Vehicle exterior door handle with lighting module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776556-B2
Application number	US-201715463295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	May 3, 2007
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

An exterior door handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open the vehicle door. A self-contained elongated module includes (i) an elongated housing, (ii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iii) a light pipe. The strap-handle portion receives the self-contained elongated module. At least one light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of the strap-handle portion. With the door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when the light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes along the light pipe and through the elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

First claim

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

1. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:
a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;
a self-contained elongated module comprising (i) an elongated housing, (ii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iii) a light pipe;
wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said self-contained elongated module encase said light pipe of said self-contained elongated module;
wherein said strap-handle portion receives said self-contained elongated module;
wherein at least one light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of said length dimension of said strap-handle portion;
wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;
wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes along said light pipe and exits said self-contained elongated module as diffuse illumination; and
wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

2. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

3. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted by said self-contained elongated module.

4. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered responsive to a remote device.

5. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , comprising an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device.

6. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 5 , wherein the remote device comprises an element of a passive entry system.

7. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is in electrical connection with wiring that extends from said strap-handle portion for electrically connecting to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door.

8. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door.

9. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said strap-handle portion comprises structure configured to receive said self-contained elongated module thereat.

10. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 9 , wherein said structure of said strap-handle portion comprises at least one of an opening and a recess.

11. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 9 , wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion.

12. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is snap-attached at said strap-handle portion.

13. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion via at least one a fastener.

14. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:
a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;
a self-contained elongated module comprising (i) an elongated housing, (ii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iii) a light pipe;
wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said self-contained elongated module encase said light pipe of said self-contained elongated module;
wherein said strap-handle portion receives said self-contained elongated module;
wherein at least one light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of said length dimension of said strap-handle portion;
wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;
wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door;
wherein said at least one light emitting diode is in electrical connection with wiring that extends from said strap-handle portion for electrically connecting to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door; and
wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes along said light pipe and through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

15. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, said self-contained elongated module provides diffuse illumination.

16. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted by said self-contained elongated module.

17. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered responsive to a remote device.

18

Assignees

• Donnelly Corp

Inventors

• Dingman David A
• Gorby Brett A
• Foote Keith D

Classifications

• B60Q1/2669 Primary

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

• B60Q3/258

  Rear-view mirrors · CPC title

• B60R16/0207

  Wire harnesses · CPC title

• B60Q1/2696

  Mounting of devices using LEDs · CPC title

• B60Y2410/115

  Electric wiring; Electric connectors · CPC title