GB2547477A

GB2547477A - Vehicle grab handle with integrated coat hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2547477A
Application number: GB1602996.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bellamy Christopher
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2016-02-22
Filing date: 2016-02-22
Publication date: 2017-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-22
Also published as: GB2547477B; GB201602996D0

Abstract

A vehicle grab handle has a central body 26 with attachment means 28 for mounting the grab handle and at least one shoulder extension 20 with a free end 16 and a secured end and moveable between a stored and an extended position. In the stored position the free end is integrated with the central body. In the deployed position the free end is extended away from the central body to define a coat-hanger. There may be two shoulder extensions. The shoulder extensions may be telescopic (fig 10) or may feature a shoulder flare 24 at the free end. The shoulder extensions may be rotatably or slidably mounted to the central body. The extensions may be mounted in a guide means, which may comprise a gear with teeth (fig 9) or a rubberised roller (fig 8). The guide means may interconnect the two extensions to cause movement of one extension if the other is deployed.

Description

VEHICLE GRAB HANDLE WITH INTEGRATED COAT HANGER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a coat hanger for a vehicle and particularly, but not exclusively, to integrating a coat hanger into a vehicle grab handle. Aspects of the invention relate to a grab handle for a vehicle and to a vehicle incorporating a grab handle.

BACKGROUND

Various means are known in the art for integrating coat hooks with vehicle grab handles, such as the combination grab handles with garment or coat hooks described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,447,055 and 6,643,897. However, hanging a clothing item on a coat hook can ruin the clothing item’s shoulder line, particularly if the item is a suit coat or jacket. The weight of a large jacket distributed on a coat hook, for example, can almost immediately destroy the jacket’s drape as a result of the sagging and stretching that occurs because of the lack of weight distribution across the jacket’s shoulder line.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to address, for example, the disadvantages identified above and associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a grab handle for a vehicle and a vehicle incorporating a grab handle as claimed in the appended claims. A coat hanger is integrated in or with the grab handle. In one embodiment, the grab handle can fold flush with the vehicle interior when not in use or rotated inboard, away from the surface on which it is mounted when a user wishes to grasp the handle.

According to one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a grab handle for a vehicle. In an embodiment, the grab handle comprises a central body including attachment means for mounting the grab handle to an interior support member of the vehicle; and at least one shoulder extension having a secured end and a free end, the at least one shoulder extension being supported by the central body with the free end being integrated with or adjacent to the central body when the at least one shoulder extension is in a stored position, wherein the at least one shoulder extension is movable from the stored position to a deployed position in which the free end is extended away from the central body to thereby define an end of a coat hanger.

According to one embodiment, there is provided two of said shoulder extensions that each have a secured end and a free end, wherein when the grab handle is in a deployed position, the two shoulder extensions extend away from the central body such that the secured ends of the shoulder extensions remain integrated with the central body and the free ends of the shoulder extensions define the ends of a coat hanger.

According to another embodiment, the central body is V-shaped and two of said shoulder extensions are slidably mounted within the central body and exit an apex of the central body adjacent each other.

According to another embodiment, the interior support member is a roof structural member of the vehicle and the attachment means is a hinged attachment mechanism or an axle that allows the grab handle to rest against the roof structural member of the vehicle in a resting position and be rotated to an extended position that is 40°-180°from the resting position.

According to another embodiment, at least one shoulder extension is telescopically adjustable between the secured end and the free end.

According to another embodiment, at least one shoulder extension is rotatably mounted to the central body.

According to another embodiment, at least one shoulder extension is slidably mounted to the central body.

According to another embodiment, at least one shoulder extension comprises a pole with a shoulder flare at the free end.

According to another embodiment, there is provided securing means to retain at least one shoulder extension in the stored position.

According to another embodiment, there is provided locking means to retain at least one shoulder extension in the deployed position.

According to another embodiment, there is provided stabilizing means to retain the grab handle in an extended position away from the interior support member of the vehicle.

According to another embodiment, there is provided one or more magnets as securing means to retain at least one shoulder extension in the stored position, wherein the at least one magnet is coupled to a shoulder flare at the free end of the shoulder extension or the central body.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a guide means, the guide means including a gear with teeth to fit into corresponding grooves in at least one shoulder extension.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a guide means, the guide means including a rubberized roller having a bearing surface for supporting the at least one shoulder extension.

According to another embodiment, there is provided at least one slidably mounted shoulder extension with one or more cooperating sliding channels in the at least one shoulder extension and the central body as guide means.

