Door handle assembly for vehicle doors with sensor module

Abstract

The present invention provides a handle assembly that allows the grip member to be disassembled from the outside of the vehicle, even when the connector is located on the outside of the grip member. [Solution] The sensor module 2 includes a casing 20 housing a sensor and a wire harness 22 connecting the sensor to an external connector 24. The sensor module casing has an elongated shape along its longitudinal direction, and the grip member body 1 has a recess for receiving the sensor module casing. The recess is provided on a first side portion 10a of the grip member body and communicates with an opening provided on a second side portion 1b opposite the first side portion of the grip member body. The opening is configured to allow the wire harness to pass through the opening from one side to the other of the grip member body, and the opening is further configured to allow insertion of the sensor module casing and prevent insertion of the external connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a vehicle, and more specifically, to a vehicle door handle assembly equipped with a sensor module.

Background Art

[0002] A handle assembly for a vehicle door generally includes a handle (or grip member), a bracket to which the handle is fixed, and mechanical means and / or electric means configured to unlock the vehicle door and operate a latch to open the vehicle door.

[0003] Currently, the handle assembly is equipped with one or more sensors disposed within the grip member, and assembling these electronic components into the grip member can be complex and time-consuming.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the handle assembly is becoming increasingly complex, and the grip member increasingly contains more electronic components having associated connectors, making it difficult to integrate the connectors within the grip member. Therefore, it may be easier to incorporate the connectors in the handle assembly in the vicinity of the grip member.

[0005] However, if the connectors are disposed outside the grip member, the operation of disassembling the grip member from the outside of the vehicle, i.e., without disassembling the inner door panel, may become more complex.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a handle assembly having a grip member that can be disassembled from the outside of the vehicle even when a connector for connecting electronic components is located outside the grip member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a vehicle door handle assembly comprising a grip member body and a sensor module, wherein the door handle assembly is - The sensor module comprises a casing housing at least one sensor and a wire harness connecting the sensor to an external connector, wherein the casing of the sensor module has an elongated shape along its longitudinal direction. - The grip member body is provided with a recess for receiving the casing of the sensor module, the recess is provided on the first side of the grip member body, and the recess communicates with an opening provided on the second side of the grip member body opposite to the first side. - The opening is configured to allow the wire harness to pass through the opening from one side to the other side of the grip member body. - The opening is further configured to allow insertion of the casing of the sensor module and to prevent insertion of the external connector.

[0008] According to the present invention, the casing of the sensor module, which is positioned in a recess on the first side of the grip member body, can pass through an opening provided in the grip member body from the second side to the first side. It is advantageous that the opening provided in the grip member is large enough to allow the sensor module casing to pass through, but too small to allow the sensor module's external connector to pass through. This is because the smaller the opening, the less the mechanical strength of the handle is reduced. Therefore, the grip member body of the door handle assembly can be easily assembled with the sensor module without compromising the mechanical strength of the assembly.

[0009] A door handle assembly, either alone or in any technically possible combination, may include the following features:

[0010] The recess provided in the grip member body is characterized by having a substantially rectangular shape.

[0011] The length of the opening is characterized by being greater than the width of the casing of the sensor module and less than the width of the external connector of the sensor module.

[0012] The width of the opening is characterized by being greater than the thickness of the casing of the sensor module.

[0013] The casing of the sensor module is characterized by being fixed to the grip member body by a detachable snap-in connection.

[0014] A notch for securing the wire harness of the sensor module is provided near the opening.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling a door handle assembly as disclosed above, wherein the assembly method is: - A step of passing the casing and a portion of the wire harness of the sensor module through the opening from the second side to the first side of the grip member body, - The method is characterized by including the step of placing the casing of the sensor module in the recess in the central part of the grip member body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the grip member body according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a top view of the grip member body. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a bottom view of the grip member body. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the sensor module according to the present invention. [Figure 5]Perspective view of the assembly of the grip member body and the sensor module according to the present invention. [Figure 6] Detailed view of the through-opening of the grip member body. [Figure 7] Diagram showing the steps of assembling the sensor module within the grip member body.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Figures 1 to 3 show the grip member body 1 of the door handle assembly according to the present invention.

[0018] The grip member body 1 according to the present invention is substantially U-shaped and includes a central portion 10 designed to be gripped by a user, and first and second connecting members 12, 14 configured to be fixed to a bracket of a handle assembly (not shown).

[0019] A recess 16 extending along the longitudinal direction of the body 1 is provided in the central portion 10 of the grip member body 1. This recess 16 is configured to receive a sensor module according to the present invention, such as the sensor module 2 shown in FIG. 4.

[0020] The sensor module 2 includes a casing 20 housing one or more sensors, and the sensors are configured to receive a signal from a user's key, for example, to release a latch associated with a vehicle door handle assembly, and / or to detect the hand of the user gripping the handle. The casing 20 has a substantially elongated shape along the longitudinal direction A.

[0021] The sensor module 2 includes a wire harness 22 connecting the sensor to an external connector 24.

[0022] The casing 20 has a substantially elongated shape along the longitudinal direction A, and the width L1 of the casing 20 is smaller than the width L2 of the connector 24.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the recess 16 of the grip member body 1 forms an open cavity within the first side portion 10a in the central part of the body 1. The shape of the recess 16 is complementary to the shape of the sensor module casing 20.

[0024] According to the present invention, the recess 16 communicates with a through-opening 18 formed in the central portion 10 of the grip member body 1.

[0025] As shown in Figure 6, the through-opening 18 has a substantially rectangular shape and is configured to allow the casing 20 of the sensor module 2 to be inserted therein. The through-opening 18 is further configured to prevent the connector 24 from being inserted therein. Thus, the configuration of the opening 18 allows the casing 20 of the sensor module 2 to pass from one side 10b to the other side 10a of the main body 1, while preventing similar movement by the connector 24. In other words, the dimensions of the opening 18 are suitable for the insertion of the casing 20 (and wire harness 22) of the sensor module 2, but not for the insertion of the connector 24. In particular, the length L3 of the opening 18 is greater than the width L1 of the casing 20 of the sensor module 2, and smaller than the width L2 of the connector 24 of the sensor module 2. The width L4 of the opening 18 is greater than the thickness L5 of the casing 20 of the sensor module 2.

[0026] The configuration of the opening 18 allows for the attachment of the sensor module 2 while miniaturizing it as much as possible without compromising the mechanical strength of the grip member body 1.

[0027] A notch 18a for securing the wire harness 22 can be provided near the opening 18.

[0028] Figure 7 shows the steps required to assemble the grip member body 1 and the sensor module 2.

[0029] The first step is to bring the head 20a of the sensor module casing 20 closer to the second side portion 10b of the main body 1.

[0030] The second step is to insert the head 20a of the casing 20 of the sensor module 2 into the through-opening 18 from the second side portion 10b of the main body.

[0031] After inserting the head 20a of the casing 20 into the through-opening 18, the third step is to rotate the casing 20 of the sensor module 2 so that the main portion of the casing 20 is inserted into the through-opening 18.

[0032] The fourth step is to pass the entire casing 20 through the through-opening 18, thereby positioning the casing 20 on the first side portion 10a of the main body.

[0033] The fifth step is to place the casing 20 inside the recess 16 and connect the head 20a of the casing 20 to the grip member body 1.

[0034] Once step 5 is complete, the sensor module 2 is assembled to the grip member body 1. In this configuration, the wire harness 22 passes through the through-opening 18 and the connector 24 is positioned on the second side of the grip member body 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Grip component body 2 Sensor Modules 10 Central part 10a First side Other side 10b Second side One side 12 First connecting member 14. Second connecting member 16 recesses 18 Through-opening 18a Notch 20 Casing 20a head 22 Wire Harness 24 External Connectors

Claims

1. A vehicle door handle assembly comprising a grip member body (1) and a sensor module (2), - The sensor module (2) comprises a casing (20) housing at least one sensor and a wire harness (22) connecting the sensor to an external connector (24), wherein the casing (20) of the sensor module (2) has an elongated shape along its longitudinal direction (A), - The grip member body (1) is provided with a recess (16) for receiving the casing (20) of the sensor module (2), the recess (16) is provided on the first side portion (10a) of the grip member body (1), and the recess (16) is in communication with an opening (18) provided on the second side portion (10b) of the grip member body (1) opposite the first side portion (10a), - The opening (18) is configured to allow the wire harness (22) to pass through the opening (18) from one side (10b) to the other side (10a) of the grip member body (1). A vehicle door handle assembly characterized in that the opening (18) is further configured to allow insertion of the casing (20) of the sensor module (2) and to prevent insertion of the external connector (24).

2. The vehicle door handle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess (16) provided in the grip member body (1) has a substantially rectangular shape.

3. The vehicle door handle assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the length (L3) of the opening (18) is greater than the width (L1) of the casing (20) of the sensor module (2) and less than the width (L2) of the external connector (24) of the sensor module (2).

4. The vehicle door handle assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the width (L4) of the opening (18) is greater than the thickness (L5) of the casing (20) of the sensor module (2).

5. The vehicle door handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the casing (20) of the sensor module (2) is fixed to the grip member body (1) by a detachable snap-in connection.

6. A vehicle door handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a notch (18a) for fixing the wire harness (22) of the sensor module (2) is provided near the opening (18).

7. A method for assembling a vehicle door handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, - A step of passing a portion of the casing (20) and wire harness (22) of the sensor module (2) through the opening (18) from the second side (10b) to the first side (10a) of the grip member body (1), - A method for assembling a vehicle door handle assembly, characterized by including the step of placing the casing of the sensor module into the recess in the central part of the grip member body (1).

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