GB2536670A

GB2536670A - Rectractable handle arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2536670A
Application number: GB1505036.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brown Olly; Edwards Sean; Lumsden Peter; Lidgard Brian; Gaouyer Bruno
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-25
Filing date: 2015-03-25
Publication date: 2016-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-25
Also published as: GB201505036D0; GB2536670B

Abstract

A retractable handle arrangement with a handle 6 having a swing-arm 27 pivotal about axis 24 for coupling the handle to a support structure 25, preferable door skin 4, moveable between a stowed and deployed state, the swing arm having an engagement, preferable stud 44, which in the deployed state engages the support structure, preferable via socket 42, to prevent lateral play or rattle (movement in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the handle). The engagement may be a recess or protrusion with a truncated pyramidal profile, and the support structure may have a corresponding pyramidal recess of protrusion. The handle may be moveable from a deployed to operative state, in which the door is unlatched, via pivot 29. Also claimed is a body component, preferably a door 4, having an aperture for receiving the handle. The handle may fill the aperture and lie flush with the door. The handle may be a pop-out handle electrically driven between deployed and stowed states via motor 14 interacting with spindle 16 via worm gear or a rack and pinion.

Description

RECTRACTABLE HANDLE ARRANGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a retractable handle arrangement for a door or other type of closure, in particular for a vehicle. Aspects of the disclosure relate to a handle arrangement, a body component and to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

The invention will be described in the context of a car door, but it could also be used with other closures such as trunks/tailgates, or with other types of vehicles such as boats or aircraft. In a broad sense, the invention may also be used in non-vehicle applications.

A relatively recent development in the design of vehicle door handles is the retractable handle in which a flush-mounted handle is retractably mounted to the vehicle door such that the handle is flush with an outer door skin of the vehicle. This means that the handle can move between two states: a stowed or retracted state in which the handle is flush-mounted and a deployed or extended state in which the handle protrudes from the surrounding door surface so that it may be grasped by a user. The handles may be movable between the stowed and deployed states mechanically or by electrical means.

Once the handle is in the deployed state, it can be pulled, usually against a spring bias, to move the handle towards a third, operative, state to unlatch the door. In moving to the operative state the handle may unlatch the door mechanically, for example by acting on a Bowden cable coupled to the door latch, or electrically by acting on an electrical switch coupled to the latch. Examples of such a vehicle door handle are described in the applicant's co-pending US patent application no. US2013/0241215 Al and published PCT application no. W02012/175647.

In the example described in US2013/0241215, a strap-type handle is moveable between a stowed state in which its outer surface is flush-mounted with the door skin, and a deployed state in which the handle stands proud of the door skin. The handle is supported at its rear end by a pivotable support mechanism that guides the handle during its movement so that the handle follows a substantially straight path that is perpendicular to the plane of the door.

However, since only the rear end of the handle is supported, the handle may exhibit some lateral play which may reduce the ergonomics for the user.

It is against this background that the invention has been devised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the invention, there is provided a retractable handle arrangement comprising a handle having a swing-arm moveable about a pivot axis and arranged to couple the handle to a support structure for movement between a stowed state and a deployed state, and wherein the swing arm comprises an engagement means that in the deployed state engages the support structure so as to substantially prevent lateral play of the handle.

A benefit is that by substantially preventing lateral play of the handle, the perception of quality to the user is increased significantly since the handle is likely to vibrate less and also to feel more 'solid' to the user in operation.

In an embodiment the engagement means may comprises first upper and lower location surfaces which, in use, engage with second upper and lower location surfaces located on, or attached to, the support structure, and the engagement means may comprise at least one protrusion extending from the swing arm, and wherein external surfaces of the at least one protrusion define the first upper and lower location surfaces. The protrusion may comprises a stud, which may be comprises a section which has a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.

In an embodiment the engagement means may comprise a recess on the swing arm, and wherein internal surfaces if the recess define the first upper and lower location surfaces. The inner profile of the recess may have a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.

The handle can be pivotally coupled to the swing arm so as to be movable from the deployed position to an operable position in which the handle acts to unlatch the door.

In an embodiment the handle arrangement may further comprise a locator for attachment to the support structure and wherein the locator has a recess therein, and wherein the surfaces of the recess define the second upper and lower location surfaces, and in which, in use, the protrusion of the swing arm locates. The recess may have a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.

In an embodiment the handle arrangement may further comprise a locator for attachment to the support structure and wherein the locator has at least one protrusion thereon, and wherein external surfaces of the at least one protrusion define the second upper and lower location surfaces, which, in use, locate in the recess on the swing arm. The outer profile of the at least one protrusion may comprise a section which has a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.