According to another aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a grab handle for a vehicle. In an embodiment, the grab handle comprises a central body including attachment means for mounting the grab handle to an interior support member of the vehicle; a guide means located in the central body; and two opposing shoulder extensions, each having a secured end and a free end, the shoulder extensions being supported by the central body in engagement with the guide means, wherein the shoulder extensions are movable from a stored position to a deployed position in which the free end of each shoulder extension extends away from the central body to thereby define two ends of a coat hanger.

According to another embodiment, the guide means interconnects the shoulder extensions such that when one shoulder extension is moved from the stored position to the deployed position, the guide means causes movement of the other shoulder extension from the stored position to the deployed position.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a vehicle comprising the grab handle described herein.

Further optional features of the various aspects of the invention are set out below.

At least some aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that in instances wherein a vehicle passenger desires to hang a clothing item, the vehicle grab handle may be used as a hanger to maintain the clothing item’s form.

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 or drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. 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 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 will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which: FIG. 1 shows a portion of a vehicle comprising one embodiment of a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a free end of a shoulder extension of a vehicle grab handle in accordance with one embodiment; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a central body of the vehicle grab handle of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3; FIG. 4 illustrates a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment; FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged views of a stabilizing means for the grab handle of FIG. 4 in accordance with one embodiment; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the grab handle of FIG. 4 taken along line 7-7; FIGS. 8 and 9 show embodiments of a guide means for the grab handle of FIG. 4 in accordance with various embodiments; FIG. 10 illustrates a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment; FIG. 11 illustrates a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to yet another embodiment; FIGS. 12 shows a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment when the shoulder extensions are in a deployed position; FIG. 13 shows the grab handle of FIG. 12 where the shoulder extensions are in a stored position; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment; FIG. 15 illustrates a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment; FIG. 16 shows a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment when the shoulder extensions are in a stored position; FIG. 17 shows the grab handle of FIG. 16 when the shoulder extensions are in a partially deployed position; FIG. 18 shows the grab handle of FIG. 16 when the shoulder extensions are in a fully deployed position; FIG. 19 shows a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to another embodiment when the shoulder extensions are in a deployed position; FIG. 20 shows the grab handle of FIG. 19 when the shoulder extensions are in a stored position; and FIG. 21 shows a clothing item hanging on a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22 illustrates one embodiment of a central body of a grab handle; FIG. 23 shows one embodiment of a grab handle; and FIG. 24 shows an example of a vehicle comprising a grab handle with an integrated coat hanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The grab handle described herein may allow for a vehicle passenger to hang a clothing item such as a coat in a vehicle while maintaining the clothing item’s form. One or more shoulder extensions of the coat hanger may be deployed from a stowed or stored position in a central body of the grab handle. Shoulder extensions of a coat hanger, as opposed to a coat hook, for example, can prevent a clothing item from creasing, sagging, and/or stretching. By integrating a coat hanger with a vehicle grab handle, passengers can store coats and other clothing items in the vehicle in a discrete and convenient manner without causing damage to their clothing. Moreover, in light of the sleek, integrated design of various embodiments, the functionality of the grab handle is maintained without compromising any level of vehicle performance.

It will be appreciated in view of the above that benefits or advantages of at least some embodiments or implementations of the present invention, among potentially others, may include decreasing the likelihood of a clothing item undesirably falling onto the vehicle seat or floor, abating unwanted creasing, sagging, and/or stretching, as well as in some embodiments, providing an adjustable width to accommodate clothing items of various sizes.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of a grab handle 10 for a vehicle 12. The grab handle 10 has an integrated coat hanger 14 comprising two ends 16, 18 that generally define the shoulder width of the coat hanger. The grab handle includes two shoulder extensions 20, each shoulder extension having a secured end 22 and a free end 24. The shoulder extensions 20 may be housed in or otherwise associated with a central body 26 of the grab handle 10. The grab handle 10, either as a whole or at least partially depending on the embodiment and its various components, may be injection molded or otherwise made from a polymer material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polypropylene (PP), for example.

