DE102022111302A1 - INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an inner door handle arrangement (1) for a vehicle, the inner door handle arrangement (1) having a housing (2) and an actuating section (3) which is movably arranged on the housing (2). Furthermore, an illumination device (4) is provided, which is designed to emit light in the direction of the operating section (3), preferably indirectly or directly and in particular selectively or as required via an air gap between the housing (2) and the operating section (3). According to the invention, it is provided in particular that the actuating section (3) has a carrier section (7) made of a first material, in particular plastic material, and a reflection area which is or can be connected to the carrier section (7).

Description

The present invention relates to an interior door handle assembly of a vehicle, comprising a housing and an operating section arranged on the housing. The invention also relates to a method for producing an actuating section of such an interior door handle arrangement.

The actuation section can be a handle section, for example. It can, for example, be a handle lever pivotably mounted on the housing. The actuating section can be designed to be grasped by a vehicle occupant in order to open and/or close a vehicle door from the inside.

The housing and the actuating section are often made of plastic. For optical reasons, there is sometimes a desire for the actuation section to have a metal appearance. For this purpose, the handle lever is chrome-plated in the prior art. In this way, high-quality surfaces can be produced, while at the same time the base body of the actuating section, which is provided with the chromium layer, can be made from a resilient plastic. However, chrome plating, in particular using chrome VI, is problematic for health and environmental reasons.

An alternative to chrome plating is to manufacture the actuating section in an injection molding process using a plastic with a metal look (Mold-In Metal Color - MIMC). This can be used to achieve a look similar to chrome plating.

However, surface defects such as flow lines or depressions are problematic, especially due to shrinkage of the material. In addition, the plastics used for this are not always sufficiently resilient, and in particular do not always have the required maximum breaking load. This also applies to the housing.

Like other interior parts of a vehicle, such as interior parts that are used in the interiors of vehicles, the interior parts being used, for example, to cover body elements in the area of the doors, there is an increasing need for interior door handle assemblies to generate consumer attention and enhance the overall appearance of the vehicle. As such, interior door handle assemblies are also becoming an important differentiator as part of a vehicle's interior design and are intended to provide the style and ambiance desired by the automobile buyer.

In this context, there is also a particular need for lighting solutions that fit harmoniously into the design theme of the vehicle interior. There is a desire in the professional world to be able to create the most unique lighting possible for the interior, in a way that is as easy to implement as possible and without excessive restructuring of the interior parts, in order to be able to create different styles according to the customer, starting with the reduction to the essential, highlighting of sportiness or up to the luxury ambience. This is based on the knowledge that well-designed and integrated lighting conveys a feeling of well-being and creates a strong emotional connection to the vehicle. In addition, it improves driving safety at night by illuminating the operating portion of the inside door handle assembly.

The solutions known from the prior art for personalized lighting of a vehicle component, in particular a vehicle interior component, have the particular disadvantage that these lighting solutions can generally only be implemented with relatively great effort. Furthermore, the known lighting solutions often cannot be integrated harmoniously into the design theme of the vehicle interior, since this requires additional installation space for the components belonging to the lighting solution.

This applies in particular in connection with interior door handle arrangements, since lamps cannot usually be integrated in an operating section of an interior door handle arrangement, or can only be integrated with great effort, and the required maximum breaking load of the operating section is then generally reduced.

On the basis of this problem, the invention is based on the object of providing an interior door handle arrangement and a method of the type mentioned at the outset which, on the one hand, enable high-quality surfaces of the housing and/or the actuating section with great design freedom and at the same time good resilience, while on the other hand in a simple and personalized lighting solutions can be implemented in a cost-efficient manner, in particular for the operating section or areas of the operating section.

The object on which the present invention is based is achieved in particular by the subject matter of the independent patent claims 1 1 and 4, advantageous developments of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention being specified in the dependent patent claims.

Accordingly, according to a first aspect, the invention relates in particular to an inner door handle arrangement for a vehicle, the inner door handle arrangement having a housing and an actuating section which is movably arranged on the housing. Furthermore, an illumination device is provided, which is designed to emit light in the direction of the actuation section, preferably indirectly, for example via a light guide, or directly and in particular optionally or as required via an air gap between the housing and the actuation section.

In other words, according to the invention, the lighting device is not integrated in the operating section, as is the case, for example, in the German patent application DE 10 2005 041 198 A1 is suggested. Rather, the lighting device is provided separately from the operating section and is designed to emit light in the direction of the operating section via an air gap between the housing and the operating section. In this way, the structure of the interior door handle arrangement can be configured much more easily and, in particular, individual lighting ambience can be achieved. The lighting device can have a light source, for example, via which light is coupled into a light guide, the light coupled into the light guide being coupled out of the light guide again and sent across the air gap between the housing and the actuating section in the direction of the actuating section.

The actuating section preferably has a carrier section made of a first material, in particular a plastic material, and a reflection area which is connected or can be connected to the carrier section. In this context, the reflection area can form a reflection surface.

According to embodiments of the invention, it makes sense for the reflection area to be formed at least in areas from a light-reflecting material with a degree of reflection of preferably at least 40%, in particular at least 50% and even more preferably at least 75%.

This embodiment has the advantage that the light emitted via the air gap between the housing and the actuation section in the direction of the actuation section is reflected at least in some areas by the light-reflecting material of the reflection area in order to achieve lighting effects.

The reflection area can preferably be integrally connected to the carrier section in areas. For this purpose it is conceivable that the actuation section has been produced in a multi-component injection molding process and in particular in a three-component injection molding process.

As an alternative to this, however, it is also conceivable for the reflection area to be designed to be mountable with the carrier section.

According to a further (second) aspect, which can nevertheless also be combined with the first aspect described above, the invention relates in particular to an inner door handle arrangement for a vehicle, the inner door handle arrangement having a housing and an actuating section arranged movably on the housing. In order to be able to implement personalized lighting solutions, an illumination device is also provided, which is designed to couple light into the actuation section, preferably directly or indirectly and in particular optionally or as needed, via an air gap between the housing and the actuation section and via a light entry area of the actuation section. The actuation section of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention also has at least one light exit area, via which at least part of the light coupled into the actuation section can be coupled out of the actuation section.

According to implementations of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention, it is provided that the light entry area of the actuating section is formed at least in areas from a transparent and/or translucent plastic material. It is also provided here that the at least one light exit area of the actuating section is preferably formed from the same plastic material as the light entry area, ie from a plastic material that is at least partially transparent and/or translucent. Volume scatterers are preferably integrated in the light exit area. Alternatively or additionally, a decoupling structure is introduced in the light exit area.

The volume scatterers integrated in the plastic material of the light exit area are preferably formed by nanoparticles with a mean, preferably arithmetic, diameter of less than 500 nm, preferably less than 300 nm. When calculating the mean arithmetic diameter, a sum of all particles diameter formed and divided by the total number of particles. The volume-equivalent sphere diameter can be used as the diameter, which indicates the diameter of a sphere with the same volume as the nanoparticle under consideration. Alternatively, a surface equivalent sphere diameter can be used, where the surface equivalent sphere diameter is defined as the diameter of a sphere that has the same surface area as the nanoparticle under study.

The volume scatterers are designed in particular to deflect and/or scatter the light coupled into the plastic material of the light exit area so that it can be coupled out over a large area in the coupling-out area. The nanoparticles suitable for this include, inter alia, ceramic submicron or nanopowders. The use of the nanoparticles enables a particularly uniform outcoupling of light and a particularly high-quality appearance of the operating section of the interior door handle arrangement.

According to implementations of the invention, the volume scatterers integrated in the plastic material of the light exit area are optionally additionally formed by air inclusions and/or pigments with a mean arithmetic diameter of less than 3 mm, preferably less than 1 mm. In particular, the air inclusions and/or pigments preferably have an arithmetic mean diameter of greater than 0.2 mm. The pigments are preferably formed from high refractive index ceramic solids such as titanium (IV) oxide. Combinations of the nanoparticles, the pigments and/or the air inclusions are also conceivable within the scope of the invention.

In possible configurations of the invention, the light exit area has an introduced decoupling structure that is formed by notches, roughening and/or embossing in one or more side surfaces of the light exit area.

The volume scatterer and/or the decoupling structure are preferably designed to scatter the light coupled into the actuation section via the light entry area according to the Rayleigh and/or Mie theory. The light can be scattered three-dimensionally or isotopically. In particular, the volume scatterers and/or the outcoupling structure are distributed and/or introduced into the material of the light exit area in such a way that the light in the outcoupling area is outcoupled diffusely, homogeneously and/or over a large area into the outer area.

