Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an external door handle for vehicles having a handle, arranged on the outer side of the door and being at least partially hollow, wherein the handle comprises at least one U-shaped shell whose U-space serves for receiving the electronic components, and wherein in the connected situation the U-shaped shell is spanned at the visible side by a C-shaped front strip and is anchored thereat. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The known handle is provided with a hollow space for receiving electronic components. For this reason, the known handle was configured of two shells comprised of a C-shaped base shell and a C-shaped cover shell connected with the leg ends of the base shell. A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the terminal snap-on connection of the shells does not provide a sufficient strength for the use as a door handle and that on the front side a contact seam is formed which is visually disruptive because at this visible location manufacturing tolerances that are present become particularly obvious. Moreover, this seam also provides the possibility that dirt can deposit on the front side and that moisture can penetrate into the interior space between the shells so that the components therein are impaired in their function. Also, the embedding of the electronic components in the upright inner shell by means of a synthetic resin is not a permanent solution because the resin will begin to creep over time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to develop a reliable external door handle of the aforementioned kind which prevents the aforementioned disadvantages and generates an especially good and, if needed, detachable connection between the two shells. This is achieved according to the invention in that the two C-end sections of the front strip engage an additional circumferential area of the U-shaped shell from above or from below and in that the electronic components are encapsulated water-tightly in a carrier open at the top. 
     The invention however is also of special importance when the handle is comprised of two shells, i.e., a U-shaped base shell and a cover shell between which the hollow space is formed. In this case, the C-shaped front strip acts like a clamp which presses the cover shell against the U-shaped base shell. This clamp-like connection is provided in addition to the usually already present connections between the two shells. In the case of this clamp connection of the two shells the contact seam between the two shells at the visible side is covered in any case. Even though this contact seam is still present, the access of soil or moisture into the interior of the space between the shells is made significantly more difficult. A type of labyrinth course is present. The detachable connection, if needed, is provided as a result of the C-ends snapped into place in the grooves at the top and bottom sides. 
     A further advantageous configuration is comprised of a U-shaped base shell which in the direction of the front strip to be applied has a U-shaped opening. Into this U-opening the carrier with the electronic components is slipped with precise fit. The front strip snapped into place on the base shell covers in this connection with its front section the U-opening of the base shell with the carrier positioned therein. 
     The carrier can be embodied as a container of hard plastic material which is open at the top so that from here during manufacture of the handle the electronic device can be inserted into the container. In order to protect the electronic device against sliding and exposure to media (for example, water), it is encapsulated in this container, for example, with a soft plastic material. In this connection, the opening of the container at the top is an advantage because the open top side of the container is planar, and a uniform filling of the container with the potting compound can be realized accordingly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further measures and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claim, the following description, and the drawings. In the drawings, the invention, in the form of two embodiments, and the prior art are illustrated. It is shown in: 
     FIG. 1 for a two-shell first embodiment of the invention a plan view onto the handle in the viewing direction of arrow I of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 2 on a greatly enlarged scale a schematic cross-section of the handle along the section line II—II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the invention embodied only with a single shell; 
     FIG. 4 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 2, the appearance of the known handle along the section line IV—IV of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 5 a front view of the known handle illustrated in FIG. 4 in a viewing direction of numeral V of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 2, a third embodiment of the invention embodied only with a single shell in a section according to VI—VI of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 7 for a single-shell embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 6 a plan view onto the handle in the viewing direction of arrow VII of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 a section according to VIII—VIII of FIG. 7 with the projection of a rearview of the front part of the handle; 
     FIG. 9 a section according to IX—IX of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 a front view of the third embodiment of the invention embodied only with a single shell. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the drawings only the bracket-shaped handle  10  of the external door handle appearing on the external side is illustrated. This handle, in the illustrated embodiment a so-called “pull handle”, is moveably supported with its two handle ends  11 ,  12  in a base part, not illustrated in detail. This base part is generally provided on the inner side of the door or of the skin of the door. In addition to the handle  10 , as illustrated in dash-dotted lines in FIG. 1, a so-called “cylinder column” is provided in which a closing cylinder can be received, if needed. The cylinder column  13  does not take part in the movement of the handle  10 . 
     The handle  10  is provided with a hollow space  14  illustrated in FIG. 2 in which a carrier  15  for electronic components is arranged. The electronic components  16  can be a ferrite rod acting as an antenna. For generating the hollow space  14  and for introducing the electronic components  16  and their carrier  15 , the handle  10 , as illustrated in the cross-section of FIG. 2, is of a two-shell configuration. 
