Flat push type concealed door handle

Abstract

The application provides a flat push type hidden door handle and belongs to the technical field of automobile handles. The application solves the problem of easy failure of the existing flat push type hidden door handle. The flat push type hidden door handle comprises a handle arranged on a door, a swing assembly for driving the handle to act, and an actuator for driving the swing assembly to act, the swing assembly comprises a rotating arm rotatably arranged in the door, one end of the rotating arm close to the handle is hingedly connected with the handle, and an ice breaking structure for acting on the rotating arm when ice is broken is arranged at the rotating arm. The handle effectively realizes ice breaking by arranging a top block at the rotating arm, the actuator acts on the top block when ice is broken, the top block acts on the rotating arm, the distance from the point where the top block acts on the rotating arm to the rotating center of the rotating arm is greater than the distance from the point where the actuator acts on the rotating arm to the rotating center of the rotating arm, the force arm is increased, and ice breaking can be effectively realized. The handle is reasonable in design, compact in structure, not easy to be damaged after long-term use, and long in service life.

Description

Sliding concealed door handle Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive door handle technology and relates to a sliding concealed door handle. Background Technology

[0002] Concealed car door handles are widely used because they are flush with the outer surface of the door, which better suits the streamlined design of the car body and enhances its aesthetics. However, when the ambient temperature drops below freezing, residual moisture in the gap between the handle and the door may condense into ice, freezing the handle and door together and affecting usability.

[0003] Currently, the industry mostly adopts hard-ice breaking methods, which involve increasing the power of the door handle motor and strengthening the reduction mechanism. This method can solve the problem of opening most door handles after they have been frozen on the surface. The disadvantage is that for cars used in extremely cold regions for a long time, the door handles of cars parked outdoors are very likely to freeze, requiring frequent hard-ice breaking to pop the handle out. In scenarios with thick ice, hard-ice breaking may not be successful, and it will also have a significant impact on the lifespan of the motor and reduction mechanism, making them more prone to failure in the long run and increasing maintenance costs.

[0004] Some methods employ electric heating for ice breaking, such as the handle antifreeze system disclosed in Chinese patent [publication number CN216110200U], which includes an outer door panel, a door handle, and a support base. The support base is fixed to the outer door panel, and the door handle is movably connected within the support base. It also includes a heating wire used to heat the area around the door handle. However, this method has the following problems: when the low-temperature metal is suddenly heated, the door panel is prone to deformation, damaging the door structure; if the heating wire is remotely controlled, it cannot meet the immediate needs of vehicle use; if the heating wire is continuously powered by a battery, although it can meet the immediate needs of vehicle use, it may deplete the battery, preventing the vehicle from starting. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned problems in existing technologies by proposing a flat-push concealed door handle with a reasonable structural design.

[0006] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A sliding concealed door handle includes a handle mounted on a vehicle door, a swing assembly that drives the handle to move, and an actuator for driving the swing assembly to move. The swing assembly includes a rotating arm that is rotatably mounted inside the vehicle door. One end of the rotating arm near the handle is hinged to the handle. The rotating arm is provided with an ice-breaking structure that acts on the rotating arm when breaking ice.

[0008] In the initial stage of activating the handle (i.e., the ice-breaking stage), the ice-breaking structure causes the rotating arm to rotate outward at a certain angle, and in conjunction with the swing assembly, the handle moves outward a certain distance. After completing the ice-breaking action, the ice-breaking structure stops acting on the rotating arm, and then the actuator causes the rotating arm to continue rotating outward, and in conjunction with the swing assembly, pushes the handle to the activated state.

[0009] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, the ice-breaking structure includes a top block rotatably mounted inside the door and driven by an actuator. The rotation centerline of the top block is parallel to the rotation centerline of the rotating arm. When breaking ice, the actuator acts on the top block, and the top block acts on the rotating arm. The distance from the point on which the top block acts on the rotating arm to the rotation center of the rotating arm is greater than the distance from the point on which the actuator acts on the rotating arm to the rotation center of the rotating arm. After breaking ice, the actuator acts on the rotating arm.

[0010] Without a top block, the actuator acts directly on the rotating arm. The distance from the point where the actuator acts on the rotating arm to the center line of rotation of the rotating arm is much smaller than the distance from the frozen point of the handle to the center line of rotation of the rotating arm, forming a lever that requires a lot of effort and makes it difficult to break the ice at the frozen point of the handle.

[0011] After adding the top block, the distance from the point on the rotating arm where the top block acts to the center of rotation of the rotating arm is greater than the distance from the point on the rotating arm where the actuator acts to the center of rotation of the rotating arm. This increases the lever arm and makes it easier to break the ice at the frozen point of the handle.

