DE102024120211A1 - Grab handle on car door - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door with an interior door panel (1) which has a handle (2). It is proposed that the handle (2) is designed as an engagement recess (3) with an outer wall (4) oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and an inner wall (6) opposite it, wherein the outer wall (4) and the inner wall (6) are connected to each other via a base wall (7).

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door with an interior door panel, having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Motor vehicle doors with interior door panels are well-known. The interior door panel is installed on a door frame in the usual manner and features a variety of operating and comfort elements. For example, devices for operating a window that is movable in the vehicle door are located on the interior door panel. An armrest may be located on the interior door panel for resting an arm. A storage compartment for items may also be located on the interior door panel. A control for unlocking a door lock is also provided, which can be operated by an occupant when they wish to open the vehicle door. A grab handle, located on the interior door panel, is typically used to open and close the vehicle door. The grab handle can also be used if the occupant feels the need to hold on while the vehicle is in motion. For example, the grab handle is fixed to a predetermined location on the interior door panel and, in a complex manner, is sometimes screwed through the door panel to the door frame via two spaced-apart mounting points. The grab handle can also be designed as a separate component from the interior door panel, the mounting points of which may need to be loosened if the door frame or its internal components require access for servicing. This is disadvantageous, firstly because of the increased effort required for disassembly and reassembly, and secondly because the mounting points could fail after repeated disassembly and reassembly. Furthermore, the grab handle is usually positioned in a compromise location. When opening or closing the door, the grab handle remains in its fixed position, thus changing the distance to the occupant who uses the handle to open or close the vehicle door. This can make the required force and effort to grip the handle uncomfortable. Especially when the vehicle is parked on a slope, there is a possibility that the vehicle door may slip out of the occupant's hand, potentially injuring the occupant and/or the vehicle door.

In the US 2012 / 0 133 168 A1 A sliding device is disclosed that can form a grab handle for an interior vehicle door. The sliding device comprises a handle and a handle bracket, the handle bracket being attached to an interior part of a vehicle door, allowing the handle to be initially positioned in a rearward position to provide adequate torque assistance to a passenger opening the vehicle door from the inside. As the door opens, the handle can be moved to a more forward position so that the passenger can hold onto the grab handle throughout the entire opening process. While the grab handle is thus movable to different positions, the mechanism for attaching it to the vehicle door is also highly complex, making the device excessively expensive. Furthermore, the sliding mechanism must be kept in good working order at all times, especially since the sliding grab handle is always held in its last operating position.

The US 5 504 974 A This reveals a combination of a door lock operating handle and an exit/entry control bracket, suitable for use primarily on the interior, but also on the exterior, of a vertically oriented door for agricultural or industrial equipment with a cabin. It consists of two nearly door-width, U-shaped, interlocking, and generally horizontally mounted parts. One U-shaped part is a mounting/pivot and retaining bracket attached to the door, while the other is a pivoting door lock operating handle/pull bar. An unlocking position is generally directed upwards and outwards, with the lock operated by a cable, and a simple, gravity-based locking position is directed inwards and downwards.

A vehicle according to the US 8 443 552 B2 It has a mounting structure for installing a door protection strip. An insertion hole is formed in the upper section of a trim panel, and a lever handle receptacle is formed in a side section of the trim panel below the insertion hole. The end section of a lever handle is inserted into the lever handle receptacle. A cover portion of a trim panel is positioned on the inside of the lever handle receptacle and covers part of the receptacle, while the actuating part of the lever handle remains exposed towards the inside of the vehicle. A door protection strip is inserted into the insertion hole and attached to the inner door panel of the vehicle door. The cover portion of the trim panel covers the part of the door protection strip that is attached.

With the US 8 128 152 B2 A handle for a door panel is revealed, which has a handle with a lower end to which a mounting section is attached. It is designed to be attached to an armrest of the door panel and includes an upper end designed in the form of a handle to protrude from the upper end.

In view of the current state of the art, the arrangement of a grab handle on the interior door panel of a motor vehicle still offers room for improvement.

