Patent ID: 8727402

Claim:
A door handle assembly for a vehicle door of the type having a latch mechanism to selectively retain the door in a closed position, the door handle assembly comprising: a handle reinforcement structure configured to be mounted to a vehicle door structure; an actuating member that can be moved from a first position to an unlatched position to unlatch a latch mechanism; an inertia lock member movably mounted to the handle reinforcement structure for movement from an unblocked position to a blocked position upon acceleration of the door handle assembly due to a vehicle side impact, wherein the inertia lock member prevents movement of the actuating member to the unlatched position when the inertia lock member is in the blocked position and permits movement of the actuating member to the unlatched position when the inertia lock member is in the unblocked position; and wherein: the handle reinforcement structure includes a predefined line of weakening and first and second portions on opposite sides of the line of weakening, and wherein the handle reinforcement structure deforms along the line of weakening when forces are applied to the first and second portions of the handle reinforcement structure, the handle reinforcement structure including a pushing surface that contacts the inertia lock member when the handle reinforcement structure deforms along the predefined line of weakening and moves the inertia lock member to the blocking position and thereby prevents movement of the actuating member to the unlatched position.