Actuating device for moving covers for vehicles
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsAndreas Rudolf, Fritz Göbel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuating apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) for moving covers (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702), in particular flush covers, for vehicles, wherein the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) is reversibly movable, and in particular pivotable, between a closed position and an open position in which the cover is arranged behind an outer skin of the vehicle, wherein the actuating apparatus (100) comprises the following: a kinematics for reversibly moving, in particular pivoting, the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) between the open position and the closed position; and a first sensor apparatus (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712) for detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702).
Claims20
An actuating apparatus to move a cover for covering a door handle recess of a vehicle, the cover moveable between a closed position in which the cover is flush with an outer skin of the vehicle, and an open position in which the cover is arranged within the handle recess behind the outer skin of the vehicle, the handle recess being configured for providing a suitable door handle engagement for a user's hand for operating the door when the cover is in the open position, the actuating apparatus comprising:
- a mechanism configured to pivot the cover between the open position in which the cover is positioned in the door handle recess, and the closed position;
- an electric motor configured to drive a pivoting motion of the cover via the mechanism;
- and
- a first sensor apparatus configured to detect the mechanism to detect whether the cover is in the open position or the closed position, wherein, when the cover has been pivoted to the open position, the sensor provides an electrical signal to an electric drive of an unlocking system for unlocking the door of the vehicle.
A door handle assembly for use in a vehicle having an opening, the door handle assembly comprising:
- a cover configured to move relative to the opening between an open position in which the cover is in a door handle recess, and a closed position in which the cover is flush with an outer skin of the vehicle, wherein the door handle recess is configured for providing a suitable door handle engagement for a user's hand for operating the door when the cover is in the open position;
- a mechanism configured to pivot the cover between the open position and the closed position;
- an electric motor configured to drive a pivoting motion of the cover via the mechanism;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect the mechanism to detect whether the cover is in the open position or the closed position,
- wherein, when the cover has been pivoted to the open position, the sensor provides an electrical signal to an electric drive of an unlocking system for unlocking the door of the vehicle.
An actuating apparatus configured to move a cover of a door handle recess in a vehicle relative to an opening in the vehicle to the door handle recess between an open position in which the cover is in the door handle recess, and a closed position in which the cover is flush with an outer skin of the vehicle, wherein the door handle recess is configured for providing a suitable door handle engagement for a user's hand for operating the door when the cover is in the open position, the actuating apparatus comprising:
- a mechanism configured to pivot the cover between the open position and the closed position;
- an electric motor configured to drive a pivoting motion of the cover via the mechanism;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect the mechanism to detect whether the cover is in the open position or the closed position,
- wherein, when the cover has been pivoted to the open position, the sensor provides an electrical signal to an electric drive of an unlocking system for unlocking the door of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.