According to the invention, it is provided in particular that the actuating section has been produced in a multi-component injection molding process and in particular in a three-component injection molding process. In this context, it is provided in particular that the actuating section of the inner door handle arrangement has a carrier section made of a first plastic material, a decorative section made of a second plastic material integrally connected to the carrier section and an illumination section made of a third plastic material connected integrally to the carrier section and/or decorative section. The illumination section and in particular the decorative section is at least partially visible directly from the vehicle interior and faces the vehicle interior.

As stated at the outset, the interior door handle arrangement is used to open and/or close a vehicle door from the vehicle interior. For this purpose, the inner door handle arrangement is installed in the interior of a vehicle, such as a car or truck. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a vehicle having an interior door handle assembly mounted therein.

The inner door handle assembly includes a housing that attaches it to a vehicle door. The actuating section, which a vehicle occupant can manually actuate, for example grasp, is arranged on the housing.

The actuating section can be movably mounted on the housing, for example in a pivotable or translatory manner. It can, for example, be a handle lever pivotably mounted on the housing. However, the actuating section can also be a button or the like actuated by a vehicle occupant, for example. The actuating section can be designed in particular to be actuated by a vehicle occupant in order to open and/or close a vehicle door from the inside.

The housing and/or the actuating section comprises a carrier section made of a first plastic material, a decorative section, preferably a visible section, which is materially bonded to the carrier section and consists of a different material than the carrier section. In addition, the actuating section comprises an illumination section consisting of a plastic material that is at least partially transparent or translucent to visible light and is integral with the decorative section and preferably also with the carrier section, i.e. cohesively connected to these sections. The decorative section and the illumination section are at least partially directly visible from the vehicle interior and are generally at least partially visible from the vehicle interior facing. It forms a so-called A-surface, which is subject to particularly high optical requirements. The carrier section, on the other hand, forms what is known as a B surface and, at least in some areas, cannot be directly visible from the vehicle interior. It can be arranged, for example, on the rear side of the actuating section facing away from the vehicle interior. However, the carrier section can also form a visible surface facing the vehicle interior and directly visible from it in some areas.

A front side of the operating portion is preferably defined by the vehicle interior facing surfaces of the operating portion when installed in the vehicle and in a rest position. The boundary between the front and rear of the operating section is preferably given by the surfaces facing parallel to the surface of the vehicle surface directly surrounding the operating section in a state installed in the vehicle and in a rest position.

Preferably, one surface faces in the direction of its normal (outwardly away from the material).

Directly visible preferably means that there are no further coatings (for example paint, chrome) or encapsulation of the decorative section or the illumination section. The plastic of the decorative section and the illumination section is preferably the outermost surface layer of the actuating section or the illumination section in the area of the directly visible areas of the decoration section or the illumination section.

The indication of "first" plastic material, "second" plastic material and "third" plastic material does not determine the order in which they are manufactured. The invention initially comprises the production of the carrier section (first plastic material) and then the production of the decorative section (second plastic material) or the production of the illumination section (third plastic material), but also first the production of the decorative section or illumination section and then the production of the carrier section.

The decorative section and the illumination section are integrally connected to the carrier section, which preferably means cohesively, ie they are held together by atomic or molecular forces and are inseparable, and can only be separated by destruction. However, the meaning also includes a form-fitting connection of the decorative section and the illumination section with the carrier section, the form-fitting being produced in the injection molding process within an injection molding tool. Binding by atomic or molecular forces is therefore not absolutely necessary, but preferred.

A suitable third plastic material for the illumination section is, for example, a transparent polymer which is selected from a group of polymers which includes polyamides comprising aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic monomers and mixtures or blends of these polymers.

According to implementations of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention, the carrier section has bearing means on a rear side of the operating section, with the first plastic material being directly visible on a surface of the operating section at least on the bearing means when the operating section is in an unassembled but otherwise finished state.

With regard to the third plastic material of the illumination section, it is preferably provided that this forms at least one convex edge or at least one convex arcuate area of a surface of the actuating section, in such a way that the third plastic material extends to a rear side of the actuating section.

In particular, it can be provided in this context that an area of the surface of the rear side of the actuation section is formed by the third plastic material, which extends from a front side of the actuation section to the rear side of the actuation section and forms the at least one edge or the arcuate area.

