Vehicle door handle assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a door handle configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position. The door handle includes a structure including a first sleeve and a second sleeve, the cover configured to be secured to the structure, the cover including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm including a first hook configured to be introduced into the first slot to ensure that the first arm is aligned with the first sleeve, and the second arm including a second hook configured to be introduced into the second slot to ensure that the second arm is aligned with the second sleeve. The second hook is configured to be introduced into the second slot to ensure that the second arm is aligned with the second sleeve, the inner side of the wall associated with the first slot of the first sleeve and the second slot of the second sleeve defines a chamfer of between 20 DEG and 60 DEG, and wherein the first hook and the second hook have a shape complementary to the respective chamfer, the first hook and the second hook can be inserted into the first slot and the second slot respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of door handles for controlling the opening of vehicle doors, and more particularly to retractable door handles configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, in which the handle is flush with the outer side of the door panel to reduce drag during vehicle movement, and in which the handle can be grasped by a user to open the door in the deployed position. Background Art

[0002] Door handle assemblies typically include a bracket fixed to the inner side of the door panel and a retractable or movable handle configured to be fastened to the bracket. The movable handle is configured to shift between a retracted position, in which the movable handle is flush with the outer side of the door panel, and a deployed position, in which the movable handle can be grasped by a user.

[0003] The movable handle includes a structure and a cover, the structure including the technical components of the handle, such as fastening means for fastening the movable handle to the bracket, and the cover is configured to be fastened to the structure to hide the technical components and provide a desired aesthetic appearance. To provide a smooth appearance, especially in the deployed position, it is required that the cover be aligned with the structure without any gaps or play. It is also required that the assembly of the cover to the structure be easily adaptable to mass production in the automotive industry. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solution that enables the cover to be assembled to the structure of the movable handle in an easy manner while ensuring alignment of the cover with the structure without play to maintain a smooth visual appearance.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a door handle configured to be fastened to a bracket fixed to the inner side of a door panel, the door handle being configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, in which the door handle is flush with the outer side of the door panel in the retracted position,

[0006] Wherein, the door handle includes a structure and a cover. The structure includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve. The first sleeve is configured to be fastened to the first rod of the bracket, and the second sleeve is configured to be fastened to the second rod of the bracket. The cover includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is configured to cover the first sleeve, and the second arm is configured to cover the second sleeve. Wherein, the first arm includes a first hook, and the first hook is configured to be introduced into a first slot arranged in the wall of the first sleeve to ensure the alignment of the first arm with the first sleeve. And the second arm includes a second hook, and the second hook is configured to be introduced into a second slot arranged in the wall of the second sleeve to ensure the alignment of the second arm with the second sleeve. The inner side of the wall associated with the slots of the first sleeve and the second sleeve defines a chamfer with an angle between 20° and 60°, in particular a chamfer with an angle of 45°. And wherein, the first hook and the second hook are configured to be introduced into the slots associated with the first sleeve, and wherein, the first hook and the second hook are configured to define the slots of the first sleeve; In some embodiments, the hooks can be complementary to the corresponding chamfers to facilitate the introduction of the hooks into the corresponding slots.

[0007] The combination of a slot with an internal chamfer and a hook with an inclination complementary to the chamfer ensures that the hook is inserted into the slot when the cover slides along the structure.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, the cover has a U-shaped cross-section. The first branch of the U includes the first arm and the second arm of the door handle. The second branch of the U is opposite to the first branch, and the first branch and the second branch of the U extend towards each other at an angle between 5° and 30°.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, the first branch of the U is longer than the second branch.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the structure and the cover include a clamping device for fastening the cover to the structure.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, the cover is glued to the structure.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the structure includes a guide rail configured to guide the hooks of the cover towards the slots during assembly.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the cover is made of plastic material.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a door handle assembly, which includes a bracket and a door handle according to the above description. The bracket is configured to be fixed on the inner side of the door panel, wherein the bracket includes a first rod and a second rod configured to receive the door handle.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling the door handle according to the above description, and the method includes the following steps:

[0016] - Position the cover beside the structure, with the first hook and the second hook positioned in front of the first slot and the second slot respectively,

[0017] - Slide the cover along the structure so as to insert the first hook and the second hook of the cover into the corresponding first slot and second slot of the structure,

[0018] - Clamp the cover to the structure.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, during the sliding step, the hooks of the cover are displaced along the guide rails towards the corresponding first slot and second slot of the structure. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1a is a top view of a door handle structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 1b is a bottom view of a door handle cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the cover and the handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view and a side view of the hook of the cover of the handle and the associated slot of the structure of the handle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a perspective view of the hook;

[0025] Figure 5a is the hook and the slot in the first position Figure 3 ;

[0026] Figure 5b is the hook and the slot in the second position Figure 3 ;

[0027] Figure 5c is the hook and the slot in the assembled position Figure 3 ;

[0028] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of the cover assembled to the structure;

[0029] Figure 7 is a flowchart of different methods for assembling a car door handle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Detailed Description

[0030] The following description is exemplary. Although the specification refers to one or more embodiments, it does not mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment or that features are applicable only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0031] In the following description, the terms "upper", "lower", "vertical", and "horizontal" refer to the relative positions or orientations when the door handle is assembled to the vehicle.

[0032] The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle 1 configured to be fastened to a bracket fixed to the inner side of a door panel. The handle 1 is a movable handle 1 configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, in which the door handle 1 is flush with the outer side of the vehicle door panel in the retracted position, and in which a user can grasp the handle 1 to pull the handle 1 to open the door in the extended position.

[0033] The handle 1 includes a structure 3, as Figure 1a shown, the structure 3 includes a first sleeve 3a and a second sleeve 3b, the first sleeve 3a being configured to be fastened to a first rod of the bracket, and the second sleeve 3b being configured to be fastened to a second rod of the bracket.

[0034] The handle 1 further includes a cover 5, as Figure 1b shown, the cover 5 being configured to be fastened to the structure 3. As Figure 2 indicated by the arrow F in, the cover 5 can slide around the structure 3 so as to assemble the cover 5 to the structure 3.

[0035] The cover 5 can be made of a plastic material. The cover 5 can have a U-shaped cross-section, in which a first branch 6 of the U-shape includes a first arm 5a and a second arm 5b. The first branch 6 of the U-shape can be longer than a second branch 8.

[0036] The first branch 6 and the second branch 8 of the U-shape can extend towards each other at an angle C between 5° and 30° (e.g., 15°). In Figure 2 the line Δ1 is aligned with the first branch 6, the line Δ2 is aligned with the second branch 8, and the lines Δ2 and Δ2' are parallel, such that the angle C is represented between the lines Δ1 and Δ2'.

[0037] The first arm 5a is configured to cover the first sleeve 3a, and the second arm 5b is configured to cover the second sleeve 3b. The first arm 5a includes a first hook 7a configured to be introduced into a first slot 9a arranged in the wall of the first sleeve 3a to ensure alignment of the first arm 5a with the first sleeve 3a. The second arm 5b includes a second hook 7b configured to be introduced into a second slot 9b arranged in the wall of the second sleeve 3b to ensure alignment of the second arm 5b with the second sleeve 3b.

[0038] The first slot 9a and the second slot 9b are arranged in the walls of the respective first sleeve 3a and second sleeve 3b of the structure 3, and the inner side of the edge of the wall associated with the first slot 9a and the second slot 9b defines a chamfer 11. The chamfer 11 has an angle A between 20° and 60°, for example 45°, with respect to the plane (or general direction) defined by the walls of the sleeves 3a, 3b, as Figure 3 shown. The chamfer 11 may be arranged only on a part of the edge of the wall to avoid the slots 9a, 9b with sharp edges.

