IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,145,152
Granted Patent B2
US 10,145,152 · App. 14/941,478 · Granted Dec 4, 2018

Door handle with removable cap

Inventors: Andreas Beck (Bochum, DE); Martin Witte (Ahaus, DE); Ulrike Fichert (Wuppertal, DE); Igor Gorenzweig (Wuppertal, DE); Stefan Mönig (Schwelm, DE)
Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
E05B81/77B60J5/04E05B17/10E05B17/14E05B17/183E05B77/34E05B79/04E05B79/06E05B79/20E05B81/04E05B81/10E05B81/56E05B81/82E05B81/86E05B81/90E05B85/02E05B85/10F21V3/062E05B79/08E05B79/10Y10S292/22Y10T292/1047Y10T292/1078Y10T292/57
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,145,152
App. No.
14/941,478
Granted
Dec 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a door handle ( 10 ) for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle, with a removable cover element ( 11 ), in particular for covering a lock cylinder ( 101 ), wherein the lock cylinder ( 101 ) is provided for unlocking and locking a door lock, and wherein the cover element ( 11 ) can be transferred between at least two positions (I, II), specifically a covered position (I), in which in particular the lock cylinder ( 101 ) is covered by the cover element ( 11 ) so as to be inaccessible from the outside, and an open position (II), in which in particular the cylinder lock ( 101 ) is uncovered by the cover element ( 11 ), and a tension means ( 12 ) for actuating the door lock, wherein the tension means ( 12 ) can be mechanically operatively connected with the cover element ( 11 ) in the open position (II) of the cover element ( 11 ), so as to actuate the door lock by pulling on the cover element ( 11 ). It is also possible to initially detach the tension means from the cover element, for example by undoing a corresponding connection between the tension means and cover element, such as a form- and/or force fitting connection, clip and/or clamp connection, bayonet connection or the like, and then initiate the opening process directly on the tension means. To this end, the invention proposes that a triggering device ( 14 ) be provided for the cover element ( 11 ), so as to automatically transfer the cover element ( 11 ) into the open position (II), in particular in an emergency situation.

Claims (50)

1. A door handle ( 10 ) for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle, with

a removable cover element ( 11 ), in particular for covering a lock cylinder ( 101 ), wherein the lock cylinder ( 101 ) is provided for unlocking and locking a door lock, and wherein the cover element ( 11 ) can be transferred between at least two positions (I, II), specifically

a covered position (I), in which in particular the lock cylinder ( 101 ) is covered by the cover element ( 11 ) so as to be inaccessible from the outside,

and an open position (II), in which in particular the lock cylinder ( 101 ) is uncovered by the cover element ( 11 ),

and a tension means ( 12 ) for actuating the door lock, in order to open the vehicle door when the door lock is unlocked,

wherein the tension means ( 12 ) can be mechanically operatively connected with the cover element ( 11 ) in the open position (II) of the cover element ( 11 ), so as to actuate the door lock by pulling on the cover element ( 11 ), wherein the tension means ( 12 ) transfers a mechanical tension force to the door lock,

characterized in that

a triggering device ( 14 ) is provided for the cover element ( 11 ), so as to automatically transfer the cover element ( 11 ) into the open position (II), in particular in an emergency situation.

2. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the door handle ( 10 ) is designed as a fixed outer door handle of an automobile ( 10 ), in particular one that is immovable relative to the vehicle door.

3. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the tension means ( 12 ) is designed for mechanically actuating the door lock, wherein in particular the door lock is designed so that it can be mechanically and/or electrically actuated.

4. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that

the tension means ( 12 ) is designed for mechanically actuating the door lock, wherein in particular the door lock is designed so that it can be mechanically and/or electrically actuated.

5. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the tension means ( 12 ) is designed as a Bowden cable or a chain, and that in particular the tension means ( 12 ) is made out of a flexible material.

6. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the cover element ( 11 ) exhibits an anti-loss safeguard ( 13 ), in particular in the form of a joint, rope or hinge, so as to hold the cover element in the open position secured against loss,

and that in particular the anti-loss safeguard ( 13 ) is an extension of the tension means ( 12 ).

7. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

a locking element ( 15 ) is provided for the cover element ( 11 ), in particular in the form of a clamping, latching or clip element, which can transfer between at least two locations (III, IV), specifically

a locked location (III), in which the cover element ( 11 ) is secured in the covered position (I) by the locking element ( 15 ), in particular form- and/or force fitting, and a released location (IV), in which the cover element ( 11 ) is released by the locking element ( 15 ) so as to transfer into the open position (II).

8. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the cover element ( 11 ) is detachable in design by introducing an opening mechanism, in particular the bit of an emergency key, into a slot ( 16 ) in the door handle ( 11 ), so as to exert a mechanical effect on the cover element ( 11 ), in particular on a locking element ( 15 ), and transfer the cover element ( 11 ) into the open position (II), in particular the locking element ( 15 ) into the released location (IV).

9. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the triggering device ( 14 ) exhibits a triggering means ( 17 ), so as to, in the event of an accident, directly or indirectly, automatically, in particular mechanically, electrically, electromagnetically, electromechanically or pyrotechnically, act on the cover element ( 11 ), in particular on a locking element ( 15 ), and transfer the cover element ( 11 ) into the open position (II), in particular the locking element ( 15 ) into the released location (IV).

10. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , characterized in that

the triggering means ( 17 ) is designed as a shape-memory-alloy element (FGL element), of a permanent or electric magnet or a piezo element.

11. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the triggering device ( 14 ) can be connected with at least one emergency situation sensor or crash sensor, wherein the triggering device ( 14 ) can be activated in particular upon detection of an emergency situation by the at least one emergency situation sensor, so as to transfer the cover element ( 11 ) into the open position (I), in particular a locking element ( 15 ) into the released location (III).

12. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the cover element ( 11 ) and tension means ( 12 ) can be connected directly or by a joining means ( 11 . 2 ).

13. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , characterized in that

the joining means ( 11 . 2 ) takes the form of a recess, a hook, an eyelet, a clamp or a clip, so as to engage onto the tension means ( 12 ).

14. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the cover element ( 11 ) and tension means ( 12 ) are designed as a uniform material, in particular as a monolithic component.

15. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the door handle ( 10 ) and/or cover element ( 11 ) are made out of a plastic, particularly taking the form of an injection molded plastic part.

16. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

a control unit is provided for the triggering device ( 14 ) in order to actuate the triggering device,

and that in particular the control unit is integrated into a central control unit of the motor vehicle.

17. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

a keyless entry system is integrated in the door handle ( 10 ).

18. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

at least one proximity sensor, in particular in the form of a capacitive, optical, acoustic sensor or pressure sensor, is integrated into the door handle ( 10 ), in particular below the cover element, so as to detect a user approaching the motor vehicle.

19. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

a security system is provided for the door handle ( 10 ) in order to query the authorization of a user.

20. The door handle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

an emergency power supply is provided for the triggering device ( 14 ), so as to activate the triggering device,

and that in particular the emergency power supply exhibits at least one capacitor, a Gold Cap capacitor, an accumulator or a film battery, so as to supply power to the triggering device ( 14 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2016
From: BECK, ANDREAS; WITTE, MARTIN; FICHERT, ULRIKE; GORENZWEIG, IGOR; MÖNIG, STEFAN
To: HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 038085/0568 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 116 641 · Nov 13, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160145910A1 · May 26, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,331,566