The second plastic material of the decorative section is preferably directly adjacent to the third plastic material and forms the front side of the actuating section at least in regions.

The light entry area for coupling the light emitted by the lighting device into the actuating section is preferably formed by an area of the at least one edge or the arcuate area and is therefore part of the illumination section.

The second plastic material of the decorative section and preferably the visible section is made of an opaque material according to realizations of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention Gen (opaque) plastic and preferably formed from a plastic with a metal look.

According to a particularly practical embodiment, the actuating section has been produced in a multi-component injection molding process. This allows a particularly simple and inexpensive manufacture. At the same time, surface defects can be minimized particularly efficiently through the combination of the structure according to the invention made up of carrier section, decorative section and illumination section and production in a multi-component injection molding process. It has been shown that in the case of actuating sections that are completely injection-molded from a plastic that is well suited for the surface for optical reasons, shrinkage occurs to a particular extent during curing, which leads to surface defects such as flow lines or depressions.

Because, according to the invention, the decorative section, preferably the visible section, and the illumination section are injection molded onto the carrier section formed from a different material, shrinkage and the associated surface defects are minimized. The carrier section thus forms a stable basis for the injection molding of the decorative section, preferably the visible section, and the illumination section, as a result of which shrinkage can be significantly reduced. Flow lines and sinks can be reliably avoided. At the same time, the aforementioned configuration allows the production of different decorative sections and illumination sections, for example from plastics of different colors, with only one injection molding tool, depending on the respective application. This further increases flexibility.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the carrier section has been produced in a first injection molding shot using a first mold half and a second mold half, resulting in a first molding. The decorative section and the illumination section are then produced in a second or third injection molding shot on the first molding, preferably on an outer surface of the first molding, with the order of manufacture being optional. In other words, the illumination section can also be produced in a second injection molding shot on the first molding and the decorative section can be produced in a third injection molding shot on the first molding.

In particular, however, it is provided that the second or third injection molding shot takes place only after the first mold half and/or the second mold half has been changed. The first molding remains in one of the first mold half and the second mold half until the second and third shots have been shot at it.

This allows well defined boundaries between the first, second and third plastic material and a high quality finish to be achieved as each of the carrier section, the decor section and the illumination section is shot in a geometric configuration optimized for this and the first molding is positioned exactly where it is should be positioned as expected for the second or third shot.

According to a further embodiment, changing the first mold half and/or the second mold half includes replacing one of the first mold half and the second mold half with a third mold half, while the first molding remains in the workpiece half that has not been replaced until the decorative section and the illumination section are replaced by at least the third mold halves were formed.

As a result, a high-quality second cavity can be provided.

However, the invention is not limited to the order in which the carrier section, decorative section and illumination section are formed. Rather, for example, the decorative section and/or the illumination section can also be formed first (as the first molding), while the first plastic material for the carrier section is then shot onto the first molding.

With regard to the lighting device of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention, it is provided in particular that this has at least one light source, in particular in the form of an LED, and preferably a multiplicity of light sources. The at least one light source can be integrated in the housing of the inner door handle arrangement or arranged on the housing in such a way that light emitted by the at least one light source preferably falls directly onto the light entry area of the operating section and is thus coupled into the illumination section of the operating section.

As an alternative to this, however, it is also conceivable for the light emitted by the at least one light source to be coupled in indirectly via the light entry area of the illumination section of the actuating section, for example with the aid of a light guide arrangement.

A control device is preferably assigned to the at least one light source Activation of the at least one light source, preferably in such a way that at least one area of the light entry area of the illumination section can be illuminated with the at least one light source, optionally or as required, or that the at least one light source emits a signal light, in particular to indicate a state, preferably an operating state, in particular of a vehicle component , or can be output to display a situation, preferably a dangerous or warning situation, with the control device preferably being designed to set the color, the intensity, the light intensity and/or a flashing frequency of the at least one light source, in particular depending on whether it is an illumination light or a signal light is to be emitted from the at least one light source.

Accordingly, the lighting device has a dual function: on the one hand, the lighting device can serve to emit illumination light, which is coupled into the operating section and coupled out via the light exit area of the illumination section, in order to illuminate or illuminate an area of the interior door handle arrangement in particular. On the other hand, the lighting device can also be used to emit signal light as required and to couple this into the actuation section via the light entry area, where it is then output via the light exit area of the illumination section.

