DESC:Outer Door Handle Assembly of Vehicle

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to a door handle of a vehicle and more particularly, to a flap type outer door handle assembly of the vehicle.

Background of the invention

A door handle is an attached object or mechanism used to manually open or close a door. The door handle generally refers to any fixed or lever-operated door device. A flap type outer door handle is assembled with a door panel with the help of screws. The flap type outer door handle assembly opens the door of the vehicle. The door is unlocked/unlatched with the help of a lever handle movement and this movement should be restricted while the vehicle having side impact or vehicle side impact crash test to avoid opening of the door.

Efforts are seen in the prior art to include counter mass balance in the door handles. Reference may be made to US6565134B1 and US2002070567A1 that disclose use of counter mass balance in grip type handles. In both these prior art documents, the counter mass balance is a separate entity than the handle lever/ gripper and pivoting axis of the counter mass balance is different than a pivot axis of the handle. Further, in both these documents fitment of mass balance is done in other part using pin or elongated pivot rod so the number of parts used is also more. Another application JP2000145211A discloses a door handle for vehicle. In this application, a mass balance is fitted in an extension arm by caulking. As separate extension lever is used as a link between a lever arm and the mass balance therefore additional part is required. Further, inertia force withstanding capability of this handle is only 30 G.

The currently available handles have inertia force withstanding capability of only 30 G not up to 60 G at vehicle side crash test. Further, the number of components involved in these handles is more.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an outer door handle assembly of a vehicle that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to prevent a lever handle movement during a vehicle crash.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flap type handle assembly that qualifies inertia force withstanding capability of 60 G requirement at side impact/ vehicle side impact crash test.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an outer door handle assembly (hereinafter, “assembly”) of a vehicle. The assembly comprises a lever handle, a bracket, a gasket, a pair of sealing pads, a counter mass balance, a spring, a knurling pin, two mounting screws and a bracket joint.

The lever handle is assembled with a latch link rod using the bracket joint for providing a di-latch stroke and opening a door of the vehicle. The bracket holds the lever handle assembly with a door panel. The gasket provides sealing with the door panel. The pair of sealing pads provides sealing between the lever handle and the bracket. The spring is used to bring back the lever handle to a home position after performance of a door latching/ de-latching stroke. The lever handle and the spring are held with the bracket using the knurling pin causing the lever handle pivoting axis to be horizontal and parallel to the ground. The counter mass balance prevents the movement of the lever handle during a vehicle crash. In accordance with the present invention, the counter mass balance with knurling is press fitted in the lever handle such that a pivoting axis of the lever handle and the counter mass balance is common and the counter mass balance becomes an integral part of the lever handle. The assembly of the present invention qualifies inertia force withstanding capability of 60 G requirement at side impact/ vehicle side impact crash test.

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 shows an outer door handle assembly of a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the outer door handle assembly of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a lever handle and a counter mass balance of the outer door handle assembly, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the outer door handle assembly showing press fitting of the counter mass balance, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

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 provides a flap type outer door handle assembly of a vehicle. The outer door handle assembly includes a counter mass balance with knurling, press fitted in a lever handle to prevent movement thereof during the vehicle crash. As the counter mass balance is directly press fitted on a plastic handle lever arm so the number of components required is reduced. The outer door handle assembly qualifies inertia force withstanding capability of 60 G requirement at side impact/ vehicle side impact crash test.

This 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.
Table:
Ref. No. Component name Ref. No. Component name
10 Lever handle 60 Spring
20 Bracket 80 Bracket joint
30 Gasket 85 Screws
40 Pair of sealing pads 90 Knurling Pin
50 Counter mass balance 100 Outer door handle assembly
55 Knurling

Referring to figures 1-4, an outer door handle assembly (100) (hereinafter, “the assembly (100)”) of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is shown. Specifically, the assembly is a pull/ flap type handle assembly. The assembly (100) comprises a lever handle (10), a bracket (20), a gasket (30), a pair of sealing pads (40), a counter mass balance (50) and a spring (60).

The lever handle (10) is assembled with a latch link rod (not shown) using a bracket joint (80). The lever handle (10) provides a di-latch stroke and is used to open a door of the vehicle. The bracket (20) holds the lever handle assembly with a door panel. Specifically, the handle assembly is fixed with the door panel using screws (85). The lever handle (10) and the spring (60) are held with the bracket (20) using a knurling pin (90). Therefore, the lever handle (10) pivoting axis is horizontal and parallel to the ground. The spring (60) is used to bring back the lever handle (10) to a home position after the door latching/ de-latching stroke is performed. The gasket (30) provides sealing with the door panel.

The pair of sealing pads (40) provides sealing between the lever handle (10) and the bracket (20). The counter mass balance (50) is mounted on a link rod axis point and press fitted with lugs of the lever handle (10). The counter mass balance (50) prevents the movement of the lever handle (10) during a vehicle crash. The counter mass balance (50) also provides balance to the assembly (100) at the time of the vehicle side crash and prevents the door opening at the vehicle side crash.

In accordance with the present invention, the counter mass balance (50) is provided with knurling (55). The counter mass balance (50) with knurling (55) is press fitted in the lever handle (10) such that a pivoting axis of the lever handle (10) and the counter mass balance (50) is common. As the counter mass balance (50) is directly press fitted on a plastic handle lever arm, the counter mass balance (50) becomes an integral part of the lever handle (10) and thus reduces the number of components. The assembly (100) qualifies inertia force withstanding capability of 60 G requirement at side impact/ vehicle side impact crash test.

Advantages of the invention

1. The assembly (100) qualifies minimum 60 G vehicle side crash test.
2. As the counter mass balance (50) is directly press fitted on a plastic handle lever arm so the number of components required is reduced.
3. The assembly (100) is cost effective as the assembling process is simple with knurling press fitted profile.
4. The assembly (100) is easy to assemble and does not require over injection molding.
5. The assembly (100) reduces the possibility of failure of the side crash test for the requirement up to 60 G.
6. The counter mass balance (50) and the link rod axis are same to prevent the vehicle side crash up to 60 G at the time of side crash test.

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. An outer door handle assembly (100) of a vehicle, the assembly (100) comprising:
a lever handle (10) assembled with a latch link rod using a bracket joint (80) for providing a di-latch stroke and opening a door of the vehicle;
a bracket (20) for holding the lever handle assembly with a door panel;
a gasket (30) for providing sealing with the door panel;
a pair of sealing pads (40) for providing sealing between the lever handle (10) and the bracket (20);
a counter mass balance (50) for preventing the movement of the lever handle (10) during a vehicle crash; and
a spring (60) to bring back the lever handle (10) to a home position after performance of a door latching/ de-latching stroke, wherein the lever handle (10) and the spring (60) are held with the bracket (20) using a knurling pin (90) causing the lever handle (10) pivoting axis to be horizontal and parallel to the ground,
characterized in that, the counter mass balance (50) with knurling (55) is press fitted in the lever handle (10) such that a pivoting axis of the lever handle (10) and the counter mass balance (50) is common and the counter mass balance (50) becomes an integral part of the lever handle (10).

2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 qualifies inertia force withstanding capability of 60 G requirement at side impact/ vehicle side impact crash test.