GB2436587A

GB2436587A - Motor vehicle door with rotatable door handle

Info

Publication number: GB2436587A
Application number: GB0606224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen David Fleming; Jonathan Young; William Farrelly; Gary Brown; Daniel Edward Stanesby
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2006-03-29
Filing date: 2006-03-29
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: GB0606224D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle door (3, Fig. 3) comprises a handle (14, Fig. 3), the handle being rotatably connected to the door to permit the handle to rotate relative to the door as the door is opened, so as to reduce rotation of the wrist of a user. The handle may be rotatably connected directly to the door (Fig. 12), or may be rotatably connected to an actuating member which selectively releases a door latch. The actuating member may be in the form of a lever (13, Fig. 3) pivotally connected to the door, a pair of levers (53a, 53b, Fig. 5) pivotally connected to the door, or a slide member (32, Fig. 7a) slidingly connected to the door.

Description

A Motor Vehicle Door.

This invention relates to doors for motor vehicles and in particular to a handle for a motor vehicle door having improved ease of use.

It is well known to provide a motor vehicle with various types of doors such as side hinged, top hinged (sometimes called a tailgate) and sliding. When an operator wishes to open any of these types of door the door moves from its original resting place to a new position and this movement requires considerable hyperextension (dorsi-flexion) or flexion (palmar-flexion) of the wrist. Such bending of the wrists is both uncomfortable and potentially damaging if a high load is required to open the door.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved handle for a motor vehicle door that is more comfortable to use and reduces the risk of wrist injuries.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle door having a handle to assist with opening of the door wherein the handle is rotatably connected to the door so as to permit the handle to rotate relative to the door as the door is opened.

The handle may be rotatably connected to an actuating member used to selectively release a door latch so as to permit the door to be opened and the actuating member is moveably connected to the door.

The actuating member may be a lever pivotally connected to the door for rotation about a pivot axis.

The lever may be pivotally connected to the door near to one end and the handle may be rotatably connected to the lever near to an opposite end of the lever.

Advantageously, the handle may be rotatable about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the pivot axis of the lever.

The handle may be rotatably connected at each end to the door by a respective lever which is pivotably connected to the door for rotation about a common pivot axis and at least one of the levers forms an actuating member for the door latch.

Advantageously, the handle may be rotatable about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the common pivot axis of the levers.

The lever or one of the levers may be connected by a cable to the door latch such that rotation of the lever or levers relative to the door releases the door latch.

The actuating member may be a slide member slidingly connected to the door.

The slide member may be slideable along a slide axis and the handle may be rotatable about an axis of rotation arranged normal to the slide axis.

The door is a sliding door and the slide member moves in the same direction as the door when the door is being opened.

The handle has first and second ends and may be rotatably connected at both ends by a respective arm to the slide member.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having at least one door constructed in accordance with said first aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which:-Fig.l is a side view of a motor vehicle having a two side hinged doors, a sliding door and a top hinged door according to the invention; Fig.2 is a pictorial view of the top hinged door shown in Fig.l; Fig.3 is a plan view of part of a side hinged door having a handle assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig.4 is a pictorial view of a handle assembly forming part of the door shown in Fig.3; Fig.5 is a cross-sectional plan view showing part of a top hinged door having a handle assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig.6 is a side cross-sectional view along the line F-F on Fig.2 of the handle assembly shown in Fig.5; Fig.7a is a pictorial view of a handle assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention for use on a sliding door; Fig.7b is a pictorial view of a handle assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention for use on a sliding door; Fig.8 is a plan view of a handle assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention for use on a sliding door; Fig.9 is a rear view of a motor vehicle having two side hinged doors each of which is fitted with a handle assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; Fig.10 is an enlarged pictorial view of the area A" on Fig.9 showing the two handle assemblies in greater detail; Fig.11 is a plan view of the two handle assemblies shown on Fig.9 when both doors are in closed positions; and Fig.12 is a plan view of the two handle assemblies shown on Fig.9 when one door is in a closed position and the other door is partially open.

