Vehicle exterior door handle with lighting module

• US 9,598,003 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dingman, David A., Gorby, Brett A., Foote, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raleigh, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAZ, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US14/822,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/425.5, 340/426.13, 340/426.17, 340/426.23, 340/426.24, 340/426.28, 164/12, 362/501, 362/487, 362/545, 362/100, 362/399
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/10 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/115 Electric wiring; Electric connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/60 Projection of signs from lighting devices, e.g. symbols or information being projected onto the road
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door includes a strap-handle portion and a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module having (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing and (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover. The module may include an antenna and/or a light pipe. The strap-handle portion receives the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module. With the sealed self-contained elongated light module received in the strap-handle portion, the contour of the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of the strap-handle portion. With the door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when the illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by the illumination source passes through the elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

Claims

1. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:

a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;

a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprising (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing, (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iv) a light pipe;

wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is substantially water impervious;

wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module encase said at least one illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module;

wherein said illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module of said exterior door handle assembly is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;

wherein said strap-handle portion receives said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module;

wherein said strap-handle portion has a contour and said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module has a contour, and wherein, with said sealed self-contained elongated light module received in said strap-handle portion, the contour of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of said strap-handle portion; and

wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one illumination source passes through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

2. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said at least one illumination source is not electrically powered, said at least one illumination source and said elongated housing are not readily viewable by and discernible to a person viewing said strap-handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

3. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

5. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is disposed proximate an end region of said length dimension of said strap-handle portion when said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is received in said strap-handle portion.

6. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module provides diffuse illumination.

7. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, substantially uniform lighting is emitted by said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module.

8. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is electrically powered responsive to a remote device.

9. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprises an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device.

10. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the remote device comprises an element of a passive entry system.

11. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprises wiring that extends from the housing for electrically connecting said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door.

12. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door.

13. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said strap-handle portion comprises structure configured to receive said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module thereat.

14. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein said structure of said strap-handle portion comprises at least one of an opening and a recess.

15. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion.

16. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 15, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is snap-attached at said strap-handle portion.

17. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 15, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion via at least one a fastener.

18. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:

a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;

a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprising (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing, (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iv) an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device;

wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is substantially water impervious;

wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module encase said at least one illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module;

wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a light emitting diode;

wherein said illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module of said exterior door handle assembly is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;

wherein said strap-handle portion receives said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module;

wherein said strap-handle portion has a contour and said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module has a contour, and wherein, with said sealed self-contained elongated light module received in said strap-handle portion, the contour of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of said strap-handle portion;

wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one illumination source passes through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door; and

wherein said at least one illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is electrically powered responsive to the remote device, and wherein the remote device comprises an element of a passive entry system.

19. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprises wiring that extends from the housing for electrically connecting said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door.

20. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door.

21. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said strap-handle portion comprises structure configured to receive said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module thereat, and wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion.

22. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 21, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is snap-attached at said strap-handle portion.

23. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 21, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion via at least one a fastener.

24. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprises a light pipe.

25. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:

a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;

a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprising (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing and (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover;

wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is substantially water impervious;

wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module encase said at least one illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module;

wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a light emitting diode;

wherein said illumination source of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module of said exterior door handle assembly is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;

wherein said strap-handle portion receives said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module;

wherein said strap-handle portion has a contour and said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module has a contour, and wherein, with said sealed self-contained elongated light module received in said strap-handle portion, the contour of said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of said strap-handle portion;

wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one illumination source passes through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door; and

wherein said strap-handle portion comprises structure configured to receive said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module thereat, and wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion.

26. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 25, wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprises wiring that extends from the housing for electrically connecting said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door.

27. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 25, wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door.

28. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 25, wherein said structure comprises one of an opening and a recess.

29. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 25, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is snap-attached at said strap-handle portion.

30. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 25, wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion via at least one a fastener.

31. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 25, wherein said sealed self-contained elongated lighting module comprises at least one of (i) a light pipe and (ii) an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device.