CN109958345B - Mounting fixture of hidden car door handle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses mounting fixture of hidden door handle assembly includes: the simulation shell has an outline shape which can be matched with a handle hole of an outer metal plate of the vehicle door, so that the simulation shell can be embedded in the handle hole of the outer metal plate; the positioning device is arranged on the inner side of the simulation shell and used for positioning the hidden door handle subassembly when the hidden door handle subassembly is installed on the reinforcing plate; a holding device capable of holding the dummy housing in the handle hole and releasing the dummy housing from the handle hole. This application utilizes mounting fixture to advance line location with the handle subassembly for the outer panel beating of door, consequently, can guarantee to have even clearance and face difference between the outline of installing the apron on the handle subassembly and the hole profile in outer panel beating handle hole.

Description

Mounting fixture of hidden car door handle assembly

Technical Field

The present application relates to a mounting clip for mounting a concealed door handle assembly to a vehicle door.

Background

The hidden door handle assembly comprises a handle cover plate, a handle hole for accommodating the handle cover plate is formed in an outer metal plate of the door, and the hole outline shape of the handle hole is the same as the outline shape of the handle cover plate, but the size of the hole outline shape is larger than that of the handle cover plate. When the concealed door handle is installed in place on a vehicle door, the handle cover panel is flush with the outer sheet metal of the vehicle door as viewed from the outside of the vehicle door, and the door handle cover panel appears to be concealed. When the vehicle door handle is needed to be used, the handle cover plate can rotate relative to the vehicle door outer metal plate, and the part for manual operation is exposed. In order to ensure the aesthetic appearance of the door, it is desirable that when the concealed door handle is mounted in place on the door, the gap between the outer contour of the handle cover plate and the hole contour of the handle hole of the outer sheet metal is uniform. However, the applicant has found that the mounting method of the concealed door handle in the prior art makes it difficult to maintain uniformity by the gap between the outer contour of the handle cover plate and the hole contour of the handle hole of the outer sheet metal.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present application to provide a mounting clip of a hidden door handle assembly which can be used to mount the hidden door handle assembly to a door and has a uniform gap after mounting is completed.

To achieve the above objects, a first aspect of the present application provides a mounting clip for a hidden door handle assembly, the hidden door handle assembly including a handle cover plate and a handle sub-assembly, comprising: a simulation housing simulating the handle cover plate and having an outer contour configured to fit into a handle hole of an outer sheet metal of a vehicle door such that the simulation housing can be fitted into the handle hole of the outer sheet metal and the outer contour of the simulation housing is in contact fit with the handle hole; the positioning device is arranged on the inner side of the simulation shell and used for positioning the handle subassembly when the handle subassembly is installed on the reinforcing plate on the inner side of the outer metal plate of the vehicle door; a holding device capable of holding the dummy housing in the handle hole and releasing the dummy housing from the handle hole.

According to the first aspect described above, the handle subassembly has a mating part; the mating component is aligned with the handle hole in the outer sheet metal, and the handle cover plate is configured to be capable of being embedded in the handle hole in the outer sheet metal and mounted on the mating component.

According to the first aspect described above, the dummy housing has a bottom plate whose shape matches the handle hole and an outer rim projecting inward of the bottom plate, the outer rim being configured to be insertable into the handle hole of the outer metal plate.

According to the first aspect described above, the outer rim includes a retaining rib that contacts an edge of the handle hole.

According to the first aspect described above, the holding device is an adsorption device that is fixed to the door outer sheet metal using an adsorption force or a magnetic force to hold the dummy housing in the handle hole.

According to the first aspect described above, the holding means is a locking means that holds the dummy housing in the handle hole by locking the dummy housing to the handle sub-assembly.

According to the first aspect, the simulation housing has a locking portion thereon configured to cooperate with the locking device, the locking portion including a tongue, wherein the locking portion defines a tongue opening in which the tongue is connected.

According to the first aspect described above, the locking device includes: a link disposed inside the simulated housing; the sliding block is connected to the middle part of the connecting rod and extends out through the simulation shell;

a catch disposed at least one end of the link; wherein the slider is slidable to selectively move the lock device from an unlocked position to a locked position or from the locked position to the unlocked position.

According to the first aspect described above, the catch includes first and second slide slots defining first and second opposed slide slot openings, respectively, wherein the first slide slot is configured to engage with a lug on an engaging component of a handle subassembly and the second slide slot is configured to engage with the latch bolt.

