Retractable handle arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10731389-B2
Application number	US-201314431167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Sep 25, 2012
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A handle arrangement for a vehicle comprising: a handle moveable between a slowed position and a deployed position; a drive mechanism for controlling the handle position; a sensor for detecting a force applied to the handle when in the deployed position, which force is directed so as to urge the handle into the stowed position; wherein upon detecting the force the handle arrangement is arranged to move the handle from the deployed position to the stowed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A handle arrangement for a vehicle comprising:
a handle moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a drive mechanism for controlling the handle position;
at least one sensor configured to detect a movement of the handle toward the stowed position caused by a force applied to the handle when in the deployed position, the movement detected by the sensor prior to the handle reaching the stowed position, which force is directed so as to urge the handle towards the stowed position;
wherein the drive mechanism is responsive to the force applied to the handle when in the deployed position such that upon detecting the movement, the drive mechanism is configured to continue the movement of the handle toward the stowed position and thereby move the handle from the deployed position to the stowed position.

2. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the handle arrangement comprises a feedback device for indicating to a user that sufficient force has been applied to the handle to initiate the movement of the handle from the deployed position to the stowed position.

3. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the feedback device comprises one or more of an aural feedback device, a haptic feedback device and a visual feedback device.

4. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the handle arrangement is coupled to a lock mechanism of a door or other closure of the vehicle and wherein upon detecting the force the lock mechanism is arranged to be activated so as to lock the door or other closure.

5. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the handle arrangement is arranged to activate a dead lock mechanism of the door or other closure of the vehicle upon detecting application of a second force on the handle.

6. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according claim 1 wherein the handle is pivotally mounted about a handle pivot axis disposed between first and second ends of the handle.

7. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the handle pivot axis extends through and is disposed within the handle.

8. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the handle is coupled to the drive mechanism such that the handle may be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position manually, independently of the drive mechanism.

9. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the handle arrangement comprises a return spring for returning the handle from the deployed position to the stowed position.

10. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the handle arrangement comprises a key barrel for receiving a key blade, wherein the key barrel is disposed behind the handle such that the handle conceals the key barrel in the stowed position.

11. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the handle is pivotally mounted about a handle pivot axis disposed between the first and second ends, the handle pivot axis being arranged such that the key barrel remains substantially behind the handle in the stowed position and the key barrel and handle are disposed in the same plane which plane is substantially perpendicular to a plane comprising the handle pivot axis.

12. A handle arrangement for a vehicle according to claim 1 , the handle having a first end and a second end, wherein the handle comprises an unlock button disposed proximate a first end of the handle such that a user may deploy the handle with one hand.

13. A handle arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the handle arrangement is configured to detect the handle being urged into the deployed position when the handle is in the stowed position;
wherein upon detecting the handle being urged into the deployed position when the handle is in the stowed position the drive mechanism is configured to move the handle from the stowed position to the deployed position.

14. A handle arrangement according to claim 1 comprising:
wherein the handle arrangement is configured to detect the handle being urged in the direction of the stowed position of the handle when the handle is in the stowed position;
wherein upon detecting the handle being urged in the direction of the stowed position when the handle is in the stowed position the drive mechanism is configured to move the handle from the stowed position to the deployed position.

15. A vehicle having a plurality of doors or other closures each of which comprises a handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a control unit is coupled to all of the handle arrangements provided on the vehicle.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15 wherein the control unit is arranged to determine whether to move one or all of the handle arrangements from the deployed position to the stowed position based upon a parameter of the force applied to one or more of the handles when in the deployed position and control the drive mechanism of each handle arrangement accordingly.

17. A vehicle according to claim 15 wherein the vehicle comprises a locking mechanism on each of the doors or other closures, and further wherein the control unit is arranged to activate the locking mechanism so as to lock one or all of the doors or other closures based upon a parameter of the force applied to one of the handles.

18. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the parameter is one of the following:
duration of the force;
magnitude of the force;
direction of the force; and
number of times force is applied.

19. A vehicle having a handle arrangement as claimed in claim 1 .

20. A vehicle according to claim 19 comprising one or more doors and wherein a handle acts as a lock status indicator for each individual door.

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Smart Sean
• Mascia Andy
• Smith Edward

Classifications

• Y10S292/31

  Lever operator, flush · CPC title

• E05B85/18

  a longitudinal grip part being pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip part · CPC title

• E05B81/74

  by sensing the state of the actuator · CPC title

• E05B5/006

  essentially defining a completely closed surface together with the wing · CPC title

• E05B5/003

  Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation · CPC title