US 11,746,576 B2
Retractable outside door handle assembly
Tae Kyung Song, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Jul. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/371,382.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0182776 (KR), filed on Dec. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0205289 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. E05B 85/10 (2014.01); E05B 85/16 (2014.01)
CPC E05B 85/107 (2013.01) [E05B 85/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retractable outside door handle assembly comprising:
a handle unit including an outside handle having a pushing portion and mounted on a handle housing, wherein the outside handle is configured to protrude by rotating in a first direction;
an actuator including an operation rod configured to selectively push the pushing portion;
a door latch lever rotatably mounted on the handle housing and configured to rotate during protrusion of the outside handle by operation of the actuator when the outside handle is actuated by a user; and
a damage prevention mechanism between the operation rod and the pushing portion and configured to push the pushing portion when the actuator is operated;
wherein the damage prevention mechanism is configured to prevent a pushing force greater than a predetermined pushing force of the pushing portion from being transmitted to the operation rod when the outside handle rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction in a protruded state; and
wherein the damage prevention mechanism comprises:
a first body selectively contacting the pushing portion;
a second body slidably connected to the first body and connected to the operation rod; and
a selectable locking portion configured to selectively block relative movement of the first body and the second body.