Door handle
US7375299B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 2007 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07C2009/00206
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A handle 16 for exterior use in a vehicle to authorize a mechanism (18) to unlatch an access door has a structural part (34); a cover (36); and a pair of sensors or switches (28, 29) between the structural part (34) and the cover (36). A first sensor or switch (28) to interact with one or more fingers of a user's (26) hand (2) and a second sensor or switch (29) spaced from said first sensor (28) to be activated by a user's (26) different finger or the user's (26) thumb. The combination of the two switches or sensors (28, 29) signal the mechanism (18) to unlatch the access door and wherein the activation of only the second sensor or switch (29) in the absence of touching the first sensor or switch (28) authorizes a mechanism (18) to lock the access door. Preferably, the first and second sensors or switches (28, 29) are electrically coupled such that activation of both authorizes an unlatching of the access door while the activation of only the second sensor or switch (29) authorizes a lock only feature. Accordingly, the second sensor or switch (29) changes authorization from unlatch to lock dependent on the use or non-use of the first sensor or switch (28).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.