Vehicle door handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10501966-B2
Application number	US-201414900424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

A door handle for a vehicle includes a handle inner member made of a resin, which is arranged on a vehicle inner side, a handle outer member, which is assembled to a vehicle outer side of the handle inner member to form an accommodating portion between the handle outer member and the handle inner member, and a connector provided to the handle inner member. The connector includes a resin connector main body independent of the handle inner member and coupled integrally with the handle inner member. In the connector main body, connector terminals and an electronic component are connected in a component accommodating recessed portion formed on one side thereof and is communicated with the accommodating portion. A connection portion between the connector terminals and the electronic component is protected by potting material filled in the component accommodating recessed portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A door handle for a vehicle, comprising:
a handle inner member made of a resin, which is adapted to be arranged on a vehicle inner side of a door of the vehicle, the handle inner member including a supporting through hole extending through the handle inner member in a vehicle width direction;
a handle outer member, which is assembled to a vehicle outer side of the handle inner member to form an accommodating portion between the handle outer member and the handle inner member;
a connector main body made of a resin, which is formed as a member independent of the handle inner member and connected to the handle inner member, wherein the connector main body penetrates through the supporting through hole in the vehicle width direction and is supported by the supporting through hole;
a component accommodating recessed portion, which is formed in a vehicle outer side end portion of the connector main body to communicate with the accommodating portion, the handle inner member surrounding at least a portion of the connector main body in which the component accommodating recessed portion is formed;
a connector terminal, which is supported by the connector main body;
an electronic component, which is connected to the connector terminal; and
a potting material, which is filled in the component accommodating recessed portion, for protecting a connection portion between the connector terminal and the electronic component,
wherein the potting material is disposed in the accommodating portion between the handle outer member and the handle inner member,
the door handle for a vehicle further comprises a stopper configured to regulate an amount of insertion of the connector main body into the supporting through hole;
the handle inner member includes an insertion through hole which extends through the handle inner member in the vehicle width direction; and
the connector main body comprises:
a connection arm which is inserted into the insertion through hole from the vehicle outer side; and
an engagement claw which is provided at a vehicle inner-side end portion of the connection arm and is configured to connect the handle inner member and the connector main body to each other by engaging with the handle inner member from the vehicle inner side under a state in which the amount of insertion of the connector main body is regulated by the stopper.

2. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a guiding portion provided in the supporting through hole of the handle inner member, the guiding portion exhibiting a tube shape for guiding the insertion of the connector main body.

3. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein a vehicle inner-side opening of the guiding portion is set so as to be located inside of the vehicle with respect to an insertion hole of a door outer panel of the door.

4. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a projection formed on a vehicle inner-side end portion of the guiding portion, the projection being capable of coming into sliding contact with an outer circumferential surface of the connector main body.

5. A door handle for a vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining portion formed on the handle outer member, the retaining portion being configured to prevent removal of the connector main body to the vehicle outer side from the handle inner member.

Assignees

• Aisin Seiki

Inventors

• Nagata Koichi
• Araki Nobukazu
• Shimada Seiji
• Mushiake Eiji
• Kawano Masayuki

Classifications

• E05B85/16

  a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part · CPC title

• E05B79/22 Primary

  Operative connections between handles, sill buttons or lock knobs and the lock unit (mounting of non-movable base elements of a handle to a lock E05B79/06) · CPC title

• E05B85/14

  Handles pivoted about an axis parallel to the wing · CPC title

• E05B81/76

  Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles · CPC title

• E05B77/34

  Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress (closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14) · CPC title