A second aspect of the present application provides another mounting clip for a hidden door handle assembly, the hidden door handle assembly including a handle cover panel and a handle sub-assembly, comprising: a simulated housing simulating the handle cover and including an outer contour configured to mate with a handle hole of an outer sheet metal of a vehicle door such that the simulated housing is insertable into the handle hole of the outer sheet metal; wherein the outer contour of the dummy housing is in contact fit with the handle hole to retain the dummy housing in the handle hole to enable the handle subassembly to be mounted inside the dummy housing.

According to the second aspect described above, the outer contour of the simulation housing is configured to mate with the handle hole.

According to the second aspect, the mounting fixture further comprises a positioning device, wherein the positioning device is arranged on the inner side of the simulation shell and used for positioning the handle subassembly when the handle subassembly is mounted on the reinforcing plate on the inner side of the outer metal plate of the vehicle door.

A third aspect of the present application provides a method of mounting a hidden door handle assembly on a vehicle door with a mounting clip, the hidden door handle assembly including a handle cover panel and a handle subassembly, the mounting clip including a simulated housing that simulates the handle cover panel, the method comprising: embedding a simulation shell in a handle hole of an outer metal plate of the vehicle door, wherein the outer contour of the simulation shell is in contact fit with the handle hole; holding the simulated housing in the handle aperture and positioning the handle subassembly through the simulated housing; mounting the handle sub-assembly on a reinforcing plate on the inner side of an outer metal plate of the vehicle door; releasing the dummy housing from the handle hole and taking out the dummy housing from the door; connecting the handle cover to the handle subassembly.

According to the above third aspect, the step of holding the dummy housing in the handle hole includes:

and fixing a mounting clamp on the outer sheet metal of the vehicle door so as to hold the simulation shell in the handle hole.

According to the above third aspect, the step of holding the dummy housing in the handle hole includes:

locking the simulated housing to the handle subassembly such that the simulated housing is retained in the handle aperture.

This application utilizes mounting fixture to advance line location with the handle subassembly for the outer panel beating of door, consequently, can guarantee to have even clearance and face difference between the outline of installing the apron on the handle subassembly and the hole profile in outer panel beating handle hole.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a concealed vehicle door handle assembly of the present application;

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a vehicle door using the hidden door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a mounting clip of the present application;

FIG. 2B is a schematic view of the reverse side of the mounting fixture of FIG. 1A;

3A-3D illustrate the installation process of installing the hidden door handle of FIG. 1A on the door of FIG. 1B using the installation clip of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a hidden door handle assembly of the present application;

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of a vehicle door using the hidden door handle assembly shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a mounting clip of the present application;

FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the reverse side of the mounting fixture of FIG. 5A;

6A-6D illustrate the installation process of installing the concealed door handle assembly shown in FIG. 4A using the mounting clips shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIG. 7A is a schematic view of the mounting clip locking handle subassembly of FIG. 5A during the alignment connection of FIG. 6B;

fig. 7B is a schematic sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 7A.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments of the present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. It should be understood that although directional terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and the like may be used herein to describe various example structural portions and elements of the application, these terms are used herein for convenience of description only and are to be determined based on the example orientations shown in the drawings. Because the embodiments disclosed herein can be arranged in a variety of orientations, these directional terms are used for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numbers used in this application refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1A illustrates a first embodiment of the hidden door handle assembly of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1A, handle assembly 100 includes a handle cover 118 and a handle sub-assembly 113, with handle cover 118 mounted to handle sub-assembly 113. The handle sub-assembly 113 includes a support part 120 and a fitting part 117 provided on the support part 120. The fitting 117 is ring-shaped with an outer contour similar to the handle cover 118. The annular interior of the fitting part 117 is provided with receiving portions 124.1 and 124.2. The handle cover 118 can overlie the mating feature 117 of the handle sub-assembly 113.

In addition, several mounting holes are provided on the support portion 120 of the handle subassembly 113 outside the loop of the engaging member 117 for mounting the handle subassembly 113 on the door reinforcement plate 305. In the example shown in fig. 1A, the mounting holes include mounting holes 116.1, 116.2 and 116.3, which are uniformly arranged at the outer edge of the handle sub-assembly 113 and are arranged in a triangular shape, so that the handle sub-assembly 113 can be fixed more stably when being connected to the reinforcing plate. In other examples, the mounting holes may be multiple or unevenly arranged.

As also shown in fig. 1A, a plurality of lugs 119 are provided within the annular interior of the mating member 117. The cover plate 118 has corresponding grooves on the inside. When the handle cover 118 is placed over the mating portion 117 of the handle sub-assembly 113, the cover 118 is snapped onto the handle sub-assembly 113 by the lugs 119. In other examples, the cover 118 may be fixedly coupled to the handle sub-assembly 113 via other mating structures.

