Door handle to latch rod connection

Abstract

A vehicle door has a door trim panel to conceal a door inner panel. A rod is mounted on the inner panel and associated with the door latch to unlatch the door latch when the rod is pulled. A handle is pivotally mounted on the trim panel and has an arm projecting toward the inner panel. A plurality of door mounting hooks are provided on the lower edge portion of the trim panel for insertion into mating holes provided on the inner panel so that the trim panel is supported on the door in readiness and alignment for tilting of the trim panel into overlying relationship with the inner panel. A molded plastic guide track is mounted on the door inner panel, and a slider connected with the rod is slidably mounted on the guide track. The slider has an open-faced receptacle which opens toward the trim panel so that tilting of the trim panel into overlying relationship with the inner panel causes the arm of the handle to automatically seat within the receptacle and thereby achieve interconnection between the handle and slider. The open-faced receptacle is defined by angled walls which converge toward the bottom of the receptacle so that any misalignment between the arm of the handle and the slider will cause the arm to engage with the angled wall during the tilting movement of the door trim panel into overlying relationship with the door panel to thereby induce sliding movement and self-alignment of the slider with the handle. The guide track has integral snap tab features to attach the guide track to the door inner panel.