Retractable exterior handle assembly for a vehicle

Abstract

A retractable outside handle assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a retractable outside door handle (2) which projects outward in a width direction of the vehicle from a door outside panel (10) constituting a door of the vehicle, or which is received in an opening portion (12) formed in the door outside panel (10); and a base assembly (20) with which the retractable outside handle assembly is rotatably assembled, wherein the base assembly (20) comprises: first and second inner door outside handle base members (24, 26) which are movable relative to each other, and an outer door outside handle base member (22) which receives the first and second inner door outside handle base members (24, 26), wherein the first inner door outside handle base member (24) is arranged in front of the second inner door outside handle base member along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Door outer handle base element (26) is arranged,and the first inner door outer handle base member (24) and the second inner door outer handle base member (26) are connected to each other by a screw (30) so that the first and second inner door outer handle base members (24, 26) are movable relative to each other according to rotation of the screw (30), wherein the first inner door outer handle base member (24) has: a receiving groove (242) communicating with the opening portion (12), and a locking groove (244) shaped to be open toward the receiving groove (242) on an upper wall forming the receiving groove (242), and wherein a locking claw (266) is arranged on a projecting claw (264) of the second inner door outer handle base member (26), which is adapted for a locking groove (274) of the outside door handle (2) to be inserted and to be trapped,and which is elastically supported by a spring element (267) in the width direction of the vehicle towards the outside.,

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the InventionThe present invention relates to a retractable outer side (hand) handle assembly for a vehicle (e.g., motor vehicle), and more particularly to an outer side (hand) handle assembly for a vehicle, from which an outer side (hand) handle (hand) handle (outer side) handle (outer side door handle) can be accommodated in a door outer side panel (door outer side panel) and project to the outside of the door outer side panel (door outer side panel).Description of the Related ArtGenerally, a vehicle is provided with a passenger compartment of a predetermined size in which a driver or an accompanying passenger / passenger can drive, and a door for opening or closing the passenger compartment.For the passenger to open or close the door for opening or closing the passenger compartment, an inside door handle is provided on an inner surface of the door facing the passenger compartment(s) and an outside door handle is provided on an outer surface of the door facing outside the passenger compartment(s).Each door handle is provided with a door latch for fixing the door to the vehicle body so that the door can be opened while the door latch is released by the operation of the door handles.The outside door handle is typically pivotally mounted to an outside door panel. Also, the outside door handle is disposed on the outside panel to protrude outward along the width direction of the vehicle, so that the passenger can easily grasp / grasp it.As described above, when the outside door handle is disposed to protrude outward along the width direction of the vehicle, an operation convenience for an occupant is improved, but the shape of the vehicle may be deteriorated due to the protruding outside door handle, noise may be induced, and driving performance may be deteriorated due to driving resistance.In recent years, in order to solve this problem, an outer side retractable handle assembly has been developed, from which the outer side door handle protrudes from the outer side door panel along the width direction of the vehicle or is accommodated inside a accommodation hole formed in the outer side door panel when a motor (e.g., vehicle drive motor) is driven.The conventional retractable outside handle assembly comprises an outside door handle which protrudes outward from the door outside panel or which is received in the receiving hole formed in the door outside panel by means of a motor-operated link, a door lock mechanism which comprises an operable key cylinder for locking or releasing the door to the vehicle, and a door lock mechanism for directly locking or releasing the door to the vehicle body.However, when the above conventional outside door handle assembly is assembled, the door lock mechanism must be connected to the outside door handle assembly first, so that an assembly work of the door lock mechanism with the outside door handle assembly becomes difficult. Due to this configuration provided, the door lock mechanism can be modularized and then assembled with the outside door handle assembly, so that a fixing bracket is required for assembling the door lock mechanism and the outside door handle assembly, thereby degrading assembly capability and increasing weight and cost.The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is merely for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to those skilled in the art.For example, a retractable outer-side handle assembly for a vehicle is known from WO 2016 / 113 341 A1, US 2016 / 0 298 366 A1, US 2013 / 0 127 185 A1, US 11 131 128 B2 and US 9 249 608 B2, respectively, comprising: a retractable outer-side door handle and a base assembly with which the retractable outer-side handle assembly is rotatably assembled, wherein the base assembly comprises: a first and a second inner door outer-handle base element which are movable relative to one another, and an outer door outer-handle base element which accommodates the first and the second inner door