Handle and vehicle comprising the same

Abstract

The utility model discloses a handle and vehicle including the handle. The handle is used for being installed on the door panel of the vehicle, and the door panel is provided with an opening. The handle comprises a shell, which is embedded in the opening and connected to the inner side edge of the opening through a buckle connecting piece, and the shell defines a first chamber; a cover plate is connected to the shell and closes the outer side opening of the first chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model generally relates to a handle, particularly a handle for mounting on the door panel of a vehicle. This utility model also relates to vehicles including the handle. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, the installation structure of vehicle handles is typically quite complex. A common approach is to use a multi-component design, including a handle, housing, decorative cover, lock cylinder, and various mechanisms for handle operation. This type of handle suffers from drawbacks such as a large number of parts, time-consuming assembly, high cost, and inconvenient maintenance. Furthermore, installing such a handle generally requires providing an inner sheet metal part on the inside of the door panel, and fixing the handle assembly to this inner sheet metal part using MTA (tolerance adjusting bolts), further increasing the installation process and cost. Additionally, the mechanisms for handle movement, springs, pins, and other components also increase the overall size of the handle assembly.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need in the field for a simple vehicle handlebar that can greatly simplify the installation process, reduce the number of parts, and ultimately reduce the total cost while ensuring structural strength, durability, and user feel. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention solves one or more of the above-mentioned problems by providing a handle and a vehicle including the handle.

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention provides a handle for mounting on a vehicle door panel, the door panel having an opening, characterized in that the handle comprises: a housing embedded in the opening and connected to an inner edge of the opening by a snap-fit ​​connector, the housing defining a first chamber; and a cover plate connected to the housing and closing an outer opening of the first chamber. Specifically, the cover plate is connected to the housing by means of a snap-fit ​​connector, and preferably to the housing in a sealing manner. In this way, the present invention provides a handle that can be easily mounted on a vehicle door panel, particularly a semi-concealed handle.

[0006] Preferably, the snap-fit ​​connector includes one or more first snap-fit ​​members that snap onto the inner edge of the opening. Advantageously, the door panel has a peripheral flange on the inner edge of the opening, and the first snap-fit ​​members snap onto the peripheral flange.

[0007] Preferably, the inner edge of the opening is provided with one or more tabs, each tab having a connecting hole, wherein the snap-fit ​​connector further includes one or more second snap-fit ​​members, each second snap-fit ​​member snapping into a corresponding connecting hole. Advantageously, the second snap-fit ​​member is columnar and includes two or more circumferentially spaced claws that pass through the corresponding connecting holes when the housing is assembled to the door panel, and subsequently expand radially outward to abut against the inner edge of the corresponding connecting hole. Advantageously, each second snap-fit ​​member has a through hole between the two or more claws, and the cover plate includes one or more columnar members that pass through the through hole of the corresponding second snap-fit ​​member to hold the two or more claws in an outwardly expanded state. During assembly, the housing is first installed to the door panel so that the claws of the second snap-fit ​​members pass through the connecting holes, and then the cover plate is assembled to the housing so that the columnar members pass through the through holes between the claws and abut against the claws, thereby keeping them outwardly expanded. It can be recognized that, since the claws of the second fastener are elastic, these claws can abut against the inner edge of the corresponding connection hole even without the central column.

[0008] Preferably, the housing further defines a second chamber located inside the first chamber and a third chamber located below the first and second chambers, the third chamber being open on its outer side and communicating with the second chamber. It should be noted that in the context of this invention, a "chamber" is not necessarily a closed space, but rather, depending on operational needs, one or more sides of the "chamber" may be open. For example, when referring to "the housing defining a third chamber," the outer side of the third chamber is open, and some of its walls may be formed by other vehicle components (e.g., door panels) rather than all of the walls being formed by the housing. Advantageously, the rear side of the second chamber is closed by a rear cover.

[0009] Preferably, the handle further includes a circuit board disposed in the first chamber, and a first switch is disposed on the outer side of the cover plate. The first switch is electrically connected to the circuit board to perform locking and / or unlocking of the vehicle door. The first switch can be in various forms such as a button, touch switch, fingerprint recognition, or facial recognition.

