Deployable door handle for vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle door including a deployable handle system, the door comprising:
- a door adapted to be movably mounted to a vehicle for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the door includes a handle support structure and an exterior side surface, the door having an opening and an edge extending around the opening;
a latch mechanism selectively retaining the door in a closed position;
a handle member movably connected to the handle support structure for movement in a first direction from a retracted position wherein an outer surface of the handle member is substantially flush with the exterior side surface of the door to a deployed position, and for movement in a second direction from the deployed position to the retracted position, and wherein the handle member has an outer edge that fits closely adjacent the edge of the opening when the handle member is in the retracted position, and wherein at least a portion of the handle member is spaced-apart from the edge of the opening to define an access space when the handle member is in the deployed position such that a users'"'"' fingers can be inserted in the access space whereby a user is able to pull on the handle member to release the latch mechanism to open the door; and
an electrically powered actuator operably connected to the handle and providing powered movement of the handle in at least one of the first and second directions to form or close off the access space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flush door handle includes a powered actuator that shifts the handle from a fully retracted position to an intermediate position. A user can then grasp the handle, and pull the handle to a fully open position to thereby unlatch the door latch. After a user releases the handle, it shifts to a closed position due to spring force or a powered actuator. The door latch may also comprise a fully powered version wherein the handle shifts from a closed position to an open position, and a powered door latch releases the door latch if predefined conditions are detected.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle door including a deployable handle system, the door comprising:
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a door adapted to be movably mounted to a vehicle for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the door includes a handle support structure and an exterior side surface, the door having an opening and an edge extending around the opening; a latch mechanism selectively retaining the door in a closed position; a handle member movably connected to the handle support structure for movement in a first direction from a retracted position wherein an outer surface of the handle member is substantially flush with the exterior side surface of the door to a deployed position, and for movement in a second direction from the deployed position to the retracted position, and wherein the handle member has an outer edge that fits closely adjacent the edge of the opening when the handle member is in the retracted position, and wherein at least a portion of the handle member is spaced-apart from the edge of the opening to define an access space when the handle member is in the deployed position such that a users'"'"' fingers can be inserted in the access space whereby a user is able to pull on the handle member to release the latch mechanism to open the door; and an electrically powered actuator operably connected to the handle and providing powered movement of the handle in at least one of the first and second directions to form or close off the access space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle door including a deployable handle system, the door comprising:
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a door adapted to be movably mounted to a vehicle for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the door includes a handle support structure and an exterior side surface that is visible from outside the vehicle, the door having an opening and a peripheral edge extending around the opening; a latch mechanism having a latch member that moves between retained and released positions to selectively retain the door in a closed position; a handle member movably connected to the handle support structure for movement in a first direction from a retracted position to a deployed position, and for movement in a second direction from the deployed position to the retracted position, and wherein the handle member has oppositely-facing inner and outer surfaces and a peripheral outer surface extending around the handle member and defining an outer edge and wherein the outer edge of the handle fits closely adjacent the edge of the opening and closes off access to the inner surface of the handle member when the handle member is in the retracted position, and wherein at least a portion of the outer edge of the handle member is spaced-apart from the peripheral inner surface of the opening to define an access space when the handle member is in the deployed position such that a users'"'"' fingers can be inserted in the access space enabling a user'"'"'s fingers to contact the inner surface of the handle member enabling a user to pull on the door to move the door from a closed position to an open position; a powered actuator operably connected to the handle and providing powered movement of the handle in at least one of the first and second directions and selectively opening or closing the handle member to form the finger access space; the latch includes a powered actuator that shifts the latch member upon actuation of the powered actuator; the handle member is slidably connected to the handle support structure and moves linearly between the refracted and deployed positions; the handle member is slidably connected to the handle support structure for movement between the retracted and deployed positions; and
includes;an electric motor including a rotating shaft having first and second drive gears mounted on opposite ends of the shaft; a pair of spaced-apart rotating gears engaging the first and second drive gears; and a pair of spaced-apart toothed racks engaging the rotating gears and shifting the handle inwardly and outwardly between the retracted and deployed positions upon actuation of the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle door, comprising:
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a support; a handle slidably connected to the support; an electrically powered motor including a rotating shaft having first and second drive gears mounted on opposite ends of the shaft; a pair of spaced-apart rotating gears engaging the first and second drive gears; and a pair of spaced-apart toothed racks engaging the rotating gears and shifting the handle inwardly and outwardly upon actuation of the electrically powered motor.
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Specification