Door handle idea

[AdmiralSenn]

Hey guys. I had a crazy idea today (again) and was wondering if anyone thinks it's feasible or worth tackling. I'd do it on my own but I'm COMPLETELY broke and have no resources to fabricate anything.

Here's my idea. What if the door handle mechanism could be modified so that the handles STAY sticking out until the door latches are closed? The idea is that you would then have a PERFECT spot to close the door evenly without leaving fingerprints (general wisdom has always been to close them approximately at the door handle, which is why the door straps were moved rearward later on in production). Obviously only useful from the outside but I think it'd be a neat feature. It would also shift the angle of pressure applied to the door to a more downward one which might help close the door more easily.

I realize that with the handles functioning on a cable that this might require some extensive re-thinking of the mechanism but I'm not sure how complicated it'd be. Maybe some kind of ratchet assembly built in to the linkage that's disengaged as soon as both latches are closed?

Anyway, I figured I'd throw this out there and see what you guys think.

[WelmoedJ]

Our doors have two latches, not one.
With one latch it probably would not be much of a problem to have a handle work the way you suggest.

However, pushing the door to the latch from the point you suggest - the handle - will move the rear latch into closing position before the front latch reaches the pin.
That's why we have to put our hand someplace in between the two points to help the door close evenly.
You may already have observed that if you drive with an open door, the door "wiggles".
This is caused by the weight of the door and the position of the hinges.
If your car is placed on an uneven surface you will also have noticed that the door may bump one striker pin.
This is typical for cars that have the door hinges on top and having to keep the weight of the door balanced.

I use the lower edge of the door's window - approx. in the middle between the hinges - to push the door shut.
I presume most owners do it that way or use the side protection strip to that purpose.

The afore leads to the assumption that your idea, however nice, will not work in aiding closing the door properly.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I use the lower edge of the door's window - approx. in the middle between the hinges - to push the door shut.
I presume most owners do it that way or use the side protection strip to that purpose.


That is how I close my doors. But I never though of trying another location.


Anyway, I figured I'd throw this out there and see what you guys think.

Do you find pushing at the rear works better?

[sean]

Would you be pushing down on the handle or the spot under the handle?

[Spittybug]

I'd be happy simply to come up with an aesthetically acceptable patch or panel near the door handle to put your hand on for closing the door. Not only would it make it obvious where to close it from, but would also prevent fingerprints. I tried once to apply clear cell phone screen protectors onto the side of the car for such a purpose. While it went on OK, I couldn't get it smooth enough to not be visible (graining of car I presume) and that bothered me more than the fingerprints.

[thirdmanj]

One more reason to put the dealer option side stripes on. That's one more reason I love mine. Beyond their general kickass lookingness, they provide the perfect surface to put your hand on for closing the door.

[AdmiralSenn]

That is how I close my doors. But I never though of trying another location.

Do you find pushing at the rear works better?

I have always had the most luck in closing my doors by closing it from the door handle. This is very close to where the pull straps are on later cars. Granted that my doors need to be adjusted anyway, so maybe I'm just way off base.

Welmoed, I know there are two latches, I even mentioned it in my post. I've just always used that point to close my doors and it works well.

Sean, I was thinking closing with the handle itself - just lock it "up" somehow.

And thirdmanj, yeah I've been wanting a set of wide stripes for a while now anyway... it'll have to wait until Christine earns her roadworthy status back though.

Eh. Maybe I'm way off base. It just occurred to me and seemed like a neat idea.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I don't know if I would trust the handles to take that kind of force.

[AdmiralSenn]

I don't know if I would trust the handles to take that kind of force.

I have metal handles, or it would probably have never occurred to me.

[sean]

I don't know if I would trust the handles to take that kind of force.

With a metal handle I wouldnt be worried about. What would concern me is I could potentially see the unplanned stress might bend the skin oddly since it wasn't engineered to be pushed on like that.

[DMC5180]

I typically just push on the lower window ledge.

[dmc6960]

Push on the rear lower window ledge. Its best on the door for anti-twisting and for shorter folks also allows you to stand somewhat behind the door for a shorter reach.

Pulling on an extended door handle would be uncomfortable. If the door handle moved INTO the door and was properly designed also as a grab, then yes that would be pretty neat. But alas it is not light that.

[sean]

I typically just push on the lower window ledge.

+1

I'll start with the side molding and finish with the window ledge.

[DMC5180]

+1

I'll start with the side molding and finish with the window ledge.

That's exactly what I do also. If I have a long sleeve shirt or jacket on, I may use my forearm to push on other places. No Finger prints or sweat marks to worry about.