Outer handle device for vehicle door

Abstract

An outer handle device for a vehicle door, in which an outer handle having an operation part is attached to a support housing fixed to an outer panel of the vehicle door, the outer handle being attached so as to be movable between a storage position in which the outer handle is stored in the support housing and a pop-up position in which the operation part protrudes outward from the outer panel. The outer handle device is characterized in that an actuator capable of driving the outer handle from the storage position to the ejection position is arranged on the supporting shell, the outer handle is installed on the supporting shell in a mode that the outer handle can be manually operated from the ejection position to the whole stroke position close to the outer side in a whole stroke mode, and in the outer handle device, under the condition that visibility is reduced at night or the like, the outer handle can be driven by the actuator to move from the storage position to the ejection position. The situation that a person moving around the outside of the door and a driver of a vehicle do not notice the outer handle at the pop-up position and make contact with the outer handle can be effectively avoided. A light reflecting surface (R) is provided on at least a portion of the rear surface of at least the end portion on the rear side of the vehicle among the exposed surfaces of the outer handles (17, 117) that are exposed to the outside at the ejection position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an outside handle device for a vehicle door, and in particular, to an outside handle device, wherein an outside handle having an operating portion that can be manually operated is installed on a supporting shell fixed to an outer panel of the door, the outside handle is installed to be movable between a storage position in which the outer surface of the outside handle is roughly flush with the outer surface of the outer panel and a pop-up position in which the operating portion protrudes outward from the outer panel, and an actuator that can drive the outside handle from the storage position to the pop-up position is provided on the supporting shell, and the outside handle is installed on the supporting shell in a manner in which the outside handle can be manually operated throughout its full stroke from the pop-up position to a full stroke position further outward. Background Art

[0002] The above-mentioned external handle device is well known in the past (for example, refer to patent documents 1 and 2). With respect to these devices, the external handle is usually in a retracted state that is roughly flush with the outer panel (i.e., does not extend to the outside of the outer panel), and therefore, it is useful in seeking anti-destruction and anti-theft properties.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-40913

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 6629724

[0007] However, in the previously known devices disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents 1 and 2, the outer handle protrudes significantly to the outside than the outer surface of the outer panel at its pop-up position. Therefore, there is the possibility that under conditions of reduced visibility such as at night, a person moving around the door or a driver of a vehicle may not notice the outer handle in the pop-up position, and the person or the vehicle may come into contact with the outer handle. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an outer handle device for a vehicle door which can effectively avoid the above-mentioned contact with a simple structure.

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention is an outside handle device for a vehicle door, wherein an outside handle having an operating portion that can be manually operated is installed on a supporting shell fixed to an outer panel of the door, the outside handle being installed to be able to move between a storage position in which an outer surface of the outside handle is roughly flush with an outer surface of the outer panel and a pop-up position in which the operating portion protrudes outward from the outer panel, and an actuator that can drive the outside handle from the storage position to the pop-up position is provided on the supporting shell, and the outside handle is installed on the supporting shell in such a way that the outside handle can be manually operated throughout the stroke from the pop-up position to a full stroke position further outward, and a first feature of the outside handle device for a vehicle door is that a light reflecting surface is provided on at least a portion of the rear surface of at least the end portion on the rear side of the vehicle in the exposed surface of the outside handle that is exposed to the outside at the pop-up position.

[0010] In addition, the present invention is an external handle device for a vehicle door, wherein an external handle having an operating portion that can be manually operated is installed on a supporting shell fixed to an outer panel of the door, the external handle is installed to be able to move between a storage position in which an outer surface of the external handle is roughly flush with an outer surface of the outer panel and a pop-up position in which the operating portion protrudes outward from the outer panel, and an actuator that can drive the external handle from the storage position to the pop-up position is provided on the supporting shell, and the external handle is installed on the supporting shell in such a manner that the external handle can be manually operated throughout the stroke from the pop-up position to a full stroke position further outward. A second feature of the external handle device for a vehicle door is that a light reflecting surface is provided on at least a portion of the upper surface of the external handle that is exposed to the outside at the pop-up position.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the first feature of the present invention, a light reflecting surface is provided on at least a portion of the rear surface of at least the end portion on the rear side of the vehicle in the exposed surface of the outer handle exposed to the outside at the pop-up position. Therefore, even if the outer handle protrudes significantly to the outside than the outer surface of the outer panel at the pop-up position, under conditions of reduced visibility such as at night, people moving around the outside of the door, vehicle drivers, etc. can easily notice the existence of the outer handle at the pop-up position through the reflected light from the above-mentioned light reflecting surface on the rear surface of the outer handle, and can effectively avoid contact with the outer handle.

[0013] In addition, according to the second feature, a light reflecting surface is provided on at least a portion of the upper surface of the outer handle that is exposed to the outside at the pop-up position. Therefore, even if the outer handle protrudes significantly toward the outside than the outer surface of the outer panel at the pop-up position, under conditions of reduced visibility such as at night, people moving around the outside of the door, drivers of vehicles, etc. can easily notice the existence of the outer handle at the pop-up position through the reflected light from the above-mentioned light reflecting surface on the upper surface of the outer handle, and can effectively avoid contact with the outer handle.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the third feature, the upper surface of the outer handle exposed to the outside at the pop-up position is covered with a cover covering at least a portion of the upper surface in a detachable manner, so that the cover can be varied by, for example, adopting a coloring or plating method different from the paint color of the outer surface of the outer handle, and on this basis, replacement is also simple, and it can be easily adapted to the user's preferences. And a light reflecting surface is provided on at least the rear surface of the cover, so that the variation of the light reflecting surface to be provided on the outer handle can be easily and inexpensively increased.

[0015] In addition, according to the fourth feature, a rotating shaft is embedded in the outer handle, and the rotating shaft guides and supports the rotation of the outer handle when the outer handle is rotated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position. The engaging portion that engages with the rotating shaft to become the anti-detachment portion of the rotating shaft relative to the outer handle is provided on the cover. Therefore, the above-mentioned cover can also be used as the anti-detachment unit of the rotating shaft that guides and supports the rotation of the outer handle relative to the outer handle, and the structure can be simplified accordingly, which helps to save costs.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the fifth feature, the outer handle is provided with an LED for emitting light on the light reflecting surface, and thus the visibility of the light reflecting surface can be further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the first embodiment, and is a side view showing a main part of the door in a state where the outside handle is located at a storage position (a), a pop-up position (b), and a full stroke position (c).

[0018] Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of line 2-2.

[0019] Figure 3 Is Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of the parts shown.

[0020] Figure 4 This is used to show the state where the cover member is omitted and the drive rod is in the initial position. Figure 2 4-way view.

[0021] Figure 5 The driving rod is rotated to the working position. Figure 3 The corresponding figure.

[0022] Figure 6 The state in which the outer handle is turned to the full stroke position is Figure 3 The corresponding figure.

[0023] Figure 7 It is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of line 7-7.

[0024] Figure 8 It is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of line 8-8.

[0025] Fig. 9 The figure shows the location of the light reflecting surface in the outer handle in the pop-up position. Figure 1 (b) corresponds to the enlarged stereogram.

[0026] Fig.10 is an enlarged top view showing the location where the light reflecting surface is provided in the outer handle in the pop-up position ( Fig. 9 10-direction top view).

[0027] Fig.11 1 is a diagram showing a modified example of the first embodiment, and the diagram is a diagram showing a state where the drive lever is located at an initial position. Figure 3 The corresponding figure.

[0028] Fig.12 The driving rod is rotated to the working position. Fig.11 The corresponding figure.

[0029] Fig.13 It is a longitudinal sectional view of the holding unit as viewed from the support case side.

[0030] Fig.14 The state in which the outer handle is turned to the full stroke position is Fig.11 The corresponding figure.

[0031] Fig.15 is a diagram showing a second embodiment, Fig.15 (a) is a side view of a main part of the door showing a state where the outside handle is located at the storage position. Fig.15 (b) is a side view of the main part of the door showing the state where the handle is located in the pop-up position, and further, Fig.15 (c) is a side view of the main part of the door showing the state in which the handle is located at the full stroke position.

[0032] Fig.16 It is a plan view showing a main part of the outside handle according to the second embodiment, omitting the illustration of the light reflecting surface.

[0033] Fig.17 It is a longitudinal sectional plan view showing the operation of each part of the driving device D and the guiding device G of the outside handle when the outside handle of the second embodiment is in the stored position (a), the pop-up position (b), and the full stroke position (c).

[0034] Fig.18 yes Fig.17 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part.

[0035] Fig.19 (a) is a three-dimensional view of a single body of the transmission frame 170 which is a main part of the linkage mechanism 1, observed from obliquely above. Fig.19 (b) is a stereoscopic view of the second arm A2 alone as viewed from obliquely above.

