Assist handle with integrated light unit

• US 20040109324A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Mazza, Richard Alan, Chou, Shu-Hsiung, Tiesler, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/023 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens

Abstract

The assist handle includes an elongated handle body having opposed ends and an attachment portion extending from each of the opposed ends. Each of the attachment portions is adapted to be attached to the surface of the vehicle interior. The handle body carries a light unit, which is operable to provide illumination to the vehicle interior. Preferably, the handle body is adapted to be hingedly attached to the vehicle interior surface and the light unit is incorporated as a part of the handle body.

Claims

1. An assist handle assembly for attachment to a surface of a vehicle interior, comprising:

an elongated handle body having opposed ends and including an attachment portion extending from each opposed end, each said attachment portion adapted to be attached to the surface of the vehicle interior; and

a light unit carried by said handle body, said light unit operable to provide illumination to the vehicle interior.

2. The assist handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said light unit is incorporated in said handle body.

3. The assist handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said handle body is adapted to be hingedly attached to the interior surface.

4. The assist handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said light assembly is carried by one of said attachment portions.

5. The assist handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said light assembly is carried by a portion of said handle body intermediate said opposed ends.

6. The assist handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said handle body includes a translucent member adjacent said light assembly so that when said light assembly is activated, light shines through said translucent member and provides illumination to the vehicle interior.

7. The assist handle assembly according to claim 6 wherein a portion of one of said attachment portions is defined by said translucent member.

8. A light assembly adapted to be attached to a surface on the interior of a vehicle, said light assembly comprising:

a housing;

a first member slidably disposed in said housing and movable in a first linear direction;

a second member rotatably mounted relative to said housing;

a contact member fixed relative to said second member;

a light source attached to said contact member, said light source operable to provide illumination to the vehicle interior when activated; and

a lead frame connected to said contact member and an electrical power supply,

whereby movement in said first direction by said first member causes rotational movement of said second member and said contact member and alternately activates and deactivates said light source by alternately supplying electrical power to the light source through said contact member.

9. The light assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first member is a manual push button.

10. The light assembly according to claim 8 wherein said rotational movement is caused by opposing cam surfaces on said first member and said second member.

11. The light assembly according to claim 8 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

12. The light assembly according to claim 8 wherein said light source is an incandescent bulb.

13. A light assembly adapted to be attached to a surface on the interior of a vehicle, said light assembly comprising:

an interior accessory member having a housing attached to the interior surface;

an electrically nonconductive light assembly housing attached to said interior accessory member housing;

a lead frame attached to said light assembly housing, said lead frame including a plurality of contacts connected to an electrical power source;

a light source connected to said lead frame, said light source operable to provide illumination to the vehicle interior;

a contact member interposed between said lead frame and said light source, said contact member including a shaft extending upwardly therefrom, said contact member and operable to provide electrical power from said lead frame contacts to said light source; and

a switch assembly connected to said contact member and operable to move said contact member relative to said lead frame, said switch assembly including a plunger operable to receive said shaft, a push button operable to reciprocatingly move said plunger, and a spring member interposed between said plunger and said push button,

whereby when said push button moves downwardly, said plunger, said shaft, and said contact rotate relative to said lead frame and alternately switch said light source between an activated and a deactivated position.

14. The light assembly according to claim 13 wherein said light source is an LED board having an LED light source attached thereto.

15. The light assembly according to claim 13 wherein said light source is an incandescent bulb.

16. The light assembly according to claim 13 wherein said interior accessory member is an assist handle.