Patent ID: 8196977

Claim:
A door handle structure found on the outside of a vehicle, comprising: a door handle including a handle base member installed to the inside of a door panel and a handle grip member coupled to the outside of the door panel, wherein a portion of the handle grip member is pivotally coupled to the handle base member, and wherein the door panel and the handle grip member form a contacting surface therebetween when the door handle is locked; and a lighting device installed to the door panel, including: at least a light emitting diode (LED) lamp which is installed at the handle base member and configured to emit a light source through a recess formed on the door panel; and a band member configured to receive the light source through the recess from the LED lamp and emit the light source towards the outside of the vehicle; wherein the band member surrounds the contacting surface between the door panel and the handle grip member.