Vehicle with a disconnectable handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10457183-B2
Application number	US-201815885604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle includes a body, a handle, and at least one connection site for the handle at which the handle is selectively connectable to the vehicle. The body defines a passenger compartment and a door opening, and includes a door over the door opening. The at least one connection site includes a home connection site on the door. When connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the handle, from its corresponding location on the door, is subject to being operated by a user to allow the door to open.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a body defining a passenger compartment and a door opening, the body including a door over the door opening;
a handle; and
at least one connection site for the handle at which the handle is selectively connectable to the vehicle, the at least one connection site including a home connection site on the door, wherein when connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the handle, from a corresponding location thereof on the door, is subject to being operated by a user to allow the door to open.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the home connection site is on an exterior of the door.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the exterior of the door defines an entryway for the handle through which the handle is enterable during a connection process of the handle to the vehicle at the home connection site, and the door includes a retractable cover for the entryway.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door houses a locking system, and when connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the handle is incorporated into the locking system, and thereby subject to being operated by a user to allow the door to open.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door houses a locking system that includes a linkage and a latch, and when the handle is connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the linkage is connected from the handle to the latch, and responsive to the handle being operated by a user to actuate the latch, and thereby allow the door to open.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connection site further includes a supplemental connection site on the vehicle elsewhere than the door, wherein when connected to vehicle at the supplemental connection site, the handle, from a corresponding location thereof on the vehicle, is subject to being grabbed by a user for support.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes an integral implement, and when disconnected from the vehicle, the handle, in the hands of a user, is configured to serve an off-vehicle role associated with the implement.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the implement is at least one of an ice scraper, a tool, a light, a gauge and a pepper spray canister.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connection governing system; and
at least one control module, the at least one control module communicatively connected to the connection governing system, and configured to, in response to identifying a user, operate the connection governing system to unlock the home connection site for connecting the handle to the vehicle at the home connection site.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connection governing system; and
at least one control module, the at least one control module communicatively connected to the connection governing system, and configured to operate the connection governing system to govern, in conjunction with a user's movement of the handle, at least one of a connection process of the handle to the vehicle at the home connection site, and a disconnection process of the handle from the vehicle.

11. A vehicle, comprising:
a body defining a passenger compartment and a door opening, the body including a door over the door opening;
a handle; and
multiple connection sites for the handle at which the handle is selectively connectable to the vehicle, the multiple connection sites including a supplemental connection site on the vehicle elsewhere than the door, wherein when connected to vehicle at the supplemental connection site, the handle, from a corresponding location thereof on the vehicle, is subject to being grabbed by a user for support.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the supplemental connection site is on the vehicle around the door opening.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the supplemental connection site is on the vehicle about the passenger compartment.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the multiple connection sites further include a home connection site on the door, wherein when connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the handle, from a corresponding location thereof on the door, is subject to being operated by a user to allow the door to open.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the handle includes an integral implement, and when disconnected from the vehicle, the handle, in the hands of a user, is configured to serve an off-vehicle role associated with the implement.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the implement is at least one of an ice scraper, a tool, a light, a gauge and a pepper spray canister.

17. A vehicle, comprising:
a body defining a passenger compartment and a door opening, the body including a door over the door opening;
a handle, the handle including an integral implement; and
at least one connection site for the handle at which the handle is selectively connectable to the vehicle, wherein when disconnected from the vehicle, the handle, in the hands of a user, is configured to serve an off-vehicle role associated with the implement.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the implement is at least one of an ice scraper, a tool, a light, a gauge and a pepper spray canister.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the at least one connection site further includes a home connection site on the door, wherein when connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the handle, from a corresponding location thereof on the door, is subject to being operated by a user to allow the door to open.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the at least one connection site further includes a supplemental connection site on the vehicle elsewhere than the door, wherein when connected to vehicle at the supplemental connection site, the handle, from a corresponding location thereof on the vehicle, is subject to being grabbed by a user for support.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Frederick Scott L
• Robison Scott P

Classifications

• B60N99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B60N3/026 Primary

  characterised by the fixing means (B60N3/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/2669

  on door or boot handles (lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267) · CPC title

• F41H9/10

  Hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellant gases or chemicals · CPC title

• E05B2017/2096

  Preventing tampering by removal of lock parts which are vital for the function · CPC title