GB2144982A

GB2144982A - Door handle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2144982A
Application number: GB08418090A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Eric Yeomans; Lawrence William Turner
Original assignee: Neiman Security Products Ltd
Current assignee: Valeo Engine Cooling UK Ltd
Priority date: 1983-08-19
Filing date: 1984-07-16
Publication date: 1985-03-20
Also published as: GB2144982B; GB8418090D0

Abstract

A door handle assembly for location on a vehicle door includes an elongate handle member (2) of a plastics material having a pair of pivot members (4, 6) moulded one adjacent each end thereof, each pivot member (4, 6) having a receiving bore formed therein, and a backing plate (8) of a plastics material for securing to the door, said backing plate (8) having a pair of pin members (10, 12) moulded to extend one from each end of the plate (8). A dimple (14) is formed in the plate intermediate its length such that, on linear distortion of the backing plate (8) by bending it about the dimple (14), the pin members (10, 12) of the backing plate (8) can be snapped into the bores of the pivot members (4, 6). A lever (18) for operating a latch is mounted on a shaft (16) extending from the back of the backing plate (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Door handle assembly This invention relates to door handle assemblies and has particular application to exterior handle assemblies for vehicle doors.

It is now well-established practice to provide exterior car door handle assemblies which comprise a die-cast metal backing plate secured to the door by bolts and a die-cast metal handle member pinned to the backing plate to be pivotal relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis. Said pivoting movement of the handle member causes rotation of a metal operating lever against the bias of an associated return spring, said lever and spring being mounted on a stub shaft integrally formed with the backing plate and extending inwardly of the assembly from the inside face of the backing plate. Said rotation of the operating lever in turn causes movement of a link between the handle assembly and the associated lock to actuate the lock.

It will be appreciated that, being of all-metal construction, such assemblies are heavy and relatively expensive to produce, while the two major components, the backing plate and the handle member, have to be pinned together.

Further, it is necessary to provide rubber stop means in the assembly to prevent metal-tometal contact of these two components in the inoperative position of the assembly.

It would be desirable to be able to produce a cheaper, lighter door handle assembly which was easier to assemble than the known arrangements but which still retained the necessary inherent strength.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle door handle assembly comprising a substantially elongate backing plate of a plastics material adapted to be secured to a door of the vehicle, said backing plate including a pair of pin members integrally moulded therewith, one extending from each end of said plate, and, intermediate the length of the backing plate, a dimple formed in said plate, the assembly further comprising a substantially elongate handle member of a plastics material integrally moulded on the inside face of which are a pair of pivot members one adjacent each end of the handle member, each pivot member having a receiving bore formed therein, the arrangement being such that, on linear distortion of the backing plate by bending thereof about the dimple therein, the pin members can be snapped one into the receiving bore of each pivot member on the handle member, return of the backing plate to its natural configuration resulting in the handle member and backing plate being pivotally mounted one to the other.

Conveniently a stub shaft is moulded integrally with, to project inwardly of the inner face of, the backing plate, an operating lever of a plastics material being a snap-fit on the end of said shaft such that, on pivoting movement of the handle member relative to the backing plate, said operating lever is rotated on said stub shaft against the bias of a return spring to actuate an associated lock.

Retention of the operating lever on the stub shaft may be supplemented by means of a washer also a snap-fit on the end of said shaft.

Preferably the operating lever comprises a pair of arms one to each side of the stub shaft, a first arm being adapted for engagement by an abutment member integrally formed with the handle member and the other arm being adapted to receive thereon one end of a link the other end of which co-operates with said lock.

It will be appreciated that the above-detailed assembly, being of a moulded plastics material, is of very light weight and is cheap to produce, while the particular material, for example a mineral reinforced plastics resin such as MINLON (RTM), is chosen such that the necessary strength characteristics are present. Further, the snap-fitting together of the various components considerably simplifies assembly whilst at the same time eliminating the metal pins previously necessary to maintain said components in position. Both being of a plastics material, there is no need to provide stop means to prevent contact of the handle member with the backing plate in the rest position of the assembly.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a view, partly in horizontal section, of an assembly according to the invention during fitting together of the component parts thereof; Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with the assembly in position on a car door, Fig. 3 is a rear view of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 is an end view in the direction of arrow'A' in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated car door handle assembly includes a moulded plastics handle member or flap 2 on the upper regions of the inside face of which are integrally formed, one adjacent each end of the flap, a pair of pivot members 4,6. Each pivot member 4,6 comprises a pair of opposed plates through which extend receiving bores for reasons which will become apparent.

The assembly further includes a backing plate indicated at 8 of generally elongate shape. Said plate 8, like the flap 2, is moulded from a plastics material such as MINCON (RTM), a mineral reinforced thermoplastics resin which is strong but slightly flexible. Integrally formed on the backing plate, one adjacent each end thereof, are a pair of pivot pins 10,1 2, one for location in the bores of each pivot member 4,6.

