Vehicle handle assembly with antenna

• US 7,544,319 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boezwinkle, William K, March, Philip A
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy; Hung T
• Application Number:
  US11/311,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 343711-713, 340/5.57, 340/5.62, 425/130, 425/572, 264/572, 264/328.1
• US Class Current: 264/328.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• 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: H01Q 1/3241 particular used in keyless entry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material

Abstract

A method for molding a door handle portion of a door handle assembly for a vehicle includes providing a handle mold for a door handle portion and positioning an antenna within a mold cavity of the handle mold. The method includes providing handle material within the mold cavity and at least partially around the antenna to form the door handle portion and removing the door handle portion and antenna from the handle mold. The handle portion includes an antenna positioned within the handle portion. Optionally, and prior to providing handle material within the mold cavity, the method may comprise providing core material within a mold cavity of a core mold to form a core portion, and positioning the core portion and the antenna within the mold cavity of the handle mold.

Claims

1. A method for molding a door handle portion of a vehicle door handle comprising:

providing a handle mold for a unitary door handle portion;

providing a mold cavity of a core mold; and

positioning an antenna in said mold cavity of said core mold;

providing core material within a mold cavity of a core mold to form a core portion, wherein providing core material comprises providing core material within said mold cavity of said core mold at least partially around said antenna to form a unitary core portion and antenna assembly;

positioning said core portion and said antenna within a mold cavity of said handle mold;

providing handle material within said mold cavity and at least partially around said antenna;

molding said provided handle material to form said unitary door handle portion at least partially around said antenna; and

removing said unitary door handle portion from said handle mold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning said antenna in said mold cavity of said core portion is prior to providing handle material to said mold cavity of said handle mold.

3. The method of claim 1 including providing an electrical connector to said antenna and positioning said electrical connector within said mold cavity of said core mold such that an end of said electrical connector extends from said core portion after said core portion is removed from said core mold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing core material into said mold cavity comprises injecting core material into said mold cavity via a gate positioned at or near one end of said core mold, said antenna being positioned at or near the other end of said core mold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said core portion comprises a core handle portion and at least one mounting portion integrally molded with said core handle portion.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing handle material comprises providing handle material substantially around said core handle portion of said core portion.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said handle material provides a class A type finish to said unitary door handle portion, and wherein said class A type finish comprises a substantially smooth outer surface of said unitary door handle portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said core material and said handle material comprise substantially the same material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said core material and said handle material comprise one of a mineral filled nylon material and a glass filled nylon material.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said core material comprises a different material from said handle material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said core material comprises one of a urethane material, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyvinylchloride (PVC), a thermoplastic olefin (TPO), a nylon material and a reground nylon material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said handle material comprises one of a thermoplastic material and a thermoset material.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein providing core material comprises providing porous core material.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said handle material comprises a substantially rigid and strong polymeric material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said handle material comprises one of a thermoplastic material and a thermoset material.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein providing handle material comprises injecting handle material into said mold cavity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein injecting handle material into said mold cavity comprises injecting handle material into said mold cavity via a gate positioned at or near one end of said handle mold, said antenna being positioned at or near the other end of said handle mold.

18. The method of claim 1 including providing an electrical connector to said antenna and positioning said electrical connector within said mold cavity such that an end of said electrical connector extends from said unitary door handle portion after said unitary door handle portion is removed from said mold.

19. A method for molding a door handle portion of a vehicle door handle comprising:

providing a handle mold for a door handle portion;

positioning an antenna within a mold cavity of said handle mold;

providing handle material within said mold cavity and at least partially around said antenna to form said door handle portion;

wherein prior to providing handle material within said mold cavity, said method comprises providing core material within a mold cavity of a core mold to form a core portion and positioning said core portion and said antenna within said mold cavity of said handle mold, and wherein said core mold cavity and said handle mold cavity are within a single mold, said core portion and said handle portion being molded via a two shot molding process; and

removing said door handle portion and antenna from said handle mold.