The handle arrangement may comprising the support structure to which the handle is mounted.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing, generally the engagement means may comprise a stud provided on the support structure which is engageable with a socket provided on the swing arm, or vice versa the stud defining an outer profile that is shaped to substantially match an inner profile defined by the socket.

In the above embodiments, the stud and socket may be shaped to compliment each other so they fit together in a close fit, that is to say that the outer profile of the stud matches the inner profile of the socket. The stud may be frustoconical for example.

The invention also resides in a body component for a vehicle comprising a panel having an outer surface defining an aperture for receiving the handle of the retractable handle arrangement as described above, wherein the handle substantially fills the aperture, i.e. it is received therein as a close fit and the outer surface of the handle is shaped to match and to lie substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel when the handle is in a stowed position. In the stowed state the handle may lie substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel and in the deployed state in which the handle may protrude from the outer surface of the panel. The body panel may comprise a vehicle door.

The invention also resides in a vehicle including the body component or the retractable handle arrangement as herein described above.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention wIl now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door panel equipped with a retractable handle arrangement that is shown in a stowed state; Figure 2 is a view from above of the handle arrangement in Figure 1 also in the stowed state, and an inset panel shows an enlarged portion of the handle arrangement; Figure 3 shows the same view as in Figure 2, but in which the handle arrangement is in a deployed state; and Figure 4a and 4b show complementary features of engagement means of the handle arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in which numerous features will be discussed in detail in order to provide a thorough understanding of the inventive concept as defined in the claims. However, it will be apparent to the skilled person that the invention may be put into effect without the specific details or that variations may be made to those specific features in question. In some instances, well-known method, techniques and structures have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the invention unnecessarily.

Referring to Figure 1, a door handle arrangement 2 of an embodiment of the invention is retractable with respect to a door of a vehicle, the door being considered to be a body component for the purposes of this specification. An outer surface or 'door skin' 4 is shown here as representing the door. The door handle arrangement 2 includes a handle 6 that is substantially flush-mounted with respect to the door skin 4 when the handle 6 is in a stowed state, as shown here. The handle 6 is operable to transition from the stowed state to a deployed state in which it protrudes from the door skin 4 so that it can be grasped by a user, as will be described.

The door skin 4 is penetrated by a horizontally-extending aperture 8, hereinafter 'slot', that receives the handle Sin a close fit. The outer surface 10 of the handle 6 is shaped to match that of the slot 8 and lies flush with the surrounding surface of the door skin 4 when the handle is stowed as in Figure 1. The shape of the slot 8 and the outer surface 10 of the handle 6 is chosen largely for aesthetic reasons and is immaterial in terms of function.

Although in Figure 1 only the outer surface 10 of the handle 6 can be seen, the remaining Figures show the handle arrangement 2 in more detail.

The retractable handle arrangement 2 comprises a drive means/arrangement 12 which is operable to move the handle 6 between the stowed state and a deployed state as will be described in detail. The drive arrangement 12 is electrically operated and is shown here largely in schematic form as comprising an electrical drive unit 14, such as a motor or solenoid, that is operable to drive a spindle 16 on which the handle 6 is mounted. It is envisaged that the drive unit 14 may act on the spindle 16 through a suitable worm gear or rack and pinion (not shown) in order to provide fine positioning control of the spindle 16 and, thus, of the handle 6. It should be noted that the drive arrangement 12 depicted here represents one way in which the handle 6 may be moved angularly between its stowed and deployed states and that other ways would be apparent to the skilled person, for example the electrically-driven handle deployment mechanisms as described in the applicant's co-pending patent applications US2013/0241215 and W02012/175647, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In more detail, the handle 6 is an elongate member having first and second ends 20, 22. A pivot 24 is disposed at the first end 22 of the handle 6 by which the handle 6 is coupled or mounted to a handle support structure 25 and cooperates with the drive arrangement 12 in order to allow the handle 6 to move angularly with respect to the slot 8 between stowed and deployed states. A strap-type handle loop 26 defined at the second end 20 of the handle 6 is linked to the pivot by a swing arm 27. The swing arm 27 itself is pivotably connected to the handle loop 26 at a second pivot 29.

The handle loop 26 provides a handgrip 28 that defines the outer surface 10, with end pieces 30, 32 at opposed ends spacing the handgrip 28 from an inner member 34 that is shaped like the handgrip 28 so as to fill the slot 8 when the handle is deployed, as shown in Figure 2.

The end pieces 30, 32 are generally parallel to each other and are slightly curved in plan view. Together, the handgrip 28, end pieces 30, 32 and the inner member 34 form an approximate truncated wedge shape, such a shape again being determined mainly for aesthetic reasons.