The invention is based on the objective of providing a motor vehicle door of the type mentioned above, which is improved with regard to handling and operability.

According to the invention, the problem is solved by a safety system with the features of claim 1, wherein the dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined in any technically sensible way and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

The invention provides an improved motor vehicle door. The term "motor vehicle" in this context refers specifically to a road vehicle, i.e., a vehicle suitable and approved for road use. In particular, this could be a passenger car, a truck, or a bus. There are no restrictions regarding the motor vehicle's propulsion system; it could, for example, be powered by an internal combustion engine using gasoline, diesel, LPG, hydrogen, or another gas as fuel. Alternatively or additionally, an electric motor could be provided, which could be supplied with energy, for example, by a battery unit and/or a fuel cell. Preferably, the motor vehicle has at least two axles, each with two wheels; however, deviations from this are also conceivable. The motor vehicle can be controlled by a driver, at least temporarily. However, it can also be designed to drive autonomously, at least temporarily, i.e., without driver control. For the sake of brevity, the motor vehicle will also be referred to as "vehicle" in the following text.

The illustration shows a motor vehicle door with an interior door panel that includes a grab handle. According to the invention, the grab handle is designed as a recessed grip with an outer wall oriented towards the exterior of the vehicle and an inner wall opposite it, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall are connected to each other via a base wall.

The invention provides an improved grab handle that is particularly cost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, the grab handle is always comfortable and ergonomically easy to grip without any special measures, eliminating the need for the vehicle occupant operating the door to contort themselves or exert excessive force.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle, i.e., the recessed grip, extends over the entire length of the interior door panel. The recessed grip is positioned in the interior door panel such that it extends from one end panel to the opposite end panel. This advantageously provides a universally accessible handle for a vehicle occupant who wishes to operate the door, as it is freely available without being fixed to a specific mounting point. This is independent of the occupant's body type and the position of the vehicle door. When opening the vehicle door, the occupant can slide their hand along the recessed grip, particularly along its inner surface, so that they can always hold the vehicle door securely, even in the event of gusts of wind or when the vehicle is parked on a slope, thus preventing damage to the vehicle door, other objects, or persons. The occupant can also hold the door securely when closing it. The vehicle door can thus be held in a convenient entry and/or exit position, even if the vehicle is parked on a slope.

In particular, the recess has a U-shaped design, which has an access opening on one side, i.e. opposite the base wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer wall may have a curved shape. This is advantageous because it enlarges the recessed area relative to the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the outer wall has a concave curve oriented towards the outside of the vehicle. The curved shape of the outer wall allows for a more comfortable opening, and the curvature also provides a sliding guide for the occupant's fingers.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the outer wall can have a curved section on The opening transitions into a flat, uncurved end section that terminates in the base wall. The operating occupant can thus easily reach into the opening and is guided along the outer wall with their hand or fingers, particularly along the curved section and the end section, until contact is made with the base wall.

In a further preferred embodiment, the inner wall has an inner side and an outer side. The inner side is oriented towards the outer wall, while the outer side is oriented opposite it, towards the vehicle interior. In a preferred embodiment, the inner side extends vertically upwards from the base wall and transitions into a rounded tip, to which the outer side adjoins. In a preferred embodiment, the outer side is angled relative to a horizontal line from the rounded tip towards the vehicle floor. In particular, the inner wall, with its vertical inner side and its angled, i.e., obliquely extending, outer side, is designed in the shape of a half-cone, which, in cross-section, thickens on its outer side, i.e., on the side facing the vehicle interior, towards the vehicle floor.

In a preferred embodiment, the sloping outer surface of the inner wall of the access opening transitions into a counter-sloping section of the door panel, thus forming a retaining lug. A palm and thumb, for example, could rest against this lug when the fingers, engaging the access openings, grip the inner surface of the inner wall to hold on, open, or close the vehicle door.

