Retractable assist handle assembly for a vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMangesh Kadam, Srinivas Reddy Malapati
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle assist handle assembly includes a support structure. A releasable connector is coupled to the support structure. The assist handle support structure has a first end and a second end. The first end has a pivot connector that connects the first end to the support structure and allows the first end to rotate about a pivot axis. The second end is coupled to the releasable connector to connect the second end to the support structure in a use position and is releasable to release the second end. A spring biases the assist handle towards the retracted position. An actuator is configured to release the releasable connector to allow the second end to rotate about the first end to the retracted position.
Claims17
A vehicle assist handle assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a releasable connector coupled to the support structure;
- an assist handle supported on the support structure and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a pivot connector that connects the first end to the support structure and allows the first end to rotate about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the assist handle, and wherein the second end is coupled to the releasable connector to connect the second end to the support structure in a use position and is releasable to release the second end;
- a spring biasing the assist handle towards a retracted position;
- and
- an actuator configured to release the releasable connector to allow the second end to rotate about the first end to the retracted position.
A vehicle assist handle assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a releasable connector coupled to the support structure;
- an assist handle supported on the support structure and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a pivot connector that connects the first end to the support structure and allows the first end to rotate about a pivot axis, and wherein the second end is coupled to the releasable connector to connect the second end to the support structure in a use position and is releasable to release the second end, wherein the second end is an upper end in the use position of the assist handle;
- a spring biasing the assist handle towards a retracted position;
- and
- an actuator configured to release the releasable connector to allow the second end to rotate about the first end to the retracted position, wherein the upper end rotates downward below the first end in the retracted position.
A vehicle assist handle assembly comprising:
- a support structure comprising a support pillar;
- a releasable connector coupled to the support pillar;
- an assist handle supported on the support pillar and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a pivot connector that connects the first end to the support pillar and allows the first end to rotate about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the assist handle, and wherein the second end is coupled to the releasable connector to connect the second end to the support pillar in a use position and is releasable to release the second end;
- a spring biasing the assist handle towards a retracted position;
- an actuator configured to release the releasable connector to allow the second end to rotate about the first end to the retracted position, wherein the second end is an upper end in the use position of the assist handle, and wherein the upper end rotates downward below the first end in the retracted position;
- and
- a controller configured to control the actuator to release the releasable connector in response to detection of a vehicle impact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.