[0036] Fig. 20 (a) is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the front portion of the outer handle, Fig. 20 (b) is Fig. 20 (a) bb line cross-sectional view, Fig. 20 (c) is Fig. 20 (a) cc line cross-sectional view.

[0037] Fig.21 Observed from above Fig.18 This is an enlarged stereogram obtained by taking the section along line 21-21.

[0038] Fig. 22 It is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the rear portion of the outside handle.

[0039] Description of Reference Numerals

[0040] Cf: front cover as a cover; Cr: rear cover as a cover; J3: third axis as a rotating support axis; R: light reflecting surface; 15: side door as a door; 16: outer panel; 17, 117: outer handle; 18a, 117a: operating part; 22, 88, 122: supporting shell; 39, 89, 139: actuator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0042] First, when referring to Figures 1 to 10 When describing the first embodiment, Figure 1 In the embodiment, an outer panel 16 of a side door 15 of a passenger vehicle is provided with an outer handle 17 formed long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the outer handle 17 can change its position between a storage position, a pop-up position and a full stroke position. Figure 1 As shown in (a), the storage position is a position where the outer surface of the outer panel 16 is flush with the outer surface of the outer handle 17, as shown in Figure 1 As shown in (b), the pop-up position is a position where the operating portion 18a at one end of the outer handle 17 protrudes laterally from the outer surface of the outer panel 16. Figure 1 As shown in (c), the full stroke position is a position where the operating portion 18a is further rotated outward from the ejection position by gripping and operating the operating portion 18a.

[0043] Refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The outer handle 17 is composed of a handle body 18 and a handle base 19, wherein the handle body 18 has a recess 20 facing the inner side of the outer panel 16, the handle body 18 extends long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and has the operating part 18a at one end (the rear end in the example shown in the figure), and the handle base 19 is fastened to the handle body 18 from the outer panel 16 side in a manner of closing the recess 20, and a substrate 21 for mounting electronic components such as touch sensors and antennas is installed on the inner surface of the handle base 19.

[0044] Depend on Fig. 9 and Fig.10 It can be seen that the upper surface of the outer handle 17 exposed to the outside at the pop-up position and the rear surface (i.e., the surface facing the rear side of the vehicle) are provided with a light reflecting surface R (at the bottom) that emits light by reflecting external light (such as the lighting lamps of other vehicles, street lights, etc.). Fig. 9 , Fig.10 The light reflecting surface R can be provided on the upper surface and the rear surface of the external handle 17 (more specifically, the handle body 18 and the handle base 19) exposed to the outside at the pop-up position and the full stroke position by attaching a light reflecting sheet or a light reflecting tape or applying a light reflecting paint to the upper surface and the rear surface.

[0045] As described above, in the embodiment, a light reflecting surface R is provided on at least a portion (the entire surface in the example shown) of the rear end surface and the upper surface of at least the vehicle rear side of the exposed surface of the outer handle 17 exposed to the outside at the pop-up position. Thus, even if the outer handle 17 protrudes significantly to the outside than the outer surface of the outer panel 16 at the pop-up position, a person or the driver of the vehicle moving around the side door 15 in a condition where visibility is reduced at night or the like can easily notice the existence of the outer handle 17 at the pop-up position by the reflected light from the light reflecting surface R, and thus can effectively avoid contact with the outer handle 117.

[0046] Furthermore, the outer handle 17 is rotatably supported by a support housing 22 fixed to the outer panel 16 via a support shaft 23. The outer panel 16 is provided with an opening 24 extending long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the support housing 22 has: a support plate 22a, which is opposite to the inner surface of the outer panel 16; and a handle support 22b, which is integrally provided with the upper part of the support plate 22a in a manner that closes the opening 24 from the inner side of the outer panel 16 and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the support housing 22 is fastened to the inner surface side of the outer panel 16, and a sealing member 25 for sealing the peripheral edge of the opening 24 is sandwiched between the support housing 22 and the outer panel 16.

[0047] A accommodating recess 26 is formed in the handle support portion 22b of the support shell 22 in a manner that is recessed toward the inner side of the outer panel 16. The accommodating recess 26 extends relatively long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle corresponding to the opening portion 24. Most of the outer handle 17 except the operating portion 18a is located in a storage position that makes the outer handle 17 flush with the outer surface of the outer panel 16 and is accommodated in the accommodating recess 26.

[0048] In addition, the support shaft 23 is mounted on the handle support portion 22b of the support housing 22 in a manner that crosses the accommodation recess 26 in the up-down direction, and the support shaft 23 is inserted through a pair of short cylindrical collars 27, 27 into the support portion 18b, which is integrally provided with the handle body 18 near the other end of the outer handle 17 and is arranged in the accommodation recess 26. In addition, a recess 28 is provided in the outer panel 16 in a manner connected to the opening 24, and the recess 28 accommodates the operating portion 18a of the outer handle 17 when the outer handle 17 is located in the storage position.

[0049] The first elastic member 29 is installed on the handle support portion 22b of the support shell 22 in such a manner that the first elastic member 29 is located in the accommodating recess 26, and the first elastic member 29 is abutted against the thick-walled abutting protrusion 19a which is close to the operating portion 18a and integrally provided on the handle base 19 when the outer handle 17 is located in the storage position, and the second elastic member 30 is attached to the handle support portion 22b of the support shell 22 in such a manner that the second elastic member 30 is located in the accommodating recess 26 (see Figure 2 ), the second elastic member 30 is provided to abut against the other end of the handle body 18 in the outer handle 17 at the full stroke position.

[0050] The remaining portion of the accommodating recess 26 except for the portion accommodating most of the outer handle 17 located at the storage position is closed by a base cover 31 adjacent to the other end of the outer handle 17 located at the storage position and installed on the supporting shell 22, and a switch support portion 22c protruding into the accommodating recess 26 is integrally provided on the handle support portion 22b of the supporting shell 22 at a position corresponding to the base cover 31.

[0051] Focus on Figure 2 The switch support portion 22c supports a switch holder 33, which holds a touch switch 32 that is turned on / off by an operation of a vehicle user indicating an intention to lock the side door 15. On the other hand, a rectangular window 34 that extends long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is provided in the base cover 31 at a portion corresponding to the switch support portion 22c. In addition, an intermediate cover 35 made of an elastic material is attached to the switch holder 33 in such a manner that the intermediate cover 35 covers the touch switch 32, and the intermediate cover 35 allows a pressing force to act on the pressed portion 32a of the touch switch 32. A switch button 36 made of a hard synthetic resin is connected to the intermediate cover 35, and the switch button 36 has a rectangular pressing operation portion 36a disposed in the window 34. A flange portion 36b is integrally formed on the switch button 36, and the flange portion 36b abuts against the inner surface of the base cover 31 around the window 34. Furthermore, the switch button 36 is urged toward the non-operation position side by the elastic force exerted by the intermediate cover 35 , where the flange portion 36 b contacts the inner surface of the base cover 31 .

[0052] Refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The support plate portion 22a of the support housing 22 is provided with an actuator 39, which can drive the outer handle 17 stored in the support housing 22 to a pop-up position where the operating portion 18a protrudes outward from the outer panel 16. The actuator 39 includes a drive rod 40, which can be driven by the outer handle 17 stored in the support housing 22 to a pop-up position where the operating portion 18a protrudes outward from the outer panel 16. Figure 4 The initial position shown and the Figure 5 and an electric motor 41 as an electric drive source, which, when energized, rotates the drive rod 40 from the initial position to the working position, and allows the drive rod 40 to return from the working position to the initial position in a non-energized state when the drive rod 40 is located at the working position.

[0053] The actuator housing 42 that accommodates the electric motor 41 is mounted on the lower portion of the support plate portion 22a in the support housing 22 so as to extend downward from the support plate portion 22a. In addition, one end of the drive rod 40 is fixed to a rotation shaft 43, and the rotation shaft 43 is rotatably supported on the upper portion of the actuator housing 42. A transmission mechanism (not shown) provided between the electric motor 41 and the rotation shaft 43 is accommodated in the actuator housing 42.

[0054] In addition, a holding unit for mechanically holding the drive rod 40 at the working position is provided on the support plate portion 22a of the support housing 22, and in this embodiment, the holding unit is a torsion spring 44. A cylindrical spring support portion 45 is protrudingly provided on the support plate portion 22a of the support housing 22 in a manner arranged above the drive rod 40 and below the handle support portion 22b, and the torsion spring 44 has a coil portion 44a surrounding the spring support portion 45, and first and second arm portions 44b and 44c extending from both ends of the coil portion 44a.