With reference to Figs.l and 2 there is shown a motor vehicle 2 having a side hinged door 3, a sliding door 4 and a top hinged door in the form of a tailgate 5.

The side hinged door 3 is pivotally connected to the motor vehicle 2 at a front end by two hinges (not shown) and has a door handle assembly 10 near to a rear end of the door 3 used to assist with opening of the door 3.

The sliding door 4 has a door handle assembly 30 used to assist with opening and closing of the door 4.

The tailgate 5 has a door handle assembly 50 used to assist with opening of the tailgate 5. The door handle assembly 50 is located in a recess 6 in the tailgate 5.

With particular reference to Figs.3 and 4 the door handle assembly 10 comprises of a handle 14 rotatably connected to an actuating member in the form of a lever 13 for a door latch (not shown) The lever 13 and the handle 14 are positioned in a recess 11 in the door 3 so that, as shown, they do not project beyond the outer edge of the door 3 when the lever 13 is in a resting position. An aperture 12 is formed in the door 3 to allow the lever to pivot relative to the door 3 about a pivot axis X-X. The lever 13 is pivotally connected to the door near to one end by a pivot pin 15 engaged with an aperture 19 in the lever 13 and with a lug 16 on the door 3. The lever 13 has the handle 14 rotatably connected to it towards an opposite end of the lever 13 to the position where the lever 13 is pivotally connected to the door 3 by an upstanding rod (not shown) engaged with a bore (not shown) of the handle 14 for rotation about an axis of rotation Y-Y. The handle 14 is therefore rotatably connected to the lever 13 at a position such that axis of rotation Y-Y of the handle 14 is spaced apart from the pivot axis X-X of the lever 13. In addition, the axis of rotation Y-Y of the handle 14 is positioned parallel to the pivot axis X-X of the lever 13 such that when the lever is rotated relative to the door 3 the handle rotates relative to the lever 13 and relative to the door 3.

At the opposite end of the lever 13 to the position where the handle 14 is rotatably connected, a lug 20 extends downwardly from the lever 13 for use in securing a Bowden cable 17 to the lever 13. An inner part of the Bowden cable 17 extends through an aperture 21 in the lug 20 and a nipple 22 is fastened to the end of the inner cable to transfer force from the lever 13 to the inner part of the Bowden cable 17 when the lever 13 is moved in the direction of the arrow "0" on Fig.3 in order to release the door latch. An outer part of the Bowden cable 17 is fastened to the door 3 by a bracket 18.

Therefore when an operator wishes to open the door 3 they grasp the handle 14 and pull it towards them thereby causing the lever 13 to rotate in the direction of arrow "0". This pulls on the Bowden cable 17 and releases the door latch. The door 3 can then be rotated open to allow the operator to enter the motor vehicle 2.

Although this embodiment has been described with respect to use on a side hinged door it will be appreciated that it could also be used for other types of door.

With particular reference to Figs. 2, 5 and 6 there is shown a second embodiment of door handle assembly 50 which is in many respects similar to that previously described except that instead of using a single lever to connect the handle to the door two parallel handles are used.

The door 5 has a recess 6 in which is mounted a door handle assembly 50 such that a handle 55 forming part of the door handle assembly 50 lies within the recess 6 when the door handle assembly 50 is in a resting position.

The handle 55 is rotatably connected to two levers 53a, 53b one at either end of the handle 55 by a rod 59 that is engaged with a bore (not shown) in the handle 55. The rod 59 is fixed at each end to a respective one of the two levers 53a, 53b such that the handle 55 is free to rotate on the rod 59 about an axis of rotation R-R.

The two levers 53a, 53b are both pivotally connected at their inner ends to the door 5 by means of upstanding lugs 51a, 51b; 52a, 52b for rotation about a pivot axis P-P.

The handle 55 is rotatably connected to the two levers 53a, 53b such that axis of rotation R-R of the handle 55 is spaced apart from the pivot axis P-P of the levers 53a, 53b.

The axis of rotation R-R of the handle 55 is positioned parallel to the pivot axis P-P of the levers 53a, 53b so that when the levers 53a, 53b are rotated relative to the door 5 the handle 55 rotates relative to the levers 53a, 53b and relative to the door 5.