FIG. 1B illustrates a vehicle door that uses the hidden door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in fig. 1B, the door includes an outer sheet metal 102, a handle hole 107 is formed in the outer sheet metal 102, the shape of the handle hole 107 matches the shape of the handle cover 118, but the size of the hole outline of the handle hole 107 is slightly larger than the size of the outer outline of the handle cover 118. A reinforcing plate 305 is mounted on the inner side of the outer metal plate 102. When the hidden door handle assembly 100 shown in fig. 1A is installed in a vehicle door, the handle subassembly 113 is mounted on the reinforcement plate 305 and the handle cover 118 is positioned in the handle aperture 107 of the outer panel 102. In order to enable the cover 118 to be inserted into the handle opening 107 in the door outer panel 102, the height of the engagement part 117 is such that, when the handle subassembly 113 is mounted on the door reinforcement 305, the engagement part 117 can pass through the reinforcement 305 and project into the handle opening 107 in the door outer panel 102.

The applicant has found that, as the handle sub-assembly 113 is mounted on the reinforcement plate 305 of the vehicle door, the position of the outer contour of the handle cover 118 relative to the hole contour of the handle hole 107 actually depends on the mounting accuracy of the handle sub-assembly 113 on the reinforcement plate 305 and the mounting accuracy of the reinforcement plate 305 relative to the vehicle door outer panel 102. However, the mounting accuracy of the reinforcing plate 305 to the door sheet metal 302 is difficult to ensure. Therefore, if the handle subassembly 113 is directly mounted on the reinforcement plate 305 of the vehicle door without assisting in calibration with a certain degree of accuracy, it is difficult to ensure uniform clearance between the outer contour of the handle cover 118 and the hole contour of the handle hole 107 of the outer metal plate 102.

Therefore, the mounting clamp for mounting the hidden vehicle door handle is provided, the hidden vehicle door handle assembly is mounted through the mounting clamp, and the uniform gap between the outline of the hand cover plate and the hole outline of the handle hole of the outer metal plate can be effectively guaranteed.

Fig. 2A and fig. 2B are schematic perspective views of a front view and a back view of the first embodiment of the installation jig of the present application.

As shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the mounting jig 200 includes a dummy housing 201, a positioning means, and a holding means 211. The simulated housing 201 is used to simulate the handle cover 118. Like the handle cover 118, the dummy housing 201 has an outer contour shape that matches the hole contour of the outer sheet metal handle hole 107, so that the dummy housing 201 can be inserted or embedded in the handle hole 107 of the outer sheet metal. However, unlike the grip cover 118, the outer contour of the dummy housing 201 is larger in size than the grip cover 118. Specifically, the outer contour of the simulated housing 201 is sized such that the outer contour of the simulated housing 201 fits in contact with the handle hole 107, thereby retaining the simulated housing 201 in the handle hole 107 to enable installation of the hidden door handle assembly 100 inside the simulated housing 201.

The analog housing 201 includes a bottom plate 203 and an outer rim 204 extending inward of the bottom plate 203 along an edge of the bottom plate 203. The bottom plate 203 has a shape matched with the hole profile of the outer sheet metal handle hole 107, and the profile surrounded by the outer edge 204 extending along the edge of the bottom plate 203 is also matched with the hole profile of the outer sheet metal handle hole 107. According to an example of the application, the edges of the bottom plate 203 and the outer walls of the outer rim 204 form the outer contour of the simulation housing 201. When the dummy housing 201 is inserted into the outer sheet metal handle hole 107, the outer wall of the outer rim 204 can be in contact with the handle hole 107, so that the dummy housing 201 can be held in the handle hole 107. According to another example of the application, the outer wall of the outer rim 204 is provided with a plurality of raised retaining ribs 214, which retaining ribs 214 together form the outer contour of the simulated housing 201. When the dummy housing 201 is inserted into the outer sheet metal handle hole 107, the holding ribs 214 can come into contact with the handle hole 107, so that the dummy housing 201 can be held in the handle hole 107. The bottom plate 203, the outer rim 204 and the retaining ribs 214 of the simulated housing 201 may be integrally formed. The analog housing 201 is held in the handle hole 107 by providing the holding rib 214, so that the processing of the analog housing 201 is facilitated.

As also shown in fig. 2B, the inside of the simulation housing 201 is connected with positioning means, which may be positioning pins 212.1 and 212.2. The locating pegs 212.1 and 212.2 are capable of engaging with the receiving portions 124.1 and 124.2 in the engaging member 117 of the handle subassembly 113 as shown in fig. 1A, so that the handle subassembly 113 can be positioned relative to the simulated housing 201 when installed. In the example shown in fig. 2B, the positioning pin 212.1 is shaped like "" and is located on the left side in the simulation case 201, and the positioning pin 212.2 is shaped like a cross and is located on the right side in the simulation case 201, and actually, the positioning pin may have other shapes or be located at other positions in the simulation case 201 as long as it can be engaged with the receiving portion in the engaging member 117 on the handle sub-assembly 113. The positioning device and the receiving portion of the handle subassembly that mates with the positioning device are not limited to the examples listed above, as long as they can mate to position the handle subassembly 113 relative to the simulated housing 201.

