Abstract:
When activated, a handle assembly selectively allows the door latch of a door of a motor vehicle to be released. The handle assembly includes a base fixedly secured to the door and a handle assembly which in its passive state has minimal to no presence in the opening chain of the door latch. The handle assembly includes a handle strap with a handle grip or activation lever which allows completion of the force chain to the latch, thus selectively allowing desired door opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/670,466 filed on Jul. 11, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to a handle assembly for a motor vehicle door. More particularly, it relates to a handle assembly having a selectively deployable connection which reduces the likelihood of the unintended opening of the door during a crash event. 
     Conventionally, motor vehicles include at least one outside door handle for releasing a door latch mechanism in order to open a door. Typically, a user actuates the outside door handle by pulling a handle strap relative to a fixed base. This causes the release of a door latch which, in turn, permits the door to swing open. 
     The handle strap may, however, also be activated when the outside door handle experiences a high inertia force. The movement of the handle strap relative to the base in response to the high inertia force can cause inadvertent unlatching and resultant opening of the door. 
     In recent years, there has been development of locking mechanisms to attempt to prevent the opening of a vehicular door in the event of such a high inertia force. While these mechanisms work for some crash situations, high acceleration impact or vehicle rollover may result in forces that overcome these locking devices. 
     Accordingly, there is a continued need for handle assemblies that are not susceptible to the effects of high inertial forces such as those imposed during a vehicular crash. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A handle assembly is disclosed that has a structure that decouples the effect of inertial forces on the handle strap from the door unlatching system. The disclosed handle assembly requires that in order to release the door latch, a handle grip be actuated before the handle strap is pulled or otherwise actuated. The actuation of the handle grip effectuates the engagement of a pawl with a latch cable release cam so as to operate the release cam. However, if the handle grip is not actuated, then the pawl rotates past the release cam and the door latch is not released. 
     This means that, as long as any inertial forces induced by a crash event cause the handle strap to be actuated before any actuation of the handle grip, that the door latch mechanism will not be operated. 
     These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of some preferred embodiments of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as these preferred embodiments are not intended to be the only embodiments within the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are views of a handle assembly in a vehicle door in which the handle is not engaged or operated. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are views of the handle assembly in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in which a handle grip or actuation pad has been depressed and the handle pulled; 
         FIG. 3A  is a portion of the handle assembly apart from the door. 
         FIG. 3B  is a partial cross-sectional view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  is the handle assembly of  FIG. 3B  in which the base is removed to better highlight some of the internal components of the handle assembly. 
         FIGS. 4A through 4F  separately illustrate some of the components of the handle assembly. 
         FIGS. 5A through 5C  illustrate stepwise how the handle assembly is made to actuate a cable release cam when the handle grip is depressed and the handle pulled. 
         FIGS. 6A through 6C  illustrate stepwise how, when the handle grip is not depressed and the handle is moved, the cable release cam is not actuated. 
         FIGS. 7A through 7F  illustrate a release mechanism for a handle assembly with a rotating pawl. 
         FIGS. 8A through 8F  illustrate a release mechanism for a handle assembly in which a pin wedge selectively engages transverse pins to selectively lock or couple a portion of the handle strap segment to the pawl segment. 
         FIGS. 9A through 9C  illustrate a release mechanism for a handle assembly in which a pin moves transversely to engage an aperture in a pawl and in which the pawl is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the movement of the pin. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B , one embodiment of a handle assembly  10  according to the present invention is shown disposed on a motor vehicle door  12 . 
     In  FIG. 1A , the handle strap  14  of the handle assembly  10  is shown in the closed position on the front side of the door  12 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates the rear side of handle assembly  10  (which is inside the door  12 ) when the handle strap  14  is closed (i.e., not actuated, pulled, or otherwise moved) and the arrangement of the various parts which will be described in further detail below. In this position of the handle strap  14 , the door latch is not released which means that if the door  12  is closed, then the door  12  is prevented from swinging away from the car body or that, if the door  12  is originally open and then closed, that after closing the door  12  will be prevented from swinging away from the body of the car. 
