Ford has filed a patent with the European Patent Office for a swiveling interior door handle designed for convenience and accessibility. The handle can swing out from its stowed position, making it easier to reach when the door is open, and can also be locked in place if users prefer a fixed position.
Solving the Challenge of Hard-to-Reach Door Handles
In most regular four-door vehicles with relatively short doors, reaching the interior door handle to close it isn’t too difficult—provided the door isn’t swung fully open. However, when the door is fully extended, the handle can become challenging to reach, especially for shorter individuals or those with limited mobility.
The issue becomes even more pronounced in coupes with longer doors, where even average-height passengers may struggle to reach the handle. The problem is most severe in exotic cars with unconventional doors, such as scissor, butterfly, or gullwing designs. These often rely on straps hanging from the door to help occupants pull them shut. While functional, these loosely hanging straps can appear unsightly and detract from the premium aesthetic of high-end vehicles.
Without a suitable solution, passengers may need to awkwardly lean or even exit their seat to reach the door handle, making the process inconvenient and impractical—especially in luxury vehicles where design and ease of use should go hand in hand.
Ford’s Innovative Swiveling Door Handle: A Sleek and Practical Solution
Ford’s newly patented design offers a unique approach to solving the problem of hard-to-reach door handles while maintaining a clean and stylish interior. The system is composed of three key components:
- A Swiveling Door Handle: The handle swings out from the door for easier access.
- An Actuator: This can be powered either electrically or by a spring to activate the swiveling motion.
- A Locking Mechanism: This ensures the handle can be locked in place for those who prefer it to function like a standard door handle.
What sets Ford’s solution apart is its ability to seamlessly integrate with the vehicle’s interior design. Unlike permanent protrusions or unsightly straps often used in exotic cars, this handle remains flush with the door panel when not in use, preserving the sleek aesthetic of the interior. When needed, it swings out to make the handle easy to reach and then retracts automatically. The locking mechanism adds versatility, offering a traditional handle experience when preferred.