The mounting fixture 200 further includes a retainer 211, the retainer 211 being capable of retaining the dummy housing 201 in the handle hole 107 of the door outer panel. The retaining means 211 may be a variety of removable means, such as suction means or snap means. In the example shown in fig. 1A, the holding device 211 is a plurality of suction devices, such as magnets or suction cups. The suction device can be attached to the door outer metal plate 102 by the suction force or the magnetic force of the suction device, so that the dummy housing 201 can be held in the handle hole 107. The position of the holding device 211 is such that when the holding device 211 is attached to the outside of the door outer panel 102, the dummy housing 201 is just inside the handle hole 107 and the outer surface of the dummy housing 201 is flush with the outer surface of the door outer panel 102. As an example, the holding device 211 is a suction cup, and a connection plate 209 is connected to the outside of the analog housing 201, and the connection plate 209 is used for carrying the suction cup.

In the example shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the mounting jig 200 may further include an operating portion 210, the operating portion 210 being disposed outside the analog housing 201, and the installer may move the analog housing 201 into the handle hole 107 or out of the handle hole 107 through the operating portion 210. The operation unit 210 may be a hand-held member protruding from the outside of the analog case 201, or may be a member formed by being recessed from the outside of the analog case 201.

Fig. 3A-3D illustrate an installation process for installing the hidden door handle assembly 100 shown in fig. 1A on the vehicle door shown in fig. 1B using the installation clip 200 shown in fig. 2A and 2B. In which fig. 3A and 3D are views seen from the outside of the outer sheet metal 102 on the outside of the door, and fig. 3B and 3C are views seen from the inside of the reinforcing plate 305 on the inside of the door. For clearly explaining the installation process of the hidden handle assembly, the door plane directions are set as x and z directions and the inside and outside directions perpendicular to the door plane are set as y directions in fig. 3A to 3D.

As shown in fig. 3A, first, the installer inserts the dummy housing 201 into the handle hole 107 of the outer sheet metal 102 from the outside of the door outer sheet metal 102 through the operation unit 210 until the suction cups 211 abut against the outer sheet metal 102. Subsequently, tightening the suction cup 211 causes the suction cup 211 to be firmly sucked to the outside of the door outer panel 102. Since the dummy housing 201 contacts the hole profile of the handle hole 107 via the holding ribs 214, the movement of the dummy housing 201 in the x and z directions is restricted. At this time, since the suction cup 211 is fixed to the outer metal plate 102, the movement of the mounting jig 200 in the y direction can be restricted. Thus, the mounting clip 200 is not movable relative to the door outer metal plate 102 in any of the three directions x, y, and z, and the mounting clip 200 is fixed relative to the door outer metal plate 102.

After the dummy housing 201 is held in the handle hole 107 of the door outer panel 102 and the mounting fixture 200 is fixed relative to the door outer panel 102, the handle subassembly 113 is positioned relative to the door outer panel 102 by the positioning pins 212.1 and 212.2 on the dummy housing 201, as shown in fig. 3B. Specifically, the installer moves the handle sub-assembly 113 toward the reinforcement plate 305 inside the door, aligns the receiving portions 124.1 and 124.2 on the handle sub-assembly 113 with the positioning pins 212.1 and 212.2 on the dummy housing 201, and then inserts the positioning pins 212.1 and 212.2 into the receiving portions 124.1 and 124.2, respectively. Thus, the simulated housing 201 limits movement of the handle sub-assembly 113 in the x and z directions. Since the mounting fixture 200 is stationary relative to the door outer panel 102, the handle subassembly 113 is also positioned relative to the door outer panel 102.

Fig. 3C shows the process of securing the handle subassembly 113 to the reinforcement panel 305 after the handle subassembly 113 has been positioned relative to the door outer panel 102. As shown in fig. 3C, when the handle sub-assembly 113 is positioned relative to the door outer panel 102, the mounting holes 116.1, 116.2, and 116.3 of the handle sub-assembly 113 are aligned with the corresponding mounting holes 315.1,315.2 and 315.3 of the reinforcement panel 305, respectively. The handle sub-assembly 113 may be fixedly attached to the door reinforcement panel 305 by inserting fasteners through the aligned apertures.

