Adaptive Door Handles
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorUmesh N. Gandhi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A force adjustment system that inhibits door handle actuation is provided. The force adjustment system includes a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to an input. An energy source is configured to provide an output in response to the signal. A force adjustment component is configured to be linked to a door handle assembly. The force adjustment component comprises a material having a property that is changed in response to the output provided by the energy source to change a force applied to a handle of the door handle assembly.
Claims20
A force adjustment system that inhibits door handle actuation, the force adjustment system comprising:
- a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to an input;
- an energy source configured to provide an output in response to the signal;
- and
- a force adjustment component configured to be linked to a door handle assembly, the force adjustment component comprising a material having a property that is changed in response to the output provided by the energy source to change a force applied to the door handle assembly to maintain the door handle assembly in a closed configuration.
A door handle assembly, comprising:
- a door handle having an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a force adjustment system comprising:
- a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to an input;
- an energy source configured to provide an output in response to the signal;
- and
- a force adjustment component comprising a material having a property that is changed in response to the output provided by the energy source to change a force applied to the door handle.
A door, comprising:
- a door handle assembly having an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a force adjustment system connected to the door handle assembly, the force adjustment system comprising:
- a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to an input;
- and
- a force adjustment component comprising a material having a property that is changed to impede movement of the door handle assembly from a closed position to an open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.