VEHICLE DOOR HANDLE

• US 20160138304A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: NAGATA, Koichi, ARAKI, Nobukazu, SHIMADA, Seiji, MUSHIAKE, Eiji, KAWANO, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,501,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/34 Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/06 Mounting of handles, e.g. to the wing or to the lock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/22 Operative connections between handles, sill buttons or lock knobs and the lock unit mounting of non-movable base elements of a handle to a lock E05B79/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/14 Handles pivoted about an axis parallel to the wing
• 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 door handle for a vehicle includes a handle inner member made of a resin, which is arranged on a vehicle inner side, a handle outer member, which is assembled to a vehicle outer side of the handle inner member to form an accommodating portion between the handle outer member and the handle inner member, and a connector provided to the handle inner member. The connector includes a resin connector main body independent of the handle inner member and coupled integrally with the handle inner member. In the connector main body, connector terminals and an electronic component are connected in a component accommodating recessed portion formed on one side thereof and is communicated with the accommodating portion. A connection portion between the connector terminals and the electronic component is protected by potting material filled in the component accommodating recessed portion.

Claims

1. A door handle for a vehicle, comprising:

a handle inner member made of a resin, which is adapted to be arranged on a vehicle inner side of a door of the vehicle;

a handle outer member, which is assembled to a vehicle outer side of the handle inner member to form an accommodating portion between the handle outer member and the handle inner member;

a connector main body made of a resin, which is formed as a member independent of the handle inner member and connected to the handle inner member;

a component accommodating recessed portion, which is formed on one side in the connector main body to communicate with the accommodating portion;

a connector terminal, which is supported by the connector main body;

an electronic component, which is connected to the connector terminal; and

a potting material, which is filled in the component accommodating recessed portion, for protecting a connection portion between the connector terminal and the electronic component.

2. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the handle inner member has formed therein a supporting hole, into which the connector main body is insertable, for supporting the connector main body; and

the door handle for a vehicle further comprises;

a stopper configured to regulate an amount of insertion of the connector main body into the supporting hole; and

an engagement claw configured to connect the handle inner member and the connector main body to each other under a state in which the amount of insertion of the connector main body is regulated by the stopper.

3. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a cylindrical guiding portion provided in the supporting hole of the handle inner member, the cylindrical guiding portion exhibiting a cylindrical shape for guiding the insertion of the connector main body.

4. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a vehicle inner-side opening of the cylindrical guiding portion is set so as to be located inside of the vehicle with respect to an insertion hole of a door outer panel of the door.

5. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a projection formed on a vehicle inner-side end portion of the cylindrical guiding portion, the projection being capable of coming into sliding contact with an outer circumferential surface of the connector main body.

6. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a retaining portion formed on the handle outer member, the retaining portion being configured to prevent removal of the connector main body from the handle inner member.

7. A door handle for a vehicle, comprising:

a handle inner member made of a resin, which is adapted to be arranged on a vehicle inner side of a door of the vehicle;

a handle outer member, which is assembled to a vehicle outer side of the handle inner member to form an accommodating portion between the handle outer member and the handle inner member; and

a connector, which is provided to the handle inner member, wherein;

a connector main body made of a resin of the connector is formed as a member independent of the handle inner member, and is coupled integrally with the handle inner member;

a connector terminal supported by the connector main body and an electronic component are connected in a component accommodating recessed portion formed on one side in the connector main body, the component accommodating recessed portion being communicated with the accommodating portion; and

a connection portion between the connector terminal and the electronic component is protected by a potting material filled in the component accommodating recessed portion.