outer-handle base element.EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to providing an outer side retractable handle assembly for a vehicle, which is configured to improve assembly capability of a door lock mechanism and reduce weight and cost by allowing an outer side door handle to be assembled with a base from the outer side of the outer door.According to the invention there is provided an outer retractable handle assembly for a vehicle having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments are described in the dependent claimsThat is, an outer side retractable handle assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an outer side retractable door handle that protrudes outward in a width direction of the vehicle from a door outer side panel constituting a door of the vehicle (e.g., the outer side door handle protrudes outward from the door), or is accommodated (e.g., accommodated at least substantially flush) in an opening portion (e.g., a recess) formed in the door outer side panel; and a base assembly with which the outer side door handle is rotatably assembled. The base assembly includes first and second inner door outer handle base members movable relative to each other and an outer door outer handle base member receiving the first and second inner door outer handle base members (e.g., the first and second inner door outer handle base members may be disposed between the outer door handle and the outer door outer handle base member, e.g., disposed in the opening portion and behind the door outer panel (inside the door), respectively).The two inner door outer handle base members (e.g., the first and second inner door outer handle base members) are movably disposed with respect to the outer door outer handle base member.The first door outer handle inner base member is disposed forward of the second door outer handle inner base member along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first door outer handle inner base member and the second door outer handle inner base member are connected to each other by a bolt (e.g., movement bolt).The first door outer handle inner base member includes a receiving groove (e.g., a first receiving groove) communicating with the opening portion and a locking groove (hereinafter, referred to as a locking groove; e.g., a first locking groove) formed on an upper wall forming the receiving groove to be open toward the receiving groove.The second door outer handle inner base member may include a receiving groove (e.g., another or second receiving groove) communicating with the opening portion and the receiving groove of the first door outer handle inner base member, and a protruding claw formed on a bottom wall forming the receiving groove to protrude outward along the width direction of the vehicle.A locking claw (hereinafter, briefly, locking claw; for example, a first locking claw) is disposed on the protruding claw of the second door outer handle inner base member, which is configured for a locking groove of the outer door handle to be inserted and caught, and which is elastically supported toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle by a spring.The exterior door handle may include, for example, an outer surface along the width direction (e.g., corresponding to an outer surface of the door exterior panel) of the vehicle, first and second bridges (e.g., two bridges; hereinafter, briefly, bridges) protruding from the outer surface toward the interior along the width direction of the vehicle and arranged at predetermined intervals (e.g., toward each other and / or with respect to a front and / or rear end of the outer surface) forward and rearward along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a third bridge arranged at an end portion of the first bridge in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (e.g., forward).For example, a locking claw (hereinafter, locking claw; for example, another or second locking claw) inserted into and caught in the locking groove of the first inner door outer handle base member may be formed at a front end portion (for example, in the longitudinal direction) of the third bridge, and a locking groove (hereinafter, for example, another or second locking groove) inserted into and caught in the locking claw of the second inner door outer handle base member may be formed at a rear end portion (for example, in the longitudinal direction) of the third bridge.According to a retractable outer side handle assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the door outer side panel is assembled with the base assembly by inserting the outer side door handle into the opening portion of the door outer side panel from the outer side thereof along the width direction of the vehicle in a state in which the base assembly is (e.g., already) assembled with (e.g., in) the inside of the door outer side panel toward the inside of the passenger compartment, it is possible to first insert the door lock mechanism through the opening and assemble it with the base assembly before assembling the outer side door handle and the base assembly.Therefore, as the assembly workability of a door lock mechanism can be improved, coating damage (e.g., paint damage) of the door panel during the assembly process can be prevented, and the fixing bracket for assembling the conventional door lock mechanism and the outside door handle is unnecessary, thereby reducing weight and cost.The devices of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.Brief Description of the DrawingsFIG. 