In a further preferred embodiment, the grab handle can be arranged below a window sill of the interior door panel. In a still further preferred embodiment, the grab handle, i.e., the grip recess, can be designed to slope upwards from one end to the other of the interior door panel. As already mentioned, the grab handle extends from one end face to the other, with the vehicle door pivotably connected to the body at one stop side. Opposite the stop side is a lock side of the vehicle door. It is advantageous, according to the invention, if the grab handle, i.e., the grip recess, is designed to slope upwards from the lock side towards the stop side. This further improves the ergonomics of the grab handle in the respective positions of the vehicle door.

The interior door panel can consist of several elements. These elements can be connected to a door frame. The handle can also be attached to a separate element and connected to the door frame. Alternatively, the elements can be pre-assembled and then connected to the door frame as a whole. In a preferred embodiment, the interior door panel can be manufactured in one piece. In this case, it is a single component, rather than multiple elements that must be precisely fitted together. The invention offers the advantage that, with a one-piece design of the receiving elements, alignment of the previously separate elements is no longer necessary. This eliminates unwanted joints; a mix of different materials is avoided, and these measures result in lower overall manufacturing costs. Compression molding or injection molding of a suitable material is envisioned. Plastics and/or natural fiber-reinforced plastics can be used to manufacture the interior door panel and covered with suitable materials such as leather, fabric, or foil. Naturally, intentionally created separation joints are entirely possible with regard to appearance. This, together with the high component precision, results in a high-quality impression.

• 1 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Türinnenverkleidung,
• 2 die Türinnenverkleidung aus 1 in einer anderen Perspektive mit einem Querschnitt in Hochrichtung der Türinnenverkleidung gesehen, und
• 3 einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus 2.

Further advantageous details and effects of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the figures. These show

• 1 a schematic side view of an interior door panel,
• 2 the door interior trim 1 seen from a different perspective with a cross-section in the vertical direction of the door interior paneling, and
• 3 an enlarged section from 2 .

In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

The 1 , 2 until 3 Figure 1 shows an interior door panel 1 for a motor vehicle door (not shown). The interior door panel 1 has a grab handle 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the grab handle 2 is designed as an engagement recess 3 with an outer wall 4 oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and an inner wall 6 opposite it, which are connected to each other via a base wall 7. As shown in the 1 and 2 As can be seen, the handgrip 2, i.e., the engagement recess 3, extends over the entire length of the Door interior trim 1, which is indicated by the double arrows 5.

Further elements are arranged on the inner door panel 1, such as an operating device 8 for unlocking a door lock (not shown in the figures). An armrest 9 is also arranged on the inner door panel 1. The inner door panel 1 also features an operating switch 11 for a motorized window. A storage compartment 12 and a loudspeaker 10 are also shown by way of example in the figures.

As can be seen from the figures, the recess 3 has a U-shaped design, which is open on one side, i.e., opposite the base wall 7, it has an opening 13. Therefore, the outer wall 4 and the inner wall 6 can be described as the legs of the U, and the base wall 7 as the base web.

The outer wall 4 has a curved shape with a bulge oriented towards the outside of the vehicle. This can also be described as a concave curve. As can be seen in the figures, the outer wall 4 has a curved section 14, which preferably transitions seamlessly into a flat end section 16. The end section 16 terminates in the base wall 7. The outer wall 4 thus has two sections 14 and 16 along which the occupant's fingers can guide when they want to grasp the grab handle 2. Due to the seamless transition between the two sections 14 and 16 and the gentle grip provided by the concave curve, the occupant is not injured even if they reach into the grip opening 13, i.e., the grab handle 2, more quickly than usual.

The inner wall 6, spaced from the outer wall 4 by the access opening 13, has an inner side 17 and an outer side 18. The inner side 17 is oriented towards the outer wall 4, while the outer side 17 is oriented opposite it, towards the interior of the vehicle. As can be seen in the figures, the inner side 17 extends vertically upwards away from the base wall 7 and transitions into a rounded point 19, to which the outer side 18 adjoins. The access opening 13 is thus bounded on one side by the point 19 and on the other side by the curved section 14. As shown in 3 The most easily recognizable feature is that the curved section 14 transitions at the height of the apex 19 into the uncurved section 16, which continues perpendicularly towards the base wall 7. The outer surface 18 is arranged at an angle to a horizontal line, extending from the rounded apex 19 towards a vehicle floor (not shown), i.e., away from the access opening 13. In particular, the inner wall 6, with its vertical inner surface 17 and its angled, i.e., obliquely running, outer surface 18, is designed in the form of a half-cone, which is located in the 2 The cross-section shown is thickened only on its outer side, i.e., only on the side facing the interior of the vehicle in the direction of the vehicle floor.

