US3596955A

US3596955A - Automobile door closure operating assembly

Info

Publication number: US3596955A
Application number: US813627A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans Colell
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1968-04-04
Filing date: 1969-04-04
Publication date: 1971-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-03
Also published as: DE1988895U; GB1220325A; FR1598525A

Abstract

A door closure operating assembly, particularly for a door of an automotive vehicle body, including a fastening element with a locking member and a handle pivotable about an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction operatively engaging with the fastening element, wherein a depression is formed in a door panel in the region of attachment of the handle such that the handle lies flush with the major portion of the door panel when the handle is in a closed position.

Description

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor HansColell Schwieberdingen, Germany 4 5 3 56 7 3n 1n1 7 3 ,6 22 Z 99 7.2

J m M m m nm% mm. u hus umog auil eu HKGMGF 670044 334446 999999 HHHHHH 94 557 8003453 840469 .93 3 556 8 578044 ,J 222223 N a m 9 h e m6 0 n P a R u n an 9 h n8 67 ww m N i ..D 43 a 4 r n B PM W P BAAFSA & de mm m MQ o fla n AFPA P 111] l 1-253 2 2247 3 [[11 1 Germany Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Novosad Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorney-Craig, Antonelli, Stewart and Hill AUTOMOBILE DOOR CLOSURE OPERATHNG ABSTRACT: A door closure operating assembly, particularly g a fastening P YD L3 B 5 m m SO A5 [52] [1.8. 292/165, for a door ofan automotive vehicle body, includin 292/l69.l l, 292/3363 element with a locking member and a handle pivotable about [51] Int. E05c 1/14, an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction o perawherein a depression is formed in a door panel in the region of attachment of the handle such that the handle lies flush with the major portively engaging with the fastening element,

70/208 tion of the door panel when the handle is in a closed position.

AUTOMOBILE DOOR CLOSURE OPERATING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Door-operating handles have conventionally been provided on vehicle doors in the form of a fixed member projecting outwardly from the outer door panel. The operation of the door latch and lock is commonly effected by means of a pushbutton disposed within the handle assembly.

Conventional arrangements of this sort incorporate inherent disadvantages from a safety standpoint in that other drivers or pedestrians can be injured by the handles, which project outwardly from the outer door panels. Furthermore, in cold weather, a layer of ice can form between the pushbutton and its guide housing, thus rendering the effective operation of the door lock difficult, and in some cases, impossible.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, door-operating handles in the form of pivotal members arranged within a depression in the outer door panel have been constructed. Such arrangements partially overcome the problems inherent in the outwardly projecting pushbutton-type handles in that the pivotal handle is provided as a component which does not project outwardly from the outer door panel. However, as these pivotal handles are generally arranged to pivot about an axis disposed substantially parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis, the motion required for operation of the handle is awkward; therefore, the handle is not optimally adapted to its primary function in the structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a door-operating handle in the form ofa pivotal member provided within a recess formed in an outer door panel such that the handle, in the closed position thereof, extends approximately flush with the major surface ofthe outer door panel.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pivotal handle of the type described above, which is constructed to pivot about an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction, thus, facilitating the operation of the handle.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pivotal handle assembly of the type described above, together with complementary latch and locking members, which are simple and inexpensive to produce and which effectively preclude fouling in cold weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a depression in the outer door panel in a region adjoining a lock column. The pivotal handle is then disposed completely within the depression formed in the outer door panel and arranged for rotation about an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction. Thus, the pivoting motion of the handle required for opening the door may be easily executed although the handle is recessed from the surface of the outer door panel so that it does not serve as a potentially injurious projection from the outer surface of the door panel. A depression is provided in the lock column, in the region of the operating handle, thus insuring a functional accessibility to the handle.

At one end, the handle is provided with bearing yoke legs having forklike fingers hingedly connected with pins of a trip member surrounding the outer shell of the lock housing and serving for actuation of the door latch. Thus, the component parts required for transmitting the pivotal movement of the handle to the lock assembly can be constructed, in accordance with the present invention, in a simple and inexpensive manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the detailed description herein below, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I represents a lateral view of an automobile body, illustrating the detail in the region of the door-operating handle assembly;

FIG. 2 represents a section along line II-II of FIG. I, on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 represents a section along line III-III of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the portion of the vehicle body illustrated in FIG. 1, the automotive vehicle body, generally designated 1, includes a door 2 provided with an operating handle 3, and a lock column 4. As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the door 2 includes an outer panel 5 with a recess 6 formed therein. Within recess 6,

apertures

7, 8 and 9 are provided within the outer panel 5 of door 2.

