Abstract:
A handle assembly for a motor vehicle door operative for selectively releasing a latch mechanism. The handle assembly includes a mounting portion attached to the motor vehicle door and a handle proper adapted to be manually grasped. The handle proper is translatable between a first position and a second position for releasing the latch mechanism. In a preferred form, the handle proper is biased to the first position by a coil spring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to articulating doors for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a handle for an articulating door of a motor vehicle.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion  
           [0004]    It is well known in the art of motor vehicle doors to provide a latch for latching the door in a closed position. It is also well known to provide a handle on the outside of the vehicle which is connected to the door latch by suitable linkages so that operating the handle will release the door latch to permit opening of the door. Such handles are typically comprised of a lever which is rotated, or a button which is pushed, in order to actuate the linkages. Conventional door handle assemblies, either of the push button type or pull out type, typically include a series of bell-cranks for converting the movement of the push button or the handle transversely of the vehicle door into movement to operate the vehicle door latch. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,979, discloses a handle proper which is linearly translatable between a first position and a second position for releasing a latch mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,979 is hereby incorporated by reference as is fully set forth herein.  
           [0005]    While known door handle assemblies have proven to be acceptable for their intended purposes, it remains desirable in the pertinent art to provide a door handle arrangement incorporating a latching mechanism including a rotating element that cooperates with the door handle to resist independent rotation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is a general object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door handle that efficiently incorporates a handle and latch release mechanism including a rotatable element configured to resist independent rotation thereof.  
           [0007]    In one form, the present invention provides a handle assembly for selectively releasing a latch mechanism of a vehicle door. The vehicle door is mounted to a vehicle body for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation. The handle assembly includes a mounting portion attached to the vehicle door. The handle assembly further includes a handle proper operatively interconnected with the mounting portion and the latch mechanism. The handle proper includes a first end attached to the mounting portion defining a pivot axis and a second end translatable about the pivot axis from a first position to a second position for releasing the latch mechanism.  
           [0008]    In another form, the present invention provides a handle having an arm and latch mechanism including a rotatable element. The rotatable element cooperates with the arm of the handle such that when the handle remains stationary and the rotatable element rotates, the rotatable element abuts the arm of the handle thereby preventing actuation of the latch.  
           [0009]    In yet another form, the present invention provides a door assembly for mounting to a body of a motor vehicle for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation between an opened position and a closed position. The door assembly includes the door frame and a latch mechanism for selectively interconnecting a portion of the door frame with the body. The door assembly further includes a handle assembly attached to the door frame and interconnected with the latch mechanism. The handle assembly includes a manually controlled element displaceable from a first position to a second position for releasing the latch mechanism. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which makes reference to the drawings of which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a handle assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown incorporated into a passenger door of a motor vehicle.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the handle assembly of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the handle assembly of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the handle assembly of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a top view of the handle assembly of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a side view of the handle assembly of the present invention illustrated in a latched position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a side view of the handle assembly of the present invention illustrated in a unlatched position.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a side view of the handle assembly resisting rotation of the rotatable element as the handle remains stationary. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    With initial reference to FIG. 1, a handle assembly constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown operatively associated with a handle assembly  10  of vehicle door  12 . The vehicle door  12  shown is a passenger door for a minivan, sport utility or other vehicle  14 , which is otherwise of conventional construction. The particular vehicle door  12  illustrated should be considered exemplary, as the teachings of the present invention are applicable for virtually any type of vehicle door.  
         [0020]    Prior to addressing the construction and operation of the handle assembly  10  of the present invention, a brief understanding of the exemplary vehicle door  12  is warranted. While not specifically shown, it will be understood that the vehicle door  12  is mounted to the body of the vehicle  14  for pivotal movement about a vertical axis adjacent the front side of the door  12 . The vehicle door  12  is movable between an open position (not shown) and a closed position (shown in FIG. 1). The handle assembly  10  is interconnected with a latching mechanism  16  through a cable  18 . The latching mechanism  16  is of conventional construction and operates to release a striker (not shown) carried by the vehicle body when activated to permit movement of the vehicle door  12  from its closed position.  
         [0021]    Turning now to FIGS.  2 - 8 , the handle assembly of the present invention  10  will be described in detail. The handle assembly  10  is shown to generally include a handle proper  20 , a base  22 , a key lock housing  24  and a control linkage  26  interconnecting the handle proper  20  with the cable  18 . As shown most specifically in FIGS. 2 and 4, the handle assembly  10  is mounted through a pair of apertures  30  provided in the vehicle door  12 . Cutaway section  28  accommodates the rotating action of the control linkage  26 . The base  22  includes a pair of rearwardly extending locating members  32  adapted to pass through apertures  30  and engage fasteners (not shown) in a conventional manner.  
         [0022]    The handle proper  20  is shown to include an elongated gripping portion  46 , a first end interconnected to a pivot joint  36  and a second end having an arm  38  adapted to cooperate with control linkage  26 . Pivot joint  36  includes a pin  40  locating an arm of the handle proper (not shown) to a joint housing  42  of base  22 . A longitudinal axis of the gripping portion  46  is disposed generally horizontally and thus perpendicular to the axis of door rotation. As seen in FIG. 5, the gripping portion  46  is slightly curved in top view, thereby providing comfort to the user and thereby contributing to an aesthetically pleasing vehicle appearance. An area  50  for receiving the operator&#39;s fingers is defined between the griping portion  46  and the base  22 .  
         [0023]    The arm  38  of the handle proper  20  is linearly translatable within channel  52  defined by the base  22 . That is, the handle proper  20  is linearly movable between a first position (as shown in FIG. 6) in which the latching mechanism  16  is closed and a second position (as shown in FIG. 7) which the latching mechanism is open. The direction of movement of the handle proper  20  is identified in FIG. 7 with arrow A. As will become more apparent below, the rearwardly extending arm  38  of the handle proper  20  are formed to include recess  56  passing vertically therethrough for cooperating with the control linkage  26 .  
         [0024]    The control linkage  26  is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripping portion  46  of the handle proper  20 . A pivot axis for control linkage  26  is defined by an elongated pivot rod  60  passing through apertures formed in first and second (not shown) mounting flanges  62 .  
         [0025]    As shown more specifically in FIG. 6, control linkage  26  is further shown to include leg  64 , counterweight  68  and pawl  60 . Leg  64  is adapted to be located through recess  56  of arm  38  of handle proper  20 . The control linkage  26  is shown to further include a connecting portion  70  for connecting the control linkage  26  with the cable  18 . This construction in other arrangements may be to a rod or other suitable latch actuating means.  
         [0026]    The handle assembly  10  of the present invention is further shown to include a biasing member  76  for biasing the handle assembly  10  to its first position and thereby the latching mechanism  16  to its closed position. In the embodiment illustrated, the biasing mechanism is a coil spring  76  which surrounds the pivot rod  60 . The coil spring functions to bias the bell-crank assembly  58  in a counterclockwise direction (as shown in FIG. 7).  
         [0027]    The operation of the handle assembly  10  may now be understood referring generally to FIGS.  1 - 7  and specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7. As the handle proper  20  is linearly moved from its first position (as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6) to its second position (as shown in FIG. 7) the rearwardly extending leg  38  retracts, thereby overcoming the biasing force of the coil spring  76  and causing control linkage  26  to rotate counter-clockwise (Direction B). The leg  64  of control linkage  26  provides a mechanical advantage for operating the latch mechanism  18 . The rotational movement of the control linkage  26  is converted to linear motion through the cable  18  which serves to release the latching mechanism  16 . When the handle proper  20  is released, the biasing force of the coil spring  76  returns to the handle proper  20  to its first position and thereby returns the latching mechanism  16  to its closed position.  
         [0028]    Turning now to FIG. 8, the operation of the counterbalance  68  and pawl  60  will now be described. In the exemplary illustrations, the handle is shown disposed in a passenger side door  12 . In the event counterweight  68  overcomes the bias of spring  76  and rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (arrow C), pawl  60  will abut against upper surface  54  of arm  38  thereby preventing further rotation. It can be appreciated that this configuration is adaptable to any side of a vehicle to resist rotation of the rotatable element.  
         [0029]    While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the accompanying claims. For example, it will be understood that the handle proper  20  may be mounted to the vehicle door  12  such that it is oriented in a generally vertical manner. Such an arrangement may be particularly desirable for vehicle doors mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.