The lever 53a is rotatably connected to the door 5 by a pivot pin 58 which is engaged with apertures in the two lugs 51a, 51b, similarly the lever 53b is rotatably connected to the door 5 by a pivot pin (not shown) which is engaged with apertures in the two lugs 52a, 52b. The lever 53a forms an actuating member for a door latch (not shown) used to hold the door 5 in a closed position.

At the opposite end of the lever 53a to the position where the handle 55 is rotatably connected to the lever 53a a Bowden cable 17 is connected to the lever 53a. An inner part of the Bowden cable 56 is fastened to the lever 53a by means of a nipple 60. An outer part of the Bowden cable 56 is fastened to the door 5 by a bracket 57.

Therefore when an operator pulls on the handle 55 the levers 53a, 53b rotate about the pivot axis P-P pulling on the Bowden cable 56 which releases the door latch to which the Bowden cable 56 is connected thereby allowing the door 5 to be opened. Further pulling on the handle 55 causes the door 5 to open in an upward direction.

During opening of the door 5 the rotation of the handle relative to both the levers 53a, 53b and the door 5 greatly reduces the bending of an operators wrist required to operate the door latch and open the door 5.

Although this embodiment has been described with respect to use on a top hinged door it will be appreciated that it could also be used for other types of door.

With particular reference to Fig.7a there is shown in greater detail the door handle assembly 30 for the sliding door 4 shown on Fig.l.

The door handle assembly 30 comprises of an actuating member in the form of a slide member 32 for a door latch (not shown) used to hold the door 4 in a closed position.

The slide member 32 is slidingly connected to the door 4 by a pair of U-shaped rails 35, 36 with which it is engaged. For ease of understanding the slide rails 35, 36 have been partially removed.

The slide member 32 has two upstanding arms 33, 34 connected thereto near to one end to support a rod 37 which defines an axis of rotation Z-Z for a handle 31 rotatably mounted on the rod 37. Each longitudinal edge of the slide member 32 is slidingly engaged with one of the rails 35, 36 thereby allowing the slide member 32 to slide relative to the door 4 along a slide axis S-S.

A lug 39 is attached to the slide member 32 for use in connecting one end of a Bowden cable 40 to the slide member 32. The Bowden cable 40 is fastened at an opposite end to the door latch.

The axis of rotation Z-Z of the handle 31 is arranged normal to the slide axis S-S of the slide member 32 so as to reduce the angle through which a wrist of an operator of the door 4 has to subtend when opening the door 4.

In use an operator pulls upon the handle 31 causing it to move (to the left as shown on Fig.7a) thereby pulling on the Bowden cable 40 which releases the door latch. Further motion in the same direction of the slide member 32 will cause the slide member 32 to abut against two abutments (not shown), one formed in each of the rails 35, 36. Any further force applied to the handle 31 will then be transferred via the abutments from the slide member 32 to the door 4 thereby causing the door 4 to be opened. It will be appreciated that to close the door the force is applied through the handle 31 in the opposite direction.

With reference to Fig.7b there is shown a further embodiment which is similar to that shown in Fig.7a but in this case rather than the handle extending transversely with reference to the slide member 32 the handle 41 extends at right angles to the slide plate 32 to which it is rotatably attached by a rod (not shown) engaged with a bore (not shown) in the handle 41. However, as for the embodiment shown in Fig.7a the axis of rotation of the handle 41 is arranged normal to the slide axis of the slide plate 32.

With reference to Fig.8 there is shown an alternative door handle assembly for a sliding door 100. In this case a handle 101 is rotatably connected directly to the door 100 and so the only function performed by the handle 101 is to transfer force from an operator to the door 100. There is no connection to a door latch and separate means are required to release the door latch before the handle 101 can be used to open or close the door 100. The handle 101 is rotatably engaged with a rod (not shown) and the rod is fastened directly to the door 100. The axis of rotation of the handle 101 is arranged normal to the slide axis of the door 100.