The grab handle 10 may include one or more attachment mechanisms or attachment means 28 for mounting the grab handle to an interior support member 30 of the vehicle 12. In one embodiment, the interior support member 30 is a roof structural member; however, other support members and mounting arrangements are certainly possible. Attachment means 28 can include any operable fastening mechanism, including but not limited to, screws, hinges, adhesives, clips, etc., or in some embodiments, the grab handle may be integrally formed with the interior support member of the vehicle. In one or more embodiments, the attachment means 28 is a hinged attachment mechanism that allows the grab handle to rest against the interior support member of the vehicle and be pulled/rotated by a passenger toward the interior of the vehicle and ultimately, in some embodiments, to a 40°-180“extended position from its original resting position. Such an arrangement, along with other attachment means, can help facilitate a passenger's ingress into and egress from the vehicle, if necessary. Another example of an attachment means 28 includes a rotating axle arrangement, one embodiment of which is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 6,431,643, which is assigned to the applicant and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, the grab handle is mounted to a bracket which is then mounted to a cant rail so that the grab handle rests against a headliner. Any operable attachment mechanism or attachment means may be used with any of the grab handle embodiments shown and described herein.

The grab handle 10 generally has two configurations or positions with respect to the shoulder extensions 20: one in which one or more shoulder extensions are stored, and one in which the one or more shoulder extensions are deployed. When the shoulder extension 20 is in a deployed position, the free end 24 is extended away from the central body 26 to thereby define an end 16, 18 of a coat hanger 14. When the shoulder extension 20 is in a stowed or stored position, the free end 24 is not extended away from the central body 26. The free end 24 of the shoulder extension 20 may be situated with, coupled to, or otherwise attached to the central body 26 when in a stored position, which may include, attaching or securing the free end with a portion of the central body, housing the free end within a part or component of the central body, or situating or aligning the free end with or near at least a portion of the central body, to cite a few examples. Movement between the stored and deployed positions may be manual or automatic, and it may be mechanically or electrically facilitated or assisted in certain embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates a grab handle 10 having two shoulder extensions 20 in the deployed position, such that the free ends 24 of each shoulder extension generally define the ends 16, 18 of the coat hanger 14. The shoulder extensions in this embodiment comprise a pole 32 and a shoulder flare 34. The pole 32 extends from the secured end 22 which is integrated with the central body 26 to the shoulder flare 34 located at the free end 24 of each shoulder extension 20. As will be described in further detail below, the shoulder extensions may come in wide variety of shapes, sizes, styles, and forms, and thus is not limited to any particular shape, size, style, or form. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, for example, the pole may be made of a polymer, composite, or metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, with the central body 14 and shoulder flares 34 being comprised of a polymer material such as ABS or PP. Shoulder extensions 20 may be solid or hollow, or both. For example, the pole 32 may be hollow and the shoulder flare 34 may be a solid plastic part, or vice versa. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the free end 24 of the shoulder extension 20 of the grab handle embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates the shoulder extension being close to its designed stored position, with the free end 24 integrated with the central body 26. A securing mechanism or securing means 36 may optionally be included with any of the grab handle embodiments to help retain at least one shoulder extension in the stored position. In this particular example, securing means 36 includes one or more magnets 36, where one magnet or a steel plate is integrated with and/or coupled to the shoulder flare 34 and a corresponding magnet or steel plate, depending on the particular implementation, is integrated with and/or coupled to the central body 26. Any operable securing means may be used, including but not limited to, cooperating grooves, locking detent mechanisms, clasps, latches, or adhesive materials such as Velcro®, to cite a few possibilities.