It should be noted that in order to ensure that the positioning holes 116.1, 116.2 and 116.3 of the handle sub-assembly 113 and the mounting holes 315.1,315.2 and 315.3 of the reinforcing plate 305 can be inserted with fasteners after the handle sub-assembly 113 is positioned by the positioning pins 212.1 and 212.2, the mounting holes of the reinforcing plate 305 are usually configured to be slightly larger than the mounting holes of the handle sub-assembly 113.

FIG. 3D illustrates the installation of the cover plate 118 onto the handle subassembly 113 after the handle subassembly 113 has been secured to the door reinforcement panel 305. After the step of fig. 3C is completed, the suction cups 211 of the mounting fixture 200 are released from the door outer sheet metal 102, and the mounting fixture 200 is detached from the door outer sheet metal 102. It can then be seen that the mating members 117 of the handle sub-assembly 113 extend through the reinforcement plate 305 and out the handle apertures 107 of the outer sheet 102, as shown in fig. 3D. Next, the handle cover 118 is inserted into the handle hole 107 of the outer metal plate 102 from the outside of the outer metal plate 102, and the handle cover 118 is covered on the engaging member 117. Handle cover 118 is then slightly depressed so that cover 118 and handle sub-assembly 113 are joined together by a snap fit to form handle assembly 100.

In the process of mounting the handle assembly 100 on the vehicle door, since the handle sub-assembly 113 is positioned with respect to the vehicle door outer metal plate 102 by the mounting jig 200, it is possible to ensure a uniform gap and surface difference between the outer contour of the cover plate 118 mounted on the handle sub-assembly 113 and the hole contour of the outer metal plate handle hole 107.

Further, since the mounting jig 200 can be held not only in the x and z directions but also in the y direction with respect to the door outer metal plate 102, one installer can finish the mounting of the handle assembly by the mounting jig 200 independently, thereby improving the mounting efficiency.

It is noted that if there are multiple persons engaged to mount the concealed door handle assembly 100, the mounting clip may include only the simulated housing and positioning means described above, and not the retaining means described above. When mounting the handle assembly, a person is required to abut the dummy housing embedded in the handle hole 107 of the outer sheet metal 102 at the outer side of the door outer sheet metal so that the dummy housing cannot move relative to the door outer sheet metal 102 in the y-direction. Since the mounting fixture also positions the handle subassembly 113 relative to the door outer sheet metal 102 via the dummy housing and the positioning device, it is possible to ensure that there is a uniform gap and surface difference between the outer contour of the cover plate 118 mounted on the handle subassembly 113 and the hole contour of the outer sheet metal handle hole 107. Therefore, the clamp which requires cooperation of multiple persons for installation or can be independently installed by individuals is within the protection scope of the application.

Fig. 4A illustrates a second embodiment of the hidden door handle assembly of the present application. As shown in fig. 4A, the handle assembly 400 includes a handle cover 418 and a handle sub-assembly 413, and the handle sub-assembly 413 includes a support part 420 and a mating part 417 provided on the support part 420. The fitting part 417 is provided with a receiving portion 424 inside. The support portion 420 is further provided with mounting holes 416.1, 416.2 and 416.3. In other examples, the mounting holes may be multiple or unevenly arranged. A plurality of lugs 419 are provided in the interior of the mating part 417, by means of which lugs 419 the cover 418 can be snapped onto the handle sub-assembly 413. In other examples, the cover 418 may be fixedly coupled to the handle sub-assembly 413 via other mating structures.

FIG. 4B illustrates a vehicle door that uses the hidden door handle assembly shown in FIG. 4A. As shown in fig. 4B, the door includes an outer sheet metal 402, and the outer sheet metal 402 is provided with a handle hole 407.

Fig. 5A and 5B are schematic perspective views of a front view and a back view of a second embodiment of the installation jig of the present application.

As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the mounting fixture 500 also includes a simulated housing 501, a positioning device, and a retaining device 511. The simulated housing 501 is used to simulate a handle cover 418, and the outer contour of the simulated housing 501 is sized such that the outer contour of the simulated housing 501 fits in contact with the handle hole 407, thereby retaining the simulated housing 501 in the handle hole 407 to enable the hidden door handle assembly 400 to be mounted inside the simulated housing 501.

The simulation shell 501 comprises a bottom plate 503 and an outer rim 504, and a plurality of raised retaining ribs 514 are arranged on the outer wall of the outer rim 504, and the retaining ribs 514 form the outer contour of the simulation shell 501. When the dummy housing 501 is inserted into the outer sheet metal handle hole 507, the holding rib 514 can come into contact with the handle hole 407, so that the dummy housing 501 can be held in the handle hole 407.

