Vehicle door handle assembly
The door handle assembly that includes brackets, movable handles, safety panels and plastic covers solves the aesthetic appearance and protection of locks in emergencies, achieving manual unlocking and anti-theft performance without affecting the appearance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510070647.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-02-01
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-01
AI Technical Summary
When existing door handles need to be unlocked manually in emergencies, the aesthetic appearance and protection of the lock are difficult to take into account and are vulnerable to thieves.
A door handle assembly is designed, including a bracket, movable handle, safety plate and plastic cover, which covers the safety plate with a plastic cover to hide the lock, protect the lock with the clamping structure of the plastic cover and bracket, and provides manual unlocking function in case of emergency.
It enables protection of locks without affecting the aesthetic appearance, preventing thieves from sabotage while ensuring manual unlocking of doors in emergencies.
Smart Images
Figure CN120401906A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of door handles for controlling the opening of a vehicle door, and more particularly to a retractable door handle configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the handle is flush with the outer side of the door panel to reduce drag during vehicle movement. In the extended position, the handle can be grasped by a user to open the door. Background Art
[0002] Door handles are typically electric handles that include an electric motor to move the handle from the retracted position to the extended position, and the handle is usually equipped with a wireless control device to authorize unlocking of the door and deployment of the handle. However, there is still a need to provide manual access to the vehicle in emergency situations, such as when the battery is depleted or when the wireless control device malfunctions or is damaged. Therefore, a lock is typically located next to the handle so that a user can use a key inserted into the lock to unlock the vehicle. However, this lock needs to be protected from potential thieves on the one hand, and on the other hand, the lock and its protection mechanism need to be hidden as much as possible to improve the aesthetic appearance of the door handle. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution to overcome the above problems in order to protect the lock without degrading the aesthetic appearance of the door handle.
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a door handle assembly comprising:
[0005] - a bracket configured to be fixed to the inner side of the door panel,
[0006] - a movable handle fastened to the bracket and configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, in which the movable handle is flush with the outer side of the door panel in the retracted position,
[0007] - a safety plate including a central opening and configured to be fixed to the bracket,
[0008] - a lock configured to be positioned within the central opening of the safety plate,
[0009] wherein the door handle assembly further includes a plastic cover fastened to the bracket and / or the safety plate and configured to cover the safety plate, the plastic cover including a central opening configured to receive the lock.
[0010] The use of the plastic cover makes it possible to hide the safety plate so that the exact position and shape of the safety plate remain unknown, and makes the appearance of the handle smooth and uniform with the rest of the handle even in the extended position.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the plastic cover is clipped to the bracket and / or the security plate.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the plastic cover includes a first pin and a second pin and a hook, wherein the first pin and the second pin are arranged on a first side of the plastic cover and are configured to be positioned in corresponding first and second grooves of the bracket or the safety plate, and the hook is arranged on a second side of the plastic cover opposite to the first side and is configured to be introduced into the opening of the bracket or the safety plate for clamping the plastic cover to the bracket and / or the safety plate.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the vehicle door handle assembly further includes a fork configured to slide laterally via the screw to retain the lock and / or security plate in position in the bracket.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the safety plate is made of steel.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the movable handle includes a manual release position in which the lock can be positioned in the recess of the bracket from outside the door panel.
[0016] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling a vehicle door handle assembly as described above on a door panel, the door panel comprising an opening, the method comprising the following steps:
[0017] - Position the safety plate on the bracket,
[0018] - Fasten the plastic cover to the bracket and / or safety plate,
[0019] - positioning the bracket on the inner side of the door panel, the movable handle protruding through the opening of the door panel,
[0020] - For example, fix the bracket to the inner side of the door panel with screws,
[0021] - placing the movable handle in the manual release position,
[0022] - introduce the lock into the recess of the bracket through the central opening of the security plate and through the central opening of the plastic cover,
[0023] - Slide the fork with the transverse screw to constrain the lock in place in the bracket.
[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the plastic cover is clipped to the bracket and / or the security plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a door panel and a door handle in a retracted position;
[0026] Figure 2 is in the open position Figure 1Perspective view of the door handle;
[0027] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the door handle with the key in the open position; Figure 1 Perspective view of the door handle;
[0028] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the safety plate;
[0029] Figure 5a is a perspective view of a part of the bracket and the safety plate;
[0030] Figure 5b is a perspective view of a part of the bracket and the safety plate fastened to the bracket;
[0031] Figure 6a is a perspective view of the plastic cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 6b is another perspective view of the plastic cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the plastic cover positioned on the bracket;
[0034] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the plastic cover fastened to the bracket;
[0035] Figure 9 is a flowchart of different steps of a method for assembling a door handle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Detailed Description
[0036] The following achievements are examples. 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.
[0037] In the following description, the terms "upper", "above", "lower", "below", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom" refer to the relative position or orientation when the door handle is assembled to the vehicle.
