Abstract:
A slidable apparatus that may form an interior vehicle door grab handle. The slidable apparatus includes a handle and handle support, wherein the handle support is fixed to an interior portion of a vehicle door, whereby the handle can be positioned initially in a rearward position so that adequate torque assist is provided to a passenger opening a vehicle door from the inside, and as the door opens, is movable to a more forward position so that the passenger can maintain hold on the grab handle throughout the opening process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to interior vehicle door handles, and more particularly, to a slidable apparatus that may form an interior vehicle door grab handle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Interior door trim panels are normally supplied with grab handles that function as a sturdy handle for passengers to use while opening a door or pulling the door closed. The location of the grab handle is normally in the upper rearward section of the door panel in order to provide the passenger with adequate torque to push open or pull close the door. The further the grab handle is from the hinges, the more torque assist the passenger can obtain. 
         [0003]    As a door is opened, the passenger typically tries to hold onto the grab handle. However, as the door opens, the grab handle position tends to move out of reach of the passenger due to the opening angle being larger at the rearward end of the door than at the hinges. Also, when a passenger tries to reach for the grab handle in order to close the door, it can be out of reach when it is near the rearward edge of the door. If the grab handle location were closer to the hinges, it would be easier to reach for the passenger. However, if the grab handle were closer to the hinges, there would be less torque assist and require greater effort to open and close the door. 
         [0004]    Thus there is a need for a grab handle that is located and remains in a convenient position for a user to reach and hold and provides a high level of torque assist regardless of its position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding grab handle for the interior of a vehicle door is provided which can be positioned initially in a rearward position so that adequate torque assist is provided to a passenger opening the door from the inside, and as the door opens, is movable to a more forward position so that the passenger can maintain hold on the grab handle throughout the opening process. In this way the passenger need not release the grab handle and the grab handle does not move out of reach of the passenger as the door opens. In one embodiment the grab handle is configured and operable to remain in a forward position upon release of the handle by the passenger. In this way the handle is in a good ergonomic position for a passenger to reach and use to close the door upon reentry to the car. 
         [0006]    Thus, a sliding grab handle may also be provided which can be positioned initially in a forward position to accommodate the situation in which a passenger gets into the car and needs to close the door. The passenger is able to hold onto the grab handle in the forward position which is easy to reach in the “door open” position. As the door is pulled closed by the passenger, the grab handle slides to a more rearward position, providing extra torque throughout the door closing process. The grab handle may be configured and operable to remain in a rearward position upon door closure with the passenger inside the car. In this way the handle is in a good ergonomic position for a passenger to reach and use to open the door upon exit from the car. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment a vehicle door is provided having a handle support and sliding handle disposed on a passenger compartment side of the vehicle door. 
         [0008]    In accordance with one embodiment, a sliding grab handle apparatus includes a slidable handle and a handle support. The slidable handle is mounted on and movable along at least a portion of the length of the handle support. The handle support is mounted substantially horizontally on the interior of a vehicle passenger door in a location and position suitable for a standard grab handle, for example, between the top of the door window sill and an interior arm rest. The slidable handle may be mounted on the handle support in any suitable manner. For example the handle may include a bore or aperture oriented along a longitudinal axis of the handle, in which the handle support may be received. The handle support may be attached at each end to the door interior, so that the handle is freely slidable forward and backward substantially horizontally between the two ends of the handle support. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment the handle support may be one or more elongated sections mountable to an interior surface of a vehicle door. The handle support may include one or more channels, slots or tracks along a long axis thereof. A handle mountable on the handle support may include one or more corresponding tabs or glides which slidably engage the slots or tracks such that the handle is movable forward and backward as needed. 
         [0010]    In accordance with a one embodiment a sliding grab handle apparatus includes a handle slidably mounted on an interior surface of a vehicle door using complementary rails fixed on the handle and vehicle door surfaces. In one embodiment a sliding handle having a rail mounted on an inside surface thereof is configured to engage a fixed rail mounted on a fixed support inside a passenger door. The sliding handle rail is coupled to the fixed rail. The sliding handle is slidable forward and back along the fixed rail. 