[0012] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, the rotating arm includes an inner extension section extending obliquely from the outside inward toward the handle direction and an outer extension section extending obliquely from the inside outward toward the handle direction. The outer end of the inner extension section is rotatably mounted on the door via a first rotating shaft, and the outer end of the outer extension section is rotatably connected to the handle via a second rotating shaft. The first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are parallel. The inner end of the inner extension section is connected to the inner end of the outer extension section. When breaking ice, the top block acts on the outer extension section, and after breaking ice, the actuator acts on the inner extension section.

[0013] The actuator is located on the side of the inner extension away from the handle, and a receiving space is formed between the outer extension and the inner extension. The top block is located in the receiving space, resulting in a compact structure.

[0014] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, the top block is rotatably mounted inside the door via a third pivot, which is located between and parallel to the first pivot and the second pivot. When breaking ice, the distance from the point where the actuator acts on the top block to the third pivot is preferably greater than or equal to the distance from the point where the top block acts on the rotating arm to the third pivot.

[0015] This forms a force-saving lever or an equal-arm lever, more preferably a force-saving lever, making ice breaking easier. When breaking ice, the point where the top block acts on the outer extension is located inside the third rotating shaft. After breaking ice, the point where the actuator acts on the inner extension is located inside the third rotating shaft. When the actuator acts on the top block, the top block rotates around the third rotating shaft towards the handle, thereby pushing the rotating arm to rotate outward around the first rotating shaft, causing the handle to move outward.

[0016] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, the middle part of the rotating arm has a clearance cavity that extends from the outside to the inside. The end of the clearance cavity near the handle has an abutment surface. The top block has a first protrusion extending to the inside of the abutment surface and a second protrusion extending inward into the clearance cavity. When breaking ice, the actuator acts on the second protrusion, and the first protrusion abuts against the abutment surface. After breaking ice, the first protrusion crosses the abutment surface, and the actuator acts on the rotating arm.

[0017] The abutment surface is located on the outer extension section. When the handle is not in use, the abutment surface is parallel to the outer surface of the door. When breaking ice, the force exerted by the first protrusion on the abutment surface is from the inside to the outside, which is beneficial for breaking ice. The second protrusion extends inward from the inner extension section. As the rotating arm rotates, the abutment surface gradually detaches from the support of the first protrusion until the ice breaking is completed and the abutment surface completely detaches from the support of the first protrusion. At this point, the actuator will act on the rotating arm, thereby driving the rotating arm to continue rotating to move the handle outward.

[0018] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, a slider is provided on the movable end of the actuator, and the slider can move towards or away from the handle under the action of the actuator.

[0019] The side of the slider closest to the handle is curved. When the slider pushes against the top block, the curved surface contacts the top block line, reducing friction. When the slider pushes against the rotating arm, the curved surface contacts the rotating arm line, similarly reducing friction.

[0020] In the aforementioned push-type concealed door handle, a first torsion spring is sleeved on the third rotating shaft, with one end acting on the door and the other end acting on the top block. When the top block is disengaged from the actuator, the first torsion spring can reset the top block.

[0021] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, a second torsion spring is sleeved on the first rotating shaft, with one end acting on the door and the other end acting on the rotating arm. When the rotating arm disengages from the actuator, the second torsion spring causes the rotating arm to return to its original position. When the rotating arm returns to its original position, the swing assembly will also return to its original position, thereby causing the handle to return to its original position.

[0022] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, the swing assembly further includes a swing arm. One end of the swing arm is rotatably connected to the end of the handle away from the rotating arm via a fourth pivot. The fourth pivot is parallel to the second pivot. The other end of the swing arm is located inside the handle and is rotatably connected to the door via a fifth pivot.

[0023] In the aforementioned sliding concealed door handle, the door is provided with a cable seat located inside the handle, and the other end of the swing arm is rotatably connected to the cable seat via a fifth pivot.

[0024] During the outward movement of the handle, the cable holder is not affected by the swing arm. When the handle is in the open position, pulling the handle outward around the second pivot will cause the handle to swing outward, which in turn will cause the cable holder to rotate, thus opening the door lock.

[0025] Compared with existing technologies, this sliding concealed door handle has the following advantages:

[0026] By setting a top block at the rotating arm, the actuator acts on the top block during ice breaking, and the top block acts on the rotating arm. The distance from the point where the top block acts on the rotating arm to the center of rotation of the rotating arm is greater than the distance from the point where the actuator acts on the rotating arm to the center of rotation of the rotating arm, which increases the lever arm and can effectively achieve ice breaking. A relief cavity is set inside the rotating arm, and the top block is placed in the relief cavity. The design is reasonable and the structure is compact. It is not easily damaged during long-term use and has a long service life. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 shows the connection relationship between the handle, swing assembly, actuator, and ice-breaking structure.

[0028] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between the swing assembly, actuator, and icebreaking structure.

[0029] Figure 3 is a side view of the sliding concealed door handle when it is not in use.

[0030] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the sliding concealed door handle when it is not in use.

[0031] Figure 5 is a side view of the sliding concealed door handle after it has broken through the ice.

[0032] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the sliding concealed door handle after ice breaking.

[0033] Figure 7 is a side view of the sliding concealed door handle after it has been activated.

[0034] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the sliding concealed door handle after it has been activated.

[0035] In the diagram, 1. Door; 2. Handle; 3. Actuator; 4. Rotary arm; 41. Inner extension section; 42. Outer extension section; 43. Relief cavity; 44. Abutment surface; 5. Top block; 51. First protrusion; 52. Second protrusion; 61. First pivot; 62. Second pivot; 63. Third pivot; 64. Fourth pivot; 65. Fifth pivot; 7. Slider; 81. First torsion spring; 82. Second torsion spring; 9. Rocker arm; 10. Cable seat. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the sliding concealed door handle includes a handle 2 installed on the door 1. When the handle 2 is in the locked state (not activated), the outer surface of the handle 2 is flush with the outer surface of the door 1. As shown in Figure 7, when the handle 2 is in the activated state, the handle 2 extends parallel to the door 1. At this time, pulling the handle 2 will open the door 1. When the door 1 is closed, the handle 2 will automatically return to the state of being flush with the door 1.

[0038] As shown in Figure 1, a swing assembly that drives the handle 2 to move and an actuator 3 that drives the swing assembly to move are installed inside the vehicle. The actuator 3 can be a linear actuator currently used in vehicles to drive the hidden door handle 2. The driving direction of the actuator 3 is parallel to the length direction of the handle 2. The actuator 3 drives the swing assembly to move, thereby driving the handle 2 to move through the swing assembly.

[0039] The swing assembly is a multi-link assembly located inside the handle 2, with the handle 2 serving as one of the links in the multi-link structure. The specific structure is shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 7. The swing assembly includes a rotating arm 4 and a swing rod 9 rotatably mounted inside the door 1. The end of the rotating arm 4 furthest from the handle 2 is close to the actuator 3 and is rotatably mounted inside the door 1 via a first pivot 61. The end of the rotating arm 4 furthest from the handle 2 is hinged to the handle 2 via a second pivot 62. One end of the swing rod 9 is rotatably connected to the end of the handle 2 furthest from the rotating arm 4 via a fourth pivot 64, which is parallel to the second pivot 62. The other end of the swing rod 9 is located inside the handle 2 and is rotatably connected to the door 1 via a fifth pivot 65.

[0040] To unlock the door 1 via handle 2, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a cable seat 10 is located inside handle 2 within door 1. The other end of the lever 9 is rotatably connected to the cable seat 10 via a fifth pivot 65. Before handle 2 is activated, the cable seat 10 is not affected by the lever 9. When handle 2 is moved to the activated state, pulling handle 2 outward around the second pivot 62 causes handle 2 to swing the lever 9 outward. At this time, the lever 9 will cause the cable seat 10 to rotate together, thus unlocking the door.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the rotating arm 4 includes an inner extension section 41 extending obliquely from the outside inward toward the handle 2 and an outer extension section 42 extending obliquely from the inside outward toward the handle 2. The outer end of the inner extension section 41 is rotatably mounted on the door 1 via a first pivot 61, and the outer end of the outer extension section 42 is rotatably connected to the handle 2 via a second pivot 62. The first pivot 61 and the second pivot 62 are parallel, and the inner end of the inner extension section 41 is connected to the inner end of the outer extension section 42. Thus, the rotating arm 4 is curved, forming a receiving space between the inner extension section 41 and the outer extension section 42. To achieve a more compact structure, an ice-breaking structure is provided in the receiving space to act on the rotating arm 4 during ice breaking. During ice breaking, the ice-breaking structure acts on the outer extension section 42, and after ice breaking, the actuator 3 acts on the inner extension section 41.

