Patent ID: 7568744

Claim:
A vehicle door handle assembly installed to an outside door panel having a first side having an outer surface and a second side having an inner surface, with a first handle receiving aperture extending between the inner and outer surfaces at a first location and a second handle receiving aperture extending between the inner and outer surfaces at a second location that is longitudinally spaced from the first handle receiving aperture, the vehicle door handle assembly comprising: a mounting bracket mounted to the outside door panel; and a handle pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket to pivot about a pivot axis between a latching position and a latch release position, the handle being an elongated member with a grip portion disposed on the first side of the panel, a counterbalancing portion disposed on the second side of the panel, and a pivot portion connecting the grip portion and the counterbalancing portion together, the grip portion including a first end with a latch projection extending through the first handle receiving aperture and a second end connected to the pivot portion, which extends through the second handle receiving aperture, the pivot axis being located at a first lateral side of the second handle receiving aperture and the first handle receiving aperture being located at a second lateral side of the second handle receiving aperture opposite the first lateral side when viewed perpendicularly to the outer surface of the outside door panel, the grip portion and the counterbalancing portion being configured and dimensioned such that a center of gravity of the handle is located proximate the pivot axis.