Whereas Figure 2 shows the handle 6 in the stowed state, Figure 3 shows the handle as deployed, in which the handgrip 28 has popped out of the slot Sso as to stand proud of the surrounding door skin 4. This reveals the handle loop 26 so that the user can grasp the handgrip 28 and move the handle 6 angularly against a spring bias (not shown) to pull the handle arrangement 2 into an operative state so as to unlatch the door.

When grasping the handgrip 28 to pull the handle 6, the user's fingers and possibly also the thumb can extend between the handgrip 28 and the inner member 34. Since the loop 26 is open from the top and bottom, this allows the user to approach the handle 6 with an overhand or an underhand grip, whichever is more comfortable.

The handle 6 may be driven by the drive arrangement 12 from its stowed state to its deployed state in response to various events. For example, this movement may be in response to an unlocking signal from a key authorised to unlock the vehicle or from a proximity sensor that detects the presence of an authorised key in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. Conversely, the handle 6 may be driven from the deployed to the stowed state in response to a locking signal from a key authorised to lock the vehicle or from a proximity sensor that determines that the authorised key has left the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, or that the vehicle moves off. Alternatively, the handle 6 may toggle between the stowed and deployed states in response to different user actions, for example the user may press and lock/unlock switch (not shown) somewhere in the vehicle door.

Once in the deployed state, the handle 6 can then be pulled to open the door, which involves the user moving the handle 6 such that it moves angularly about the second pivot 29 further outwardly against a spring bias into the operative state, as shown in dashed lines. Although not shown here, the spring bias may be provided between the swing arm 27 and the handle loop 26. A torsion spring at the pivot 29 would be suitable, although the skilled person would conceive of other ways a spring bias could be provided.

In moving from the deployed to the operative state, the handle 6 may unlatch the door mechanically or electrically, such means being generally known in the art and so are not disclosed here in detail. For example, to unlatch the door mechanically, the handle 6 may be provided with a suitable linkage 36 that is cooperable with a Bowden cable (not shown) that acts on the door latch (not shown) in a well-known manner. Alternatively, the door handle 6 may be configured to cooperate with a limit switch such that in the operative state the limit switch is triggered so as to send a door opening signal to a body control module (BCM) of the vehicle which then electronically commands the relevant door to be unlatched. Such a mechanism is also known to the skilled person and so is not described in detail here.

The discussion above has focussed on the movement of the handle 6 as it transitions from its stowed state, in which it lies substantially flush with the door skin 4, to the deployed state, in which it is driven by the drive unit 14 to protrude from the door, whereby the handle 6 is then able to be moved through a further range of movement into the operative state so as to unlatch the door. Such a handle arrangement 2 has several advantages, for example its substantially flush profile when stowed which helps to meet legislation governing exterior projections on vehicles and also promotes clean airflow over the door. However, the way in which the handle 6 is pivotably supported may mean that the handle 6 exhibits some lateral play in a direction perpendicular to the plane of movement of the handle. This lateral play will be felt by a user when grasping the handle and may reduce the perceived quality of the handle arrangement, which is particularly undesirable in the context of premium vehicles.

One option may be to provide a more complex guiding structure that guides the handle as it moves angularly in the door panel so as to restrict its lateral play. However, increasing the complexity of the handle arrangement in this way would have a corresponding increase in weight and cost and may also reduce the reliability of the unit, making it an undesirable solution.

However, the handle arrangement 2 of the invention provides an elegant solution that substantially prevents the lateral play in the handle when in the deployed state and therefore steadies the handle 6 as it is moved by a user between the deployed and operative states. The term "substantially prevents" is intended to mean that lateral play or "loose" movement of the handle is much reduced compared to existing handle designs. Although it will be understood that a that total elimination of all lateral play would be desirable it is acknowledged that this may not be possible in practice and so the term "substantially prevent" is intended to cover a scenario where a very small degree of lateral play still exists, but which would not adversely affect the perception of quality by a user.

In this embodiment, the handle arrangement includes engagement means 40 comprising two components; a first engagement part 42 is defined by the support structure 25 and a second engagement part 44 is defined by the swing arm 27. The a first engagement 42 and a second engagement part have 44 have corresponding upper and lower location surfaces that abut one another when the handle is in the deployed position.

In this embodiment, the first engagement part 42 is a cup or socket and the second engagement part 44 is a projection or stud that is shaped so as to be engageable with the socket 42. Alternative embodiments are envisaged where the stud 44 is defined by the support structure 25 and the socket 42 is defined by the swing arm 27.

In Figure 2, the handle 6 is in a stowed state and, here the stud 44 is spaced from the socket 42. However, in Figure 3, the handle 6 has moved into the deployed state and it can be seen here that the stud 44 has located into the socket 42.

The stud 44 and the socket 44 are complementary shaped such that the stud 44 fits into the socket 42 in a close fit and so that the socket 42 supports the stud 44 and prevents it moving in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of movement of the swing arm 27 as it moves angularly between the stowed and deployed states.

In this embodiment, and as can be seen particularly well in Figures 4a and 4b, the stud 44 has an outer profile being defined by a substantially rectangular base portion 44a and an upper portion 44b having a generally truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.

In a similar way, socket 42 is shaped to define an inner profile that matches the upper portion 44b of the stud. Thus, the socket 42 includes an upstanding block-like platform 42a whereby a generally truncated rectangular pyramidal recess 42b is defined at a central position on the upper surface of the platform 42a. The recess 42b has dimensions that match the upper portion of the stud 44b so as to define a close fit with it.

One benefit of the inclined side walls of the stud 44 and the socket 42 resulting from the truncated pyramid-like profiles is that as the stud 44 approaches the socket 42, a slight misalignment of the two components is accommodated and the inclined surfaces guide the stud 44 into position in the socket 42.

The skilled person will appreciate that various modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the inventive concept as defined by the claims.

For example, although the above embodiments have been described as including a stud and socket having a rectangular profile, it should be appreciated that this is not essential and that the stud and socket could have a different shape, for example they could be shaped as frustums of any polygonal based pyramid or a circular or oval based cone. Accordingly, any suitable shape would be appropriate as long as lateral play between the handle and the support structure is substantially prevented, and might be eliminated, when the handle is in the deployed state.

In the embodiments described above, it will be understood that the term Support structure' is used to describe a structure that supports the handle for pivotable movement and also to hold the handle between its extremes of movement. Accordingly the support structure may be a single part of a compound structure for example as constituted by the door, its supporting pivot points, inner door skin and limit stops.

It should also be understood that the term 'deployed' does not imply a precise positioning of the handle with respect to the support structure or door skin, but merely to convey that the handle is moved to a position beyond or outboard of the door so that a user may grip the handle for operation.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A retractable handle arrangement comprising a handle having a swing-arm moveable about a pivot axis and arranged to couple the handle to a support structure for movement between a stowed state and a deployed state, and wherein the swing arm comprises an engagement means that in the deployed state engages the support structure so as to substantially prevent lateral play of the handle.
2 The handle arrangement of claim 1 wherein the engagement means comprises first upper and lower location surfaces which, in use, engage with second upper and lower location surfaces located on, or attached to, the support structure.
3 The handle arrangement of claim 2 wherein the engagement means comprises at least one protrusion extending from the swing arm, and wherein external surfaces of the at least one protrusion define the first upper and lower location surfaces.
4. The handle arrangement of claim 3 wherein the protrusion comprises a stud.
5. The handle arrangement of claim 4, wherein the outer profile of the stud comprises a section which has a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.
6 The handle arrangement of claim 2 wherein the engagement means comprises a recess on the swing arm, and wherein internal surfaces if the recess define the first upper and lower location surfaces.
7. The handle arrangement of claim 6, wherein the inner profile of the recess has a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.
8 The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is pivotally coupled to the swing arm so as to be movable from the deployed position to an operable position in which the handle acts to unlatch the door.
9 The handle arrangement of claim 3 or claim 4, further comprising a locator for attachment to the support structure and wherein the locator has a recess therein, and wherein the surfaces of the recess define the second upper and lower location surfaces, and in which, in use, the protrusion of the swing arm locates.
10. The handle arrangement of claim 9, depending through claim 4 wherein the recess has a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape.
11 The handle arrangement of claim 5 or claim 6, further comprising a locator for attachment to the support structure and wherein the locator has at least one protrusion thereon, and wherein external surfaces of the at least one protrusion define the second upper and lower location surfaces, which, in use, locate in the recess on the swing arm.
12. The handle arrangement of claim 11, depending through claim 6, wherein the outer profile of the at least one protrusion comprises a section which has a truncated rectangular pyramidal shape..
13. The handle arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 12 further comprising a support structure to which the handle is mounted.
14. The handle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprises a stud provided on the support structure which is engageable with a socket provided on the swing arm.
15. The handle arrangement of claim 14, wherein the stud defines an outer profile that is shaped to substantially match an inner profile defined by the socket.
16 A body component for a vehicle comprising a panel having an outer surface defining an aperture for receiving the handle of the retractable handle arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the handle substantially fills the aperture and lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel when the handle is in a stowed position.
17. The body component of claim 16 wherein, in the stowed state the handle lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel.
18. The body component of claim 16 wherein, in the deployed state in which the handle protrudes from the outer surface of the panel.
19. The body component according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the body panel comprises a vehicle door.
20. A vehicle including the body component of any one of claims 16 to 19, or the retractable handle arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 15.
21. A handle arrangement as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.