[0042] In the initial stage of activating handle 2 (i.e., the ice-breaking stage), the ice-breaking structure causes the rotating arm 4 to rotate outward at a certain angle, and in conjunction with the swing assembly, the handle 2 moves outward a certain distance. After the ice-breaking action is completed, the ice-breaking structure stops acting on the rotating arm 4. Then, under the action of the actuator 3, the rotating arm 4 continues to rotate outward, and in conjunction with the swing assembly, the handle 2 is pushed to the activated state.

[0043] To achieve the reset of handle 2, as shown in Figure 2, a second torsion spring 82 is sleeved on the first rotating shaft 61, with one end acting on the door 1 and the other end acting on the rotating arm 4. When the rotating arm 4 is disengaged from the actuator 3, the second torsion spring 82 can reset the rotating arm 4. When the rotating arm 4 resets, the swing assembly will reset, thereby driving handle 2 to reset.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1-8, the ice-breaking structure includes a top block 5 rotatably mounted inside the door 1 and driven by an actuator 3. The top block 5 is rotatably mounted inside the door 1 via a third rotating shaft 63, and is located within the receiving space between the inner extension section 41 and the outer extension section 42. The third rotating shaft 63 is located between the first rotating shaft 61 and the second rotating shaft 62 and is parallel to the first rotating shaft 61. During ice breaking, the actuator 3 acts on the top block 5, and the top block 5 acts on the rotating arm 4. The distance from the point where the top block 5 acts on the rotating arm 4 to the rotation center of the rotating arm 4 is greater than the distance from the point where the actuator 3 acts on the rotating arm 4 to the rotation center of the rotating arm 4. After ice breaking, the actuator 3 acts on the rotating arm 4. With the addition of the top block 5, the distance from the point where the top block 5 acts on the rotating arm 4 to the rotation center of the rotating arm 4 is greater than the distance from the point where the actuator 3 acts on the rotating arm 4 to the rotation center of the rotating arm 4, increasing the lever arm and making it easier to break the ice at the frozen point of the handle 2.

[0045] When breaking ice, the distance from the point where actuator 3 acts on top block 5 to the third pivot 63 is greater than the distance from the point where top block 5 acts on rotating arm 4 to the third pivot 63. This creates a lever that saves effort, making ice breaking easier. When breaking ice, the point where top block 5 acts on outer extension 42 is located inside the third pivot 63. After breaking ice, the point where actuator 3 acts on inner extension 41 is located inside the third pivot 63. When actuator 3 acts on top block 5, top block 5 rotates around the third pivot 63 toward handle 2, thereby pushing rotating arm 4 to rotate outward around first pivot 61, causing handle 2 to move outward.

[0046] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the middle part of the rotating arm 4 has a relief cavity 43 that runs from the outside to the inside. The end of the relief cavity 43 near the handle 2 has an abutment surface 44. The top block 5 has a first protrusion 51 that extends to the inside of the abutment surface 44 and a second protrusion 52 that extends inward into the relief cavity 43. The abutment surface 44 is set on the outer extension section 42. When the handle 2 is not activated, the abutment surface 44 is parallel to the outer surface of the door 1. When breaking ice, the actuator 3 acts on the second protrusion 52, and the first protrusion 51 abuts against the abutment surface 44. After breaking ice, the first protrusion 51 crosses the abutment surface 44, and the actuator 3 acts on the rotating arm 4.

[0047] During ice breaking, the force exerted by the first protrusion 51 on the abutment surface 44 is from the inside out, which is beneficial for ice breaking. The second protrusion 52 extends inward from the inner extension section 41. As the rotating arm 4 rotates, the abutment surface 44 gradually detaches from the support of the first protrusion 51 until the ice breaking is completed and the abutment surface 44 completely detaches from the support of the first protrusion 51. The actuator 3 will then act on the rotating arm 4, thereby driving the rotating arm 4 to continue rotating to move the handle 2 outward.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1-8, a slider 7 is provided on the movable end of the actuator 3. Under the action of the actuator 3, the slider 7 can move towards or away from the handle 2. The side of the slider 7 closest to the handle 2 is an arc surface. When the slider 7 pushes against the top block 5, the arc surface makes line contact with the top block 5, reducing friction. When the slider 7 pushes against the rotating arm 4, the arc surface makes line contact with the rotating arm 4, similarly reducing friction.

[0049] In order to reset the top block 5, as shown in Figure 2, a first torsion spring 81 with one end acting on the door 1 is sleeved on the third rotating shaft 63, and the other end of the first torsion spring 81 acts on the top block 5. When the top block 5 is disengaged from the actuator 3, the first torsion spring 81 can reset the top block 5.