     The latter is also true for the prior art which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used for identifying corresponding components but, as a differentiation, they are provided with a prime (apostrophe). The prior art handle  10 ′ is comprised of two shells  21 ′,  22 ′ for producing the prior art hollow space  14 ′. These include a U-shaped base shell  21 ′ whose two U-legs  23 ′ are connected by means of a cover shell  22 ′. For this purpose, a snap connection  24 ′ can be provided because both shells  21 ′,  22 ′ are made of plastic material which has a sufficient elasticity. In the connecting situation according to FIGS. 4 and 5 at the visible side  17 ′ of the handle  10  a contact seam  18 ′ results through which moisture or dirt can enter the hollow space  14 ′ via the engaged snap connection  24 . The visible side of the handle  10 ′ can be provided with an optionally rrmetallic decorative cover  19 ′. 
     The handle  10  according to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the invention has a comparable configuration as regards the above description. The components already described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 are provided with corresponding reference numerals, however, without the prime (apostrophe) being added in these figures. Accordingly, the preceding description applies. It is sufficient to only point out the differences. 
     In the case of the handle  10  according to the invention pursuant to FIGS. 1 and 2, a C-shaped front strip  20  is used which covers the two shells  21 ,  22  at the visible side. The front strip  20  itself now forms the actual visible side  17  of the handle and covers the contact seam  18 . The C-end sections  25  of the front strip  20  cover a circumferential area of the two shells  21 ,  22  where step-shaped recesses  26  are provided. Finally, the two free C-ends  27  engage an upper and a lower groove  29 ,  28  where they are arranged in a sunk arrangement. In the connecting situation clamping of the two shells  21 ,  22  by this front strip  22  is realized. 
     The aforementioned step  26  on the two shells  21 ,  22  has a step depth which corresponds approximately to the thickness of the end sections  25  of the front strip  20 . This has the result that the handle  10 , despite the clamped-on front strip  20 , has a substantially projection-free contour  30 . The front strip  20 , in turn, can be provided with a decorative cover  19 . Between the attached front strip  20  and the areas adjoining it and not covered of the two shells  21 ,  22 , a “shadow seam” illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be provided. This shadow seam  31  only benefits the good appearance of the handle according to the invention. This shadow seam  31  does not entail the risk discussed in connection with the known contact seam  18 ′ of FIG.  3 . Moisture penetrating in the area of the shadow seam  31  cannot reach the hollow space  14  of the handle  10  according to the invention because a closed wall is arranged therebetween in the case of both shells  21 ,  22 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a handle  10 ″ according to the invention which is a space-saving arrangement in comparison to FIG.  2 . For referencing analog components, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used so that in this respect the preceding description applies. It is sufficient to point out only the differences. 
     According to the invention, only a single U-shell  21  is provided whose U-opening  32  between the two U-legs  23 ″ is covered directly by the upper C-end section  25 ″ of the front strip  20 ″ provided thereat. This upper C-end section  25 ″ can also be provided with an inner hollow  33 . The two end sections  25 ″ provided here are arranged substantially parallel to one another and enable a sliding mounting of the two components  21 ,  20 ″ in the direction of the mounting arrow  35  illustrated in FIG.  3 . This results in an automatic snap connection  35  which is embodied in the following way. 
     One snap element  36  is arranged at the inner surface  38  of the end section  25 ″ and is comprised of a tooth recess. The bottom area  39  of the U-shell  21  has a corresponding counter snap element  37  which is formed by a tooth projection. Correspondingly, the outer U-leg  23 ″ of the shell  21  on the handle  10 ″ has such a tooth projection  37  on the leg end  40 . In this connection, the elements  37 ,  38  are profiled in a special way. 
     Accordingly, the tooth flank active in the sliding direction  34  of the front strip  20 ″ has a leading slant  41  against which the stretched C-end  27 ″ will impact during mounting. This results in a slight spreading of the two C-end sections  25 ″ until the tooth recess  36  snaps onto the tooth projection  37 . Detachment of the two components  21 ,  20 ″ in the direction of the counter movement illustrated in FIG. 3 by the arrow  43  is not possible easily because the oppositely positioned tooth flanks  42  active in this direction are steep. Detachment  43  is thus possible only with a corresponding spreading of the two end sections  25 ″ that are snapped into place. 
     In the second embodiment of the handle  10 ″ of FIG. 3, the U-space  44  of a single shell  21  is the hollow space for receiving the already described carrier  15  for the electronic components  16 . In this case, the bottom area  39  and the two leg ends  40  are without steps and in areal contact with the inner surfaces  38  of the two C-end sections  25 ″. 
