Dual-action door handle
A door handle on a vehicle door includes a first grip and a second grip configured to engage fingers of a user and a web extending between the first grip and the second grip. One grip is accessible from the interior of the vehicle and the second is accessible from the exterior of the vehicle. A structure on the door handle is coupled to a latch, such as by one or more links, for releasing the latch from a striker responsive to rotation of the door handle. The one or more links may include a link having one slot receiving the structure and another slot coupled to the latch. The door handle may be positioned between mounting flanges and secured by a pin passing through the patch and an opening defined by the door handle.
1 . A vehicle door having a door handle for securement to a vehicle having an interior and an exterior, the vehicle door comprising:
a door inner face exposed to the interior of the vehicle door;
a door outer face exposed to the exterior of the vehicle door;
the door handle comprising:
a first interface and a second interface configured to engage fingers of a user, the first interface being exposed through the door inner face and accessible from the interior of the vehicle, the second interface being exposed through the door outer face and accessible from the exterior of the vehicle;
a web extending between the first interface and the second interface such that the first interface extends from a first side of the web and the second interface extends from a second side of the web, the first side of the web being opposite the second side of the web; and
a pivot secured to the web and defining an axis of rotation, the pivot configured to rotatably mount the web to a door of a vehicle,
wherein the first interface is disposed opposite the web from the second interface, the first interface being on a first side of the pivot and the second interface being on a second side of the pivot such that the first interface and the second interface rotate about the same axis but translate in substantially opposite directions when rotated on the axis of rotation.
2 . The door handle of claim 1 , further comprising a structure secured to any of the web, first interface, or second interface and configured to engage a latch secured to the door of the vehicle.
3 . The vehicle door of claim 1 , further comprising:
a door inner panel having the inner face exposed to the interior of the vehicle door; and
a door outer panel having the outer face exposed to the exterior of the vehicle door.
4 . The vehicle door of claim 3 , wherein most of the web is covered by the door inner panel on one side and the door outer face on the other side.
5 . The door handle of claim 1 , wherein the first interface is a first grip projecting inwardly to the interior of the vehicle.
6 . The door handle of claim 1 , wherein the second interface is a second grip projecting outwardly towards the exterior of the vehicle.
7 . A door latch release for securement to a door having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the door latch release comprising:
a first interface and a second interface configured to engage fingers of a user;
an intermediate member extending between the first interface and the second interface, the intermediate member fixing the orientation of the first interface relative to the second interface with the first interface extending from a first end of the intermediate member and the second interface extending from a second end of the intermediate member, the first end being opposite the second end; and
a pivot defined on the intermediate member and defining an axis of rotation, the pivot configured to rotatably mount the door latch release to a door with a pivot axis generally aligned with the first surface of the door, the first interface being exposed through the first surface of the door and the second interface being exposed through the second surface of the door, such that translational movement of the first interface results in opposite translational movement of the second interface relative to a plane containing the axis of rotation, the intermediate member and the first and second interfaces rotating about the pivot.
8 . The door latch release of claim 7 , further comprising one or more rotatable links coupling the door handle to a latch.
9 . The door latch release of claim 7 , further comprising a first pin fixedly secured to one of the first interface and the second interface, the first pin configured for engaging one or more links extending to a latch.
10 . The door latch release of claim 7 , wherein the door comprising a first panel and a second panel, the first surface being on the first panel and the second surface being on the second panel.
11 . The door latch release of claim 10 , wherein the pivot is configured to be disposed between the first and second panels.
12 . A vehicle comprising:
a door having an inner panel defining an inner opening and an outer panel defining an outer opening; and
a door latch release including:
a first interface and a second interface configured to engage fingers of a user;
an intermediate member extending between the first interface and the second interface such that the first interface extends from a first end of the intermediate member and the second interface extends from a second end of the intermediate member, the first end of the intermediate member being opposite the second end of the intermediate member; and
a pivot on the intermediate member between the first and second ends of the intermediate member, the pivot defining an axis of rotation and being pivotally mounted to the door between the inner panel and the outer panel;
wherein the first and second interfaces are disposed on opposite functional sides of the pivot such that the interfaces translate in substantially opposite directions when rotated about the pivot;
wherein the first interface is accessible through the inner opening and wherein the second interface is accessible through the outer opening.
13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising a latch secured to the door and a striker secured to a door frame of the vehicle, the door handle being coupled to the latch such that rotation of the door handle releases the latch from the striker.
14 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first interface extends through the inner opening.
15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first interface forms a back surface for finger engagement such that the interface can be pulled to rotate the intermediate member about the pivot.
16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second interface extends through the outer opening.
17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the second interface forms a back surface for finger engagement such that the interface can be pulled to rotate the intermediate member about the pivot.
18 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first interface is disposed opposite the axis of rotation from the second interface substantially 180 degrees from the second interface.