[0055] The first arm portion 44b of the torsion spring 44 abuts and engages with the handle support portion 22b located above the spring support portion 45 from below. In addition, the second arm portion 44c is configured to extend from the spring support portion 45 toward the drive rod 40 side, and a mountain portion 44d is formed in the middle portion of the second arm portion 44c so as to be bent in a manner protruding toward the drive rod 40 side.

[0056] On the other hand, a contact step portion 40a is integrally provided on the surface of the drive rod 40 facing the support plate portion 22a, and the contact step portion 40a is formed in a mountain shape in a manner of contacting with the second arm portion 44c from below. When the drive rod 40 is in the initial position, a portion of the second arm portion 44c that is closer to the spring support portion 45 than the mountain portion 44d elastically contacts the contact step portion 40a from above. Figure 5 The dotted line shows the intermediate position from which the Figure 5 When the driving rod 40 reaches the working position shown by the solid line, the abutment step portion 40a pushes the second arm portion 44c upward and passes over the hill portion 44d. When the driving rod 40 is rotated to the working position, as long as no external force is applied to the driving rod 40, the driving rod 40 can be mechanically maintained in the working position by the hill portion 44d of the torsion spring 44.

[0057] In addition, a circular arc-shaped guide hole 46 centered on the axis of the rotating shaft 43 is formed on the supporting plate portion 22a of the supporting shell 22, and a pin 47 penetrating the guide hole 46 is implanted on the driving rod 40. The guide hole 46 is formed to allow the pin 47 to move as the driving rod 40 rotates between the initial position and the working position.

[0058] A connecting protrusion 18c connected to the support portion 18b is integrally provided on the handle body 18 of the outer handle 17. The connecting protrusion 18c passes through a long hole 48 which is provided in the handle support portion 22b in the support shell 22 and extends relatively long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The terminal end of the connecting protrusion 18c protrudes inward from the handle support portion 22b of the support shell 22.

[0059] Furthermore, a cylindrical rod support portion 49 is integrally provided on the support plate portion 22 a of the support housing 22 . The rod support portion 49 is arranged below the handle support portion 22 b at a portion corresponding to the long hole 48 , and a handle rod 50 is rotatably supported by the rod support portion 49 .

[0060] The handlebar 50 integrally includes a first rod base portion 50b and a first cylindrical support tube portion 50a rotatably supported by the rod support portion 49 (see Figure 3 ) ; an outer handle side connecting arm portion 50c extending upward from the first rod base portion 50b; a drive rod side connecting arm portion 50d extending obliquely downward from the first rod base portion 50b toward the drive rod 40 side; and a fan-shaped gear portion 50e protruding from the first rod base portion 50b in the opposite direction of the torsion spring 44.

[0061] The outer handle side connecting arm 50c is formed with a connecting hole 52 extending long in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the distal end of the connecting protrusion 18c of the outer handle 17 is inserted and connected to the connecting hole 52. That is, the handle bar 50 is linked and connected to the outer handle 17 by the first return spring 53 (see Figure 3 ) by the spring force, the handle rod 50 is urged in the direction of returning the outer handle 17 to the storage position side, and the first return spring 53 is a torsion spring surrounding the first support cylinder portion 50a and provided between the handle rod 50 and the support plate portion 22a.

[0062] An abutment pin 54 is implanted at the terminal end of the connecting arm 50d on the driving rod side in such a manner that the abutment pin 54 protrudes toward the supporting plate 22a side. The abutment pin 54 abuts against the driving rod 40 located at the initial position from the working position side. As the driving rod 40 rotates from the initial position to the working position, the abutment pin 54 is pressed by the driving rod 40, thereby rotating the handle rod 50 in such a manner as to drive the outer handle 17 from the storage position to the pop-up position.

[0063] When the outer handle 17 rotates from the ejection position to the full stroke position, the drive rod 40 is held by the torsion spring 44 , so that the handle bar 50 rotates together with the outer handle 17 while throwing the drive rod 40 to the operating position.

[0064] The sector gear portion 50e meshes with a gear 56 of a rotation damper 55 fastened to the support plate portion 22a. The rotation damper 55 serves to slowly rotate the outer handle 17 to the storage position even when the hand is released from the outer handle 17 after the outer handle 17, which is biased toward the storage position, is rotated to the full stroke position.

[0065] In addition, the release rod 58 is supported on the support plate portion 22a of the support shell 22 in a freely rotatable manner. As the outer handle 17 is manually operated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the handle rod 50 rotates, and the release rod 58 rotates with the rotation of the handle rod 50, releasing the retention by the torsion spring 44 and forcibly returning the drive rod 40 to the initial position.

[0066] The release lever 58 is arranged between the support plate portion 22a and the outer panel 16, and the release lever 58 integrally comprises: a second rod base portion 58a, which is rotatably supported on the support plate portion 22a via a first shaft 59, and the first shaft 59 is installed on the support plate portion 22a in a manner so as to be arranged below the handle rod 50; a drive rod side arm portion 58b, which extends from the second rod base portion 58a toward the drive rod 40 side; and a latch mechanism side arm portion 58c, which forms a roughly V-shape together with the drive rod side arm portion 58b, and is connected to the second rod base portion 58a in a manner so as to protrude from the support plate portion 22a toward the side opposite to the mounting portion of the actuator 39.

[0067] A rectangular through hole 60 arranged between the first rod base 50b of the handle rod 50 and the second rod base 58a of the release rod 58 is formed in the support plate portion 22a, and the pressure-receiving portion 58d inserted into the through hole 60 is connected to the middle portion of the drive rod side arm portion 58b at a right angle and is integrally arranged, and a handle side cover 61 made of elastic material is attached to the pressure-receiving portion 58d. On the other hand, the driving rod side connecting arm 50d in the handle bar 50 is integrally connected with the pressing arm 50f. When the outer handle 17 is rotated from the storage position to the pop-up position, the handle bar 50 rotates together with the outer handle 17, thereby causing the tip of the pressing arm 50f to abut against the handle side cover 61. When the outer handle 17 is rotated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the handle bar 50 rotates together with the outer handle 17, thereby causing the handle side cover 61, i.e., the pressed portion 58d, to be pressed by the pressing arm 50f, and the release lever 58 is rotated to the full stroke position. Figure 6 The location is shown.

[0068] The side door 15 is provided with a latch mechanism 62, which can switch between a latched state in which the side door 15 is kept closed by engaging with the vehicle body side and an unlatched state in which the side door 15 can be opened. The rotation of the release rod 58 is transmitted to the latch mechanism 62 via a transmission rod 63 whose one end is connected to the terminal end of the latch mechanism side arm portion 58c.

[0069] The latch mechanism 62 is provided with an electric motor (not shown) which can switch between an unlocked state in which the latch mechanism 62 can be released and a locked state in which the latch state cannot be released. When the touch sensor in the outer handle 17 detects that a regular vehicle user has grasped the outer handle 17 in the locked state, the latch mechanism 62 changes to an unlocked state.

[0070] When the latch mechanism 62 is in the unlocked state, it is brought into the unlatched state by the force transmitted from the release lever 58 through the transmission lever 63 as the outside handle 17 is rotated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, and the side door 15 can be opened in this state.

[0071] On the other hand, when the electronic control device (substrate 121b described later) confirms that the vehicle user is a legitimate vehicle user through communication between a portable device carried by the vehicle user located within a specified range from the vehicle, the electric motor 41 of the actuator 39 drives the drive rod 40 to rotate from the initial position to the working position. The vehicle user grasps the outer handle 17 that is in the pop-up position as the drive rod 40 rotates and rotates it to the full stroke position side, thereby opening the side door 15.

[0072] It should be noted that the operation of the electric motor 41 of the actuator 39 may be started by an operation on the portable device side instead of the pre-authentication achieved by communication with the portable device. In addition, the electric motor 41 of the actuator 39 may be capable of forward and reverse rotation, and when the state of the outer handle 17 at the ejection position has passed for a predetermined time or longer, in order to return the outer handle 17 to the storage position, the electric motor 41 is operated in the reverse direction to return the drive rod 40 from the operating position to the initial position.

[0073] A drive rod side cover 64 made of elastic material is attached to the tip end of the drive rod side arm portion 58b in the release lever 58. The drive rod side cover 64 abuts against the pin 47 of the drive rod 40 inserted into the guide hole 46 when the drive rod 40 rotates from the initial position to the working position. As the release lever 58 rotates along with the rotation of the outer handle 17 from the ejection position to the full stroke position, the pin 47, i.e., the drive rod 40, is pressed by the drive rod side arm portion 58b of the release lever 58. Figure 6As shown, the drive rod 40 is forcibly driven to rotate in a manner that the second arm portion 44c of the torsion spring 44 is pushed upward and abuts the step portion 40a to pass over the mountain portion 44d of the second arm portion 44c. The drive rod 40 returns to its initial position by the elastic force of the mountain portion 44d of the second arm portion 44c in the state of passing over the mountain portion 44d.