         [0011]    In a further embodiment, the sliding handle is configured to be securable in one or more fixed positions, such as a rearward, forward and/or intermediate position along the length of the fixed support. To this end one or more retention elements may be employed in conjunction with the sliding door handle apparatus. For example, at least one detent may be provided on elements of the sliding door handle apparatus, such as on door interior trim panel or support surfaces proximal the sliding door handle, or on the sliding door handle to engage corresponding detent elements on the adjacent trim panel surfaces, and the like, to allow the sliding handle to be temporarily secured in selected positions. In another embodiment, the retention element(s) may comprise one or more magnets employed to engage the sliding handle in a stationary position. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the subject matter includes movable and/or removable retention elements to permit a passenger to customize handle stop positions. 
         [0013]    In a further embodiment the sliding grab handle apparatus is biased so that the sliding handle remains at rest in a rearward position and under tension when in a detented, forward position. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a spring element located on the sliding or fixed rail operable to create the aforementioned bias. It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that the spring element may be positioned so that the handle will be at rest in the forward position and under tension in the rearward position. 
         [0014]    Advantages of the present disclosures include improved ergonomics, egress and ingress for vehicle passengers. The subject matter herein is exceptionally beneficial to elderly passengers, children and any person who might experience difficulty opening/closing a car door. In addition, the present subject matter is useful in that it allows a passenger to maintain a grip on the door for a longer period of time, thus ameliorating situations that normally might jerk the door from the grasp of the passenger, such as wind gusts, downhill parking orientation and the like. It will be apparent that the presently disclosed subject matter is particularly useful when employed in larger vehicles having heavy and/or long doors, such as large coupes and trucks. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    To assist those of ordinary skill in the relevant art in making and using the subject matter hereof, reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a sliding grab handle apparatus on an interior side of a vehicle passenger door in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein a handle is shown in ghost to depict the rearward position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of the sliding grab handle apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken through the line A-A′ in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an elevated front perspective view of a sliding grab handle apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the sliding grab handle apparatus of  FIG. 2  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a sliding grab handle apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a support panel with detents and handle substrate with a corresponding detent engaging element in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a sliding grab handle apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a sliding grab handle apparatus on an interior side of a vehicle passenger door, with arrows indicating potential movement fore and aft, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the sliding grab handle apparatus of  FIG. 7  taken through the line B-B′ in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the sliding grab handle apparatus of  FIG. 7  showing a glide of the handle in ghost in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a sliding grab handle apparatus on an interior side of a vehicle passenger door showing glides of the handle in ghost in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0028]    Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle door  2  is shown which includes a sliding grab handle apparatus  10  including a handle support  20  and slidable handle  30 . The slidable handle  30  is mounted on and movable along at least a portion of the length of the handle support  20 , as shown by the arrows D 1  and D 2  indicating rearward and forward directions, respectively. The handle support  20  is mounted substantially horizontally on an interior, passenger compartment-facing side of the vehicle door in a location and position suitable for a standard grab handle, for example, between the top of the door window sill and an interior arm rest (not shown). The slidable handle  30  may be mounted on the handle support  20  in any suitable manner. Now referring to  FIG. 1A , the slidable handle  30  may include a bore or aperture  31  oriented along a longitudinal axis of the handle  30 , in which the handle support  20  may be received. The handle support  20  may be attached at each end to the vehicle door  2 , so that the slidable handle  30  is freely movable forward and backward substantially horizontally between the two ends of the handle support  20 . The handle support  20  may be mounted to a vehicle door interior panel  40 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the slidable handle  30  need not fully enclose the handle support  20  to provide secure and slidable engagement therewith. 
         [0029]    Now referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an alternate embodiment of a sliding grab handle apparatus  10  includes a handle support and sliding handle  30 . Handle support  20  may include a handle guide  42  extending vertically with respect to a vehicle floor, a support panel  50  and a rail  52  mounted along an exterior side of support panel  50 . Guide  42  may be an extension of an interior door panel  40  or may be a separate element mounted on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door  2 . Sliding handle  30  may include an exterior skin  32 , an intermediate layer  34 , a substrate  36  and a handle rail  38  mounted on the substrate  36  of the handle  30 . 
         [0030]    The skin  32  is attached to the intermediate layer  34  using, for example, an adhesive or flame bonding. The intermediate layer  34  is attached to the substrate  36 , for example, using an adhesive. The substrate  36  forms the base for the structure of the sliding handle  30  and may be any suitable material such as metal, plastic, wood or the like. The skin  32  can be any suitable material such as leather, imitation leather material such as but not limited to imitation leather formed from thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU), or the like. The intermediate layer  34  may be a soft material such as foam, cloth or the like. The intermediate layer  34  can comprise an open or closed-cell, non-porous foam structure, which results in a less absorbent, firmer material that may permit skiving various profiles therein. In one embodiment the foam layer  24  comprises a polypropylene foam having the aforementioned properties. It will be apparent to a skilled artisan that any suitable foam may be employed, such as polyurethane, PVC foam and the like. 
