DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A door handle assembly (1) for a vehicle, wherein the door handle assembly includes a handle support (2) and a grip (3) for opening a door or flap of the vehicle, wherein the door handle assembly is configured in order to be transferable between a mounting state and an operating state, wherein, in the mounting state of the door handle assembly, at least one first end region (4) of the grip (3) can be inserted or plugged into a receiving region (5) formed in the handle support (2) and in particular configured in order to be channel- or shaft-shaped, and wherein, in the operating state of the door handle assembly, the grip (3) is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support (2) via a pivot bearing formed during the change from the mounting state to the operating state about a pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing.

Claims

1. A door handle assembly for a vehicle, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle support and a grip for opening a door or flap of the vehicle, wherein the door handle assembly is configured in order to be transferable between a mounting state and an operating state by a mounting element, which is pivotably fastened to the handle support, wherein, in the mounting state of the door handle assembly, at least one first end region of the grip can be inserted or plugged into a receiving region formed in the handle support and configured in order to be channel- or shaft-shaped, and wherein, in the operating state of the door handle assembly, the grip is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support via a pivot bearing formed during the change from the mounting state to the operating state about a pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing.

2. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the operating state of the door handle assembly, the at least one first end region of the grip is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support via the pivot bearing formed during the change from the mounting state to the operating state, wherein the pivot bearing formed in the operating state comprises at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt, which interacts with a bearing eye formed or provided in or at the first end region in such a way that a corresponding pivot bearing is formed for the pivotable bearing of the grip relative to the handle support.

3. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting element is configured in order to be transferrable between a mounting state and an operating state, wherein the mounting element is configured in order to form the pivot bearing for the pivotable bearing of the grip relative to the handle support during the change from the mounting state to the operating state.

4. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting element is configured in order to manipulate the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt and/or the at least one bearing eye associated with the bearing pin or bearing bolt when changing from the mounting state to the operating state such that the pivot bearing is configured in order to pivotably bear the grip relative to the handle support with the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt and the at least one bearing eye.

5. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the handle support comprises at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt, wherein the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt is movably, and in particular slidably, held in the direction of a pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing when changing from the mounting state to the operating state of the door handle assembly, wherein, when transferring the mounting element from its mounting position into its operating position, the mounting element manipulates the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt in such a way that it is moved in the direction of the pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing when changing from the mounting state to the operating state of the door handle assembly such that the pivot bearing is formed with the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt and a bearing eye in or at the first end region of the grip.

6. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt comprises a head region having an insertion slope, wherein the mounting element comprises a region configured in order to be complementary to the insertion slope, in particular such that when the mounting element is transferred out of its mounting position into its operating position, the result is an at least partial rotational movement of the mounting element into a linear displacement of the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt in the direction of the pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing formed during the change from the mounting state into the operating state of the door handle assembly.

7. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting element is configured such that when transferring the mounting element from its mounting position into its operating position, the mounting element levers the at least one bearing pin or bearing bolt according to the inclined plane principle at least regionally into a bearing eye formed in or at the first end region of the grip.

8. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the mounting state of the door handle assembly, the mounting element is held in a mounting position by the handle support via a releasable latching or snapping connection, wherein the mounting element is held biased in its mounting position with the aid of a spring element.

9. The door handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein the spring element is configured as a double leg spring.

10. The door handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein connecting means are formed at the first end region of the grip, in the form of latching or snapping connecting means, which are configured such that, upon insertion of the first end region of the grip, the connecting means can be brought into operative engagement with the mounting element and/or into an operative connection with the spring element in a self-aligning and/or self-centering manner, via a latching or snapping connection, such that when the grip is manipulated in its state of being inserted in the receiving region, which is formed in the handle support and is channel- or shaft-shaped, and upon pivoting of the grip relative to the handle support, the mounting element can be transferred from its mounting position into an operating position in which the mounting position of the mounting element, realized via the latching or snapping connection, is lifted.

11. The door handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein the spring element is configured in order to bias the grip into a direction corresponding to its closed position after the transition of the mounting element into its operating position with the first end region of the grip operatively connected thereto.

12. The door handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein the mounting element is fastened to the handle support and is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support and the grip, wherein a pivot axis, about which the mounting element is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support and the grip, coincides with the pivot axis or at least runs parallel to the pivot axis, about which the grip is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support in the operating state of the door handle assembly.