[0074] A second return spring 65 is provided between the release lever 58 and the support plate portion 22a (see Figure 3 ), the second return spring 65 is a torsion spring surrounding the first shaft 59, and the release lever 58 is rotated and urged to a side where the handle side cover 61 abuts against the pressing arm 50f of the handle lever 50 by the spring force of the second return spring 65.

[0075] Refer to Figure 7 An inertia mechanism 68 is provided at the handle support portion 22b of the support shell 22, and the inertia mechanism 68 is used to prevent the impact caused by the side collision of the side door 15 when the outer handle 17 is in the storage position, so that the outer handle 17 is rotated to the full stroke position and the side door 15 is opened undesirably.

[0076] The inertia mechanism 68 comprises: an inertia rod 70, which is rotatably supported on the handle support portion 22b via a second shaft 69, the second shaft 69 having an axis parallel to the support shaft 23 that rotatably supports the outer handle 17 on the handle support portion 22b and is arranged on the handle support portion 22b; and a third return spring 71, which is arranged between the handle support portion 22b and the inertia rod 70.

[0077] The inertia lever 70 integrally comprises: a third lever base 70b, provided with a second supporting cylinder 70a supported by the second shaft 69 as a cylindrical shape that is rotatable; a weight arm 70c, extending from the third lever base 70b to the opposite side of the arm 50c connecting the outer handle side of the handle lever 50; and a limiting arm 70d extending from the third lever base 70b to the side of the arm 50c connecting the outer handle side of the handle lever 50, and a sponge 72 is attached to the handle support portion 22b, and the sponge 72 is in a state where the inertia lever 70 is rotated to a position that allows the outer handle 17 to rotate to the full stroke position (by Figure 7 In the state shown by the solid line), it abuts against the distal end of the limiting arm portion 70d.

[0078] The third return spring 71 is a torsion spring that surrounds the second support cylinder 70a and is arranged between the handle support portion 22b and the inertia rod 70. Through the spring force of the third return spring 71, the inertia rod 70 is rotated to the side where the distal end of the limiting arm portion 70d abuts against the sponge 72.

[0079] When the impact caused by the side collision acts on the side door 15, the inertial lever 70 rotates faster than the handle lever 50 so that the restriction arm 70d is separated from the sponge 72. Figure 7 When the handle bar 50 rotates together with the outer handle 17, the outer handle side connecting arm portion 50c of the handle bar 50 is as shown in the dotted line. Figure 7 As shown by the dotted line, the handle bar 50 abuts against the distal end of the restriction arm 70d, thereby restricting the rotation of the handle bar 50 and preventing the outer handle 17 that rotates together with the handle bar 50 from rotating toward the full stroke position side.

[0080] Furthermore, the limiting arm portion 70d of the inertia lever 70 is formed with a contact surface 70e, which contacts the handle side connection portion 50c of the handle lever 50 as the outer handle 17 is rotated from the ejection position to the full stroke position in a state where the limiting arm portion 70d contacts the sponge 72. The contact surface 70e is formed obliquely in a manner that crosses the moving direction of the handle side connection portion 50c obliquely so that the inertia lever 70 can be rotated toward the side where the sponge 72 is compressed by the limiting arm portion 70d by the pressing force applied from the handle side connection portion 50c. Thus, the inertia lever 70 rotates slightly each time the outer handle 17 is rotated, and the inertia lever 70 can be prevented from being in a hardened state due to being stationary for a long time.

[0081] It should be noted that, in case the inertial mechanism 68 is not fully functional, the rotary damper 55 may be used to absorb the impact of a side collision and prevent the outer handle 17 from rotating toward the full stroke position.

[0082] A light 75 for illuminating the operating portion 18a of the outer handle 17 in the pop-up position is installed on the support shell 22 or the outer handle 17. In this embodiment, a light 75 for illuminating the operating portion 18a of the outer handle 17 in the pop-up position is installed on the handle support portion 22b of the support shell 22.

[0083] The lamp 75 includes: a lamp housing 77 formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin and fastened to the handle support portion 22 b by, for example, a pair of screw members 76 , 76 ; and a light-emitting diode 79 provided on a substrate 78 , which is inserted into and supported in the lamp housing 77 .

[0084] The lamp housing 77 has an insertion hole 80 opened to the side opposite to the outer panel 16 and is formed in a box shape. The substrate 78 inserted into the insertion hole 80 is held by a gasket 81 fitted with the insertion hole 80. The light emitting diode 79 is provided on the lower surface of the end portion of the substrate 78 on the outer panel 16 side, and the opening end of the insertion hole 80 is filled with a potting agent 83, which is used to seal the connection portion of the lead wire 86 with the substrate 78.

[0085] A through hole 82 opened in the accommodating recess 26 is provided on the upper part of the handle support portion 22b at a position corresponding to the operating portion 18a of the outer handle 17 so as to be located below the light-emitting diode 79, a light-guiding portion 77a for guiding light from the light-emitting diode 79 is integrally formed with the lamp housing 77 and embedded in the through hole 82, and a sealing member 84 annularly surrounding the through hole 82 is clamped between the lamp housing 77 and the handle support portion 22b.

[0086] A shell cover 85 is installed on the supporting shell 22, and the shell cover 85 covers a part of the actuator 39, the torsion spring 44, the handle rod 50, the rotary damper 55, the inertial mechanism 68, etc. arranged on the supporting shell 22. Through the shell cover 85, the adverse effects caused by water and dust entering the side door 15 from the gap between the outer panel 16 and the window glass can be prevented from affecting the actuator 39, the torsion spring 44, the handle rod 50, the rotary damper 55, the inertial mechanism 68, etc.

[0087] Next, the function of the first embodiment is explained. The actuator 39 can drive the outer handle 17 having a manually operable operating portion 18a at one end to a pop-up position in which the operating portion 18a protrudes outward from the outer panel 16 of the side door 15. The actuator 39 is installed on the support shell 22, and the support shell 22 is installed on the outer panel 16. The actuator 39 is constructed to include: a drive rod 40 that can rotate between an initial position and an operating position; and an electric motor 41 that rotates and drives the drive rod 40 from the initial position to the operating position when power is supplied, and allows the drive rod 40 to return from the operating position to the initial position in a non-powered state when the drive rod 40 is located at the operating position. The outer handle 17 that is rotationally applied to the storage position side stored in the support shell 22 is supported by the support shell 2 in a manner that it can rotate to the full stroke position with manual operation from the pop-up position. 2. A torsion spring 44 for mechanically holding the drive rod 40 in the working position is installed on the support housing 22. The handle rod 50 is pressed and rotated by the drive rod 40 as the drive rod 40 rotates from the initial position to the working position, thereby interlocking and connecting with the outer handle 17 in such a manner that the outer handle 17 rotates from the storage position to the pop-up position. The handle rod 50 is supported by the support housing 22 in such a manner that the drive rod 40 is thrown to the working position when the outer handle 17 rotates from the pop-up position to the full stroke position. A release lever 58 is supported by the support housing 22. As the outer handle 17 is manually operated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the handle rod 50 rotates. The release lever 58 rotates as the handle rod 50 rotates, thereby releasing the holding of the holding unit and forcibly returning the drive rod 40 to the initial position.

[0088] Therefore, the handle bar 50 is rotated by the drive bar 40 of the actuator 39, and the drive bar 40 is held in the working position by the torsion spring 44 when the outside handle 17 is rotated from the storage position to the pop-up position. In this state, even if the electric motor 41 of the actuator 39 is de-energized, the pop-up position of the outside handle 17 is held. In addition, if the holding of the torsion spring 44 is released, the electric motor 41 of the actuator 39 allows the drive bar 40 in the working position to return to the initial position by the action of an external force. When the vehicle user rotates the outside handle 17 from the pop-up position to the full stroke position to open the side door 15, the release lever 58 is rotated by the handle bar 50 that rotates together with the outside handle 17, and the release lever 58 releases the holding of the drive bar 40 by the torsion spring 44 and forcibly returns the drive bar 40 to the initial position. Therefore, even if the electric motor 41 of the actuator 39 is abnormal, the outside handle 17 that is urged to the storage position side can be returned to the storage position by releasing the hand from the outside handle 17. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the electric motor 41 on the actuator 39 side, the outside handle 17 can be returned to the stored position, and the power consumption for maintaining the outside handle 17 at the pop-up position can be reduced.