     In  FIG. 2A , the handle strap  14  of the handle assembly  10  is shown in the open position in which the handle strap  14  has been pulled or actuated away from the door  12 . Additionally, although it cannot be seen in this view, the handle grip  24  has been actuated or depressed prior to the movement of the handle strap  14 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates the rear side of the handle assembly  10 , when the handle strap  14  and the handle grip have been actuated. By moving the handle strap  14  to the position in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and actuating the handle grip, the door latch can be released to permit the opening of the door  12 . The handle strap  14  is biased to the closed position of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  using a spring  15  such as is illustrated in  FIGS. 5A through 5C and 6A through 6C . 
     Now with additional reference to  FIGS. 3A through 3C and 4A through 4E , the various parts of the handle assembly  10  are illustrated. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3A, and 3B , the handle assembly  10  includes a base  16  which is fixed to the door  10 . A base end  18  of the handle strap  14  is pivotally fixed to one end of the base  16  while a handle end  20  can extend at least part way through an opening  22  proximate the other end of the base  18 . As noted above, the base  16  and handle strap  14  are configured such that the handle strap  14  is generally biased to the closed position illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , but this biasing force may be overcome when the handle strap  14  is pulled away from the base  16 . 
     Returning to the handle strap  14 , it can be seen that the side of the handle strap  14  facing the door  12  includes a handle grip  24  or user-actuatable pad. In the form illustrated, one end of this handle grip  24  is pivotally connected to the handle strap  14  about a pin/axis  26  proximate the base end  18  of the handle strap  14 . On the other end of the handle grip  24 , which is closer to the handle end  20  of the handle strap  14 , the handle grip  24  is connected to a linking member  27 . This linking member  27  connects to a leg  28  or blocking link. 
     The leg  28  extends through an opening  30  that extends through the handle end  20  of the handle strap  14 . On one end of the leg  28 , the leg  28  is connected to the linking member  27  which is, in turn, connected to the free end (i.e., not pivotally fixed end) of the handle grip  24 . The connection of the leg  28  to the linking member  27  occurs on the side of the opening  30  which is closest to the outside of the door  12 . On the other side of the opening  30  (which faces the inside of the door  12 ), a free end of the leg  28  is situated. This free end may either be positioned in the opening  30  or project some distance out from the opening  30 . 
     Based on the arrangement of the handle strap  14 , the handle grip  24 , the linking member  27 , and the leg  28 , the actuation of the handle grip  24  relative to and toward the handle strap  14  (for example, by squeezing the handle grip  24  into the handle strap  14 ) can cause the linking member  27  to rotate about a pivot point  32 . This rotation of the linking member  27  causes the leg  28  attached to the linking member  27  to move out of the opening  30  of the handle end  20  of the handle strap  14  (or to move further out of the opening  30 , depending on the original position of the leg  28 ). 
     It should be noted that typically this arrangement of the handle strap  14 , the handle grip  24 , the linking member  27 , and the leg  28 , can be biased to the position in which the leg  28  is retracted and the handle grip  24  is moved away from the handle strap  14 . This could be done in a number of ways including, for example, biasing the handle grip  14  and/or the linking member  27  using a spring, although other biasing mechanisms could be utilized. In the particular form shown, it appears a spring is disposed in the linking member  27  to effectuate a counter clockwise bias of the linking member  27  (relative to the orientation depicted in  FIG. 3C ). 
     On the far end of the handle end  20 , proximate the opening from which the leg  28  is extendable, there is an actuation pawl  34 . This actuation pawl  34  is L-shaped and pivotable about its bend at pin  36  (which is fixed relative to the handle end  20 ) which also engages the spring  15  to bias the handle strap  14  into the closed position. In the view illustrated in  FIG. 3C , this actuation pawl  34  is biased in a clockwise direction using another spring, although other biasing members could be utilized. When biased into position, the actuation pawl  36  has a first segment  38  that extends up toward the opening  30  for engagement with the leg  28  and a second segment  40  spaced approximately 90 degrees from the first segment  38  that extends in a direction back toward the base end  18  of the handle strap  14 . 
     This second segment  40  is arranged to engage a latch cable release cam  42  when the handle strap  14  is opened or actuated and the handle end  20  is moved. If this second end  40  of the actuation pawl  34  applies a force above a threshold force to the latch cable release cam  42 , the latch cable release cam  42  will rotate, ultimately resulting in the release of the door latch (not shown). 