Central body 26 generally defines the basic structure of the grab handle 10. In one embodiment, a passenger of vehicle 12 can grab the central body 26 of the grab handle 10 for stability or in order to facilitate egress from and ingress into the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a cross section of the central body 26 of the grab handle 10 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the central body includes two corresponding halves, although the central body may be comprised of a single piece, or more pieces than what is shown. Poles 32 of the shoulder extensions 20 are shown as being oriented in a top/bottom configuration with relation to the central body. In other words, the poles 32 can be stored or housed within the central body 26 when in the stored position and arranged substantially parallel to one another within the handle. An alternative side-by-side arraignment is described later and shown in FIG. 7. However, other configurations and arrangements are certainly possible. A guide mechanism or guide means 40, which is an optional component that is detailed further below, is shown situated within the central body 26 to help facilitate and guide movement of the shoulder extensions 20 from the stored position to the deployed position and vice versa. In this embodiment, the shoulder extensions 20 are slidably mounted to the central body 26. FIGS. 4-7 are various views of another embodiment of a grab handle 10 for a vehicle, such as vehicle 12. This embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 in particular, includes a stabilizing mechanism or stabilizing means 38 that may help to retain the grab handle 10 in an extended position away from the interior support member of the vehicle to which it is mounted. In the illustrated embodiment, the stabilizing means 38 includes a lock piece 42 and a recess 44. The inclusion of stabilizing means 38 is optional, and it may be more desirable in grab handle embodiments where the attachment means 28 includes a spring biased hinge, a rotating axle as shown, or other means to keep the grab handle stored closely with a roof panel or another interior support member. When a passenger wishes to use the coat hanger 14 of the grab handle 10, the passenger can move the lock piece 42, which may be spring loaded, into the recess 44, as shown in FIG. 6. If the passenger wishes to return the grab handle to normal operation, the passenger can move the lock piece 42 out of the recess 44 so that the hole grab handle 10 can, in this embodiment, be rotated about the attachment means 28. As mentioned above, the lock piece 42 may be spring biased such that when the grab handle 10 is moved to an extended position, the lock piece forcibly engages the recess 44 without any assistance from a passenger. Operation of the stabilizing means 38 can be manual or automatic, and it may be mechanically or electrically facilitated or assisted in certain embodiments. Stabilizing means may alternatively be in the form of a separate clip or retaining device mounted at a different portion on the interior support member, a spring and shaft locking mechanism, magnetic retention, one or more devices to increase friction, or a component of the attachment means 28, to cite just a few examples. FIG. 7 is a cross section of the FIG. 4 embodiment of the grab handle 10 taken along line 7- 7. This embodiment, as with the previous embodiment, includes a guide mechanism or guide means 40 which may be an optional component, and which may be situated within the central body 26 to help facilitate and guide movement of the shoulder extensions 20 from the stored position to the deployed position and vice versa. The shoulder extensions 20 in this embodiment are separated by the guide means 40 and arranged in a side-by-side configuration within the central body 26, as opposed to the top/bottom configuration of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged views of two different embodiments of the guide mechanism or guide means 40. The guide means 40 may be mounted on a pivot point to the central body 26. In FIG. 8, the guide means 40 is a roller that includes a bearing surface 46 for supporting at least one of the shoulder extensions 20. The roller may be made from, or coated in, a rubberized material. Using a roller as guide means 40 may result in a coat hanger that is more tolerant of potential abuse, such as frequent and forceful movement of the shoulder extensions 20 from the stored position to the deployed position. FIG. 9 includes guide means 40 in the form of a gear with teeth 48 that fit into corresponding gear formations or grooves 50. This particular type of guide means may interconnect the shoulder extensions 20 such that when one shoulder extension is moved from the stored position to the deployed position or vice versa, the guide means facilitates a corresponding movement of the other shoulder extension, thereby resulting in simultaneous deployment or storage of the shoulder extensions. Guide means 26 is shown as being mounted near the center of the central body 26, but this is not necessary. For example, there could be two guide means located near the ends of the central body 26, which could possibly allow for longer deployment of the shoulder extensions. In another example, there may be a plurality of guide means situated at various points along the central body to help further smooth and/or stabilize movement of the shoulder extensions. In one embodiment, the guide means may include a spring or nonspring assisted rotary damper, which may include a clock spring. FIG. 10 shows a grab handle 10 having an alternative design for the guide means 40 and the shoulder extensions 20. In this embodiment, the shoulder extensions 20 are telescopically adjustable between the secured end 22 and the free end 24. The telescopic adjustment may be, but need not necessarily be, facilitated by a pulley system serving as guide means 40. Other devices or mechanisms may be used as guide means 40, including but not limited to, various gear types, different roller shapes such as spheres, internal clamps, hooks, or guide pieces, to name a few examples. The guide means 40 can help facilitate simultaneous deployment and/or retraction of grab handle embodiments that include two shoulder extensions. FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a grab handle 10 having slidably mounted shoulder extensions 20. The shoulder extensions 20 include a sliding channel and a cooperating sliding channel in the central body 26 as guide means 40. In this embodiment, the sliding channels of the shoulder extensions 20 are in the shape of C-shaped tracks, although other channel shapes and arrangements are certainly possible, as will be described further below. Other guide means may also be included, such as one or more rollers situated along the central body 26 or the interior portion of the channels, or an internal pulley system to help facilitate movement of the shoulder extensions. FIGS. 12-14 illustrate embodiments of a grab handle 10 having only one shoulder extension 20. In these embodiments, when the shoulder extension 20 is in a deployed position, the ends 16, 18 of the coat hanger 14 are defined by the free end 24 of the shoulder extension and the central body 26. These embodiments have the advantage of having a narrow neck portion if a clothing item is hung on the hanger. Flowever, since there is only one attachment means 28, it may be desirable to reinforce the central body 26 of the grab handle 10 so that it can better incur the forces of a passenger using the grab handle to enter and/or exit the vehicle. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 14 may include a guide means 40 having teeth 48 that cooperate with grooves 50 in the shoulder extension 20, similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9. The guide means may include a spring or non-spring assisted rotary damper which may be assisted with a spring. The spring assistance may be from a clock spring 52, although other spring forms may be used. This embodiment, as well as the FIG. 12 and 13 embodiment, may include a securing means 36 mounted or otherwise attached to an inner wall of the central body 26. The securing means 36 in this embodiment is a spring-biased push latch, which may have a corresponding feature on the secured end 22 of the shoulder extension 20 to facilitate attachment of the latch. FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of a grab handle 10 that includes a substantially V-shaped central body 26. The shoulder extensions 20 are slidably mounted within the central body 26 and exit an apex 27 of the central body adjacent each other. As with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 12-13, this particular design has a narrow neck which may serve to fit a large variety of clothing items. Guide means, securing means, locking means, attachment means, and any other operable component may be included with this, as well as any other embodiment. FIGS. 16-18 illustrate another embodiment of grab handle 10 having slidably mounted shoulder extensions 20. This embodiment includes cooperating sliding channels as guide means 40. Each shoulder extension 20 may slide along the sliding channels from a stored position where a ridge serves as securing means 36 to help keep the shoulder extension 20 in its proper place when in the stored position. The cooperating sliding channels, if provided in a non-spherical shape for at least a portion of their length, may be used to stop rotation of the shoulder extensions. This can provide the advantages of an easier transition to the stored position, and helping to ensure that clothes do not roll off because of rotation of the shoulder extensions. When deployed, the shoulder extensions may move along the sliding channels until contacting, for example, a locking mechanism or locking means 54, which in this embodiment includes corresponding stopping edges which prohibit further translation of the shoulder extensions along the sliding channels. Other forms of a locking mechanism or locking means are certainly possible, including but not limited to, variously shaped edges and/or ridges, locking detent mechanisms, clasps, magnets, latches, or adhesive materials such as Velcro®. A detent or castellation feature in the central body, which can interlock with an interlocking feature on the shoulder extension, may be used to stop at least one shoulder extension from being pulled out entirely. FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate an embodiment of a grab handle 10 having one or more shoulder extensions 20 that are rotatably mounted to the central body 26. FIG. 19 shows the shoulder extensions in a deployed position, and FIG. 20 shows the shoulder extensions in a stored position. Rotation may be facilitated through the use of pins 58 which fit in corresponding pin holes 60. It should be recognized that the axis of rotation for a rotatably mounted shoulder extension may vary from that which is shown. For example, the pin may be mounted through the secured end 22 in the shoulder extension 20 orthogonal to the orientation shown in FIG. 19 such that the shoulder extension rotates in line with the plane of the rest of the grab handle (e.g., the shoulder extension may windmill out from its stored position to a deployed position). FIG. 21 shows an example clothing item such as jacket 62 hanging on one embodiment of a coat hanger 14 of a grab handle 10. Other clothing items and any other item that may need to be hung or partially hung may replace jacket 62. As shown in this specific example, the ends 16, 18 of the hanger 14 approximately equate to the width of the shoulder line of the jacket 62. This is facilitated by the customizable, and possibly simultaneous, deployment of the shoulder extensions 20. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 21 shows a coat hanger 14 that has a contoured profile that mimics a person's natural shoulder profile, thereby preserving the tailored collar and drape of the jacket 62. This shape may be purposefully designed into the shoulder extensions, or it may be achieved through the designed bend in the material. This advantage may be more prominent in the embodiments having shoulder extensions 20 comprised of a pole 32 and a shoulder flare 34. At least one other advantage of this design, as well as the other designs shown and described herein, as well as those that could be envisaged from the various operable combinations of individual aspects of the designs shown and described herein, includes the ability to hang clothing items without undesirably impacting their drape through sagging and stretching of the fabric. Furthermore, certain embodiments may almost seamlessly integrate the coat hanger with the central body of the grab handle so as to only slightly or negligibly impact a desired vehicle interior aesthetic. FIGS. 22 and 23 show other embodiments of a grab handle 10, and more particularly, other embodiments of a guide means 40. FIG. 22 provides a view of the grab handle 10 without the shoulder extensions, showing sliding cooperating channels and a housed roller for guide means 40. In FIG. 23, it is shown that the shoulder extensions 20 can fit into corresponding grooves in the housing of the roller, which can help stabilize the shoulder extensions and prevent undesirable rotational movement of the shoulder extensions when the grab handle is in a deployed position. Any of the above grab handle embodiments shown in described in any of the figures, along with any operable variations thereof, may be included in the vehicle 12 depicted in FIG. 24.