13. A vehicle having a door or a flap and a door handle assembly according to claim 1 associated with the door or flap.

14. A method of assembling a door handle assembly for a vehicle, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle support and a grip for opening a door or flap of the vehicle, and wherein the door handle assembly is configured in order to be transferable between a mounting state and an operating state, wherein, for the mounting, the handle support is fastened internally or externally to the door or flap and subsequently a first end region of the grip is inserted or plugged in through a recess in the door or flap for fastening at the handle support in a receiving region configured in the handle support and configured in order to be channel- or shaft-shaped, wherein, upon insertion or plugging into the channel- or shaft-shaped receiving region, the at least one first end region of the grip enters into operative connection with a mounting element of the door handle assembly, which is configured in order to be transferable between a mounting state and an operating state, wherein the mounting element is configured in order to form, when switching from the mounting state to the operating state, the pivot bearing for the pivotable bearing of the grip relative to the handle support.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, in order to change from the mounting state into the operating state, the grip is moved, in particular pivoted, along with the mounting element operatively connected thereto via the first end region of the grip in the direction of an open position of the grip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] An exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention is described in further detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] The following are shown:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows schematically and in an isometric view, an exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention, wherein the door handle assembly is in its mounting state, the grip is not yet inserted or plugged into the channel- or shaft-shaped recess of the handle support, and the handle support is not yet fastened/mounted on the vehicle door or body component;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention, wherein the door handle assembly is in its mounting state, the grip is not yet inserted and in particular plugged into the channel- or shaft-shaped receiving region of the handle support, and the handle support is fastened/mounted to the door or body component;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention upon changing the door handle assembly from the mounting state to an operating state in which the grip is inserted or plugged into the channel- or shaft-shaped receptacle of the handle support;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows schematically and in an isometric exploded view, the handle support of the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows schematically and in an isometric detail view, the grip of the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 6 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the handle support of the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention, wherein the handle support is in a mounting state and is fastened/mounted to the vehicle door or body component;

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a further schematic, isometric view of the handle support according to FIG. 6;

[0045] FIG. 8 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the handle support according to FIG. 4, wherein a first end region of the grip is already inserted/plugged into the channel- or shaft-shaped recess of the handle support;

[0046] FIG. 9 shows schematically and in a further isometric view, the handle support according to FIG. 8;

[0047] FIG. 10 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the handle support according to FIG. 6, namely in a state in which the first end region of the grip is operatively connected to a mounting element of the handle support;

[0048] FIG. 11 shows schematically and in a further isometric view, the handle support according to FIG. 10;

[0049] FIG. 12 shows schematically and in an isometric view, a region of the handle support with a bearing pin or a bearing journal that is not yet activated/manipulated with the aid of the mounting element for forming a pivot bearing for the grip;

[0050] FIG. 13 shows schematically and in an isometric view, a region of the handle support with two mutually opposed bearing pins or bearing bolts that are not yet activated/manipulated with the aid of the mounting element for forming the pivot bearing for the grip;

[0051] FIG. 14 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the region of the handle support according to FIG. 12, however this time in a state in which the bearing pin/bearing bolt is already manipulated with the aid of the mounting element and forms the pivot bearing for the grip of the door handle assembly;

[0052] FIG. 15 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the region of the handle support according to FIG. 11, namely this time in a state in which both bearing pins or bearing bolts are already manipulated by the mounting element and form the pivot bearing for the grip;

[0053] FIG. 16A-16C show schematically and in a sectional view, respectively, the sequence of how the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention is transferable from its mounting state (FIG. 16A) into its operating state (FIG. 16C);

[0054] FIG. 17 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the handle support of the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention, wherein the door handle assembly is in its mounting state and the first end region of the grip is already inserted into the channel- or shaft-shaped recess of the handle support but is not yet in operative connection with the mounting element;

[0055] FIG. 18 shows schematically, a further isometric view of the handle support according to FIG. 17;

[0056] FIG. 19 shows schematically and in an isometric view, the handle support according to FIG. 15, wherein however the door handle assembly is in its operating state; and

[0057] FIG. 20 shows schematically, a further isometric view of the door handle assembly according to FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] With reference to the accompanying drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly 1 according to the invention and a mounting method of the door handle assembly 1 according to the invention are described in further detail below.

[0059] The door handle assembly 1 according to the invention can be embodied as an inner or outer handle, wherein the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings relates to a door handle assembly 1 for an inner door handle.

[0060] The door handle assembly 1 is thus, in particular, an inner door handle assembly, which serves to open and/or close a vehicle door, in particular proceeding from inside the vehicle. To this end, the door handle assembly 1 is mounted in the interior of a vehicle, such as a passenger vehicle or a commercial truck. The invention accordingly also relates to a vehicle having a door handle assembly 1 mounted therein.

[0061] As shown in the drawings, the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly 1 according to the invention comprises a handle support 2 via which a grip 3 for opening a door or flap of the vehicle is fastened or fastenable.

[0062] The handle support 2 shown schematically and in an exploded view in FIG. 4 essentially comprises a housing 15 in which two mutually opposed bearing pins or bearing bolt 7 are held. As will be described in further detail below, these bearing pins or bearing bolts 7 serve to form a pivot bearing in the operating state of the door handle assembly 1, via which bearing the grip 3 is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support 2 about a pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing.

[0063] The handle support 2 further comprises a mounting element 6, which is pivotably mounted on the handle support 2 about a pivot axis relative to the handle support 2. The mounting element 6 serves to transfer the door handle assembly 1 or the handle support 2 of the door handle assembly 1 from a mounting state into an operating state.

[0064] The mounting element 6 is further associated with a spring element 10, which, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, is embodied in particular as a double leg spring.

[0065] Moreover, attenuating elements 9 preferably consisting of an elastomeric material can be provided in order to attenuate the movement of the grip 3 relative to the handle support 2 in the operating state of the door handle assembly 1.