Also integrally formed in the backing plate 8, substantially intermediate the length thereof and in the face of the plate 8 carrying the pins 10,12, is a dimple 14 which is such as to enable the plate 8 to be bent or flexed to the configuration shown in Fig. 1. In this position of the plate 8, the pins 10,1 2 can be snapffitted into the pivot members 4,6, release of the flexing or bending forces resulting in the plate 8 returning to its linear configuration with said plate then securely pivotally mounted relative to the flap 2. Without the dimple 14, the plate 8 could not be readily flexed as shown in Fig. 1.

A shaft 16 integrally formed with the backing plate 8 extends inwardly of said plate, a plastics operating lever indicated generally at 1 8 being a snap-fit on, for rotation relative to, the shaft 1 6. Retention of the lever 1 8 on the shaft 1 6 is supplemented by a washer 20 which is a snap-fit on the end of said shaft 1 6. This retention may be further improved by forming a diametrical slot (not shown) in the free end of the shaft 1 6 to provide resilience thereto.

The operating lever 18 is biased into a normal, inoperative position by a coil spring 22 mounted on the shaft 16 between the backing plate 8 and the lever 18 and reacting between said plate 8 and said lever 1 8 to urge the lever 18 in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. In this position, one arm 24 of the lever 1 8 engages with an abutment member 26 which comprises an extension of the pivot member 6 on the flap 2.

The operating lever 18 further includes a second arm 28 the free end of which includes a bore 30 into which can be dropped one end of a link (not shown) for connecting the handle assembly with the lock to be operated thereby. A bridge 32 integrally formed on the arm 28 of the lever 1 8 prevents the link detaching from the lever 18.

It will be appreciated that, with such an arrangement, pivoting movement of the lower edge of the flap 2 relative to the plate 8 about the pivot mountings 4,6,10,1 2 results in the abutment member 26 engaging the arm 24 of the lever 18 and depressing said arm against the bias of the spring 22 whereby the lever 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the second arm 28 causing resultant movement of the link (not shown).

On assembly of the component parts, studs 34 are first of all located through associated holes adjacent each end of the backing plate 8 and the plate is then flexed as shown in Fig.

1 to enable pivotal attachment of the flap 2.

The coil spring 22 is located on the shaft 1 6 and the operating lever 1 8 and retaining washer are then snap-fitted onto the shaft 1 6.

The assembly is secured by means of the studs 34 to the car door panel 36 (Fig. 2) and, as the plate 8 is now rigidly located and cannot be flexed, the assembly cannot be dismantled without removing it from the panel.

The link (not shown) is located in position between the assembly and the lock of the door and, as mentioned above, the arrangement is then such that pivoting movement of the flap 2 causes consequential actuation of the lock by way of said link.

The shape of the moulded backing plate 8 is chosen to ensure that the aperture in the door panel for receiving the assembly is totally covered, while the holes in the backing plate 8 for receiving the studs 34 are surrounded by upstanding annular ribs 38 such that, on tightening the studs, the ribs are compressed and form a seal with the panel to prevent the ingress of moisture and the like. Such an arrangement eliminates the necessity for separate gaskets.

The described assembly is light yet strong, can be easily assembled without the need for connecting pins and can be manufactured for a fraction of the cost of existing all-metal assemblies.

Claims

1. A vehicle door handle assembly comprising a substantially elongate backing plate of a plastics material adapted to be secured to a door of the vehicle, said backing plate including a pair of pin members integrally moulded therewith, one extending from each end of said plate, and, intermediate the length of the backing plate, a dimple formed in said plate, the assembly further comprising a substantially elongate handle member of a plastics material integrally moulded on the inside face of which are a pair of pivot members one adjacent each end of the handle member, each pivot member having a receiving bore formed therein, the arrangement being such that, on linear distortion of the backing plate by bending thereof about the dimple therein, the pin members can be snapped one into the receiving bore of each pivot member on the handle member, return of the backing plate to its natural configuration resulting in the handle member and backing plate being pivotally mounted one to the other.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which a stub shaft is moulded integrally with, to project inwardly of the inner face of, the backing plate, an operating lever of a plastics material being a snap fit on the end of said shaft such that, on pivoting movement of the handle member relative to the backing plate, said operating lever is rotated on said stub shaft against the bias of a return spring to actuate an associated lock.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which retention of the operating lever on the stub shaft is supplemented by means of a washer also a snap-fit on the end of said shaft.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the operating lever comprises a pair of arms one to each side of the stub shaft, a first arm being adapted for engagement by an abutment member integrally formed with the handle member and the other arm being adapted to receive thereon one end of a link the other end of which co-operates with said lock.

5. A vehicle door handle assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.