U.S. patent application number 10/649546 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for grab handle assembly.
Invention is credited to Deb, Anindya, Makowski, Matthew B., Saha, Nripen Kumar.
Application Number | 20040046426 10/649546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23827303 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040046426 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deb, Anindya ; et
al. |
March 11, 2004 |
Grab handle assembly
Abstract
A grab handle assembly for an interior of a motor vehicle
includes a headliner disposed in the interior of the vehicle for
mounting to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. The headliner has
a recess. The grab handle assembly also includes a grab handle
disposed in the recess and spaced from the vehicle body.
Inventors: |
Deb, Anindya; (Dearborn,
MI) ; Makowski, Matthew B.; (Dearborn, MI) ;
Saha, Nripen Kumar; (Ann Arbor, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bliss McGlynn, P.C.
Suite 600
2075 West Big Beaver Road
Troy
MI
48084
US
|
Family ID: |
23827303 |
Appl. No.: |
10/649546 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10649546 |
Aug 27, 2003 |
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09460072 |
Dec 14, 1999 |
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6647594 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/214 ;
16/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 16/40 20130101;
Y10T 16/4571 20150115; Y10T 16/50 20150115; Y10T 16/48 20150115;
B60N 3/026 20130101; Y10T 16/513 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/214 ;
016/410 |
International
Class: |
B62B 007/00; B60R
013/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motor vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a headliner disposed
in an interior of said vehicle body, said headliner having a
surface facing the interior and a recess extending away from said
surface toward said vehicle body; and a grab handle having ends
disposed in said recess and being non-rotatable.
2. A motor vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a headliner disposed
in an interior of said vehicle body, said headliner having a
surface facing the interior and a recess extending away from said
surface toward said vehicle body; and a grab handle comprising an
inner strap extending longitudinally and having ends being disposed
in said recess and being non-rotatable.
3. A motor vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a headliner disposed
in an interior of said vehicle body, said headliner having a
surface facing the interior and a recess extending away from said
surface toward said vehicle body; a grab handle having ends being
disposed in said recess and said grab handle being non-rotatable;
and a fastener extending through each end of said grab handle and
said headliner.
4. A motor vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a headliner disposed
in an interior of said vehicle body, said headliner having a
surface facing the interior and a recess extending away from said
surface toward said vehicle body; and a grab handle having ends and
being disposed in said recess and being non-rotatable, said grab
handle comprising an inner strap and an outer cover disposed over a
majority of a length of said inner strap.
5. A motor vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a headliner disposed
in an interior of said vehicle body, said headliner having a
surface facing the interior and a recess extending away from said
surface toward said vehicle body; and a grab handle being
non-rotatable and comprising an inner strap, an outer cover
disposed over a majority of a length of said inner strap, and an
end cap covering each end of said outer cover and being disposed in
said recess.
6. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein, a grab handle assembly comprising: a headliner disposed in
the interior of the vehicle for mounting to a vehicle body of the
motor vehicle, said headliner having a recess; and a grab handle
comprising an inner strap and an outer cover disposed over said
inner strap, said grab handle being non-rotatable and having ends
disposed longitudinally within said recess of said headliner and
mounted to a surface forming said recess of said headliner.
7. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein, a grab handle assembly comprising: a headliner disposed in
the interior of the vehicle for mounting to a vehicle body of the
motor vehicle, said headliner having a recess; and a grab handle
being non-rotatable and comprising a metal inner strap extending
longitudinally, a plastic outer cover disposed over a majority of a
length of said inner strap, and an end cap covering each end of
said outer cover and being disposed in said recess.
8. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed on a passenger side of
the motor vehicle, said grab handle assembly comprising: a
headliner disposed in the interior and having a recess; and a grab
handle having ends disposed in said recess and being
non-rotatable.
9. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed on a driver side and a
passenger side of the motor vehicle, each said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and
being non-rotatable.
10. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and
being non-rotatable.
11. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a rear portion of
the interior for a rear seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and
being non-rotatable.
12. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant and in a rear portion of the
interior for a rear seat occupant therein, each said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and
being non-rotatable.
13. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant and on a driver side in a
rear portion of the interior for a driver side rear seat occupant
and on a rear passenger side in the rear portion of the interior
for a passenger side rear seat occupant therein, each said grab
handle comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having
a recess; and a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and
being non-rotatable.
14. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed on a passenger side in
a front portion of the interior for a front passenger seat occupant
and on a driver side in a rear portion of the interior for a driver
side rear seat occupant and on a rear passenger side in the rear
portion of the interior for a passenger side rear seat occupant
therein, each said grab handle comprising: a headliner disposed in
the interior and having a recess; and a grab handle having ends
disposed in said recess and being non-rotatable.
15. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed on a passenger side of
the motor vehicle, said grab handle assembly comprising: a
headliner disposed in the interior and having a recess; a grab
handle having ends disposed in said recess and being non-rotatable;
and a fastener extending through each end of said grab handle and
said headliner.
16. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed on a driver side and a
passenger side of the motor vehicle, each said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and being
non-rotatable; and a fastener extending through each end of said
grab handle and said headliner.
17. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and being
non-rotatable; and a fastener extending through each end of said
grab handle and said headliner.
18. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a rear portion of
the interior for a rear seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and being
non-rotatable; and a fastener extending through each end of said
grab handle and said headliner.
19. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant and in a rear portion of the
interior for a rear seat occupant therein, each said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and being
non-rotatable; and a fastener extending through each end of said
grab handle and said headliner.
20. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant and on a driver side in a
rear portion of the interior for a driver side rear seat occupant
and on a rear passenger side in the rear portion of the interior
for a passenger side rear seat occupant therein, each said grab
handle comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having
a recess; a grab handle having ends disposed in said recess and
being non-rotatable; and a fastener extending through each end of
said grab handle and said headliner.
21. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed on a passenger side in
a front portion of the interior for a front passenger seat occupant
and on a driver side in a rear portion of the interior for a driver
side rear seat occupant and on a rear passenger side in the rear
portion of the interior for a passenger side rear seat occupant
therein, each said grab handle comprising: a headliner disposed in
the interior and having a recess; a grab handle having ends
disposed in said recess and being non-rotatable; and a fastener
extending through each end of said grab handle and said
headliner.
22. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle having ends and being disposed in said
recess and being non-rotatable, said grab handle comprising an
inner strap and an outer cover disposed over a majority of a length
of said inner strap.
23. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a rear portion of
the interior for a rear seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle having ends and being disposed in said
recess and being non-rotatable, said grab handle comprising an
inner strap and an outer cover disposed over a majority of a length
of said inner strap.
24. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a front portion of
the interior for a front seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle being non-rotatable and comprising an
inner strap, an outer cover disposed over a majority of a length of
said inner strap, and an end cap covering each end of said outer
cover and being disposed in said recess.
25. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior
therein and a grab handle assembly disposed in a rear portion of
the interior for a rear seat occupant therein, said grab handle
comprising: a headliner disposed in the interior and having a
recess; and a grab handle being non-rotatable and comprising an
inner strap, an outer cover disposed over a majority of a length of
said inner strap, and an end cap covering each end of said outer
cover and being disposed in said recess.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] The present invention is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/460,072, filed Dec. 14, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to grab handles for
vehicles and, more specifically, to a grab handle assembly for an
interior of a motor vehicle.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] It is known to provide a headliner for an interior of a
motor vehicle. The headliner is typically made as a single piece
and is mounted to an interior side of a roof of a vehicle body of
the motor vehicle. An example of such a headliner is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,458 to Patel. In this patent, the headliner
includes a relatively stiff molded backing sheet and a relatively
deformable foam panel adhesively secured to the undersurface of the
backing sheet. Marginal edge areas of the foam panel in contact
with hard side rails on the roof are provided with resilient
deformable foam inserts that prevent the hard side rails from
interfering with the energy absorption action of the foam
panel.
[0006] It is also known to provide a handle for an interior side of
a door of the motor vehicle. The handle includes a metal insert of
a sufficient strength to sustain the loads that can be applied when
closing the door. The handle also includes a molded body disposed
over the metal insert.
[0007] It is desirable to provide a roof/pillar grab handle for an
interior of a motor vehicle that has energy absorbing capacity if
impacted by an occupant of the motor vehicle. It is further
desirable to provide a grab handle that offers head impact energy
absorption. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a grab
handle assembly for a motor vehicle that meets these desires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention is a grab handle assembly
for an interior of a motor vehicle. The grab handle assembly
includes a headliner disposed in the interior of the motor vehicle
for mounting to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. The headliner
has a recess. The grab handle assembly also includes a grab handle
disposed in the recess and spaced from the vehicle body to absorb
energy when impacted by an occupant in the interior of the motor
vehicle.
[0009] One advantage of the present invention is that a grab handle
assembly is provided for a motor vehicle that offers head impact
energy absorption. Yet another advantage of the present invention
is that the grab handle assembly has energy absorbing capacity for
meeting requirements of an upper interior head impact. Still
another advantage of the present invention is that the grab handle
assembly is used for interior headform impact energy absorption for
a roof/pillar of the motor vehicle.
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood,
after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grab handle assembly,
according to the present invention, illustrated in operational
relationship with an interior of a motor vehicle.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grab handle assembly of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the grab handle
assembly of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0014] Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 through
3, one embodiment of a grab handle assembly 10, according to the
present invention, is illustrated for an interior or occupant
compartment of a motor vehicle (not shown). The motor vehicle
includes a vehicle body 12 forming a roof and pillars to define the
interior of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes the grab
handle assembly 10 mounted to the vehicle body 12 in a manner to be
described. It should be appreciated that, except for the grab
handle assembly 10, the motor vehicle and vehicle body 12 are
conventional and known in the art.
[0015] The grab handle assembly 10 includes a headliner 14 to cover
an interior side of the roof and side rails of the vehicle body 12.
The headliner 14 extends laterally and longitudinally and is
generally rectangular in shape. The headliner 14 is made of a
relatively stiff molded backing sheet 16 and a relatively
deformable foam panel 18 adhesively secured to the undersurface of
the backing sheet 16. The headliner 14 is formed as a single piece.
The headliner 14 has at least one depression or recess 20 adjacent
a roof side rail, pillar, or roof of the vehicle body 12. The
recess 20 extends inwardly toward the vehicle body 12 and is
generally rectangular in shape for a function to be described.
[0016] The grab handle assembly 10 also includes a grab handle,
generally indicated at 22, disposed in the recess 20 and connected
to, preferably the roof side rail, of the vehicle body 12 by
suitable means such as fasteners (not shown). The grab handle 22
includes an inner strap 24 extending longitudinally and being
generally rectangular in shape. The inner strap 24 is made of a
metal material and is responsible for the required grab handle
stiffness and energy absorption capability. The inner strap 24 has
a predetermined thickness such as three millimeters (3 mm) and is
made of mild steel or other similar metal alloys to act as an
energy-absorbent spring.
[0017] The grab handle 22 includes a fastener 26 such as a screw
extending through an aperture 28 in each end of the strap 24 and an
aperture 30 in the headliner 14 and aperture 32 in the vehicle body
12. The fastener 26 secures each end of the inner strap 24 to the
vehicle body 12. It should be appreciated that any suitable means
may be used to attach the inner strap 24 to the vehicle body
12.
[0018] The grab handle 22 also includes an outer cover 34 disposed
over a majority of a length of the inner strap 24. The outer cover
34 is generally tubular in shape and extends longitudinally. The
outer cover 34 is made of a plastic material. It should be
appreciated that the inner strap 24 extends through the outer cover
34 and that a user (not shown) grasps the outer cover 34 to grab
onto the grab handle 22.
[0019] The grab handle 22 further includes an end cap 36 to cover
each end of the grab handle 22. The end cap 36 is generally
rectangular in shape. The end cap 36 extends longitudinally and has
a cavity 38 in one longitudinal end to receive one end of the inner
strap 24 and outer cover 34. The end caps are made of a plastic
material. It should be appreciated that the end caps 36 are
attached by suitable means such as the fasteners 26 extending
therethrough to the vehicle body 12.
[0020] Optionally, the grab handle 22 may include a spacer (not
shown) disposed between the inner strap 24 and the headliner 14.
The spacer is a generally rectangular plate made of a plastic
material. The spacer is disposed between the inner strap 24 and
backing sheet 16 to further offset the grab handle 22 from the
vehicle body 12.
[0021] In operation of the grab handle assembly 10, the grab handle
22 is at an offset from the vehicle body 12 to which it is attached
by being disposed in the recess 20 of the headliner 14 and spaced
from the vehicle body 12. Under normal vehicle operating
conditions, the user may grasp the grab handle 22. Since the grab
handle 22 is offset, the grab handle 22 may prevent immediate
contact with a stiffer portion of the vehicle body 12 such as the
roof side rail or pillar flange during a vehicle collision. If the
grab handle 22 is impacted, the inner strap 24 deforms to act as an
energy-absorbent spring.
[0022] The present invention has been described in an illustrative
manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been
used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description
rather than of limitation.
[0023] Many modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the
scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be
practiced other than as specifically described.
* * * * *