[0089] Furthermore, since the light 75 for illuminating the operation portion 18a of the outside handle 17 in the pop-up position is mounted on the support housing 22, the operation portion 18a of the outside handle 17 can be easily visually confirmed even in a dark state such as at night.

[0090] Next, refer to Figure 11-12 , a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In this modification, only the parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the detailed description is omitted.

[0091] First, in Fig.11 In the embodiment, the support case 88 includes a support plate portion 88 a and a handle support portion 88 b for rotatably supporting the outer handle 17 (see the first embodiment), and an actuator 89 is mounted on a lower portion of the support plate portion 88 a.

[0092] The actuator 89 is composed of a driving rod 90, which can be Fig.11 The initial position shown is the same as that given by Fig.12 The drive rod 90 is configured to rotate between the working positions shown; and an electric motor 41, which drives the drive rod 90 to rotate from the initial position to the working position when power is supplied, and allows the drive rod 90 to return from the working position to the initial position in a non-powered state when the drive rod 90 is located in the working position, and the base of the drive rod 90 is fixed to a rotating shaft 43 that is driven to rotate by the electric motor 41.

[0093] Refer to Fig.13A holding unit 91 is provided on the support plate portion 88a of the support housing 88 in such a manner that the holding unit 91 is arranged between the drive rod 90 and the support plate portion 88a, and the holding unit 91 mechanically holds the drive rod 90 at the working position.

[0094] The holding unit 91 includes: a guide tube 92 fixedly provided on the support plate portion 88a so as to extend radially from the rotation axis 43; a moving block 93 slidably engaged with the guide tube 92; and a spring 94 compressed and provided between the guide tube 92 and the moving block 93.

[0095] The guide tube 92 is configured to have a first end wall portion 92a at one end portion on the rotating shaft 43 side and a second end wall portion 92b at the other end portion away from the rotating shaft 43, and the spring 94 is provided between the first end wall portion 92a and the moving block 93. In addition, a through hole 95 is formed in the center portion of the second end wall portion 92b, and an engaging protrusion 93a provided integrally with the moving block 93 movably penetrates the through hole 95.

[0096] On the other hand, the surface of the driving rod 90 opposite to the support plate portion 88a is integrally provided with: a locking recess 96 that can be engaged with the locking protrusion 93a of the holding unit 91; and first and second mountain portions 97, 98, which are arranged on both sides of the locking recess 96 and bulge toward the guide tube 92 side. When the driving rod 90 is in the initial position, Fig.13 As shown in FIG. 1 , the engaging protrusion 93a is located at a position disengaged from the locking recess 96 and the first and second mountain portions 97 and 98. When the driving rod 90 rotates from the initial position to the Fig.13 When the driving lever 90 is in the working position indicated by the dotted line, the engaging protrusion 93a passes over the first ridge 97 and engages with the locking recess 96, whereby the driving lever 90 is mechanically held in the working position.

[0097] In addition, the handle bar 100 is rotatably supported on the support plate portion 88a, and the handle bar 100 integrally comprises: a bar base 100a, which is rotatably supported by an axis 101 provided on the support plate portion 88a; an outer handle side connecting arm portion 100b, which extends upward from the bar base 100a; a drive rod side connecting arm portion 100c, which extends obliquely downward from the bar base 100a toward the drive rod 90 side; and a fan-shaped gear portion 100d, which protrudes from the bar base 100a in a direction opposite to the actuator 89.

[0098] The outer handle side connecting arm 100b is formed with a connecting hole 102 extending long in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the distal end of the connecting protrusion 18c provided on the outer handle 17 is inserted into and connected to the connecting hole 102, so that the handle bar 100 is linked and connected to the outer handle 17. In addition, the handle bar 100 is urged in a direction to return the outer handle 17 to the storage position side by a return spring (not shown).

[0099] An abutment protrusion 100e is integrally provided at the terminal end of the connecting arm 100c on the driving rod side in such a manner that the abutment protrusion 100e protrudes toward the supporting plate portion 88a. The abutment protrusion 100e abuts against the driving rod 90 at the initial position from the working position side. As the driving rod 90 rotates from the initial position to the working position, the abutment protrusion 100e is pressed by the driving rod 90, thereby rotating the handle rod 100 in such a manner as to drive the outer handle 17 from the storage position to the pop-up position.

[0100] Furthermore, when the outer handle 17 rotates from the ejection position to the full stroke position, the drive rod 90 is held by the holding unit 91 , so that the handle bar 100 rotates together with the outer handle 17 while throwing the drive rod 90 to the operating position.

[0101] Furthermore, the sector gear portion 100d meshes with a gear 56 included in a rotation damper 55 fastened to the support plate portion 88a.

[0102] In addition, the release rod 103 is supported on the support plate portion 88a of the support shell 88 in a freely rotatable manner. As the outer handle 17 is manually operated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the handle rod 100 rotates, and the release rod 103 rotates with the rotation of the handle rod 100, thereby releasing the retention of the retaining unit 91 and forcibly returning the drive rod 90 to the initial position.

[0103] The release lever 103 integrally comprises: a rod base 103a, which is rotatably supported on the support plate 88a via an axis 104, and the axis 104 is installed on the support plate 88a in a manner arranged below the handle rod 100; a drive rod side arm 103b, which extends from the rod base 103a toward the drive rod 90 side; and a latch mechanism side arm 103c, which is connected to the rod base 103a in a manner protruding toward the side opposite to the mounting portion of the actuator 89.

[0104] A pressure-receiving portion 103d is integrally provided on the latch mechanism side arm portion 103c of the release lever 103 in such a manner that the pressure-receiving portion 103d faces the drive lever side connecting arm portion 100c of the handle lever 100, and a handle side cover 105 made of an elastic material is attached to the pressure-receiving portion 103d. On the other hand, a pressing arm portion 100f is integrally connected to the drive lever side connecting arm portion 100c in the handle lever 100. When the outer handle 17 is rotated from the storage position to the pop-up position, the handle lever 100 rotates together with the outer handle 17, thereby causing the tip end of the pressing arm portion 100f to abut against the handle side cover 105. When the outer handle 17 is rotated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the handle lever 100 rotates together with the outer handle 17, thereby causing the handle side cover 105, i.e., the pressure-receiving portion 103d, to be pressed by the pressing arm portion 100f, and the release lever 103 is rotated to the full stroke position. Fig.14 The location is shown.

[0105] The rotation of the release lever 103 is transmitted to the latch mechanism 62 disposed on the side door 15 via a transmission rod 63 whose one end is connected to the distal end of the latch mechanism side arm portion 103 c .

[0106] A drive rod side cover 106 made of elastic material is attached to the terminal end of the drive rod side arm 103b in the release rod 103, and the drive rod side cover 106 abuts against the terminal end of the drive rod 90 when the drive rod 90 is rotated from the initial position to the working position. As the outer handle 17 rotates from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the release rod 103 rotates. Through the rotation of the release rod 103, the drive rod 90 is pressed by the drive rod side arm 103b of the release rod 103, and the drive rod 90 is forcibly driven to rotate in such a manner that the moving block 93 is pressed in through the first hill portion 97 so that the engaging protrusion 93a passes over the first hill portion 97, and the drive rod 90 returns to the initial position.

[0107] The release lever 103 is biased to rotate toward a side where the handle side cover 105 abuts against the pressing arm portion 100 f of the handle lever 100 by a spring (not shown).

[0108] A pressing portion 103e is integrally connected to the latch mechanism side arm portion 103c of the release lever 103, and the pressing portion 103e is inserted into an opening 107 formed in the support plate portion 88a. A switch 108 is mounted on the surface of the support plate portion 88a opposite to the side on which the release lever 103 is disposed. As the outer handle 17 is manually operated from the ejection position to the full stroke position, the release lever 103 rotates, and the switch 108 is pressed by the pressing portion 103e as the release lever 103 rotates, thereby changing the switch state. When the switch state changes due to being pressed by the pressing portion 103e, the switch 108 outputs a signal to open the window of the side door 15 (see the first embodiment) to allow outside air to flow into the vehicle.

[0109] In addition, an inertia mechanism 68 is provided on the handle support portion 88b of the support shell 88, and the inertia mechanism 68 is used to prevent the impact caused by the side collision of the side door 15 when the outer handle 17 is in the storage position, so that the outer handle 17 is rotated to the full stroke position and the side door 15 is opened undesirably. In addition, a lamp 109 is installed on the handle support portion 88b of the support shell 88 to illuminate the operating portion 18a (refer to the first embodiment) of the outer handle 17 in the pop-up position.

