DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to handle structures and more particularly relates to a flush door handle for a vehicle that does not require electric/electronic components to flush the handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A flush door handle is a type of door handle designed to be flush or level with the surface of the vehicle's door when not in use. Unlike traditional door handles that protrude from the door's surface, flush door handles are more streamlined and integrated into the vehicle's design. They often sit flat against the door panel and may only pop out or extend when a user needs to open the door. However, the design and functionality of flush door handles may vary depending upon the use of different technologies such as touch-sensitive surfaces, hidden buttons, or electronic sensors to activate the handle's deployment.
Reference may be made to a patent document, WO2023098834A1, that discloses a hidden door handle structure. The patent document further elaborates the concealed door handle structure for a vehicle, comprising a first-driving member, a second-driving member, and an actuator with a push rod installed on the exterior door of an automobile through a handle main body. The handle member is arranged flush with the outer door of the automobile. When the vehicle door needs to be opened, the actuator works, and the first driver and the second driver drive the handle to be horizontally exposed to the outside under the action of an actuator. The handle housing protrudes from the door and then the user can apply an external force on the side of the handle member close to the second-driving member to open the door. The door handle structure employs an actuator for the push operation which can be electric or manual actuators which may bring additional complexity and cost of manufacturing.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle that is cost-effective and operates without consuming electrical power.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle by deploying mechanically operated components.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle that eliminates the need for an electrical power supply for actuation.
Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle that does not protrude from the surface of the door, thus giving the vehicle a cleaner and more elegant look with improved aerodynamics and aesthetics.
Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle that gives a cost-effective alternative to existing mechanisms.
Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a flush door handle for a vehicle that can be operated with one push.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This section is provided to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The present disclosure generally relates to handle structures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a flush door handle for a vehicle that does not require electric/electronic components to flush the handle.
In an aspect, a flush door handle for a vehicle includes a handle body assembly that consists of an upper cover, a lower base, a main bracket, a seal member, and a bracket for the seal member. The flush door handle includes a plurality of actuators consisting of a first actuator and a second actuator, for opening and flushing of the door handle. The flush door handle includes a locking snap to lock the first actuator and the second actuator with a press-fitted bracket into the housing in the main bracket. The flush door handle includes a push mechanism assembly that provides stroke to the handle over the flush operation and pushes it back into the home position and consists of housing to hold a thread part, a roller, and a cap. The flush door handle includes a plurality of dampers consisting of a first damper and a second damper to avoid the door handle snapback noise. The flush door handle includes a door lock assembly to lock and unlock the vehicle door. The flush door handle includes a screw adjustor assembly that holds and attaches the handle body assembly to the door panel and consists of a first adjustor stud, a second adjustor stud, a washer, and a snap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1(a) illustrates a pictorial representation of a flush door handle for a vehicle when viewed from the front side in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 1(b) illustrates an internal arrangement of the associated components of the flush door handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view showing an upper cover (1) and a lower base (2) of a flush door handle assembly (100) in a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 illustrates a view showing an assembly of the flush door handle (100) for a vehicle with a main bracket (3) by using a pivot pin (10) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view showing the flush door handle (100), with a handle body assembly (50), a reinforcement panel (19), a door panel (20), and a bracket assembly (21) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5(a) illustrates a section view of the flush door handle (100) emphasizing a second damper (15) and a screw adjustor assembly (18) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5(b) illustrates a section view of the flush door handle (100) emphasizing a first actuator (4), a second damper (15), a door lock assembly (17), and a screw adjustor assembly (18) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6(a) illustrates a section view of the flush door handle (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6(b) illustrates a front view of the flush door handle (100) showing an arrangement of the child parts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7(a) illustrates exploded and assembled views of a push mechanism assembly (11) in the flush door handle (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7(b) illustrates a section view of a push mechanism assembly (11) in the flush door handle (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 illustrates an exploded view flush door handle (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9(a) illustrates an exploded view of a screw adjustor assembly (18) in the flush door handle (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9(b) illustrates an isometric view of a screw adjustor assembly (18) in the flush door handle (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished, and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiments.
The present invention provides a flush door handle for a vehicle that does not require electrically operated components to retract the handle. This door handle employs a push-push mechanism for both flushing and opening the door, along with a pin-profile locking and unlocking mechanism.
In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details. One skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention, some of which are described below, may be incorporated into a number of systems.
Furthermore, connections between components and/or modules within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, these components and modules may be modified, re-formatted, or otherwise changed by intermediary components and modules.
Throughout this application, with respect to all reasonable derivatives of such terms, and unless otherwise specified (and/or unless the particular context clearly dictates otherwise), each usage of:
“a” or “an” is meant to read as “at least one.”
“the” is meant to be read as “the at least one.”
References in the present invention to “one of the embodiments” or “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
If the specification states a component or feature "may”, can", "could", or "might" be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skilled in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).
The process described herein is explained using examples with specific details for better understanding. However, the disclosed embodiments can be worked on by a person skilled in the art without the use of these specific details.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding elements in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in brackets and a table below in the following description.
Reference
number Component Reference
number Component
100 Flush door handle for vehicle 11 Push mechanism assembly
50 Handle body assembly 11a Housing
1 Upper cover 11b Thread part
2 Lower base 11c Roller
3 Main bracket 11d Cap
4 First actuator 11e Spring
5 Seal member 12 First spring
6 Bracket 13 Second spring
7 Rubber bumper 14 First damper
8 Locking snap 15 Second damper
9 Second actuator 16 Snap plate
10 Pivot pin 17 Door lock assembly
18 Screw adjustor assembly 18a First adjustor stud
19 Reinforcement panel 18b Washer
20 Door panel 18c Snap
21 Bracket assembly 18d Second adjustor stud
In an implementation of one of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, a flush door handle for a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “flush door handle (100)”) comprises a handle body assembly, a plurality of actuators, a plurality of springs, a plurality of dampers, and components and mechanisms for facilitating operations such as sealing, locking, and flushing of the door handle (100).
Throughout in this document, words, “handle”, “flush door handle”, and “door handle” are used interchangeably and they all mean “a flush door handle for a vehicle”.
In an implementation of one of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, a flush door handle is configured with a metallic adjustor designed to avoid uneven gaps and to ensure flushness of the door handle in X, Y, and Z directions.
In an implementation of one of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, a flush door handle is configured with a plurality of dampers to avoid snapback noise during the flush door handle operation. The plurality of dampers may comprise axial, rotatory types of dampers and/or any combination thereof.
In an implementation of one of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, a flush door handle is configured to be fitted with the vehicle body by a fastening arrangement.
In an implementation of one of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, the flush door handle (100) is designed with 1000N static load capacity with the support of the metallic adjustor (18).
Referring to Figures 1 to 9, a flush door handle (100) is shown in accordance with the present invention. The flush door handle (100) comprises a handle body assembly (50), a plurality of actuators (4, 9), a locking snap (8), a push mechanism assembly (11), a plurality of dampers (14, 15), and a door lock assembly (17) configured to lock and unlock the vehicle door.
The handle body assembly (50) comprises an upper cover (1), a lower base (2), a main bracket (3), a seal member (5), and a bracket (6) for the seal (5). The bracket (6) is configured to hold the seal member (5) by a snap-and-press fit arrangement. The upper cover (1) forms the outermost part of the handle body assembly (50) that is held in place by the bracket (6) and the seal (5). The upper cover (1) is configured in a position to receive flush input from the user for opening the vehicle door handle. The handle body assembly (50) is sealingly fitted on the surface of the door panel (20) by a metallic screw adjustor (18). Further, the handle body assembly (50) is secured on a reinforcement panel (19) of the vehicle door (20).
The flush door handle (100) is fitted into a bracket assembly (21) by deploying a fastening mechanism that is in the form of a pivot pin (10). The flush door handle (100) is positioned such that it is mechanically coupled to a plurality of actuators comprising a first actuator (4), and a second actuator (9). A locking snap (8) is configured to lock the first actuator (4) and the second actuator (9) with a bracket that is press-fitted into the respective housing in the main bracket (3). The first actuator (4) is configured to provide a stroke to the latch (linked at customer end with vehicle ready condition) with the help of a cable and is operated through the door handle (100) that is assembled with a first spring (12) into the main bracket (3). The second actuator (9) is configured to activate a push mechanism assembly (11) leading to an opening of the flush door handle (100). When the flush door handle (100) is opened fully, the lever [(2) from fig. 2] pushes a first actuator (4) to facilitate the door to open up. A first damper (14) is configured to minimize snap-back noise during the motion of the first actuator (4) and slow motion of the first actuator (4). The first damper (14), which is a rotatory damper, is snap-fitted in the main bracket (3) by deploying a snap plate (16). A second damper (15), which is an axial damper, is configured to be fitted into the main bracket (3) by deploying snaps (not shown). The second damper (15) is mechanically coupled to the first actuator (4) by a suitable gearing arrangement to avoid the door handle snapback noise and slow motion of the door handle. A rubber bumper (7) is configured to avoid the snap-back noise of the door handle (100) with the second actuator (9).
A screw adjustor assembly (18) is configured to hold and attach a handle body assembly (50) with the door panel (20). The screw adjustor assembly (18) comprises a first adjustor stud (18a), and a second adjustor stud (18d), a washer (18b), and a snap (18c). The first adjustor stud (18a) is configured to adjust the uneven gap and flushness in the Y direction. The second adjustor stud (18d) is configured to fit the handle body assembly (50) with the bracket (6) with a reinforcement panel (19). A washer (18b) is configured to guide the second adjustor stud (18d) in the bracket (6). A snap (18c) is configured to fit the screw adjustor assembly (18) in the bracket (6).
A push mechanism assembly (11) comprises a lock and unlock mechanism having components such as a housing (11a) configured to hold the child parts like a threaded part (11b), a roller (11c), and a cap (11d) snap fitted inside the bracket (3). The thread (11b) at one end is secured inside the housing (11a) and the opposite end is secured within the roller (11c). The thread part (11b) is configured to flush the handle into operable condition when pushed by a user from outside to the vehicle. The roller (11c) which is of pen profile, (having grooves into which other part moves up and down just like in a tic –tic pen where you have to push the top of a pen to extend out the tip of the pen and write) is configured to lock the thread (11b) at the handle (100) home and flush positions. Further, the cap (11d) locks the roller (11c) and the thread (11b) within the housing (11a) to complete the assembly. The purpose of spring (11e) is that it helps in the up and down movement of the thread (11b) so that the particular function of the push mechanism assembly works.
The push mechanism assembly (11) is configured to provide stroke to the handle (100) over the flush operation and pushed back into the home position. The handle (100) and the second actuator (9) are brought back into a closed position by the first spring (12) which in turn locks the vehicle door back to the home position. The push mechanism assembly (11) is brought back into the locked position by deploying a second spring (13).
Specifically, when handle (100) is pressed to open, the handle (100) directly activates and pushes the first actuator (4) which is connected via locking snap (8) to the second actuator (9) which in turn connected with push mechanism assembly (11) which will perform the opening of the door.
The sequence of operations with the components involved in opening and closing the flush door handle is as follows.
The user pushes the door handle to open the door, the lever [(2) from fig. 2] pushes a first actuator (4) which pushes the second actuator (9) which in turn connected with push mechanism assembly (11) which will perform the opening of the door.
Upon fully operating the handle, the door opens up, and the user can leave the lever handle which will go back to its original position smoothly and will flushes back to the door panel.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
1. The flush door handle (100) does not protrude from the surface of the door, which gives the vehicle a cleaner and more elegant look with improved aerodynamics and aesthetics.
2. The flush door handle (100) does not employ any electric/electronic components for the operation thereof, hence it is cost-effective.
3. The flush door handle (100) resolves the issues of the gap and flushness.
4. The flush door handle (100) provides an easy-to-operate mechanism that easily flushes the handle with one push.
5. The flush door handle (100) is designed with 1000N static load capacity with the support of the metallic adjustor (18).
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A flush door handle (100) for a vehicle comprising:
a handle body assembly (50), the handle body assembly (50) including an upper cover (1), a lower base (2), a main bracket (3), a seal member (5), and a bracket (6) for the seal member (5);
a plurality of actuators (4, 9), the plurality of actuators consisting of a first actuator (4) and a second actuator (9) configured for opening and flushing of the door handle (100);
a locking snap (8), the locking snap (8) configured to lock the first actuator (4) and the second actuator (9) which can be press-fitted into the main bracket (3);
a push mechanism assembly (11), the push mechanism assembly (11) consisting of a housing (11a) to hold a thread part (11b), a roller (11c), and a cap (11d) snap fitted inside the bracket (3), the push mechanism assembly (11) configured to provide stroke to the handle (100) over the flush operation and to push back into the home position;
a plurality of dampers (14, 15), the plurality of dampers consisting of a first damper (14) and a second damper (15) configured to avoid the door handle snapback noise;
a door lock assembly (17), the door lock assembly (17) configured to lock and unlock the vehicle door (100); and
a screw adjustor assembly (18), the screw adjustor assembly (18) consisting of a first adjustor stud (18a), a second adjustor stud (18d), a washer (18b), and a snap (18c), the screw adjustor assembly (18) configured to hold and attach the handle body assembly (50) with the door panel (20).

2. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the first actuator (4) is configured to provide a stroke to the latch (which is linked at customer end with vehicle ready condition) with the help of a cable and is operated through the door handle (100) assembled with a first spring (12) into the main bracket (3).

3. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the second actuator (9) is configured to activate the push mechanism assembly (11) leading to an opening of the flush door handle (100).

4. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the thread (11b) is configured to flush the handle into operable condition when pushed by a user from outside to the vehicle and one end thereof is secured inside the housing (11a) and the other end thereof is secured within the roller (11c).

5. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the roller (11c) has a pen profile, and is configured to lock the thread (11b) at the handle (100) home and flush positions.

6. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the cap (11d) is configured to lock the roller (11c) and the thread (11b) within the housing (11a).

7. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the first damper (14) is of rotatory type, snap-fitted in the main bracket (3) by deploying a snap plate (16) and configured to minimize snap-back noise during the motion of the first actuator (4) and slow motion of the first actuator (4).

8. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the second damper (15) is of axial type, fitted into the main bracket (3) by press fitting, and is mechanically coupled to the first actuator (4) by a gearing arrangement to avoid the door handle (100) snapback noise and slow motion of the door handle (100).

9. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the push mechanism assembly (11) is brought back into the locked position by deploying a second spring (13).
10. The flush door handle (100) as claimed in claim 1 is attached with the main bracket (3) by using a pivot pin (10).