Also shown in fig. 5B, attached to the inside of the simulated housing 501 is a positioning means in the form of two cross positioning pins 512.1 and 512.2, wherein the positioning pins 512.1 and 512.2 are capable of mating with the receiving portion 424 in the handle sub-assembly 413 as shown in fig. 4A, such that the handle sub-assembly 413 can be positioned relative to the simulated housing 501 when installed. The same as the first embodiment is that the positioning means and the receiving portion of the handle subassembly 113 that mates with the positioning means are not limited to the examples listed above, as long as they can mate to position the handle subassembly 113 relative to the simulated enclosure 501.

In the example shown in fig. 5A and 5B. The mounting jig 500 may further include an operation portion 510, and the operation portion 510 is a hole formed from a recess outside the analog case 501. The installer can move the analog housing 501 into the handle hole 407 or out of the handle hole 407 through the operation portion 510.

As shown in fig. 5B, a plurality of ribs 532 are connected to the inner side of the simulation case 501, and the ribs 532 may be located on the left and right sides of the simulation case 401 in order to better support the simulation case 501 in the outer sheet metal handle hole 407.

As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the holding device 511 is a locking device 511, the locking device 511 is connected to the middle of the analog housing 501, and the locking device 511 can be in an unlocking position and a locking position. When the locking device 511 is in the locked position, the locking device 511 locks the handle sub-assembly 413, such that the handle sub-assembly 413 is fixedly connected to the simulation housing 501. When the locking device 511 is in the unlocked position, the locking device 511 releases the handle sub-assembly 413.

In the example shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the locking device 511 includes a slider 529, a link 523, and a catch 525. Correspondingly, there is also a corresponding locking part 530 on the dummy housing 501 for cooperation with the locking device 511.

As shown in fig. 5B, the link 523 is located inside the analog housing 501, the slider 529 is connected to the middle of the link 523, the slider 529 extends to the outside of the analog housing 501 through the bottom plate 503 of the analog housing, and the lock device 511 can be located at the unlocking position or the locking position by the position of the left and right sliding sliders 529. The middle of the analog housing 501 is provided with a kidney-shaped hole 528 for receiving a slider 529 passing through the bottom plate 503, the slider 529 slides right and left in the kidney-shaped hole 428, thereby allowing the locking device 511 to be in an unlocked position or a locked position. At least one of both ends of the link 523 is provided with the catch 525, and in the example shown in fig. 5B, one catch 525 is provided at each of both ends of the link 523, so that the sliding is more stable when the left and right sliding sliders 529.

Still as shown in fig. 5B, the locking part 530 on the analog housing 501 is in an opening shape, and a latch 521 is connected, and the latch 521 can be engaged with the latch 525.

The operation of the locking device 511 will be described by taking the engaging relationship between the latch 525 and the latch 521 at one end of the link 523 as an example. The latch 525 has two oppositely opening slide slots 526.1 and 526.2, wherein the slide slot 526.1 is used to receive the tab 419 of the handle sub-assembly 413 and the slide slot 526.2 is used to receive the latch 521. The latch 521 is engaged with the sliding groove 526.2, so that the slider 529 can slide along the latch 521 during the left and right sliding. Thus, when the snap-fit slide slot 526.1 receives the tab 419 and the slide slot 526.2 receives the latch 521, the locking device 511 is in a locked position such that the handle subassembly 413 is fixedly connected to the simulated housing 501. When the slide slot 526.1 does not receive the lug 419, the locking device 511 is in the unlocked position and the locking device 511 releases the handle sub-assembly 413. The catch at the other end of link 523 has a similar configuration to catch 525 and when runner 526.1 receives lug 419 the runner of the other catch also receives the lug on the handle subassembly. In other examples, other similar functional snap structures may be used.

Corresponding to the catches 525 at both ends of the link 523, in the example described in this application, the locking portions also include locking portions 530.1 and 530.2 corresponding to the catches, wherein the locking portions 530.1 and 530.2 are not completely aligned, so that the link 523 is bent at an angle, thereby increasing the area of the locking portion.

Fig. 6A-6D illustrate an installation process for installing the hidden door handle assembly 400 of fig. 4A to the door of fig. 4B using the installation clip 500 of fig. 5A and 5B. Fig. 6A and 6D are views seen from the outside of the outer sheet metal 402 on the outside of the door, and fig. 6B and 6C are views seen from the inside of the reinforcing plate 605 on the inside of the door. For clarity of explanation of the installation process of the hidden handle assembly, the same x, y and z directions as in the first embodiment are used in fig. 6A to 6D for explanation.