     However, unless the handle grip  24  is actuated and the leg  28  or blocking link is extended, the actuation pawl  34  will rotate when the handle strap  14  is pulled because the resistive force on the second segment  40  of the actuation pawl  34  will exceed the bias force of the actuation pawl  34 . Only when the handle grip  24  is first pulled will the leg  28  or blocking link be extended and inhibit the rotation of the actuation pawl  34  by engagement with the first segment of the actuation pawl  34 . With the leg  28  extended and the actuation pawl  34  unable to rotate, the opening of the handle strap  14  will move the actuation pawl  34  into engagement with the latch cable release cam  42  and force the latch cable release cam  42  to rotate, which opens the door. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5C  and  FIGS. 6A through 6C  illustrate the difference between actuation of the handle strap  14  when the handle grip  24  is depressed or actuated and when it is not, respectively. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a portion of the handle assembly  10  when the handle strap  14  is closed and the handle grip  24  is biased into the unactuated position.  FIG. 5B  illustrates the application of a force F to actuate the handle grip  24  thereby effectuating the extension of the leg  28  to a position in which it may engage with the actuation pawl  34 . Then, in  FIG. 5C , the handle strap  14  is rotated out from the door  12  while the handle grip  24  remains actuated. This causes the second segment  40  of the actuation pawl  34  to be forced into engagement with the latch cable release cam  42  and for the latch cable release cam  42  to rotate (which will release the door latch). 
     In contrast,  FIGS. 6A through 6C  depict an arrangement of steps in which the handle grip  24  is not actuated before the handle strap  14  is opened.  FIG. 6A  is similar to  FIG. 5A  in which the handle assembly  10  is closed and all parts are biased to their unactuated positions. Then in  FIGS. 6B and 6C , the handle strap  14  is opened without first depressing the handle grip  24 . Because the leg  28  or blocking link was not extended and engaging the first segment  40 , the actuation pawl  34  begins rotating as it engages the latch cable release cam  42 . Rather than effectuate the rotation of the latch cable release cam  42 , the movement of the handle strap  14  simply moves the actuation pawl  34  past the latch cable release cam  42  as the actuation pawl  34  rotates to avoid actuation of the latch cable release cam  42 . 
     This described structure is beneficial in the event of a vehicle crash. Often inertia forces can cause a handle strap to move relative to the door and fixed base. In a typical handle assembly, this may mean that the latch mechanism is engaged causing the release of the door latch. Once the door latch is released, the door may swing open, particularly if the door is not locked. The described arrangement, however, separately requires the actuation of the handle grip  24  in order for the latch mechanism to be engaged. This means that by controlling the biasing forces on the handle strap  14  and the handle grip  24 , in a crash event the handle strap  14  may be configured to move outward before the handle grip  24  is actuated under additional inertia forces. However, by the time the handle strap  14  is moved outward, the actuation pawl  34  has already passed the latch cable release cam  42 , so the further actuation of the handle grip  24  and the leg  28  will not cause the door latch to release. 
     Moreover, the disclosed handle assembly can reduce the likelihood of release of the latch due to crash-induced door deformation. As the handle strap is uncoupled from the latch release, the forces imparted by deformation should not be sufficient to transfer load sufficient to cause latch activation. This is another non-user operated condition in which, without actuation of the handle grip, the handle strap will not be operably coupled to the door latch mechanism. 
     In addition to the coupling mechanism disclosed above, there are other alternative coupling mechanisms that can likewise be employed in order to achieve the same effect (i.e., only cause the latch to be released after the handle grip has been actuated, but not under the conditions of an accident or crash). 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 7A through 7F , a portion of a first alternative selective coupling mechanism  110  is illustrated. In this alternative selective coupling mechanism  110 , an actuation pawl  112  is rotatably disposed in a sub-housing  114 . This sub-housing  114  may be part of and move with a handle strap, although this is not illustrated in the figures so as to provide a clear view of the parts that differ from the previously described handle assembly and to better highlight its mode of operation. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a first portion of the actuation pawl  112  extends from a one end of the sub-housing  114  and includes a transverse stub  116  that extends from an axially-extending post  118 . Although not illustrated, the transverse stub  116  is attached to a linkage, rocker, or the like that connects to the handle grip or pad (such as the grip  24  in the previous embodiment). A second portion of the actuation pawl  112  extends from the other end of the sub-housing  114  and includes a hook end  120  that is generally L-shaped. It is contemplated that these first and second portions may be unitary or, alternatively, there may be some mechanical linkages inside the sub-housing  114  which cause the actuation of the first portion to cause the rotation described below of the second portion having the hook end  120 . 