[0066] The grip 3 of the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly 1 according to the invention is shown schematically and by itself in FIG. 5.

[0067] The grip 3 serves as an actuating portion, which a vehicle occupant can manually actuate, for example by gripping. In the operating state of the door handle assembly 1, the grip 3 is movably, in particular pivotably, mounted on the handle support 2, wherein a translational movement of the grip 3 relative to the handle support 2 is generally also conceivable.

[0068] The grip 3 is, for example, a handle lever pivotably mounted on the handle support 2. However, the grip 3 can also be, for example, a button or the like actuated by a vehicle occupant. The grip 3 can be configured in order to be actuated by a vehicle occupant, in particular, in order to open and/or close a vehicle door, in particular from the inside.

[0069] The grip 3 of the exemplary embodiment of the door handle assembly 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings has a first end region 4, which is configured in order to be inserted, and in particular plugged, into a channel- or shaft-shaped receptacle 5 of the handle support 2.

[0070] The grip 3 comprises two opposing bearing eyes 8, which are configured to be at least regionally complementary to the two bearing pins/bearing bolts 7 of the handle support 2.

[0071] As will be described in further detail below, when changing from the mounting state into the operating state of the door handle assembly 1, the bearing pins/bearing bolts 7 are retracted into the correspondingly associated bearing eyes 8 of the grip 3, so as to form the pivot bearing, via which the grip 3 is pivotably mounted relative to the handle support 2 about a pivot axis specified by the pivot bearing in the operating state of the door handle assembly 1.

[0072] As shown schematically in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in order to mount the door handle assembly 1, the handle support 2 is fastened on the inside or outside of the door or corresponding body component 13 of the door.

[0073] The first end region of the grip 3 is subsequently inserted, and in particular plugged, into the channel- or shaft-shaped receiving region 5 formed in the handle support 2 through a recess or opening 14 in the door or in the body component 13 of the door for affixing to the handle support 2.

[0074] Upon insertion or plugging into the channel- or shaft-shaped receiving region 5, the first end region 4 of the grip 3 enters into operative connection with the aforementioned mounting element 6 of the handle support 2. The mounting element 6 itself is configured in order to be transferable between a mounting state and an operating state. In particular, the mounting element 6 is configured in order to form the pivot bearing for the pivotable bearing of the grip 3 relative to the handle support 2 when changing from the mounting state to the operating state.

[0075] For this purpose, the mounting element 6 manipulates the two mutually opposed bearing pins or bearing bolts 7 such that the pivot bearing for pivotable mounting of the grip 3 relative to the handle support 2 is formed with the two bearing pins or bearing bolts 7 and the correspondingly associated bearing eyes 8 of the grip 3.

[0076] As can be seen, in particular, from the illustrations in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in the mounting state of the door handle assembly 1, the mounting element 6 is held in a mounting position by the handle support 2 via a releasable latching or snapping connection 11. A spring element 10 in the form of the aforementioned double leg spring is also used in order to hold the mounting element 6 biased in its mounting position.

[0077] At the first end region 4 of the grip 3, there are connecting means 12, preferably in the form of latching or snapping connecting means, which serve to enter into operative connection with the mounting element 6 or with the center leg of the double leg spring 10 preferably in a self-aligning and/or self-centering manner upon insertion, in particular plugging, of the first end region 4 of the grip 3 into the channel- or shaft-shaped receiving region of the handle support 2.

[0078] In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, respectively, a state is shown in which the connecting means at the first end region 4 of the grip 3 are standing shortly before the formation of an operative engagement with the center leg of the double leg spring 10.

[0079] After the first end region of the grip 3 is connected to the center leg of the double leg spring 10, the latching or snapping connection, with which the mounting element 6 is held on the handle support 2 in the mounting state of the door handle assembly 1, is released. By a pivoting of the grip 3, the mounting element 6 operatively connected to the first end region 4 of the grip 3 is pivoted along and ultimately latches, as can be seen in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. Due to the pivoting of the mounting element 6, the bearing pins or bearing journals 7 are manipulated, as can be seen in particular from the sequence in FIG. 16A to 16C.

[0080] In detail, when transferring the mounting element 6 from its mounting position (see FIG. 6) into its operating position (see FIG. 10), the mounting element levers the bearing pins or bearing bolts 7 according to the inclined plane principle at least regionally into the bearing eyes 8 that are formed in or at the first end region 4 of the grip 3.

[0081] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments of the door handle assembly 1 according to the invention as shown in the drawings, but rather results when all of the features disclosed herein are considered together.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0082] 1 Door handle assembly

[0083] 2 Handle support

[0084] 3 Grip

[0085] 4 First end region of the grip

[0086] 5 Channel- or shaft-shaped receiving region of the handle support

[0087] 6 Mounting element

[0088] 7 Bearing pin/bearing bolt

[0089] 8 Bearing eye

[0090] 9 Attenuator

[0091] 10 Spring element/double leg spring

[0092] 11 Latching or snapping connection of the mounting element

[0093] 12 Latching or snapping connection at the first end region of the grip

[0094] 13 Body component

[0095] 14 Opening in the body component

[0096] 15 Housing