As shown in fig. 6A, first, the installer inserts the dummy housing 501 into the handle hole 407 of the outer metal plate from the outside of the door outer metal plate 402 by holding the operation portion 510 with the hand, and since the dummy housing 501 contacts the hole profile of the handle hole 407 through the holding rib 514, the movement of the dummy housing 501 in the x and z directions with respect to the door outer metal plate 402 is restricted.

After the dummy housing 501 is held in the handle hole 407 of the door outer panel 402, the handle sub-assembly 413 is positioned with respect to the door outer panel 402 by the positioning pins 512.1 and 512.2 on the dummy housing 501 as shown in fig. 6B. Thus, the simulated housing 501 limits movement of the handle sub-assembly 413 in the x and z directions. Since the movement of the dummy housing 501 in the x and z directions relative to the door outer panel 402 is restricted, the handle sub-assembly 413 is also restricted from moving in the x and z directions relative to the door outer panel 402.

It should be noted that the movement of the analog housing 501 and the handle sub-assembly 413 in the y direction is not limited. In order to prevent the dummy housing 501 from coming out of the door outer panel 402 side and affecting the positioning of the handle subassembly 413 when the handle subassembly 413 and the reinforcing plate 605 are connected, it is necessary to move the locking device 511 from the unlocking position to the locking position to fixedly connect the handle subassembly 413 and the dummy housing 501. Thus, by holding the handle sub-assembly 413 from the inside of the door reinforcing plate 605 by the installer, it is possible to ensure that the dummy housing 501 can be held in the handle hole 407 as well. The schematic and cross-sectional A-A view of the locking of the handle sub-assembly 413 to the simulated housing 501 is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. As shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the locking device 511 is in the locked position, the slide slot 526.1 receives the lug 419, and the slide slot 526.2 receives the tongue 521.

Fig. 6C shows the process of securing the handle subassembly 413 to the reinforcement plate 605 after the handle subassembly 413 is positioned relative to the door outer panel 402. As shown in fig. 6C, when the handle sub-assembly 413 is positioned relative to the door outer panel 402, the mounting holes 416.1, 416.2, and 416.3 of the handle sub-assembly 413 are aligned with the corresponding mounting holes 615.1,615.2 and 615.3 of the reinforcement panel 605, respectively. The handle sub-assembly 413 may be fixedly attached to the door stiffener 605 by inserting fasteners through the aligned holes. Similarly, mounting hole 615 is slightly larger than mounting hole 416, such that connecting mounting hole 615 with mounting hole 416 allows for fine adjustment of the position of handle subassembly 413.

FIG. 6D illustrates the installation of the cover 418 onto the handle subassembly 413 after the handle subassembly 413 is secured to the door stiffener 605. After the step of fig. 6C is completed, the locking device 511 of the mounting jig 500 is moved from the locking position to the unlocking position, and the mounting jig 500 is detached from the door outer panel 402. It can then be seen that the mating member 417 of the handle sub-assembly 413 extends through the reinforcement plate 605 and out of the handle aperture 407 of the outer sheet metal 402, as shown in fig. 6D. Next, the handle cover 418 is inserted into the handle hole 407 of the outer metal plate 402 from the outside of the outer metal plate 402, and the handle cover 418 is covered with the engaging member 417. The handle cover 418 is then slightly depressed, causing the cover 418 and the handle sub-assembly 413 to be joined together by a snap fit to form the handle assembly 400.

In the process of mounting the handle assembly 400 on the vehicle door, since the handle sub-assembly 413 is positioned with respect to the vehicle door outer metal plate 402 by the mounting jig 500, it is possible to ensure a uniform gap and surface difference between the outer contour of the cover plate 418 mounted on the handle sub-assembly 413 and the hole contour of the outer metal plate handle hole 407.

Moreover, since the simulated shell 501 only needs to ensure the positions in the x and z directions after being inserted into the handle hole 407, the contour shape of the outer metal plate 402 is not required, and since the suction cup 211 which needs to be matched with the outer metal plate 402 at the position in the first embodiment is omitted, the machining precision requirement of the installation fixture 500 is lower.

It is noted that if there are multiple persons engaged to mount the hidden door handle assembly 500, the mounting clip may include only the simulated housing and detent described above, and not the locking device described above. When the mounting fixture is used for mounting the handle assembly, a person is required to abut against the simulation shell embedded in the handle hole of the outer metal plate at the outer side of the automobile door, so that the simulation shell cannot move relative to the automobile door outer metal plate in the y direction. The installation clamp positions the handle subassembly relative to the outer metal plate of the vehicle door through the simulation shell and the positioning device, so that uniform gaps and surface differences can be ensured between the outline of the cover plate installed on the handle subassembly and the hole outline of the handle hole of the outer metal plate. Therefore, the clamp which needs to be matched by a plurality of persons for installation or the clamp which can be independently installed by the person is within the protection scope of the application.