     In  FIGS. 7C through 7E , the actuation pawl  112  and sub-housing  114  are shown with a latch cable release cam  122  that performs a similar function to the latch cable release cam  42  described above. It can be seen that the axis of rotation of the actuation pawl  112  in this embodiment is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the latch cable release cam  122  so that the hook end  120  of the actuation pawl  112  can be made to selectively engage latch cable release cam  122  when the sub-housing  114  and actuation pawl are moved together (such as by opening an attached handle strap) after the pawl  112  has been rotated into place for opening. 
     Looking specifically at  FIG. 7C , the release mechanism is shown in the “rest” position in which the handle grip is not depressed and the handle strap has not been pulled. In this position, the hook end  120  of the actuation pawl  112  is rotated sufficiently away from the cable release cam  122  to ensure the two elements do not create a connection; in the figure it is shown as 90 degrees for illustrative purposes. This rotational placement may be established by a biasing mechanism, such as for example, a spring, inside the sub-housing  114 . With the hook end  120  in this position, if the sub-housing  114  and the actuation pawl  112  were suddenly and abruptly moved as the result of inertial force or the like on the handle, then the actuation pawl  112  would move past the latch cable release cam  122  without engaging it and releasing the latch. 
     Looking now at  FIG. 7D , the actuation pawl  112  is shown partially rotated after the handle grip has begun to be depressed and in an intermediately depressed position. During depression of the handle grip, the stub  116  on the axially-extending post  118  is engaged by a linkage, rocker, or so forth to cause to rotation of the actuation pawl  112 . As a result of this engagement and rotation on the first portion, the hook end  120  of the actuation pawl  112  is rotated toward the latch cable release cam  122 . The final position of the actuation pawl  112  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7E and 7F , after the handle grip is completely depressed (which in one particular embodiment involves travel of the handle grip approximately 3 mm and before the handle strap is pulled). In this final position, the hook end  120  has swung the appropriate degrees to create the desired connection, shown here as 90 degrees from its original, biased position from which it was clear of the latch cable release cam  122  to its final position in which it is aligned with the latch cable release came  122 . Once the hook end  120  has been actuated into place, if the sub-housing  114  and actuation pawl  112  are moved as the result of pulling the handle strap, then the hook end  120  of the actuation pawl  112  will engage the latch cable release cam  122  to effectuate release of the latch. 
     Again, because the actuation pawl  112  is biased, the actuation pawl  112  will rotate back to the position illustrated in  FIG. 7C  once the handle grip is released. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8A through 8F , yet another selective coupling mechanism  210  is illustrated. This selective coupling mechanism  210  includes a separable or floating pawl configuration in which a pawl segment  212  is selectively locked to a handle strap segment  214  (which may be attached to or integrally formed with the handle strap, such as the handle strap illustrated above). 
     In the form illustrated, on one end, the pawl segment  212  includes a cavity  216  into which the handle strap segment  214  may be telescopically inserted. See, for example, the exploded view of  FIG. 8D . The handle strap segment  214  includes a pair of transverse pins  218  which are, in the rest position, biased into the lateral sides of the strap segment  214 . A pin wedge  220  is also insertable into a central opening  222  of the handle strap segment  214  along the telescopic axis, such that an angled surface on a tip  224  of the pin wedge  220  engages an angled surface of the transverse pins  218  in order to overcome the biasing force on the transverse pins  218  and to displace the transverse pins  218  laterally outward as best illustrated in  FIG. 8B . The pin wedge  220  is attached to a linkage or the like by a tab  226  (disposed on the opposite end of the pin wedge  220  as the tip  224 ) which is attached to a handle grip or pad via a linkage, rocker, or the like. 
     When the strap segment  214  is received in cavity  216  of the pawl segment  212  and when the handle grip is depressed, the pin wedge  220  is inserted into central opening  222  of the handle strap segment  214 . This insertion action thereby extends the pins  218  into receiving slots  228  in opposing sidewalls of the cavity  216  of the pawl segment  212 , thereby locking the pawl segment  212  to the handle strap segment  214  as best illustrated in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8B  and as further depicted in  FIGS. 8A, 8C, and 8F . 
     On the end of the pawl segment  212  opposite the cavity  216 , the pawl segment  212  has a hook end  230 . This hook end  230  is positioned for engagement with a latch cable release cam  232 . 