It will be understood that the embodiments described above are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the specific combination and arrangement of the various grab handle components is just one possibility, as the present grab handle may include any various combination and number of components. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, features, characteristics, or aspects described in conjunction with one embodiment are to be understood to be applicable to any other embodiment described herein unless incompatible therewith.

As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “e.g.,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Further, the terms “comprise” and “contain” and variations thereof, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, mean “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other possibilities not expressly provided for herein. Moreover the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires: in particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

Claims

1. A grab handle for a vehicle, comprising: a central body including attachment means for mounting the grab handle to an interior support member of the vehicle; and at least one shoulder extension having a secured end and a free end, the at least one shoulder extension being supported by the central body with the free end being integrated with the central body when the at least one shoulder extension is in a stored position, wherein the at least one shoulder extension is movable from the stored position to a deployed position in which the free end is extended away from the central body to thereby define an end of a coat hanger.

2. The grab handle of claim 1, comprising two of said shoulder extensions that each have a secured end and a free end, wherein when the grab handle is in a deployed position, the two shoulder extensions extend away from the central body such that the secured ends of the shoulder extensions remain integrated with the central body and the free ends of the shoulder extensions define the ends of a coat hanger.

3. The grab handle is in claim 2, wherein the central body is V-shaped and two of said shoulder extensions are slidably mounted within the central body and exit an apex of the central body adjacent each other.

4. The grab handle as in claim 1, wherein the interior support member is a roof structural member of the vehicle and the attachment means is a hinged attachment mechanism that allows the grab handle to rest against the roof structural member of the vehicle in a resting position and be rotated to an extended position that is between 40° and 180“from the resting position.

5. The grab handle as in claim 1, wherein the interior support member is a roof structural member of the vehicle and the attachment means is a rotating axle that allows the grab handle to rest against the roof structural member of the vehicle in a resting position and be rotated to an extended position that is between 40“and 180“from the resting position.

6. The grab handle as in claim 1, 2, 4, or 5, wherein at least one shoulder extension is telescopically adjustable between the secured end and the free end.

7. The grab handle as in claims 1, 2, or 4 to 6, wherein at least one shoulder extension is rotatably mounted to the central body.

8. The grab handle as in claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one shoulder extension is slidably mounted to the central body.

9. The grab handle as in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one shoulder extension comprises a pole with a shoulder flare at the free end.

10. The grab handle as in any one of the preceding claims, comprising securing means to retain at least one shoulder extension in the stored position.

11. The grab handle as in any one of the preceding claims, comprising locking means to retain at least one shoulder extension in the deployed position.

12. The grab handle as in any one of the preceding claims, comprising stabilizing means to retain the grab handle in an extended position away from the interior support member of the vehicle.

13. The grab handle as in claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one magnet as securing means to retain at least one shoulder extension in the stored position, wherein the at least one magnet is coupled to a shoulder flare at the free end of the shoulder extension or to the central body.

14. The grab handle as in any of the preceding claims, comprising a guide means, the guide means including a gear with teeth to fit into corresponding grooves in at least one shoulder extension.

15. The grab handle as in any of the preceding claims, comprising a guide means, the guide means including a rubberized roller having a bearing surface for supporting the at least one shoulder extension.

16. The grab handle as in claims any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one slidably mounted shoulder extension with one or more cooperating sliding channels in the at least one shoulder extension and the central body as guide means.

17. A grab handle for a vehicle, comprising: a central body including attachment means for mounting the grab handle to an interior support member of the vehicle; a guide means located in the central body; and two opposing shoulder extensions, each having a secured end and a free end, the shoulder extensions being supported by the central body in engagement with the guide means, wherein the shoulder extensions are movable from a stored position to a deployed position in which the free end of each shoulder extension extends away from the central body to thereby define two ends of a coat hanger.

18. The grab handle of claim 17, wherein the guide means interconnects the shoulder extensions such that when one shoulder extension is moved from the stored position to the deployed position, the guide means causes movement of the other shoulder extension from the stored position to the deployed position.

19. A vehicle comprising the grab handle of any of the preceding claims.

20. A grab handle or vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.