US 7,562,916 B2
Vehicular door handle included secondary latch
Jerry Cummins, Portland, Mich. (US); Jim Larabel, Newaygo, Mich. (US); Brian L. Herrema, Caledonia, Mich. (US); Joe Meinke, Gowen, Mich. (US); Mark McWilliams, Grandville, Mich. (US); Richard Young, Lowell, Mich. (US); Bradley T. Kuehn, Sunfield, Mich. (US); and Kathy L. Gross, Byron Center, Mich. (US)
Assigned to ADAC Plastics, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich. (US)
Filed on Feb. 07, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/275,967.
Application 11/275967 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/710806, filed on Aug. 04, 2004, granted, now 7,284,776, filed on Oct. 23, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/593726, filed on Feb. 08, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0069533 A1, Mar. 29, 2007
Int. Cl. E05B 3/00 (2006.01); E05B 65/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 292—336.3  [292/92; 292/DIG. 65] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular door handle assembly for selectively opening a vehicle door, the door handle assembly comprising:
a handle grip pivotally coupled with the vehicle door and movable to an actuated position to open the vehicle door, the handle grip having a primary latch actuator for operating a bell crank mechanism to open the vehicle door;
a secondary latch pivotally coupled through a pivot connection with the handle grip, the secondary latch having a cylindrical mounting shaft, a rectilinear, planar body coupled at a first end with, and extending radially away from, the mounting shaft, and a pair of parallel, spaced feet coupled with a second end of the planar body opposite the first end and inclined therefrom;
a stationary member fixedly coupled with the vehicle door having a pair of interference surfaces for engaging the feet; and
a trigger associated with the handle grip and comprising a secondary latch actuator located on a surface of the trigger, the secondary latch actuator being adapted to engage a portion between the first and second ends of the planar body;
wherein movement of the trigger can induce the secondary latch actuator to push against the planar body to move the feet out of engagement with the interference surfaces to thereby enable the handle grip to move to the actuated position.