Flush powered slide door handle with self-centering bell crank

A self-centering, flush mounted handle assembly for a power slide door of a vehicle, the flush mounted handle assembly comprising:

• a case configured to be fixed within a recess of the power slide door of the vehicle;
• a bell crank coupled to a rear portion of the case and operatively connected to a release mechanism of the vehicle door, the bell crank including first and second lever arms, the bell crank being in a biased arrangement and configured to rotate in a first direction to selectively engage power mode and manual mode operations of the power slide door, and to return rotate in a second, opposite direction to a centered, rest position;
• and
• a pivoting handle base coupled to a first pivot axis extending through a center portion of the case, the handle base defining first and second drive arms extending a distance from a rear portion of the handle base and being movable about the first pivot axis configured to rotatably engage the bell crank when respective first and second opposing ends of the handle base are inwardly depressed,
• wherein, when the bell crank is driven by movement of one of the first and second drive arms into a power mode engagement position, a switch is contacted by the bell crank to signal an automated movement of the vehicle door, and
• wherein, when the bell crank is driven by further movement of the same one of the first and second drive arms into a manual mode engagement position, the bell crank manually operates the release mechanism.

A method for operating a handle assembly of a vehicle door and returning the handle assembly to a centered, rest position, the method comprising:

• depressing a first end of a pivoting handle base inward a distance into the handle assembly, thereby causing one of first and second drive arms extending a distance from a rear portion of the handle base to rotate a bell crank in a first rotational direction, the bell crank operatively connected to a release mechanism of the vehicle door;
• upon rotation of the bell crank driven by movement of one of the first and second drive arms into a power mode engagement position, actuating a switch sub-assembly configured to engage either an opening or closing operation of the vehicle door;
• upon further rotation of the bell crank driven by further movement of the same one of the first and second drive arms into a manual mode engagement position, manually operating the release mechanism;
• and
• releasing the first end of the handle base, permitting a biasing member to urge rotation of the bell crank in a second, opposite direction and returning the handle base to a centered, rest position.