1 is a sectional view and a conceptual view, respectively, in a state in which the retractable outer side handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is attached to a door outer side panel. FIGS. 2 to 4 are conceptual views showing an assembly process of a retractable outer-side handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view and a conceptual view, respectively, in a state in which the retractable outside handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is accommodated in an opening portion of a door outside panel in a door locked state. FIG. 6 is a sectional view and a conceptual view, respectively, in a state in which the retractable outside handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention protrudes (e.g., is jumped) outward from the door outside panel. FIG. 7 is a sectional view and a conceptual view, respectively, in a state in which the retractable outer side handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is swung outward in a vehicle width direction by a user's pulling operation.It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention, including, but not limited to, specific dimensions, directions, positions, and shapes disclosed herein, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.Throughout the several figures of the drawing, reference numerals in the figures designate the same or similar parts of the present invention.Detailed DescriptionReference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the invention has been described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention to these exemplary embodiments.Exemplary embodiments of the present application / invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown.Referring to FIG. 1, an outer side retractable handle assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an outer side door handle 2 which is inserted into an opening portion 12 formed on (e.g., in) an outer side door panel 10 and which is assembled / connected to the outer side door panel 10.A door outside handle base assembly 20 on which the outside door handle 2 is disposed to be moved and pivoted may be mounted inside the door outside panel 10 facing the passenger compartment.The door outer handle base assembly 20 may include an outer door outer handle base member 22 disposed at (e.g., in) the interior of the door outer side panel 10 facing the passenger compartment and two, e.g., first and second, inner door outer handle base members 24, 26 disposed in the space formed by the outer door outer handle base member 22 and the door outer side panel 10 and arranged to be moved relative to the outer door outer handle base member 22 by a driving device and a linkage, which are not shown.The first door outer handle inner base member 24 may be disposed forward of the second door outer handle inner base member 26 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first door outer handle inner base member 24 and the second door outer handle inner base member 26 may be connected to each other by a bolt 30 such that the second door outer handle inner base member 26 may move toward or away from the first door outer handle inner base member 24 by the rotation of the bolt 30.The first door outer handle inner base member 24 may include a receiving groove 242 communicating with the opening portion 12 and a locking groove 244 formed on an upper wall forming the receiving groove 242 to be open toward the receiving groove 242.The second door outer handle inner base member 26 may include a receiving groove 262 communicating with the opening portion 12 and the receiving groove 242, and a protruding claw 264 protruding outward along the width direction of the vehicle at a bottom wall forming the receiving groove 262.A locking claw 266 may protrude toward the outside (e.g., with respect to the bottom wall) on the protruding claw 264 in the width direction of the vehicle to be elastically supported by a spring 267 as an elastic support device.The outside door handle 2 may have an outer surface 21 facing the outside in the width direction of the vehicle and two, for example, first and second bridges 23, 25 protruding toward the inside in the width direction of the vehicle and arranged at a predetermined interval in front and rear along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.The first bridge 23 may be disposed forward of the second bridge 25 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a third bridge 27 extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle may be integrally formed at a (e.g., front) end portion of the first bridge 23.The front end portion of the third bridge 27 may be provided with a locking claw 272 that is / is inserted into the locking groove 244 at the time of assembly (for example, the locking claw and the locking groove 244 are formed to form a pivot joint in an assembled state), and the rear end portion of the third bridge 27 may be provided with a locking groove 274 into which the locking claw 266 is inserted and caught therein.According to the assembling process of a retractable outer side handle assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, first, the outer side door handle 2 is inserted through the opening portion 12 of the door outer side panel 10 in a state in which the base assembly 20 is attached to the door outer side panel 10.Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the outside door handle 2 is pushed forward along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that the locking claw 272 of the outside door handle 2 can be inserted into and caught in the locking groove 244 of the first inside door outside handle base member 24.As described above, when the locking claw 272 of the outside door handle 2 is inserted into and caught in the locking groove 244 of the first inside door outside handle base member 24, the positions of the locking groove 274 and the locking claw 266 of the outside door handle 2 can be / are automatically arranged.In the present state, if the screw 30 is rotated by tools 40 such as a screwdriver, the second inner door outer handle base member 26 is moved forward along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by the rotation of the screw 30, so that the locking claw 266 is inserted into the locking groove 274 and caught. As a result, the