Granted Patent B2

US 12,560,002 · App. 18/130,753 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventors: Zsolt Wilke (Bad Mergentheim, DE); Andreas Rudolf (Eibelstadt, DE); Joachim Oberst (Großrinderfeld, DE)

Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.

E05B85/103

Abstract

Claims (39)

1 . An apparatus for aligning a cover for vehicles, wherein the cover is reversibly movable between a closed position in which the cover covers a door handle recess and an open position in which the cover reveals the door handle recess, the apparatus comprising:

a kinematics configured to reversibly move the cover between the closed position and the open position; and

a support assembly configured to connect the cover to the kinematics in such a way that the cover, in its closed position, is arranged flush with an opening formed in an outer skin of the vehicle to cover substantially all of the opening,

wherein the kinematics is further configured to rotate through a second opening in the door handle recess.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support assembly comprises an elastic support layer.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the cover, in its closed position, is arranged in an opening of the outer skin, and wherein the elastic support layer comprises sealing lips configured to seal the opening.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the sealing lips extend around an outer circumference of the elastic support layer, and wherein the sealing lips extend beyond an outer circumference of the cover.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the elastic support layer is integrally formed.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the elastic support layer comprises centering elements for centering the cover in relation to the elastic support layer.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the centering elements comprise at least one centering projection and at least one centering opening.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the elastic support layer covers an entire rear side of the cover.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support assembly comprises a half-shell that is releasably connected or connectable to the cover and, together with the cover, forms a cavity that is suitable for receiving a sensor apparatus.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 ,

wherein the half-shell comprises centering elements for centering the half-shell in relation to an elastic support layer, and wherein at least one of the centering elements extends through the elastic support layer into a portion of the kinematics.

11 . A door handle assembly for insertion into a body opening of a vehicle, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a cover for closing an opening on a vehicle and an apparatus according to claim 1 .

12 . A vehicle having a door handle assembly according to claim 11 .

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the kinematics is configured to pivot the cover between the closed position and the open position.

14 . An apparatus for aligning a cover for vehicles, wherein the cover is reversibly movable between a closed position in which the cover covers a door handle recess and an open position in which the cover reveals the door handle recess, the apparatus comprising:

a kinematics configured to reversibly move the cover between the closed position and the open position; and

a support assembly having an elastic support layer, the support assembly configured to connect the cover to the kinematics in such a way that the cover, in its closed position, is arranged flush with an outer skin of the vehicle,

wherein the elastic support layer comprises, on a side facing away from the cover, a fastening element configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening of the kinematics for fastening the elastic support layer to the kinematics,

wherein the fastening element is deformable between a normal state in which a diameter of the fastening element is greater than a diameter of the opening of the kinematics and an insertion state in which the diameter of the fastening element is smaller than the diameter of the opening of the kinematics.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein the fastening element is configured such that the support assembly is movable in two degrees of rotational freedom in relation to a first axis of rotation that is aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fastening element and in relation to a second axis of rotation that is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastening element and perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the support assembly is configured to rotate in two directions in relation to the first axis of rotation.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the cover, in its closed position, is arranged in an opening of the outer skin, and wherein the elastic support layer comprises sealing lips configured to seal the opening.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the sealing lips extend around an outer circumference of the elastic support layer, and wherein the sealing lips extend beyond an outer circumference of the cover.

19 . An apparatus for aligning a cover for vehicles, wherein the cover is reversibly movable between a closed position in which the cover covers a door handle recess and an open position in which the cover reveals the door handle recess, the apparatus comprising:

a kinematics configured to reversibly move the cover between the closed position and the open position; and

a support assembly having an elastic support layer, the support assembly configured to connect the cover to the kinematics in such a way that the cover, in its closed position, is arranged flush with an outer skin of the vehicle,

wherein the elastic support layer comprises, on a side facing away from the cover, a fastening element configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening of the kinematics for fastening the elastic support layer to the kinematics,

wherein the fastening element is configured to bend such that the support assembly is movable in two degrees of rotational freedom in relation to a first axis of rotation that is aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fastening element and in relation to a second axis of rotation that is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastening element and perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (146)