         [0031]    Support panel  50  may be located on the side of the interior door panel  40  that faces opposite the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Support panel  50  is configured and positioned to provide structural support to the guide  42  of handle support  20 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , as is discussed further hereinbelow, support panel  50  may include one or more retention elements  54  to engage the sliding handle  30  in a fixed position, and/or a biasing element  58 . 
         [0032]    With further reference to  FIG. 4 , sliding handle rail  38  is coupled to the handle support rail  52  such that the sliding handle  30  is slidable forward and back along the handle support rail  52 . Rails  38  and  52  may be any suitable rails providing slidable engagement, such as those employed in sliding drawers. 
         [0033]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , support panel  50  may include one or more retention elements which may be detents  54  operable to engage one or more corresponding detent element(s)  37  located on a portion of the sliding handle  30 . Corresponding detent element  37  may be for example a tab extending from the surface of substrate  36 . It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that the detents  54  may be located on the sliding handle substrate  36  and the corresponding detent element(s)  37  may be located on the support panel  50 . It will also be apparent the detents  54  and corresponding detent element(s) may be positioned at other suitable locations on the substrate  36  and at positions on or adjacent the interior trim panel  40  adjacent to the substrate  36 . By employing detents  54  and corresponding detent elements  37  the sliding handle  30  is configured to be securable in one or more fixed positions, such as a rearward, forward and/or intermediate position along the length of the handle support  20 . 
         [0034]    In a further embodiment one or more detents  54  may be removably fixed to the support panel  50 . For example, detents  54  may include a clip operable to engage an edge of the support panel  50 . Detents  54  may be designed according to old and well-known techniques to snap-fit to the support panel  50  or other suitable elements. In this way the location at which the sliding handle  30  may be temporarily fixed with respect to the handle support  20  may be adjusted. 
         [0035]    It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that other retention elements may be employed and removably fixed to the sliding handle  30 , handle support  20  or other elements. Suitable retention elements include magnets, clips, hooks and the like. 
         [0036]    The apparatus  10  may further include a biasing element so that the sliding handle  30  remains at rest in a rearward position and under tension when moved forward, and in a detented, forward position. Now referring to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment the apparatus  10  includes a spring  58 , in this example a flat sheet fixed at one end of the rail  52  and spooled on a bracket  39  extending from a leading edge of the handle rail  38  operable to create a bias such that the handle  30  remains at rest in the rearward position. As the handle  30  is moved forward, the spring  58  is tensioned and when the handle  30  engages a detent  54 , the handle  30  is under tension in the detented position. It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that the spring  58  may be fixed at the opposite end of the rail  52  so that the handle  30  will be at rest in the forward position and under tension in the rearward position. 
         [0037]    Now referring to  FIG. 7 , a sliding grab handle apparatus includes handle support  20  which is an elongated section having a channel  22  formed therein and handle  30  having a glide extending therefrom. In accordance with this embodiment handle support  20  is mountable to an interior surface of a vehicle door  2 . With further reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , glide  39  is slidably engaged in channel  22  so that the handle  30  may be moved fore and aft as indicated by the arrow C. An optional retention element  54  may be for example a magnet which releasably engages the handle  30  when handle  30  includes metal, and vice-versa. 
         [0038]    Now referring to  FIG. 8 , the handle support  20  may include plural elongated elements with channels  22  formed along a long axis thereof. Handle  30  may include plural glides  22  slidably mounted to the channels  22 . 
         [0039]    The subject matter disclosed herein is exceptionally beneficial to elderly passengers, children and any person who might experience difficulty opening/closing a car door. In addition, the present subject matter allows a passenger to maintain a grip on the door for a longer period of time, thus providing enhanced grip and control of a vehicle door when the door is subjected to unexpected forces such as wind gusts, downhill parking orientation and the like. The presently disclosed subject matter is particularly useful when employed in larger vehicles having heavy and/or long doors, such as large coupes and trucks. 
         [0040]    Although the apparatus of the present disclosure have been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited thereby. Indeed, the exemplary embodiments are implementations of the disclosed apparatus are provided for illustrative and non-limitative purposes. Changes, modifications, enhancements and/or refinements to the disclosed apparatus may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, such changes, modifications, enhancements and/or refinements are encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.