Granted Patent B2

US 12,650,039 · App. 18/100,414 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Zsolt Wilke (Bad Mergentheim, DE); Elmar Fries (Rottingen, DE); Steffen Kolb (Würzburg, DE)

Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

E05B85/16B29C45/14786B29C45/14795B29L2031/3029

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . An actuating portion for a vehicle door handle assembly, wherein the actuating portion has been produced in a multi-component injection-molding method, and wherein the actuating portion comprises a carrier portion formed by co-injection-molding, having a core and an outer layer, and a decorative portion integrally connected to the carrier portion;

wherein the outer layer of the carrier portion formed by co-injection comprises, at least regionally, a plastic having a cool-touch effect;

wherein one of the carrier portion or the decorative portion has been produced in a first co-injection step using a first mold half and a second mold half, resulting in a first precast, and wherein the other of the carrier portion or the decorative portion has been produced in a second injection-molding step fired at the first precast after a change of the first mold half or the second mold half, resulting in a second precast, while the first precast remains in the first mold half or second mold half until the second precast is fired at the first precast.

2 . The actuating portion according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in the co-injection step, first a plastic component of the outer layer and then a plastic component of the core are injected into the mold sequentially from the same injection point, wherein, during or after the injection of the plastic component of the core, a gaseous injection medium is also injected.

3 . The actuating portion according to claim 1 ,

wherein the core of the carrier portion formed by co-injection is formed by gas injection and is foamed at least regionally.

4 . The actuating portion according to claim 1 ,

wherein the decorative portion is connected to the carrier portion at least in parts or regionally by means of a positive-lock connection, by an engagement of at least one first connecting partner provided on the decorative portion and at least one second connecting partner provided on the carrier portion.

5 . The actuating portion according to claim 1

wherein the core of the carrier portion formed by co-injection consists of a first plastic component, which is a glass fiber-reinforced plastic component, and wherein the outer layer of the carrier portion formed by co-injection consists of a second plastic component different from the first plastic component.

6 . The actuating portion according to claim 5 ,

wherein the decorative portion consists of a third plastic component different from the first and second plastic components.

7 . The actuating portion according to claim 6 ,

wherein the third plastic component forms at least one convex edge or at least one convex arcuate region on a surface of the actuating portion, such that the third plastic component extends in the direction of a rear face of the actuating portion.

8 . The actuating portion according to claim 7 ,

wherein a region of the surface of the rear face of the actuating portion is formed by the third plastic component, which extends from a front face of the actuating portion to the rear face of the actuating portion and forms the at least one edge or the arcuate region.

9 . A method of manufacturing an actuating portion for a vehicle door handle assembly, wherein the actuating portion comprises a carrier portion formed by co-injection with a core and an outer layer and a decorative portion integrally connected to the carrier portion, wherein the actuating portion is produced in a multi-component injection-molding method;

wherein the outer layer of the carrier portion formed by co-injection comprises, at least regionally, a plastic having a cool-touch effect;

wherein one of the carrier portion or the decorative portion is produced in a first co-injection step using a first mold half and a second mold half, resulting in a first precast, and wherein the other of the carrier portion or the decorative portion is produced in a second injection-molding step fired at the first precast after a change of the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second precast, while the first precast remains in the first or second mold half until the second precast is fired at the first precast.

10 . The method according to claim 9 ,

wherein, in the co-injection step, first a plastic component of the outer layer and then a plastic component of the core are injected into the mold sequentially from the same injection point, wherein, during or after the injection of the plastic component of the core, a gaseous injection medium is also injected.

11 . The method according to claim 9 ,

wherein the core of the carrier portion formed by co-injection is formed by gas injection and is foamed at least regionally.

12 . The method according to claim 9 ,

wherein the core of the carrier portion formed by co-injection consists of a first plastic component, which is a glass fiber-reinforced plastic component, and wherein the outer layer of the carrier portion formed by co-injection consists of a second plastic component different from the first plastic component.

13 . A door handle assembly of a vehicle, in particular an inner door handle assembly, comprising a housing and an actuating portion according to claim 1 movably arranged on the housing.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (16)