Grab handle mounting assembly

• US 8,533,912 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Tran, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): San, Jason W
• Application Number:
  US13/306,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20130133158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 164/36, 164/44, 16D/IG.40, 16D/IG.41, 161/101, 295/250.1, 295/250.2, 248/407, 248/408, 248/413, 248/159, 211/6, 211/16, 211/88.04, 211/105.1, 211/105.4, 403/298, 403/348, 403/205, 460/4, 461/1, 457/61, 457/71, 296/214, 296/71, 296/1.02
• US Class Current: 16/110.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/02 Handles similar handles for doors in general E05B1/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49881 of separate helix [e.g., screw thread]

Abstract

A grab handle mounting assembly securable to a mounting surface includes a first mounting arm assembly securable to a mounting surface. The first mounting arm assembly defines a first male pin. A second mounting arm assembly is securable to a mounting surface and defines a second male pin. The assembly further includes a first tube having first and second open ends, wherein the first male pin is mateable within the first open end of the first tube and the second male pin is mateable within the second open end of the first tube. When the first and second mounting arm assemblies are secured to a mounting surface with the first and second male pins mated with the first and second open ends of the first tube, the first and second mounting arm assemblies impose a torsional force on the first tube.

Claims

1. A grab handle mounting assembly securable to a mounting surface, comprising:

(a) a first mounting arm assembly securable to the mounting surface, the first mounting arm assembly defining a first male pin, the first male pin having first and second opposing helical channels extending along at least a portion of the first male pin;

(b) a second mounting arm assembly securable to the mounting surface, the second mounting arm assembly defining a second male pin, the second male pin having third and fourth opposing helical channels extending along at least a portion of the second mate pin;

(c) a first tube having first and second open ends and first and second protrusions formed on an interior surface of the first tube near the first open end and third and fourth protrusions formed on an interior surface of the first tube near the second open end, wherein the first male pin is receivable within the first open end of the first tube such that the first and second protrusions are disposed within the first and opposing helical second channels and the second male pin is receivable within the second open end of the first tube such that the third and fourth protrusions are disposed within the third and fourth opposing helical channels; and

(d) wherein when the first and second mounting arm assemblies are secured to the mounting surface with the first and second male pins received within the first tube, the first and second mounting arm assemblies impose a torsional force on the first tube.

2. The grab handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second protrusions are formed along a first axis substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first tube and the third and fourth protrusions are formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tube.

3. The grab handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second opposing helical channels are substantially congruent geometrical helical channels and the third and fourth opposing helical channels are substantially congruent geometrical helical channels.

4. The grab handle assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

(a) a third male pin defined on the second mounting arm assembly;

(b) a third mounting arm assembly having a fourth male pin; and

(c) a second tube having first and second open ends, wherein the third male pin is mateable within the first open end of the second tube and the fourth male pin is mateable within the second open end of the second tube, wherein when the second and third mounting arm assemblies are secured to the mounting surface with the third and fourth male pins mated with the first and second open ends of the second tube, the second and third mounting arm assemblies impose a torsional force on the second tube.

5. A method of installing a grab handle assembly, the method comprising:

(a) securing a first mounting arm assembly to a mounting surface, the first mounting arm assembly defining a first male pin having first and second opposing helical channels extending along at least a portion of the first male pin;

(b) providing a first tube having first and second open ends, wherein the first tube has first and second protrusions formed on an interior surface of the first tube near the first open end and third and fourth protrusions formed on an interior surface of the first tube near the second open end, wherein the first male pin is receivable within the first open end of the first tube such that the first and second protrusions are disposed within the first and second opposing helical channels;

(c) mating the first open end of the first tube with the first male pin;

(d) providing a second mounting arm assembly defining a second male pin having third and fourth opposing helical channels extending along at least a portion of the second male pin, wherein the second male pin is receivable within the second open end of the first tube such that the third and fourth protrusions are disposed within the third and fourth opposing helical channels;

(e) mating the second male pin within the second open end of the first tube; and

(f) securing the second mounting arm assembly to the mounting surface to impose a torsional force on the first tube.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second protrusions are formed along a first axis substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first tube and the third and fourth protrusions are formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tube.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second opposing helical channels are substantially congruent geometrical helical channels and the third and fourth opposing helical channels are substantially congruent geometrical helical channels.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the second mounting arm assembly further includes a third male pin.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(a) providing a second tube having first and second open ends;

(b) mating the first open end of the second tube with the third male pin;

(c) providing a third mounting arm assembly having a fourth male pin;

(d) mating the fourth male pin within the second open end of the second tube; and

(e) securing the third mounting arm assembly to the mounting surface to impose a torsional force on the second tube.