The term "signal light" used herein is to be understood in particular as light which is used to display a state and preferably an operating state, in particular of a vehicle component, or which is used to display a situation, preferably a dangerous or warning situation.

This embodiment of the invention is based on the finding that it may be desirable not only for an area of the interior door handle arrangement to be illuminated or illuminated, but also for a corresponding signal light to be emitted via the lighting device and the illumination section of the actuating section, for example by a indicate a hazardous or warning situation. This can be the case, for example, if the handle arrangement is not to be actuated due to the traffic situation, but also in the event of a crash, the handle arrangement or, if necessary, an emergency unlocking of the handle arrangement can be displayed to the vehicle occupant via the signal light decoupled from the illumination section of the actuation section.

The control device can be part of the lighting device and, in particular, can be integrated in the housing of the interior door handle arrangement or can be connected to the lighting device in some other way using signals.

The invention also relates to a method for producing an actuating section of an inner door handle arrangement for a vehicle, in particular an inner door handle arrangement of the type according to the invention described above.

In this case, the actuation section is produced in a multi-component injection molding process and in particular in a three-component injection molding process. In the injection molding process, a support section is made from a first plastic material, the support section being made in a first injection molding shot using a first mold half and a second mold half which define a first cavity, resulting in a first molding, and having a decorative section and an illumination section can be produced in a second and/or third injection shot on the first molding after changing the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second molding, the first molding being in one of the first mold half or in the second mold half remains until the second greenling has been shot at him.

As an alternative to this, it is provided that a decorative section and an illuminated section are produced in the injection molding process, the decorative section and the illuminated section being produced in a first and/or second injection molding shot using a first mold half and a second mold half which define a first cavity, resulting in a first molding, and wherein a carrier portion is produced in a third injection shot on the first molding after a change of the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second molding while the first molding is in the first mold half or remains in the second half of the mold until the second molding has been shot at it.

According to realizations of the actuating section according to the invention, it is provided that the decorative section has a constant thickness over at least 70%, preferably at least 80% of its front side surface, i.e. in case of doubt with a deviation of less than 30%, preferably less than 20% of the average thickness .

This further improves the appearance of the decorative section while improving the flow of the second plastic material. Preferably, the support portion in the areas where the decorative section has a constant thickness, a variable thickness, ie in case of doubt with a deviation of more than 30%, preferably more than 50% of the average thickness. The thickness is preferably measured from front to back, along a surface normal.

According to a further embodiment, the decorative section has a thickness in a range of 0.5 mm to 3.5 mm, preferably in a range of 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm, over 70%, preferably at least 80% of its front side surface .

In contrast, the illumination section has a thickness in a range of 2 mm to 7 mm over 70%, preferably at least 80% of its side surface forming the edge or the arc-shaped area.

By choosing the thicknesses mentioned above for the decorative section, the appearance of the decorative section is further improved since the flow of the second plastic material is improved. It was found that the thickness should neither be smaller to avoid obstacles nor larger to avoid zebra patterns than the specified interval, preferably even the preferred interval, in order to minimize the risk of these undesired effects.

On the other hand, when forming the illumination section, there is no risk of a zebra pattern since the illumination section is preferably formed entirely of a transparent or translucent material.

The carrier section preferably consists of a reinforced plastic, in particular a glass fiber reinforced plastic. In this way, particularly good carrier properties can be achieved. In principle, a wide variety of material combinations are conceivable for the carrier section, decorative section and illumination section.

According to a further embodiment, the carrier section and the decorative section can consist of the same plastic base material, with the plastic of the carrier section being reinforced, in particular glass fiber reinforced. In this way, a multi-component injection molding process in particular can be further simplified.

The decorative section, preferably the visible section, can have a different color than the carrier section. As a result, a particularly large freedom of design is achieved. In principle, however, the decorative section and the carrier section can also have the same color.

According to preferred realizations, the decorative section and preferably the visible section consists of a plastic with a metal look. Such plastics with a metal look, which can be produced in particular in plastic injection molding processes (mold-in metal colour), are known per se. They have a surface quality similar to chrome plating, but without the environmental and health problems of chrome plating. As also explained, such plastics with a metal look often do not have the required resilience. This problem is solved by the structure of the operating portion according to the present invention.