Although the present application will be described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that numerous changes to the mounting clip of the present application may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the teachings of the present application. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that there are different ways to alter the arrangement of the embodiments disclosed in this application, all within the spirit and scope of the application and claims.

Claims (15)

1. A sectional fixture for a concealed vehicle door handle assembly, the concealed vehicle door handle assembly comprising a handle cover plate and a handle sub-assembly, the sectional fixture comprising:

a simulation housing simulating the handle cover plate and having an outer contour configured to fit into a handle hole of an outer sheet metal of a vehicle door such that the simulation housing can be fitted into the handle hole of the outer sheet metal and the outer contour of the simulation housing is in contact fit with the handle hole;

the positioning device is arranged on the inner side of the simulation shell and used for positioning the handle subassembly when the handle subassembly is installed on the reinforcing plate on the inner side of the outer metal plate of the vehicle door; and

a holding device configured to be able to hold the dummy housing in the handle hole and to release the dummy housing from the handle hole.

2. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein:

the handle subassembly has a mating component that aligns with a handle hole in the outer sheet metal, and the handle cover is configured to be able to nest in the handle hole in the outer sheet metal and mount on the mating component.

3. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein:

the simulation shell is provided with a bottom plate and an outer edge extending towards the inner side of the bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate is matched with the handle hole in shape, and the outer edge is configured to be inserted into the handle hole of the outer metal plate.

4. The mounting clip of claim 3, wherein:

the outer rim includes a retaining rib that contacts an edge of the handle aperture.

5. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein:

the holding device is an adsorption device which is fixed on the outer sheet metal of the vehicle door by using adsorption force or magnetic force so as to hold the simulation shell in the handle hole.

6. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein:

the holding means is a locking means that holds the dummy housing in the handle hole by locking the dummy housing to the handle sub-assembly.

7. The mounting clip of claim 6, wherein:

the simulation shell is provided with a locking part which is configured to be matched with the locking device and comprises a bolt, wherein the locking part defines a bolt opening, and the bolt is connected in the bolt opening.

8. The mounting clip of claim 7, wherein:

the locking device includes:

a link disposed inside the simulated housing;

the sliding block is connected to the middle part of the connecting rod and extends out through the simulation shell;

a catch disposed at least one end of the link;

wherein the slider is slidable to selectively move the lock device from an unlocked position to a locked position or from the locked position to the unlocked position.

9. The mounting clip of claim 8, wherein:

the catch includes first and second slide slots that define opposing first and second slide slot openings, respectively, wherein the first slide slot is configured to mate with a lug on a mating component of a handle subassembly and the second slide slot is configured to mate with the latch bolt.

10. A mounting clip for a concealed vehicle door handle assembly, the concealed vehicle door handle assembly comprising a handle cover panel and a handle sub-assembly, the mounting clip comprising:

a simulated housing simulating the handle cover and including an outer contour configured to mate with a handle hole of an outer sheet metal of a vehicle door such that the simulated housing is insertable into the handle hole of the outer sheet metal;

wherein the outer contour of the dummy housing is in contact fit with the handle hole to retain the dummy housing in the handle hole to enable the handle subassembly to be mounted inside the dummy housing.

11. The mounting clip of claim 10, wherein:

the outer contour of the simulated housing is configured to mate with the handle aperture.

12. The mounting clip of claim 10, further comprising:

and the positioning device is arranged on the inner side of the simulation shell and used for installing the handle sub-assembly on the reinforcing plate on the inner side of the outer metal plate of the vehicle door, and positioning the handle sub-assembly.

13. A method of mounting a hidden door handle assembly to a vehicle door with a mounting clip, the hidden door handle assembly including a handle cover panel and a handle subassembly, the mounting clip including a simulated housing that simulates the handle cover panel, the method comprising:

embedding a simulation shell in a handle hole of an outer metal plate of the vehicle door, wherein the outer contour of the simulation shell is in contact fit with the handle hole;

holding the simulated housing in the handle aperture and positioning the handle sub-assembly through the simulated housing;

mounting the handle sub-assembly on a reinforcing plate on the inner side of an outer metal plate of the vehicle door;

releasing the dummy housing from the handle hole and taking out the dummy housing from the door;

connecting the handle cover to the handle subassembly.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the step of retaining the simulated housing in the handle aperture comprises:

and fixing a mounting clamp on the outer sheet metal of the vehicle door so as to hold the simulation shell in the handle hole.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the step of retaining the simulated housing in the handle aperture comprises:

locking the simulated housing to the handle subassembly such that the simulated housing is retained in the handle aperture.

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