The operating handle 3 is disposed within recess 6 and in cludes a fastening element 10, a lock housing 11 with a conventional latch member 12, and

abutment members

13 and 14, each provided with threaded bores therein. A handle 15 is pivotably connected with the fastening element 10 by means of bearing yoke legs 16, 16' (FIG. 31) having forklike fingers 17, 117', respectively. The bearing yoke legs 16, 16' of handle 15 are hingedly attached to an abutment 18 of fastening element 10 by means of a pin 19. A spring clip 20 supported upon pin 19 between abutment 18 at one end and, bearing

yoke legs

16, 16 at the opposite end, serves to return the handle 15 after pivoting thereof into an opening position (shown in dotdash lines in FIG. 2).

In order to open the door lock, which is not illustrated in the drawing, a displaceable release member 21 is provided at the fastening element 10. The release member 21 may be constructed, for example, of a synthetic material and be provided in the form of a ring 22 surrounding the outer shell of lock housing 11 of the fastening element 10 and may further include

extension arms

23, 23. Cylindrical cam members 24, 24' are disposed on extension arms 23, 23', which cam members cooperate, in the manner of a linkage, with the forklike fingers I7, 17' of handle 15.

The operating handle assembly 3 is mounted to

abutment parts

13, 14 of the fastening element 10 by means of

screws

25, 26. The built-in operating handle assembly 3 extends, together with lock housing 11 of fastening element 10, through aperture 8 of the outer panel 5 of the door 2. A rubber member 27, supported upon outer panel 5 as well as on lock housing 11, is provided for sealing aperture 8.

The lock column 4 is provided with. a recess 28 in the region of the operating handle assembly 3 whereby handle 15 is easily accessible for pivoting manipulation.

When opening the door 2, the handle 15 is rotated into the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2 whereby the release member 21 is moved through the

fingers

17, 17 and

cam members

24, 24 into the position shown also in dot-dash lines. This operation effects a release of the door lock (not shown) and hence an opening of the: door. When the handle 15 is released, the release member 21 and the handle are automatically rotated into the rest position by means of spring clip 20.

While the present invention has been described with reference to but a single embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is in no way limited to the specific details thereof, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as would be apparent to one with normal skill in the pertinent technology.

What is claimed is:

1. A door closure operating assembly, particularly for an automotive vehicle body having relatively fixed lock column means comprising:

fastening means, including a lock housing and a displaceable release member;

operating handle means operatively connected with said release member to cause displacement thereof between an open position and a closed position, said handle means being pivotally connected with said fastening means for rotation about an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction, and

outer door panel means defining a recess in the region thereof adjacent to said lock column means,

wherein said operating handle has a free end which is remote from the operative connection of said handle means with said release member, which free end is disposed, relative to said outer panel means, within said recess so as to terminate essentially flush with the edge of the door adjacent the lock column means, such that the outer surface of said handle means, in the closed position thereof, is substantially aligned with the surface of the major portion of said outer door panel means.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said handle means includes bearing yoke leg members each having a forklike configuration.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said release member includes cylindrical cam means, said yoke leg members with a forklike configuration engaging said cam means to cause displacement of said release member in response to motion of said handle means.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said handle means is pivotally connected with said fastening means by way of a bearing pin, and further comprising spring clip means at said bearing pin means, said spring clip means biasing said handle means into the closed position thereof.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein a portion of said release member is constructed in the form of a hollow cylindrical member adapted to surround said lock housing.

Claims

1. A door closure operating assembly, particularly for an automotive vehicle body having relatively fixed lock column means comprising: fastening means, including a lock housing and a displaceable release member; operating handle means operatively connected with said release member to cause displacement thereof between an open position and a closed position, said handle means being pivotally connected with said fastening means for rotation about an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction, and outer door panel means defining a recess in the region thereof adjacent to said lock column means, wherein said operating handle has a free end which is remote from the operative connection of said handle means with said release member, which free end is disposed, relative to said outer panel means, within said recess so as to terminate essentially flush with the edge of the door adjacent the lock column means, such that the outer surface of said handle means, in the closed position thereof, is substantially aligned with the surface of the major portion of said outer door panel means.