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US 4,041,301 AGranted
Key illuminating door handle
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorPaul F. Pelchat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorPaul F. Pelchat
Estimating the term…
A key cylinder illuminating device for a lift bar door handle assembly which overlies a recess in the outer panel of a vehicle door. A lift bar is pivotally mounted for movement between a first position overlying the recess and a second position away from the recess wherein a door latch is operated to unlatched position. The door latch also has a lock which prevents the door latch from being operated to the unlatched position even though the lift bar is lifted. A key cylinder is located on the door panel generally beneath the lift bar door handle assembly and receives a key by which the door latch can be unlocked. A light source is mounted on the vehicle door panel within the recess so that it is concealed from view and protected from damage by the lift bar when the lift bar is in its normal first position. A switch is provided on the lift bar door handle assembly and is closed when the lift bar is pivoted to the second position so that an electrical circuit is completed to energize the light source. A reflective surface is provided on the undersurface of the lift bar for reflecting light from the light source onto the key cylinder when the lift bar is pivoted to its second position for operating the door latch.
In a vehicle door having a recess in the outer panel thereof, a door latch, a lift bar type door handle mounted on the door for movement between a first position overlying the recess and a second position outwardly of the recess to operate the door latch, and a key cylinder for operating a door lock, the improvement comprising:
In a vehicle door having a recess in the outer panel thereof, a door latch, a lift bar type door handle mounted on the door for movement between a first position overlying the recess and a second position away from the recess to operate the door latch, and a key cylinder for operating a door lock, the improvement comprising:
In combination, a vehicle door having a longitudinally extending elongated recess in the outer panel thereof, a door latch for latching the door in a closed position, an elongated lift bar door handle pivotally mounted on the door about a longitudinal axis for upward lifting movement from a first position overlying the recess to a second position away from the recess to operate the door latch, a key cylinder mounted on the vehicle door at an elevation below the lift bar door handle and operable upon insertion of a properly bitted key to unlock the door latch, a light emitting means mounted on the vehicle door in generally flush relation therewith and within the recess of the door so as to be in protective concealment under the lift bar when the lift bar is in the first position overlying the recess, said lift bar having a reflective portion overlying the light emitting means and being angularly disposed so as to deflect light from the light emitting means onto the key cylinder when the lift bar is lifted upwardly of the recess to the second position, and switch means operative upon movement of the lift bar to the second position for energizing the light emitting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.