Truck bed assist handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9889782-B2
Application number	US-201615145923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2016
Priority date	May 4, 2016
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

An assist handle assembly includes a bracket, and a handle. The bracket includes a tubular portion concentric with and extending along a vertical axis. The handle includes a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion is partially disposed within and supported by the tubular portion, and is concentric with and extends along the vertical axis. The horizontal portion extends from an upper end of the vertical portion in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis. The handle is rotatable about the vertical axis between a stowed position and an intermediate position, and is slideable axially along the vertical axis within the tubular portion of the bracket, between the intermediate position and a deployed position. A latching mechanism secures the handle relative to the bracket when in the deployed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assist handle assembly for a vehicle, the assist handle assembly comprising:
a bracket configured for attachment to a sidewall of a vehicular body, and including a tubular portion concentric with and extending along a vertical axis;
a handle having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, wherein the vertical portion of the handle has a lower end and an upper end and extends along the vertical axis and is partially disposed within and supported by the tubular portion of the bracket, and wherein the horizontal portion extends from the upper end of the vertical portion in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis;
wherein the handle is rotatable about the vertical axis between a stowed position and an intermediate position;
wherein the handle is slideable axially along the vertical axis within the tubular portion of the bracket between the intermediate position and a deployed position; and
a latching mechanism operable to secure the handle relative to the bracket when the handle is disposed in the deployed position.

2. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism includes a cam slot defined by the tubular portion of the bracket.

3. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein the latching mechanism includes a post attached to the vertical portion of the handle and extending away from the vertical portion in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis.

4. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein the post is disposed adjacent the lower end of the vertical portion of the handle.

5. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein the post engages the cam slot in interlocking engagement when the handle is disposed in the deployed position.

6. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein the cam slot defines a profile that secures the handle against rotation about the vertical axis relative to the bracket, and supports the handle against axial movement along the vertical axis relative to the bracket.

7. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein the latching mechanism includes a biasing device operable to bias the post into the interlocking engagement with the cam slot.

8. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein the biasing device includes a coil spring disposed about the tubular portion, wherein the coil spring includes a first end secured relative to the tubular portion to bias against the bracket, and a second end to bias axially along the vertical axis against the post.

9. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the tubular portion includes an exterior wall defining a hollow, cylindrical center, with the vertical portion of the handle disposed within the cylindrical center and surrounded by the exterior wall.

10. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein the vertical portion of the handle includes an annular cross sectional shape perpendicular to the vertical axis.

11. The assist handle assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the horizontal portion of the handle includes a grip that is laterally offset from the vertical axis.

12. A vehicle comprising:
a body including a sidewall;
an assist handle assembly attached to the body, the assist handle assembly including:
a bracket attached to the sidewall of the body, wherein the bracket includes a tubular portion concentric with and extending along a vertical axis;
a handle having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, wherein the vertical portion of the handle has a lower end and an upper end and extends along the vertical axis and is partially disposed within and supported by the tubular portion of the bracket, and wherein the horizontal portion extends from the upper end of the vertical portion in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis;
wherein the handle is rotatable relative to the bracket about the vertical axis between a stowed position and an intermediate position;
wherein the handle is slideable within the tubular portion of the bracket between the intermediate position and a deployed position; and
a latching mechanism interconnecting the bracket and the handle, and operable to secure the handle relative to the bracket when the handle is disposed in the deployed position.

13. The vehicle set forth in claim 12 wherein the latching mechanism includes a cam slot defined by the tubular portion of the bracket, and a post attached to the vertical portion of the handle and extending away from the vertical portion in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis, wherein the post engages the cam slot in interlocking engagement when the handle is disposed in the deployed position.

14. The vehicle set forth in claim 13 wherein the cam slot defines a profile that secures the handle against rotation about the vertical axis relative to the bracket, and supports the handle against axial movement along the vertical axis relative to the bracket.

15. The vehicle set forth in claim 13 wherein the post is disposed adjacent the lower end of the vertical portion of the handle.

16. The vehicle set forth in claim 13 wherein the latching mechanism includes a biasing device operable to bias the post into the interlocking engagement with the cam slot.

17. The vehicle set forth in claim 16 wherein the biasing device includes a coil spring disposed about the tubular portion, wherein the coil spring includes a first end secured relative to the tubular portion to bias against the bracket, and a second end to bias axially along the vertical axis against the post.

18. A bed for a pick-up truck, the bed comprising:
a body defining a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a floor, and an opening disposed at a longitudinal rearward end of the floor, between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
a tailgate rotatably attached to the body, adjacent the longitudinal rearward end of the floor, and rotatable between a closed position for closing the opening in the body, and an open position allowing access through the opening in the body; and
an assist handle assembly attached to the body, the assist handle assembly including:
a bracket attached to the first sidewall adjacent the opening in the body, and including a tubular portion concentric with and extending along a vertical axis;
a handle having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, wherein the vertical portion of the handle has a lower end and an upper end and extends along the vertical axis and is partially disposed within and supported by the tubular portion of the bracket, and
wherein the horizontal portion extends from the upper end of the vertical portion in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis, to present a grip at a distal end of the horizontal portion that is laterally spaced from the vertical axis;
wherein the handle is rotatable about the vertical axis, between a stowed position and an intermediate position, to rotate the horizontal portion of the handle on a horizontal plane relative to the body, to present the grip over the tailgate when the tailgate is disposed in the open position;
wherein the handle is axially slideable along a vertical axis within the tubular portion of the bracket, between the intermediate position and a deployed position, to change an elevation of the grip relative to the body to position the grip as a hand hold to assist in ingress and egress into and out of the bed;
a cam slot defined by the tubular portion of the bracket
a post attached to the vertical portion of the handle adjacent the lower

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Gobart James G

Classifications

• B60N3/02 Primary

  of hand grips or straps · CPC title

• B60R3/02

  Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N3/023 Primary

  movable · CPC title