How best to 3 As can be seen by way of example, the sloping outer surface 18 of the inner wall 6 of the engagement recess 3 transitions into a counter-sloping section 21 of the inner door panel, thus forming a retaining lug 22. A palm and thumb, for instance, could rest against this lug when the fingers, engaging the engagement openings 13, grasp the inner surface 17 of the inner wall 6 to hold on, to hold, open, or close the vehicle door. The inner wall 6 can therefore also be referred to as a retaining wall.

How the 1 and 2 As can be further seen by way of example, the grab handle 2 is arranged below a window sill 23 of the interior door panel 1. The grab handle 2 is located in the upper third of the interior door panel 1. As shown by way of example, the grab handle 2, i.e., the engagement recess 3, is designed to slope upwards from one end wall 24 to the other, opposite end wall 26 of the interior door panel 1. For example, the vehicle door is pivotally connected to the body at a hinge side 27. Opposite the hinge side 27 is a lock side 28 of the vehicle door. The grab handle 2, i.e., the engagement recess 3, is designed to slope upwards from the lock side 28 towards the hinge side 27. As shown in particular in 1 As can be seen by way of example, the handrail 2, i.e. its opening 13, changes the distance to the window sill 23 increasingly as the handrail 2 is moved closer to the stop side 27.

The inner door panel 1 according to the embodiment shown in the 1 , 2 until 3 The door interior panel 1 is manufactured in one piece as an example, with any visible separation joints or offsets being introduced solely for aesthetic reasons, and exhibits a high degree of component accuracy overall, leaving a high impression of quality.

Reference symbol list:

1

Door interior panel

2

grab handle

3

intensification of the procedure

4

Exterior wall

5

Double arrow

6

Interior wall

7

Base wall

8

Actuating device

9

armrest

10

Speakers

11

Actuator switch

12

Storage compartment

13

Access opening

14

Section

16

Section

17

inside

18

Outside

19

Great

21

Section

22

Retaining nose

23

window sill

24

Front wall

26

Front wall

27

Stop side

28

Castle side

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2012 / 0 133 168 A1 [0003]
• US 5 504 974 A [0004]
• US 8 443 552 B2 [0005]
• US 8 128 152 B2 [0006]

Claims (9)

Motor vehicle door with an interior door panel (1) having a handle (2), characterized in that the handle (2) is designed as an engagement recess (3) with an outer wall (4) oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and an inner wall (6) opposite it, wherein the outer wall (4) and the inner wall (6) are connected to each other via a base wall (7). Motor vehicle door after Claim 1 , characterized in that the handle (2), i.e. the recess for engagement (3), extends over the entire length of the inner door panel (1). Motor vehicle door after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the handle (2) has a U-shaped design which is open on one side and has an engagement opening (13) opposite the base wall (7). Motor vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer wall (4) has a curved design. Motor vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer wall (4) has a curved section (14) which transitions into a non-curved end section (16) which terminates in the base wall (7). Motor vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner wall (6) has an inner side (17) and an outer side (18), wherein the inner side (17) is oriented towards the outer wall (4), and wherein the outer side (18) is oriented opposite it towards the interior of the vehicle. Motor vehicle door after Claim 6 , characterized in that the inner side (17) extends vertically upwards away from the base wall (7) and transitions there into a rounded tip (19), to which the outer side (18) is attached, wherein the outer side is arranged at an angle to a horizontal in its course from the rounded tip (19) towards a vehicle floor. Motor vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grab handle (2) is arranged below a window sill (23) of the inner door panel (1). Motor vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (2), i.e. the engagement recess (3), is designed to rise obliquely from one end to the other end of the inner door panel (1).