[0039] The first hook 7a and the second hook 7b have a shape complementary to the walls of the slots 9a, 9b, in particular a shape complementary to the respective chamfer 11. Thus, the first hook 7a and the second hook 7b include a wall herein referred to as the first part 71, which has an inclination B equal to the angle A with respect to the plane (or general direction) defined by the arms 5a, 5b, and the inclination B is thus between 20° and 60°, for example 45°, as Figure 4 shown. The hooks 7a, 7b may include a second part 72 that extends perpendicular to the plane defined by the arms 5a, 5b to be complementary to the edges of the slots 9a, 9b. Using such a chamfer 11 for the slots 9a, 9b and such a complementary shape of the hooks 7a, 7b makes it easy for the hooks 7a, 7b to be inserted into the corresponding slots 9a, 9b and prevents the fact that the hooks 7a, 7b are not introduced into the associated slots 9a, 9b during the assembly of the cover 5 on the structure 3. As Figure 6 shown, since the hooks 7a, 7b are easily inserted into the slots 9a, 9b, and the positioning of the hooks 7a, 7b at the bottom of the corresponding slots 9a, 9b ensures the correct positioning of the cover 5 relative to the structure 3, the risk of a gap between the cover 5 and the structure 3 is reduced.

[0040] As Figure 4 shown, the hooks 7a, 7b may also include side walls 15 configured to strengthen the hooks 7a, 7b and facilitate the manufacture of the cover 5 by avoiding sharp edges.

[0041] According to other embodiments, the cover 5 may include a different number of hooks, and the hooks may be arranged at other positions on the cover 5. Then, the structure may include a different number of slots associated with the respective hooks.

[0042] In addition, as Figure 1a shown, the structure 3 may include guide rails 13 configured to guide the hooks 7a, 7b of the cover 5 towards the slots 9a, 9b when the cover 5 slides around and along the structure 3. The guide rails 13 may be made by material removal and may be arranged along the first sleeve 3a and the second sleeve 3b.

[0043] The handle 1 may further include a clamping device between the cover 5 and the structure 3. The clamping device may be implemented by hooks disposed on the flexible arms of the cover 5 and slots disposed in the structure 3, the slots being configured to receive the hooks when the flexible arms are bent. The clamping device is configured to clamp the cover 5 to the structure when the hooks 7a, 7b are positioned at the bottom of the slots 9a, 9b, as Figure 5c shown. The clamping device is configured to restrain the cover 5 on the structure 3 when the hooks 7a, 7b are positioned at the bottom of the slots 9a, 9b.

[0044] As an alternative or supplement to the clamping device, the cover 5 may be glued to the structure 3 to ensure that the cover 5 is fastened to the structure 3.

[0045] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door handle assembly, which includes a bracket configured to be fixed on the inner side of a vehicle door panel and the door handle 1 as described above.

[0046] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling the vehicle door handle 1 as described above.

[0047] Figure 7 A flowchart representing different steps of the method.

[0048] The first step 101 refers to positioning the cover 5 beside the structure 3, wherein the first hook 7a and the second hook 7b are respectively positioned in front of the first slot 9a and the second slot 9b.

[0049] More specifically, the first hook 7a and the second hook 7b are positioned at the first end of the guide rail 13 of the structure 3, and the slots 9a, 9b of the structure 3 are positioned at the other end of the guide rail 13.

[0050] The second step 102 refers to sliding the cover 5 along the structure 3 so as to introduce or insert the first hook 7a and the second hook 7b of the cover 5 into the corresponding first slot 9a and second slot 9b of the structure 3. The hooks 7a, 7b are guided by the guide rail 13 during the sliding. Figure 5a 、 5b And 5c represent different stages when the hook 7a is inserted into the slot 9a at the end of the sliding. Due to the specific shapes of the previously described hook 7a and slot 9a, the end of the hook 7a is guided along the chamfer 11 towards the bottom of the slot 9a, such that the cover 5 is pushed against the structure 3, thereby ensuring that there is no gap between the cover 5 and the structure 3 when the ends of the hooks 7a, 7b reach the bottom of the slots 9a, 9b, as Figure 6 shown.

[0051] The third step 103 refers to clamping the cover 5 to the structure 3 to fasten the cover 5 to the structure 3 and prevent the cover 5 from sliding in the direction opposite to the sliding step 102.

[0052] The fourth step 104 is an optional step and involves gluing the cover 5 to the structure 3 to strengthen the fastening of the cover 5 to the structure 3. The glue can be applied on the structure 3 and / or the cover 5 before the sliding step 102.

