mounting an automotive door handle assembly in an aperture in an outer skin of a motor vehicle door, the handle assembly including an escutcheon plate, a handle pivotally mounted on the escutcheon plate, a threaded fastener device secured to the escutcheon plate and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a clip of U-configuration having a bight portion with an aperture adapted to be fitted over the threaded fastener device and upper and lower leg portions extending from opposite edges of the bight portion and defining upper and lower clamping edges spaced vertically by a distance exceeding the vertical height of the door skin aperture, the method comprising:

passing the door handle assembly, including the clip, through the aperture in the outer skin of the door to position a circumferential flange on the escutcheon plate against an outer face of the outer door skin in surrounding relation to the door skin aperture and position the clip inside the door with the upper and lower clamping edges of the upper and lower leg portions positioned proximate upper and lower portions of the edge of the door skin aperture; and

,

thereafter tightening the threaded fastener device from a location inside the door to move the clip forwardly relative to the escutcheon plate and move the upper and lower clamping edges of the clip leg portions respectively against the upper and lower portions of the edge of the door skin aperture to firmly mount the door handle assembly in the door aperture.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein

the leg portions of the clip are arranged in outwardly splayed, outwardly diverging disposition relative to each other;

and,

the upper and lower clamping edges of the upper and lower leg portions splay outwardly in response to forward movement of the clip upon tightening of the threaded fastener device.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein:

the handle assembly includes a resilient cushion member fitted between one of the leg portions of the clip and an adjacent surface of the escutcheon plate; and

the cushion member is compressed in response to forward movement of the clamp upon tightening of the fastener device.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein:

the handle assembly further includes slide means positioned between the other clip leg portion and an adjacent surface of the escutcheon plate to facilitate a sliding movement of the other clip leg portion on the adjacent escutcheon plate surface; and

the other leg slides forwardly on the adjacent escutcheon plate surface in response to forward movement of the fastener device.