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US 10,876,327 B2Granted
Single axis adjustment feature for flush door handles
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsThaddeus Wleklinski, III, Walter Belchine, III, Justin L. Ruzich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle door handle assembly (10) incorporating a dual sided adjustable male fastener (40). The dual sided adjustable male fastener (40) is adapted to be installed to an initial predefined preliminary position from the inside of the structure and then adjusted from the exterior at the point of final assembly to establish a flush orientation of the handle relative to surrounding components.
Claims18
A door handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising:
- a mating component configured to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle door, the mating component defining an interior and an underlying support;
- an outer support component configured to be positioned substantially flushed to an exterior surface of the vehicle door, the outer support component is at least partially disposed in the interior, the outer support component defining a transverse passageway configured to be aligned with the underlying support;
- a biasing element configured to be fitted within the interior of the mating component;
- and
- an adjustment feature configured to adjust the substantially flushed position of the outer support component with respect to the exterior of the door, the adjustment feature comprising a fastener threadably engaged with the outer support component via the transverse passageway, the fastener including
- a head having a first indenture, and
- a nipple opposite the head and having a second indenture;
- wherein, during assembly, the biasing element is fitted into the interior of the mating element and the outer support component is placed against the biasing element such that the head of the fastener rests against the biasing element and, after assembly, the position of the outer support component is configured to be adjusted by adjusting the position of the fastener within the transverse passageway by way of the second indenture.
5 more elements
A door handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising:
- a mating component configured to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle door, the mating component defining an interior and an opening;
- an underlying support extending through the opening into the interior;
- an outer support component configured to be positioned substantially flushed to an exterior surface of the vehicle door, the outer support component is at least partially disposed in the interior, the outer support component defining a transverse passageway configured to be aligned with the underlying support;
- an adjustment feature configured to adjust the substantially flushed position of the outer support component with respect to the exterior surface of the door, the adjustment feature comprising a fastener threadably engaged with the outer support component via the transverse passageway, the fastener including
- a head having a first indenture, and
- a nipple opposite the head and having a second indenture;
- and
- a biasing element configured to be fitted within the interior of the mating component;
- wherein, during assembly, the biasing element is fitted into the interior of the mating element and the outer support component is placed against the biasing element such that the head of the fastener rests against the biasing element and, after assembly, the position of the outer support component is configured to be adjusted by adjusting the position of the fastener within the transverse passageway by way of the second indenture.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.