Vehicle door handle

• US 6,588,813 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CAM Italy SPA
• Original Assignee: Valeo Sicurezza Abitacolo SpA (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Marcarini, Massimo, Savant, Fiorenzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodgers, Matthew E.
• Application Number:
  US09/432,394
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 292/347, 292/348, 292/336.3, 704/39, 702/76, 702/77
• US Class Current: 292/347
• 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 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 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/82 Knobs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/85 Knob-attaching devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8216 Tampering detector

Abstract

A handle for a vehicle door has a control lever hinged to a connecting structure for connection to the door, and a detecting assembly for detecting the presence of a user'"'"'s hand about to open the door; the detecting assembly having a magnetic aerial, which is housed inside the lever to detect the variation in a magnetic field caused by the user'"'"'s hand nearing the handle, and is connected by a sliding connection to a circuit carried by the connecting structure and which supplies a presence signal to a control unit for releasing the respective lock upon reading an identification code carried by the user.

Claims

1. A handle (1) for a vehicle door (3), comprising a connecting structure (4) for connection to a supporting body;

a movable control member (5) carried by said connecting structure (4) and activated, in use, by the hand of a user; and

detecting means (6) for detecting the presence of said hand proximate to said movable control member (5), and for supplying a presence signal to an electronic control unit further executing interrogation of a data storage medium carried by the user;

wherein said detecting means (6) comprise magnetic sensing means (12) associated with at least one of said connecting structure (4) and said movable control member (5) to detect the variation in a magnetic field caused by the user gripping the movable control member (5),

wherein said sensing means (12) detects the variation in said magnetic field caused merely by a presence of the hand of the user proximate said movable control member (5), and

wherein said sensing means includes a wire aerial at least partially disposed within said control lever.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said movable control member comprises a lever (5) hinged to said connecting structure (4) to rotate, with respect to the connecting structure (4), about a hinge axis;

said magnetic sensing means (12) being at least partly housed in said lever (5).

16. The handle according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means detects the variation in said magnetic field caused merely by a presence of the hand of the user proximate said movable control member.

17. The handle according to claim 16, wherein said sensing means includes a wire aerial at least partially disposed within said control lever.

3. A handle (1) for a vehicle door (3), comprising a connecting structure (4) for connection to a supporting body;

a movable control member (5) carried by said connecting structure (4) and activated, in use, by the hand of a user; and

detecting means (6) for detecting the presence of said hand proximate to said movable control member (5), and emitting a presence signal;

wherein said detecting means (6) comprise magnetic sensing means (12) associated with at least one of said connecting structure (4) and said movable control member (5) to detect the variation in a magnetic field caused by the user gripping the movable control member (5), and

wherein said magnetic sensing means comprise a first elongated metal member, said detecting means (6) also comprise transmitting means (19) for transmitting said presence signal and extending through said connecting structure (4); and

connecting means (16, 20) for connecting said magnetic sensing means (12) to said transmitting means (19).

4. A handle as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said connecting means (16, 20) comprise a supporting member (16) carried by said lever (5);

said magnetic sensing means (12) being partly wound about said supporting member (16).

5. A handle as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said connecting means (20) comprise a sliding connection.

6. A handle as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said connecting means (20) comprise an intermediate portion of said first elongated metal member (12).

7. A handle as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said transmitting means comprise a second elongated metal member (19) in turn comprising a portion (21) cooperating in sliding manner with the intermediate portion of said first elongated metal member (12).

8. A handle as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said first elongated metal member (12) is a wire member, and said second elongated metal member (19) is a strip member.

9. A handle for a vehicle door (3), comprising a connecting structure (4) for connection to a supporting body;

a movable control member (5) carried by said connecting structure (4) and activated, in use, by the hand of a user; and

detecting means (6) for detecting the presence of said hand proximate to said movable control member (5), and emitting a presence signal;

wherein said detecting means (6) comprise magnetic sensing means (12) associated with at least one of said connecting structure (4) and said movable control member (5) to detect the variation in a magnetic field caused by the user gripping the movable control member (5), and comprising further detecting means (24) for detecting displacement of the movable control member (5) with respect to the connecting structure (4).

10. A handle as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said further detecting means (24) are located in parallel with said detecting means (6).

11. A handle as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said further detecting means (24) comprise switch means (25);

and a mechanical transmission (29) interposed between the movable control member (5) and said switch means (25) to activate said switch means (25).

12. A handle as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said mechanical transmission (29) comprises at least a first rocker arm lever (37).

13. A handle as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said first rocker arm lever (37) comprises an intermediate portion (38) hinged to said connecting structure (4);

an end portion (39) which acts on said switch means (25); and

an opposite end portion (36) resting on an activating member (30) associated with said movable control member (5).

14. A handle as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said mechanical transmission (29) also comprises elastic means (40) interposed between said rocker arm lever (37) and said connecting structure (4) to keep said opposite end portion (36) resting constantly on said activating member (30).

15. A handle as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said switch means (25) are housed inside a sealed chamber (26) formed in said connecting structure (4).

18. A handle in combination with a vehicle door, said combination comprising:

a connecting structure in connection with a supporting body;

a movable control member carried by said connecting structure and activated, in use, by a hand of a user; and

a detection mechanism to detect the presence of said hand of said user proximate said movable control member, wherein said detection mechanism includes a magnetic sensing mechanism which detects a variation in a magnetic field caused merely by the presence of said hand of said user proximate said movable control member,

wherein said sensing mechanism includes a wire aerial at least partially disposed within said control lever.