According to preferred realizations of the actuating section according to the invention, the illumination section and the decorative section are designed in such a way that the illumination section only fulfills an illumination or signaling function when the illumination device is switched on, but this is not recognizable as such when the illumination device is inactive.

An exemplary embodiment of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• 1 schematisch und in einer isometrischen Ansicht eine exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Innentürgriffanordnung;
• 2 schematisch und in einer isometrischen Ansicht den Griffabschnitt der in 1 gezeigten Innentürgriffanordnung; und
• 3 eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie A-A in 2.

Show it:

• 1 schematically and in an isometric view an exemplary embodiment of the interior door handle arrangement according to the invention;
• 2 schematically and in an isometric view the handle section in 1 shown interior door handle assembly; and
• 3 a sectional view along the line AA in 2 .

Unless otherwise stated, the same reference symbols in the figures denote the same objects or objects that have the same effect.

In the 1 Schematically shown inner door handle assembly 1 includes a housing 2, with which it can be attached to a door of a vehicle, such as a car or truck.

The housing 2 has a recessed grip 14 in which an actuating section, in the present example a grip section 3, in which 1 rest position shown is included. From this rest position, the handle section 3 can be pivoted about a pivot axis that is vertical in the assembled state, for example, with its in 1 be pivoted out of the recessed grip 14 again on the right free end. By pivoting out the handle section 3, the driving is via a corresponding connection vehicle door unlocked so that it can then be opened by a vehicle occupant.

To swivel out the handle section 3, the vehicle occupant grips the recessed grip 14 and grasps the handle section 3 from behind. In the example shown, the handle section 3 forms a handle lever. A loudspeaker 10 surrounded by a frame 11 is also integrated into the housing 2 .

Furthermore, an illumination device 4 in the form of a row of LEDs is integrated in the housing 2 . The lighting device 4 is integrated in the housing 2 in such a way that the light emitted by the light sources (LEDs) preferably falls directly onto a light entry area 5 of the grip section 3 .

In the enlarged view according to 2 It can be seen that the handle section 3 has a carrier section 7 facing away from the vehicle interior in the rest position and a decorative section 8 , preferably a visible section, facing the vehicle interior. In addition, the handle section 3 has an illumination section 9 that forms the upper convex area or the upper edge 13 of the handle section 3 at least in some areas.

The carrier section 7 forms the rear side of the handle section 3 that a vehicle occupant can reach behind, and the visible section 8 forms the front side of the handle section 3 that is directly visible from the vehicle interior.

The illumination section 9 is preferably formed entirely from a plastic material that is transparent or translucent to visible light, such as transparent PMMA or polycarbonate. The illumination section 9 forms the aforementioned light entry area 5 of the handle section 3 , via which the light emitted by the lighting device 4 can be at least partially coupled into the handle section 3 .

The illumination section 9 also forms a light exit area 6 via which the light coupled into the handle section 3 or into the illumination section 9 via the light entry area 5 can be coupled out.

In order to ensure that the light in the light exit area 6 of the illumination section 9 can be coupled out diffusely, homogeneously and/or over a large area to the outside area, volume scatterers are preferably integrated in the transparent or translucent plastic material of the illumination section 9 . As an alternative or in addition to this, it is conceivable that a decoupling structure is introduced in the light exit area 6 of the illumination section 9 .

The volume scatterers integrated in the plastic material of the illumination section 9 are preferably nanoparticles with an average diameter of less than 500 nm and preferably less than 300 nm. Alternatively or in addition to this, it is conceivable that the plastic material of the illumination section 9 contains air pockets and/or or pigments are preferably integrated with a mean diameter of less than 3 mm.

The decoupling structure can be, for example, indentations, roughening and/or embossing.

The carrier section 7 has at its in 2 shown left end bearing means 12, with which the handle portion 3 can be pivotally mounted on the housing 2.

In the sectional view according to 3 it can be seen that the visible section 8 has a considerably smaller thickness than the carrier section 7. It can also be seen that the illumination section 9 has a greater thickness than the decorative section 8, but a considerably smaller thickness than the carrier section 7.

The decorative section 8 or visible section 8, the illumination section 9 and the carrier section 7 are bonded to one another. In the example shown, the decorative section 8 and the illumination section 9 have been injection molded onto the carrier section 7 in a three-component injection molding process.