[0110] According to the modified example of the first embodiment described above, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be achieved. On this basis, as the outer handle 17 is manually operated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the release lever 103 rotates, and as the release lever 103 rotates, the window of the side door 15 opens, allowing outside air to flow into the vehicle. Therefore, the air pressure difference between the inside and outside of the side door 15 can be reduced, and the opening operation of the side door 15 can be smoothed.

[0111] Next, refer to Figure 15 to Figure 22 The second embodiment of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that in the description of the second embodiment, the front and rear, and the left and right are respectively consistent with the front and rear, and the left and right of the vehicle equipped with the side door 15.

[0112] First, in Fig.15 In the embodiment, an outer panel 16 of a side door 15 of a passenger vehicle is provided with an outer handle 117, which is formed long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle facing the handle hole 16h after the trim decoration. The outer handle 117 can change its position between a storage position, an ejection position and a full stroke position. Fig.15 As shown in (a), the storage position is a position where the outer surface of the outer panel 16 is flush with the outer surface of the outer handle 117, as shown in Fig.15 As shown in (b), the pop-up position is a position where the main part of the operating portion 117a for manual operation protrudes laterally from the outer surface of the outer panel 16, as shown in FIG. Fig.15As shown in (c), the full stroke position is a position where the operating portion 117a is further rotated outward from the ejection position by gripping and operating the operating portion 117a.

[0113] Refer to Fig.16 The outer handle 117 is composed of a handle body 118 and a handle base 119, wherein the handle body 118 has a recess 120 facing the inner side of the outer panel 16 and extends long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the handle base 119 is long in the front-rear direction and is detachably connected to the handle body 118 from the outer panel 16 side in a manner to close the recess 120. The handle body 118 and the handle base 119 can be connected to each other by a not-shown latching unit (for example, an elastic latching claw and a latching hole that can be latched and detached from the elastic latching claw) provided therebetween, or can be connected using a plurality of not-shown bolts.

[0114] The portion of the outer handle 117 that can be grasped by the vehicle user when the outer handle 117 is in the pop-up position (i.e., the portion that the fingers can hook when the outer handle 117 is in the full stroke operation from the pop-up position) serves as the operating portion 117a. More specifically, the portion of the outer handle 117 that is located between the front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r described later and extends in the front-to-rear direction and the portion that is further rearward than the rear raised portion 119r functions as the operating portion 117a.

[0115] A touch sensor 121a for indicating whether the side door 15 is locked or unlocked and a substrate 121b on which an antenna and an electronic control device are assembled are installed on the inner surface of the handle base 119 (i.e., the concave surface opposite to the handle body 118). The touch sensor 121a is composed of, for example, a non-contact sensor capable of detecting a change in capacitance. In addition, a shallow depression 118o is provided on the outer surface of the handle body 118 near the rear end at a position corresponding to the touch sensor 121a. When the hand of the vehicle user contacts the depression 118o, as described later, the locking or unlocking operation of the latch mechanism 62 and the pop-up operation of the outer handle 117 can be performed substantially simultaneously.

[0116] For example, the substrate 121b communicates with the vehicle through a portable device carried by a vehicle user located within a specified range from the vehicle.

[0117] After it is confirmed that the user is a regular user, when the user's hand touches the above-mentioned recess 118o, the touch sensor 121a outputs a detection signal to the substrate 121b according to the change in the surrounding capacitance. Accordingly, the substrate 121b can activate the actuator 139 and extend the outer handle 117 in the storage position to the pop-up position.

[0118] A pair of front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r extending toward the inner side of the outer panel 16 are integrally provided on the back side of the handle base 119 (i.e., the side opposite to the handle body 118). These raised portions 119f and 119r are each formed into a square tube shape that gradually becomes thinner as they move away from the handle body 118. The front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r are respectively covered with front and rear covers Cf and Cr that cover the upper surfaces of these raised portions 119f and 119r in a detachable manner. The fixing structure of the front and rear covers Cf and Cr to the front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r will be described later.

[0119] Furthermore, the support housing 122 is fixed to the outer panel 16 so that the outer handle 117 can take the above-mentioned storage position (refer to Fig.15 (a)), pop-up position (refer to Fig.15 (b)) and full stroke position (refer to Fig.15 The outer handle 117 is installed in the manner of (c). That is, a driving device D capable of driving the outer handle 117 from the storage position to the pop-up position and a guide device G for guiding the manual rotation operation of the outer handle 117 from the pop-up position to the full stroke position are sandwiched between the outer handle 117 and the support housing 122.

[0120] The support housing 122 is structured to be divided into two parts, upper and lower, by a pair of upper and lower housing halves 122a and 122b. The opening ends of the upper and lower housing halves 122a and 122b are detachably connected to each other via a connecting unit (such as a bolt) not shown in the figure. Fig.17 , Fig.18 Only the lower housing half 122b is shown in the figure.

[0121] The above-mentioned drive device D comprises: a supporting shell 122; an actuator 139 (such as an electric motor) having a rearward output rod 139b, and the actuator 139 is accommodated and fixed in the front part of the supporting shell 122; a first arm A1, whose base end portion A1b is supported in a manner that can swing left and right around a first axis J1 spanned between the upper and lower shell halves 122a, 122b; a second arm A2, whose base end portion (the rear end portion of the upper and lower connecting rods 203, 204 described later) is pivotally supported and connected to the top of the rear raised portion 119r of the handle base 119 via the second axis J2 in a manner that can rotate relative to each other; and a linkage mechanism I, which links the first and second arms A1, A2 with the output action (rearward movement) of the above-mentioned output rod 139b so as to extend the outer handle 117 from the storage position to the pop-up position.

[0122] The distal end portion A1a of the first arm A1 is pivotally connected to the base of the front raised portion 119f of the handle base 119 via the third axis J3 as a rotation support axis in a relatively rotatable manner. In addition, a first return spring S1 (for example, a torsion coil spring) is interposed between the first arm A1 and the support housing 122 to always bias the first arm A1 toward the inner side (the vehicle compartment side), that is, the storage position side.

[0123] Depend on Fig.18 , Fig.19 As can be seen from (b), the second arm A2 is composed of a rectangular frame body formed by integrally combining the front and rear connecting shafts 201, 202 extending in the up-down direction and the upper and lower connecting rods 203, 204. The front connecting shaft 201 is formed in an axis shape, and the middle part of the front connecting shaft 201 is slidably engaged and supported by the guide member 210 (specifically, the guide hole H provided in the member 210) fixed to the bottom of the support housing 122. The guide hole H has a front half-side straight hole portion Hs extending in the front-back direction, and a rear half-side curved hole portion Hr connected to the rear end of the straight hole portion Hs and curved toward the rear and outer sides.

[0124] Depend on Fig.18 It can be seen that the linkage mechanism I comprises: a transmission frame 170 extending in the front-rear direction between the top of the output rod 139b of the actuator 139 and the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2 in a manner that connects them;

[0125] The cam surface 180 is formed on the inner side surface of the middle part of the first arm A1 and is inclined to the front and outer sides. The cam surface 180 is opposite to the output rod 139b via the front transmission shaft 171 of the transmission frame 170 described below. The cam surface 180 and the front transmission shaft 171 in sliding contact with the cam surface 180 constitute a cam mechanism, which converts the rearward movement of the output rod 139b into the outward swing of the first arm A1 around the first axis J1.

[0126] Moreover, by Fig.18 , Fig.19 As can be seen from (a), the transmission frame 170 is composed of a rectangular frame that is longer in the front-to-back direction, in which the adjacent ends of the front and rear transmission shafts 171, 172, which extend in the up-down direction, and the upper and lower connecting rods 173, 174, which are respectively located on the outside of the supporting shell 122 and extend longer in the front-to-back direction, are pivotally connected to each other.

[0127] Furthermore, the upper and lower ends of the front transmission shaft 171 extend outward from the support housing 122 through the front openings (not shown) of the upper and lower housing halves 122a and 122b, and the front ends of the upper and lower connecting rods 173 and 174 are respectively detachably engaged and connected to the extended ends of the upper and lower ends of the front transmission shaft 171. In addition, a pair of upper and lower guide protrusions 171t are integrally provided protrudingly on the outer circumference of the middle portion of the front transmission shaft 171 near the upper and lower ends, and the pair of upper and lower guide protrusions 171t are engaged and supported by the guide rails 176 provided on the inner walls of the upper and lower housing halves 122a and 122b in a manner that they can only move (slide) relative to each other in the front-rear direction.

[0128] On the other hand, the upper and lower ends of the rear transmission shaft 172 extend outward from the support housing 122 through the rear openings (not shown) of the upper and lower housing halves 122a and 122b, and the rear ends of the upper and lower connecting rods 173 and 174 are respectively detachably engaged and connected to the extended ends of the upper and lower ends of the rear transmission shaft 172. In addition, the middle portion of the rear transmission shaft 172 passes through and is supported by the above-mentioned rear openings of the upper and lower housing halves 122a and 122b and the guide hole H (particularly the linear hole portion Hs) of the aforementioned guide member 210 in a manner that allows forward and backward sliding.

[0129] Moreover, by Fig.17 , Fig.18 It can be seen that when the outer handle 117 is located between the storage position and the pop-up position, the outer periphery of the middle part of the rear transmission shaft 172 is in a state where it can contact / separate from the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2 in the straight hole portion Hs, and abut against the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2. In this state, the driving force of the actuator 139 can be transmitted to the front connecting shaft 201 via the transmission frame 170.

[0130] Therefore, for example, when the outer handle 117 is in the storage position, the actuator 139 operates, and when the transmission frame 170 (and then the rear transmission shaft 172 and the front connecting shaft 201) move rearward by the driving force of the actuator 139, the second arm A2 swings outward around the axis of the front connecting shaft 201, and at the same time, the front transmission shaft 171 of the transmission frame 170 slides in contact with and presses the cam surface 180, thereby causing the first arm A1 to swing outward around the first axis J1.

[0131] Furthermore, by the above-mentioned outward swinging of the first and second arms A1 and A2 (see Fig.17 As shown in the hollow arrow of (b), the outer handle 117 maintains its outer surface in a posture roughly parallel to the outer panel 16, and is extended and maintained in the pop-up position.

[0132] Furthermore, when the outside handle 117 is in the above-mentioned pop-up position, when the vehicle user hooks his hand on the operating portion 117a of the outside handle 117 and intends to rotate the outside handle 117 to the full stroke position, the front connecting shaft 201 is slid and guided outward in the curved hole portion Hr in a manner of leaving the rear transmission shaft 172, and at the same time, the outside handle 117 is swung outward around the third axis J3 (refer to FIG. Fig.17 (c) hollow arrow), thereby moving to the full stroke position.

[0133] Furthermore, the guide hole H with the curved hole portion Hr, the second arm A2 and the third shaft J3 constitute the guide device G in cooperation with each other.

[0134] Furthermore, around the guide hole H of the guide member 210, between the upper and lower shell halves 122a and 122b, there is a Fig.18 It can be seen that the front and rear rod shafts Jf and Jr are arranged at intervals in the front and rear. Among them, the relay rod 150 is supported on the rear rod shaft Jr in a rotatable manner, and the relay rod 150 integrally has: a first arm portion 150a, which can be engaged with the outer periphery of the middle portion of the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2 in a manner that can contact / separate with the outer periphery of the middle portion (especially the rear surface side) of the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2; and a second arm portion 150b, which can be engaged with the locking protrusion 158a at the rear of the release lever 158 described below.

[0135] In particular, the first arm portion 150a is inserted into the inner space of the second arm A2 in such a manner that it can engage with the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2. In addition, a second return spring S2 composed of a torsion coil spring is interposed between the relay rod 150 and the guide member 210. The second return spring S2 always moves the relay rod 150 in the engagement direction between the first arm portion 150a and the second arm A2 (specifically, the front connecting shaft 201), that is, Fig.18 Apply force in counterclockwise direction.

[0136] In addition, the release lever 158 is rotatably supported on the front rod shaft Jf, and the latch mechanism 62 of the side door 15 is linked to the release lever 158 via the transmission rod 163. It should be noted that the latch mechanism 62 of the second embodiment has the same structure and function as the latch mechanism 62 of the first embodiment, so the same figure marks are used and further functional description is omitted.

[0137] As described above, in the second embodiment, the transmission rod 163 connected to the latch mechanism 62 is linked to the relay rod 150 via the release rod 158. However, by configuring the latch mechanism 62, as shown in FIG. Fig.18As shown by the two-dot chain line, the release lever 158 may be omitted and the transmission lever 163 ′ connected to the latch mechanism 62 may be directly connected to the second arm portion 150 b of the relay lever 150 .

[0138] In the second embodiment, the latch mechanism 62 detects that a normal vehicle user has put his hand in contact with the outer handle 117 (specifically, the recess 118o) in the locked state of the latch mechanism 62, based on the touch sensor 121a and the substrate 121b in the outer handle 117, and changes to the unlocked state. At the same time, the actuator 139 is operated to swing the first arm A1 outward around the first axis J1 and the second arm A2 outward around the axis of the front connecting shaft 201, thereby extending the outer handle 117 outward from the storage position to the pop-up position (see FIG. 1 ). Fig.17 In this case, when the outer handle 117 is displaced to the ejection position, the first arm A1 is engaged with the inner wall of the support housing 122 to restrict further outward swinging.

[0139] Then, in this state, when the vehicle user hooks his hand on the operating portion 117a of the outer handle 117 and attempts to pull the outer handle 117 from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the outer handle 117 is swung outwardly around the third axis J3 by the operating force and moves to the full stroke position. During this period, the front connecting shaft 201 of the second arm A2 is slidably guided to the curved hole portion Hr of the guide hole H and moves outward, thereby the second arm A2 is further displaced outward than when it is in the pop-up position, and stands up and swings around the axis of the front connecting shaft 201.

[0140] In this case, by Fig.17 As shown in (c), the first arm portion 150a of the relay rod 150 is engaged with the front connecting shaft 201, so the relay rod 150 and the front connecting shaft 201 move outward along the curved hole portion Hr in conjunction with each other in a clockwise direction ( Fig.17 ) is rotated. Along with this, the second arm portion 150b of the relay lever 150 engages with the locking protrusion 158a of the release lever 158, whereby the release lever 158 rotates counterclockwise ( Fig.17 ) rotates to make the transmission rod 163 work in the unlocking direction of the latch mechanism 62.

[0141] Furthermore, the manual operating force on the outer handle 117 from the ejection position to the full stroke position passes through the second arm A2, the relay rod 150, the release rod 158, and the transmission rod 163 in sequence.

[0142] Since the force is transmitted to the latch mechanism 62 , the latch mechanism 62 is brought into an unlatched state by the manual operation force, and the side door 15 can be opened.

[0143] Furthermore, as described above, the upper surfaces of the front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r protruding from the handle base 119 are respectively covered with the front and rear covers Cf and Cr in a detachable manner. Figure 16 to Figure 22 The fixing structure of the forward and rear raised portions 119f and 119r of the front and rear covers Cf and Cr will be described.

[0144] The front and rear covers Cf and Cr each have: a cover body Cfm and Crm in a trapezoidal flat plate shape, which is placed on and overlapped with the flat upper surface of the front and rear raised parts 119f and 119r; and a pair of front and rear support pieces Cff, Cfr, Crf and Crr, which are integrally connected to the front and rear end edges of the cover bodies Cfm and Crm and cover the upper front and rear side surfaces of the front and rear raised parts 119f and 119r, respectively. The front and rear pairs of support pieces Cff, Cfr, Crf and Crr are smoothly bent from the front and rear end edges of the cover bodies Cfm and Crm and extend downward, and engage with the corresponding front and rear raised parts 119f and 119r in a manner of clamping their respective upper parts from the front and rear.

[0145] Depend on Fig. 20 , Fig.21 It can be seen that the third axis J3 is inserted upward from the bottom into the base of the front raised portion 119f, and the third axis J3 has an outward flange portion 301 at its outer circumferential lower end portion, and an annular engagement groove 302 at its outer circumferential upper end portion. The outward flange portion 301 engages with the lower wall of the front raised portion 119f, defining the rising limit of the third axis J3 relative to the front raised portion 119f.

[0146] On the other hand, by Fig. 20 , Fig.21 It can be seen that on the lower surface of the cover body Cfm of the front cover Cf, a semi-cylindrical engaging portion 303 is integrally provided at the end near the handle body 118, and the engaging portion 303 engages with the engaging groove 302 to prevent the third shaft J3 from being separated from the outer handle 117 (specifically, the front raised portion 119f). In addition, on the lower surface of the cover body Cfm, a pair of front and rear engaging protrusions 304, 305 and a single engaging claw 306 are integrally provided at the end on the opposite side of the handle body 118, and the single engaging claw 306 is located between the two engaging protrusions 304, 305. Moreover, on the upper surface of the raised portion 119f, a concave surface 310 is provided to accommodate the engaging portion 303 in a long hole shape that can slide.

[0147] Furthermore, in the process of assembling the front cover Cf, the front cover Cf is placed on the upper surface of the front raised portion 119f and is slid toward the handle body 118, thereby Fig.21It can be seen that the end edge Cmfe on the front side in the sliding direction of the cover body Cfm is engaged in a manner of drilling into the side edge 118e of the handle body 118, and the engaging portion 303 is engaged with the engaging groove 302 of the third axis J3 serving as a rotation support axis.

[0148] At the same time, a pair of front and rear engaging protrusions 304, 305 are respectively engaged with a pair of front and rear notch-shaped locking holes 307, 308 provided on the top upper wall of the front raised portion 119f, and the engaging claw 306 is engaged with the claw locking hole 309 provided on the top upper wall of the front raised portion 119f.

[0149] Furthermore, the front cover Cf can be detachably engaged with the upper surface of the front raised portion 119f, and the third shaft J3 is prevented from being separated from the outer handle 117 by the front cover Cf (specifically, the engaging portion 303).

[0150] In contrast, by Fig.16 , Fig. 22 It can be seen that in the rear cover Cr, a plurality of inward locking protrusions 311 and a plurality of inward locking protrusions 312 are respectively protruded on the opposing surfaces of the front and rear pair of support pieces Crf and Crr. In addition, corresponding to these locking protrusions 311 and 312, the upper parts of the front and rear side walls of the rear raised part 119r are provided with engaging holes 313 and 314 that can be respectively engaged with and disengaged from the locking protrusions 311 and 312.

[0151] Therefore, when the rear cover Cr is pressed down so as to cover the rear raised portion 119r from above, the front and rear support pieces Crf and Crr can be elastically deformed to expand, and the locking protrusions 311 and 312 can be respectively locked in the locking holes 313 and 314. By this locking, the rear cover Cr is detachably fixed to the rear raised portion 119r.

[0152] As described above, in the second embodiment, the upper surfaces of the handle body 118 and the front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r of the handle base 119 of the outer handle 117, which are exposed to the outside in the pop-up position, are detachably covered with the front and rear covers Cf and Cr that cover at least a portion (the entire surface in the example shown in the figure) of the upper surfaces. Thus, even if the light reflecting surface R described later is not particularly provided on the front and rear covers Cf and Cr, the front and rear covers Cf and Cr can be varied by adopting a coloring or plating method that is different from the paint color of the outer surface of the outer handle 117, for example, and not only that, replacement is also simple, and it is easy to adapt to the preferences of the vehicle user.

[0153] Furthermore, by Fig.15 and Fig.17 , Fig.18It can be seen that the upper surface of the outer handle 117 exposed to the outside in the pop-up position, as well as the rear surface and the front surface are provided with a light reflecting surface R (in Fig.15 and Fig.17 , Fig.18 In order to make the reflection surface area easier to understand, it is shown with cross-hatching. Fig.16 as well as Figure 20 to Figure 22 In order to facilitate understanding of the outer handle 117, especially the relationship between the handle body 118 and the handle base 119, the hatching of the actually provided light reflecting surface R is omitted.

[0154] Moreover, for example, the light reflecting surface R is provided on the outer handle 117 by sticking a light reflecting sheet or light reflecting tape or applying light reflecting paint to the upper surface, rear surface and front surface of the handle body 118 and the upper surface, rear surface and front surface of the front and rear covers Cf and Cr.

[0155] As described above, in the second embodiment, the light reflecting surface R is also provided on at least a portion of the rear surface and the upper surface of the end portion on the rear side of the vehicle among the exposed surfaces of the outer handle 117 exposed to the outside in the pop-up position (in the illustrated example, the entire upper surface, the rear surface, and the front surface). Thus, in the second embodiment, the same effect as that achieved by the light reflecting surface R in the first embodiment can be achieved. That is, even if the outer handle 117 protrudes significantly to the outside than the outer surface of the outer panel 16 in the pop-up position, people moving around the side door 15 and the driver of the vehicle can easily notice the existence of the outer handle 117 in the pop-up position by the reflected light from the light reflecting surface R, and thus can effectively avoid contact with the outer handle 117.

[0156] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, light reflecting surfaces R are provided not only on the upper surface, rear surface and front surface of the handle body 118, but also on the upper surface, rear surface and front surface of the front and rear covers Cf and Cr. Thus, there is an advantage that by specially providing the light reflecting surfaces R in the front and rear covers Cf and Cr, the variation of the light reflecting surfaces R to be provided in the outer handle 117 can be easily and inexpensively increased.

[0157] As mentioned above, although embodiment of the present invention and its modification are described, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention described in the claims.

[0158] For example, in the first and second embodiments, an example of using an electric motor as an electric drive source for actuators 39, 89, 139 for driving the outer handles 17, 117 from the storage position to the pop-up position is shown, but the electric drive source of the actuator is not limited to the embodiments, and an electromagnetic drive unit other than an electric motor (such as a solenoid) may also be used.

[0159] In addition, in the second embodiment, an example is shown in which the hand of a vehicle user carrying a portable authentication device contacts the recess 118o of the outer handle 117, and the locking or unlocking operation of the latch mechanism 62 and the pop-up operation of the outer handle 117 can be performed approximately simultaneously, but it is also possible that the locking / unlocking operation and the pop-up operation can be performed by different operating buttons.

[0160] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the light reflecting surface R is provided on the upper surface and the rear surface (also on the front surface in the second embodiment) of the outer handle 17, 117 exposed to the outside at the pop-up position is shown, but the light reflecting surface R may be provided only on either the upper surface or the rear surface (for example, the rear surface) of the outer handle 17, 117 exposed to the outside at the pop-up position. Alternatively, the light reflecting surface R may be provided only on at least a portion of the upper surface and / or at least a portion of the rear surface of the outer handle 17, 117 exposed to the outside at the pop-up position.

[0161] In addition, in particular, in the second embodiment, an example is given in which the light reflecting surface R is provided not only on the upper surface, rear surface and front surface of the handle body 118 of the outer handle 117, but also on the upper surface, rear surface and front surface of the front and rear covers Cf and Cr covering the upper surface of the handle base 119 (especially, the front and rear raised portions 119f and 119r), but in the present invention, the light reflecting surface R may be provided only on one of the upper surface or rear surface of the front and rear covers Cf and Cr (for example, the rear surface). Alternatively, the light reflecting surface R may be provided only on one of the front cover Cf or the rear cover Cr (for example, the rear cover Cr), or the provision of the light reflecting surface R in the front and rear covers Cf and Cr may be omitted.

[0162] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the light reflecting surface R provided on each part of the outer handle 17, 117 reflects only external light, but a lighting device (such as an LED) that makes the light reflecting surface R emit light from the outside or from the inside may be provided on the outer handle 17, 117. In this case, the visibility of the light reflecting surface R can be further improved by the light of the lighting device.

Claims

1. An outer handle device for a vehicle door, wherein an outer handle (17, 117) having an operating portion (18a, 117a) that can be manually operated is installed on a support shell (22, 88, 122) fixed to an outer panel (16) of a door (15), and the outer handle (17, 117) is installed so that the outer surface of the outer handle (17, 117) is substantially flush with the outer surface of the outer panel (16) and the operating portion (18a, 117a) protrudes outward from the outer panel (16). The outer handle device for a vehicle door is characterized in that: A light reflecting surface (R) is provided on at least a portion of a rear surface of at least an end portion on the rear side of the vehicle among the exposed surfaces of the outer handle (17, 117) exposed to the outside at the pop-up position.

2. An outer handle device for a vehicle door, wherein an outer handle (17, 117) having an operating portion (18a, 117a) that can be manually operated is installed on a support shell (22, 88, 122) fixed to an outer panel (16) of a door (15), and the outer handle (17, 117) is installed so that the outer surface of the outer handle (17, 117) is substantially flush with the outer surface of the outer panel (16) and the operating portion (18a, 117a) protrudes outward from the outer panel (16). The outer handle device for a vehicle door is characterized in that: A light reflecting surface (R) is provided on at least a portion of the upper surface of the outer handle (17, 117) exposed to the outside at the pop-up position.

3. The outer handle device for a vehicle door according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The upper surface of the outer handle (117) exposed to the outside at the pop-up position is covered with at least one cover (Cf, Cr) in a detachable manner to cover at least a portion of the upper surface, and a light reflecting surface (R) is provided on at least the rear surface of the cover (Cf, Cr).

4. The outer handle device for a vehicle door according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A rotating shaft (J3) is inserted into the outer handle (117), and the rotating shaft (J3) guides and supports the rotation of the outer handle (117) when the outer handle (117) is rotated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position. The cover (Cf) is provided with an engaging portion (303) that engages with the rotating shaft (J3) to form an anti-detachment portion of the rotating shaft (J3) relative to the outer handle (117).

5. The outer handle device for a vehicle door according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The outer handle (17, 117) is provided with a lighting device for making the light reflecting surface (R) emit light.

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