DESC:DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to vehicle door handles and more particularly, the present invention relates to assembling of an exterior door handle body grip to a gripper cover through snap-fit assembly.

Background of the invention:

Typically, a door handle for a vehicle may include a handle portion that is pivotable relative to a base portion, whereby pivotal movement of the handle portion pulls at a cable to move a latch mechanism to release the latch and open the door. Handle assemblies for vehicle compartment doors come in a variety of configurations and are mounted to the door in numerous manners.

Handle of the vehicle includes outer covering part and inner mechanical part. The outer covering part i.e. the gripper cover provides aesthetic look to the handle, wherein the inner mechanical part i.e. the body grip, includes various structural components essential for operating the handle. Generally, the handle of the vehicles are made as a single unit which integrally combine both aesthetic and mechanical working part together.

The integration of the covering part and mechanical part is done using screw or ultrasonic welding or gas molding. These processes usually lack to achieve static strength as well as gap and flushness requirement to meet the requirements of most applications. Snap-fits are the simplest, quickest and most cost-effective method of assembling two parts. When designed properly, parts with snap-fits can be assembled and disassembled numerous times without any adverse effect on the assembly. Further, integration of the covering part and mechanical part together by methods like screw or ultrasonic welding or gas molding increases process and development cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is reducing requirement of tools, and the need to provide an outer door handle assembly for the vehicle through snap fit process, which overcomes above mentioned drawbacks.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to achieve static strength as well as gap and flushness requirement during assembling of outer door handle of a vehicle, without using screw or ultrasonic welding or gas molding.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce assembly time and developmental cost occurring during the integration of the covering part and mechanical part.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a door handle assembly for a vehicle. The door handle assembly comprises of a body grip and a gripper cover. The body grip has an outer surface and an inner surface. The gripper cover has an outer surface, an inner surface and an open cavity arranged at one end thereof. The outer surface of the gripper cover is an aesthetic part that is plated and painted. Ribs includes a first set placed centrally on the outer surface of the body grip and a second set placed centrally on the inner surface of the gripper cover. The body grip and gripper cover are fitted together by sliding the body grip through the open cavity of the gripper cover. The body grip is fixed into the gripper cover by snapping of the ribs placed on the outer surface of the body grip and the inner surface of the gripper cover.

Brief description of the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a door handle assembly for a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective views of a body grip and gripper cover with ribs for snapping, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a top view (3a) and cross sectional view (3b) of the door handle assembly for the vehicle, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows an assembled view of the door handle assembly for the vehicle, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a door handle assembly for the vehicle for opening the door from the outside of the vehicle. The handle assembly reduces requirement of tools like screw or ultrasonic welding or gas molding for integration of the covering part i.e. gripper cover and mechanical part i.e. body grip using snap fit technology. This process of assembling the vehicle door handle is done easily and allows achieving static strength as well as gap and flushness requirement.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and in the following table.

Part No Part Name
100 Door handle assembly
20 Body grip
20a Outer surface of the body grip
20b Inner surface of the body grip
30 Gripper cover
30a Outer surface of the gripper cover
30b Inner surface of the gripper cover
10 Ribs for snapping

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a door handle assembly (100) for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention. The door handle assembly (100) is designed in two parts including a body grip (20) and a gripper cover (30). The door handle assembly (100) further includes ribs (10) for snapping process.

The body grip (20) has an outer surface (20a) and an inner surface (20b). The body grip (20) is the body member. A first set of the ribs (10) are placed centrally on the outer surface (20a) of the body grip (20).

The gripper cover has an outer surface (30a), an inner surface (30b) and an open cavity (not numbered) arranged at one end thereof. The gripper cover (30) is configured with meting surfaces (not numbered) at both the ends. A second set of the ribs (10) are placed centrally on the inner surface (30b) of the gripper cover (30). In an embodiment, the outer surface (30a) of the gripper cover (30) is an aesthetic part that can be plated and painted as well.

The body grip (20) and gripper cover (30) are fitted together by sliding the body grip (20) through the open cavity of the gripper cover (30). The body grip (20) is fixed into the gripper cover (30) by snapping of the ribs (10) on the outer surface (20a) of the body grip (20) and the inner surface (30b) of the gripper cover (30).

By designing the door handle assembly (100) in two parts such as the gripper cover (30) and the body grip (20) with the ribs (10) for snapping process allows achieving static strength as well as gap and flushness requirement. The mechanical performance of the door handle assembly (100) remains the same as that of the integral handle assembly of the prior art.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The door handle assembly (100) does not require tools like screw or ultrasonic welding or gas molding for integration of the covering part i.e. the gripper cover (30) and mechanical part i.e. the body grip (20).
2. The door handle assembly (100) reduces assembly time by eliminating screwing or ultrasonic welding.
3. The door handle assembly (100) provides cost saving by eliminating screws or gas molding or ultrasonic welding.
4. In the present invention, the door handle assembly (100) designed in two parts, such as the gripper cover (30) and the body grip (20) with the ribs (10) for snapping process allows achieving static strength as well as gap and flushness requirement through snap fit technology.
5. In the present invention, the quality issues are reduced.

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, and 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 omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A door handle assembly (100) for a vehicle comprising:
a body grip (20) having an outer surface (20a) and an inner surface (20b);
a gripper cover (30) having an outer surface (30a), an inner surface (30b) and an open cavity arranged at one end thereof; and
ribs (10) having a first set placed centrally on the outer surface (20a) of the body grip (20) and a second set placed centrally on the inner surface (30b) of the gripper cover (30);
wherein, the body grip (20) and gripper cover (30) are fitted together by sliding the body grip (20) through the open cavity of the gripper cover (30) and is fixed into the gripper cover (30) by snapping of the ribs (10).

2. The door handle assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer surface (30a) is an aesthetic part that is plated and painted.

3. The door handle assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 is designed in two parts.

Dated this 05th day of December 2018

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for Applicant)
IN/PA-2337