The carrier section 7 consists of a plastic, for example a reinforced plastic such as a glass fiber reinforced plastic. It can have an embedded mineral filling or embedded metal particles, for example ferromagnetic metal particles, so that when a vehicle occupant reaches behind the support section to swivel handle section 3 out of recessed grip 14 of the housing, a cool surface and thus the impression of metal is perceived.

Correspondingly, the decorative section 8 and in particular the visible section 8 can consist of a plastic with a metal look (mold-in metal colour). However, the decorative section 8 could also consist of other plastics, for example plastics of different colors or the like. The decorative section 8 could also have been cohesively connected to the carrier section 7 in an in-mold painting process.

The decorative portion 8 is intended to be at least partially visible directly from the passenger compartment and to face the passenger compartment, the handle portion 3 having a front side facing the passenger compartment and a rear side facing away from the passenger compartment.

As already stated, the illumination section 9 forms the upper convex edge 13 or the upper convex arcuate area of the handle arrangement 1 at least in certain areas. The illumination section 9 and in particular the light entry area 5 of the illumination section 9 is aligned with regard to the lighting device 4, which is preferably integrated in the housing 2 of the interior door handle arrangement 1, in such a way that at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device 4 passes through the air gap between the housing 2 and the Handle section 3 and via the light entry area 5 of the illumination section 9 can be coupled into the handle section 3 .

The lighting device 4 is preferably assigned a control device (not shown in the drawings) in order to control the lighting device 4 or the LEDs of the lighting device 4 in particular selectively or as required such that the LEDs emit signal light or illuminating light. The signal light serves in particular to display a state, preferably an operating state, or to display a situation, in particular a dangerous or warning situation.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, but results from a synopsis of all the features disclosed herein.

Reference List

1

Interior door handle assembly

2

Housing

3

actuation section/handle section

4

lighting device

5

light entry area

6

light emission area

7

carrier section

8th

Decor Section/Visual Section

9

illumination section

10

speaker

11

surround

12

storage means

13

convex arcuate area

14

recessed grip

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102005041198 A1 [0013]

Claims (15)

