Patent Publication Number: US-2020277812-A1

Title: Door handle assembly for a motor vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/081449, filed on Nov. 15, 2018, which claims priority to and the benefit of EP 17202035.6, filed on Nov. 16, 2017. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a door handle assembly and a method for mounting/dismounting this door handle assembly on a door of a motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     This type of door handle is linked to a base via a hinge at a first end of the handle and via an arm slidably mounted in a housing of the base at a second end of the handle. 
     The handle is movable in rotation relative to the base between a rest position in which it is positioned substantially parallel to the base, the arm being inserted into the housing, and an open position of the door in which it is inclined relative to the base, the arm being partially outside the housing. The arm comprises a hook at one of its ends. 
     The door handle assembly comprises an actuation device housed in the base and which is intended to be linked to a mechanism for opening the door. The actuation device comprises a lever movable in rotation engaging the hook of the arm of the handle. 
     The opening of the handle causes the sliding of the hook of the arm of the handle and consequently the rotation of the lever of the actuation device toward the handle, actuating in turn a mechanism for opening the door. 
     Although motor vehicles are equipped with a centralized opening and closing device, a lock cylinder (or lock) is fastened on the door to enable the opening of the door in case of failure of the centralized opening and closing device or in case of emergency. 
     Some handles comprise a longitudinal cover fastened on the handle and positioned above the lock. 
     However, during the assembly of this type of handle on the door of a vehicle, this configuration does not allow inserting the lock on the door after the mounting of the door handle assembly on the door. 
     Indeed, the longitudinal cover of the handle is positioned opposite the insertion area of the lock. 
     The insertion of the lock is also not possible even if the handle remains in an open position. 
     Consequently, the cylinder of the lock must be inserted before the handle, which is binding for the assembly but also for a repair operation aiming at dismounting the lock. Indeed, the door handle assembly must be completely dismounted in order to remove the lock from the door. 
     U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0245568 describes mounting a handle on a door allowing to insert the lock after the mounting of the handle. 
     This mounting provides for an additional support which slides relative to the base of the door handle assembly to easily mount and dismount the arm of the handle from the base. This allows mounting the handle before the insertion of the lock or dismounting the handle from the base. 
     The advantage of this approach is that the lock cylinder may be fastened at the same time as the sliding arm of the handle by using one single element such as a screw. 
     However, this approach requires using a supplementary element such as the additional support. 
     In addition, it is difficult to adapt this concept to a door handle assembly comprising an actuation device having a lever movable about a horizontal axis of rotation. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     The present disclosure provides a door handle assembly and a method for mounting/dismounting this door handle assembly on a door of a motor vehicle allowing to easily mount and dismount a door handle on a base of the door handle assembly. 
     The present disclosure concerns a door handle assembly intended to be mounted on a door of a motor vehicle. The door handle assembly comprises: 
     a base intended to be fastened on the door, 
     a handle linked to the base via a hinge at a first end of the handle and via an arm slidably mounted in a housing of the base at a second end of the handle, the handle being movable in rotation relative to the base between a rest position in which it is positioned substantially parallel to the base, the arm being inserted into the housing, and an open position of the door in which it is inclined relative to the base, the arm being partially outside the housing, the arm comprising a hook at one of its ends, and 
     an actuation device housed in the base, intended to be linked to a mechanism for opening the door and comprising a first lever engaging the hook, the first lever being movably mounted in the housing of the base between a retracted position when the handle is in the rest position and a deployed position when the handle is in the open position. The actuation of the handle causes the sliding of the hook of the arm of the handle along a sliding axis Y and the displacement of the first lever of the actuation device toward the outside of the base and the actuation of the door opening mechanism to open the door. The actuation device comprises a return spring exerting a return force on the first lever in order to bring it back toward its retracted position. 
     According to the present disclosure, the door handle assembly comprises a blocking device movably mounted on the base between an unlocked position in which it does not cooperate with the actuation device and a locked position, when the handle is in the open position. The displacement of the blocking device toward its locked position causes a displacement of the actuation device toward a mounting/dismounting position of the handle in which the first lever of the actuation device is shifted relative to the sliding axis Y of the arm of the handle. This causes the blocking of the actuation device so as to enable the arm of the handle to freely slide within the housing of the base for its mounting in the base or its dismounting from the base. 
     Alternatively, the actuation device is movable in rotation about an axis of rotation between the rest position and the open position of the door, and in translation in the housing of the base along the axial direction X between an aligned position in which the first lever of the actuation device is aligned with the sliding axis Y of the arm of the handle and a shifted position in which the first lever of the actuation device is shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     The blocking device exerts a force against the actuation device along the axial direction X in order to block its axial movement in this direction and in order to block its rotation. 
     Alternatively, the blocking device comprises a rod movable in translation relative to the base between an unlocking position in which the rod is disconnected from the actuation device and a locking position in which the rod exerts a pressure against the actuation device in order to hold it shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     Alternatively, the rod is movable in translation along the axial direction X and in rotation about an axis of rotation extending along the axial direction X. 
     Alternatively, the rod comprises at least one lug cooperating with two blocking devices formed on the base in order to block the translation of the rod in the locking or unlocking position. 
     Alternatively, the rod comprises a first thread cooperating with a second thread provided in an orifice of the base in order to screw or unscrew the rod. 
     The present disclosure also concerns a method for mounting and dismounting a door handle assembly, as previously defined, on a door of a motor vehicle. 
     According to the present disclosure, the method comprises: 
     a step of positioning the actuation device in the open position of the door in order to bring the first lever of the actuation device in the deployed position, 
     a step of shifting the first lever of the actuation device relative to the sliding axis Y of the arm of the handle by a blocking device in order to bring it in a mounting/dismounting position of the handle enabling the arm of the handle to freely slide within the housing of the base, 
     a step of blocking the actuation device in the mounting/dismounting position by the blocking device, the blocking device being movably mounted on the base between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it blocks the actuation device, and 
     a step of inserting the arm of the handle into the housing of the base in order to enable the mounting of the handle on the base or the removal of the arm of the handle out of the housing of the base in order to dismount the handle from the base. 
     Alternatively, during the step of positioning the actuation device in the open position of the door, the first lever performs a rotational movement about an axis of rotation extending along an axial direction X. And during the step of shifting the first lever, the first lever performs a translational movement in the housing of the base along the axial direction X between an aligned position in which the first lever of the actuation device is aligned with the sliding axis Y of the arm of the handle and a shifted position in which the first lever of the actuation device is shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. The blocking device exerts a force against the actuation device along the axial direction X in order to block its axial movement in this direction and in order to block its rotation. 
     Alternatively, the blocking device comprises a rod forming a latch. During the step of shifting the first lever, the rod translates along the axial direction X relative to the base and toward the actuation device from an unlocking position in which the rod is disconnected from the actuation device toward a locking position in which the rod exerts a pressure against the actuation device in order to hold it shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     Alternatively, during the step of inserting the arm of the handle into the housing of the base, a first surface of the hook of the arm pushes the first lever of the actuation device toward a direction opposite to the hook when the arm is inserted into the housing of the base until the first lever recovers its initial position. The first lever is then positioned facing a second upper surface of the hook. 
     Thus, the present disclosure provides a door handle assembly and a method for mounting/dismounting this door handle assembly on a door of a motor vehicle allowing to easily mount and dismount a door handle on a base of the door handle assembly. 
     Thus, it is possible to insert the lock on the door after the mounting of the door handle assembly on the door. 
     It is also possible to easily dismount the door handle assembly from the door in order to change the lock. 
     This door handle assembly allows using an actuation device having a lever movable about a horizontal axis of rotation. 
     The present disclosure reduces the number of components comprising the door handle assembly as compared with the prior art using an additional support. The final weight is thus reduced. 
     The features above can be used alone or in combination, bringing each a particular advantage. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       Other characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following description, given only as an example, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a door handle assembly when the handle is in the open position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the actuation device cooperating with the handle of  FIG. 1  when the handle is in the open position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is another detailed view showing the actuation device blocked in a position shifted relative to the axis of translation Y according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the arm of the handle during its insertion into the housing of the base according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the first lever of the actuation device engaging the hook of the arm of the handle when the handle is in the rest position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic bottom view of the door handle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic top view of the door handle assembly of  FIG. 1  when the handle is open; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic bottom view of the door handle assembly of  FIG. 1  when the handle is at rest; 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed schematic view of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic bottom view of the door handle assembly of  FIG. 1  when the handle is open and the blocking device is in the locked position; and 
         FIG. 11  is a detailed schematic view of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a door handle assembly  1  which is mounted on a door  2  of a motor vehicle comprising a handle  4  represented in the open position. 
     The door handle assembly  1  comprises a base  3  intended to be fastened on the door  2 . 
     The handle  4  is linked to the base  3  via a hinge  5  at a first end  6  of the handle  4  and via an arm  7  slidably mounted in a housing  8  of the base  3  at a second end  9  of the handle  4 . 
     The hinge  5  comprises a pivot arm  22  which is in rotation about an axis of rotation  23 . The pivot arm  22  has a first end linked to the base  3  via the axis of rotation  23  and a second end linked to the handle  4 . 
     The handle  4  extends according to a longitudinal direction A′. 
     The base  3  extends according to a longitudinal direction A which is parallel to the door  2  when the door handle assembly  1  is mounted thereon. 
     When the handle  4  is in the rest position, the longitudinal direction A′ of the handle  4  is substantially (approximately) parallel to the longitudinal direction A of the door  2 . 
     The handle  4  is movable in rotation relative to the base  3  between a rest position in which it is positioned substantially parallel to the base  3 , the arm  7  being inserted into the housing  8 , and an open position of the door  2  in which it is inclined relative to the base  3 , the arm  7  being partially outside the housing  8 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The longitudinal direction A′ of the handle  4  is then inclined relative to the longitudinal direction A of the door  2 . 
     The handle  4  may be integral or comprise a handle body on which is fastened a cover or a gripping sleeve also having an aesthetic function. 
     The arm  7  comprises a hook  10  at one of its ends  11 . 
     The door handle assembly  1  comprises an actuation device  12  housed in the base  3  and which is intended to be linked to a mechanism for opening the door  2  (not represented). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the actuation device  12  comprises a first lever  13  engaging the hook  10 . 
     The first lever  13  is mounted movable in rotation about an axis of rotation  24  in the housing  8  of the base  3  between a retracted position when the handle  4  is in the rest position and a deployed position when the handle  4  is in the open position. 
     The actuation of the handle  4  causes the sliding of the hook  10  of the arm  7  of the handle  4  along a sliding axis Y and consequently the rotation of the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  and toward the outside of the base  3  (direction opposite to the base  3 ). 
     This causes the actuation of the door  2  opening mechanism to open the door  2 . 
     The sliding axis Y corresponds to the pathway followed by the arm  7  of the handle  4 . 
     The actuation device  12  comprises a return spring  15  exerting a return force on the first lever  13  in order to bring it back toward its retracted position (initial position). 
     The base  3  comprises an outer face  26  and an opposite inner face  27 . 
     The handle  4  is positioned on the side the outer face  26  of the base  3 . 
     The actuation device  12  comprises a second lever  25  positioned on the side the inner face  27  of the base  3 . 
     The second lever  25  is accessible to a user from the inside of the vehicle in order to open the door  2 . 
     The door  2  comprises a lock (not represented) mounted on the door  2  and positioned below the handle  4 . 
     According to the present disclosure, the door handle assembly  1  comprises a blocking device  14  movably mounted on the base  3  between an unlocked position in which it does not cooperate with the actuation device  12 , as represented in  FIGS. 5 to 9 , and a locked position, when the handle  4  is in the open position, as represented in  FIGS. 3, 4, 10 and 11 . 
     The displacement of the blocking device  14  toward its locked position causes a displacement of the actuation device  12  toward a mounting/dismounting position of the handle  4  in which the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  is shifted relative to the sliding axis Y of the arm  7  of the handle  4 . 
     The actuation device  12  is blocked in this position, so as to enable the arm  7  of the handle  4  to freely slide within the housing  8  of the base  3  along the sliding axis Y for its mounting in the base  3  or its dismounting from the base  3 . 
     The first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  then does no longer hinder the passage of the arm  7  of the handle  4  in the housing  8  of the base  3 . 
     The handle  4  can be freely mounted on or dismounted from the base  3 . 
     The actuation device  12  is movable in rotation about an axis of rotation  24  between the rest position and the open position of the door  2 . The actuation device  12  may be assimilated to a cam with an axis of rotation  24  shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     Indeed, when a user pulls on the handle  4  toward the outside of the door  2 , the arm  7  of the handle  4  slides within the housing  8  of the base  3  along the sliding axis Y toward the outside of the door  2  until being partially outside the housing  8 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Since the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  is engages the hook  10  of the arm  7  of the handle  4 , the latter performs a rotational movement about the axis of rotation  24  toward the outside of the door  2  toward the outer face  26  of the base  3 , thereby actuating an opening device to open the door  2 . 
     The second lever  25  of the actuation device  12  performs the same rotational movement as the first lever  13  in order to be a little farther from the base  3 . 
     The actuation device  12  is also movable in translation in the housing  8  of the base  3  along an axial direction X between an aligned position in which the first lever of the actuation device  12  is aligned with the sliding axis Y of the arm  7  of the handle  4  and a shifted position in which the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  is shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     More specifically, the actuation device  12  is movable in translation after its rotation from its retracted position toward its deployed position, when the handle  4  is brought toward its open position. 
     The blocking device  14  exerts a force against the actuation device  12  along the axial direction X and a direction opposite to that of the blocking device  14  in order to shift it relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     The housing  8  has a dimension adapted to enable the translational movability of the actuation device  12 . 
     The blocking device  14  exerts a force against the actuation device  12  along the axial direction X in order to block its axial movement in this direction and also in order to block its rotation, since the return spring  15  tends to bring the first lever  13  back toward its retracted position. 
     The blocking device  14  comprises a rod  16  movable in translation relative to the base  3  between an unlocking position in which the rod  16  is disconnected from the actuation device  12 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 9 , and a locking position in which the rod  16  exerts a pressure against the actuation device  12  in order to hold it shifted relative to the sliding axis Y, as represented in  FIGS. 3, 4, 10 and 11 . The return spring  15  creates a tension along the axis Y when the rod  16  is pushing the first lever  13 . 
     The rod  16  is movably mounted on the base  3 . 
     The rod  16  has a latch function and exerts a force opposing that of the return spring  15 . 
     The rod  16  extends longitudinally along the axial direction X which is substantially perpendicular to the sliding axis Y in this example. The axial direction X may be not perpendicular to the sliding axis Y. 
     The rod  16  is movable in translation along the axial direction X and in rotation about an axis of rotation  19  extending along the axial direction X. 
     The rod  16  is housed and held in two orifices  28  provided in the base  3 . 
     The rod  16  comprises a lug  30  cooperating with two blocking devices  31   a ,  31   b  formed on the base  3  to block the translation of the rod  16  in the locking and unlocking position. The lug  30  protrudes radially on the surface of the rod  16 . 
     A first blocking device  31   a  allows blocking the lug  30  in the locking position ( FIG. 10 ). 
     A second blocking device  31   b  allows blocking the lug  30  in the unlocking position ( FIG. 8 ). 
     The blocking devices  31   a ,  31   b  comprise, in one form, two fastening elements  32 ,  34 , also known as fasteners, disposed on either side of a slot  33 , as represented in  FIG. 10 . The blocking devices  31   a ,  31   b  are distant from each other. 
     The lug  30  is introduced or clipped into the slot  33  so as to be blocked. 
     One of the fastening elements  34  has a surface  35  inclined toward the slot  33  in order to facilitate the insertion or the clipping of the lug  30 . 
     The rod  16  comprises a first thread (not represented) cooperating with a second thread (not represented) provided in a threaded orifice  29  of the base  3  in order to screw or unscrew the rod  16 . 
     The rod  16  slides in translation and in rotation through these orifices  28 ,  29 . 
     The rod  16  comprises an end lug  17  cooperating with a stop  18  formed on the base  3  in order to block the travel of the rod  16  when it is displaced toward its unlocking position. 
     The end lug  17  protrudes on and around the outer surface of the rod  16 . 
     When the rod  16  is completely unscrewed to its unlocking position, as represented in  FIG. 8 , the end lug  17  of the rod  16  abuts against the stop  18  of the base  3  in order to stop the travel of the rod  16 . 
     In this example, the stop  18  of the base  3  is formed by the walls delimiting an orifice  28  receiving the rod  16 . 
     Conversely, when the rod  16  is completely screwed to the locking position, as represented in  FIG. 10 , the lug  30  of the rod  16  is inserted or clipped into the slot  33  of the first blocking device  31   a  in order to block the rod  16  in this position. 
     The present disclosure also concerns a method for mounting and dismounting a door handle assembly  1 , as previously described, on a door  2  of a motor vehicle. 
     This method comprises a step of positioning the actuation device  12  in the open position of the door  2  in order to bring the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  in the deployed position, as represented in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 . 
     This step is achieved by the actuation of the handle  4  for example by a user who pulls thereon. 
     Alternatively, this step may be achieved by a user who pulls on the second lever  25  of the actuation device  12 . 
     Conversely,  FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9  show the actuation device  12  in the closed position of the door or rest position. The first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  is engaging the hook  10  of the arm  7  of the handle  4 . The first lever  13  is also in the retracted position (low position according to the planes of  FIG. 5 ). 
     During the step of positioning the actuation device  12  in the open position of the door  2 , the first lever  13  performs a rotational movement about an axis of rotation  24  extending along the axial direction X. 
     Afterwards, the method comprises a step of shifting the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  relative to the sliding axis Y of the arm  7  of the handle  4  by the previously described blocking device  14 , in order to bring it in a mounting/dismounting position of the handle  4  enabling the arm  7  of the handle  4  to freely slide within the housing  8  of the base  3 . 
     This shift is achieved by a user pushing the second lever  25  of the blocking device  14  in the direction B, for example. 
     During the step of shifting the first lever  13 , the latter performs a translational movement in the housing  8  of the base  3  along the axial direction X between an aligned position in which the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  is aligned with the sliding axis Y of the arm  7  of the handle  4  and a shifted position in which the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  is shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     The mounting and dismounting method then comprises a step of blocking the actuation device  12  in the mounting/dismounting position by the blocking device  14 . 
     The blocking device  14  exerts a force against the actuation device  12  along the axial direction X in order to block its axial movement in this direction and in order to block its rotation. 
     The lug  30  is then clipped into the slot  33  of the first blocking device  31   a  in order to block the translation and the rotation of the rod  16 . 
     Alternatively, the screwing of the rod  16  of the blocking device  14  toward the locking position may allow pushing the actuation device  12  and shifting it to the right when referring to the plane of  FIG. 3 , that is to say in the direction of the arrow B, according to the sliding axis Y. 
     During the step of shifting the first lever  13 , the rod  16  translates along the axial direction X relative to the base  3  and toward the actuation device  12  from an unlocking position in which the rod  16  is disconnected from the actuation device  12  toward a locking position in which the rod  16  exerts a pressure against the actuation device  12  in order to hold it shifted relative to the sliding axis Y. 
     The rod  16  of the blocking device  14  blocks both the translation of the actuation device  12  thereby inhibiting its return toward its initial position and the rotation of the actuation device  12 . Hence, the rod  16  counteracts the return force exerted by the return spring  15  in the direction opposite to the direction B and the torque also generated by this return spring  15  on the first lever  13 . 
     The blocking device  14  therefore allows providing a pre-assembled door handle assembly  1 , that is to say not comprising yet the handle  4  which may be assembled later on, after the insertion of the lock onto the door  2 . 
     The mounting and dismounting method then comprises a step of inserting the arm  7  of the handle  4  into the housing  8  of the base  3  in order to enable the mounting of the handle  4  on the base  3  or the removal of the arm  7  of the handle  4  out of the housing  8  of the base  3  in order to dismount the handle  4  from the base  3 . 
     In particular, the mounting method comprises an initial step of fastening the base  3  on the door  2  of the vehicle. 
     The hinge  5  at the first end  6  of the handle  4  is then mounted on the base  3 . 
     The mounting method also comprises the previous steps of positioning the actuation device  12  in the open position of the door  2 , of shifting the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  relative to the sliding axis Y of the arm  7  of the handle  4  by the blocking device  14  and of blocking the actuation device  12  in the mounting/dismounting position by the blocking device  14 . 
     The mounting method then comprises a step of inserting the arm  7  of the handle  4  into the housing  8  of the base  3  during which a first surface  20  of the hook  10  of the arm  7  pushes the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  toward a direction opposite to the hook  10  when the arm  7  is inserted into the housing  8  of the base  3  until the first lever  13  recovers its initial position. 
     The first lever  13  is then positioned facing a second upper surface  21  of the hook  10 . 
     More specifically, the first surface  20  of the hook  10  slides on the first lever  13  of the actuation device  12  according to a plane C, represented in  FIG. 3 , and exerts a force opposing the return force of the return spring  15 , thereby causing a slight displacement of the first lever  13  toward this spring. 
     After a supplementary insertion of the arm  7  into the housing  8 , the first lever  13  then slides along the second upper surface  21  of the hook  10  according to a plane D, until recovering its initial position after a movement according to the arrow E, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The operator may hear a noise due to the return of the first lever  13  which is pushed by the return spring  15 . 
     The first lever  13  is then engaging the hook  10  of the handle  4 . 
     The blocking device  14  is then displaced in the unlocked position and the first lever  13  recovers its retracted or rest position, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The lug  30  of the rod  16  is clipped into the slot of the second blocking device  31   b  in order to block the rod  16  in the unlocking position. 
     The handle  4  is thus mounted on the base  3 . 
     According to the reverse method for dismounting the handle  4 , when the blocking device  14  has blocked the first lever  13  in the dismounting position, the user pulls on the handle  4  according to a direction opposite to the base  3 , thereby causing the sliding of the arm  7  of the handle  4  inside the housing  8  of the base  3  toward the outside until its extraction from the housing  8 . 
     The hinge  5  at the first end  6  of the handle  4  is then dismounted in order to completely remove the handle  4  from the base  3 . 
     A lock may afterwards be fastened on the door  2  of the vehicle. 
     The present disclosure is described in the foregoing as an example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are capable of carrying out different variations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or “approximately” in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability. 
     As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.” 
     The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.