Importance

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Abstract

A vehicle door/tailgate handle assembly for unlatching either a combined door/tailgate and window as a unit or the window unit alone provides an improved centering/alignment feature which avoids reliance on prior known spirally wrapped, low tolerance, low cycle life springs. The handle assembly includes a handle grip, mounting base and a centering member which centers and aligns the handle grip on the mounting base. The handle grip is rotatably mounted in a shaft receiving passage on the mounting base and a centering member is slidably disposed on shaft for movement along and rotation with the shaft for slidable engagement with the rear side of the mounting base. When a rotational torque is applied to the handle grip, the centering member slides along the shaft away from the rear side of the mounting base to permit the handle grip to rotate between a first unlatching position and a second unlatching position. The centering member aligns the handle grip with the mounting base in a third, centered position when the rotational torque is removed from the handle grip. Preferably, the handle grip, mounting base and centering member include cooperating camming surfaces which are urged toward one another by a compression/coil spring having a high cycle life and low failure rate. Stop surfaces are preferably included on the handle grip and mounting base to limit the extend of rotational movement.

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First Claim