outside door handle 2 is supported by the first and second inside door outside handle base members 24 and 26.FIG. 5 shows the state in which the outside door handle 2 fully assembled as described above is inserted (e.g., retracted / retracted) into the opening portion of the door outside panel 10, that is, the door of the vehicle is locked.When a passenger carries a smart key (e.g., a key fob) and approaches the vehicle, operates a remote control button, or presses a rear portion of the outside door handle 2 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the outside door handle 2 projects to the outside of the door outside panel 10 in the width direction of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 6 while being supported on the first and second inside door outside handle base members 24 and 26 by the operation of a driving motor and a link mechanism connected thereto.As described above, when a passenger pulls the outside door handle 2 with one hand in a state in which the outside door handle 2 protrudes outward in the width direction of the vehicle, the outside door handle 2 is swung outward in the width direction of the vehicle with the lock groove 244 and the lock claw 272 as hinge points, and a lock cable connected to the outside door handle 2 is pulled by the outside door handle 2 to open the door.When a passenger releases the outside door handle 2, the outside door handle 2 returns to its original initial position by the elastic restoring force of the spring 267 extended by the outside door handle 2.For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper...", "lower...", "inner...", "äußer...""upper", "lower", "upward", "downward", "front...", "rear...", "front", "rear", "inner", "outer", "inner", "outer", "inward / inward", "outward / outward", "forward / forward", and "rearward / rearward" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to positions of those features shown in the drawings.The foregoing descriptions of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many changes and modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical applicability, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

An outer side retractable handle assembly for a vehicle, comprising: an outer side retractable door handle (2) protruding outward in a width direction of the vehicle from an outer side door panel (10) constituting a door of the vehicle or being accommodated in an opening portion (12) formed in the outer side door panel (10); and a base assembly (20) with which the outer side retractable handle assembly is rotatably assembled, the base assembly (20) comprising: first and second outer door handle inner base members (24, 26) movable relative to each other; and an outer door outer handle base member (22) accommodating the first and second outer door handle inner base members (24, 26), wherein the first door outer handle inner base member (24) is disposed forward of the second door outer handle inner base member (26) along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first door outer handle inner base member (24) and the second door outer handle inner base member (26) are connected to each other by a bolt (30) such that the first and second door outer handle inner base members (24, 26) are relatively movable with respect to each other according to a rotation of the bolt (30), the first door outer handle inner base member (24) including: a receiving groove (242) communicating with the opening portion (12); and a locking groove (244) formed to be open at an upper wall forming the receiving groove (242) toward the receiving groove (242), and wherein a locking claw (266) is disposed on a protruding claw (264) of the second door outer handle inner base member (26), which is configured for a locking groove (274) of the outer door handle (2) to be inserted and caught, and which is elastically supported toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle by a spring member (267).The retractable outer handle assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second inner door outer handle base members (24, 26) is movably disposed with respect to the outer door outer handle base member (22).The retractable outer-side handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second inner door outer handle base member (26) includes: a receiving groove (262) which communicates with the opening portion (12) and the receiving groove (242) of the first inner door outer handle base member (24); and the protruding claw (264) which is formed on a bottom wall, which forms the receiving groove (262), of the second inner door outer handle base member (26) and which protrudes outward along the width direction of the vehicle.The retractable outer side handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer side door handle (2) includes: an outer surface (21) along the width direction of the vehicle; first and second bridges (23, 25) which protrude in the width direction of the vehicle from the outer surface (21) toward the inside of the outer side door handle (2) and which are disposed at a predetermined interval in front and rear along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a third bridge (27) which is formed at an end portion of the first bridge (23) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.The retractable outer side handle assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking pawl (272) inserted into and captured by the locking groove (244) of the first inner door outer handle base member (24) is formed at a front end portion of the third bridge (27), and the locking groove (274) is formed at a rear end portion of the third bridge (27).The retractable outer side handle assembly of claim 5, wherein the locking groove (274) is formed at the rear end portion of the third bridge (27) between the first bridge (23) and the second bridge (25).

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