Soft touch automotive latch handle
First Claim
1. A method of making an automotive latch handle intended for operation by manually pulling fingertips across a margin of the handle, the process comprising:
- a) molding a latch handle of a first plastic defining a support area for the margin, which plastic when fully solidified and cured has a stiffness of 0.8-5.8 GPa and a durometer ratio of >
10,000 shore A; and
b) overmolding said support area of the first plastic with a second plastic to define said margin, which margin, when fully solidified and cured, defines a finger gripping pad that has a stiffness of <
0.01 GPa and a durometer ratio in the range of 35-85 shore A.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method of making an automotive latch handle intended for operation by manually pulling fingertips across a margin of the handle; it includes the steps of: a) molding a latch handle of a first essentially rigid plastic defining an area support for the margin, which plastic when fully solidified and cured has a stiffness of 0.8-5.8 GPa and a durometer ratio of 710,000 shore A; and b) overmolding the support area of the first plastic with a second plastic to define the margin, which margin when fully solidified and cured defines a finger gripping pad that has a stiffness of <0.01 GPa and a durometer ratio in the range of 35-85 shore A. An automotive latch handle structure that comprises: a) a generally flat paddle having means facilitating linear or pivotal movement, the paddle having been formed by molding of a first essentially rigid plastic with a stiffness of 0.8-5.8 Gpa; and b) an integrally overmolded second plastic defining a gripping pad for the fingers, the pad being molded to a margin of the paddle at least along one edge.
23 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of making an automotive latch handle intended for operation by manually pulling fingertips across a margin of the handle, the process comprising:
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a) molding a latch handle of a first plastic defining a support area for the margin, which plastic when fully solidified and cured has a stiffness of 0.8-5.8 GPa and a durometer ratio of >
10,000 shore A; and
b) overmolding said support area of the first plastic with a second plastic to define said margin, which margin, when fully solidified and cured, defines a finger gripping pad that has a stiffness of <
0.01 GPa and a durometer ratio in the range of 35-85 shore A.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automotive latch handle, comprising:
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a) a generally flat paddle having means facilitating pivotal movement, said paddle having been formed by injection molding of a first essentially rigid plastic having a stiffness of 0.8-5.8 GPa; and
b) an integrally overmolded second plastic defining a gripping pad for finger operation, the pad being molded to a margin of the paddle at least along one edge. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification