The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2026
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2023
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Zsolt Wilke, Bad Mergentheim, DE;
Andreas Rudolf, Eibelstadt, DE;
Joachim Oberst, Großrinderfeld, DE;
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus () for aligning covers () for vehicles, in particular covers for flush door handles, wherein the cover () is reversibly movable, and in particular pivotable, between a closed position in which the cover () covers a door handle recess () and an open position in which the cover releases a door handle recess (), and wherein the apparatus () comprises the following: a kinematics () configured so as to reversibly move, and in particular pivot, the cover () between the closed position and the open position; and a support assembly () configured so as to connect the cover () to the kinematics () in such a way that the cover (), in its closed position, is arranged flush with an outer skin () of the vehicle.