Vehicle grip assist handle

• US 7,922,189 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Morrow, Ron, Dillon, Craig B., Roy, Wes, Parkins, Lauren
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/722,286
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 296/1.02, 296/71, 242/97, 244/53, 244/58, 161/101, 16D/IG.40
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle grip assist handle is provided with a grip assist body and a first gap hider. The grip assist body includes a gripping portion and a first attachment portion. The first gap hider is attached to the first attachment portion of the grip assist body. The first gap hider is configured to at least partially cover a first assist grip opening in a vehicle interior trim panel when the first attachment portion of the grip assist body is positioned in the first assist grip opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle grip assist handle comprising:

a grip assist body including a gripping portion and a first attachment portion, the first attachment portion including a first coupling groove; and

a first gap hider attached to the first attachment portion of the grip assist body, the first gap hider being disposed in the first coupling groove and configured to at least partially cover a first assist grip opening in a vehicle interior trim panel when the first attachment portion of the grip assist body is positioned in the first assist grip opening.

2. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, wherein

the first gap hider extends at least partially around a periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body.

3. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, wherein

the first coupling groove extends at least partially about a periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body, with the first gap hider extending around the periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body.

4. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, wherein the first gap hider is formed of an elastomer.

5. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second gap hider attached to the grip assist body and configured to at least partially cover a second assist grip opening in the vehicle interior trim panel when the second attachment portion of the grip assist body is positioned in the second assist grip opening.

6. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 5, wherein

the first and second attachment portions of the grip assist body are disposed at opposite ends of the gripping portion of the grip assist body.

7. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 5, wherein

each of the first and second gap hider is formed of an elastomer.

8. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 5, wherein

the second attachment portion of the grip assist body includes a second coupling groove with the second gap hider being disposed in the second coupling groove.

9. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, wherein

the first assist grip opening is formed in a peripheral edge of the vehicle interior trim panel such that the first assist grip opening is open at the peripheral edge of the vehicle interior trim panel.

10. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, wherein

the first attachment portion includes an aperture formed therein that is configured to receive a fastener.

11. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 10, wherein

the aperture is formed in a direction that is normal to a direction that the first attachment portion extends.

12. The vehicle grip assist handle according to claim 1, wherein

the first attachment portion and the gripping portion are unitarily formed.

13. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a structural vehicle body section;

a vehicle interior trim panel releasably secured to the structural vehicle body section; and

a vehicle grip assist handle including

a grip assist body including a gripping portion and a first attachment portion, and

a first gap hider attached to the first attachment portion of the grip assist body, and the first gap hider at least partially covering a gap between a first assist grip opening in the vehicle interior trim panel and the first attachment portion of the grip assist body positioned in the first assist grip opening and at least partially covering a portion of a hidden backside surface of the vehicle interior trim panel that is adjacent the first assist grip opening.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, further comprising

an airbag disposed between the vehicle interior trim panel and the structural vehicle body section.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the first gap hider extends at least partially around a periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the first attachment portion of the grip assist body includes a first coupling groove with the first gap hider being disposed in the first coupling groove.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 16, wherein

the first coupling groove extends at least partially about a periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body, with the first gap hider extending around the periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body.

18. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the first gap hider is formed of an elastomer.

19. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second gap hider attached to the grip assist body and at least partially covering a gap between a second assist grip opening in the vehicle interior trim panel and a second attachment portion of the grip assist body positioned in the second assist grip opening.

20. The vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

the first and second attachment portions of the grip assist body are disposed at opposite ends of the gripping portion of the grip assist body.

21. The vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

each of the first and second gap hiders is formed of an elastomer.

22. The vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

the second gap hider at least partially covers a second portion of a hidden backside surface of the vehicle interior trim panel that is adjacent the second assist grip opening.

23. The vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

the first attachment portion of the grip assist body includes a first coupling groove with the first gap hider being disposed in the first coupling groove, and

the second attachment portion of the grip assist body includes a second coupling groove with the second gap hider being disposed in the second coupling groove.

24. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the first attachment portion includes an aperture formed therein that is configured to receive a fastener.

25. The vehicle body structure according to claim 24, wherein

the aperture is formed in a direction that is normal to a direction that the first attachment portion extends.

26. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the first attachment portion and the gripping portion are unitarily formed.

27. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the structural vehicle body section includes a pillar.

28. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

the first gap hider contacts the structural vehicle body section.

29. A vehicle body structure comprising

a structural vehicle body section;

a vehicle interior trim panel releasably secured to the structural vehicle body section; and

a vehicle grip assist handle including

a grip assist body including a gripping portion and a first attachment portion, and

a first gap hider attached to the first attachment portion of the grip assist body and at least partially covering a gap between a first assist grip opening in the vehicle interior trim panel and the first attachment portion of the grip assist body positioned in the first assist grip opening;

wherein the first assist grip opening is formed in a peripheral edge of the vehicle interior trim panel such that the first assist grip opening is open at the peripheral edge of the vehicle interior trim panel.

30. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, further comprising

an airbag disposed between the vehicle interior trim panel and the structural vehicle body section.

31. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first gap hider extends at least partially around a periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body.

32. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first attachment portion of the grip assist body includes a first coupling groove with the first gap hider being disposed in the first coupling groove.

33. The vehicle body structure according to claim 32, wherein

the first coupling groove extends at least partially about a periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body, with the first gap hider extending around the periphery of the first attachment portion of the grip assist body.

34. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first gap hider is formed of an elastomer.

35. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first gap hider at least partially covers a portion of a hidden backside surface of the vehicle interior trim panel that is adjacent the first assist grip opening.

36. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first attachment portion includes an aperture formed therein that is configured to receive a fastener.

37. The vehicle body structure according to claim 36, wherein

the aperture is formed in a direction that is normal to a direction that the first attachment portion extends.

38. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first attachment portion and the gripping portion are unitarily formed.

39. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the structural vehicle body section includes a pillar.

40. The vehicle body structure according to claim 29, wherein

the first gap hider contacts the structural vehicle body section.