Illuminated grab handle with dual illumination modes

An illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle includes a handle body and at least one light source. The handle body has a center portion and two opposed ends and is adapted to be attached to a surface of the vehicle interior. The at least one light source is disposed within the center portion of the handle body for illuminating the vehicle interior. The illuminated grab handle assembly is operable to provide more than one mode of illumination for the vehicle interior.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to grab handles for vehicles, and more particularly to an illuminated grab handle with at least one source of illumination that provides lighting for an interior of a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Grab handles have become a standard feature of passenger vehicles. They are provided in vehicles to assist occupants as they enter and exit a vehicle, as well as to maintain their seated position when driving over rough terrain. A wide variety of grab handle designs are available, but most are attached to the vehicle roof structure, often through the headliner. Grab handle assemblies typically include a handle and multiple brackets and backing members. Some grab handles are provided with additional features, such as a garment or a coat hook. It is further known to provide overhead lighting in passenger vehicles, generally the most common being the well known dome lamp. Sources of light, sometimes referred to as dome lamps, map lamps, or courtesy lighting, are located in various convenient locations in the overhead area of the vehicle. These lights may be independently mounted to the headliner or the roof structure, or may be incorporated into other overhead devices, such as overhead consoles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle is provided. The illuminated grab handle assembly includes a handle body and at least one light source. The handle body has a center portion and two opposed ends and is adapted to be attached to a surface of the vehicle interior. At least one light source is disposed within the center portion of the handle body for illuminating the vehicle interior.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle is provided. The illuminated grab handle assembly includes a handle body and at least one light source. The handle body has opposed ends and is adapted to be attached to a surface of the vehicle interior. The illuminated grab handle assembly is operable to provide more than one mode of illumination for the vehicle interior.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle is provided. The illuminated grab handle assembly includes a handle body adapted to be mounted to a vehicle headliner, and at least one light source disposed within the handle body and operable in at least one of a functional illumination mode and an ambient illumination mode for illuminating the vehicle interior. Additionally, the illuminated grab handle assembly includes a power switch for selectively powering the at least one light source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, reference numeral10generally designates one embodiment of an illuminated grab handle assembly.FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary automotive vehicle12, having an interior surface14to which a pair of illuminated grab handle assemblies10is attached. The illuminated grab handle assembly10includes a substantially C-shaped handle body16which has two opposed ends: a first end18, and a second end20. A first mounting member22is disposed at the first end18, and a second mounting member24is disposed at the second end20. Further, the first and second mounting members22,24are pivotally connected to the first and second ends18,20, respectively. The handle body16is adapted to be hingedly affixed to the interior surface14of the vehicle12by mounting the first and second mounting members22,24to the interior surface14of the vehicle12, often through a headliner15. Alternatively, the handle body16may be rigidly mounted to the vehicle12or the interior surface14.

The handle body16includes an integral center portion26that is disposed intermediate the first and second ends18,20. In the illustrated example, the center portion26and first and second ends18,20are disposed at obtuse angles, and have arcuate transitions21therebetween. Additionally, the handle body16is generally sized for a user's hand to grasp the handle body16during ingress/egress of the vehicle12, or during travel over rough terrain. It should be understood that the specific handle body16geometry may vary from the illustrated example, and may be designed to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The illuminated grab handle assembly10includes at least one light source disposed within the center portion26of the handle body16for illuminating the vehicle12interior. The light source can be any suitable source of light, such as a light emitting diode (LED) or an incandescent bulb, as known to those skilled in the art. The illuminated grab handle assembly10also includes a power switch28for selectively connecting the at least one light source to a vehicle electrical system. The power switch28may be a push button, or any other suitable means of actuation, for activating and deactivating the light source. Although not illustrated, it is contemplated that the light source may be electrically connected by a flexible or molded wire that is routed through the handle body16and one of the mounting members22,24. Alternatively, the light source may be powered by a battery disposed within the handle body16. The illuminated grab handle assembly10also includes a lens30to hide or obscure the internal components and to direct illumination from the light source into the interior of the vehicle12. The lens30may be translucent, opaque, transparent, or have any other desirable light transmission treatment. Further, it is contemplated that the lens30be flush mounted to the handle body16to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2-3, the illuminated grab handle assembly10may include more than one light source. For example, a first light source40is disposed within the handle body16on an interior-facing surface32thereof and a second light source50is disposed within the handle body16on an exterior-facing surface34thereof. With the illuminated grab handle assembly10installed in the vehicle12, the exterior-facing surface34is defined as the surface of the handle body16that is positioned between the handle body16and the headliner15. Notably, both the first and second light sources40,50, and associated lenses30, are disposed within the center section26of the handle body16.

Referring now to another embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 4-5, the illuminated grab handle assembly10includes two light sources40disposed at the transitions21between the center portion26and the first and second ends18,20, on the interior-facing surface32. A third light source50is disposed on the exterior-facing surface34of the handle body16. While the lenses30which cover the light sources40,50are illustrated as being generally elongate and rectangular or pie-shaped, it is contemplated they could be any suitable shape, including circular or ovate.

According to another embodiment, the illuminated grab handle assembly10is operable to provide more than one mode of illumination for the vehicle12interior. For example, the illuminated grab handle assembly10is operable in both functional and ambient illumination modes, as well as any other suitable mode of vehicle illumination known in the art. The functional illumination mode is substantially equivalent to task lighting, distributing a concentrated area of light on a limited area within the vehicle12for purposes such as reading. The ambient illumination mode is accent lighting, distributing diffuse light to the interior of the vehicle12, and is most often used for decorative lighting, backlighting, or for providing low levels of illumination to the interior. The illuminated grab handle assembly10is adapted to provide at least functional and ambient illumination to the vehicle interior, and it is contemplated that this can be accomplished in more than one way.

According to one embodiment, multiple light sources in multiple locations are utilized to provide multiple illumination modes. Referring to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2-3, the first light source40is a functional light source and is positioned on the interior-facing surface32for use in the functional illumination mode. The second light source50is an ambient light source and is positioned on the exterior-facing surface34for use in the ambient illumination mode. When activated, the functional illumination mode projects task lighting to the interior of the vehicle12, while the ambient illumination mode projects accent lighting onto the headliner15. As stated above, the functional illumination mode can be used for reading and other such tasks that are benefited by a concentrated area of light directed on a limited area within the vehicle12interior, including map/reading and dome lights. Conversely, the ambient illumination mode can be used to provide low intensity, diffuse light projected onto the headliner15for ingress/egress ease and decorative accent purposes, including mood lighting. The ambient illumination mode could also be used to provide a very low intensity light for showing only the location of the illuminated grab handle assembly10and without distracting the driver during night driving. For any illumination mode, the specific target area, intensity, diffusion, and other aspects involved in lighting design may be considered when selecting the specific light source, reflector, lens material, and other lighting components.

The illuminated grab handle assembly embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 4-5, includes two discrete functional light sources40and an ambient light source50. The functional light sources40are shown positioned at the transitions21between the center portion26and the first and second ends18,20, on the interior-facing surface32for use in the functional illumination mode. The ambient light source50is disposed on the exterior-facing surface34for use in the ambient illumination mode. In another embodiment, similar to that depicted inFIG. 2, the light source on the interior-facing surface32can provide both functional and ambient light. This could be achieved by using a single light source operable in both functional and ambient illumination modes, or by using two light sources positioned beneath the single lens30.

Additionally, it is contemplated that the at least one light source can be selectively activated by the power switch28. As previously described, the power switch28may be a push button, capacitive switch, or any other suitable means of actuation, for activating and deactivating the light source. More specifically, the power switch28can be configured to selectively switch the functional and ambient light sources between on, off, functional and ambient illumination modes. This can be accomplished with a suitable push-push, toggle, capacitive, or multi-position type switch, as is known to one skilled in the art. Additionally, the ambient light source50may be directly electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system such that the ambient light source50is activated when a vehicle door is opened or unlocked, a dome light is turned on, or other such vehicle activity or setting activates the vehicle's12other interior lighting.

It is also contemplated that the illuminated grab handle assembly10may include a damper or other detent mechanism which would allow a user to adjust the angular position of the handle body16so as to orient the illumination onto a desirable location. Stated differently, the inclusion of a damper or other type detent mechanism would enable a user to pivot the handle body16to shine light onto a certain location or direction, and maintain the position of the handle body16after the user released the handle body16.