[0053] Thus, thanks to the use of the slots 9a, 9b with internal chamfers 11 arranged on the structure 3 and the associated hooks 7a, 7b arranged on the cover 5 and having a complementary shape, correct assembly of the cover 5 on the structure 3 without play can be ensured in an easy step of sliding the cover 5 around the structure 3.

Claims

1. A vehicle door handle (1), the vehicle door handle (1) being configured to be fastened to a bracket fixed to the inner side of a vehicle door panel, the vehicle door handle (1) being configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, in which the vehicle door handle (1) is flush with the outer side of the vehicle door panel, in, The door handle (1) comprises a structure (3) and a cover (5), wherein the structure (3) comprises a first sleeve (3a) configured to be fastened to a first rod of the bracket and a second sleeve (3b) configured to be fastened to a second rod of the bracket, and the cover (5) is configured to be fastened to the structure (3), wherein the cover (5) comprises a first arm (5a) configured to cover the first sleeve (3a) and a second arm (5b) configured to cover the second sleeve (3b), wherein the first arm (5a) comprises a first hook (7a), the first hook (7a) being configured to be introduced into a first slot (9a) arranged in a wall of the first sleeve (3a) to ensure that the first arm (5a) is aligned with the first sleeve (3a), and the second arm (5a) is configured to be fastened to the structure (3), wherein the first arm (5a) comprises a first hook (7a), the first hook (7a) being configured to be introduced into a first slot (9a) arranged in a wall of the first sleeve (3a) to ensure that the first arm (5a) is aligned with the first sleeve (3a), and the second arm (5a) is configured to be fastened to the structure (3), (5b) comprises a second hook (7b), which is configured to be introduced into a second slot (9b) arranged in the wall of the second sleeve (3b) to ensure that the second arm (5b) is aligned with the second sleeve (3b), the inner side of the wall associated with the first slot (9a) of the first sleeve (3a) and the second slot (9b) of the second sleeve (3b) defining a chamfer (11) having an angle between 20° and 60°, in particular 45°, and wherein the first hook (7a) and the second hook (7b) have a shape complementary to the corresponding chamfer (11) to facilitate the introduction of the first hook (7a) and the second hook (7b) into the corresponding first slot (9a) and the second slot (9b).

2. The door handle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (5) has a U-shaped cross section, the U-shaped cross section has a first branch (6) of the U-shape and a second branch (8) opposite to the first branch (6), the first branch (6) of the U-shape includes a first arm (5a) and a second arm (5b) of the door handle (1), the first branch (6) and the second branch (8) of the U-shape extend toward each other at an angle (C), and the angle (C) is between 5° and 30°.

3. The vehicle door handle (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first branch (6) of the U-shape is longer than the second branch (8).

4. Vehicle door handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure (3) and the cover (5) comprise clamping means for fastening the cover (5) to the structure (3).

5. Vehicle door handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (5) is glued to the structure (3).

6. The vehicle door handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure (3) comprises a guide rail (13) configured to guide the hooks (7a, 7b) of the cover (5) towards the slots (9a, 9b) during assembly.

7. Vehicle door handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (5) is made of plastic material.

8. A vehicle door handle assembly, comprising a bracket and a vehicle door handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket is configured to be fixed on the inner side of a vehicle door panel, wherein the bracket comprises a first rod and a second rod, and the first rod and the second rod are configured to receive a first sleeve (3a) and a second sleeve (3b) of a structure (3) of the vehicle door handle (1).

9. A method for assembling a vehicle door handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the following steps: - positioning said cover (5) beside said structure (3), wherein said first hook (7a) and said second hook (7b) are positioned in front of said first slot (9a) and said second slot (9b), respectively, - sliding the cover (5) along the structure (3) so as to introduce the first hook (7a) and the second hook (7b) of the cover (5) into the corresponding first slot (9a) and the second slot (9b) of the structure (3), - Clamping the cover (5) to the structure (3).

10. Method according to claim 9 in combination with claim 6, wherein during the sliding step, the hooks (7a, 7b) of the cover (5) are displaced along the guide rail (13) towards the respective first slot (9a) and second slot (9b) of the structure (3).

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