[0038] The present invention relates to a door handle assembly 1, which includes a bracket 3 and a movable handle 5. The bracket 3 is configured to be fixed to the door panel 4, and the movable handle 5 is configured to be fastened to the bracket 3. The bracket 3 is configured to be fixed, for example, by screws, on the inner side of the door panel. The movable handle 5 is a retractable handle, which is configured to move between the Figure 1 shown retracted position and the deployed position. In the retracted position, the handle 5 is flush with the outer side of the door panel 4. In the deployed position, the handle 5 can be grasped by the user and oriented towards as Figure 2Pulled at the open position shown. In this open position, for example in case of power shortage, the user can access the lock 7 and can introduce the key 9 into the slot of the lock 7 to manually unlock the door, as Figure 3 shown.
[0039] The vehicle door handle assembly 1 further includes a safety plate 11, also known as a Thatcham plate, which is configured to prevent access to the lock 7 from the outside of the door panel 4 with a sharp element (such as a screwdriver or other tool used by a thief). The safety plate 11 is made of a metallic material such as steel and is fastened to the bracket 3 next to the recess 6 of the bracket 3, and the recess 6 is configured to receive the lock 7. The safety plate 11 extends around the lock to prevent a thief from reaching the side of the lock with a tool such as a screwdriver.
[0040] Figure 4 An example of the safety plate 11 is shown, which has a generally square shape with three fins 13 and a central opening 15 arranged on three sides of the square so that the lock 7 can be inserted. The safety plate 11 further includes a tongue 17 configured to receive a fixing screw or a fork. The safety plate 11 further includes an opening 19 configured to receive a clamping device.
[0041] The safety plate 11 is configured to be fastened to the bracket 3, as Figure 5a and Figure 5b shown. The safety plate 11 can be clipped onto the bracket 3 or can be inserted only in the first step. The fastening of the safety plate 11 to the bracket 3 can be achieved with a fork thereafter.
[0042] The vehicle door handle assembly 1 further includes a plastic cover 21 configured to be placed above the safety plate 11 to cover the safety plate 11 and be able to hide the safety plate 11. The plastic cover 21 has a generally square shape that is at least partially complementary to the shape of the safety plate 11. The plastic cover 21 further includes a central opening 23 so that the lock 7 can be inserted. The plastic cover 21 can be clipped onto the safety plate and / or the bracket 3. In the present case, the plastic cover 21 includes a first pin and a second pin 25 that are parallel to each other and arranged in front of each other. The first pin 25 and the second pin 25 are configured to be inserted into the slot 27 of the bracket 3, as Figure 7 shown. Alternatively, the slot can be arranged in the safety plate 11. The plastic cover 21 further includes a clamping device, such as a hook 29, which is arranged on the side of the plastic cover 21 opposite to the first pin and the second pin 27 and is configured to be positioned within the opening 19 of the safety plate 11, as Figure 8 shown. Alternatively, the opening can be arranged in the bracket 3. Thus, the plastic cover 21 can be fastened to the bracket or the safety plate 11 or fastened to both by inserting the first pin and the second pin 25 into the slot 27 and by rotating the plastic cover 21 to insert the hook 29 into the opening 19, as Figure 8 shown by the arrow A in
[0043] The door handle assembly 1 further includes a lock or keyhole 7, which is configured to be introduced into a recess of the bracket 3, and the recess can be accessed via a central opening 15 of the safety plate 11 and a central opening 23 of the plastic cover 21, respectively. The lock can be restrained in place in the recess of the bracket by a fork 31 (visible in Figure 7 and Figure 8 ), and the fork 31 is configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the recess, as shown by the arrow B in Figure 8 . The fork 31 can be displaced by a screw protruding through a hole in the tongue 17 so as to block the axial displacement of the safety plate 11.
[0044] After the bracket 3 is fixed to the door panel 4, the lock 7 can be positioned in the recess of the bracket 3. For this purpose, the movable handle 5 can include a manual release position, in which the movable handle 5 can be rotated enough so that the lock 7 can be introduced and positioned in the recess 6 of the bracket 3 from the outside of the door panel 4 (when the bracket 3 is fixed to the inner side of the door panel 4).
[0045] The assembly of the safety plate 11 and the plastic cover 21 to the bracket 3 can be achieved before the bracket 3 is fixed to the door panel 4. The movable handle 5 can also be fastened to the bracket 3 before the bracket 3 is fixed to the door panel 4.
[0046] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling the door handle assembly 1 as described above on a door panel including an opening.
[0047] Figure 9 The flowchart showing different steps of the method.
[0048] The first step 101 refers to positioning the safety plate 11 on the bracket 3, as shown in Figure 5a and 5b . The safety plate 11 is positioned such that its central opening 15 is in front of the recess 6, and the recess 6 is configured to receive the lock 7. The safety plate 11 can be fastened to the bracket 3, for example, by clamping or by force insertion or any other suitable fastening means.
