Vehicle door handle
First Claim
1. A vehicle exterior door handle assembly for opening an exterior door of a vehicle from outside the vehicle, said exterior door handle comprising:
- a base which is mountable at the exterior door of the vehicle; and
a handle portion which includes first and second portions, said handle portion being operable to open the exterior door from outside the vehicle via movement of said handle portion relative to said base, said first portion of said handle portion comprising a fist polymeric material having a first material hardness, said first portion defining an outer surface facing generally away from the exterior door and defining an inner surface facing generally toward the exterior door, said inner surface comprising an uneven inner surface, said second portion comprising a second polymeric material having a second material hardness, said first material hardness being greater than said second material hardness, said second material being joined to said first material at said uneven inner surface and substantially covering a substantial portion of said inner surface of said first portion, said uneven inner surface providing an increased surface area for joining said second material thereto, said second portion comprising an engaging surface for a user to engage when opening the exterior door of the vehicle from outside the vehicle, said second material of said engaging surface providing a soft touch to the user of said vehicle exterior door handle assembly when the user engages said engaging surface and operas said handle portion to open the exterior door of the vehicle from outside the vehicle, whereby said soft touch engaging surface feels warmer to the user of said vehicle exterior door handle assembly in cold weather conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle door handle assembly for opening a door of a vehicle includes a base which is mountable at the door of the vehicle and a handle portion which is operable to open the door via movement of the handle portion relative to the base. The handle portion includes a first portion having a first material hardness and a second portion having a second material hardness. The first material hardness is greater than the second material hardness, such that the second portion provides a softer feel to a user of the door handle assembly when opening the door of the vehicle. The door handle assembly may further include an illumination source for illuminating the handle portion and/or a heating element for heating the handle portion.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vehicle exterior door handle assembly for opening an exterior door of a vehicle from outside the vehicle, said exterior door handle comprising:
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a base which is mountable at the exterior door of the vehicle; and
a handle portion which includes first and second portions, said handle portion being operable to open the exterior door from outside the vehicle via movement of said handle portion relative to said base, said first portion of said handle portion comprising a fist polymeric material having a first material hardness, said first portion defining an outer surface facing generally away from the exterior door and defining an inner surface facing generally toward the exterior door, said inner surface comprising an uneven inner surface, said second portion comprising a second polymeric material having a second material hardness, said first material hardness being greater than said second material hardness, said second material being joined to said first material at said uneven inner surface and substantially covering a substantial portion of said inner surface of said first portion, said uneven inner surface providing an increased surface area for joining said second material thereto, said second portion comprising an engaging surface for a user to engage when opening the exterior door of the vehicle from outside the vehicle, said second material of said engaging surface providing a soft touch to the user of said vehicle exterior door handle assembly when the user engages said engaging surface and operas said handle portion to open the exterior door of the vehicle from outside the vehicle, whereby said soft touch engaging surface feels warmer to the user of said vehicle exterior door handle assembly in cold weather conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification