Patent Abstract:
A door handle system for an automotive vehicle door includes a door handle and a body panel. The body panel is moveable between a flush position and a recessed position. If the body panel is in the flush position, portions of the door handle are concealed. If the body panel is in the recessed position, portions of the door handle are visible.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/620,217, filed Jan. 5, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to door handle systems for automotive vehicles. 
     2. Discussion 
     Exterior door handles may permit a user to open a door of a vehicle. If the door is unlatched from the vehicle, the user may pull on the handle to open the door. If the door is unlocked but not unlatched from the vehicle, actuating the door handle may unlatch the door from the vehicle. 
     Unauthorized entry into a vehicle may include the unauthorized actuation of a door handle to unlatch a door from the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a door handle system for a automotive vehicle door. The system includes a door connected to the vehicle. The door includes a latching mechanism for latching the door to the vehicle. The system also includes a door handle connected to the latching mechanism such that actuation of the door handle unlatches the door from the vehicle. The system further includes a door panel. The door panel is moveable between first and second positions. 
     Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a door handle system for an automotive vehicle door. The system includes a door connected to the vehicle. The door includes a latching mechanism for latching the door to the vehicle. The system also includes a door handle having a finger receiving portion configured to receive a finger of a user. The system further includes a door panel adjacent the door handle. The door panel is moveable between first and second positions and connected to the latching mechanism such that moving the door panel from the first position to the second position unlatches the door from the vehicle. 
     While exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door handle system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the door handle system of  FIG. 1  and shows the body panel flush with the door handle. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the door handle system of  FIG. 1  and shows a user pressing in the body panel to reveal the grip portion. 
         FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of the mechanical relationship between a body panel and door latch in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a block diagram of the mechanical relationship between a body panel and door lock in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4C  is a block diagram of the mechanical relationship between a door handle and door latch in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4D  is a block diagram of the mechanical relationship between a body panel and body panel latch in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a door handle system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and shows a user grabbing a door handle at a grip portion. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a door handle system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and shows a user actuating a trigger of a door handle. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a control arrangement associated with a body panel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a door handle system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and shows a signal from a key fob remotely actuating a body panel. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a door handle system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and shows a signal from a proximity device remotely actuating a body panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of door handle system  10  for door  12  of vehicle  14 . Door  12  is attached with vehicle  14  via hinges (not shown). Door  12  can be opened or closed in any conventional fashion. If door  12  is closed, it can be latched to vehicle  14  via conventional latch  16  ( FIG. 4 a   ). 
       FIG. 2  is a elevation view of system  10 . System  10  includes door handle  18  and body panel  20 . As shown, body panel  20  is flush with door handle  18 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of system  10 . Door handle  18  includes A-surface  22  (the finish surface of door handle  18 ), A-surface  24  (the finish surface of body panel  20 ), grip portion  26 , and recess  28 . A user is pressing in body panel  20  to reveal grip portion  26  of door handle  18 . In doing so, A-surface  24  of body panel  20  is no longer flush with A-surface  22  of door handle  18 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the mechanical relation between body panel  20  and door latch  16 . In this embodiment, body panel  20  is mechanically connected, in any conventional fashion, e.g., linked, with door latch  16  such that the pressing in of body panel  20  unlatches door latch  16  from vehicle  14 . Once unlatched, a user may grasp handle  18  and pull open door  12 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the mechanical relation between body panel  20  and door lock  30 . In this embodiment, body panel  20  is mechanically connected, in any conventional fashion, e.g., linked, with door lock  30  such that if door lock  30  is locked, body panel  20  will be flush with door handle  18  as shown in  FIG. 2  and if door lock  30  is unlocked, body panel  20  will be spaced away from door handle  18  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4C  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the mechanical relation between door handle  18  and door latch  16 . In this embodiment, door handle  18  is mechanically connected, in any conventional fashion, e.g., linked, with door latch  16  such that the actuation of door handle  18  will unlatch door latch  16  from vehicle  14 . 
       FIG. 4D  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the mechanical relation between body panel  20  and body panel latch  31  of system  10 . Body panel latch  31  can be any conventional latching technology associated with a panel or door such that the pressing in of body panel  20  to a first predefined position latches body panel  20  in place until further pressing in to a second predefined position unlatches body panel  20  from vehicle  14  thus allowing body panel  20  to return back to its flush state with door handle  18 . 
     The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D  may be combined in any appropriate fashion. For example, the embodiments of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  may be combined such that door lock  30  is mechanically connected with body panel  20  and body panel  20  is mechanically connected with door latch  16 . In this configuration, unlocking door lock  30  will unlatch door latch  16  from vehicle  14 . The embodiments of  FIGS. 4B and 4C  may be combined such that door lock  30  is mechanically connected with body panel  20  and door handle  18  is mechanically connected with door latch  16 . In this configuration, unlocking door lock  30  will move body panel  20  such that it reveals grip portion  26  of handle  18 . A user may then actuate door handle  18  to unlatch door latch  16  from vehicle  14 . Other configurations are also contemplated. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of system  10  showing a user grabbing door handle  18  at grip portion  26 . The user may then actuate door handle  18 , if so configured, to unlatch door latch  16  from vehicle  14 . Alternatively, the user may pull on door handle  18 , if door latch  16  is already unlatched from vehicle  14 , in order to open door  12 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of system  10 . In this embodiment, door handle  18  includes trigger  32 , which is mechanically connected, in any conventional fashion, with door latch  16 . By actuating trigger  32 , door latch  16  is unlatched from vehicle  14 . 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a control arrangement associated with body panel  20 . Control unit  34 , e.g., processor and associated actuation mechanisms, is in communication with sensor  36  and body panel  20 . As will be explained below, sensor  36  is configured to receive a signal, in any conventional fashion, that is then sent to control unit  34  which, based on the signal, actuates body panel  20  such that, for example, it moves from the flush position as shown in  FIG. 2  to the pressed in position as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of system  10  showing key fob  34  remotely actuating body panel  20  via signal  37 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of system  10  showing proximity device  38  remotely actuating body panel  20  via signal  40 . Proximity device  38  can be any conventional signal transmitting device, e.g., radio frequency transmitter. 
     While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8