[0049] The second step 102 refers to fastening the plastic cover 21 to the bracket 3 and / or the safety plate 11. In the current case, the plastic cover 21 is fixed to the bracket 3 on one side and to the safety plate 11 on the other side. In fact, the plastic cover 21 is first positioned in the bracket 3, especially its first pin and second pin 25 are inserted into the slots 27 of the bracket 3, as shown in Figure 7 . Then the plastic cover 21 is rotated so that its hook 29 is inserted into the opening 19 of the safety plate 11, as shown in Figure 8 .
[0050] The third step 103 refers to positioning the bracket 3 on the inner side of the door panel 4, with the movable handle 5 protruding through the opening of the door panel 4.
[0051] The fourth step 104 refers to fixing the bracket 3 on the inner side of the door panel 4. This fixing is carried out, for example, with screws.
[0052] The fifth step 105 refers to setting the movable handle 5 in the manual release position or the open position. In fact, the movable handle 5 needs to be in the open position to enable the introduction of the lock 7.
[0053] The sixth step 106 refers to introducing the lock 7 into the recess 6 of the bracket 3 through the central opening 15 of the safety plate 11 and through the central opening 23 of the plastic cover 21.
[0054] The seventh step 107 involves sliding the fork 31 with the transverse screw to limit the lock 7 in the proper position in the bracket 3. The transverse screw is also configured to pass through the hole arranged in the tongue 17 of the safety plate 11 so as to limit the safety plate 11 in the proper position on the bracket 3.
[0055] The different steps of the method can be implemented in a different order. Some steps can be implemented simultaneously, and some steps can be optional. For example, the lock 7 can be fastened to the bracket 3 before fixing the bracket 3 on the inner side of the door panel 4.
[0056] Therefore, due to the use of the plastic cover 21, the safety plate 11 is hidden, which on the one hand enables preventing burglars from knowing the exact position of the safety plate 11, and on the other hand provides a smooth and aesthetic aspect during the use of the vehicle door handle assembly 1. In fact, the plastic cover 21 can be coated with the same color as the cover of the movable handle 5 and may be coated with the same color as the door panel 4 so as to provide a uniform appearance even when the movable handle 5 is in the deployed position, while allowing the user to access the lock 7 to insert the key 9, for example, in case of power failure, thus entering his / her vehicle.
Claims
1. A door handle assembly (1), comprising: - A bracket (3) configured to be fixed on the inner side of the door panel (4), - A movable handle (5), the movable handle (5) being fastened to the bracket (3) and configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, in the retracted position, the movable handle (5) being flush with the outer side of the door panel (4), - A safety plate (11), the safety plate (11) including a central opening (15) and being configured to be fixed to the bracket (3), - A lock (7) configured to be positioned within the central opening (15) of the safety plate (11), wherein the door handle assembly (1) further includes a plastic cover (21), the plastic cover (21) being fastened to the bracket (3) and / or fastened to the safety plate (11) and configured to cover the safety plate (11), the plastic cover (21) including a central opening (23) configured to receive the lock (7).
2. The door handle assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The plastic cover (21) is clipped to the bracket (3) and / or the safety plate (11).
3. The door handle assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The plastic cover (21) includes a first pin and a second pin (25) and a hook (29), the first pin and the second pin being arranged on a first side of the plastic cover (21) and configured to be positioned in corresponding first and second slots (27) of the bracket (3) or the safety plate (11), the hook being arranged on a second side of the plastic cover (21) opposite to the first side and being configured to be introduced into an opening (19) of the bracket (3) or the safety plate (11) for clipping the plastic cover (21) to the bracket (3) and / or the safety plate (11).
4. The door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fork (31), the fork (31) being configured to slide laterally by a screw to restrict the lock (7) and / or the safety plate (11) in a proper position in the bracket (3).
5. The door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The safety plate (11) is made of steel.
6. The door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The movable handle (5) includes a manual release position, in the manual release position, the lock (7) can be positioned in a recess (6) of the bracket (3) from the outer side of the door panel (4).
7. A method for assembling the door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims on a door panel (4), the door panel (4) including an opening, the method comprising the following steps: - Positioning (101) the safety plate (11) on the bracket (3), - Fastening (102) the plastic cover (21) to the bracket (3) and / or the safety plate (11), - Positioning (103) the bracket (3) on the inner side of the door panel (4), the movable handle (5) protruding through the opening of the door panel (4), - Fixing (104) the bracket (3) on the inner side of the door panel (4) with, for example, screws, - Setting (105) the movable handle (5) in the manual release position, - Insert (106) the lock (7) into the recess (6) of the bracket (3) through the central opening (15) of the safety plate (11) and through the central opening (23) of the plastic cover (21). - Slide (107) the fork (31) with a transverse screw to hold the lock (7) in place in the bracket (3).
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The plastic cover (21) is clipped to the bracket (3) and / or the safety plate (11).