[0050] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, when handle 2 is fully inside door 1, slider 7 separates from rotating arm 4, slider 7 is in clearance fit with top block 5, and the first protrusion 51 of top block 5 contacts abutment surface 44. During operation, actuator 3 pushes slider 7, slider 7 pushes top block 5, top block 5 rotates and pushes rotating arm 4, rotating arm 4, in conjunction with swing rod 9, moves handle 2 outward (upward in Figure 3). After ice breaking, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, top block 5 begins to disengage from rotating arm 4, slider 7 begins to push rotating arm 4, causing handle 2 to move outward. When handle 2 is fully engaged, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, rotating arm 4 swings outward to its maximum position, and top block 5 separates from rotating arm 4. At this time, simply pull handle 2 outward to rotate handle 2 around second pivot 62, which drives the cable seat 10 through swing rod 9 to unlock door 1.

[0051] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sliding concealed door handle, characterized in that, The device includes a handle (2) mounted on a car door (1), a swing assembly that drives the handle (2) to move, and an actuator (3) for driving the swing assembly to move. The swing assembly includes a rotating arm (4) rotatably mounted inside the car door (1). One end of the rotating arm (4) near the handle (2) is hinged to the handle (2). An ice-breaking structure that acts on the rotating arm (4) during ice breaking is provided at the rotating arm (4). The ice-breaking structure includes a top block (5) rotatably mounted inside the car door (1) and driven by the actuator (3). The rotation center line of the top block (5) is parallel to the rotation center line of the rotating arm (4). During ice breaking, the actuator (3) acts on the top block (5), and the top block (5) acts on the rotating arm (4). The point where the top block (5) acts on the rotating arm (4) is from the rotating arm (4) to the top block (5). The distance of the rotation center is greater than the distance from the point where the actuator (3) acts on the rotating arm (4) to the rotation center of the rotating arm (4). After breaking the ice, the actuator (3) acts on the rotating arm (4). The middle part of the rotating arm (4) has a relief cavity (43) that runs from the outside to the inside. The end of the relief cavity (43) near the handle (2) has an abutment surface (44). The top block (5) has a first protrusion (51) that extends to the inside of the abutment surface (44) and a second protrusion (52) that extends inward into the relief cavity (43). When breaking the ice, the actuator (3) acts on the second protrusion (52), and the first protrusion (51) abuts against the abutment surface (44). After breaking the ice, the first protrusion (51) crosses the abutment surface (44), and the actuator (3) acts on the rotating arm (4).

2. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating arm (4) includes an inner extension section (41) extending obliquely from the outside to the inside towards the handle (2) and an outer extension section (42) extending obliquely from the inside to the outside towards the handle (2). The outer end of the inner extension section (41) is rotatably mounted on the door (1) via a first rotating shaft (61). The outer end of the outer extension section (42) is rotatably connected to the handle (2) via a second rotating shaft (62). The first rotating shaft (61) and the second rotating shaft (62) are parallel. The inner end of the inner extension section (41) is connected to the inner end of the outer extension section (42). When breaking ice, the top block (5) acts on the outer extension section (42). After breaking ice, the actuator (3) acts on the inner extension section (41).

3. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The top block (5) is rotatably mounted inside the door (1) via a third pivot (63), which is located between the first pivot (61) and the second pivot (62) and is parallel to the first pivot (61).

4. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The actuator (3) has a slider (7) on its movable end. The slider (7) can move towards or away from the handle (2) under the action of the actuator (3).

5. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 3, characterized in that, The third rotating shaft (63) is fitted with a first torsion spring (81) with one end acting on the door (1) and the other end acting on the top block (5). When the top block (5) is disengaged from the actuator (3), the first torsion spring (81) can reset the top block (5).

6. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 2, characterized in that, A second torsion spring (82) is sleeved on the first rotating shaft (61), with one end acting on the door (1) and the other end acting on the rotating arm (4). When the rotating arm (4) is disengaged from the actuator (3), the second torsion spring (82) can reset the rotating arm (4).

7. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The swing assembly also includes a swing arm (9), one end of which is rotatably connected to the end of the handle (2) away from the rotating arm (4) via a fourth pivot (64). The fourth pivot (64) is parallel to the second pivot (62). The other end of the swing arm (9) is located inside the handle (2) and is rotatably connected to the door (1) via a fifth pivot (65).

8. The sliding concealed door handle according to claim 7, characterized in that, The door (1) is provided with a cable seat (10) located inside the handle (2), and the other end of the swing arm (9) is rotatably connected to the cable seat (10) via a fifth pivot (65).

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