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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1997
Stephen J Forbes, Wyoming, MI (US);
Mark R Litke, Holland, MI (US);
Jim M Rossell, Grandville, MI (US);
Bradley D Miller, Jenison, MI (US);
Paul A Ziegler, Holland, MI (US);
Lear Donnelly Overhead Systems, L.L.C., Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
A passenger assist handle for use in an automobile includes a handle pivotably mounted to a base and biased in an non-use position by a helical torsion spring. The base has an upstanding mounting block for pivotably retaining the handle and a mounting clip for mounting the base to an automobile frame. The handle has first and second ends each of which is pivotably mounted to the base through a pin which extends through openings in each end of the handle and through the base pivot mounts for movement between first and second positions with respect to the base. The spring has a first end extending into and anchored in the spring hole in the base. The spring is further coiled around the pin between the pivot mounts and has a second end distal from the first end which is anchored in the first end of the handle. The handle further includes a ledge for retaining the second end of the spring in the handle. The ledge has at least one side of which is open for passage of the spring around the side of the ledge during assembly of the spring to the handle and base.