IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0976594
(2010-12-22)
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등록번호 |
US-8786401
(2014-07-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Sobecki, Justin E.
- Foote, Keith D.
- Deuel, Eric S.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Flory, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
98 |
초록
▼
An extendable flush door handle assembly for a door or liftgate of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movably attached to the base portion. The handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where the handle portion is at least partially received in the base portion, and
An extendable flush door handle assembly for a door or liftgate of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movably attached to the base portion. The handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where the handle portion is at least partially received in the base portion, and a partially extended position, where the handle portion extends partially outward from the base portion and is graspable by a user. The handle portion is moved from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a trigger, such as a signal from a key fob or a passive entry system or a vehicle door unlock button or the like. The handle portion, when in its recessed position, is at least partially received in the base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user until the handle portion is moved toward its partially extended position.
대표청구항
▼
1. A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising: a base portion mounted at or incorporated into a structure of the door of the vehicle;a handle portion movable relative to said base portion, wherein said handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where said
1. A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising: a base portion mounted at or incorporated into a structure of the door of the vehicle;a handle portion movable relative to said base portion, wherein said handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where said handle portion is at least partially recessed at said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user, and a partially extended position, where said handle portion extends partially outward from said base portion to be graspable by the user;wherein, when said handle portion is at said partially extended position, said handle portion is manually movable further outward from said base portion to open the door of the vehicle;a control operable to move said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to a trigger;wherein said control operates a motor of an actuator of said handle assembly and wherein operation of said motor moves said handle portion between said recessed position and said partially extended position;wherein said control controls said actuator to move said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to said trigger;wherein said actuator engages a guide element of said handle portion to move said guide element in a generally arcuate path to impart pivotal movement of said handle portion about a pivot pin that pivotally mounts said handle portion to said base portion;wherein said actuator comprises a clutch that provides a manual override that allows the user to manually move said handle portion relative to said base portion;wherein said clutch comprises a first gear element that is driven by said motor and a second gear element that is driven by said first gear element; andwherein, when said handle portion is moved toward said partially extended position via operation of said motor of said actuator and when said partially extended handle portion is manually urged toward said recessed position, said second gear element slips relative to said first gear element to allow said partially extended handle portion to be manually moved toward said recessed position. 2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle assembly is mounted at a structure of one of (a) a side door of the vehicle, (b) a rear door of the vehicle and (c) a liftgate of the vehicle. 3. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said trigger comprises at least one of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of the user actuating a door unlock button of the vehicle. 4. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises an electrically operable actuator. 5. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle portion is pivotally mounted to said base portion and said actuator is operable to pivot said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position. 6. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said control is responsive to a passive entry system of the vehicle, and wherein said trigger comprises a signal of said passive entry system. 7. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said control is operable in response to current sensing circuitry to stop movement of said handle portion when said handle portion reaches its travel limits at at least one of its recessed position and said partially extended position. 8. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle portion, when in said recessed position, is at least partially received in said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by the user until said handle portion is moved toward said partially extended position. 9. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said base portion includes a bezel portion that is generally flush with an exterior surface of the vehicle door when said handle assembly is mounted to the vehicle door, and wherein a handle outer surface is generally flush or generally coplanar with or protrudes slightly outward from an exterior surface of said bezel portion when said handle portion is in said recessed position. 10. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein a grasping portion of said handle portion is received in said base portion when said handle portion is in said recessed position, and wherein said grasping portion is not readily graspable by the user when said handle portion is in said recessed position. 11. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein when said handle assembly is mounted at an opening in sheet metal of a vehicle, a gap between said handle portion and the sheet metal is less than a gap between said handle portion and a handle receiving portion of said base portion. 12. The handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cover element that functions to sandwich the vehicle sheet metal between said cover element and said base portion when said handle assembly is mounted at the sheet metal of the vehicle. 13. The handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a dampening element that dampens return of said handle portion towards its recessed position after extension of said handle portion to open the vehicle door. 14. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle assembly comprises one of (a) a strap handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle, (b) a paddle handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle and (c) a liftgate handle assembly for opening a liftgate of a vehicle. 15. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, responsive to determination of a lockout condition, said control limits movement of said handle portion from said recessed position towards said partially extended position, and wherein said lockout condition comprises at least one of (i) the vehicle being in a forward gear, (ii) the vehicle being in a reverse gear, (iii) the vehicle ignition being on, (iv) a predetermined time period following the vehicle ignition being turned on and (v) the vehicle moving above a threshold speed. 16. The handle assembly of claim 15, wherein, when a lockout condition is determined, said control limits movement of said handle portion irrespective of the trigger. 17. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second gear elements comprise ramped teeth and wherein said second gear element moves along the ramped teeth of said first gear element to slip said second gear element relative to said first gear element when said handle portion is manually moved toward said recessed position. 18. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to move said handle portion from said partially extended position towards said recessed position responsive to elapsing of a period of time after said handle portion is moved from said recessed position to said partially extended position. 19. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said second gear element rotates with an output element of said actuator and wherein said output element engages said handle portion to cause pivotal movement of said handle portion relative to said base portion. 20. The handle assembly of claim 19, wherein, when said output element is rotatably driven in a first direction, said handle portion pivots toward said partially extended position, and wherein, when said output element is rotatably driven in a second direction, said handle portion pivots toward said recessed position, and wherein said clutch allows for rotation of said output element in said second direction when said handle portion has been moved toward said partially extended position via rotatable driving of said output element in said first direction. 21. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said handle portion is at said recessed position, a portion of said handle portion at one side of a pivot axis of said handle portion is manually movable inward toward said base portion to cause another portion of said handle portion at an opposite side of said pivot axis to move outward from said base portion to move said handle portion toward said partially extended position without operation of said motor. 22. A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising: a base portion mounted at or incorporated into a structure of the door of the vehicle;a handle portion pivotable relative to said base portion, wherein said handle portion is pivotable between a recessed position, where said handle portion is at least partially recessed at said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user, and a partially extended position, where said handle portion extends partially outward from said base portion to be graspable by the user;wherein said handle portion pivots about a pivot axis when pivoting between said recessed position and said partially extended position;wherein a first portion of said handle portion is at a first side of said pivot axis and a second portion of said handle portion is at a second side of said pivot axis;a control operable to pivot said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to a trigger;wherein said control operates a motor of an actuator of said handle assembly and wherein operation of said motor pivots said handle portion between said recessed position and said partially extended position;wherein said control controls said actuator to move said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to said trigger;wherein said first portion of said handle portion is received in said base portion when said handle portion is in said recessed position, and wherein said first portion is not readily graspable by the user when said handle portion is in said recessed position;wherein said actuator engages a guide element of said handle portion to move said guide element in a generally arcuate path to impart pivotal movement of said handle portion about a pivot pin that pivotally mounts said handle portion to said base portion;wherein, when said handle portion is at said partially extended position, said first portion of said handle portion is extended from said base portion so as to be graspable by the user and manually movable further outward from said base portion to open the door of the vehicle; andwherein, when said handle portion is at said recessed position, said second portion of said handle portion is manually movable by the user in a direction inward toward said base portion to cause said handle portion to pivot about said pivot axis so that said first portion of said handle portion moves outward from said base portion and said handle portion pivots toward said partially extended position without operation of said motor. 23. The handle assembly of claim 22, wherein said actuator comprises a clutch that provides a manual override that, when said handle portion is pivoted toward said partially extended position via operation of said motor of said actuator, allows the user to manually pivot said handle portion toward said recessed position. 24. The handle assembly of claim 22, wherein said trigger comprises at least one of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of the user actuating a door unlock button of the vehicle.
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