Interior door handle arrangement (1) for a vehicle, the interior door handle arrangement (1) having a housing (2) and an actuating section (3) movably arranged on the housing (2), with an illumination device (4) also being provided, which is preferably designed to emit light indirectly or directly and in particular optionally or as required via an air gap between the housing (2) and the actuating section (3) in the direction of the actuating section (3), characterized in that the actuating section (3) has a carrier section (7). a first material, in particular plastic material, and a reflection area connected or connectable to the carrier section (7), in particular a reflection surface. Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the reflection area consists at least partially of a light-reflecting material or of a light-reflecting coating with a degree of reflection of preferably at least 40%, in particular at least 50% and even more preferably at least 75%. is formed. Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the reflection area is preferably integrally connected to the carrier section (7) in areas; or wherein the reflection area is designed to be mountable with the carrier section (7); or wherein the actuating section (3) has been produced in a multi-component injection molding process and in particular in a three-component injection molding process. Inside door handle arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 or after the generic term of claim 1 , characterized in that the lighting device (4) is formed, preferably indirectly or directly and in particular selectively or as required via the air gap between the housing (2) and the operating section (3) and via a light entry area (5) of the operating section (3) to couple light into the operating section (3), the operating section (3) having at least one light exit area (6) via which at least part of the light coupled into the operating section (3) can be decoupled from the operating section (3). Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 4 , wherein the actuating section (3) has been produced in a multi-component injection molding process and in particular in a three-component injection molding process. Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the light entry area (5) of the operating section (3) is formed at least in areas from a plastic material that is at least partially transparent and/or translucent to visible light, and wherein the at least one light exit area (6) of the operating section (3) is formed at least in areas from an at least partially plastic material that is transparent and/or translucent for visible light, in which volume scatterers are integrated, and/or in which a decoupling structure is introduced. Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 6 , the volume scatterer and/or the decoupling structure being distributed and/or introduced into the plastic material of the light exit area (6) of the actuating section (3) in such a way that the light in the light exit area (6) can be decoupled diffusely, homogeneously and/or over a large area into the outside area ; and/or wherein the volume scatterers integrated in the plastic material of the light exit region (6) have nanoparticles with an average diameter of less than 500 nm, preferably less than 300 nm; and/or wherein the volume scatterers integrated in the plastic material of the light exit region (6) have air inclusions and/or pigments with an average diameter of less than 3 mm, preferably less than 1 mm; and/or wherein the decoupling structure is formed by notches, roughening and/or embossing. Inside door handle arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the actuating section (3) has a carrier section (7) made of a first plastic material and a decorative section (8) connected or connectable to the carrier section (7) made of a second material, in particular plastic material, and a decorative section connected to the carrier section (7) and/or with the decorative section (8) connected illumination section (9) made of a third plastic material. Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 8 , wherein the carrier section (7) has bearing means (12) on a rear side of the operating section (3), with the first plastic material on a surface of the operating section (3) at least on the bearing means when the operating section (3) is in an unassembled but otherwise finished state (12) is directly visible, the third plastics material having at least one convex edge (13) or at least one convex arcuate portion of a surface of the actuator section (3) at least in regions, in such a way that the third plastic material extends to a rear side of the actuating section (3). Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 9 wherein a portion of the surface of the rear of the operating portion (3) is formed by the third plastic material extending from a front of the operating portion (3) to the rear of the operating portion (3) and the at least one edge (13) or the arcuate Area at least partially formed; and/or wherein the second plastic material is directly adjacent to the third plastic material and forms the front side of the actuating section (3) at least in regions. Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the light entry area (5) and the light exit area (6) of the actuating section (3) form at least one area or part of the illumination section (9); and/or wherein the decorative section (8), preferably the visible section, consists of a light-impermeable or opaque plastic and preferably of a plastic with a metal look. Inner door handle arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 8 until 11 , wherein the support section (7) has been produced in a first injection molding shot using a first mold half and a second mold half, resulting in a first moulding, and wherein the decorative section (8) and/or the illumination section (9) is formed in a second and /or third injection shot has been made on the first molding after a change of the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second molding while the first molding remains in one of the first mold half or in the second mold half until the second greenling has been shot at him; or wherein the decorative section (8) and/or the illumination section (9) has/have been produced in a first and/or second injection molding shot using a first mold half and a second mold half, resulting in a first molding, and wherein the carrier section ( 7) has been produced in a third injection shot on the first molding after a change of the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second molding while the first molding remains in the first mold half or in the second mold half until the second greenling has been shot at him. Inside door handle arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 12 , wherein the lighting device (4) has at least one light source, in particular in the form of an LED, and preferably a multiplicity of light sources, the at least one light source being integrated in the housing (2) or arranged on the housing (2) in such a way that the light emitted by the at least one light source preferably falls directly onto the light entry area (5) of the actuating section (3). Interior door handle arrangement (1) according to Claim 13 , wherein the at least one light source is assigned a control device for activating the at least one light source, preferably in such a way that the at least one light source can be used to illuminate at least some areas of the light entry area (5) of the operating section (3) as desired or required, or that the at least a light source signal light, in particular for displaying a state, preferably an operating state, in particular a vehicle component, or for displaying a situation, preferably a dangerous or warning situation, can be emitted, the control device preferably being designed to display the color, the intensity, the light intensity and/or set a flashing frequency of the at least one light source, in particular depending on whether illumination light or signal light is to be emitted by the at least one light source. Method for producing an operating section (3) of an inner door handle arrangement (1) for a vehicle, in particular an inner door handle arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 14 , wherein the actuating section (3) is produced in a multi-component injection molding process and in particular in a three-component injection molding process, the injection molding process having the following steps: - Production of a carrier section (7) from a first plastic material, the carrier section (7) in one first injection shot using a first mold half and a second mold half defining a first cavity, resulting in a first molding, and having a decorative portion (8) and an illumination portion (9) in a second and/or third injection shot the first molding can be produced after a change of the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second molding, the first molding remaining in one of the first mold half or in the second mold half until the second molding has been shot at it ; or - producing a decorative section (8) and an illumination section (9), wherein the decorative section (8) and the illumination section (9) in a first and/or second injection molding shot using a first mold half and a second mold half defining a first cavity ren, are produced, resulting in a first moulding, and wherein a carrier portion (7) is produced in a third injection shot on the first moulding, after a change of the first mold half and/or the second mold half, resulting in a second moulding, while the first molding remains in the first mold half or in the second mold half until the second molding has been shot at it.

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