     In a third embodiment of the handle  10 ′″ according to FIG.  6  and FIG. 10, a base shell  21 ′″ has a transversely positioned U-shaped configuration whose U-opening faces the front strip  20 ′″ provided here. The U-shape is formed of the two legs  47  and the base  48  of the base shell  21 ′″. Between the two legs  47  and the base  48  the U-space  44 ′ is formed into which the carrier  15  formed as a container of hart plastic material can be introduced via the lateral U-opening  32 ′. In the container  15  the electronic device  16  is encapsulated with a potting compound  46  in a water-tight and impact-proof way. The container  15  is open at the top so that the electronic device during manufacture can be introduced from above into the container and the encapsulation can take place also through the upper open surface of the container. The U-opening  32 ′ of the U-shaped base shell  21 ′″ is covered by the front section  45  of the front strip  20 ′″. This front strip  20 ′″ is secured on the base shell  21 ′″ by means of the hook-shaped C-ends  27  engaging in the upper groove  29 ′ and the bottom groove  28 ′ on the base shell  21 ′″. In this embodiment there is no seam on the visible side  17  of the front strip  20 ′″. The visible shadow seam  31  in this embodiment is instead provided between the C-end sections  25  and the visible outer sides of the legs  47  of the base shell  21 ′″, respectively. 
     In FIGS. 7 through 9 it is illustrated in which operation the exit of a cable  50  of the handle  10 ′″ is arranged. This holds true also in an exemplary fashion for all further embodiments of the present invention. In the base shell  21 ′″ of the handle  10 ′″ in the area of the handle end  12  a penetration  52  is provided through which the cable  50 , which extends from the container/carrier  15 , is guided. This penetration could also be provided, for example, in the positions  52 ′,  52 ″,  52 ′″. Also, several such penetrations  52 ,  52 ′,  52 ″,  52 ′″ could be provided. When the handle is mounted on the door of the vehicle, the cable exit is covered and not visible to the user. The cable  50  is provided with a connecting plug  51  with which the electronic device, provided within the container  15 , is connected to the electronic system of the vehicle. 
     List of Reference Numerals 
       10 ,  10 ′ handle 
       10 ″ alternative to  10  (FIG. 3) 
       10 ′″ alternative to  10  (FIG. 6) 
       11 ,  11 ′ handle end of  10  or  10 ′ 
       12  handle end 
       13 ,  13 ′ cylinder column at  10 ,  10 ′ 
       14 ,  14 ′ hollow space in  10  or  10 ′ 
       15 ,  15 ′ carrier for  16  or  16 ′ 
       16 ,  16 ′ electronic components, ferrite rod 
       17 ,  17 ′ visible side of  10  or  10 ′ 
       18 ,  18 ′ contact seam between  21 ,  22  or  21 ′,  22 ′ 
       19 ,  19 ′ decorative cover 
       20  C-shaped front strip on  10   
       20 ″ front strip for  10 ″ (FIG. 3) 
       20 ′″ front strip for  10 ″ (FIG. 6) 
       21 ,  21 ′, 21 ″,  21 ′″ U-shell, U-shaped base shell 
       22 ,  22 ′ cover shell 
       23 ,  23 ′ leg of  21  or  21 ′ 
       23 ″ leg of  21  at  10 ″ (FIG. 3) 
       24 ,  24 ′ snap connection between  23 ,  22  or  23 ′,  22 ′ 
       25  end sections of  20   
       25 ″ end section of  20 ″ (FIG. 3) 
       26  step-shaped recess in  21 ,  22   
       27  hook-shaped C-end of  20   
       27 ″ end of  25 ″ 
       28 ,  28 ′ lower groove in  21 ,  21 ″ 
       29  upper groove in  22   
       29 ′ upper groove in  21 ′ 
     contour of  10   
     shadow seam at  25   
     opening of  21  (FIG. 3) 
     opening of  21 ″ (FIG. 6) 
     hollow of  25 ″ (FIG. 3) 
     mounting arrow for  20 ″ (FIG. 3) 
     snap connection of  36 ,  37   
     snap element of  35 , tooth recess 
     counter snap element of  35 , tooth projection 
     inner surface of  25 ″ (FIG. 3) 
     bottom area of  21   
     leg end at end face of  23 ″ (FIG. 3) 
     leading slant of  37   
     steep tooth flank of  37   
     mounting arrow of  20 ″ (FIG. 3) 
     space in  21  (FIG. 3) 
     space in  21 ″ (FIG. 6) 
     front section of  20 ′ 
     potting compound 
     leg of  21 ″ at  10 ′″ 
     base of  21 ″ at  10 ′″ 
     cable 
     connecting plug 
     penetration 
       52 ″,  52 ′″ penetrations

Technology Category: 4