With reference to Figs. 9 to 12 there is shown a motor vehicle 110 having a pair of side hinged doors 111, 112.

The left-hand side door 111 is hingedly connected to the motor vehicle 110 by upper and lower hinges 113U and 113L and the right-hand side door 112 is hingedly connected to the motor vehicle 110 by upper and lower hinges ll4U and 114L. A first door handle assembly 120 is used to assist with opening of the left-hand side door 111 and a second -10 -door handle assembly 130 is used to assist with opening of the right-hand side door 112.

The area marked "A" on F'ig.9 is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig.10 from where it can be seen that the first door handle assembly 120 is located in a recess 115 in the door lii and comprises of a handle 125 rotatably connected to the door 111 by a pair of mounting blocks 121, 122. Each of the mounting blocks 121, 122 has a rod (not shown) fastened to it which projects into one end of the handle 125 so as to rotatably connect the handle 125 directly to the door 111.

A separate mechanism (not shown) is used to release a door latch (not shown) used to hold the door 111 closed and the handle 125 is only used to transfer force from an operator to the door 111 to open or close the door 111.

It will be appreciated that when the door 111 is opened or closed the handle 125 rotates relative to the door lii about an axis that is parallel to an axis passing through the two hinges l13U, 113L about which the door 111 rotates thereby reducing the angle to which a wrist of the operator has to move to effect opening or closing of the door ill.

Similarly, the second door handle assembly 130 is located in a recess 116 in the door 112 and comprises of a handle 135 rotatably connected to the door 112 by a pair of mounting blocks 131, 132. Each of the mounting blocks 131, 132 has a rod (not shown) fastened to it which projects into one end of the handle 135 so as to rotatably connect the handle 135 directly to the door 112.

A separate mechanism (not shown) is used to release a door latch (not shown) used to hold the door 112 closed and the handle 135 is only used to transfer force from an operator to the door 112 to open or close the door 112.

-11 -As shown on Figs.11 and 12, when the door 112 is opened or closed, the handle 135 rotates relative to the door 112 about an axis that is parallel to an axis passing through the two hinges 114U, 114L about which the door 112 rotates thereby reducing the angle to which a wrist of the operator has to move to effect opening or closing of the door 112.

Although the invention has been described above with respect to its use for motor vehicle external door handles it will be appreciated that it could also be applied to a motor vehicle interior door handle.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more embodiments it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that one or more modifications to the disclosed embodiments or alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

-12 -Claims 1. A motor vehicle door having a handle to assist with

opening of the door wherein the handle is rotatably connected to the door so as to permit the handle to rotate relative to the door as the door is opened.

2. A door as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is rotatably connected to an actuating member used to selectively release a door latch so as to permit the door to be opened and the actuating member is moveably connected to the door.

3. A door as claimed in claim 2 wherein the actuating member is a lever pivotally connected to the door for rotation about a pivot axis.

4. A door as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lever is pivotally connected to the door near to one end and the handle is rotatably connected to the lever near to an opposite end of the lever.

5. A door as claimed in claim 3 or in claim 4 wherein the handle is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the pivot axis of the lever.

6. A door as claimed in claim 2 wherein the handle is rotatably connected at each end to the door by a respective lever which is pivotably connected to the door for rotation about a common pivot axis and at least one of the levers forms an actuating member for the door latch.

7. A door as claimed in claim 6 wherein the handle is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the common pivot axis of the levers.

-13 - 8. A door as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the lever or one of the levers is connected by a cable to the door latch such that rotation of the lever or levers relative to the door releases the door latch.

9. A door as claimed in claim 2 wherein the actuating member is a slide member slidingly connected to the door.

10. A door as claimed in claim 9 wherein the slide member is slideable along a slide axis and the handle is rotatable about an axis of rotation arranged normal to the slide axis.

11. A door as claimed in claim 10 or in claim 11 wherein the door is a sliding door and the slide member moves in the same direction as the door when the door is being opened.

12. A door as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the handle has first and second ends and is rotatably connected at both ends by a respective arm to the slide member.

13. A motor vehicle having at least one door as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12.

14. A motor vehicle door substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

15. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.