DESC:MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR GRIP HANDLE AT DOOR PANEL
FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a grip handle for door of a vehicle and, in particular, to mounting structure of the grip door handle 5 at door panel assembly of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND:
[002] Doors of the vehicle are provided with a handle from inside cabin of the vehicle to open and close the door. The grip handle has two divided parts, i.e., inner part, i.e., grip handle base which is mounted on assembly of the door panel 10 along with door trim and outer part, i.e., cover of grip handle which is cover of the inner part. The outer part is assembled over the inner part to hide the screw mountings of the inner part to increase aesthetic appeal of cabin of the vehicle. The inner part of the handle is directly mounted on the door panel with the screws. The outer part, i.e., cover is removably snap fitted over the inner part of the door 15 handle.
[003] Fig. 1 & 2 illustrate outer view of assembly of grip door handle with door panel assemble of the vehicle as known in the art. Further, fig.1 illustrate coming out of handle cover from its original position during side impact. The assembly 100 includes grip handle cover 101, grip handle base 102, and panel door 20 assembly or door trim assembly 103. The grip handle base 102 is directly mounted on the door panel assembly 103 from one end 104. The grip handle cover 101 is mounted on the grip handle base 102 with snap fit mounting 105. Where other end is mounted on an elevated mounting structure 106.
[004] During impact, specifically, side impact, energy of the impact is directly 25 transferred to the grip handle cover 101 due to direct mounting of the grip handle base 102 on the door panel assembly 103. The impact energy transferred from the door panel assembly 103 to the grip handle base 102 and finally dissipates in the grip handle cover 101. Due to the impact energy, the grip handle cover 101 dis-
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assembles from the original position of the grip handle base 102 and pops out from the grip handle base 102 and fall into the cabin area of the vehicle.
[005] As explained above, the door handle is directly bolted with the door panel assembly of the vehicle. There is interior fitting regulation which has to be satisfied by every vehicle manufacture during manufacturing or before delivering 5 the vehicles. A side impact test can be done to check behavior of parts during the side impact of the vehicle. The grip handle cover dis-assemble from its original position, i.e., over the inner part of the handle base because the impact force directly transfers to the grip handle base which is directly mounted on the door inner panel of the vehicle. Therefore, during the impact, the grip handle cover of 10 the door handle pops out from the inner part of the door handle and may create sharp edges. This may cause injury to the occupant of the vehicle. Therefore, a proper absorption of the impact force is required at the door handle.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[006] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide mounting 15 structure between the door handle and door panel.
[007] Another object of the present invention is to absorb the impact force during the impact or collision, specifically side impact.
[008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting bracket between the door grip handle and the door panel assembly to absorb the impact 20 force during the impact.
[009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide metal clip mounting between the grip handle cover and the grip handle base to avoid popping out of the grip handle cover from the grip handle base.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0010] The present invention relates to a mounting structure between grip door handle and door panel assembly of the vehicle to absorb the impact force during the side impact. The grip door handle comprises a grip handle base and grip handle cover. The grip handle cover is mounted on the grip handle base with help 5 of metal clips & snap locks. The metal clips provide the grip handle cover necessary retention force. In the present mounting structure, a bracket is disposed/mounted between the grip door handle and the door panel assembly. The bracket is mounted on the door panel assembly. Further, one end of the grip handle base is mounted on the bracket. During side impact of the vehicle, the 10 impact force is transferred from the door panel assembly to the bracket, and the bracket absorbs most of the impact force. The grip handle cover receives small amount of impact force which is not absorbed by the bracket. The grip handle cover is mounted on the grip handle base with metal clips which provide retention force to grip handle cover and avoid coming out of the grip handle cover during 15 side impact.
[0011] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter. 20
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the 25 accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with
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embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates outer view of assembly of grip door handle with door trim of the vehicle as known in the art, and Cover is shown in pop out condition after side impact test; 5
[0014] Fig. 2 illustrates inner view of assembly of grip door handle (door trim is removed for better understanding) with door panel of the vehicle as known in the art;
[0015] Fig. 3 illustrates assembly of grip door handle having bracket mounting structure at the door panel assembly of the vehicle, in accordance with an 10 embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0016] Fig. 4 illustrate cross section view of the assembly of the grip handle door with the door panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0017] Fig. 5 illustrates assembly of grip handle cover with base of the grip door 15 handle having metal clips, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject member; and
[0018] Fig. 6 illustrates structure of the bracket mounted on the door panel assembly to absorb the impact force, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. 20
[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein. 25
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0020] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a mounting structure between grip door handle and door panel assembly of the vehicle to absorb the
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impact force during the side impact. The grip door handle comprises a grip handle base and grip handle cover. The grip handle cover is mounted on the grip handle base with help of metal clips. The metal clips provide the grip handle cover necessary retention force. In the present mounting structure, a bracket is disposed/mounted between the grip door handle and the door panel assembly. The 5 bracket is mounted on the door panel assembly. Further, one end of the grip handle base is mounted on the bracket. During side impact of the vehicle, the impact force is transferred from the door panel assembly to the bracket, and the bracket absorbs most of the impact force. The grip handle cover receives small amount of impact force which is not absorbed by the bracket. The grip handle 10 cover is mounted on the grip handle base with metal clips which provide retention force to grip handle cover and avoid coming out of the grip handle cover during side impact.
[0021] There is interior fitting regulation which has to be satisfied by every vehicle manufacture during manufacturing or before delivering the vehicles. A 15 side impact test can be done to check behavior of parts during the side impact of the vehicle. The grip handle cover dis-assemble from its original position, i.e., over the inner part of the handle base because the impact force directly transfers to the grip handle base which is directly mounted on the door inner panel of the vehicle. Therefore, during the impact, the grip handle cover of the door handle 20 pops out from the inner part of the door handle and may create sharp edges. This may cause injury to the occupant of the vehicle.
[0022] In the present embodiment, a bracket is mounted between the grip door handle and the door panel assembly. The bracket is mounted on the door panel assembly. Further, one end of the grip handle base is mounted on the bracket. 25 During side impact of the vehicle, the impact force is transferred from the door panel assembly to the bracket, and the bracket absorbs most of the impact force. The grip handle cover receives small amount of impact force which is not absorbed by the bracket. The grip handle cover is mounted on the grip handle base
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with metal clips which provide retention force to grip handle cover and avoid coming out of the grip handle cover during side impact.
[0023] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily 5 utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples 10 recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the 15 present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0024] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be 20 described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope. 25
[0025] Fig. 3 illustrates assembly of grip door handle having bracket mounting structure at the door panel assembly of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The present structure 300 comprises a grip handle base 302, grip handle cover 301, and door panel assembly 307. A bracket 305 is mounted on the door panel assembly 307. The bracket 305 is 30
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disposed/mounted between the grip handle base 302 and the door panel assembly 307. The bracket 305 is mounted on the door panel assembly 307 with screw mounting at both ends 308. In the screw mounting, screws with plastic nuts are used. One end of the grip handle base 302 is mounted with the screw(s) on the bracket 305 mounted on the door panel assembly 307. The one end of the grip 5 handle base 302 is mounted at middle of flat surface of the bracket 305. Where the other end of the grip handle base 305 is mounted on the conventional mounting bracket which provides the grip door handle necessary elevation from the door panel assembly 307.
[0026] The bracket 305 is mounted between the grip handle base 302 and the door 10 panel assembly 307 to absorb the impact force. When there is an impact force, specifically, side impact force applied on the door, the door panel assembly transfers the impact force on the mounted bracket 305 which absorbs the impact force. The mounted bracket absorbs the impact force and doesn’t transfer the impact force on the top part of the grip handle, i.e., grip handle cover. 15
[0027] Fig. 4 illustrates the cross sectional view of the assembly of the bracket between the grip handle door and door inner panel. The bracket 305 is mounted on the door panel assembly 307 of the vehicle with screws at both ends 308. The grip handle base 302 is mounted at the middle portion of the bracket 305 with screw.
[0028] Fig. 5 illustrates assembly of grip handle cover with base of the grip door 20 handle having metal clips, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject member. The grip handle cover 301 is mounted over the grip handle base 302 with metal clips 501. The metal clips 501 provide high retention force to the grip handle cover during impact. During the impact, most of the impact force is absorbed by the mounted bracket 305, however, some impact force may transfer 25 to the grip handle cover 301. The grip handle cover 301 is mounted with metal clips 501 on the grip handle base 302 to increase the retention force of the grip handle cover 301 with the grip handle base 302 during impact. Therefore, the grip handle cover 301 does not come out from the grip handle base 302 during impact. The assembly of grip handle cover 301 with the grip handle base with metal clips 30
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absorbs the impact force transferred from the bracket 305. The metal clips 501 avoid dis-assembly of the grip handle cover 301 from original position on the grip handle base 302. The metal clips 501 are in “U” shape.
[0029] Fig. 6 illustrates the constructional features of the bracket 600 (305 of previous figures). The bracket 600 is mounted between the grip handle base 302 5 and the door panel assembly 307 of the vehicle. The bracket 600 is in extended ‘U’ shape. The bracket 600 is a mounting bracket which is mounted on the door panel assembly 307 and on which the grip handle base 302 is mounted. The bracket 600 is made from a single sheet of material. The bracket 600 has angled and flat surfaces. The angle 602 between two adjacent sides 601 and 603, and the 10 angle 604 between the two adjacent sides 603 and 605 is in range 115o to 125o, preferably 120o. Similarly, the angle 608 between two adjacent sides 605 and 607, and the angle 609 between the two adjacent sides 607 and 610 is in range 115o to 125o, preferably 120o. The side 605 is flat horizontal surface which receives the grip handle base 302 at middle 606 of the flat horizontal surface. The material of 15 the bracket 600 can be selected from cold rolled steel coil with 1mm thickness. The angled sides 603 and 607 can be different in size from each other. Further, the size of the sides can be made as per the requirements. The present subject matter does not depend on dimensions of the bracket 600. According to vehicle, dimensions of the bracket 600 can be changed. Further, the grip handle base is 20 mounted in middle of the bracket 600 to achieve the best results.
[0030] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present 25 subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A mounting structure for grip handle (300) to a door panel assembly (307) of vehicle for absorbing impact force, the mounting structure for grip handle (300) comprises:
a grip handle base (302); 5
a door panel assembly (307); and
a bracket (305, 600) is mounted from cabin side on the door panel assembly (307) to receive one end of the grip handle base (302).
2. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (305, 600) is mounted on the door panel assembly 10 (307) with screw positive mounting.
3. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (305) is in extended “U” shape.
4. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein angle between adjacent sides (601, 603 & 603, 605) of the bracket 15 (305, 600) is in range 115o to 125o, preferably at 120o.
5. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grip handle base (302) is mounted at middle (606) of flat surface of the bracket (305, 600).
6. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, 20 wherein the bracket (305, 600) is made of single sheet material.
7. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting structure for grip handle (300) further comprises:
a grip handle cover (301) is mounted on the grip handle base (302) from cabin side of the vehicle with help of metal clips (501). 25
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8. The mounting structure for grip handle (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (305, 600) is made of cold rolled steel coil with 1mm thickness.