Handle device

• US 8,454,062 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Rohlfing, Manfred, Neuhoff, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US11/994,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,534 Days
• Field of Search: 292/347, 292/336.3, 340/5.62, 340/426.28, 340/426.36, 340/530, 340/545.4, 340/5.72
• US Class Current: 292/336.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

The invention relates to a handle device for a vehicle door, comprising an outer shell with a metal layer at least on the side facing away from the vehicle door and a cavity in which a sensor system for the keyless activation of a locking and unlocking system is arranged. According to the invention, the outer shell (4) has a free surface (7) with no metal layer, provided with a first sensor element (6a) arranged in the sensor system (6a, 6b, 6c), which has a touch- or proximity-sensor embodiment.

Claims

1. A handle device for a vehicle door, comprising:

an outer shell with a metal layer at least on a first side, said first side being positionable to face away from the vehicle door when the handle device is disposed on the vehicle door, and

a cavity in which a sensor system for keyless activation of a locking and unlocking system is arranged,

wherein the outer shell on said first side has a free surface with no metal layer, provided with a first sensor element arranged in the sensor system, which has a touch and/or proximity sensor embodiment,

wherein the first sensor element is activatable by a user via at least one of approaching said free surface, stroking said free surface, and touching said free surface absent application of pressure by the user

wherein, the sensor system has a second sensor element being positionable to face the vehicle door when the handle device is disposed on the vehicle door, wherein the second sensor element is a capacitive sensor.

2. The handle device according to claim 1, the sensor system is accommodated by a modular unit, which completely surrounds the sensor system.

3. The handle device according to claim 2, wherein, the modular unit extends into the cavity of the handle device and closes off the cavity at least on one side.

4. The handle device according to claim 2, wherein, the free surface is constructed in a form of a recess, which is embodied on the first side.

5. The handle device according to claim 4, wherein, the modular unit has an activation region, in which the first sensor element is arranged.

6. The handle device according to claim 5, wherein, the activation region, a shape of which is adapted to a shape of the recess, is accommodated by the recess.

7. The handle device according to claim 5, wherein, the outer shell is constructed with a stop surface, which is in contact with the activation region.

8. The handle device according to claim 1, wherein, the free surface is arranged on an edge region of the handle device, the free surface having an open embodiment on one side.

9. The handle device according to claim 1, wherein, the first sensor element comprises at least one of a capacitive sensor, a Hall sensor, and a piezo-sensor.

10. The handle device according to claim 5, wherein, the surface of the activation region is arranged to be flush with the outer shell.

11. The handle device according to claim 5, wherein, the activation region is positioned in a recess below the surface.

12. The handle device according to claim 1, wherein, the metal layer is a chrome layer.

13. The handle device according to claim 1, wherein, the metal layer has a thickness of 30 μ

m-1 mm.

14. The handle device according to claim 1, wherein, the sensor system has a printed circuit board, with which the first and the second sensor element are connected.

15. The handle device according to claim 2, wherein, the modular unit is fixed to the outer shell with one or more of a positive fitting, a force fitting and a material connection.

16. The handle device according to claim 14, wherein, the modular unit comprises of a plastic material, in which the first, the second sensor element and also the printed circuit board are embedded.

17. The handle device according to claim 5, wherein, a screening element is arranged in the modular unit in such a way that the first sensor element lies essentially between a surface of the activation region and the screening element.

18. The handle device according to claims 17, wherein, the screening element is a plate-shaped body made from a metal, or a plastic film with a metallic coating, or a metal foil.

19. The handle device according to claim 2, wherein, the modular unit is constructed T-shaped on a side having the first sensor element and closes off the cavity in this side.

20. The handle device according to claim 2, wherein, the modular unit is fixed in a form-fit way in the cavity.

21. The handle device according to one claim 1, wherein, an activation distance of the first sensor element constructed as a capacitive sensor is lower than 30 cm.

22. The handle device according to claim 5, wherein, the sensor system is fixed in the cavity in such a way that a surface of the activation region is located inside the cavity and is in contact with inner walling of the outer shell, wherein at the same time the free surface is arranged above the activation region on outer walling of the outer shell.

23. The handle device according to claim 1, further comprising, a locking cylinder part, which is fixed at a distance from the handle device on the vehicle door, wherein facing surfaces of the locking cylinder part and of the handle device are embodied without a metallic coating on their surfaces.

24. A motor vehicle with a handle device according to claim 1.