Structural door handle attached to door structure at the door window belt
First Claim
1. A vehicle door and handle assembly, comprising:
- inner and outer panels defining a cavity therebetween;
a belt reinforcement disposed within the cavity, the belt reinforcement having an upright body portion with an upper edge;
a belt molding partially disposed on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement;
a casting bracket having opposite ends with reinforcement members downwardly extending therefrom and a handle portion interconnecting the opposite ends;
upper and lower mounting features disposed on the casting bracket, wherein the upper mounting features are supported on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement and the lower mounting features are mounted on the body portion of the belt reinforcement; and
a cover substantially covering the casting bracket and aligned adjacent to the belt molding on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle door and handle assembly includes inner and outer panels defining an inner door cavity therebetween. A belt reinforcement is disposed within the inner door cavity and includes a generally upright body portion having an upper edge. A belt molding is partially disposed on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement. A casting bracket includes downwardly extending reinforcement members and a handle portion interconnecting opposite ends. Each reinforcement member includes upper and lower mounting features, wherein the upper mounting features are supported on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement and the lower mounting features are mounted on the body portion of the belt reinforcement. A cover substantially covers the casting bracket and is configured to align with the belt molding on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement to define an integrated belt molding at the door window belt.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle door and handle assembly, comprising:
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inner and outer panels defining a cavity therebetween; a belt reinforcement disposed within the cavity, the belt reinforcement having an upright body portion with an upper edge; a belt molding partially disposed on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement; a casting bracket having opposite ends with reinforcement members downwardly extending therefrom and a handle portion interconnecting the opposite ends; upper and lower mounting features disposed on the casting bracket, wherein the upper mounting features are supported on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement and the lower mounting features are mounted on the body portion of the belt reinforcement; and a cover substantially covering the casting bracket and aligned adjacent to the belt molding on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A door handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising:
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a casting bracket including a handle portion with opposite ends having downwardly extending reinforcement members; upper and lower mounting features disposed on the casting bracket; and a belt reinforcement disposed within a cavity of the vehicle door having a body portion coupled to the lower mounting features of the casting bracket and an upper edge abuttingly supporting the upper mounting features of the casting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a belt reinforcement, the door handle assembly comprising:
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a casting bracket including a handle portion with opposite ends having downwardly extending reinforcement members, each reinforcement member including upper and lower mounting features, wherein the upper mounting features are supported on an upper edge of the belt reinforcement and the lower mounting features are mounted on a body portion of the belt reinforcement; a belt molding partially disposed over the upper edge of the belt reinforcement; and a cover substantially covering the casting bracket and configured to align with the belt molding on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification