US2760050A - Door handle lighting fixture for automotive vehicles - Google Patents
Door handle lighting fixture for automotive vehicles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2760050A US2760050A US391706A US39170653A US2760050A US 2760050 A US2760050 A US 2760050A US 391706 A US391706 A US 391706A US 39170653 A US39170653 A US 39170653A US 2760050 A US2760050 A US 2760050A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- door handle
- handle
- door
- lighting fixture
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 10
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- NQLVQOSNDJXLKG-UHFFFAOYSA-N prosulfocarb Chemical compound CCCN(CCC)C(=O)SCC1=CC=CC=C1 NQLVQOSNDJXLKG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B17/00—Accessories in connection with locks
- E05B17/10—Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
Definitions
- This invention relates to improvements in lighting fixtures for automotive vehicles and more particularly to a combined door handle and lighting fixture for the doors of automotive vehicles.
- the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved illuminated door handle which will avoid the disadvantages of previously known constructions of this general type.
- a further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated door handle which will be useful for defining the greatest width of the motor vehicle and at the same time provide light for other purposes.
- the drawbacks of previous constructions are avoided by making part of the handle of translucent material for defining the boundary of the vehicle or the vehicles greatest width, while the downwardly directed part of the door handle nearest to the door lock is made of a transparent material for illuminating the door lock.
- the making of part of the door handle of translucent material is of considerable advantage, since handles illuminated in this manner readily define the greatest width of the vehicle for parking purposes and readily locate the position of the handles and door lock at night.
- the handle includes a downwardly directed foot portion sloping away from the handle proper and containing the light source and its mounting means.
- the foot member may be integral or fitted onto the handle proper and is made light pervious or is provided with openings at points lying in the direction of travel of the vehicle, thus providing means for directing light beams forwards and backwards along the sides of the vehicle.
- Door handle lighting fixtures constructed in accordance with the invention include translucent and transparent materials made of plastic or glass set in or otherwise included in the peripheral contour of the handles.
- the translucent material of the door handle is profiled in order to prevent any glaring action. If necessary the translucent material may be colored in a known manner.
- the source of light used in the illuminated door handles according to the invention preferably comprises a two filament lamp, one filament of which serves as a boundary light or parking light for the vehicle, while the second filament is used as a blinker light, as for example in a directional signal sysmm for the vehicle.
- Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view of a portion of an automotive vehicle showing a door fitted with a combination door handle lighting fixture in accordance with the invention
- Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of the doorhandle shown in Fig. 1 on a larger scale;
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Referring to the drawings, a car door 11 of the vehicle is provided with a door handle 12.
- a light source comprising a conventional light bulb 13 is mounted in a socket or retaining means 14 located in a depending hollow end section, base or foot part 15 of the door handle, which slopes away downwardly relatively to the generally horizontal handle part 16 containing a door latch, not shown.
- the part or section 15 of the door handle 12 is provided with openings 17 and 18 disposed respectively at the front and rear sides in such a way that light from the bulb 13 may shine both forwardly and rearwardly.
- the front opening 17 is closed off with a piece of transparent material 19, Which is preferably not colored, whereas the opening 18 is closed off with a piece or section of translucent material 20, preferably colored red.
- the car door 11 is provided with a lock 21 and this is illuminated from the bulb 13 from the bottom face 22 of the lighting fixture part of the handle by light shining through a section of transparent material 23 inserted in the bottom 22.
- the front face of the part 15 is provided with an insert of translucent material 24 (Fig. 3) so that where the lamp or bulb 13 has two filaments the insert 24 can be used as a blinker light, which may form a part of a directional signal system for the vehicle.
- a handle constructed and arranged as just described parking lights for both sides of the car are provided, together with door lock illumination and a blinker or directional light, all combined in a common housing.
- the base section 15 of the door handle may serve as the means for securing the rear end of the handle to the door, while the upper portion 16 bows outwardly with its front end secured to the door in the usual way.
- the inserts of light transmitting material 19, 20, 23 and 24 are mounted in the wall of the handle structure, which is usually of metal, in such a manner that they do not protrude beyond the surface of the metal but provide a smooth outer contour, the part 16 of the door handle being readily illuminated through the window or light transmitting section 19, so that the handle is readily visible at night.
- a combination door handle and lighting fixture structure mounted on each of said doors of the vehicle and including a horizontally-extending handle portion and a hollow lighting fixture portion extending downwardly from the rear end portion of the handle portion and having front, rear, and bottom walls, both ends of sa1d structure being fiXed to the vehicle door, a light source located in said hollow lighting fixture portion, a Window of light-transmitting material in the front wall of said hollow lighting fixture portion beneath the handle portion .for transmitting light from the light source forwardly thereof and for illuminating the horizontally-extending handle portion, a window of light-transmitting material in the rear wall of said hollow light fixture portion for transmitting light from the light source toward the rear of the vehicle, a lock located in the door directly below the bottom Wall-of said lighting fixture portion, and a window of light-transmitting material in said bottom wall for transmitting light from the light source onto said lock.
Landscapes
- Arrangements Of Lighting Devices For Vehicle Interiors, Mounting And Supporting Thereof, Circuits Therefore (AREA)
Description
g- 21, 1956 F. A. E. PORSCHE -2 ,760 05 0 DOOR HANDLE LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Filed Nov. 12, 1953 A awn/wk United States Patent DOOR HANDLE LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,706
Claims priority, application Germany December 18, 1952 2 Claims. (Cl. 240-213) This invention relates to improvements in lighting fixtures for automotive vehicles and more particularly to a combined door handle and lighting fixture for the doors of automotive vehicles.
It has previously been proposed to locate a source of light in the door handle of an automotive vehicle and to msert lenses at the ends of the door handle so that light from the light source can be radiated forwards and backwards. In such constructions the door handle has been made square in order to enable the mounting of lenses at the ends of the door handle. Constructions of this kind are not practical and, moreover, the lenses carried by such handles are readily subject to damage. Furthermore, in such constructions the interior surfaces of the handle were not finished off and the light rays were absorbed to a large extent by the rough inner surfaces of the handle, thus reducing the lighting efiect.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved illuminated door handle which will avoid the disadvantages of previously known constructions of this general type.
A further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated door handle which will be useful for defining the greatest width of the motor vehicle and at the same time provide light for other purposes.
According to the invention, the drawbacks of previous constructions are avoided by making part of the handle of translucent material for defining the boundary of the vehicle or the vehicles greatest width, while the downwardly directed part of the door handle nearest to the door lock is made of a transparent material for illuminating the door lock. The making of part of the door handle of translucent material is of considerable advantage, since handles illuminated in this manner readily define the greatest width of the vehicle for parking purposes and readily locate the position of the handles and door lock at night.
In the preferred form of door handle light fixture construction, the handle includes a downwardly directed foot portion sloping away from the handle proper and containing the light source and its mounting means. The foot member may be integral or fitted onto the handle proper and is made light pervious or is provided with openings at points lying in the direction of travel of the vehicle, thus providing means for directing light beams forwards and backwards along the sides of the vehicle.
Door handle lighting fixtures constructed in accordance with the invention include translucent and transparent materials made of plastic or glass set in or otherwise included in the peripheral contour of the handles. The translucent material of the door handle is profiled in order to prevent any glaring action. If necessary the translucent material may be colored in a known manner. The source of light used in the illuminated door handles according to the invention preferably comprises a two filament lamp, one filament of which serves as a boundary light or parking light for the vehicle, while the second filament is used as a blinker light, as for example in a directional signal sysmm for the vehicle.
2,760,050 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 The improved construction according to the invention includes other features and advantages described more in detail hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate two embodiments of the invention by way of example.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view of a portion of an automotive vehicle showing a door fitted with a combination door handle lighting fixture in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of the doorhandle shown in Fig. 1 on a larger scale; and
3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Referring to the drawings, a car door 11 of the vehicle is provided with a door handle 12. A light source comprising a conventional light bulb 13 is mounted in a socket or retaining means 14 located in a depending hollow end section, base or foot part 15 of the door handle, which slopes away downwardly relatively to the generally horizontal handle part 16 containing a door latch, not shown.
The part or section 15 of the door handle 12 is provided with openings 17 and 18 disposed respectively at the front and rear sides in such a way that light from the bulb 13 may shine both forwardly and rearwardly. The front opening 17 is closed off with a piece of transparent material 19, Which is preferably not colored, whereas the opening 18 is closed off with a piece or section of translucent material 20, preferably colored red.
The car door 11 is provided with a lock 21 and this is illuminated from the bulb 13 from the bottom face 22 of the lighting fixture part of the handle by light shining through a section of transparent material 23 inserted in the bottom 22.
In addition to the light transmitting inserts described above the front face of the part 15 is provided with an insert of translucent material 24 (Fig. 3) so that where the lamp or bulb 13 has two filaments the insert 24 can be used as a blinker light, which may form a part of a directional signal system for the vehicle. With a handle constructed and arranged as just described, parking lights for both sides of the car are provided, together with door lock illumination and a blinker or directional light, all combined in a common housing.
The base section 15 of the door handle may serve as the means for securing the rear end of the handle to the door, while the upper portion 16 bows outwardly with its front end secured to the door in the usual way. Furthermore, the inserts of light transmitting material 19, 20, 23 and 24 are mounted in the wall of the handle structure, which is usually of metal, in such a manner that they do not protrude beyond the surface of the metal but provide a smooth outer contour, the part 16 of the door handle being readily illuminated through the window or light transmitting section 19, so that the handle is readily visible at night.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings and described above, and that door latches may be combined with the illuminated handles in any way. In showing and describing the illustrative embodiment, various conventional details are omitted, such as the means for securing the handles to the doors and the wiring connections for the light sources.
What I claim is:
1. In an automotive vehicle having a door on each of its opposite sides, a combination door handle and lighting fixture structure mounted on each of said doors of the vehicle and including a horizontally-extending handle portion and a hollow lighting fixture portion extending downwardly from the rear end portion of the handle portion and having front, rear, and bottom walls, both ends of sa1d structure being fiXed to the vehicle door, a light source located in said hollow lighting fixture portion, a Window of light-transmitting material in the front wall of said hollow lighting fixture portion beneath the handle portion .for transmitting light from the light source forwardly thereof and for illuminating the horizontally-extending handle portion, a window of light-transmitting material in the rear wall of said hollow light fixture portion for transmitting light from the light source toward the rear of the vehicle, a lock located in the door directly below the bottom Wall-of said lighting fixture portion, and a window of light-transmitting material in said bottom wall for transmitting light from the light source onto said lock.
2. An automotive vehicle as claimed in claim l,*-in which the combination door handle and lighting fixture structure on the respective sides of the vehicle defi'ne substantially 4 the vehicles greatest width, whereby the boundary of the vehicle is defined by light from the front and back Windows of the lighting fixtures for oncoming vehicles either from in front or behind.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,523,495 Silberrnan Jan. 20, 1925 1,629,456 Pellegrini May 17, 1927 2,256,670 Greenlees Sept. 23, 1941 2,308,844 Wilshusen Jan. 19, 1943 2,628,304 Boyd Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,284 France May 21, 1929
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE2760050X | 1952-12-18 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US2760050A true US2760050A (en) | 1956-08-21 |
Family
ID=7997852
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US391706A Expired - Lifetime US2760050A (en) | 1952-12-18 | 1953-11-12 | Door handle lighting fixture for automotive vehicles |
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US (1) | US2760050A (en) |
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3448764A (en) * | 1965-01-21 | 1969-06-10 | Robertshaw Controls Co | Dual stage control device |
US3483509A (en) * | 1964-12-10 | 1969-12-09 | Renault | Light signalling devices for vehicles |
US4536829A (en) * | 1982-12-18 | 1985-08-20 | Rockwell-Golde G.M.B.H. | Hand actuating element for adjustment drives on automobiles |
US5025352A (en) * | 1990-06-11 | 1991-06-18 | Brown Thomas H | Lighted grab handles for trucks |
US6086131A (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2000-07-11 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety handle for trunk of vehicle |
US6390529B1 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2002-05-21 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety release for a trunk of a vehicle |
US20020121154A1 (en) * | 2001-02-15 | 2002-09-05 | Akira Yamazaki | Plated synthetic resin member for vehicle |
US6485081B1 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2002-11-26 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety system for a closed compartment of a vehicle |
US6616312B2 (en) | 2001-11-20 | 2003-09-09 | Gentex Corporation | Convenience lighting for interior and exterior vehicle applications |
US6768420B2 (en) | 2000-11-16 | 2004-07-27 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle compartment occupancy detection system |
US6783167B2 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2004-08-31 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety system for a closed compartment of a vehicle |
US20100077805A1 (en) * | 2007-04-03 | 2010-04-01 | Dirk Mueller | Outside actuation for locks on doors, tailgates and the like |
US8258932B2 (en) | 2004-11-22 | 2012-09-04 | Donnelly Corporation | Occupant detection system for vehicle |
US9405120B2 (en) | 2014-11-19 | 2016-08-02 | Magna Electronics Solutions Gmbh | Head-up display and vehicle using the same |
US9403501B2 (en) | 2013-11-13 | 2016-08-02 | Magna Electronics Solutions Gmbh | Carrier system and method thereof |
US9650969B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2017-05-16 | Continental Automotive France | Monitoring method for monitoring a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle |
US9746075B2 (en) | 2013-12-05 | 2017-08-29 | Continental Automotive France | Method for regulating the control of an electrical wastegate actuator by measuring the current passing through the electrical actuator |
US9935570B2 (en) | 2013-11-26 | 2018-04-03 | Continental Automotive France | Use of an electronic device for operating a DC motor to control two peak and hold loads |
US11131228B2 (en) | 2017-09-12 | 2021-09-28 | Continental Automotive France | Method for preventing a risk of freezing in a reducing-agent feeding device of a selective catalytic reduction system |
US20230001849A1 (en) * | 2007-05-03 | 2023-01-05 | Magna Mirrors Of America, Inc. | Vehicular exterior door handle assembly with illumination module |
-
1953
- 1953-11-12 US US391706A patent/US2760050A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Cited By (28)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3483509A (en) * | 1964-12-10 | 1969-12-09 | Renault | Light signalling devices for vehicles |
US3448764A (en) * | 1965-01-21 | 1969-06-10 | Robertshaw Controls Co | Dual stage control device |
US4536829A (en) * | 1982-12-18 | 1985-08-20 | Rockwell-Golde G.M.B.H. | Hand actuating element for adjustment drives on automobiles |
US5025352A (en) * | 1990-06-11 | 1991-06-18 | Brown Thomas H | Lighted grab handles for trucks |
US6460906B2 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2002-10-08 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety handle for opening the trunk of a vehicle from inside |
US6254261B1 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2001-07-03 | Donnellly Corporation | Illuminated safety handle for opening the trunk of a vehicle from inside |
US6390529B1 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2002-05-21 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety release for a trunk of a vehicle |
US6086131A (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2000-07-11 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety handle for trunk of vehicle |
US7097226B2 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2006-08-29 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety system for a compartment of a vehicle |
US6485081B1 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2002-11-26 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety system for a closed compartment of a vehicle |
US20060290518A1 (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2006-12-28 | Donnelly Corporation, A Corporation Of The State Of Michigan | Safety system for a compartment of a vehicle |
US6692056B2 (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2004-02-17 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety release for a trunk of a vehicle |
US6783167B2 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2004-08-31 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety system for a closed compartment of a vehicle |
US6832793B2 (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2004-12-21 | Donnelly Corporation | Safety system for opening the trunk compartment of a vehicle |
US20050023858A1 (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2005-02-03 | Donnelly Corporation, A Corporation Of The State Of Michigan | Safety system for a closed compartment of a vehicle |
US6768420B2 (en) | 2000-11-16 | 2004-07-27 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle compartment occupancy detection system |
US20020121154A1 (en) * | 2001-02-15 | 2002-09-05 | Akira Yamazaki | Plated synthetic resin member for vehicle |
US20050225993A1 (en) * | 2001-02-15 | 2005-10-13 | Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha Ohra Sangyo Corporation | Plated synthetic resin member for vehicle |
US6616312B2 (en) | 2001-11-20 | 2003-09-09 | Gentex Corporation | Convenience lighting for interior and exterior vehicle applications |
US8258932B2 (en) | 2004-11-22 | 2012-09-04 | Donnelly Corporation | Occupant detection system for vehicle |
US20100077805A1 (en) * | 2007-04-03 | 2010-04-01 | Dirk Mueller | Outside actuation for locks on doors, tailgates and the like |
US20230001849A1 (en) * | 2007-05-03 | 2023-01-05 | Magna Mirrors Of America, Inc. | Vehicular exterior door handle assembly with illumination module |
US9403501B2 (en) | 2013-11-13 | 2016-08-02 | Magna Electronics Solutions Gmbh | Carrier system and method thereof |
US9650969B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2017-05-16 | Continental Automotive France | Monitoring method for monitoring a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle |
US9935570B2 (en) | 2013-11-26 | 2018-04-03 | Continental Automotive France | Use of an electronic device for operating a DC motor to control two peak and hold loads |
US9746075B2 (en) | 2013-12-05 | 2017-08-29 | Continental Automotive France | Method for regulating the control of an electrical wastegate actuator by measuring the current passing through the electrical actuator |
US9405120B2 (en) | 2014-11-19 | 2016-08-02 | Magna Electronics Solutions Gmbh | Head-up display and vehicle using the same |
US11131228B2 (en) | 2017-09-12 | 2021-09-28 | Continental Automotive France | Method for preventing a risk of freezing in a reducing-agent feeding device of a selective catalytic reduction system |
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