Extendable flush door handle for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580942-B2
Application number	US-201414336372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Dec 23, 2009
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movable relative to the base portion between a recessed position and a partially extended position. When at the partially extended position, the handle portion is manually movable outward from the base portion to open the vehicle door. A control is operable to control operation of a motor of an actuator to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the partially extended position. The control moves the handle portion from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a trigger. The actuator provides a manual override that allows the user to manually move the handle portion relative to the base portion. Responsive to determination of a lockout condition, the control limits movement of the handle portion from the recessed position towards the partially extended position irrespective of the trigger.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:
a base portion mounted at or incorporated into a structure of the door of the vehicle;
a handle portion movable relative to said base portion, wherein said handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where said handle portion is at least partially recessed at said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user, and a partially extended position, where said handle portion extends partially outward from said base portion to be graspable by the user;
wherein, when said handle portion is at said partially extended position, said handle portion is manually movable further outward from said base portion to open the door of the vehicle;
a control operable to move said handle portion between said recessed position and said partially extended position;
wherein said control controls operation of a motor of an electrically operable actuator of said handle assembly and wherein operation of said motor moves said handle portion between said recessed position and said partially extended position;
wherein said control controls said motor of said actuator to move said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to a trigger;
wherein said trigger comprises at least one of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of the user actuating a door unlock button of the vehicle;
wherein said actuator provides a manual override that allows the user to manually move said handle portion relative to said base portion, wherein said manual override is provided via at least partial disengagement or slippage of gears of said actuator when the user urges said handle portion inwards towards said base portion; and
wherein, responsive to determination of a lockout condition, said control limits movement of said handle portion from said recessed position towards said partially extended position irrespective of the trigger.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle assembly comprises one of (a) a strap handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle, (b) a paddle handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle and (c) a liftgate handle assembly for opening a liftgate of a vehicle.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said lockout condition comprises at least one of (i) the vehicle being in a forward gear, (ii) the vehicle being in a reverse gear, (iii) the vehicle ignition being on, (iv) a predetermined time period following the vehicle ignition being turned on and (v) the vehicle moving above a threshold speed.

4. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle portion is pivotally mounted to said base portion and said actuator is operable to pivot said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position.

5. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said control is responsive to a passive entry system of the vehicle, and wherein said trigger comprises a signal of said passive entry system.

6. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle portion, when in said recessed position, is at least partially received in said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by the user until said handle portion is moved toward said partially extended position.

7. The handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a dampening element that dampens return of said handle portion towards its recessed position after extension of said handle portion to open the vehicle door.

8. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said manual override is provided via a clutch comprising a first gear element that is driven by said motor and a second gear element that is driven by said first gear element, and wherein, when said handle portion is moved toward said partially extended position via operation of said motor of said actuator and when said partially extended handle portion is manually urged toward said recessed position, said second gear element slips relative to said first gear element to allow said partially extended handle portion to be manually moved toward said recessed position.

9. The handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein said first and second gear elements comprise ramped teeth and wherein said second gear element moves along the ramped teeth of said first gear element to slip said second gear element relative to said first gear element when said handle portion is manually moved toward said recessed position.

10. The handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein said second gear element rotates with an output element of said actuator and wherein said output element engages said handle portion to cause pivotal movement of said handle portion relative to said base portion.

11. The handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein, when said output element is rotatably driven in a first direction, said handle portion pivots toward said partially extended position, and wherein, when said output element is rotatably driven in a second direction, said handle portion pivots toward said recessed position, and wherein said clutch allows for rotation of said output element in said second direction when said handle portion has been moved toward said partially extended position via rotatable driving of said output element in said first direction.

12. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said control is operable to move said handle portion from said partially extended position towards said recessed position responsive to elapsing of a period of time after said handle portion is moved from said recessed position to said partially extended position.

13. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when said handle portion is at said recessed position, a portion of said handle portion at one side of a pivot axis of said handle portion is manually movable inward toward said base portion to cause another portion of said handle portion at an opposite side of said pivot axis to move outward from said base portion to move said handle portion toward said partially extended position without operation of said motor.

14. A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle, said handle assembly comprising:
a base portion mounted at or incorporated into a structure of the door of the vehicle;
a handle portion movable relative to said base portion, wherein said handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where said handle portion is at least partially recessed at said base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user, and a partially extended position, where said handle portion extends partially outward from said base portion to be graspable by the user;
wherein, when said handle portion is at said partially extended position, said handle portion is manually movable further outward from said base portion to open the door of the vehicle;
a control operable to move said handle portion between said recessed position and said partially extended position;
wherein said control controls operation of a motor of an electrically operable actuator of said handle assembly and wherein operation of said motor moves said handle portion between said recessed position and said partially extended position;
wherein said control controls said motor of said actuator to move said handle portion from said recessed position to said partially extended position responsive to a trigger;
wherein said trigger comprises at least one of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of the user act

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Sobecki Justin E
• Foote Keith D
• Deuel Eric S

Classifications

• E05B85/10 Primary

  Handles · CPC title

• Y10T292/57

  Operators with knobs or handles · CPC title

• E05B81/06

  using rotary motors · CPC title

• E05B85/103 Primary

  creating a completely closed wing surface · CPC title

• Y10T70/65

  Central control · CPC title