Vehicle handle assembly with cup lighting

• US 20030095416A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huizenga, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/501
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• 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

Abstract

A handle assembly for a vehicle comprises a base portion adapted to mount to a vehicle and the base portion has a recessed portion that defines a finger cup area. The handle portion is movably mounted to the base portion and the handle portion is adapted for connecting a vehicle latching mechanism. A light assembly is incorporated into either the handle portion or the base portion for lighting the cup area when the light assembly is actuated. The light assembly conduits light from a light source and projects light in a light pattern whereby at least a portion of the cup area is illuminated with the light.

Claims

1. A handle assembly for a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:

a base portion adapted to mount to a vehicle, said base portion having a recessed portion defining a finger cup area;

a handle portion movably mounted to said base portion, said handle portion being adapted for connecting a vehicle latching mechanism; and

a light assembly incorporated into at least one of said handle portion and said base portion for lighting said cup area when said light assembly is actuated, and said light assembly conduiting light from a light source and projecting the light in a light pattern whereby at least a portion of said cup area is illuminated with light.

2. The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base portion includes said light assembly.

3. The handle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said base portion includes a plurality of said light assemblies.

4. The handle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cup area of said base portion includes said light assembly.

5. The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said light assembly includes a light directing member for conduiting light from a light source for illuminating said cup area.

6. The handle assembly according to claim 5, wherein said light directing member comprises a light pipe.

7. The handle assembly according to claim 6, wherein said light directing member comprises an acrylic light pipe.

8. The handle assembly according to claim 5, wherein said light assembly further includes a light source, said light directing member conduiting light from said light source when said light source is actuated for illuminating said cup area.

9. The handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein said light source comprises a light source chosen from a light emitting diode, a fluorescent light, an incandescent light, and an electroluminescent light.

10. The handle assembly according to claim 9, wherein said light source comprising a light emitting diode.

11. The handle assembly according to claim 9, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

12. The handle assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a circuit board, said light source electrically powered through said circuit board.

13. The handle assembly according to claim 12, wherein said circuit board includes a power regulator circuit for regulating the voltage to said light source.

14. The handle assembly according to claim 12, wherein said light assembly includes said circuit board.

15. The handle assembly according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of light assemblies are interconnected to form a light assembly unit.

16. The handle assembly according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said light assemblies includes a circuit board for supplying power to at least one of said light sources.

17. A handle assembly for a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:

a base portion adapted to mount to a vehicle, and said base portion having a recessed portion defining a finger cup area;

a handle portion movably mounted to said base portion, said handle portion being operable for latching or unlatching a vehicle latching mechanism via movement of said handle portion relative to said base portion; and

a light assembly comprising a light pipe adapted to direct light from at least one light source through said base portion for illuminating at least a portion of said cup area.

19. The handle assembly according to claim 17, wherein said light assembly includes a light source, said light pipe directing light from said light source when said light source is actuated.

18. The handle assembly according to claim 17, wherein said light source comprises one of a light emitting diode, a fluorescent light, an incandescent light, an electroluminescent light, an optical fiber, and a light pipe.

20. The handle assembly according to claim 19, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

21. The handle assembly according to claim 20, further comprising a power regulating circuit for adapting a vehicle electrical power supply for driving said light emitting diode.

24. The handle assembly according to claim 17, wherein said base portion includes a coupler for securing said light assembly to said base portion.

25. The handle assembly according to claim 24, wherein said coupler comprises a snap-fit coupler.

26. The handle assembly according to claim 17, wherein said light assembly is molded with said base portion.

22. The handle assembly according to claim 22, wherein said light assembly further comprises a circuit board including said power regulating circuit.

23. The handle assembly according to claim 22, wherein said light assembly further comprises an electrical connector for coupling to said vehicle electrical system.