Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention generally relates to the field of vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs). More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle outdoor handle painting fixture.
BACKGROUND
[002] Typically, vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) include a front outdoor handles (ODHs) and a rear outdoor handles (ODHs). The vehicle front ODHs have flat surfaces and the vehicle rear ODHs have curved and inclined surfaces. However, the design and aesthetic view of the vehicle ODHs may be unique and competitive with all the premium OEM vehicle brands. Additionally, the vehicle ODHs must be of the same color as the vehicle body. In an automobile painting process, the vehicle ODHs painting may utilize a split type painting process. The split type painting process usually requires a separate spare part tooling frame for fixed or batch of the vehicle ODHs, which may be complicated and disturb the painting efficiency. Simultaneously, the appearance of the ODHs by the split spray painting may be unstable. Additionally, difference in color between the ODHs and the body may be easy to observe/identify. However, cost for developing the tooling frame part may be high and thereby requires more time for painting the vehicle ODHs.
[003] Alternately, the vehicle ODHs can be initially painted at separate location and fitted to the vehicle. But, painting of the vehicle ODHs at the separate location results in failure of meeting aesthetic quality and color related criteria. Therefore, the vehicle ODHs produce 20% rejection which leads to impact on delivery.
[004] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a fixture for the painting the vehicle ODHs.

OBJECTS
[005] An object of the present invention may be a vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2). The vehicle ODHs painting fixture (2) includes a supporting body (4). The supporting body (4) includes a plurality of horizontal bars (40) and a plurality of vertical bars (38) to form a grid structure. A plurality of ODHs fixing members (24), one end (24a) of the ODHs fixing members (24) fixedly connected to the supporting body (4) and other end (24b) of the ODHs fixing members (24) press-lock vehicle ODHs (48). A vehicle body fixing member (26) connected to the supporting body (4). The vehicle body fixing member (26) includes a first connecting block (14), a second connecting block (16), a third connecting block (18) and a fourth connecting block (20). One ends (14a, 16a) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) fixedly connected with the supporting block (4) and other ends (14b, 16b) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) provided with a slot (46). The third connecting block (18) fixedly connected to the supporting block (4). One end (20a) of the fourth connecting block (20) fixedly connected to the supporting block (4) and other end (20b) of the fourth connecting block (20) includes a holding clip (22).
[006] Another object of the present invention is a method of painting vehicle ODHs includes fixing a painting fixture (2) on a vehicle body in white (28). The painting fixture (2) includes a supporting body (4), the supporting body (4) includes a plurality of horizontal bars (40) and a plurality of vertical bars (38) to form a grid structure. A plurality of outdoor handles (ODHs) fixing members (24) may be fixedly connected to the supporting body (4). A vehicle body fixing member (26) connected to the supporting body (4), includes a first connecting block (14), a second connecting block (16), a third connecting block (18) and a fourth connecting block (20). One ends (14a, 16a) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) fixedly connected with the supporting block (4) and other ends (14b, 16b) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) provided with a slot (46). The third connecting block (18) fixedly connected to the supporting block (4). One end (20a) of the fourth connecting block (20) fixedly connected to the supporting block (4) and other end (20b) includes a holding clip (22). Press-locking vehicle ODHs (48) on the painting fixture (2). Painting the vehicle ODHs (48) along with the vehicle body in white (28).
[007] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[008] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[009] FIG. 1 illustrates a front right-hand perspective view of vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a front left-hand perspective view of the vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a right-hand side view of the vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4a illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture fixing to a vehicle body in white (BIW), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4b illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle body fixing member to a vehicle body in white (BIW), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) on the vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0016] The vehicle ODHs painting fixture (2) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017] As shown in Figure 1, a front right-hand perspective view of vehicle ODHs painting fixture (2) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 1, the vehicle ODHs painting fixture (2) includes a supporting body (4). In other embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of ODHs fixing members (24), one end (24a) of the ODHs fixing members (24) fixedly connected to the supporting body (4) and other end (24b) of the ODHs fixing members (24) press-lock the vehicle ODHs (48). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body fixing member (26) is connected to the supporting body (4). Further, the vehicle body fixing member (26) includes the first connecting block (14), the second connecting block (16), the third connecting block (18) and the fourth connecting block (20).
[0018] Furthermore, Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. One ends (14a, 16a) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) are fixedly connected with the supporting block (4) and other ends (14b, 16b) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) are provided with the slot (46). According to the embodiment depicted Figure 1, the third connecting block (18) is fixedly connected to the supporting block (4). Further, the third connecting block (18) has an “L” shaped design. In another embodiment of the present invention, one end (20a) of the fourth connecting block (20) is fixedly connected to the supporting block (4) and other end (20b) of the fourth connecting block (20) includes the holding clip (22). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ODHs fixing members (24) include the first fixing member (6), the second fixing member (8), the third fixing member (10) and the fourth fixing member (12).
[0019] Figure 2 depicts the front left-hand perspective view of the vehicle ODHs painting fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, the supporting body (4) includes a plurality of horizontal bars (40) and a plurality of vertical bars (38) to form a grid structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, the supporting body (4) includes a first slant bar (42) and a second slant bar (41). Further, the first slant bar (42) is fixedly connected to the first connecting block (14) and the second slant bar (41) is fixedly connected to the second connecting block (16). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the supporting body (4) includes a single vertical bar (44) fixedly connected to the fourth connecting block (20). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) are spaced apart from the bottom horizontal bar (40).
[0020] Figure 3 depicts the right-hand side view of the vehicle ODHs painting fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 3, the supporting body (4) and the vehicle body fixing member (26) are made of a mild steel.
[0021] Figure 4a depicts the perspective view of the vehicle ODHs painting fixture fixing to the vehicle BIW (Body-In-White), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 4b depicts the perspective view of the vehicle body fixing member (26) to the vehicle BIW (28), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 4b, the BIW (28) includes top surfaces (34 and 36). Further, a first process hole (30) and a second process hole (32) on the BIW (28). In one embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) are used to press on the top surfaces (34 and 36) of the BIW (28). In another embodiment of the present invention, the third connecting block (18) may be used for inserting in the first process hole (30) on the BIW (28). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the fourth connecting block (20) includes the holding clip (22) used for inserting and holding at the second process hole (32) on the BIW (28). Further, the vehicle body fixing member (26) includes four locating points to fix the vehicle ODHs painting fixture (2) on the BIW (28) to avoid X, Y and Z direction variation during painting.
[0023] Figure 5 depicts the front view of the vehicle ODHs on the vehicle ODHs painting fixture (2), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle ODHs (48) include a front right ODH (50), a front left ODH (52), a rear right ODH (54) and a rear left ODH (56). In another embodiment of the present invention, the first fixing member (6) press locks the front right ODH (50), the second fixing member (8) press locks the front left ODH (52), the third fixing member (10) press locks the rear right ODH (54) and the fourth fixing member (12) press locks the rear left ODH (56). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle outdoor handles (48) are made of a material comprising a Noryl GTX .
[0024] Further, distance between the vehicle ODHs (48) is retained wide by considering a Faraday’s cage effect for painting. Generally, the "Faraday cage effect" happens when coating charged parts with sharp inside corners or recesses during an electrostatic coating process. Furthermore, the painting process may be at least a three-coat two-bake (3C2B) painting process and a three-coat-one-bake (3C1B) painting process.
[0025] The technical advantages brought in by the present invention are as follows:
• Reduce the painted vehicle ODHs rejection from 20% to less than 5%.
• Painting the vehicle ODHs along with the vehicle body in white at the inhouse paint shop.
• Fixing the vehicle ODHs on the fixture exactly on defined places with 0 tolerance.
• Eliminating color difference, appearance and cost of outsourced painting the vehicle ODHs.
[0026] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim;
1. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) comprising:
a supporting body (4), the supporting body (4) includes a plurality of horizontal bars (40) and a plurality of vertical bars (38) to form a grid structure;
a plurality of outdoor handles (ODHs) fixing members (24), one end (24a) of the outdoor handles (ODHs) fixing members (24) is fixedly connected to the supporting body (4) and other end (24b) of the outdoor handles (ODHs) fixing members (24) press-lock a vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) (48); and
a vehicle body fixing member (26), the vehicle body fixing member (26) connected to the supporting body (4), the vehicle body fixing member (26) includes a first connecting block (14), a second connecting block (16), a third connecting block (18) and a fourth connecting block (20),
wherein one ends (14a, 16a) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) is fixedly connected with the supporting block (4) and other ends (14b, 16b) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) is provided with a slot (46),
the third connecting block (18) is fixedly connected to the supporting block (4),
one end (20a) of the fourth connecting block (20) is fixedly connected to the supporting block (4) and other end (20b) of the fourth connecting block (20) includes a holding clip (22).

