Vehicular exterior actuator with ratchet mechanism

A vehicular exterior door handle assembly, the vehicular exterior door handle assembly comprising:

• a base portion disposed at a door handle region of a vehicle door;
• a handle portion movable relative to the base portion between (i) a recessed position, where a grasping portion of the handle portion is recessed at the base portion, and (ii) a deployed position, where the grasping portion of the handle portion extends outward from the base portion;
• an actuator that is electrically operable to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the deployed position;
• wherein the actuator is disposed remote from the door handle region;
• a connection mechanism, wherein, when the actuator is electrically operated, the connection mechanism pivots relative to the base portion to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the deployed position;
• wherein the actuator electrically operates to pull and release a cable to pivot the connection mechanism to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the deployed position;
• wherein the connection mechanism, when the actuator is electrically operated to pull the cable, pivots in a first direction to move the handle portion from the recessed position toward the deployed position;
• wherein the connection mechanism comprises a biasing element that biases the connection mechanism in a second direction to move the handle portion toward the recessed position when the actuator releases the cable;
• wherein, responsive to tension in the cable being reduced by a threshold amount, the connection mechanism adjusts to increase tension in the cable;
• and
• wherein the connection mechanism comprises a ratcheting portion and a connection portion, and wherein the connection portion pivots relative to the ratcheting portion when the connection mechanism adjusts to increase tension in the cable.

A vehicular exterior door handle assembly, the vehicular exterior door handle assembly comprising:

• a base portion disposed at a door handle region of a vehicle door;
• a handle portion movable relative to the base portion between (i) a recessed position, where a grasping portion of the handle portion is recessed at the base portion, and (ii) a deployed position, where the grasping portion of the handle portion extends outward from the base portion;
• an actuator that is electrically operable to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the deployed position;
• a connection mechanism, wherein, when the actuator is electrically operated, the connection mechanism pivots relative to the base portion to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the deployed position;
• wherein the actuator electrically operates to pull and release a cable to pivot the connection mechanism to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the deployed position;
• wherein the connection mechanism, when the actuator is electrically operated to pull the cable, pivots in a first direction to move the handle portion from the recessed position toward the deployed position;
• wherein the connection mechanism comprises a biasing element that biases the connection mechanism in a second direction to move the handle portion toward the recessed position when the actuator releases the cable;
• wherein the connection mechanism comprises a ratcheting portion and a connection portion;
• wherein the biasing element biases the connection portion in the second direction relative to the ratcheting portion, and wherein the biasing element provides a biasing force that, responsive to tension in the cable being reduced by a threshold amount, pivots the connection portion in the second direction relative to the ratcheting portion to increase tension in the cable;
• and
• wherein the connection mechanism comprises a detent engagement surface between the ratcheting portion and the connection portion that allows the connection portion to pivot in the second direction relative to the ratcheting portion and precludes the connection portion from pivoting in the first direction relative to the ratcheting portion.