[0010] Preferably, the handle further includes a second switch located between the first and second chambers, the second switch being electrically connected to the circuit board to perform locking and / or unlocking of the vehicle door. Advantageously, the first and second switches can cooperate. For example, a user can lock the door by operating the first switch and unlock the door by operating the second switch. Alternatively, the user can lock and unlock both by operating the first switch. Advantageously, the second switch includes a trigger plate that can be pressed to trigger a circuit board switch on the circuit board. Thus, the trigger plate separates the first and second chambers. The user can insert their hand or fingers through the third chamber into the second chamber and operate the trigger plate. Preferably, the third and second chambers are shaped to form channels for guiding the hand or fingers. In this way, after the door is unlocked, the user can open the door by pulling the trigger plate outward. Advantageously, the trigger plate extends cantilevered from the wall of the housing. The cantilevered trigger plate forms a resilient plate that can be pressed to form the second switch and returns to its original position after being released. Preferably, one side of the trigger plate is intermittently connected to the wall of the housing via several spaced-apart connections. Preferably, the trigger plate is integrally formed with the housing. Alternatively, the trigger plate may not be cantilevered, but a simple plate with a return function provided by other elastic elements (e.g., springs or leaf springs).

[0011] Advantageously, the second switch further includes a soft pad adjacent to and inside the trigger plate, wherein the soft pad forms a waterproof seal against the first chamber. This allows the user to press the trigger plate using the soft pad, providing a more comfortable operating experience. Preferably, the soft pad is formed onto adjacent portions of the trigger plate and the housing via secondary injection molding.

[0012] Preferably, the handle further includes an emergency unlocking device operable to unlock the vehicle door in an emergency. Advantageously, the emergency unlocking device includes a cover that can be opened to expose a pull cable that can be pulled to unlock the door. Preferably, when the cover is opened, a portion of the pull cable is dragged, for example, outward, to facilitate subsequent pulling of the cable by the user. Preferably, the cover is disposed in the bottom wall of the housing perpendicular to the cover plate, or in the wall of the housing located above the third chamber, such that the cover is not visible when viewed from the direction facing the cover plate in its unopened state. Thus, in the actual installed state, the cover is actually located in the lower side wall, thereby providing a degree of concealment and preventing the risk of accidental operation. Preferably, the wall with the cover is adjacent to the second chamber. Advantageously, the cover is configured to be manually or automatically opened. Preferably, the cover is configured to be automatically opened in the event of a vehicle collision or upon detection of a predetermined inertial force. In the case of manual opening, the lid or the wall surrounding the lid may have notches to facilitate finger operation. In the case of automatic opening, the handle may further include a motor to drive the lid open in the event of a vehicle collision or the detection of a predetermined acceleration. Advantageously, the emergency unlocking device further includes a push mechanism, the actuator of which is connected to the lid such that the lid opens when pressed and closes when pressed again.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle including a handle according to the present invention.

[0014] The handle according to this utility model simplifies the installation method, improves installation efficiency, and reduces the overall cost of the handle. Simultaneously, the handle has a fixed handle provided by the wall of the housing and is opened electronically, improving the door opening feel and providing an aesthetically pleasing integrated appearance. Furthermore, the handle retains an emergency unlocking device, allowing users to manually or automatically unlock the door in the event of an accident or malfunction. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 A front perspective view of the handle according to the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A rear perspective view of the handle according to the present invention is shown; Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the handle according to the present invention is shown; Figure 4 A rear perspective view of a door panel according to the present invention is shown; Figure 5 A front perspective view of the housing of the handle according to the present invention is shown; Figure 6 A rear perspective view of the housing of the handle according to the present invention is shown; Figure 7 A rear perspective view of the cover plate of the handle according to the present invention is shown; Figure 8 A perspective view of the back cover of the handle according to the present invention is shown.

[0016] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Handle 10. Shell 11. First Chamber 12. Second chamber 13. Third Chamber 14. Snap-fit ​​connectors 15. First fastener 16. Second fastener 17. Through hole 18. Square Hole 20. Cover plate 21. Columnar element 22. Fasteners 23. Hole 24. First switch 30. Circuit board 40. Back cover 41. Fasteners 50. Second switch 51. Trigger plate 52. Soft cushion 53. Connecting parts 60. Emergency unlocking device 61. Lid 62. Pulling wire 63. Push mechanism 70. Connectors 100. Door panel 101. Opening 102. Peripheral flange 103. Convex plate 104. Connecting hole. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more comprehensive description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more complete and thorough understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.

[0018] In this application document, terms indicating orientation such as “outer side”, “inner side”, “top”, “bottom”, “outward”, “inward”, “upward”, “downward”, “horizontal”, and “vertical” are relative to the actual operating position or installation position of the device.

[0019] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 A front (outer) perspective view, a rear (inner) perspective view, and a sectional view of the handle 1 according to this utility model are shown respectively. Figure 1-3 As shown, handle 1 is installed in opening 101 of door panel 100 and includes housing 10 and cover 20. Housing 10 is connected to the inner edge of opening 101 via snap-fit ​​connector 14 and defines a first chamber 11, a second chamber 12 located inside the first chamber 11, and a third chamber 13 located below the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. Cover 20 is connected to housing 10 and closes the outer opening of the first chamber 11, such that the outer surface of cover 20 is substantially flush with the outer surface of door panel 100. The outer side of the third chamber 13 is open and communicates with the second chamber 12 on its inner upper side, allowing a user's hand or fingers to reach into the second chamber 12 through the third chamber 13. The shapes of the third chamber 13 and the second chamber 12 can be designed to form channels for guiding the hand or fingers. For example, the lower sidewall of the third chamber 13 can be formed obliquely to guide the hand or fingers into the second chamber 12. In this example, each chamber is defined by the wall of housing 10. It is conceivable that one or more walls of these chambers may be defined by other components. For example, the lower sidewall of the third chamber 13 may be formed by a portion of the door panel.

[0020] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the handle 1 also includes a circuit board 30 located in the first chamber 11, a rear cover 40 for closing the rear side of the second chamber 12, an emergency unlocking device 60 for emergency unlocking operation of the door, and a connector 70 located on the rear side of the rear cover 40.

[0021] Figure 4 A rear view (inner perspective) of a door panel 100 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 4As shown, the door panel 100 has an opening 101 for receiving the handle 1, and a peripheral flange 102 is formed around the opening 101 on its inner surface. A tab 103 with a connecting hole 104 protrudes from the edge of the opening 101 or from the peripheral flange 102 toward the opening 101. It is conceivable that the peripheral flange 102 and the tab 103 can be integrally formed with the door panel 100. Alternatively, the peripheral flange 102 and / or the tab 103 can be formed as a reinforcement.

[0022] Figure 5 and Figure 6 A front (outer) perspective view and a rear (inner) perspective view of the housing 10 of the handle 1 according to the present invention are shown respectively. Figure 6 As shown, a snap-fit ​​connector 14 is formed on the rear side of the housing 10. The snap-fit ​​connector 14 includes two first snap-fit ​​members 15 and two second snap-fit ​​members 16 disposed opposite each other along the periphery of the housing 10. See also Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 The first fastener 15 is a plate-type fastener with claws, extending rearward from the rear side of the housing 10. When the housing 10 is inserted into the opening 101 of the door panel 100, the first fastener 15, by its elasticity, crosses the edge of the opening 101 and overlaps the inner edge of the opening 101 or the peripheral flange 102. The second fastener 16 is a columnar fastener (or "expansion fastener"), comprising two circumferentially spaced claws that extend rearward from the rear side of the housing 10 and form a through hole 17 between them. When the housing 10 is inserted into the opening 101 of the door panel 100, the claws of the second fastener 16, by their elasticity, pass through the connecting hole 104 in the tab 103 of the door panel 100, and then expand radially outward to overlap the inner edge of the connecting hole 104. In this way, the housing 10 is connected to the vehicle door panel 100 via two plate-type snap fasteners and two column-type snap fasteners, after which other components of the handle 1 can be connected to the housing 10, thereby achieving a simple, quick, and cost-effective installation of the handle 1. Any other number of snap fasteners can be envisioned.

[0023] Figure 7 A rear (inner) perspective view of the cover plate 20 of the handle 1 according to the present invention is shown. As shown, the cover plate 20 has a plurality of snap-fit ​​members 22 formed around its inner periphery and two columnar members 21 extending inward from its inner surface. The columnar members 21 may be solid or hollow. Additionally, the cover plate 20 also has a hole 23 for receiving a first switch 24. See also Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 7After the housing 10 is installed into the opening 101 of the door panel 100 to install the first latching member 15 and the second latching member 16, the cover plate 20 can be assembled to the front side of the housing 10 so that the latching member 22 engages with the corresponding engaging member of the housing 10, while the columnar member 21 passes through the through hole 17 between the claws of the second latching member 16 and abuts against the claws, thereby keeping the claws in an outwardly open state. In this way, the engagement between the second latching member 16 and the tab 103 is further strengthened. Preferably, the cover plate 20 is sealingly connected to the housing 10, thereby forming a seal for the first chamber 11.

[0024] Back Figure 1 , Figure 3-5 The handle 1 further includes a first switch 24 in the form of a button disposed on the outside of the cover 20, and a second switch 50 located between the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. The first switch 24 and the second switch 50 are electrically connected to a circuit board 30 located in the first chamber 11 to perform locking and / or unlocking of the vehicle doors. The first switch 24 may also be a touch switch, fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or other forms. The first switch 24 and the second switch 50 can cooperate; for example, a user can lock the door by operating the first switch 24 and unlock the door by operating the second switch 50. Alternatively, one of the first switch 24 and the second switch 50 may be used to perform both locking and unlocking, while the other may be used to perform other control operations. The second switch 50 can be operated by inserting a hand or finger through the third chamber 13 into the second chamber 12, and after the door is unlocked, the user can open the door by pulling it outwards. Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, the second switch 50 is essentially in the form of a trigger plate 51, which extends cantileveredly from the wall of the housing 10 and is intermittently connected to the wall of the housing 10 on one side by several spaced-apart connections 53. The trigger plate 51 is thus elastic, allowing it to be pressed to trigger the relevant operation and to return to its original position after being released. The trigger plate 51 may also not be cantilevered, but rather another form of elastic element, such as a plate biased by a spring or leaf spring. The second switch 50 further includes a soft pad 52 adjacent to and located inside the trigger plate 51, which forms a waterproof seal against the first chamber 11 and provides a more comfortable operating experience for the user. The soft pad 52 can be formed by secondary injection molding onto the trigger plate 51 and the wall of the housing 10 adjacent to the trigger plate 51.

[0025] Back Figure 1 , Figure 2An emergency unlocking device 60 for emergency unlocking of a vehicle door includes a cover 61 and a pull cable 62. The emergency unlocking device 60 also includes a rotating shaft for the cover 61 and a torsion spring for returning the cover 61 to its original position. As shown in the figure, the housing 10 has a square hole 18 in the wall of the upper side of the third chamber 13 (see Figure 18). Figure 5 The cover 61 is received in the square hole 18, so that in the actual installed state, the cover 61 is oriented downwards, thereby reducing the risk of misoperation. Figure 1 In this configuration, the cover 61 is located precisely in the wall below the button 24. Other components of the emergency unlocking device 60 are located at the rear of the housing 10, allowing operation only when the cover 61 is open. Once the cover 61 is open, the pull cable 62 is exposed to the user, who can unlock the door by pulling the cable 62. A loop formed by a portion of the pull cable 62 can engage at the rear of the cover 61, causing the cable 62 to be pulled outwards when the cover 61 is opened, facilitating subsequent pull by the user. The cover 61 can also be opened manually, for example, by pressing or lifting it with a finger. For this purpose, notches can be formed in the cover 61 or the wall surrounding the cover 61 to facilitate finger operation. In the press-to-open configuration, the emergency unlocking device 60 may further include a push-push mechanism 63, whose actuator is connected to the cover 61, causing the cover 61 to open when pressed and close when pressed again. The push mechanism that provides this mode of movement is well known in the art and will not be described further here. Alternatively or additionally, the cover 61 can be opened automatically, for example by a motor (electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor) that can drive the cover 61 to open in the event of a vehicle collision or the detection of a predetermined acceleration.

[0026] Figure 8 A perspective view of the rear cover 40 of the handle 1 according to the present invention is shown. See also Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 8 The rear cover 40 has a plurality of snap-fit ​​pieces 41 formed around its periphery to engage with corresponding fittings on the housing 10, thereby sealing the interior of the second chamber 12. It is conceivable that the rear cover 40 could be absent, and the interior of the second chamber 12 could be sealed by other components of the vehicle. Additionally, a connector 70 is disposed on the interior of the rear cover 40 for connecting the handle 1 to the vehicle's power supply and / or control unit to power the circuit board 30, the motor, or other components of the handle, or to transmit control signals.

[0027] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0028] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A handle (1) for mounting on a door panel (100) of a vehicle, the door panel (100) having an opening (101), characterized in that, The handle (1) includes: A housing (10) is embedded in the opening (101) and connected to the inner edge of the opening (101) by a snap-fit ​​connector (14), the housing (10) defining a first chamber (11). A cover plate (20) is attached to the housing (10) and closes the outer opening of the first chamber (11).

2. The handle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The snap-fit ​​connector (14) includes one or more first snap-fit ​​members (15) that snap onto the inner edge of the opening (101).

3. The handle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The door panel (100) has a peripheral flange (102) on the inner edge of the opening (101), and the first fastener (15) is fastened to the peripheral flange (102).

4. The handle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner edge of the opening (101) is provided with one or more tabs (103), each tab (103) is provided with a connecting hole (104), wherein the snap fastener (14) further includes one or more second snap fasteners (16), each second snap fastener (16) snaps into the corresponding connecting hole (104).

5. The handle (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second snap fastener (16) is columnar and includes two or more circumferentially spaced claws that pass through corresponding connection holes (104) when the housing (10) is assembled to the door panel (100), and then radially outward to abut the inner edge of the corresponding connection hole (104).

6. The handle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each second latch (16) has a through hole (17) between the two or more latches, and the cover plate (20) includes one or more pillars (21) that pass through the through hole (17) of the corresponding second latch (16) to hold the two or more latches in an outwardly open state.

7. The handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The housing (10) further defines a second chamber (12) located inside the first chamber (11) and a third chamber (13) located below the first chamber (11) and the second chamber (12), the third chamber (13) being open to the outside and communicating with the second chamber (12).

8. The handle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The handle (1) further includes a circuit board (30) disposed in the first chamber (11), and a first switch (24) is disposed on the outside of the cover (20), the first switch (24) being electrically connected to the circuit board (30) to perform locking and / or unlocking of the vehicle door.

9. The handle (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The handle (1) further includes a second switch (50) located between the first chamber (11) and the second chamber (12), the second switch (50) being electrically connected to the circuit board (30) to perform locking and / or unlocking of the vehicle door.

10. The handle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second switch (50) includes a trigger plate (51) that can be pressed to trigger a circuit board switch on the circuit board (30).

11. The handle (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The trigger plate (51) extends cantilevered from the wall of the housing (10).

12. The handle (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The second switch (50) further includes a pad (52) adjacent to and located inside the trigger plate (51), wherein the pad (52) forms a waterproof seal for the first chamber (11).

13. The handle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The handle (1) further includes an emergency unlocking device (60) that can be operated to unlock the vehicle door in an emergency.

14. The handle (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that, The emergency unlocking device (60) includes a cover (61) that can be opened to expose a pull cable (62) that can be pulled to unlock the door.

15. The handle (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that, The cover (61) is disposed in the bottom wall of the housing (10) perpendicular to the cover plate (20), or in the wall of the housing (10) located on the upper side of the third chamber (13), such that the cover (61) is not visible when viewed from the direction facing the cover plate (20) in the unopened state.

16. The handle (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The cover (61) is configured to be opened manually or automatically.

17. The handle (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The cover (61) is configured to open automatically in the event of a vehicle collision or in the event of a predetermined inertial force.

18. The handle (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The emergency unlocking device (60) further includes a push mechanism (63), the actuator of which is connected to the cover (61) such that the cover (61) opens when pressed and closes when pressed again.

19. A vehicle comprising a handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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