Modular grab handle with integral lamp attaching system

• US 8,827,516 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stakoe, John Andrew, Li, Chi, Thota, Bhavani, Alanis, Guillermo, Lujan, Jesus Miranda
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Zachary J
• Application Number:
  US13/307,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 362/488, 362/490
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/023 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

An interior grab handle and lamp assembly for a vehicle including a bracket configured for attachment by fasteners to a structural roof member. The bracket is disposed on an back side surface of a headliner. An elongate handle is operably connected to the bracket via first and second mounting members disposed on an visible surface of the headliner. A light source is operably connected with an intermediate portion of the bracket. The light source is disposed on the visible surface of the headliner between the first and second mounting members.

Claims

1. An interior grab handle and lamp assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a bracket configured for attachment by fasteners to a structural roof member, the bracket disposed on a back side surface of a headliner, wherein the bracket is in abutting contact with both the structural roof member and the back side surface of the headliner and the bracket is disposed completely behind the headliner;

an elongate handle operably connected to the bracket via first and second mounting members disposed on a visible surface of the headliner, wherein the bracket includes a first set of aligning ribs that engage the mounting members and a second set of aligning ribs that engage the structural roof member, and wherein the first and second sets of aligning ribs extend perpendicularly from the bracket and at least partially position the elongate handle relative to the headliner and the structural roof member; and

a light source operably connected with an intermediate portion of the bracket, wherein the light source is disposed on the visible surface of the headliner between the first and second mounting members.

2. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle has a first end and a second end, and the first mounting member is disposed at the first end and the second mounting member is disposed at the second end.

3. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 2, wherein one of the first and second mounting members includes an article hook.

4. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotally mounted to the first and second mounting members.

5. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is fixedly mounted to the first and second mounting members.

6. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is operable to provide illumination to the vehicle interior and comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting the light source to a vehicle electrical system.

7. The modular grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein the light source is operated by push-push actuation.

8. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the headliner comprises a plurality of apertures through which the fasteners of the grab handle and lamp assembly extend.

9. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 8, wherein the modular grab handle, lamp assembly, and headliner define a handle system that mounts to the structural roof member of the vehicle.

10. An interior grab handle and lamp assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an elongate bracket, having alignment ribs, concealed between a vehicle roof and a first side of a headliner;

a grab handle proximate a second side of the headliner and operably connected to first and second bracket ends and positioned by the alignment ribs; and

a light source and a permanently-deployed article hook operably connected to the bracket between the first and second bracket ends.

11. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the grab handle is pivotally mounted to first and second mounting members.

12. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 11, wherein one of the first and second mounting members includes the article hook.

13. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the grab handle is pivotally coupled to the bracket and moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position.

14. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a spring member that biases the grab handle to the stowed position.

15. The interior grab handle and lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source includes a retention member adapted for snap-fit engagement with the bracket.

16. A method of installing an interior grab handle assembly in a vehicle comprising:

concealing a bracket between a vehicle roof and a back side of a headliner;

pivotally connecting a grab handle to first and second bracket ends,

positioning the grab handle using perpendicularly extending alignment ribs of the bracket;

operably connecting a light source to an intermediate portion of the bracket; and

exposing the grab handle and the light source to a vehicle interior.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the bracket is configured for attachment by fasteners to a roof of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the grab handle is configured for attachment by threaded fasteners to the bracket.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the grab handle and light source are positioned on a visible side of the headliner.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the light source is serviceable from the visible side of the headliner.