DESC:INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY OF VEHICLE

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to an inside door handle assembly having a mechanism for a door lock of vehicles, and more particularly to the mechanism for a lock knob of the inside door handle assembly of the vehicles.

Background of the invention:

Generally, a vehicle has an inside handle assembly that is used to operate a door mechanism from inside of a cabin of the vehicle. The inside handle assembly comprises a lever handle and a lock knob.

The lever handle is used to open the door mechanism. The lock knob is used to lock / unlock the door from the inside of the cabin.

In a prior art, the lock knob is assembled to a housing of the inside handle assembly using pin mechanism. The pin mechanism includes a steel pin for assembling the lock knob inside the housing of the inside handle assembly. However, the pin mechanism requires additional fixtures and space. This leads to increase in cost and quality concern. Productivity time of the handle assemblies also increased.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an inside door handle assembly of a vehicle having an improved mechanism for a door lock knob that overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide easy mechanism for a lock knob of an inside door handle assembly of a vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate a steel pin for assembling the lock knob of the inside a housing of the inside door handle assembly of the vehicle.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to reduce quality issues by eliminating child parts of the inside door handle assembly of the vehicle.

Still, another object of the present invention is to increase in productivity by reducing child part and process of manufacturing the inside door handle assembly of the vehicle.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides an inside door handle assembly (hereinafter, referred as “the handle assembly”) of a vehicle. The handle assembly comprises a housing a lever handle and a lock knob. The housing comprises cylindrical parts and a step configured thereon. The lever handle is used to open a door of the vehicle. The lock knob is used to lock and unlock the door of the vehicle. The lock knob comprises a hollow portion a first draft a second draft and a rib configured thereon. In an embodiment, the hollow portion the first draft the second draft and the rib are configured on both sides of the lock knob.

The lock knob is assembled inside the housing by using a snap-fit mechanism from the both sides of the lock knob. The snap-fit mechanism comprises the hollow portion the second draft and the cylindrical parts. The lock knob slides by the drafts such that the hollow portion of the lock knob fits in the cylindrical parts of housing by the snap-fit mechanism. The second draft on the both sides of the lock knob is provided to have better snap fit. The rib on the both sides of the lock knob is provided to restrict a play in the lock knob. The step is given more strength and to withstand in testing cycles of the lock knob.

Brief description of the drawings:

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

Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the inside door handle assembly of 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.

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.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, an inside door handle assembly (100) (hereinafter, referred as “the handle assembly (100)”) of a vehicle (not shown), in accordance with the present invention is shown. The handle assembly (100) of the vehicle is used to operate a door mechanism from inside a cabin (not shown) of the vehicle.

The handle assembly (100) comprises a housing (20), a lever handle (not shown) and a lock knob (10). The housing (20) comprises cylindrical parts (40) and a step (60) configured thereon. The lever handle is used to open a door (not shown) of the vehicle. The lock knob (10) is used to lock and unlock the door of the vehicle.

The lock knob (10) comprises a hollow portion (30), a first draft (50), a second draft (80) and a rib (70) configured thereon. In an embodiment, the hollow portion (30), the first draft (50), the second draft (80) and the rib (70) are configured on both sides (not numbered) of the lock knob (10).

The lock knob (10) is assembled inside the housing (20) by using a snap-fit mechanism from the both sides of the lock knob (10). In a preferred embodiment, the snap-fit mechanism comprises the hollow portion (30), the second draft (80) and the cylindrical parts (40).

The lock knob (10) slides by the drafts (50 and 80) such that the hollow portion (30) of the lock knob (10) fits in the cylindrical parts (40) of housing (20) by the snap-fit mechanism. The second draft (80) on the both sides of the lock knob (10) is provided to have better snap fit. The rib (70) on the both sides of the lock knob (10) is provided to restrict a play (not numbered) in the lock knob (10). The step (60) is given more strength and to withstand in testing cycles of the lock knob (10). The step (60) is able to withstand all requirements and meet specifications.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The snap-fit mechanism for the lock knob (10) is easy to assemble.
2. The snap-fit mechanism eliminates use of steel pin for assembling the lock knob (10).
3. The snap-fit mechanism reduces assembly time and process by reducing child parts for assembly.
4. The snap-fit mechanism also reduces assembly fixture cost and space as the assembling of the lock knob (10) is done manually.
5. The snap-fit mechanism helps in increasing productivity and quality.

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 inside door handle assembly (100) of a vehicle, the inside door handle assembly comprising:
a housing (20) having,
• cylindrical parts (40) configured thereon, and
• a step (60) configured thereon;
a lever handle attached to the housing (20) for opening a door of the vehicle; and
a lock knob (10) assembled inside the housing (20) for locking and unlocking the door of the vehicle, the lock knob (10) comprising,
• a hollow portion (30) configured on both sides thereof,
• a first draft (50) configured on both sides thereof,
• a second draft (80) configured on both sides thereof and
• a rib (70) configured on both sides thereof,
wherein, the lock knob (10) slides by the drafts (50 and 80) and the hollow portion (30) of the lock knob (10) fits in the cylindrical parts (40) of housing (20), thereby assembling the lock knob (10) by using a snap-fit mechanism inside the housing (20).

2. The inside door handle assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow portion (30), the second draft (80) and the cylindrical parts (40) constitute the snap-fit mechanism for assembling the lock knob (10) inside the housing (20).

3. The inside door handle assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second draft (80) on the both sides of the lock knob (10) is provided to have better snap fit.

4. The inside door handle assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib (70) on the both sides of the lock knob (10) is provided to restrict a play in the lock knob (10).

5. The inside door handle assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (60) is given more strength and to withstand in testing cycles of the lock knob (10).

Dated this 08th day of July 2017

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