2. The vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting body (4) includes a first slant bar (42) and a second slant bar (41), the first slant bar (42) fixedly connected to the first connecting block (14) and the second slant bar (41) fixedly connected to the second connecting block (16).
3. The vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting body (4) includes a single vertical bar (44) fixedly connected to the fourth connecting block (20).

4. The vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) are spaced apart from the bottom horizontal bar (40).

5. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting body (4) and the vehicle body fixing member (26) are made of mild steel.

6. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle outdoor handles (48) are made of a material comprising a Noryl GTX.

7. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third connecting block (18) is an “L” shaped design.

8. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outdoor handles (ODHs) fixing members (24) includes a first fixing member (6), a second fixing member (8), a third fixing member (10) and a fourth fixing member (12).

9. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) (48) include a front right ODH (50), a front left ODH (52), a rear right ODH (54) and a rear left ODH (56).

10. A vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) painting fixture (2) as claimed in claims 8 and 9, wherein the first fixing member (6) press locks the front right ODH (50), the second fixing member (8) press locks the front left ODH (52), the third fixing member (10) press locks the rear right ODH (54) and the fourth fixing member (12) press locks the rear left ODH (56).

11. A method of painting vehicle outdoor handles (ODHs) comprising:
fixing a painting fixture (2) on a vehicle body in white (28), the painting fixture (2) includes
a supporting body (4), the supporting body (4) includes a plurality of horizontal bars (40) and a plurality of vertical bars (38) to form a grid structure;
a plurality of outdoor handles (ODHs) fixing members (24) is fixedly connected to the supporting body (4);
a vehicle body fixing member (26) connected to the supporting body (4), includes a first connecting block (14), a second connecting block (16), a third connecting block (18) and a fourth connecting block (20),
wherein one ends (14a, 16a) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) is fixedly connected with the supporting block (4) and other ends (14b, 16b) of the first connecting block (14) and the second connecting block (16) is provided with a slot (46),
the third connecting block (18) is fixedly connected to the supporting block (4),
one end (20a) of the fourth connecting block (20) is fixedly connected to the supporting block (4) and other end (20b) includes a holding clip (22);
press-locking a vehicle ODHs (48) on the painting fixture (2); and
painting the vehicle ODHs (48) along with the vehicle body in white (28).