     Now with reference to  FIGS. 8E and 8F , the operation of the selective coupling mechanism  210  is described in greater detail. In  FIG. 8E , the selective coupling mechanism  210  is illustrated in a “rest” position. In this position, the strap segment  214  is received in the cavity  216  of the pawl segment  216 , but the pin wedge  220  is not fully inserted into the central opening  222  of the strap segment  214  (i.e., the handle grip or pad is not depressed so as to fully insert the pin wedge  220 ). As a result, the transverse pins  218  have not been extended out of the strap segment  214  and therefore the pawl segment  212  and the strap segment  214  are not locked together. In such a rest position, the movement of the connected handle strap (without the depression of the handle grip) causes the strap segment  214  to move relative to the pawl segment  212  without effectuating the movement of the pawl segment  212 . Due to this de-coupling in the rest position, any movement of the strap segment  214  due to inertial forces from an accident or the like does not result in engagement of the pawl segment  212  with the latch cable release cam  232  in such a way as to release the latch. 
     However, once the pin wedge  220  is inserted into the strap segment  214  by the depression of a handle grip or pad, as illustrated in  FIG. 8E , then the transverse pins  218  are extended into the receiving slots  228  of the cavity  216  of the pawl segment  212 . After this locking engagement is initiated, then the further pulling of the handle strap will move the strap segment  214  and, accordingly, the pawl segment  212  to which it has become locked or coupled. This will cause the pawl segment  212  to move with the handle strap and cause the hook end  230  of the pawl segment  212  to engage the latch cable release cam  232  so as to release the latch. 
     Again, once the handle grip or pad is released, the pin wedge  220  is ejected, the transverse pins  218  return into the strap segment  214  and the pawl segment  212  and the strap segment  214  decouple from one another. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 9A through 9C , yet another configuration for a selective coupling mechanism  310  is illustrated. In this selective coupling mechanism  310 , a pawl  312  is slidably received in through a sub-housing  314  (which may be a portion of the handle strap and move therewith). When the pawl  312  is received in the sub-housing  314 , one end of the pawl  312  extends from a first side of the sub-housing  314 . On this end, there is an aperture  316  formed in the pawl  312  (best shown in  FIG. 9C ) that extends transversely to the axis of insertion of the pawl  312  in the sub-housing  314 . The aperture  316  is for selective engagement with a pin  318  that is, itself, actuatable in a direction perpendicular to the direction which the pawl  312  is slidingly received in the sub-housing  314 . The other end of the pawl  312  extends from the second and opposite side of the sub-housing  314  and, on this end, there is a hook end  326  for selective engagement with a latch cable release cam  320 . 
     The restricted directions of movement of the pawl  312  and the pin  318  are illustrated in  FIG. 9A . The pawl  312  is movable in a first direction  322 , over which the hook end  318  thereof can potentially engage and release the latch cable release cam  320 . The pin  318  is movable in a second direction  324 , that is perpendicular to the first direction  322 , and over which the pin  318  can be inserted into or out of the aperture  316  of the pawl  312 . 
     The pin  318  is attached to a linkage, rocker or the like that effectuates its movement based on a state of depression of a handle grip or pad. When the handle grip or pad is not depressed, the pin  318  is moved into a position in which the pin  318  does not interact with the aperture  316  on the pawl  312  such that the pawl  318  is not fixed relative to the sub-housing  314  and its attached handle strap. However, when the handle grip or pad is depressed, then the pin  318  is moved into interaction with the aperture  316  on the pawl  312  such that the pawl  312  moves with the sub-housing  314  (because the engagement with the pin  318  prevents the pawl  312  from substantially sliding relative to the sub-housing  314  when it moves). 
     Accordingly, the actuation of the handle pad or grip cause the pin  318  to enter or to be removed from the aperture  316  in the pawl  312  and thereby either couple or decouple the pawl  312  from the movement of the sub-housing  314  and its attached handle strap. When the two are coupled together, then the movement of the sub-housing  314  (by the further opening or pulling of the handle strap) will cause the hook end  318  of the pawl  312  to engage the latch cable release cam  320 . When the pin  318  does not couple the pawl  312  to the sub-housing  314  and the handle strap, then an inertial load or force on the handle strap will not cause the pawl  312  to engage the latch cable release cam  320  so as to release the latch. 
     It should be appreciated that various other modifications and variations to the preferred embodiments can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced.